St. Robert Parish in San Bruno celebrated its 50th year with a Mass of Thanksgiving and a family style barbecue June 8.
Archbishop George H. Niederauer was principal celebrant. St. Robert pastor, Msgr. Bruce Dreier, was homilist. Concelebrants included Fathers Paul Rossi, Paul O'Dell, Tom Hamilton, Joe Pham Hung, James Morris, Donald D'Angelo, former pastor Father Vincent Ring and Msgr. Emmanuel Nnanna, a priest visiting from Nigeria.
The church was filled for the morning liturgy. Original parishioners wore yellow carnations and showed they are quite a number when all rose for special recognition during Mass.
In his homily, Msgr. Dreier said St. Robert's parishioners "continue to build our community" and "hear the invitation of the Lord" even 50 years after the parish's establishment.
"We recognize our strengths and our weaknesses. We recognize our gifts and talents. And we reach out beyond ourselves to serve the community." Service does not stop there, he continued, pointing to how members minister to one another and "even further to help where there is a need."
"We are a parish family like none other I have experienced," Msgr. Dreier said. "We stand today with our Archbishop to pledge our support and renew our commitment. When the Lord calls out to us `Come follow me!' we stand ready with faith - filled hearts and a burning desire to serve."
An awareness of need in the world apparently is among even the young at St. Robert's. Francesca Bedolla Mejia, who recently made first Eucharist at St. Robert's, gave up gifts for the occasion and asked those remembering her to instead make a donation to the parish social justice group's campaign to buy mosquito nets for the poor in malaria - plagued countries. The invitation raised $570 for the cause.
"As the prophet Isaiah wrote long ago, `And a little child shall lead them,'" said Franciscan Sister Sheral Marshall, a pastoral associate at St. Robert's who accepted the donation for the social justice committee.
The history of the parish was captured and displayed in the parish hall in photo albums, a power - point presentation, and a documentary film featuring interviews with parishioners who witnessed St. Robert of the House of God's beginnings.
