Holy Name of Jesus Parish | San Francisco, CA 94122

Message from the Pastor

Sept/Oct

by Fr. Arnold Zamora

Aug 3, 2010

Dear Parishioners,

Our current financial situation is grim; we are expected to have a $300,000 deficit for the current fiscal year, ending June 30. If this situation is not resolved, our savings will be depleted in two to five years.

We have recently made some budget cuts – cutting staff hours, decreasing spending on some services, etc. In order to address this issue, we must ask you for your help.

I am asking each family/individual to please take a look at your contributions to Holy Name Parish. Over a one year period, your current contributions may be:

Weekly amount (52 wks/yr)	Total contribution per year	# Families donating (504)
$0	$0	132
$5	$260	139
$10	$520	128
$15	$780	32
$20	$1,040	39
$25	$1,300	27
$50	$2,600	7

I know many of you are on a fixed income, or maybe facing job loss or financial problems of your own. We are very grateful to those who already give a generous donation to the Church every week or month.

Although we have approximately 750 families registered at Holy Name, our support is generally from the approximately 250 families that regularly attend the weekly Masses and use their Sunday envelopes. If every registered family was donating $10 per week, we would not be in this financial situation. As you can see; the majority of our donations are $10 per week or below, in a typical month, for the families that donate.

If left unchecked, our deficit will only increase. We are looking at many deferred maintenance issues in the coming years, as well as the increasing costs of running our Parish facility. We will have a current profit and loss statement available by September for this last fiscal year.

We have been here for you and your family through joyous occasions – Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Graduations, and Weddings. We have been here to help you and your family through more solemn occasions – to visit you at home or in the hospital when you are sick, to bring you communion when you are homebound, to give you the Anointing of the Sick or the Last Rites, and to say a final good-bye. We ask you to support a Holy Name presence in the Sunset district and in your lives, as we have been for the past 85 years.

May you find in your heart the generosity to contribute regularly and possibly increase your monetary donation. God will certainly provide for all that we need, and He will do it through you. AS always, thank you for your continued support.

In Jesus’ Holy Name,

Fr. Arnold

July/August 2010

by Fr. Arnold Zamora

Jul 12, 2010

Dear Parishioners,
Summertime! Vacation Time! It’s time to relax, stepping away from the day-to-day stresses, taking some time away from our daily work and routine. Just as Sundays give us a break during the week, summer vacations can give us a break during the year.

Rest is good for the body, mind and spirit. If we are fortunate to spend some of that time, “resting in the Lord”, we are blessed indeed. A priest-friend of mine once said, “If I sleep in my room, I couldn’t sleep - but if I go to the Blessed Sacrament, I sleep. So, I better just keep on visiting the Blessed Sacrament.” If you sleep while praying before the Blessed Sacrament that’s okay because even our Lord Jesus said: “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.”

I hope and pray that each of you has a chance to get away, if even for a short time this summer. I want to gently remind us all that this is no “vacation” from our vocation as faithful Catholics.

Sunday Mass, even on vacation, is of primary importance to us. Going to Sunday Mass on vacation is a perfect opportunity for us to thank God for the many blessings He gives us. Make sure to make this a priority.
This summer we will see some movements in the assignment of our priests in the Archdiocese. Some priests will be moving from one place to another, looking forward to their new assignments and new challenges. It’s the time of the year when pastors will be closely looking at the financial status, towards the end of one fiscal year and start of another. I hope to be able to give you a financial report, soon so that you will know where we are and how you can help.

Let me take the opportunity to thank all of you for the past year. With summer, I can say I have graduated from my first year at Holy Name. I know I still have much to learn and still many things yet to be done. Yet this summertime, I’ll rest with the knowledge that I am not alone and that you are with me by my side.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Arnold E. Zamora

May/June 2010

May 21, 2010

May/June 2010
Dear Parishioners,
There is an ancient adage that says: “Mist in May, heat in June, Make the Harvest come right soon”, or “Water in May, Bread all Year.” Rain in May is very lucky. It is thought to assist the full growth of crops.
The month of May always gives me a sense of hope. It is a month in springtime that gives you the idea of rebirth, renewal, and re-growth. Without even thinking of it’s Greek origin Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth, or her Latin equivalent that means increase or growth, the English word “May” gives us a very hopeful connotation and a blissful wish. We wish well to everyone by using this word: May your dreams come true! May you be happy and contented! May you have a safe trip! Even at the mass the priest says: “May almighty God bless you…” We make our prayers and our wishes for our dearly departed, especially on Memorial Day on the last day of this month as we say: “May the souls of the Faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
Here’s a wish my friend John had expressed: “I wish I had enough money to buy a Rolls-Royce.” I asked him: “Why do you want a Rolls-Royce?” He responded: “ I don’t. It’s the money I want.”
A day in May is dedicated to celebrate Mother’s Day (May 9th this year). But in the Catholic Church, the whole month of May is dedicated to and honors our Blessed Mother Mary.
Heat in June arrives as the summer begins. The flame of love is ignited when the groom claims his June bride. But the heat and flame can come as early as May, when the church celebrates Pentecost Sunday on the 23rd.
Something to look forward to this June: Graduation, Father’s Day, summer vacation.
Enjoy these two months of great excitement!
Fr. Arnold

