Thomas Merton Center

Members of The Thomas Merton Center community strive to develop a spirituality based on Jesus Christ's message of love, compassion and forgiveness and to live his message in today's world. The TMC community seeks to attract those who are on a quest for a deeper spiritual life and invite them to share in this vision.

• To foster a variety of ways by which Catholics and others may develop a deeper spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ and, through him, with God.
• To augment, support and lead the development of ecumenical spirituality, bringing together Christians and non-Christians in areas of common interest and values.
• To build a lay community based on inclusivity and consensus.
• To develop and enhance the faith life of families.

 Model of Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a Trappist monk of the Cistercian Abbey of Gethsemani near Bardstown, Kentucky. Merton was internationally known for his religious profundity and insightful reflection, his interest in interfaith and social action work on the problems and possibilities of the world. Merton's courageous spirituality was the model for what we intend to do and be at The Thomas Merton Center.
 

Legal Organization
The Thomas Merton Center is organized as a private, tax-exempt, non-profit, independent religious education organization, incorporated under the laws of the State of California. A Board of Directors has legal and fiduciary responsibility for the organization, accountable to the applicable state and federal laws, to its Bylaws, its Mission Statement and its registered members. Though Catholic in its origins, intent, and liturgies, The Thomas Merton Center is an independent religious educational organization, not legally affiliated with any church.
 
Membership
Membership in The Thomas Merton Center is open to everyone without restriction, as are all liturgies, retreats, and spiritual education programs. Nominal membership dues are paid annually.
Membership application:

Join (Here)

Renew Membership (Here)
 

• Adopt-a-Family Program: Donate (HERE)
• Updated Board Composition 7/3/2023 (HERE)
• Updated Presider Schedule 9/9/2023 Through December (HERE)
• Updated Board meeting minutes for 2022, 2/9/2023 (HERE)
• See the bulletin page for current activities of the Thomas Merton Center and other items of interest,
• Current TMC Online Bulletin (HERE)

Advent Retreat: Christus Natus Est! Poems to Change Your Life

Please join in for an afternoon of reflection with Fr. John Auther, S.J. Fr. Auther will share select Christmas poems as, together, we enjoy an afternoon oasis from the frenetic aspects of the holiday season.
We look forward to this exploration of poetry as we approach the joy of Christmas!

Event Flyer (HERE)



 

Pope Francis Hardening His Rhetoric Regarding Israel-Hamas War

By Nicole Winfield
The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY >> "Pope Francis met separately Wednesday with relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinians living through the war and set off a firestorm by using words that Vatican diplomats usually avoid: “terrorism” and, according to the Palestinians "Genocide".

Read the article published in the San Jose Mercury News  (HERE)

Prayer for Peace in Israel and Palestine

God of Love,
we lift up Palestine and Israel — its people, its land, its creatures.
War is a monster that consumes everything in its path.
Peace is a gift shared at meals of memory with Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
Let us burn incense, not children. Let us break bread, not bodies.
Let us plant olive groves, not cemeteries.
We beg for love and compassion to prevail
on all your holy mountains.

“They will not hurt or destroy
    on all my holy mountain...” —Isaiah 11:9

From Sojourner Magazine. Read the rest of the prayer (HERE).

Synod Update Reported by NCR's Christorpher White
Article Written by NCR Reporter John Grosso

"NCR Vatican Correspondent Christopher White participated in the Nov. 2 panel discussion "The Synod: What happened? What didn't? What's next?" The event was organized by Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut."

Read the article (HERE)

Homily: October 22, 2023

So, what is the religious duty. The inference to be made is that "the things that are Caesar's" are those that bear Caesar's image and inscription: denarii. As for the rest of the command, ". . . render to God the things that are God's," parallel inference is suggested: "the things that are God's" are those things that bear God's image and inscription. And, what bears God’s image? What bears God’s image? Human beings bear God’s image.


Read The Text (HERE)
 

UPDATE OF ACTIVITIES AT ST VINCENT de PAUL

TMC member and volunnteer/coordinator at SVdP, Gerard Vurens, provided the following report:

"It is time for another update on the charitable works of the society of St. Vincent de Paul. I think the best way to do this is to mention a few examples of neighbors we helped in the last month.

J. is living in a subsidized apartment with his wife and 3 kids. He used to be a handyman but Covid slowed down his work load. He found part-time work as a cook in Watsonville."......... Read more (HERE)

Second collections for the society at STA churches is scheduled for Sunday September 24, 2023.

Please continue your generous support either through the second collections or the Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish giving portal - https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/PS-357 – then select to fund St. Vincent de Paul there for donations to our Society

 

What Does the Bible Say About Women in Ministry? 

"One Sunday, a man walked out of my church. Having not researched the congregation before visiting, he was apparently appalled to discover the pastor (me) was a woman. He wrote to me later to explain that if I would just study my Bible, then I would understand that women are not allowed to teach men."

Read the Article at SoJourners Magazine (HERE)

 

NCR Newsletter on the US Catholic Church Conference and Laudato Si

"Is it Possible to feel the energy of positivity inside a Zoom room?

That was a question I was pondering Thursday night as I attended by laptop in my Kansas City home office the final session of the Laudato Si' and the U.S. Catholic Church conference.'"
Brian Roewe, NCR Environmental Reporter                                                                                                   
Read the newaletter (HERE)            


 

           


St Thomas Aquinas Masses:

See the St Thomas Aquinas website for mass schedule updates (Here)

Catholic Community at Stanford (Here)

Current TMC Online Bulletin
Old Bulletin Archives (Includes Steeple Talk)

Board Meeting Minutes

Link to Catholic Women Preach website and this week's video, click (Here)

GLOBAL CATHOLIC
CLIMATE MOVEMENT

This site has featured information on the Global Catholic Climate Movement (CCCM). See below left. The San Jose Mercury ne}ws printed in its December 5 edition that carbon emissions, directly related to the greenhouse effect, have started to rise again after abating for the last few years. We have provided a link to read the article. We hope that all people of faith do what they can to take care of and protect our common home.

Link to the article   ( here)

“On climate change, there is a clear, definitive and ineluctable ethical imperative to act.”
— Pope Francis

       
The science is irrefutable. There are many ways to act. Please vis[t the GCCM Website to find out what you can do. (Here)

ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME,