Worlds meet at Woodside Priory

July 24, 2015
Tom Burke

Woodside Priory School had open arms for recent visitors Abdia and Alice, students from Daraja Academy in Kenya. The Priory began its relationship with Daraja, which means bridge in Swahili, in 2007 and since then students and faculty have raised money for the school and led faculty and staff summer volunteer trips to Daraja Academy. This is the first stateside trip for students from Daraja.

Abdia, who graduates this year and Alice, a sophomore “seem like any other high school students,” said Sean Mclain Brown, Priory communications director. “They like music, ice cream, and dancing, but they are also from Kenya where electricity is unreliable, access to clean water is rare, political turmoil is rampant, and girls access to a quality education is severely limited.”

Both Abdia and Alice enjoyed the visit. “Everyone has been so friendly and helpful, we’ve made new friends that we hope to carry with us the rest of our lives,” said Abdia with Alice nodding in agreement according to Sean.

Abdia and Alice were panelists on a Cultural Forum Series at the Priory discussing stereotypes, cultural differences, and how people can open their hearts and minds to break down destructive barriers, Sean said.

ANNIVERSARY: Peg and Ed Gleason, married at St Brigid Church, San Francisco in 1955, will celebrate 60 years married with Mass and a renewal of vows at St. Boniface Church, Aug. 16. Their six children and 10 grandchildren will celebrate with them. Peg and Ed are old friends among us long-on-the-job chancery grunts serving as director of family life ministry for the archdiocese 1984-93. They began their marriage ministry 59 years ago with the Christian Family Movement, and went on to Marriage Encounter, Engaged Encounter and Retrouvaille. They are still active in lay ministry with the St. Vincent De Paul Society and the Gubbio Project.

ANNIVERSARY: Emilia and Albi Salvi, longtime parishioners of St. Teresa Parish, itself a longtime crown of Potrero Hill, celebrate 68 years married Aug. 3. The couple took their vows Aug. 3, 1947 at Immaculate Conception Church on Folsom. Thanks to their daughter Linda and son-in-law Ron Gaddini for the good news.

ALL HATS OFF: Evelyn Eaton, long known for her pioneer respect life service in the Archdiocese of San Francisco was remembered at a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral, July 18. Bishop Ignatius Wang, a one-time student of Evelyn’s during her years teaching at the Hong Kong seminary from which Bishop Wang was ordained, was principal celebrant. Evelyn, who held a doctorate in sociology, also served as a caseworker with Catholic Charities and later taught at San Francisco College for Women.

Mary Ann Schwab, a founder of respect life activities in the archdiocese, recalled Evelyn in a note to this column.

Evelyn returned from China in the ‘70s to accept the position of coordinator for the newly established Respect Life Commission eschewing any salary. “The San Francisco Catholic community was blessed with Evelyn’s great talent to communicate effectively and creatively the message of the right to life and dignity of the whole span of human life,” Mary Ann said.

In ensuing years, Evelyn accepted special projects for the archdiocese and her home became a place of hospitality for the respect life effort. Evelyn lived the Vatican II challenge to the laity to rouse their gifts to provide leadership and service to the church and the world, Mary Ann said.

WELL DONE: Had to laugh at a sign in the window of a sushi restaurant that said “Cook Wanted.”

WHO’S THE BOSS? No doubt where the power lies in the home where a Mercedes SUV with vanity plate MOMARKY is garaged.

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.