A bishop’s call for solidarity
The journey of life is difficult at this time for Hispanics in the United States. Many have friends and family members who are without papers; many are without papers themselves; children in school are being bullied; and young immigrants who signed up for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are anxious that they might lose their opportunity to work and their protection from deportation;.
Racism has raised its ugly head in many communities, and so many of our neighborhoods and homes are plagued with violence. Many who have jobs often find themselves having to work two or three jobs in order to make ends meet.
To all of you this day I remind you that our Lady of Guadalupe comes to meet you to lead you to Jesus. She says to each of you what she said to St. Juan Diego: “Do not be disturbed in your heart; do not be afraid. Am I not with you, I who am your mother?”
We need to hear these words of comfort and strength when there is so much hostility in the public conversation about immigration and immigrants.
I wish to say loudly and clearly to all of you that as your bishop I am with you. You are the Church. I will walk with you no matter how hard it gets. Please God, things will go better than our worst fears about what might happen. Regardless, the Church is with you. I am here to accompany you. I also wish to announce to our immigrants, to our refugees, to our migrants, from wherever you come, that we will do everything we can to help you through our Catholic Charities and the community organizations of which we are a part. As Catholics we embrace our American traditions of welcome, of unity in diversity and our care for all.
STEPHEN BLAIRE
I also wish to say to our Muslim brothers and sisters, and to our Jewish elder brothers and sisters, and to all our inter-faith friends that the hate which destroys the unity and solidarity of the human family cannot be tolerated in any way. The way of God is the way of love.
As you know, so many of our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East have been slaughtered by ISIS or lost their homes in war-torn areas and have suffered as refugees from their ancient lands. I ask you to join with our Holy Father Pope Francis, in doing whatever you can in any way to support the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Christian and Muslim refugees at this time, and to bring calm to their homelands.
The causes of war and cruelty cannot be ignored. The injustices that give rise to radical evils must be alleviated. The forces of evil must be stopped. Ultimately, evil will only be overcome by good, by the hard work of good people working together to bring about peace. And there will be no peace if there is no justice which respects the dignity and worth of every human being. As long as the gods of money and power and unrestrained impulses found in the idols of greed and corruption rule on the face of the earth there will be no lasting peace. Sad to say, an even greater threat to peace that looms over our heads would be the unrestrained advance in nuclear weapons which could destroy all creation.
I sincerely believe that unless God is accepted as sovereign Lord over the earth and over our lives, communities will continue to deteriorate, the earth will be devastated, and family coherence will be diminished. Your devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe keeps us close to her as our Mother. She leads us to Christ Who is the all just One; the all merciful One; the Hope for the world when all seems hopeless.
The world does not need any more walls. It needs bridges of compassion and mutual understanding. Yes, proper respect for borders or boundaries, but not barriers of hostility and division. Let there be peace at our borders.
The world cannot continue to endure more violence. It needs restraint, words of peace and perseverance in the hard efforts to create the just structures that are the foundation for peace. In our community the answer to gang violence is good education and decent jobs.
The world must not tolerate racism. It needs to honor the diversity of God’s human family by building a unity which embraces and respects all races on the face of the earth. Unity in diversity!
Today we venerate Our Lady of Guadalupe who comes to meet us as our mother. Nuestra Señora will show us the way to peace and goodness and justice. Mary is the mother of all peoples. She will give us the courage not to be afraid. She will lead us to Jesus, the Lord of peace and justice. Viva Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe! Viva Cristo Rey!
Daughters of Isabella holding Christmas Dinner
LODI — Peace on Earth is the theme of the Daughters of Isabella Christmas Dinner Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in St. Anne’s Hall (SW corner Church St. and Walnut St., Lodi). Doors will open at 6 p.m. with no-host beer and wine available. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., followed by very special entertainment. In the spirit of the season, guests are asked to bring an unwrapped toy for a local charity. For tickets and any additional information, please contact Margaret Foley at 209-3298194 by Dec. 7.
