St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
May 27, 2021
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
(Mt. 28:19-20)
1.
Sunday Reflections
Thoughts from
Fr. Lawrence
Fr. Lawrence
Parish Gathering Held to Discuss Altar Enhancement /
Confirmation Season
Last week I met with about 60 members of St. Bonaventure to share our progress on a design for enhancing the altar space of the church. This had been part of Fr. Mathew Vellankal’s vision for the church renovation which he began before his untimely death. We have already completed renovation of the pews, chairs, carpet, sound system and bathrooms; all were paid for with previously existing funds plus new funds from the pew dedication campaign. These funds will be used for the altar enhancement as well.
2.
New Donation Bin
Check out our new donation bin!
In partnership with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the parish wants to make it easy for people to donate clothing and shoes that will help people in need. We have a new donation bin located in the parking lot by the rectory. Please help us help others by donating your clean, new and gently used clothing and shoes. We really appreciate donations being placed directly in the bin, with nothing left outside of it. We will continue to have “Bundle Sundays” for household items as soon as we are able. For furniture or auto donations, please call St. Vincent de Paul at (925) 487-4986. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul appreciates your support!
3.
Volunteer Opportunities
Serving is a great way to grow in your relationship with God, show God’s love to others, and to demonstrate the attitude Jesus modeled when he walked on earth. God created each of us with unique talents and gifts. We want to invite you to share those gifts in our parish. In giving of yourself you will receive beyond your imagination. "For we are His handiwork, created in Jesus Christ for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that, we should live in them." (Ephesians 2.10) And it’s a great way to meet new people, make new friends, and make a difference.
Please see our most recent invitations HERE. If these don’t call to you, please reach out to Christa Fairfield to discuss your interests and the parish’s other needs at cfairfield@stbonaventure.net.
4.
Liturgy Notes
6:30 am Liturgies Return
Beginning June 1st, 6:30 am liturgies will return inside the main church on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Mondays and Fridays there will be a Communion Service. On Wednesdays there will be a Mass. Virtual Spiritual Communion Services will continue to take place online at 6:30 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To join the service online by Zoom, email Greg Colley at ghcolley@gmail.com.
Daily Eucharistic Adoration Returns
Beginning on Monday, May 31st, we will resume one hour of Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration taking place in the chapel until 10:30 am, Monday through Thursday.
Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following Daily Mass until 3:00 pm will continue to take place in the main church as usual. The Friday Holy Hour beginning at 2:00 pm includes the Rosary, the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and concludes with Benediction at 3:00 pm.
5.
Respect for Life Ministry: Living Rosary
A big thank you to all who participated in the Respect Life Living Rosary! Mother Mary was pleased to run with it and make it beautiful. It was especially wonderful to hear all the voices from our different communities and ministries praying together, even children. The reverence in placing the roses in the vases was powerful. This speaks to a hunger and need for more events of this kind. We hope to make this an annual event!
Thank you for taking the time out of your Sunday afternoon and giving it to Mary.
Jane Walker, Sandy Mazza, Karen Lamons, Lisa Thomas, Rose Carroll, George Brown, Ester Cuenco, Biviane Ochoa, Normita Fenn, Joy Maloles Keehn, Cynthia Borcena, Jeanie Dewhurst
6.
Chapel Chair Dedication Response is Great
Over a third of our chapel chairs have been designated for memorial or dedication. Thank you. The funds raised from the chair and pew campaign combined with previous gifts have allowed us to make some wonderful improvements to the interior of our church building over the last months. If you haven’t been in the church, you may not realize we have replaced the flooring in the church, refinished and reupholstered the church pews and chapel chairs, repainted and improved the lighting in the church foyer and chapel, and renovated the bathrooms.
We want to continue the improvements at our parish. You can help. You can celebrate or remember someone close to you by dedicating a Chapel Chair. The response has been wonderful and we don’t want you to miss your opportunity.
The donation for a chair is $1,000. You can make the payment as a one-time gift or pledge over one year—paying quarterly or monthly. To complete the dedication, visit our website or call the parish office at (925) 672-5800.
More news and events:
● New Faith Connections Deadline: Please submit all content for Faith Connections to Gina Cattalini at gcattalini@stbonaventure.net by Thursday of the week prior to email distribution. Thank you!
● Flores de Mayo: The Fil-Am community invites you to join them in the church at 2:00 pm this Saturday, May 29, for Flores de Mayo (a traditional May devotion to the Blessed Mother).
