April 19, 2021
Photo of the Week:
Pictured above are our three seminarians. Please keep them in your prayers as we celebrate World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday on April 25th.
On this particular Sunday the Holy Father has asked all Catholics to intercede for vocations. Will you make a special effort to ask the Lord for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life?
In a very particular way:
- Pray for the priests who have ministered to you throughout your life, both living and dead.
- Keep our parish priests, deacons and religious sisters in prayer throughout the week.
- Encourage your children or grandchildren to consider a vocation as a priest or religious brother or sister.
- Pray a rosary for more young men and women in our diocese to respond to God’s call.
Please find free vocation resources online (Password: PRAY2021) at: https://vianneyvocations.com/WDPV/
Office of the Bishop:
Anniversaries
Catholic Rural Life
It is not far-fetched to say that our health, our very lives, depend on the sprouting of seeds. In the planting of seeds and nurturing through harvest, we receive God’s choicest blessings when we break from our labors and enjoy a simple meal. Saving some of the new seeds allows us to continue this miraculous cycle of nature.
Catholic Rural Life
Change is natural if not always smooth as we move from one phase of life to another. The month of September brings us a change of seasons: The warmth of summer gives way to mornings with a touch of chill in the air; the evenings come earlier as the days shorten in the rhythm of the season. See the blessings of Change and letting Go by clicking here.
Share the Good News:
Holy Cross, Linden hits Jackpot with New Fundraiser
It’s that time of year when parishes within the diocese are starting to hit their Bishop’s Ministry Appeal goals. "Coming out of the pandemic, parishes have been anxious about how BMA fundraising would look this year. While in-person services are available, many are still live streaming from home which is causing a decrease in weekend offertories. Parishes have been resilient though refusing to let anything, including the pandemic, get in their way," says Stacy Erickson, Director of Development & Stewardship for the Diocese of Stockton.
Holy Cross in Linden exemplifies creativity with their Bingo fundraiser. Many months ago, the parish decided to invest in an FM transmitter that would allow them to celebrate parking lot Masses, which is when parishioners pull in and stay in their car for Mass. The parking lot Masses were so well received by parishioners, the parish knew they could use the same parking lot model for other things and that’s where the magic happens. The Parish is now hosting monthly bingo events where parishioners can pull up and have some fun from the comfort of their car, or just outside of their car in a lawn chair.
“The work is minimal for parish staff. All it takes are a couple of Facebook posts and bulletin ads and getting a couple of prizes donated,” says Janice Colombini, who is the parish administrative assistant. “We host about 35 cars that typically have two to five people in them and so far, between the two bingo events hosted, we have raised $5,000 for BMA.”
“This type of creativity for fundraising shows how parishes can have some fun within the community while coming together to support their parish and the diocese,” says Msgr. Richard Ryan, Vicar General for the Diocese of Stockton.
The parish credits the Ladies Guild for providing more bingo cards to allow more attendance when the event sells out. The next parish bingo event is set for April 25th at 2 p.m. in the parish parking lot. If you are interested in attending, please click here for details.
Restorative Justice:
National Crime Victims’ Week is Coming Up in April.
The Restorative Justice Committee of the California Catholic Conference has issued a statement for National Crime Victims' Week. Included in the announcement is a new pastoral guide for those impacted by violent death and prayers of the faithful in Spanish and English to commemorate Crime Victims’ Week.
Development & Stewardship:
Bishop’s Ministry Appeal (BMA) 2021 – Update
Thank you to our parishes for your hard work and continued efforts - we are truly grateful for each and every one of you and for the positive outcomes from this year’s BMA - parishioners are responding generously and the number of donors has increased from last year to this year!
Congratulations to St. Bernadette in Stockton and St. Patrick in Ripon for exceeding your BMA goal – Great Work!!
To date, 5,286 faithful donors have contributed $1,517,429 (One-Time Gifts and Pledge Payments) with total gifts pledged of $776,398 – with several parishes very close to reaching their goal.
We look forward to working together - As One in faith and hope – to reach this year’s BMA goal of $2,500,000!
Life & Dignity:
Action Needed to Stop Infanticide
The USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities has announced that urgent action is needed to stop infanticide:
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 619) has again been introduced in Congress to protect babies from infanticide.
Efforts to bring the bill to a vote in the house are being blocked. Your action is needed to urge your Representative to sign a discharge petition that would allow this vote to occur.
Tell Congress taxpayer dollars should not pay for abortion. Sign the petition at NoTaxpayerAbortion.com. Use this flyer to spread the word and educate others with this handy reference sheet of facts and figures.
We must continue to push Congress to pass the Born-Alive Act, so babies born alive following an abortion attempt and are treated the same as any other newborn baby.
Click here for more information.
Hispanic Ministry:
The Effects of the Pandemic in the mental health of young people.
Efectos de la pandemia en la salud mental de los y las jóvenes.
The Mexican Consulate in partnership with UC Davis presents this webinar in Spanish on April 21 at 4:15 pm.
Speaker: Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, UC Davis Health.
Registration is free of charge. To register visit ama-usa.org
Manteniendo la Fe Viva en Tiempos de Pandemia.
20 de abril de 6:30 pm a 7:30 pm. La Diócesis de San Diego invita a este taller virtual con el orador: Dr. Gerardo Salazar. Él tiene una Maestría en Teología y Ministerio y un Doctorado en Ministerio con especialidad en Liderazgo catequético Hispano. Es consultor nacional para Sadlier.
En este taller se explorarán las diferentes maneras en que la familia puede seguir manteniendo la fe viva en tiempos de transición y cambios como lo ha sido este tiempo de pandemia y se hará desde la Sagradas Escritura, la enseñanza del Magisterio y ejemplos concretos de familias que han logrado mantenerse unificadas en Cristo.
Para inscribirse visite:
Family & Respect Life:
Financial assistance with Covid-19 related funeral expenses now available!
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering financial assistance for funeral expenses for people who have died as a result of Covid-19. Please click COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov for the details and access to the application form.
Prayer
