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Dear Parishioners,
Today’s first reading personifies Wisdom as a woman who is sought by those who love her. In fact, if we pay careful attention to this text, there’s a lot of reference to seeking. Perhaps the question that we might ask is, who is doing the seeking? At first glace, it seems like people are the ones seeking after wisdom. And yet, Wisdom is described as a gracious woman who hastens to make herself known and who sits by the gate of those who seek her. The passage even says that Wisdom herself makes her rounds, seeking those worthy of her, appearing to them on their way and meeting them with all solicitude.
It would seem, then, that Wisdom is not only sought; she is also the one who seeks. The mystery revealed here is that our search for Wisdom, for God, is always a response to God’s prior search for us. Because he draws near, we can seek him; because he seeks us, our seeking is never in vain.
And yet, we must search. As we turn to the Gospel, we hear a parable about five wise virgins who prepare themselves, watching for the bridegroom’s return. In a word, they are seeking the bridegroom. These virgins are the ones who diligently prepare their lamps and, when the bridegroom returns, are ushered into the wedding feast with him. In contrast, the five foolish virgins become drowsy and fall asleep, and are caught unprepared when the bridegroom returns. To them, the bridegroom says, Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.
With these two readings, the Church is inviting us to consider the necessity that we, too, actively seek the Lord. This requires a conscious response from us; it is not passive. We must desire a relationship with Christ and actively seek him by preparing our hearts for his coming.
When we are seeking something we really desire, our hearts experience longing. One sign that our spiritual life needs renewal, that our “oil” has run out, is when our desire for the Lord has grown weak or dormant. Today’s psalm invites us to take as our own the words of King David: O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. If we find ourselves in a place where our thirst for earthly things is greater than the Lord, then we must ask him to awaken us from our spiritual slumber, that he may give us the grace to rekindle in us the flame that burns for love of him.
The good news is that our God doesn’t play “hard to get.” Just as Lady Wisdom in our first reading draws near to those who seek her, the Lord comes to us in the Eucharist, drawing near to all who seek him with sincerity and faith. And all who sincerely seek the Lord will find a place at his heavenly banquet.
Blessings,
Fr. Tad
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Religious Education at St. Anthony - Second Collection this weekend, November 7 & 8 | |
Held in God’s Light: Praying for
Our Loved Departed this November
In the month of November, we offer the highest form of prayer for our loved ones which is the sacrifice of the Holy Mass.
We encourage every family to stop at the Parish Office and ask for your loved ones to be addedto the Book of the Names of the Dead or use the All-Souls envelopes by writing their names. Additionally, please, bring also the photos of your loved ones to be displayed in front of the altar.
In this way they become part of our community prayer and remembrance. Your included thank-you donation is a gift to support the priest.
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FIRST FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
November 6, 2026
"Let us adore Jesus in our hearts, who spent 30 years out of 33 in silence; who began his public life by spending 40 days in silence; who often retired alone to spend the night on a mountain in silence. He who spoke with authority, now spends his earthly life in silence. Let us adore Jesus in the Eucharistic silence." - St. Peter J. Eymard
Come and join us for Eucharistic Adoration on Friday, November 6, after 6:30 PM Mass. This is your opportunity to spend some time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish, knowing that Jesus is longing to have an encounter with you. Adoration will go throughout the night, and it will end at 7 AM the following morning with Benediction.
All are invited to the delicious breakfast that will be offered afterwards.
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Thanksgiving Food Drive
Outreach's Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive this year will be from November 3rd – 19th. We will be collecting food for ABODE Services. ABODE works to end homelessness by assisting low-income, unhoused people--including those with special needs--to secure stable and supportive housing.
This year Outreach will be purchasing turkey breast instead of asking for whole turkey donations. We are asking for monetary donations (check OR cash) to purchase the turkey breasts. Lucky’s has agreed to supply us with the turkey breasts. Turkey breasts are easier for recipients to store, prepare, and there is less waste involved. Please make checks payable to: Saint Anthony Outreach and put ABODE in the memo line.
An Outreach member will be in the foyer collecting your monetary donation after each Mass. You can also put your donation into the offertory basket or drop it off at the Church office. There will be no online donations for this food drive.
We are also collecting canned goods. There will be collection barrels for your canned goods donations in the McKean Church foyer starting November 3rd. The food items being requested are: Boxed stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, canned gravy and canned corn. Other requested items are canned green beans, canned pumpkin, canned sweet potatoes, boxed macaroni and cheese, cornbread mix and biscuit mix.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
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NEW MINISTRY at St. ANHONY’S CHURCH
PRAYING A HEALING ROSARY
TO OUR LADY of GOOD HEALTH VELANKANNI
& NOVENA to ST. ANTHONY
We would like to offer a New Ministry of gathering our brothers and sisters from India who have a special devotion to St. Anthony and are also praying the healing Rosary to Our Lady of Good Health. That prayer of intercession shall bring comfort to the sick and suffering and strengthen the bonds we have within our parish community. Everyone is invited who would like to pray for someone who is sick but also for your loved ones.
