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Greenteam @Sacred Heart Church — Martin Luther King (MLK) Day of Service January 27th, 2025

Contributed by Fr. Jack Lau, OMI, Sacred Heart Church – Oakland, CA

This year the Greenteam@SacredHeart sponsored the 2025 MLK Day of Service/Neighborhood Clean-up. This was our largest and most successful clean-up. 1/3 of the participants were church members and 2/3 were from the neighborhood. About 40 in all. The ages were from “almost 3” to over 80 years old.
 
We gathered at 10AM for registration, a group photo, then listened to a portion of a MLK speech and safety procedures. And then the group fanned out throughout our neighborhood bringing goodwill and hope. We finished up at about noon with Pizzas that were delivered by “Community Kitchens” in a food truck with loud music and MLK tracks blaring. Thank you!
 
Just after noon, Waste Management picked up over 35 bags of trash (950 Gallons). Thank you!
Thank you to the City of Oakland Public Works Department and the Environmental Services Division. You have brought it together and made it happen once again. Bravo!
 
Thank you to our new City Councilor, Zac Unger for meeting with us and joining in the collection of trash.
And thank you to the members of the Greenteam@SacredHeart who came together once again to make “Oakland Rock” and Sacred Heart Proud.
 

Celebrating the Season of Creation at Sacred Heart Church: Oakland, CA October 2nd, 2024

Contributed by Fr. Jack Lau, OMI

Sacred Heart’s GreenTeam (Oakland, CA) and parishioners gathered on the Autumn Equinox and the
International World Day of Peace for a city wide clean up “From Creek to Bay.” We joined with 35 other groups from all over the city, over 500 volunteers! For our part, we collected over 250 Gallons of trash.
 
After the clean-up, we gathered at Noon at the Hiroshima Peace Garden@Sacred Heart for a prayer service for peace. The Garden is on MLK JR. Way and is part of our public space that is an oasis of peace for all peoples and pets. Preparations are being made now for the Annual Blessing of Pets which will be on October 6th. That will conclude our Parish Celebration of the Season of Creation.
 
 
World Day of Prayer for Peace: https://bit.ly/3zyJcLn
 
Season of Creation Bookmarks: https://bit.ly/3XFAp27
 
 

A Ministry of Presence: Ceasefire Walk in Oakland, California July 17th, 2024

Republished from OMIUSA.ORG 

By Jack LAU, OMI

[On Friday June 28, 2024, Bro. Noel Garcia, OMI (Secretary General), joined Fr. Jack Lau, OMI, and Ms. Carrie McClish, an Associate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, for their weekly walk against gun violence in Oakland.]


Group of people holding up anti gun violence signs

For the past three years, they have walked every Friday night, seeking an end to the violence that plagues their city. They are part of Faith in Action East Bay, a faith-based community organization dedicated to promoting peace and ending gun violence through shared values from diverse faiths, races, and social backgrounds.

Bro. Noel Garcia, OMI (front) Fr. Jack Lau, OMI (rear)

The evening begins at a local church with a prayer, followed by a review of the safety rules. Equipped with signs, they then take to the streets.

The group usually walks between five and ten blocks, eventually standing on a busy corner with signs displaying messages like “Stop the Violence,” “Violence is Not an Oakland Value,” and “Honk for Peace.” Drivers frequently show their support by honking as they pass. This is a ministry of presence, signaling to the neighborhood that the “beloved community of varied faiths” stands with them.

Oakland Ceasefire employs an evidence-based strategy to reduce community violence. This initiative, driven by a community-police partnership that includes clergy, street outreach workers, service providers, and law enforcement, uses data to identify those most at risk of being shot or killed. The program then engages these individuals, offering them options and opportunities for change.

 


Happy 2024 Earth Day! April 22nd, 2024

By Fr. Jack Lau, OMI, Sacred Heart Church Oakland GreenTeam
 
As the parishioners of @SacredHeart Oakland and Pax Christi North California prepared to go out into the Longfellow Neighborhood in North Oakland, we gathered for an interfaith prayer in front of the Hiroshima Peace Garden @ Sacred Heart. This garden is an oasis of peace for the wider community.
 
We collected over 300 gallons of trash, not including tires and larger items that were dumped in our neighborhood.
 
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
 
 
   

STATIONS OF THE CROSS/CARE OF CREATION March 16th, 2021

We gather in the mystery and depth of the cross, the intersection of life and love, of pain and perseverance, of injustice and determination, of tenderness and solidarity, of Ongoing Care and Co-Creation. (+).

We invite you to join us for the Stations of the Cross under the Care of Creation theme. This resource was created by Fr. Jack Lau, OMI, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oakland CA

Download Stations of the Cross/Care of Creation. (Some text adapted for parish use)

Join Sacred Heart parish every Friday during the season of Lent for Stations of the Cross livestreamed through Zoom. Visit the Parish’s website for more information.

 

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