There will not be any Confession service, and Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament tomorrow evening, Tuesday, March 12, at 7:00 pm. It will resume next Tuesday, March 19.
This year's Lunar New Celebration in the Parish is next Sunday, February 25. The celebration begins with a Mass at 11:00 am where ancestors will be honored. After Mass, the celebration continues in the Parish Hall. The celebration features some cultural shows The Buukimtu Lion and Dragon Association will culminate the celebration with a Dragon Dance. Lunch will be served displaying a variety of Chinese food. Those who are planning to come to the reception must register at https://stjosephofcupertino2.flocknote.com/signup/151965. Organizers want to make sure there is enough food for everyone. Special thanks to Kenny Lee who coordinated all the preparation for the celebration. The Parish is also indebted to the contributions of Teresa Khoo and a host of volunteers.
In light of the heavy rains expected this weekend, the Grief Meeting on Sunday, February 18 is cancelled. The Grief Meeting resumes on Sunday, March 17, same time from 2:30 - 3:30 pm in the Fr. Greg Ng Kim Community Center.
Re-registration for the 2024-2025 school year will open in February. Teachers are beginning to plan for classes and events, and assume that all that are currently enrolled will enroll next year, except for the graduating eighth graders. Financial Assistance is available to new and current SJC families. Please contact the school office for more information at 408-252-6441. The B.A.S.I.C Fund financial aid program is available to any family that qualifies. Scholarships are awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. Application information is available online at www.basicfund.org
The 7th and 8th Grade students of St. Joseph of Cupertino School were selected by the City of Cupertino to participate in the Cupertino City Schools Exchange Program over April Break. These selected students have the opportunity to learn about school life in Copertino, Italy.
For two consecutive years, the St. Joseph of Cupertino School (SJCS) has been voted as the best private school in s to determine which private sc00000hool in the Bay Area has the greatest number of residents who feel strongly about it. SJCS came out again as the winner this year. St. Joseph of Cupertino School is the educational gateway to a child's future. In the heart of Silicon Valley, the School's TK, K-8th grade Catholic school is focused on the care of the whole person. The School goes beyond caring for the educational growth of its students and strives to foster their moral, emotional, and spiritual growth. Earning the top academic schools in the Diocese of San Jose is one example of reaching the School's academic goals. SJCS indeed looks forward to a bright future, and every faculty, staff, student, and family is gearing up for it. To know more about the SJCS, visit the website sjcschool.org. Tours are available every day.
The construction of the new St. Joseph Cupertino Garden Square has begun and it's near completion. The square garden is envisioned to be a place where parishioners can gather for hospitality and other social events. The Parish wishes to thank Zenaida Bailon, a long-time parishioner, for providing the funds for its construction.
This year's celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Joseph of Cupertino Church is on Friday, December 15. As in all the years, the story of the apparition of Our Lady at the Tepeyac Hill in Mexico is reenacted. After the play, students from the St. Joseph of Cupertino School are doing the Aztec dance. Aztec Dance is an indigenous dance tradition of Central Mexico based on the cultural legacy of the Chichimec/Otomi tradition warrior tribes that lived north of the “Aztec” empire at the time of the Spanish invasion. Originally, the dance is done to worship the gods and to stay in contact with nature. It is said that the dance was also considered a ritual cleansing of body and soul. The dance has been adopted by Catholics as an expression of worship for the one true God. The celebration of the Feast begins with a multilingual praying of the Holy Rosary at 6pm in the church. This is followed by a Eucharistic celebration at 7pm. A simple reception follows after Mass at the either Meditation Garden or at the Fr. Greg Ng Community Center, depending on the weather.
The "Simbang Gabi" is a nine-day novena mass leading to Christmas Day. It is a tradition among Filipinos as their way to prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ on December 25. Traditionally, the "Simbang Gabi", or Evening Mass, is celebrated either at dawn, which is known in Spanish as "Misa de Aguinaldo" (Gift Mass), or "Misa de Gallo" (Rooster's Mass); or in the evening, which is known as "Simbang Gabi" (Night Mass). It goes from December 16 through December 24 (Christmas Eve). People who participate in the novena-masses usually offer a petition to the Lord with the hope that it would be granted when they complete the nine days. Testimonies abound about people experiencing their petitions being answered at the end of the nine days. For quite some time now, however, the "Simbang Gabi has been celebrated in the morning coinciding with the weekday masses at 8:30, or at 9:30 am on a Sunday. Consequently, the name was modified from "Simbang Gabi" to "Simbang Umaga" (Day Mass). The participants are so excited to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ that they would sing "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" (Christmas has come) even though Christmas Eve is not until later in the afternoon. On the last day of the "Simbang Gabi", a reception is organized with traditional Filipino breakfast to allow the faithful to gather and enjoy each other's company in anticipation for the Christmas Eve. Everyone is invited to come and join in the celebration of the "Simbang Gabi" beginning on Saturday, December 16 at 8:30 am in the church. Succeeding novena-masses are as follows: Sunday, December 17, 9:30 am; and Monday through Saturday, December 18 through December 24, at 8:30 am. Reception follows at the Fr. Greg Ng Kimm Community Center after the December 24 8:30 mass.