The Home Church presents dramatic Christmas musical
LODI — The Home Church proudly presents the new dramatic Christmas musical: “Shepherds and Kings” on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 8 and 9, at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. For many of us, Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, a time to be spent with family and friends — a festive, happy time.
But for others, the same holiday season only serves to underscore the loneliness, pain, and hopelessness of their own lives. This is an emotion-filled story, rich with heart.
The story comes alive with great new songs that are sometimes powerful, sometimes celebratory, sometimes poignant, sometimes happy and sometimes sad songs. The Home Church is located at 11451 N. West Lane. For more information call 209-339-7333, email or visit
Children’s Christmas musical at First United Methodist Church
LODI — On Dec. 11, at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church, a children’s Christmas musical, “Guess Who’s Coming to Bethlehem?” will be performed. The musical is based on the carol, “The Friendly Beasts,” and is a charming mystery as the animals try to imagine who might be related to the baby in the manger. It will be a wonderful event for the whole family.
The church is located at 200 W. Oak St. in Lodi.
Rockin’ in a Winter Wonderland Concert at Faith Community Church
ACAMPO — Experience an incredible night of comedy, live music, lights lasers, sound and snow on Friday through Sunday, Dec. 16 to 18 at 6 p.m. each night for a Rockin’ in a Winter Wonderland Concert featuring Comedian Kerri Pomarolli. It will be held at Faith Community Church, located at 18621 N. Highway 99 in Acampo.
Admission is free and childcare is available. A shorter children’s version of Rockin’ in a Winter Wonderland Concert will be held on Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. There will be entertainment by Uncle Al, music, lights, snow and a free gift bag. Children can wear their pajamas and enjoy a fun time. For more information call the church office at 209-333-7089.
Christmas play at Emanuel Lutheran Church
LODI — Join Emanuel Lutheran Church as they celebrate the special blessing of the Children’s Ministry performing an original play, “Telling the Christmas Story.” The program will take place during both the 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. Worship Celebrations at 1540 W. Lodi Avenue between Ham and Mills. For more information, please contact the Church Office at 209-334-2130.
Christmas services at Emanuel Lutheran Church
LODI — Celebrate Christmas Eve by joining Emanuel Lutheran Church for Candlelight Celebrations at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. We’ll pull out all the stops at 5 p.m. with Emanuel’s Choir deeply blessing us and Pastor Chris Townsend sharing how he sees our Incarnate God, Jesus the Christ, as a Lover, Giver and Fighter who still holds us in awe in this 21st Century. Our traditional 11 p.m. celebration will also give us the opportunity to partake in Holy Communion. Emanuel is located at 1540 W. Lodi Ave. between Ham and Mills. For more information, please contact the Church Office at 209-3342130.
Music from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at the Home Church
LODI — It’s all about the spirit on Friday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. — the spirit of jazz, the spirit of Christmas, and the spirit of Charlie Brown — as Jim Martinez and his band pay tribute to the music of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at The Home Church. Jim has performed with such jazz notables as Lionel Hampton, Christian McBride, Russell Malone, Roy Hargrove, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, and Benny Golson. He’s recorded a dozen albums, including a tribute to Oscar Peterson, a tribute to Edvard Grieg, and a series of “Jazz Praise” albums that feature straightahead jazz arrangements of church hymns. Jim began studying classical music at the age of four in his hometown of Sacramento. He’s a regular at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho, and has played at St. Peter’s Church in New York City and The Basement Jazz Club in Sydney, Australia. He recently served as pianist and musical director for Joan Rivers and Bob Newhart at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe, and is also the Minister of Music at River Valley Church in Rancho Cordova.
From the first chords of Vince Guaraldi’s classic “Christmas Is Coming,” you’ll feel the spirit of Christmas and good ol’ Charlie Brown. The event is free to attend. The Home Church is located at 11451 N. West Lane. For more information call 209-339-7333 or email