My dad (Wilfredo Balza Sr.) passed away last Saturday (Sept. 25)

As some of you may have learned, my dad, Wilfredo J. Balza Sr, passed away last Saturday at 10AM, after battling with lung cancer and cirhosis in the liver. He was fortunate to have been given the Last Rites (Sacrament of Extreme Unction) the night before he died. My apologies for the late posting as we have just finished the viewing and funeral arrangements. Please see the funeral schedule listed below:

Viewing / Vigil:

Sept. 29, 2010 (Wednesday)

1PM to 9PM

Skyview Memorial Lawn

200 Rollingwood Dr., Vallejo, CA 94591

(707) 644-7474

Traditional Latin Requiem Mass:

Sept. 30, 2010 (Thursday)

11:00AM - 12:00NN

St. Margaret Mary's Church

1219 Excelsior Ave., Oakland, CA 94610

(510) 482-0596

Lunch reception at Full Moon Seafood Restaurant:

2042 MacArthur Blvd

Oakland, CA 94602

(510) 530-1868

The remains of our dad will be brought back to the Philippines for burial

(viewing, Requiem Mass and Burial schedule to be announced at a later date).

In the meantime, please continue to keep him in your prayers!

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For those new to the Traditional Latin Requiem Mass:

1) Latin-English Requiem Booklet Missals will be available and distributed before the Mass. This will enable you to follow along during Mass. Kindly return after use.

2) Out of respect for Our Lord and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, please dress in an appropriate manner.

3) Please turn off or silence your cellphone.

General norms for receiving Holy Communion in the Catholic Church:

Those who receive should:

1) Be baptized Catholics in full communion and in good standing with the Church

2) Be in a state of Sanctifying Grace (i.e. not conscious of any mortal sin).

3) Have fasted at least one hour before receiving the Blessed Sacrament.

In the Traditional Latin Mass, the communicant receives the Sacred Host on the TONGUE

(NOT ON THE HAND) while kneeling. The "Amen" is said by the priest (not by the

communicant).

Video: Preached Novena to St. Padre Pio (Day 1)

Day 1 (Sept. 15, 2010) video of the preached novena to St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) given by Fr. Eric Forbes (OFM Cap). On the last day, Sept. 23, 2010, a first-class relic of St. Pio will be venerated.

Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2

High Requiem Mass every month at St. Margaret Mary's Church

As announced recently by Canon Jean Marie Moreau (Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest), starting September 2010, a High Requiem Mass will be offered once a month at St. Margaret Mary's Church (Oakland, CA). Here are some photos taken from last Monday (Sept. 13, 2010):

Short video clip: Confiteor to Kyrie

A Preached Novena to St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)

A preached novena to St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) will be given by Fr. Eric Forbes (OFM Cap) starting today, Sept. 15, 2010 to Sept. 23, 2010 at St. Margaret Mary's Church, Oakland, CA. Listed below are the schedule and topics:

Sept. 15, 6PM Mass "Padre Pio and the Supernatural Life"

Sept. 16, 6PM Mass "Padre Pio as Spiritual Father"

Sept. 17, 6PM Mass "Padre Pio, Victim with Jesus"

Sept. 18, 10am Mass "Opposition and Obedience"

Sept. 19, 12:30pm Mass "Padre Pio in the Confessional"

Sept. 20, 6pm Mass "Padre Pio and the Angels"

Sept. 21, 6pm Mass "Padre Pio and the Poor Souls"

Sept.22, 6pm Mass "The Stigmata of Padre Pio"

Sept. 23, 6pm Mass "Padre Pio and Holy Mass"

Visiting relics of St. John Bosco at Sts. Peter and Paul's, San Francisco, CA

Right after the anniversary reception last Sunday for Fr. Forbes, our family went straight to San Francisco to view the reliquary of St. John Bosco (displaying a likeness of the saint as well as a bone from his right arm) at Saints Peter and Paul Church. It was a really wonderful church.

The actual relic is on the right arm.

Altar

View from the outside. The Coit tower (a tourist landmark) can be seen from the distance.

The famous "Twin pillar" dream of St. John Bosco. Check out the story on this blog.

Mi familia!

The traditional pulpit.

More photos can be viewed here.

20th anniversary of Fr. Eric Forbes' ordination to the priesthood

Last Sunday (Sept. 12, 2010), we celebrated Fr. Eric Forbes' (OFM, Cap) 20th anniversary to the priesthood with a Solemn High Mass followed by a wonderful reception at the Father Kozina Hall, St. Margaret Mary's Church. Fr. Forbes was ordained on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8, 1990) and was the only candidate ordained at the ceremony by Archbishop Anthony Apuron (OFM Cap) in the Cathedral-Basilica in Guam -- which prompted Canon Moreau to recall the anecdote of St. Jean Marie Vianney who was also the only priest ordained at the ceremony on which his bishop said "Yes, but for this one, it was well worth it!". We are indeed blessed to have Fr. Forbes around since he would often be the 'back-up' for Canon Moreau whenever he's away on a trip. But whenever Canon Moreau is here, the presence of Fr. Forbes make it also possible for us to have a Solemn High Mass, rather than just our regular "Missa Cantata" / High Mass.

