Community Center Update - November

PLEASE SIGN-UP TO HELP COMPLETE OUT COMMUNITY CENTER!

Now is the time to volunteer to help complete our SJV Community Center! This is a project that needs the
support of every member of our community. Specifically, we would like every member of our community to
consider giving 10 hours of time over 5 months, starting in January 2011.

Next weekend, November 20 & 21, there will be volunteer sign up cards distributed at mass. Volunteer sign-up
cards will also be available in the school lobby and parish office. Specifically, we need help with:

• Mailings
• Phone Calls
• Events: Greeting
• Events: Refreshments
• Prayer Committee
• Fundraising Committee
• In-Kind Building Materials

This is a well organized effort, so it will be easy to get involved. This project also counts towards volunteer
service hours for school families. Follow-up will take place in December.

Please consider how you will be involved and remember to sign up next weekend! You can also sign-up
ahead of time by emailing CommunityCenter@sjvsj.net or calling 408.258.7832, ext. 36.

Thank you for your patience, prayers and support as together, with God’s help and guidance, we continue to
build the community of Saint John Vianney.

Report on our first Kermis

Bouquet of gratitude for the hard work, time and devotion of Carmencita Quiroga, her Divino Nino JESUS prayer group, Fr  Eddie and the committee of great cooks for raising more than $2000 on Saturday, Nov. 6 to purchase liturgical vestments and accessories for celebrating Mass.  The team continues to collect monetary donations until the end of November from those who could help complete the cause.

Kudos to Dee Vance-Micallef (Pastoral Council)and her sister Charlotte for organizing the SJV Girl Scouts providing games for the children; Phyllis Silva (Community Life Commission) and her Youth group providing face painting and decal tattoos for the children; Alice and husband Stan for the music, karaoke and line dancing;  Becky and Bob Stegman's heavy arm work, Patti and Gina Sebastian (Worship Commission) for assisting Carmencita.  The scrumptious food included pozole, plato criollo, barbacoa, chicken, tamales, tostadas, salad, horchata and hot dogs for the kids.  Participants enjoyed the auction and raffle gifts.

The left over chicken and rice were offered to the attendees of the 5:15 and 7 PM Masses on Saturday.  Look forward to the next Gran Kermese tentatively planned for the weekend of March 12.

Report by Patti Ross

Open House at St. John Vianney School

Next week, St. John Vianney School will be hosting an open house on Tuesday the 16th and Thursday the 18th from 8:30am until noon.  If you are thinking about your preschooler's future or thinking about current transfer options, I encourage you to drop by and ask questions.  Tours will be provided for kindergarten through 8th grade. SJV is located in the heart of Alum Rock. All are welcome!

I invite you to learn more about St. John Vianney School

www.sjvsj.org or call the SJV Office at 258-7677.

Community Center Update - October

Saint John Vianney is blessed with an active and thriving community.  It is a place for ministry, education and service.  A place of family and friends – young and old, with a vibrant diversity.  It is a place where all can express their faith through worship, sacraments, outreach and fellowship.  As an example of our active parish, during the 2009/2010 fiscal year, our community included:

·       Over 2,250 registered parish households, representing 7,000+ adults and children

·       Over 60 different parish ministries, programs and activities

·       More than 540 elementary students and high school youth participants in basic faith formation and sacramental preparation, plus more than 9 adult participants in ongoing spirituality courses, to support our English and Spanish speaking communities

·       401 families, representing 534 students enrolled in Saint John Vianney Parish School

·       125 marriages, 46 baptisms, 80 confirmations and 56 participants in RCIA

·       Numerous parish-wide celebrations and events, including 7 weekend Masses, Parish Feast Day Celebration, Argentinean BBQ, School Holiday Faire, Parish Christmas Concert, School Crab Feed and Parish Fiesta

·       Several parish service activities, such as providing meals, clothing and donations for the needy through St. Vincent de Paul and Parish Community Ministry, the Parish Advent Giving Tree, and supporting the San Jose Family Shelter and other local food kitchens for the elderly, poor and homeless 

The Our Community, Our Center Campaign is not just about a building.  It’s about building community. It’s about uniting together to build something bigger than just one person, or one group of people, could do alone. It’s about providing a place that will breathe new life into the parish, carrying forth the message of faith and service that is the Saint John Vianney community. 

This is an exciting time at the parish.  Many parishioners and ministry groups have already pledged their early support and we hope to continue to be blessed by early funding so that we can start work on finishing the interior and repaying loans as soon as possible.  This is a project that needs the support of every member of our community.  This month, please reflect on how you can give of your time and talents to help complete the SJV Community Center.  There will be sign-ups for volunteer needs during November. 

If you have any questions about the Community Center, please don’t hesitate to ask any one of the Steering Committee members directly or email CommunityCenter@sjvsj.net or call 408.258.7832, ext. 36.  Input and questions from the parish are always welcome. 

Thank you for your patience, prayers and support as together, with God’s help and guidance, we continue to build the community of Saint John Vianney.  

SEPTEMBER UPDATE From the Desk of Fr. Francisco Rios

Dear Parishioners and Members of the Saint John Vianney Community,

I hope you each had a wonderful summer with friends and family.  As we begin the fall, I wanted to take the time to personally update you on our progress to complete our SJV Community Center.  As you may know, a group of dedicated parishioners and staff have been working hard planning ways to effectively and successfully complete our SJV Community Center and we have made exciting progress in determining our next steps. 

There will continue to be regular updates in the bulletin and we will be forming committees this fall and launching a campaign this spring.  Many parishioners and ministry groups have already pledged their early support and we hope to continue to be blessed by early funding so that we can start work on finishing the interior and repaying loans as soon as possible.  This is a project that needs the support of every member of our community and I ask that you please continue to keep this project in your prayers.  I also ask that you begin to consider how you can share your time and talents with the parish community and join me in finishing this project.   

Finishing our SJV Community Center is a priority of mine.  There’s no question that our Community Center will add tremendous value to our many parish ministries and school activities and enrich the faith experience of our current and future parishioners.  But, most importantly, completing our SJV Community Center has the ability to unite us together in a common goal – that of enriching our active and vibrant faith community. 

Thank you for your patience, prayers and support as together, with God’s help and guidance, we unite as one to continue to build the community of Saint John Vianney.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Francisco Rios

Pastor