“The Catholic community stands with all people who struggle for an end to racism and violence, in our families, in our places of worship, in our communities and in our world. We must continue to build bridges and we must confront racism and violence with a commitment to life, a vision of hope, and a call to action,” Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, President of the U.S. Bishops Conference, June 19, 2015.

With this call to action, we can no longer stay silent or idle to the persistence of racism embedded in our institutions and public policies and how it impacts us personally.  It is time we begin the healing process by listening to the experiences of our faith communities of color. May we be present with our compassionate hearts to listen to their voices and truths.

Panelists include: Nirmala Bheemisetty, Martita Martinez-Bravo, and Cynthia Jones-Campbell 

All Catholics/Christians impacted by divorce are welcome, and we join as a family-of-sorts to journey together, sharing collective lessons learned and resources available, holding each other up in prayer, and serving our community.

We offer a welcoming environment for people dealing with divorce whether they are in the earliest (often most painful) stages of grief, the initial stages of coping with difficult changes (making necessary life adjustments), or whether they are through the worst of it and now looking to move forward, grow, and serve.

Our mission is:

• To be instruments through which God can embrace Catholics/Christians who have experienced divorce, by offering acceptance, comfort, encouragement, reconciliation and healing
• To be instruments through which divorced Catholics/Christians are encouraged to listen to the Word of God, attend mass, persevere in prayer, contribute to works of charity and to community efforts for justice, bring up their children in the Christian faith, and cultivate the spirit and practice of reconciliation and thus implore, day by day, God’s grace.

Contact: Cynthia cjonescampbell@yahoo.com

Also visit: Groups, Care

Peer leaders help engage our confirmation candidates by acting as mentors and facilitators during our weekly confirmation sessions, our annual retreats, and at 4:12 youth nights. 

​If you are confirmed and are interested in joining our team, or if you have any questions, contact youth@padreserra.org

​Visit also: Youth and Young Adults

Have a busy Tuesday evening or a meeting or class at church? Come early to enjoy dinner in the courtyard. Cash only.​

Contact: Teresa Runyon

Offers support to those who are caring for an aging parent, relative, or spouse.
Contact:
Patricia Sentianin
sentclan@gmail.com
​
​Resources:

• A Catholic Guide to Caring for Your Aging Parent, Monica Dodd
• Christian Caregiving: A Way of Life, Kenneth C. Haugk

​Also visit: Care

Do you know someone who is wondering if the Catholic Church is the place for them? It could be your neighbor, your coworker, or someone in your family.

​At Padre Serra, we have a group which meets on Tuesday evenings, year-round, to explore what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in the Catholic tradition. The atmosphere is informal, open and free of any pressure. Those attending are invited to ask any questions they may have followed by a discussion on various topics regarding our faith.

If you know someone who might be interested, invite them to accompany you to one of the meetings. We serve great refreshments, too!

For information please contact:
​Catherine Shadduck
catherine@padreserra.org 
(805) 482·6417 x331

​Also visit: RCIA

​Contact teresa@padreserra.org​

Also visit: Adults

Women and men of any age are invited to join instructor Sheila Montgomery for Tai Chi. ​

Bring your intentions as we pray through meditative movements. $5 donation /class.
​teresa@padreserra.org

Also visit: Adults, Groups, Prayer

Let us come together for a fun, interactive, and enriching Advent celebration to prepare our hearts for Jesus' coming!
Come and learn how to enjoy this cheerful faith tradition with your family and friends. Everyone is welcome!

The Posadas is a Christmas tradition celebrated throughout Mexico for over 400 years that commemorates Mary and Joseph's long, arduous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a warm place to stay, and for Jesus to be born. The word Posada is Spanish for "lodging" or "accommodation."

This Advent custom re-enacts the gospel story told in Luke 2:1-7 with prayer and song. Traditionally, a Posada starts with the recitation of the Holy Rosary, a reflection of the Gospel of Luke, and the re-enactment procession of singing requests for lodging. The celebration continues with a piñata; the seven corners of the piñata represent the seven deadly sins, and the beating of the piñata symbolizes overcoming the sins. The candy within each piñata characterizes the sweetness of God's grace to us through the birth of Jesus.

​A Posada teaches us that by welcoming the poor and needy, we are embracing Jesus in our midst.  Typically the Posadas begin on December 16 and end nine days later, on December 24 and midnight Mass. Each night, one family agrees to house the pilgrims.

Come early to enjoy Taco Tuesday at 5:30 pm! Tamales and Champurrado will also be available for purchase (cash only) before and afterward. Piñatas for the kids and goodies for the adults!​

Celebrate Food, Friends and Forgiveness!
Let's be thankful for all our many blessings. Have some dinner with your family, relax and slow down. Be blessed with the gift and healing of Reconciliation (Confession).

This is an important faith learning experience for the children in which they witness their grown-ups participating at church in prayer and going to talk with a priest. By your example, you teach.

Come to our gathering and enjoy:

• Yummy food provided!
• Great family fellowship with a spiritual connection...and craft!
• Holy peace, prayers and priests available to give blessings.

This is not First Reconciliation! Children enrolled in grades 1 to 5 who have not yet made their First Reconciliation will go to a breakout session that is sacrament preparation focused.

Children preparing for First Communion next May, will make their First Reconciliation on March, 14 2020.

This is our Faith Formation gathering the week of November 12. Regular Centers resume the week of November 18.

WHY is the great question of mission.  Sometimes, we can forget the WHY of the Church.  A clear sense of WHY, however, changes what we do as Church and how we do it. 

The WHY of the Church, in fact, is really a WHO: Jesus!  Renewal in the life of the Church means starting again from our WHY.  Come renew your sense of missionary discipleship.
 
Ordained from St. John’s Seminary in 2015, Fr. Parker is the Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.