Asperges

Incensing the altar

Sermon on Humility

Relics of St. John Bosco to visit San Francisco and LA (Sept. 11 to 19, 2010)

I'm happy to learn that the relics of my school patron, St. John Bosco, is coming to the Bay Area. Just recently, we were fortunate to welcome the relics of another saint (St. Jean Marie Vianney). May the intercession of these two great saints encourage more priestly and religious vocations!

Taken from Sts. Peter and Paul Parish website:

As we prepare for the bicentennial of Don Bosco's birth in 2015, a relic of our founder is making its way through five continents. The reliquary, which displays a likeness of Don Bosco as well as a bone from his right arm will arrive at Saints Peter and Paul Church on Saturday, September 11, 2010, and leave on September 13. We will be celebrating days of festivities before and during Don Bosco's visit as we mark this truly once-in-a-lifetime event. Google "Facebook Don Bosco Relic" to go to the Facebook page which has lots of information about the visit.

Schedule of events

Saints Peter and Paul Parish

Salesians of Don Bosco

666 Filbert Street San Francisco, CA 94133

415-421-0809 (Google map) (Parking map)

Wednesday, September 8

6:00 PM Music in the Church.

6:15 Address of Gratitude by Mr. Al Baccari

7:00 Mass celebrated by Archbishop George Niederauer

Thursday, September 9

6:15 PM. Mr. Russ Gumina, Director of the Salesian Boys' and Girls' Club,

peaks on The Salesian Youth Movement.

6:30 Mass celebrated by Fr. John Itzaina, SDB, Pastor

7:30 Reception in the Auditorium

Friday, September 10

6:15 PM Short talk on the history of the Salesian Movement.

6:30 Mass

7:30 Reception in the Auditorium

Saturday, September 11

11:30 PM: Don Bosco arrives!

Sleep-over at the Salesian Boys' and Girls' Club. All-night veneration and prayer in the church (enter through Church Office). Honor guard of the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Malta, and Knights of the Holy Sepulcher

Sunday, September 12

7:30 Mass "Don Bosco: Model of Service"

8:45 Mass "Don Bosco: Apostle to the Young"

10:15 Mass "Don Bosco: Missionary to the World" celebrated by

Bishop Emeritus Ignatius Wang

12:00 Mass "Don Bosco: Model of Holiness" followed by a Reception in the Auditorium.

5:00 Mass "Don Bosco: Faithful for the Kingdom," honoring our Salesian Jubilarians.

The following schedule comes from the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology:

Monday, September 13

9:00 AM School Mass.

10:00 AM. The Relics depart and will travel through the streets of San Francisco to Corpus Christi Church.

Tuesday, 14 September

San Francisco via East Bay (Richmond, Berkeley, DSPT from 12:15-2:15 pm) to Watsonville (Our Lady Help of Christians Church).

Wednesday, 15 September

Watsonville (Our Lady Help of Christians, St Francis) to Los Angeles (St Mary's Parish, Boyle Heights).

Thursday, 16 September

Los Angeles (St Mary's, Salesian High, St Bridget's) to Rosemead (Don Bosco Techn, St Joseph Youth Renewal Center).

Friday, 17 September

Rosemead to Bellflower (St John Bosco, St Dominic Savio Parish, remaining until 19 September).

19 September 2010

Transport by air to New Orleans.

Don Bosco's relics arrive first in San Francisco – historically the port of arrival of Don Bosco's sons in the United Sates – then gradually travel to Southern California, where the Salesian Family has the largest population in North America. Local committees will coordinate celebrations.

The relics of Don Bosco have been recomposed from the urn that have contained the saints remains since 1929 at Valdocco. The bones and tissues of the right hand and arm have been taken and recomposed to be included into two reliquaries, one of which is shaped as a statue of the saint and is being brought in pilgrimage to India; the other reliquary is a replica of the remains of the saint composed in the urn at Valdocco, and this is being brought to the rest of the world, including California.

This latter reliquary is made of fiberglass; the relics have been documented and sealed in box that has been placed within the image of Don Bosco in repose (they are placed in the chest of the sculpted body). This in turn is in an urn, which has been constructed for transport and for display. The total weight of the reliquary in the urn is 820 kg (1,808 lbs). The dimensions of the classical style urn on the cart are: length 253cm (99.61 inches); width 108.3cm (42.64 inches); height 132 cm (52 inches).

The reliquary urn of Don Bosco is being transported by truck that has been specially designed and built by Iveco for this purpose. Two Iveco trucks will arrive together: one for transport and one for escort as an emergency vehicle. Two drivers, specifically trained for this event, have charge of each truck.