Pastor’s Desk ~ March 10, 2024
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk, Uncategorized/by Fr. Bill DonahueDear Fellow Parishioners, This weekend we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent, commonly known as “Laetare Sunday.” It is a designation shared by Catholic and most Lutheran and Anglican parishes. To explain, I will begin nearer to the beginning. The two penitential seasons of the Church year, Advent and Lent, prepare us for the two […]
Pastor’s Desk ~ February 25, 2024
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk/by Fr. Bill DonahueDear Fellow Parishioners, Whenever we have a national 3-day weekend holiday, it leaves me a bit confused, because after a three-day weekend, the remaining 4-day work week is out of proportion. Tuesday feels like Monday, Wednesday feels like Tuesday, etc. Friday comes and – shebang! – the work week is over. Presidents’ Day is a […]
Pastor’s Desk ~ February 18, 2024
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk/by Fr. Bill DonahueDear Fellow Parishioners, The Gospels often mention that Jesus taught with authority, and not like the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus himself – with notable exceptions – was often non-directive and non-specific, with phrases like, “Go and sin no more.” The fullest yet most concise statement of Lenten regulations is found in the Ash Wednesday Gospel, […]
2024 Lenten Regulations for the Diocese of Santa Rosa
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk/by Fr. Bill Donahue“The Lenten Season has a double character, namely to prepare both catechumens and faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. The catechumens, both with the Rite of Election and Scrutinies, and by catechesis, are prepared for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation; the faithful, ever more attentive to the Word of God and prayer, […]
Pastor’s Desk ~ February 4, 2024
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk/by Fr. Bill DonahueDear Fellow Parishioners, I’d like to touch upon a few things happening in our parish community this past week, and the time leading up to Ash Wednesday. This past week – January 28 to February 3 – has been Catholic Schools Week, now celebrating its 50th year. Every year, our schools host what could be […]
Pastor’s Desk ~ January 21, 2024
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk/by Fr. Bill DonahueDear Fellow Parishioners, The best way to begin a New Year is with good news. As I mentioned at my Masses last weekend, Deacon Christopher Girolo from our parish has received his priestly ordination date: June 1, 2024. After his original vocational stirrings, followed by long years of study and formation, he is now […]
Pastor’s Desk ~ January 7, 2024
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk/by Fr. Bill DonahueDear Fellow Parishioners, Just as Advent came and went so quickly, so the Christmas season will end in a couple of days, with the Feast of Baptism of the Lord on Monday, January 8th. But before we return to Ordinary Time after Monday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany, which is the revelation […]
Pastor’s Desk ~ December 31, 2023
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk/by Fr. Bill DonahueDear Fellow Parishioners, While the liturgical season of Christmas continues for more than another week, commercial Christmas is already winding down. In fact, more of the Christmas season falls in January than in December, and concludes with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which falls this year on Monday, January 8th. This current […]
Pastor’s Desk ~ December 24, 2023
/0 Comments/in Pastors Desk/by Fr. Bill DonahueDear Fellow Parishioners, Except for God, everything is caused by something else, in life as in liturgy. Until the reforms of Vatican II, the earliest permissible Christmas Mass was Midnight Mass, which began at midnight. St. Vincent’s was the last parish I’m aware of that maintained the authentic Midnight Mass, decades longer than it was […]
About our Parish and our Website
Our parish mission statement identifies St. Vincent’s as a Eucharist centered people who, as the Body of Christ, live our faith in word and deed by sharing our time, talent, and treasure to support one another and serve those in need.
This website is intended not only to provide you with the information you need about our parish but also to help us build up our life as a community and so help us in our mission. It provides a way for us to connect with each other; and we invite you to use it to share stories, to learn about what’s happening and what’s coming up, and to provide information you think we all need to hear. This site will evolve as our parish evolves; it belongs to all of us. I hope you find it helpful.
“All are Welcome in this Place.”
This hymn speaks to the atmosphere, design, and heart of St. Vincent’s parish: there is a place here for everyone. In fact, you are not only welcomed, but needed! As we explore and expand our ideas of just what a Church community is, we recognize first that pivotal life events occur in church: weddings, baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation; but, we also find that we need community in order to be a Spirit filled Church where we praise God, share our faith, and help one another by way of fellowship, and the numerous ministries available to all parishioners. Through our stewardship, the gift of our time and talent, there is a wonderful opportunity to give and receive, to make friends, to help friends, to see how our talents are a gift from God made for sharing. We are bonded to a group of people with whom we already have at least one thing in common, and that is our faith. It is our hope that you will use this community website to build bridges and connect with one another, and see that each of us, too, is a gift from God meant to be shared.