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Dignity, San Francisco
Nov/Dec 1998

Co-Chairs’ Report
Gino Ramos and Angelo Wong

ONWARD AND FORWARD

Greetings, fellow dignitarians! As we celebrate the last quarter of the year 1998, we would like to invite all to recommit to the cause and mission of our beloved organization, Dignity/USA, particularly to our chapter here in San Francisco.
In this issue of Dignity Spirit, we welcome the addition of a column by our very own pastoral leader, Fr. William. We have also included bits and pieces of various chapter activities and opportunities for involvement.

STEWARDSHIP, A FORM OF THANKSGIVING

As we pondered on what stewardship really means to both of us, your co-chairs, we agreed that in the spirit of Thanksgiving, one’s humble offering of their very own time, talent and treasure truly creates a God-centered community of good will. November has been designated as Stewardship month for Dignity/SF. We hope and pray that all of us will, in the spirit of discipleship, actively and generously tithe of their time, talent and treasure. We urge you to do so in thanksgiving for what Dignity has done and continues to do to benefit all of us in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholic community.

IT’S RETREAT TIME, FOLKS!

Once again, our community is being called to prayer and recollection via our very own Dignity Retreat. The retreat will be led by Fr. William and Doddy Donnely on Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998 at 7th Avenue Presbyterian Church from 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Please show your love and commitment to our chapter by being there. The day promises to be filled with hope, visions and dreams for our chapter’s spiritual growth and stewardship.

HUGS AND KISSES

We’d like to officially welcome back to the Board of Directors our previous co-chair Paul Woolley. He will serve as chapter Treasurer filling the term vacated by Mark Molina.

Kudos to the group of dedicated volunteers who staffed our booth during last month’s Oakland Gay Mardi Gras, Folsom Street Fair and the Castro Street Fair. Members like you make all of us shine and gloriously visible! Thanks a million from your Dignity family.

Our sincerest thanks and congratulations to the group of volunteers who made this year’s Solidarity Sunday our most successful yet. For the first time in our Solidarity project history, we have reached out to the greater church community in the thousands.

HOMECOMING DINNER

In honor of our 25th Anniversary Thanksgiving, we have invited our previous members to dine with us on Sunday, November 8  as a way of reuniting with them; and, in some cases, reconciling with them. We have enclosed a copy of the letter we sent them. Please join us in November as we celebrate the love and diversity of our community.

LOOKING FORWARD

Our chapter is blessed with many talents. On Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998 at 7:00 PM we are proud to sponsor the Gospel proclaiming work of long time members Michael Reardon and Patrick Lane on the Gospel of Mark. Admission is $10 per person. A reception follows the evening’s performance. All proceeds will be donated to Dignity/SF and the San Francisco/San Mateo Cursillo Movement. If you’d like reservations please send your check early for the amount and number of people who will be with you. We hope to see all of your there as we give witness to our faith and love through the Gospel of Jesus our Christ.

A WORD OR TWO FROM YOUR PASTORAL LEADER

I want to take this time to thank you for allowing me to serve you as the first Pastoral Leaders for Dignity/San Francisco. One of my many duties as Pastoral Leader is to provide spiritual direction which I do every Saturday from 1-4 PM. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.


Let me talk a little about the history of Advent. It cannot be determined with any degree of certainty when the celebration of Advent was first introduced into the Church. We find no evidence of any observance  before the feast of the Nativity existed, which was not  before the end of the fourth century when it was celebrated by some on December 25 and others on January 6.  The Synod of 380 prescribes that from December 17 to the feast of the Epiphany no one should be permitted to absent themselves from church. 


There are some homilies extant, most likely of St. Caesarium in the early 6th Century, where we find mention of a preparation before the birth of Christ; still, to judge from context, no general law on the matter seems to have been in existence.


Several synods had made laws about fasting to be observed during this time, some beginning with November 11, others the 15th and others as early as the autumnal equinox.  In the Greek church we find no documents for the observance of Advent earlier than the 8th Century. In the eighth century we find it observed not as a liturgical celebration, but as a time of fast and abstinence, from November 15 to the Nativity. In 1720 the Council of Ruthenians ordered the fast according to the old rule, from November 15. 


This is a small look at how Advent was celebrated over the centuries. The liturgy of the advent season brings into prominence three great biblical figures, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary. It brings to mind the waiting for the promise of salvation which God had given through the prophets for many generations. On the first Christmas, the promise was fulfilled. During the next few weeks, let us prepare for the birth of Jesus, our savior with the same joy that must have been present 2000 years ago.

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