July 21, 2005

Father Brendan blesses brother’s new Oakridge smoothie/ice cream shop

Holy Spirit Church’s Father Brendan McGuire came out Sunday afternoon to bless a new smoothie and ice cream shop at Westfield Oakridge Shopping Center. The new store is the first of a number of Tropicana Smoothie/Swenson Ice Cream shops that franchise owners Paul and Maria McGuire plan to open in San Jose and throughout northern California. Besides Father Brendan’s blessing, opening day featured free smoothies and ice cream to the more than 2,000 people stopping by for the huge ice cream social—at least that many people had visited by 2 p.m. There were also clowns making balloon animals, face painting and free photos. The picture above shows Father Brendan blessing the store with owners Paul and Maria McGuire surrounding their 8-year-old daughter Daniella along with a large crowd of people. If you by chance noticed a similarity between Father Brendan’s and Paul McGuire’s last names, it’s because they are brothers!