Opportunity Center-CANCELED
Due to a water main break and flooding at the Opportunity Center, the breakfast event has been canceled. Stay tuned for updates on future dates.
Theology of Health - Livestream
Join the Harvard Catholic Forum for a book talk with Tyler J. VanderWeele, Loeb Professor of Epidemiology and Director of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program. In his book A Theology of Health (Notre Dame Press, 2024), Professor VanderWeele brings the fruits of his extensive research on human flourishing and health outcomes into direct engagement with Christian theology. He argues that health can be understood as the wholeness intended by God; that sin—whether individual wrongdoing, social injustice, or the fallenness of creation—can be seen as a cause of ill health; and that restoration to health may be understood as salvation. These insights carry implications for theology and religious studies, medical theory and practice, pastoral care, and public health. Livestream and in-person. Free and open to all.
Co-presented by the Harvard Catholic Forum, the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at Harvard Divinity School, and the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard. Co-sponsored by the Clough School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, the Guild of St. Luke, and the Harvard Christian Alumni Society.
Hike & Mass
Join us for a day of adventure, beauty, fellowship, and prayer! This month, we are being joined be the young adults from St. Dominic’s in San Francisco! Everyone in the community is welcome to participate. We’ll be hiking the beautiful Monte Bello Preserve Loop, which winds through Monte Bello Open Space Preserve and part of Rancho San Antonio Preserve as it climbs to the summit of Black Mountain. The well-maintained trail features rolling hills, open ridges, and panoramic views stretching from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Bay. Expect a mix of shaded forest paths and sunny stretches, with frequent opportunities to spot local wildlife. Rated 4.6 stars on AllTrails.
End of Quarter Caroling and Hot Cocoa
Let’s get together to share some holiday joy before departing campus for the holidays. We’ll be singing carols, drinking hot chocolate and getting in the spirit of the season.
Birthday Celebration for Fr. Bart, Fr. Chrysostom, and Diego
Come celebrate the birthdays of three very special people — Fr. Bart, Fr. Chrysostom, and Diego! After the 4:30 PM Mass, we’ll have a pizza party, and all grads and undergrads are invited to join in the fun!
Liturgical Ministry Training Session
If you’re new to serving in one of our Liturgical Ministries (Lectors, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) and missed our last session make sure to attend this mandatory training session. Those currently serving who want a refresher are also welcome to attend.
Film Study Group - La Dolce Vita
Online via Zoom.
Please join the Stanford Catholic Film Group on Monday, November 3, to discuss "La Dolce Vita" (1960). Directed by Federico Fellini, and starring Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg, it’s considered one the greatest films ever made, winning the Palme d'Or at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival. It was also nominated for four Oscars. It also gave us the word “paparazzi.”
The film was initially perceived by the Church as an objectionable parody of the second coming of Christ, but has been reconsidered since. Part of our discussion will be whether the film deserved that criticism, as well as its overall place in the canon of great films.
Everyone is invited!
[ Read more on how to watch, how to join the group » ]
Dia de Los Muertos
On November 2nd , everyone is invited to our Dia de los Muertos celebration outside of MemChu after the 4:30 Mass! We will have Champurrado and Pan dulce, and please bring photos of your loved ones! Make sure to put your name on the back of the photo so we can return it to you later.
Grad Students Fall Retreat
Memento Mori. Memento Vivere. “Remember you will die. Remember to live.”
This Halloween weekend, embrace the deeper spiritual roots of the season through the traditions of All Saints (All Hallows) and All Souls. These days remind us that every person is called to sainthood - to be fully alive. Yet in Christ, new life comes through death. To truly live well, we must live with death in view.
Join us for a retreat that blends adoration, chant, silence, social time, and transformative talks to ground you spiritually and help you grow in faith throughout the year at Stanford. Saturday evening will include time for fellowship and connection. This is a perfect opportunity for newcomers to meet the broader Catholic community. Can’t arrive until Saturday? No problem. Cost is $75. Scholarships are available upon request.
Register here.
