Most Reverend George Niederauer announced that Pope Benedict XVI has named Monsignor Robert W. MeElroy to be Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco.
Bishop-elect McElroy has been serving as Pastor of Saint Gregory Church in San Mateo for the past fourteen years. Bishop-elect McElroy graduated from St. Patrick Seminary in 1979 with a Master's degree in Divinity. He holds a bachelor's degree in History from Harvard University (1975) and an MA in American History (1976) from Stanford University. He also holds post-graduate degrees (STL Theology 1986) from the Jesuit School of Theology (STL Theology 1985 in Berkeley); North American College in Rome (STD Theology 1986); and Stanford University (Ph.D. History, 1989). Ordained April 12, 1980, Bishop-elect McElroy served as priest-secretary to Archbishop John R. Quinn from 1982-85. He has also served as a Parochial Vicar at Saint Cecilia Parish in San Francisco and St. Pius Parish in Redwood City and, in years preceding to Saint Gregory Church, as Vicar for Administration and Moderator of the Curia.
We ask the people of this Archdiocese and all of our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church to join us in praying for him, and for the gifts and the graces he will need to carry out his apostolic office.
The episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect McElroy is planned for Tuesday, September 7, 1020 in the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. Further details will be forthcoming.
We are so grateful to the 19 donors who donated to
our annual Blood Drive last week. Their donations
helped patients have a chance at another tomorrow.
This past week the following patients benefited
from the Blood Drive:
William Eugene Brown was born February 10, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, son of Eugene Fetscher Brown and Mary Jane Brown (both deceased).
He was baptized, confirmed and received First Communion at age nineteen in Pella, Iowa, during his freshman year of college.
Father Brown spent the later part of his childhood in the mountains of the high desert, at Lake Elizabeth, CA, where he first felt a call toward God. He left home to attend college in Iowa, and after going to Mass for the first time in his life, approached the priest and announced, "Father, I want to become a Catholic!" This dream came true at the Easter Vigil the following year.
As a German and French major in college, he then spent one year in Austria (at the University of Vienna), and one year in France (at the Sorbonne), enjoying countries that had such a long and deep Catholic history. He felt a tug inside toward the priesthood, but never had the courage to ask anyone about it until he was back in the United States, pursuing a doctorate in German Literature at Stanford.
The priests there at the Newman Center (Fr. Dennis Browne and Fr. Eugene Boyle) were a real blessing, helping him discern his call, and encouraging him to enter St. Patrick's Seminary in nearby Menlo Park. The four years of seminary were a great delight and a challenge for Father Brown, helping him grow in the Catholic faith and look forward to serving Jesus and his people as a priest.
Since ordination, he has served at the following parishes in our archdiocese:
• St. Elizabeth, San Francisco (deacon year)
• St. Gabriel, San Francisco (six years)
• St. Pius, Redwood City (four years)
• Our Lady of Mercy, Daly City (twelve years)
Father Brown looks forward to ministry with the good people of St. Hilary, and he thanks Archbishop Niederauer for allowing him such a long and happy stay in Westlake, his very first pastorate.
It is with great joy in my heart that I send you my thanks for the wonderful send-off you provided for me upon my
leaving St. Hilary. The overwhelming joy I experienced on the weekend of June 26-27th will always remain with
me. I am so qrateful for the numerous kind words, verbal and written, that expressed your kindness and love for
me.
Thirteen years is a long time to spend together. They were years of great challenges and many successes. I have
only gratitude for being given the opportunity to have served as your Pastor. I am sure that God will continue to
grant the St. Hilary community all of the grace and blessings that you need to continue to grow as a parish and
make a difference in the name of the Lord.
I ask God to bless Father Brown and all of the staff. May their efforts continue to be fruitful as they serve and lead
the parish. Again, thank you all for your kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness. You will always be in my
prayers. Please pray for me that God will grant all that is needed in my new position to fulfill His will. God bless you always!
