Our parish library is under the patronage of St. Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, and it came about with the efforts of volunteers at St. Margaret Mary Church to organize a collection of books, CDs and DVDs into a lending library for the parish and TORCH* members.
WHERE IS THE LIBRARY LOCATED?
The library operates from the stage in Fr. Kozina Hall (under the church).
WHEN IS IT OPEN?
It is usually open on the 2nd Sunday of each month after all the Masses until 2:30 PM.
WHO MAY BORROW MATERIALS?
Any registered SMM parishioner or member of TORCH may borrow materials.
WHAT KINDS OF MATERIALS DOES IT HAVE?
All the reading materials, CDs, and DVDs are of interest to Catholics, and are loyal to the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. The goal of the library is to help parishioners grow in their love for Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Holy Mother, the Virgin Mary, within the loving arms of the Roman Catholic Church.
The general subject headings are as follows:
After Life
Apologetics
Art & Pilgrimage
Audio CDs
Biography and Conversion
Blessed Virgin Mary
Canon Law
Catechisms
Catholic Living
Church Councils
Social Issues
Education
End of Life
Evangelization
Famous Authors
Fathers of the Church
God: The Father, The Son, & The Holy Spirit
Non-Catholic Beliefs
History
Holy Bible
Music
Philosophy
Popes
Prayer
Prophesy
Reference
Religious Movements
Sacraments
Saints: Life & Writings
Scripture Study
Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Realities
Theology
Tradition
Video
WHY DO WE HAVE BOOK SALES?
The library receives books of all types from donations. We can’t keep all the books that people generously give us! The money raised from these book sales is used to purchase supplies, and new materials for the library.
WANT TO HELP?
We can always use new volunteers to staff the library when it’s open, or for special projects, like the book sales.
HAVE ITEMS TO DONATE?
We’ll gladly take books of Catholic content, CDs, or DVDs of all types. We CANNOT take encyclopedias or textbooks.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact the librarian via email to stmmaryhands@gmail.com or leave a message with the parish office at (510)482-0596 and we will call you back.
A LITTLE HISTORY AND THE TORCH CONNECTION
The St. Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer Library came about with the efforts of volunteers at St. Margaret Mary church to organize a collection of books, CDs, and DVDs into a lending library for the parish and TORCH* members.
Before he became pastor of St. Margaret Mary, Fr. Stanislaw Zak (SMM pastor from 2005-2015) was one of the priests who would say First Friday Mass for our group. One of the TORCH members would arrange with a centrally located parish in our diocese to allow our group to have Holy Mass on First Friday mornings.
When Fr. Zak became pastor of St. Margaret Mary in 2005, he welcomed the TORCH families to this parish. In 2005 (and until 2019) the TORCH community attended Holy Mass together on First Fridays of the month at St. Margaret Mary Church at 11 am. Our children’s choir sang at this Mass, and after Mass we gathered in Fr. Kozina Hall for lunch. At this same time, we began to store the TORCH library in Fr. Kozina Hall.
The collection grew through donations from parishioners and friends who wanted to give their beloved Catholic books a good home. A parishioner donated solid bookcases and Fr. Zak had them installed on the stage area of the hall, and that’s where they are today.
The library was blessed by Fr. Glenn Naguit on the feast of St. Joseph, March 20, 2017 (Feast was moved to Monday that year) and, through the grace of God, officially opened on Sunday April 9, 2017.
WHAT IS TORCH?
Traditions of Roman Catholic Homes (TORCH) is a support network for Catholic full time & part time home-schooling families in the East Bay Area. eastbaytorch.simplesite.com/
Many members are parishioners of St. Margaret Mary Church. St. Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, is the patron saint of TORCH and then became the patron and name of the library as well.