Undergrads Halloween Catholic Kickback
Oct 31st from 3-6 in OU 215 is our weekly Catholic Kickback for undergrads! We
will be decorating pumpkins and enjoying some classic Halloween movies.
Thomistic Institute Retreat for Undergrads
Join other students of the Thomistic Institute for an Intellectual Retreat! Undergrads will have the opportunity to attend talks about the saints and their role in Catholic Social Teaching, participate in Mass, attend Eucharistic Adoration, pray the Divine Office with the Dominican community, and attend socials with students and friars throughout the weekend. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, meals and housing will be provided free for accepted applicants. Limited travel scholarships are available upon request.
Schedule:
● Begins with check-in from 3:00 - 4:00 pm on Friday, October 31
● Concludes with check-out at 1:30 pm on Sunday, November 2
Find out more here: https://thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events/saints-and-state. Please contact Ariana Duduna if you apply, to coordinate transportation logistics (aduduna@stanford.edu or 650-248-7275)
Triumph of the Heart: The Passion of St. Maximilian Kolbe
Don’t miss this opportunity to see a special screening of this truly inspiring film about St. Maximilian Kolbe.
St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room
Volunteer to prepare and serve hot meals to those in need.
Hike & Mass
This month, we’ll be hiking part of Montara Mountain along the Old Colma Road Loop - a stunning oceanside ridge often wrapped in coastal mist, with sweeping and dramatic views. The trail follows historic routes once used by the Ocean Shore Railroad, and passes near a World War II military lookout. Indigenous peoples once traveled this same ridge as part of the original Old Colma route.
Trail on All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/old-colma-road-loop?sh=aswv5g&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
- Distance: 4.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 967 ft
- Estimated Time Hiking: 3 hours
SCHEDULE
- Meet at Tresidder Parking Lot near Starbucks: 8:20 AM https://maps.app.goo.gl/Rs5Fuh3K7o174WkA6
- Depart from Tresidder: 8:30 AM. (trailhead: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sgnn5sjrdVQ41wfHA)
- Drive time: ~45 minutes (arrive at trailhead ~9:15 AM)
- Begin hiking: 9:30 AM
- Finish hike: ~12:30 PM
- Return to Stanford (Tresidder lot): ~12:45 PM
Cost: Please bring $5–10 to chip in for gas or Zipcar expenses. If there aren’t enough drivers, we’ll ask individuals to organize a Zipcar.
It’s common for some of the cars to stop at a café or quick restauraunt on the way back. Some people switch cars for the return if they want to join (or avoid) the stop for food .
WHAT TO BRING
- 2L of water
- Snacks & Lunch (you’ll want something during the hike!)
- Sun protection (hat and sunscreen)
- Sweater/jacket in case of fog or cool breezes.
- Hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers
- Any personal medication (e.g. inhalers)
- Do NOT bring speakers or music devices
Bring-a-Friend to Mass
This Sunday is Bring a Friend to Mass! After the 4:30 PM Mass, there will be a delicious home-cooked dinner for grads and undergrads in Old Union 3rd Floor Common Room.
Artificial Intelligence and the Soul: Can Computers Be People too? Presented by The Thomistic Institute at Stanford University
A lecture by Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P. of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology. This lecture is free and open to the public.
Opportunity Center
Are you looking for a way to help local low-income individuals? Volunteering at Opportunity Center in Palo Alto with fellow Catholic Community at Stanford members is a great way to be the light of Christ to others. Click here to sign up. To stay up-to-date on this and other service opportunities at CC@S, join the “Service” chat in our WhatsApp group.
Liturgical Ministry Training Session
If you’re new to serving in one of our Liturgical Ministries (Lectors, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) make sure to attend this mandatory training session. Those currently serving who want a refresher are also welcome to attend.
Volunteer @ Common Roots Farm
Join fellow community members from Catholic Community at Stanford as we head to Common Roots Farm in Santa Cruz for a morning of volunteering.