Msgr. James T. Tarantino
Archbishop George Niederauer announced on Saturday, June 26, 2010 that Pope Benedict XVI named Fr. James T. Tarantino a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. The announcement coincided with the farewell celebrations for Father Tarantino at the parish last weekend. Monsignor Tarantino begins his new responsibilities as Vicar for Administration for the Archdiocese of San Francisco as of July 1, 2010.
Each mass of the weekend held a different presentation for Monsignor Tarantino. At the 5:00pm Saturday Mass our own artist, Mary Musalo, also artist laureate of Tiburon, spoke with poise and grace as she presented Father with an original painting, inspired by the image of the Blessed Mother in the stained glass window over the altar. A copy of that painting was used on all of the Mass programs. Carter B. Smith did a creative and witty presentation at the 7:30 a.m. and gave Father a contemplative prayer book, reflective of the prayerful parishioners who attend the early morning "quiet" Mass.
At 9:00 a.m. Father was greeted by the young, beautiful voices of the Angel Choir led by Sr. Dolores. Principal, Bryan Clement, spoke with deep emotion and gratitude as he presented a yearbook signed by each of the students, symbolic of the many lives that have been touched by Father, as was his own during his student days at Marin Catholic High School.
At the 11:00 a.m. our beautiful adult and children's choirs, under the direction of Vincent Stadlin and Pamela Carey, enriched our celebration with glorious music throughout. At the end of Mass the entire congregation processed out of the Church to the Parish Hall. Bill Osenton surprised Monsignor Tarantino with the announcement that our parish hall was newly named "Tarantino Hall."
Sharon Lewis, with heartfelt words, presented him with a "key" to a "treasure chest which contained a gift fund collected for him in gratitude.
At the 5:00pm SundayMass, with music by our uplifting musicians led by Father's sister, Maryann Tarantino, Al and Maurine Trimbach offered a memory book of letters written by parishioners. Throughout the day, at every Mass, Fr. Lawrence so beautifully graced us with the formal announcement from the Secretary of State for Pope Benedict XVI with the Papal appointment.
The evening came to a close after a lovely, St. Hilary reception prepared by Dina Tiedje, Marilyn Knight and their many willing helpers. We are grateful to the many wonderful parishioners involved in the planning, preparation and implementation of these events and to Shawn Sylvia and Anna Walsh for chairing our Celebration Team.
St. Hilary School is now registered with Mill Valley Market in downtown Mill Valley for their Shop & Give Program. Please mention St. Hilary School at the checkout before paying for your items and they will donate 2% of the amount to our school. A great way to help our school just by doing your regular grocery shopping!
Challenge Success is a coordinated program that helps schools, parents, and students develop models of success
that align with what is known about children's needs. The program was founded by Dr. Madeline Levine, a psychologist
with over 25 years experience, Dr. Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at the Stanford University School of Education, and
Jim Lodbell, an educational consultant with expertise in curriculum design and parent education.
In October, members of our administration, teachers, parents and students, will begin meeting with
interdisciplinary experts from Stanford University who will visit our campus and classrooms to provide insights
that will help us all grow and learn.
Our teachers will be exposed to high-quality professional development opportunities providing them the
latest and best practices for teaching for engagement (the key to real learning); our curriculum will be evaluated to
make sure our students are getting the most out of their valuable hours on campus; our homework policies will be
examined to make sure we're "making homework work." What is the purpose of homework? How much is too
much? And our parents will be exposed to child-centered research that will support their children's healthy emotional
development.
Visit the Challenge Success website at: www.challengesuccess.org to learn more about this opportunity for
our school. Together, we will explore the healthiest and most effective strategies to increase our children/student's wellbeing,
engagement, and integrity.
Note: If parents are looking for some summer reading in anticipation of this year long exercise, please pick up a
copy of Madeline Levine's book The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a
Generation of Materialistic and Unhappy Kids, or Denise Pope's book "Doing School": How We Are Creating a Generation
of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students. We're growing, we're learning, and we're striving to
be the most effective child–centered academic community we can be. Please join us!
