News - October 2020

The award I am holding reads as follows: “The Thomas More Society of San Francisco, desirous of promoting and advancing those ideals of service and sacrifice that are reflected so conspicuously in the life and death of our lawyer-patron, gives tribute to FATHER JOHN COLEMAN S.J.

Fr. John Coleman reflects on what we can do to become “more saint-like in our real lives” In the above picture of all saints, we see women and men and also bishops, priests, nuns. Again, saints of different ethnic backgrounds. But as the remarks in Living Liturgy: All Saints 2020putit:“As so many “official saints'' have been priests, religious, and celibates, it’s critically important that we have the words of the Beatitudes from the gospel for All Saints to remind us what holiness looks like. Nowhere in the Beatitudes is there a word about celibacy. There is certainly nothing about one’s vocationalstate (priest, sister, etc.). Instead there are the hallmarks of sanctity: attributes such as ‘poor in spirit’, ‘meek’ and ‘merciful’.

This Thursday, our very own Fr. John Coleman will be honored by the St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco, the oldest fellowship of Catholic lawyers and judges in the West. The award is named for the 16th-century lawyer, judge, diplomat, Lord Chancellor of England and martyr who chose death, rather than submit to the Oath of Supremacy demanded by King Henry VIII.

Reflection Questions for the Homily: ‍ 1) What is the hope I ask of God these days in my personal life?

1)  St. Francis of Assisi seems to have universal appeal. Did or does his life and example speak to you? If so, what exactly touches your heart? What are the feelings that arise in you when you consider him and his story? Why?

I come to the weekend with a great deal of anticipation and excitement – the doors of our church are open again to receive you, albeit in limited numbers. It’s been 29 weeks since any of you gathered to pray together within our church, made sacred across more than a century by its walls absorbing the faith and prayers, the hopes and fears, the joy, the sadness, and the perseverance of the faithful who have come before us.