Contact ALISON YOUNT moc.liamg@tnuoyila 925-683-6259 or, NANCY LISIAK gro.kaisil@ycnan 925-785-2791

KEITH COSBEY CHAIRMAN moc.liamg@dnhtiek

TOM LICKISS CHAIRMAN

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) discusses this question in her teaching on the Seventh Commandment "You shall not steal" [Exo 20:15; Deut 5:19; Mt 19:18]. "This commandment forbids unjustly taking or keeping the goods of one's neighbor and wronging him in any way with respect to his goods. [And] it commands justice and [fraternal] charity in the care of earthly goods and the fruits of men's labor" (CCC 2401). The underlining principle of this teaching is the respect for human dignity and the respect for the good of others. Respect for human dignity requires "the practice of the virtue of temperance, so as to moderate attachment to this world's goods; the practice of the virtue of justice, to preserve our neighbor's rights and render him what is his due; and the practice of solidarity, in accordance with the golden rule and in keeping with the generosity of the Lord" (CCC 2407). Concerning respect for the goods of others, the Church gives us the answer to our subject matter, saying that: "Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant" (CCC 2413). Please refer to CCC 2401—2463 for a more comprehensive discussion.

My confirmation saint is St. John Paul II. Even though he passed away when I was little, I had a curious interest in him for most of my childhood. My fifth grade teacher was surprised when I came to school reading a biography on JP2. It was only after I was confirmed that I realized my birthday falls on his feast day. Despite those connections, I had never thought to ask for his intercession until we started preparing for this pilgrimage. When we visited Rome, I was excited to learn that St. John Paul II's tomb was right inside St. Peter's Basilica. With the crowds, it was a maze to find. I stood in an extremely long line to exit and re-enter back through the Holy Doors for the opportunity to spend time at his tomb. There, I asked for his intercession. It was a surreal experience, being physically close to my confirmation saint. Here laid this incredible man, someone who I had admired for so many years, and yet, this was the first time I had thought to pray to him. Afterwards, I went to Adoration in one of the side chapels and stayed there for a long time, praying to follow JP2's example of living a courageous life. I was there for so long that when I came out, I checked the time and realized it was half an hour past when we were supposed to meet the group! People were frantically looking for me. Praying at St. John Paul II's tomb was a pivotal moment for me. Ever since then, I've been regularly asking for his help in exhibiting the same type of courage that he had. I've started to do things differently now that I'm back home. When I go on walks at work, instead of thinking about fantasy football, I pray the rosary. I started talking about Christianity with my non-Christian friends. I cut out unhealthy relationships. I switched jobs. The pilgrimage completely shifted my outlook. I'm committed to adjusting my whole life to put Jesus truly at the center, to be open to whatever He wants me to do, and to allow Him to work in my life so that I can become the man He wants me to be. - Ryan, recent college graduate ........ Heavenly Father, grant us the courage to live holy lives and become who you made us to be. Amen. Fr. Matthew and St. Isidore youth traveled to Rome last summer to immerse themselves in holy places, become friends with the saints, and grow deeper in faith alongside a million young Catholics from around the world. To learn more, contact Lesli Rivera at ten.tsacmoc@eegilsel.

Do you know someone w h o i s s i c k o r homebound and is unable to attend Mass? T h e H o m eb o u n d Ministry, under the guidance of our Pastor, visit the homebound bringing them spiritual support, sharing prayers and the joy of receiving the Holy Eucharist. We are here to help and assist you and your family. Would you like to volunteer to visit the Homebound? Please contact 510-304-1044 f o r m o r e information.