National Catholic Youth Conference

 Among the 23,000 students at NCYC this year ...

 ... were a number of our parishioners.

ValLimar, who led out 2010 Parish Lenten Mission, was there.

Our own Anne Grzywa  (center) was one of the animators.

You can read more about NCYC in this National Catholic Register article written by one of our parishioners.

Tomorrow night we will ask those who attended NCYC to share with the rest of our youth the stories of how their hearts were stirred and faith strengthened by their time at NCYC.  This was a fantastic experience!  We will start at 7 with a meal in the Steinhausen Center and end at 8:30.

Hour of Power will start at 9:00

Lunch with ValLimar

Some fo the parish staff were able to have lunch with ValLimar yesterday. She said, "It is so great to visit a parish where you can just see the love people have for one another as part of their parish family."

When asked what the after effects of her mission typically are, she said, "It continues. Largely because the children insist on continuing it."

It was also a good chance to quiz ValLimar on what she sees being done around the country and how we can do a better job of fulfilling our parish mission to "Go and Make Disciples."

We thank ValLimar for the wonderful job she did leading her portion of our parish mission. It continues tonight with our Parish Reconciliation Service.

6:15 Mass

7:00 Reconciliation Service

Parish Mission

Yesterday morning ValLimar Jansen, our

mission leader, met with our school students.

She got them to interact with one another,

including showing them how to properly offer the
sign of peace. She also emphasized the important
role they play, in the assembly, during Mass.

She taught them songs using various
prayer positions and actions.


The room was full of energy and power.

Last night she led the Parish Mission for the rest of us.

In addition to interactive singing

there was animated storytelling

as she told the story of creation.

She also asked the students from the morning

to come forward and lead the rest in a couple songs.

About eighty of them did.

The mission continues tonight with

Mass at 6:15

and the Mission at 7:00.

ValLimar is here

See her at Mass this weekend.

The Parish Mission begins Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Come early at 6:15 p.m. for Mass.

Parish Mission starts February 22nd

Introducing the person behind that incredible voice. You've heard her soaring soprano and soulful, spine-tingling vocals on gospel, jazz and pop tracks and wondered, "Wow! Who is that?"

Blessed with an extraordinary voice, ValLimar Jansen is a highly regarded singer, cantor and recording artist. She is also a college professor, a leader of worship and prayer and a workshop presenter at conferences across the United States.

Known especially for her work with gospel, contemporary Christian and gospel-jazz styles, she sings a wide range of music, including spirituals and traditional, organ-based choral music. In 2005 she released her first solo collection, You Gotta Move. Other recent projects include her stirring, gospel-style rendition of Jaime Cortez's classic "Rain Down" on the Live It! two-CD compilation.

ValLimar has a long history of singing sacred music, starting from the age of five. She received most of her training in music and performance from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She holds professional degrees in the arts from California State University, San Bernardino, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. She’s got both experience and credentials!

She has sung and toured professionally throughout the United States, Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium and Japan. She played the role of Beneatha with the Broadway touring cast in the European premier of Raisin. She went on to co-author a one-woman musical about the life of Ethel Waters that received a special commendation from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Maybe you're familiar with her from one of the many liturgical and pastoral conferences she attends throughout the country. She has been the cantor for several jazz liturgies and closing liturgies at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. She has served as a cantor, principal vocalist, lector and workshop presenter at the San Jose Jazz Festival, the Sacramento Jazz Festival, NPM conferences, the National Encuentro Conference, the National Jubilee Justice Conference, the Los Angeles Liturgy Conference, the East Coast Conference, and many other major events.

She has also collaborated with some of the best-known songwriters and musicians in contemporary Catholic music, including Jaime Cortez, Bobby Fisher, Jesse Manibusan, Danielle Rose and many others.

Parish Mission

February 22-25

6:15 Mass

7:00 Mission