Fr. Sebastian Carnazzo, Ph.D., will lead a bible study on Saturday, December 9th from 10:00 am through 11:00 am at the Fr. Greg Ng Kimm Community Center. The theme of this month's bible study is on the mystery of the birth of the Messiah using the Gospel according to Luke. The bible study is open to all and is free. Donations, of course, are welcomed.
The traditional Christmas Giving Tree begins on Friday, November 24th and ends on Monday, December 18th. The Christmas Giving Tree is a great opportunity for children to shop with their parents or godparents and buy suggested gifts for less fortunate families. All parishioners are invited to participate. Participation is easy. Simply remove an ornament (s) from the Tree and shop for the suggested gifts. Items are by age groups and gender. New items are requested. The gifts should not be wrapped and should be dropped into the Christmas Giving Tree drop box at the church's vestibule. This year's beneficiary is Nueva Vida, a community that serves people who work in the fields and their families.
Come to the next ballroom dancing class on Thursday, December 7 , from 7:30 pm through 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Participants will learn the swing and salsa dances. It's a good way to manage stress and learn dancing as well with your partner. This class is free. Donations are, of course, always welcomed!
Date Night Series is part of the Parish's Adult Enrichment Program. It is in partnership with the Witness to Love, a virtues-based, Catechumenate model of marriage renewal and preparation that integrates modern principles of psychology and the virtues to help couples facilitate an authentic dialogue about their relationship. The Date Night Series is a Be Light 5 Year Marriage Enrichment Movement that draws married Catholic couples closer together in Christ while being transformed into family missionary disciples within their own communities. This path not only supports newly married couples during the fundamental first five years of their marriage but also helps all married couples in a community to open their hearts to the powerful way God remains present to them and in the Holy bond of Matrimony. The five-year sequence builds upon the opportunities for growth and fulfillment that takes place over and over again in the intimate and personal way Christ encounters Catholic married couples in their interactions together. Be Light Marriage Enrichment Small Groups provide an intentional pathway to continue the journey as a newly married couple with your chosen mentors and invite other couples to be part of the experience. Join today and let your marriage Be Light! Register for the 2nd session at https://stjosephofcupertino2.flocknote.com/signup/141655.
The Parish, in conjunction with the 7th and 8th graders of St. Joseph of Cupertino School, is going to have a Halloween Fun Night on Friday, October 27th, from 6:00 pm through 9:00 pm. This will be at the School grounds. A lot of things are in store for this fun night: haunted house; trunk or treat (while supply last); pumpkin patch; arts and crafts; games; sweet and treats; food trucks; movie on lawn. Tickets may be ordered in advance. Call 408.252.6441. Tickets may also be purchased at the event.
The first session of the free ballroom dancing lesson last Thursday, September 28, sees a good turn-out of couples. Tim Dilellio, a certified dance instructor, teaches the class. The ballroom dancing lesson is held every other Thursday in the Parish Hall from 7:30 pm through 8:30 pm. The second session is on October 12. For more information, please contact the Parish Office at 408-252-7653.
The second class of the Bible Study is on Saturday, October 14 from 10:00 through 11:00 am in the Fr. Greg Ng Kimm Community Center. Fr. Sebastian A. Carnazzo, PH.D will lead the bible study. Fr. Carnazzo is a scripture scholar who teaches at St. Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park. The Bible Study is held every 2nd Saturday of the month.
Throughout the month of October families will have the chance to have the pilgrim Virgin statue of Our Lady of Fatima visit them in their homes. The Pilgrim Virgin Home Visitation is a way for a family to respond to the requests made by Our Lady of Fatima which is threefold: 1) to return to God, turn away from sin and obey the Ten Commandments of God; 2) Pray the Rosary every day for peace; and 3) make reparation for one's sins and those of others by some form of penance or sacrifice. Upon the request of a family, the Pilgrim Virgin statue is brought to the home of the family by members of the Legion of Mary on a scheduled visit. The statue remains in the family's home for the duration of their request. Two days prior to the home visit, a Legion of Mary member contacts the family to confirm the visitation. The family is asked to set up a little home shrine where the Pilgrim Virgin Statue will be placed. A table covering, candles, flowers should be placed. With the Pilgrim Virgin Statue in placed, those present gather at the shrine and recite the Welcoming Prayers of the Pilgrim Virgin Home Visitation Program. The family is free to invite friends and neighbors to welcome Mary upon her arrival and have them join them in prayer each day the statue is in their home. During this time, the family recites the Rosary each day and offers prayer intentions, petitions, and gratitude to Mary. Two days prior to the statue’s departure, a Legion member calls to discuss the time that the statue will be picked up. Upon the statue’s departure, Legion members join the family in reciting the Farewell Prayers of the Pilgrim Virgin Home Visitation Program. A Home Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary may be requested but not required. The Enthronement is a ceremony during which blessed images of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart are enthroned, that is, put in a place of honor. By the enthronement the family recognizes the Lord’s authority as their Sovereign King and the Lady’s Queenship over them. Families who wish to have the Pilgrim Virgin Statue visit their homes may sign up at https://stjosephofcupertino2.flocknote.com/signup/137725. Questions may be directed to Rosel Jarvis at roselsjarvis@gmail.com.
The last Fatima Pilgrimage is on Friday, October 13th. Mass begins at 6:30 pm followed by a rosary procession which ends in the church. A Eucharistic blessing for the sick follows after a Eucharistic procession inside the church. Dinner is provided after the celebration. Everyone is invited.