This opportunity is open to undergraduate and graduate students, young adults, and permanent community members. Work may include planting, harvesting, working soil, clearing beds, petting chickens, feeding sheep, or whatever needs to be done on the farm that day. The morning will begin at 9:30am and end around 12:30pm. We will provide lunch to those who wish to stay. We are unable to provide rides to the farm but will help volunteers coordinate carpooling. Additional details will be provided to those who sign up.
Sign-up by October 9 >> [Google Forms] to allow us time to plan lunch and coordinate rides. Sign ups after this date are ok if you plan to arrange your own transportation.
Contact Eric Lebel (elebel@alumni.stanford.edu) with any questions.
Young Dominicans Lecture feat. Fr. Thomas Aquinas Pickett, O.P.
The first speaker in our Dominican Scholar Lecture Series will be Fr. Thomas Aquinas Picket, O.P. His presentation will be “Study Like Your Life Depends on It.”
Opportunity Center
Are you looking for a way to help local low-income individuals? Volunteering at Opportunity Center in Palo Alto with fellow Catholic Community at Stanford members is a great way to be the light of Christ to others. Click here to sign up. To stay up-to-date on this and other service opportunities at CC@S, join the “Service” chat in our WhatsApp group.
Film Study Group - Wings of Desire
New date
Online via Zoom.
Please join the Stanford Catholic Film Group on Monday, September 29, to discuss Wings of Desire (1987). A romantic fantasy film directed by Wim Wenders, the film is about invisible, immortal angels who populate Berlin and listen to the thoughts of its human inhabitants, comforting the distressed. It appears in Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list, and won for Best Director at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.
It was remade in the US as “City of Angels” which you can watch for extra credit!
Everyone is invited!
[ Read more on how to watch, how to join the group » ]
Mass of the Holy Spirit and Taco Truck - 4:30pm Mass
Sunday, September 28 at 4:30 p.m. we’ll be celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit. This Mass is a beautiful way to start the academic year as we ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us in our academic endeavors. After this special Mass there will be a taco truck outside, so be sure to stay and socialize over some tacos.
Please note, there will be NO 9:00 p.m. Mass, and the 9:00 a.m. Mass won’t have music. We encourage everyone to attend the 4:30 p.m. Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Hike & Mass: Windy Hill Loop
Join us for a day of prayer, fellowship, and adventure! We believe Catholics are called to grow together in community as disciples of Jesus Christ, and what better way than to encounter Him in the beauty of His creation? Newbies are especially welcome.
To kick off our school year, we’ll be hiking the Windy Hill Loop, a scenic trail with a rich variety of landscapes: beginning in a shaded valley, climbing into a sometimes misty cloud-filled forests along the ridge, and then opening out to sunlit grasslands with sweeping views of the Bay Area. This is a highly sought after hike. There are three viable locations of where Mass could take place on the hike, but it will depend on weather: if sunny and hot, we will avoid exposure and be in shade. If too windy, will avoid the peak.
Details:
- Meeting Location: north end of Tresidder Parking Lot, near bus stop & Starbucks (free parking on Sat). Look for a friar in white robes.
- Meeting Time: 9:00 AM
- Departure to Trailhead: 9:15 AM sharp. (15 min drive) https://maps.app.goo.gl/MjzciftP3EpAeJsP8
9:20 -1:30: Hike, Mass, Lunch, Return
1:30 PM: Depart for Tresidder
1:45 End
Hike Information:
- Trail: Windy Hill Loop (AllTrails link)
- Moderate difficulty.
- Distance: 6.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,410 ft
- Hiking Time: ~3 hrs 20 min
- Add: 1 hr for Mass & Lunch
What to Bring:
- 2L of water
- Snacks & Lunch.
- Sun protection (hat & sunscreen)
- Hardshell jacket if rain is possible
- Hiking shoes or sturdy runners
- Medication, like inhalers
- DO NOT brings speakers for music.
Come ready to pray, hike, and share a meal as we encounter Christ in both creation and the Eucharist!
RSVP Here
Student Welcome BBQ
Join us for the Student Welcome BBQ on Wednesday, September 24. We’ll have barbecue—pulled pork sandwiches and more—play some games, and hang out until people leave. Come and go as you please.