March 24, 2020

Quarantine = 40 Days = Lent

We hear so much talk of "isolation" and "quarantine" in the news during these days of the Coronavirus. Quarantine literally means "40 Days." In most languages it is more or less the same root word that is used for this 40 day season we call Lent in English. (For example, in Latin, Lent is call Quadragesima, In Italian it's called Quaresima, and in Spanish it's Cuaresma.).

Let's not miss the grace-filled coincidence that we're experiencing such things as social distancing, isolation and quarantine during Lent this year, especially as we recall our 2020 Vision of "Forming Intentional Disciples."

What does a medical quarantine have in common with Lent? Well, it seems the term was originally used in Venice during the plague. It was a 40 day isolation required of all voyagers on ships before they were considered safe to enter the city. And the concept of medical "isolation" seems to come from the fact that those with illness were often held on an island, which is called an "isola" in Italian.

For a much longer time the forty days of Lent had similar methods and purpose on a spiritual level – recalling God's great work in the 40 days of Noah on the Ark and Jesus conquering temptation in the desert. Lent has always been an intense 40 day time of being set apart for purification, first and foremost for the those adults being formed as disciples in the final preparation for entrance into the Church at Easter, to be washed clean of sin by Baptism so that they might share safely with us in the most intimate act of Communion. In a similar way, Lent is an annual opportunity for the rest of us to get cleaned up again and again and again, to put renewed intention into our own discipleship and that potential we each have for a personal relationship with Jesus which we ourselves received in Baptism.

None of this is meant to be easy - preparation for Baptism, Intentional Discipleship or a pandemic. There will be unavoidable inconvenience, hardships or physical discomfort in all of them, but when we participate in it all with intention, Intentional Discipleship that is, it all ceases to be merely inconvenient, hard, or uncomfortable. It can all be life giving and life changing in ways we never imagined.

A truly blessed and life giving 40 days to you all.

Oprime aquí para la carta en español. 

Starting Today! Not a Moment too Soon: Drive-thru Confessions.

Shelter-in-Place can be tough on everybody. Does your family think you need a confession?

While public health does not allow us to use confessionals, priests do want to be available for confessions. We'll be available at our long established times for confession at the spots indicated on the map.

Monday - Friday 5:00pm-5:30 (M-W-F in English, Tu-Th in Spanish)
Saturday 11:30 -12:00pm in English and 4:30pm-5:00pm in Spanish
Priests will stay longer on any day when demand is high.

Thank you for being with us LIVE, as we continue to be united in Spirit! See you next Sunday at 10:45am. Visit and subscribe our YouTube Channel. 

This Sunday, March 29, is a particularly special day to participate in the Mass. March 29, 1776 was the first time Mass was celebrated in San Mateo at the De Anza Expedition Encampment on Arroyo.

Gracias por conectarse en VIVO, seguimos unidos en Espíritu! Nos vemos el proximo domingo a las 8:45am. Visita y suscribete a nuestro canal de YouTube.  

Este domingo 29 de marzo es un día particularmente especial para participar en la Misa. El 29 de marzo de 1776 fue la primera vez que se celebró la Misa en San Mateo en el Campamento de Expedición De Anza en Arroyo.

Coping with COVID-19 Anxiety

How do you stay healthy – spiritually, physically and emotionally – during such an unusual time?

From a faith perspective, the resources available online are tremendous.   Many people already get an email with a daily reading or a short reflection.  Such practices are especially widespread during Lent. (CA Catholic Conference)

Spiritual Resources

Feeling Stressed? 

We encourage you to call our Parish priests for a phone conversation. You can email or call the Parish Office. 

Phone calls: 

650-344-7622 when you hear the Parish voicemail, press *8(ext.)# you then will be transferred to their extensions. Leave a message for a return call as soon as possible.

Emails & Extension Numbers:

Msgr. John Talesfore

ext. 102,  jtalesfore@stmatthewcath.org 

Rev. Alvin Yu

ext. 112,  ayu@stmatthewcath.org

Rev. Dominic Lee

ext. 119, dlee@stmatthewcath.org 

Rev. Jorge Arias

jarias@stmatthewcath.org 

Thank you for being a committed member of our parish.

Blessings,

Monsignor Talesfore

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