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December 16, 2019
Tom Burke
Thank you for taking my cancer to the Lord! I am well and in large part from the prayers sent to heaven by you and others on my behalf. The grace I felt from the petitions was palpable. Thank you.
Following my last PET scan and subsequent biopsy doctors said “there is no recurrence of cancer.” The doctors will keep checking, of course, and they are honest about cancer taking every opportunity it can to find to its way back but I invoke again the psalm I prayed at the start: “Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. Be with me, Lord, I pray.”
While my time off was filled with treatments and doctors’ appointments I still had a lot of time on my hands for recreation and relaxation. I went back East for a 50th high school reunion tied in with a family reunion where I, my sister, and three brothers and their families camped for a week in North Cape May, New Jersey, enjoying many hours with our mom, who is now 92.
For the first time in a long time I went to the movies. I wanted to see the “Downton Abbey” film and was intrigued by the movie playing as early as 10:30 a.m. I took them up on the midmorning showing and shared the theater with about 50 other people, all seniors like me as far as I could tell. Their slippers-and-robe attire let me know they had done the morning movie before.
Remember, this is an empty space without you so please send items Street’s way; this last issue of 2019 and the first of our being on this page together again. burket@sfarch.org.
SEASONAL SONG: The St. Brigid School Choir performed selections of the Advent/Christmas season Dec. 11 at the San Francisco school. In attendance was Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordielone, who also toured classrooms. The school, founded in 1888, is under the leadership of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, with Sister Angeles Marin as principal. The priests of St. Mary’s Cathedral provide spiritual support. (Photo by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)
CLERGY HOUSE GIFT: Thanks to a $50,000 donation from Home Instead Senior Care, the water will be a little hotter and the lights a bit brighter at Serra Clergy House in San Mateo, home to nine retired priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The gift was presented Dec. 2 at the clergy house and is set to pay for plumbing and electrical upgrades.
Father Ted Shipp, ordained in 1961 and a Serra Clergy House resident, is “spiritual leader” for the local Home Instead office and the connection that spurred the gift, said Martie Cruz of Home Instead.
“Home Instead is in the business of helping seniors and their families so the Serra Clergy House was a natural connection given it is a facility for senior priests,” the company said in a statement. “The facility was in need of repairs and Home Instead saw they could help with the donation.”
In addition to Father Shipp, also making their home at the clergy house are Father Ed Bohnert, Father Anthony Chung, Father John Glogowski, Msgr. Warren Holleran, Father Kieran McCormick, Father Tony McGuire, Father Joe Richard and Father Paul Rossi.
THANK YOU: A check for $50,000 from Home Instead Senior Care was presented Dec. 2 to upgrade plumbing and electrical work at the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Serra Clergy House for retired priests in San Mateo. Pictured from left at the presentation are Josie Vicera, customer service manager, Home Instead San Mateo; Father Ted Shipp, clergy house resident; Rachel Alvelais, clergy house manager; Martie Cruz, Home Instead San Mateo franchise owner; Father Kieran McCormick, clergy house resident; Vicente Cruz, general manager, Home Instead San Mateo.
WELCOME ABOARD: Spreading the word for St. Ignatius Parish in San Francisco is Devi Zinzuvadia, who was named director of parish communications just a few weeks ago. “I am a born and raised San Franciscan, and an alumna of Convent Elementary and St. Ignatius College Prep,” Devi told me via email. Devi holds an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Southern California and a graduate degree in journalism from Columbia University. She brings a decade in television news and a decade in community-based youth development nonprofits to her new post.
“St. Ignatius truly is a welcoming and inclusive Jesuit Catholic community, and I am so proud to be a part of our mission here,” Devi said. “I am thrilled to be taking on all aspects of our community’s internal and external communications and marketing, and supporting our wonderful pastoral and staff team, parishioners, and partners near and far in getting out the good word about their work.”
Devi’s first steps will include ascertaining “a sense of how I can best be of service to the St. Ignatius community!” she said. “I look forward to working with and for our wonderful staff and parishioners, and continuing to be inspired by the beautiful sacred space we are blessed with at St. Ignatius Church.”
Email items and electronic pictures – hi-res jpegs - to burket@sfarch.org or mail to Street, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco 94109. Include a follow-up phone number. Street is toll-free. Reach me at (415) 614-5634; email burket@sfarch.org.