Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Those of you who attend weekend Masses on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. have seen that I’m back celebrating Masses. It has been great to see you all. I have been covering some weekday Masses beginning this week, and will soon be able to cover the other weekend Masses as well. The one thing I haven’t tried, but soon will, is offering two Masses in a row, since that means standing for most of 2-1/2 hours. (My ever-practical sister implied that it was my own fault, saying, “Then don’t talk so long.”)

A few miscellaneous matters:

1) By popular demand, the large nativity scene facing Western Avenue will be re-created this year. In the past, people visited it day and night, often to the wonder of small children. Families pulled up along the curb at night and took flash pictures from their cars. We already have the statues – Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Magi, etc. – which is the most expensive part. But not far behind is the cost of building a structure, roof and overhang which can be used for many years to come. That usually means redwood, which has served this parish so well. Look for it sometime after Thanksgiving, which is only a month away(!).

2) This year is the centenary of the laying of the cornerstone of our current church building. Since I came to SV, I have been studying its history and talking to the dwindling circle of people who remember the history. About three years ago, I buried what was almost certainly the last parishioner baptized in the old SV, now Elim Lutheran at Baker and Stanley Streets. The last person I knew who remembered the first Mass in the “new” church, an altar boy who was the archbishop’s train bearer, died several years ago. This parish was created in 1857 by the new Archdiocese of San Francisco, one year before the incorporation of the City of Petaluma. Before that, as part of the Diocese of Monterey, SV was a mission station of Tomales. Enough history!

I don’t know exactly when the church was first used for Mass. At the earliest, it was at the very end of 1926, but churches are built and furnished in stages – statues, stained glass windows, pews, mosaics, etc. They are all fabulously expensive and usually take a few years to complete. Important saints are not depicted because they were not authenticated when the church was completed.

Since we can be certain that the church was in full (or nearly full) use in 1927, I would like to dedicate 2027 as a jubilee year to celebrate our church as a monument of faith and beauty which elevates our hearts and minds and senses to God every week. I have been in this church countless times since 1965 and it never ceases to thrill.

I have given this a great deal of thought. In future Pastor’s Desk columns, I would like to share with you the many things I have in mind for this Jubilee Year – from tours to all parts of the church, to an organ concert, to a liturgy for the Dedication of a Church. (Yes, there are special prayers.) In the meantime, I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Blessings, Fr. Bill Donahue