Newman Hall Holy Spirit Parish

Elite '08

345

1080

Kathleen M.

San Jose, CA

So the altar looks like someone shot a cannonball through it. So the cross looks like a junior high school student made it out of clay. There are many other reasons this is the best Catholic church I've ever been to.

1) The priests are Paulists and from a more scholarly and intellectual religious community. The homilies are the best you'll find anywhere - really interesting and not bought from a generic priest resource guide. In addition they give the homily from memory (heck, Father Al is an octogenarian and he recites from memory the Gospel reading). Father Al also recites the same blessing at the end of every Mass which meant a lot to me to hear each week.

2) The priests are liberal and freely admit, as Johnny O. said, that the church has issues. They don't preach fire and brimstone, and they don't really speak in the homily of any of controversial issues the church has immersed itself in. The priests are also very friendly and approachable, and explain what is going on during the Mass if they know there are people there who are not from a Catholic background (during funerals, baptisms, and I suspect weddings).

Also, more on the liberalness of this church - the words are changed from "he" or "him" to "God" in several prayers. There is a gay and lesbian group, as well as a Homecoming group for Catholics hurt by the church in the past.

3) There is a beautiful 10 p.m. candlelit Mass with a wonderful songleader who sings and plays guitar alone next to the altar. The place is packed, and there's no doubt why. Everyone at that Mass is really friendly and warm. Sometimes there will be wacky student skits as well.

4) Baptisms for infants are performed during Mass by Father Al in a clear tub on top of the altar. Two or three times a year several babies will be baptized at the same Mass, and it's a really sweet thing to witness.

5) How can you not love a place where the pastor's name is Dick Sparks?

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Elite '08

305

725

Nikki c.

Oakland, CA

This is a great place to go when you want to say a quick rosary before finals.  It's in Berkeley, so it's a very gender neutral church when it comes to the prayers.  It's a very come as you are college student friendly church.  Parking is INSANE.

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1

2

Nydia B.

Columbia, SC

Very friendly church!  To explain about some of the comments previously left.  The church was built entirely of concrete--it was experimental.  It's pretty neat.  Unlike others, I'm a moderate to conservative Catholic and I was pleasantly suprised that there was nothing uncomfortable about this church.  I think it's wonderful that there is so much outreach to all.  The only thing that bothered me was that the precious blood was in a glass goblet, which may be nitpicking to many.  However, considering what the cup is holding and knowing that the glass is fragile, I found that a little disconcerting.  I hope that the Parish considers something less fragile.  Still, I did have a great experience.  Got lots of help locating the church and was told by a parishoner the history of the parish.  We'd call that southern hospitality where I'm from.  I felt very much at home!

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107

405

Rocco B.

San Francisco, CA

The best part about the Newman Center is that I don't spontaneously combust into flames as I enter.

This is the absolute best Catholic church that I've been to.  The priests are very in-touch with young people and their homilies are always interesting.  They have a 10PM candlelight service on Sunday nights which is always beautiful and uplifting.  It's packed with students, and the folk-singer music style is wonderful.

I don't live in Berkeley anymore, but I still try to make it here for Sunday night mass every once and awhile.  Even if you're not Catholic, you should check out mass here.  It's really amazing.

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94

.James A.

CA

Wonderful community, great space, love the furnishings, the bald headed Jesus, the Flintstones altar. 10 pm mass on Sundays is great. People who think they don't like the Catholic church, they haven't been to Newman. It can be happy clappy but it has gravitas to spare. Very open and accepting, great homilies.

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5

30

Nick D.

New York, NY

I have some serious problems with the way the Mass is given at Newman Parish. Before I present the reasons why I should take a moment to say that the Liturgy is sacred, holy, and has roots going back to antiquity. Its not just a presentational thing that can be changed at whim to suit the needs of any particular individual or group of individuals, even if there are good intentions behind the changes.

The gender neutralizing of certain prayers is a problem. Yes this is Berkeley and everyone wants to be inclusive, but God is a He. There is no equivocation on that in Sacred scripture and Catholic tradition. Its nice to want to make everyone happy, but that's disrespecting the nature of God.

Occasionally, they allow graduate students at the Theological Union to read the Gospel and give the homily.  According to Canon Law (Can. 767 1), only a priest or deacon may give a homily and without the approval of the Bishop, no member of the laity may preach the Gospel in the Mass.

They allow the Body  to be taken and dipped into the Precious Blood. This shows grave disrespect to the Eucharist which we hold to truly be the Body and Blood of Christ.

The Nicene Creed is changed to be a response such that the congregation is not saying the entire creed but responding to edited sections of it.

Finally, the priests give homilies where they openly question or disagree with certain elements of Catholic doctrine (ie that marriage must be between a man and a woman).

While these things may seem not to be a big deal to some or may even be desirable to others, we have to understand that if we are Catholics and actually believe what we say we believe, these things cannot be permitted in the Mass.

I would give Newman only 1-star, but Father Charlie who arrived recently as improved matters somewhat, so there is still hope.

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245

Johnny O.

San Francisco, CA

The Roman Catholic Community at the University of California, Berkeley. Is it a sin to review a church? I go for the 10PM candle-lit masses on Sundays: Huge, contemporary yet ancient looking space, great guitarist-singer, liberal priests who read their sermons from memory, not a book and admit that the Church has issues. This is the only church I don't fall asleep in. And its just so wonderful to see a thousand or so college kids spending an evening in church instead of boozing it up and creating havoc. Its almost enough to make me feel the human race may have a chance.

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9

5

Judy T.

Berkeley, CA

I love this place.

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