From Pastor's Desk:

In 2006 when I returned from deployment from the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, an area devastated by war in the 1990’s. We successfully helped to keep the peace with an international peace keeping force. I came back to the Diocese of San Jose in May and I didn’t know where I would go for an assignment, several possibilities were mentioned, none particularly attractive until the possibility of Saint Anthony of Padua came up. I found out later from a parishioner that a group of people prayed for the next pastor and thus I was prayed into this parish. Now fourteen years later, after serving the people of this diocese for almost forty-three years; it was time to petition for the possibility of retirement as I turn seventy.

As I announced to you the first weekend in February, Bishop Cantú accepted my request. Through a process of weighing the needs of the diocese and the church, the bishop decided to act on the requests from three other pastors also asking for retirement. So even though the pandemic restrictions are still in effect at this time, three current pastors and I will retire effective July 1st, this year.

In accepting this decision rather than being able to serve a bit longer, I am filled with mixed feelings, I feel sad for leaving and at the same time grateful for the fourteen years I was able to serve you, the people of Saint Anthony parish. However, this ending is turning out to be so much different than I could ever have expected in light of the pandemic. Over the past two weeks, I realized that I am only part of the picture; there is a larger, wider picture than just me and the parishioners of Saint Anthony parish. What is clear to me is that uncertainty is more a part of our lives than any of us would ever realize, but what is now certain is the decision is made. The likelihood of a farewell event before July 1st is improbable unless the current restrictions for gathering in groups dramatically changes over the next couple of weeks.

Whether now or later, I am confident there will be some kind of celebration, some event. In the meantime, I announced that Father Tad Terembula will be the next pastor of Saint Anthony parish. He announced the same in his parish, Saint Clare parish in Santa Clara last Sunday. He could see from the pictures you have sent in and posted on chairs in church a vibrant, loving, hospitable, welcoming parish where people truly care for each other, have interest in one another, and want to be a faith community in the Spirit of the Gospel. And I told Father Tad that the people in this community like to be known by name if at all possible.

What is admirable is the spirit of this faith community, your generosity to others through Outreach, serving the poor and helping others. That is one of many charisms of this community that I have enjoyed so much. A parish is not dependent on its pastor, because the pastor ought to encourage the gifts, talents and abilities present in the members of the community. May you pray Fr. Tad into this parish as you prayed me into Saint Anthony parish.

Easter Blessings,
Father Larry Hendel
Introduction By Fr. Tadeusz Terembula
(Fr. Tad)

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Saint Anthony Parish,

As you already have heard from your pastor Fr. Larry, there has been some changes not only in our lives in this time of coronavirus pandemic but also changes at the Diocese of San Jose. These changes are affecting you directly by having your beloved Fr. Larry – who has been with you for so many years - going into his well-deserved retirement and having Bishop Cantu assigning another priest to come to your parish and take his place. That is a very big change for such a small and lovely community that you are! That new priest coming to your parish is me, Fr. Tad and using Fr. Larry’s words: “My parishioners are asking who is Fr. Tad? Could you introduce yourself a little before moving in?” Who am I? – I thought that’s a very valid question you might have, so let me write few words of introduction before greeting you personally after my arrival.

My original name is Fr. Tadeusz Terembula (after arriving at my first parish assignment in the USA, the pastor when he heard the name Tadeusz, could not pronounce it well and immediately suggested that - for the sake of American people and the ease of pronunciation – we cut my name in half. I decided to sacrifice – like I always try to do – and agreed to that proposal. Since then, instead of Fr. Tadeusz, I’m simply called Fr. Tad). I hope that this abbreviation will also be easier for you.

Originally, I come from Poland where I was born on June 6th 1969, and where I grew up in a family of six (four brothers and one sister; I’m the oldest one). If any of you asked me the question: How I became a priest? I would have to start telling you that in the early stages of my childhood I became an altar server who really liked going to Mass every Sunday. The pastor of my local parish quickly noticed that I was very interested in everything concerning parish life and, since he knew that I liked reading, he started giving me biographies of various saints. Those books about Christian saints triggered a desire to learn new prayers and today I recall with a smile how diligent I was learning one prayer after another.

Praying them every day and attending Mass on a regular basis caused lovely ladies over 60 years of age in my hometown to spread rumors around the community that I would surely become a priest one day. And to make sure that this happened, they began storming the heavens with their daily prayer intentions. Looking back over the last 32 years since the day of my entrance into the Seminary, I must say that I’m deeply indebted to those 60-year-old ladies because they demonstrated to me in a visible way that the words of our Lord: “Ask, and you shall receive…” are so very true!

(Continuation of introduction from Fr. Tad in Constant Contact and next bulletin.)
Our new parish website launched last week!

The URL remains the same: churchstanthony.org . Bookmark it on your desktop, tablet and mobile devices.

Hope you take a moment to check it out!

Our annual Backpack Drive continues through the weekend of June 6/7. Thank you to all who have donated so far. We hope to reach our goal of 130 backpacks with supplies and have them ready to be distributed before school reopens.
 
The cost for each supply-filled backpack is $40. You are welcome to sponsor more than one student. All donation amounts are greatly appreciated.
 
Checks can be made out to Saint Anthony Church with Backpack Drive written on the memo line. Checks and cash may be dropped off or mailed to the office. The church address is 20101 McKean Rd, San Jose, CA 95120.
 
Thank you for your generous response.
Outreach Committee
You can view the live streamed 9:30 AM Sunday Mass, logging in as early as 9:25 AM on Facebook, via the link below:
 You do not need to have a Facebook account. After going to the link, click NOT NOW when that message appears.
   Livestream weekday Masses: Wednesday and Friday at 8:15 a.m.
There are hard copies of the church bulletins in the flyer boxes outside
the Big Church (by Parish Office door) and Little Church (by front door).