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Wednesday, February 4, 2026: She lived like a shooting star: The life of Sister Thea Bowman Born Dec. 29, 1937, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Thea was reared as a Protestant until at age nine when she asked her parents if she could become a Catholic. Gifted with a brilliant mind, beautiful voice and a dynamic personality, Sister Thea shared the message of God's love through a teaching career.  After 16 years of teaching, at the elementary, secondary and university level, the bishop of Jackson, Mississippi, invited her to become the consultant for intercultural awareness. In her role as consultant Sister Thea, an African American, gave presentations across the country; lively gatherings that combined singing, gospel preaching, prayer and storytelling. Her programs were directed to break down racial and cultural barriers.  She encouraged people to communicate with one another so that they could understand other cultures and races. In 1984, Sister Thea was diagnosed with breast can...
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 Tuesday, February 3, 2026: "The Magnificat is the most passionate, the wildest, one might even say the most revolutionary hymn ever sung." The Magnificat in Minneapolis: May Mary proclaim her words once again Reflection by Mickey McGrath The Prayer Of Mary: The Magnificat My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,  my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.  From this day all generations will call me blessed:  the Almighty has done great things for me,  and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.  He has shown the strength of his arm,  he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,  and has lifted up the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things,  and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy,  the promise he made to our fath...
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Monday, February 2, 2026:  "I’m afraid too.  Let me be afraid with you. " A homily from our friend and mentor Father Jim Fredericks Ten years ago this month, Pope Francis celebrated mass in Ciudad Juarez. Mass was held at the wall. Those who gathered for mass that day stood on both sides of the wall. There were thousands in Ciudad Juarez and thousands more on the other side of the wall in El Paso.  Two cities. Two countries. One Church.  At that mass, ten years ago, Pope Francis spoke about the suffering of immigrants and their dignity as human beings. He spoke in solidarity with “the exploited, the extorted and the marginalized.”   And then he said something very important for us here at Saint Leo’s. He said: some will measure this crisis in terms of “numbers and statistics.” The Church, however, must take a different path. The Church must think about immigration in terms of “names, stories and families.”  In my homily for you today, I am not going ta...
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Saturday, January 31, 2026:  Jesus repeatedly chose to teach through story and parable, revealing what God was “like” “We have come in accordance with the counsel of Jesus to cut down our arrogant swords of argument into plowshares, and we convert into sickles the spears we formerly used in fighting. For we no longer take swords against a nation, nor do we learn anymore to make war, having become sons of peace for the sake of Jesus, who is our Lord.” -  Origen of Alexandria Most Christians today don’t know that the early centuries of Christianity—through authoritative teachers like Origen, Cyril of Alexandria, Augustine, and Gregory the Great— encouraged as many as seven “senses” of Scripture.   The 1. literal,  2. historical, 3. allegorical, 4. moral, 5. symbolic, 6. eschatological (the trajectory of history and growth), and 7. “primordial” or archetypal (commonly agreed-upon symbolism) levels of a text were often given serious weight among scholars. These levels we...
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Tuesday, January 27, 2026: We celebrate the brilliant life of Mary A. Dixon August 29, 1942 ~ December 13, 2025 (age 83) Mary Dixon lived a beautiful life, loved her family and friends deeply, and inspired many with her unwavering spirit.  On December 13th, Mary passed away peacefully in her home in Sonoma, surrounded by loved ones. She was 83 years old.   Those who knew Mary will remember her infectious smile, her gift for laughter, and her rare ability to brighten the day of anyone she met – whether through her ministry, at the local gym, or while walking the Sonoma bike path. Though her physical presence is gone, her spirit remains a light to all who knew her. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 1:30 pm at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 16290 Arnold Drive in Sonoma. Mary was born on August 29, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to Elbert and Yvonne Padgett, the second of four daughters (Johanna, Carole, and Catherine). At age nine, the f...
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Monday, January 26, 2026: Vigil for Alex Pretti in Santa Rosa: on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 Time: 5:30 (We have been asked to bring candles or a flashlight, glowsticks, tea candles  -- something to make light.  Where: 2285 Challenger Way in Santa Rosa - at the corner of Corporate Center Parkway. Victoria is definitely going to attend. Join her if you can!
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Sunday, January 25, 2026: Please  Join us TODAY for our Sunday Celebration with our community greeting at 1:45 followed by liturgy at 2:00PM and a potluck and conversation after the liturgy. Everyone Welcome! In person at:  Christ Church United Methodist 1717 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95405 Or Join us on Zoom:  Join Zoom Meeting using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5193158573?omn=83090356325 Passcode: 1234 Or use open Zoom from your browser and use the Meeting ID and Passcode Meeting ID: 519 315 8573 Passcode: 1234 If joining by phone: One tap mobile +16699006833,,5193158573# US (San Jose) +16694449171,,5193158573# US Emmaus Intentional Eucharistic Community  Liturgical Order of Service for Sunday, January 25, 2026  Peter: Rings the singing bowl X 3 to gather everyone so that we may begin our liturgy. Welcomes all, introduces any new or visiting people.  Victoria Introduces our theme, “ Call ” for tonight’s liturgy with a few words.  ...
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