March/April 2010

by Rev. Arnold E. Zamora

Apr 1, 2010

Dear Parishioners,

Time really flies in our busy Parish. October 26, 2010 marks the 85th Anniversary of our beloved Holy Name of Jesus Parish. In celebration of this milestone, many plans are underway. Watch out for pulpit, bulletin & web announcements of upcoming plans for celebrating this remarkable year, and be sure to “save the date” – our most special celebration will be held on 10.10.10 (October 10, 2010).

To mark this 85th Anniversary, a proposal has been approved for a “Tree of Life”, a bronze tree trunk with approximately 300-500 leaves to be installed by the baptistery. Donors will have their names, or those they wish to honor, engraved on the leaf. The proceeds of the donations to the “Tree of Life” will go towards a much-needed Capital Improvement Fund. It is well known by all who gather here that we are constantly dealing with many repairs needed in our aging buildings (circa 1941, 1949 and 1964). We are confident that the funds raised from the Tree of Life will provide for the necessary expenses that we anticipate for the future. Specific details about the Holy Name Tree of Life will be in upcoming bulletins.
Just as we look forward to celebrating our 85 years and beyond, we must not forget some traditions that we have long honored. On March 6, 2010 we will celebrate our 61st Annual Holy Name St. Patrick’s Dinner-Dance. (featuring Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, raffle prizes, Irish step-dancers, the SF Irish Pipers Band and Dancing). Proceeds for this Dinner go to the HN Sports Program. Speaking of our Sports Program, another time honored tradition of almost 60 years is our Holy Name-St. Cecilia Tournament. This is held twice a year, in winter and spring. This “healthy” rivalry between our school and St. Cecilia is an event that our entire student body looks forward to. Always a fun event, the object of the tournament is not winning, but having fun and fostering great camaraderie among all the players.
On our 85th Anniversary in 2010 let us celebrate the memories of yesterday, the joys of today, and the hopes for tomorrow.

Happy Anniversary Holy Name!
Fr. Arnold

Jan-Feb 2010

by Fr. Arnold Zamora

Dec 1, 2009

Dear Parishioners,

A Blessed New Year! 2010 (Twenty-Ten) Wow! We are one year older, yes, but according to a text message I received, we should not be afraid to grow older since old folks are worth a fortune: They have silver in their hair, gold in their teeth, stones in their kidneys, and gas in their stomach! (Considering the high price of gas nowadays)!
A New Year gives us new hope. It gives us the opportunity for a better life. It gives us another chance and the chance to change. It opens new horizons, new challenges, new possibilities that never end, into the world of great excitement.
A new year obviously signals a beginning. It evokes a sense of being and doing for the "first time." This is my first time to celebrate a New Year at Holy Name. I am sure you will have your own "first time-experiences" this year. Maybe it is a first time to celebrate the New Year with a new sibling in the family or it's a first time after a loss of a loved one. It could your first time to love or to love for the first time, as Kenny Logins song goes. You can paint a description of your first time to be in a place and to see someone's face.
You don't need to go far to experience your "first time." This year at Holy Name we will offer you your first time experiences and the best of your times. Experience "Springtime in Paris" - Holy Name School's First Annual Silent and Live Auction which will benefit the Holy Name Science Program. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 6:00 PM-11:00PM in Ryan Hall. Holy Name School is our parish school, a special part of our parish community. Even if you don't have kids in our school, it is still your school. Let us offer all our generous support to OUR school.
What can we offer the Lord in this New Year? Holy Name people, be H.O.L.Y! This is the decision we will make for 2010.
H stands for Happiness and Holiness. Let us decide to be happy in spite of trials and misfortunes. Let us decide to see the bright side of life. Let us decide to be holy, to do good and avoid evil. Sin makes us unhappy. H also means staying healthy and being helpful.
O stands for Openness. Let us decide to be open to new possibilities and changes that could take place this year. When you are open, you can receive a lot of things. Be open to God's grace!
L stands for Love. Let us decide to be more loving this year. If you have lost the love, find it this year, and love again like you love "for the first time."
Y stands for our Yes to God! Our yes to God is our submission to His will, our trust in Him for this New Year. No matter where the road may lead us, God is with us. And if we are too tired to walk the road, He will carry us!