Location: Grotto of the Blessed Mother outside the church
Frequency/Time: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month
Next Time: November 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM
Format: Recitation of the Holy Rosary followed by the Novena prayers to St. Anthony and Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni
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SOCIAL EVENT
Do you like to play games? Mexican Train, Rummikub, etc. Our next game day will be Tuesday, Nov 17, from 1:30-3:30 in the St. Joseph Room. You can drop in at your convenience.
Contact Pauline Golitz with concerns (408)410-8994.
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SAINT ANTHONY YOUTH GROUP
Middle through High School
Our next gathering and dinner is on Sunday 11/22, 6pm at the McKean Rd Church. Build community and have fun while exploring and living our faith. Returning and new participants are all welcome. More info and registration at http://churchstanthony.com/youth-group
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ONLINE ROSARY
Join our online group to pray the Rosary each day (or as often as you can). This is a great way to come to know Christ more deeply and receive graces and blessings from the Lord according to Mary’s promises.
We meet online every evening from 8:00pm-8:40pm. You can pray for your own intentions, and, as a group, we pray for the intentions of the community that are brought to us either in person or through our Prayer Intentions Request Form.
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Prayer intention form
P.S. It is not mandatory, but we encourage members to lead a session so the responsibility is shared. If you can help, please contact:
stanthonysjvolunteers@gmail.com.
Link to Google Calendar
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OUTREACH UPDATES
St Anthony Outreach Committee would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous contributions to our 2026 Coat Drive. This year we collected: 90 sweaters/sweatshirts, 120 warm coats and 20 blankets.
Your kindness and support will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many individuals and families in need within our local community.
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THANK YOU FOR COMING
TO OUR FUN TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT!
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WE ARE NOW A GREEN PARISH:
PLEASE SORT YOUR TRASH
The City of San Jose now requires us to comply with California Senate Bill 1383. We must sort our trash or receive fines of up to $500 per incident. Moreover, the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls us to be responsible stewards of the earth (care for the planet is a moral responsibility). From now on, when at a church function, please sort your COMPOSTABLE trash in the GREEN (“wet”) containers and NON-COMPOSTABLE trash in the BLACK/GRAY (“dry”) containers. Event hosts are also asked to maximize use of easily sorted compostable materials. Thank you!
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CALLING ALL MUSICIANS AND SINGERS
The 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM choirs are looking to recruit more singers and musicians. Please consider sharing your talent and joining us in praising God through music.
Rehearsals for the 8:30 AM Mass are on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM and rehearsals for the 10:30 AM Mass are on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.
For more information, contact Corinne Jarrett at: grammycmj@gmail.com or speak to a choir member after Mass.
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Life Justice and Peace
Catholic Advocacy Action Alert! California Legislators are back in session Click here for our CA Bishops concerned issues. Please take the time to review these proposed bills and contact your local representatives to express your support or concerns!
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Magnifica Humanitas: A Historic Encyclical for Our Times
What Happened
On Monday, May 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV personally presented his first encyclical letter, Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, at an historic event in the Vatican's Synod Hall, attended by cardinals, theologians, and technology leaders. This marks the first time a papal encyclical has been publicly presented by the pope himself.
The teaching document, addressed to "all people of good will," was signed by Pope Leo XIV on May 15, 2026, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's landmark, Rerum Novarum. Just as his predecessor addressed the Industrial Revolution and workers' rights in 1891, Pope Leo XIV is responding to the "new things" of our age: artificial intelligence, algorithmic power, digital inequality, and the future of the human person.
Reflection on Magnifica Humanitas by Bishop Cantú
“Magnifica Humanitas does not ask us to fear artificial intelligence. It asks us to be wise about it. The use of such powerful technologies has the ability to do tremendous good in favor of humanity and yet to also cause irreparable damage to individuals, communities, and societies. It calls us back to what we already know: that the common good matters more than efficiency, that human dignity cannot be optimized away.”
— Bishop Oscar Cantú of San José
Complete Reflection can be found on dsj.org
Read It for Yourself
Please read the encyclical itself not just the summaries. The Holy Father wrote it to be discerned, not just summarized.
📖 English (Full Text — Vatican) Magnifica Humanitas (EN)
📖 Spanish (Full Text — Vatican) Magnifica Humanitas (ES)
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DONATIONS INFO
It is easier now more than ever to make your stewardship and second collection contributions online. A "Donate" button has been added to the upper right corner of the parish website home page and an "Online Giving" button to the end of each week's parish email. Clicking these buttons will take you directly to our online giving app.
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The 2027 Mass Intention Book is available!
A very special prayer practice that is offered at every Mass is a Mass Intention. Intentions are offered for many reasons, for the living and the dead. Masses can be offered for birthdays, anniversaries, illness, special intentions and answered prayers. Consider remembering a loved one this upcoming year. If you are looking for a specific date for the Mass, call soon to reserve your date so that it isn’t taken. Contact Edith Baretta at the parish office ~ (408) 997-4800; email us at churchstanthony@dsj.org.
A donation of $10 is suggested.
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Vigil Mass, Nov 7
"Little Church" McKean Rd
4:00 PM
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Sunday Mass, Nov 8
"Big Church" McKean Rd
8:30 AM
10:30 AM
Weekday Mass:
Tuesday - Friday
8:00 AM
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Visit the parish website for updates and other news | |
St. Anthony Parish
20101 McKean Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
(408) 997- 4800
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