-
October 22, 2015
Tom BurkeFather Arnold Zamora, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish, San Francisco, likes to sing. He has recently released “My Life in You,” a 12-song CD of which 10 are his own compositions.
“My initial idea was reaching out to the young people as a way of evangelization through songs of hope, love, faith, praise and inspiration,” Father Arnold told me via email on his reason for the recent work. He noted though that he hopes the completed songs will serve all generations.
The CD is not an overnight effort. It was almost a decade in the making, he said. The writing was done over his ministry as a parochial vicar at Star of the Sea and St. Brendan parishes and completed and recorded at Holy Name where he has been pastor since 2009. Father Arnold holds a degree in music and headed seminary and diocesan music programs in the Philippines.
Father Arnold did consider a career in music. He had his own music studio and production facility. “I was writing and arranging songs for local artists,” he said. “There was a time that I was more of a musician than a priest. But the calling to the priesthood is higher than my passion in music. My coming to the states realigned my vision and mission. God has redirected my path to what I am first supposed to be, a priest.”
He keeps his hand in music though. He plays and leads the parish choir when he is not on the altar and is still writing songs. “I wrote the theme song of the convocation of priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2012 titled ‘One Heart, One Priestly People in One Lord.’” He has also written with Paulist Father Ricky Manalo and in July wrote “When God Called My Name,” for the 40th priesthood anniversary of Father Eugene Tungol, pastor, Church of the Epiphany, San Francisco.
Father Arnold’s other works include “Chosen in His Love,” for his 25th priesthood anniversary; “Blessed Be God,” popular Mass songs arranged for a cappella choir; and “The Joy of Christmas.”
His current CD, “My Life in You,” is available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Spotify as well as the St. Mary’s Cathedral Gift Shop, McCoy’s Religious Goods and Holy Name.
Father Arnold had two opportunities to see Pope Francis in September. He was in Rome and part of an audience earlier in the month and then concelebrated Mass with the Holy Father at Madison Square Garden in New York City during the pope’s U.S. visit. Father Arnold was asked to be part of the Mass by his good friend and classmate Archbishop Bernardito Auza, apostolic nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.
“Concelebrating the Mass at Madison Square Garden was ‘being with the pope’ and more special than just ‘seeing the pope’ in Rome two weeks ago,” Father Arnold told me. “In Rome he was closer to my sight, in New York, he was closer to my heart!”
BALANCED BOOKS: Cassandra Miller, a senior at Mercy High School, Burlingame has been named a commended scholar in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. Karen Hanrahan, head of school, announced the honor at the school’s recent Mercy Day Liturgy.
Cassie and I spoke via email on what she called “the commended scholar thing” and how she stays on track with school and everything else. “I do study a lot but like to think that I have a pretty good balance,” Cassie said, “I also tutor middle schoolers and volunteer for an organization called Reading Partners.” She intends to attend college and focus on math or science and very possibly bioinformatics which combines computer science, statistics, math, and engineering to analyze and interpret biological data.
“My grandparents and their lives inspire me because of their ability to balance a strong work ethic with religious faith while enjoying life and still showing me unconditional love,” Cassie said. “The benefit of an all-girls school is the chance to develop who you are as an individual in a totally supporting community where you aren’t afraid to fail and without the pressure of needing to impress guys.”
More than 1.5 million students compete in the National Merit Scholarship program. Commended scholars place in the top 5 percent of that group.
Email items and electronic pictures – jpegs at no less than 300 dpi to burket@sfarchdiocese.org or mail to Street, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco 94109. Include a follow-up phone number. Street is toll-free. My phone number is (415) 614-5634.