● Opus Dei Men's Evening of Recollection June 3: Fathers of children age 13 or younger are invited to a men’s monthly recollection in the church on the first Thursday of the month, from 7:15 to 9:00 pm. For information please click HERE or contact Gian Paolo Machado at gian.p.machado@gmail.com or (707) 548-4038.
● FORMED: Enjoy St. Bonaventure's subscription to FORMED, a premier online platform filled with over 4,000 Catholic studies, movies, audio dramas, talks, e-books, and even cartoons for our children. Click HERE for more information.
● Project Rachel Retreat July 24: Project Rachel offers hope and healing after abortion. Click HERE for information about upcoming retreats.
● Nourish for Caregivers provides caregivers a faith perspective, as well as practical and emotional supports, useful tools, and shared experience.
Meetings every other Tuesday from 2-3pm on Zoom. For more information, email Helene Billeci at fuzyfrank@aol.com.
Meetings every other Tuesday from 2-3pm on Zoom. For more information, email Helene Billeci at fuzyfrank@aol.com.
Nourish offers meetings in Spanish too! For more information, please contact Biviane Ochoa at itsbiviane@gmail.com or (650) 278-6462.
● Marriage Encounter: Bring your marriage to its fullest by participating in a virtual Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Go to wwme.org to find the next virtual Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience that works for your schedule from the comfort of your own home!
● Retrouvaille is a marriage program that helps couples in struggling marriages restore and rebuild a healthy and loving marriage. The Oakland Retrouvaille Program will be hosting a VIRTUAL Weekend Program Thursday, June 24 - Sunday, June 27, 2021. For more information or to register, visit www.HelpOurMarriage.org or leave a message at (510) 709-6063.
Resources for Coping During the Pandemic
As many aspects of our community are re-opening, the effects of the pandemic continue. Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone. Click HERE for spiritual, parenting, emotional, and mental health resources for coping during the pandemic.
As many aspects of our community are re-opening, the effects of the pandemic continue. Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone. Click HERE for spiritual, parenting, emotional, and mental health resources for coping during the pandemic.
Tea Time Video In this week's Tea Time, Anthony gives us an update on the Tea Time video schedule as we move into the summer months. Sign up below to receive the Tea Time videos on Tuesdays.
ALL ABOARD!!
Bible Camp is Coming
Liturgy & Prayer
Please visit our website at www.stbonaventure.net for the most up-to-date liturgy information.
All of our liturgies have returned inside unless otherwise indicated. Saturday Vigil (4:00 pm) and Sunday indoor Masses require advance registration on our website or by calling the parish office at (925) 672-5800 weekdays between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm (Fridays before 12:30 pm). There is no registration required for daily Masses or the 11am Sunday outdoor Mass. (Registration will open Mondays at 10:00 am, Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday such as Memorial Day.)
We continue to livestream the Sunday 9 am (English) Mass and offer walk-up Holy Communion from 10:15-10:45 am. For our full Mass schedule, please click HERE
Download Worship Aids for Sunday:
If you need help with watching a liturgy or other event live-streamed on Facebook, please click here.
Health Reminders
Please join us for our liturgies through Facebook if you have tested positive for COVID in the past 14 days, if you have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, if you were exposed to COVID in the past 14 days, or if you feel actively sick. We encourage all parishioners to receive the COVID vaccine as soon as they are eligible. Thank you for helping us keep St. Bonaventure a safe, welcoming place for all.
Prayer, Spirituality and Formation:
Prayers for Those Who Have Died: Please join us in praying for members of our community who have died. You may find their names on our website. May they rest in peace.
Daily Mass Readings: Click here
St. Bonaventure Domestic Church tips and links: Click here
Friday Adoration & Holy Hour:
We offer Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after 9:00 am Mass. Monday through Thursday, Adoration is in the Chapel for one hour after Mass. Friday Adoration is in the Church until 3:00 pm. The Friday Holy Hour beginning at 2:00 pm includes the Rosary, the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and concludes with Benediction at 3:00 pm.
Online Spiritual Communion Service: Details here
Christian Centering Prayer Group: Details here
Word on Fire Videos on Flocknote: Details here
(Take advantage of Bishop Barron's great videos! Remember, you must have a Flocknote account with a password to access these videos.)
STAYING CONNECTED
Sacraments, Pastoral Counseling, and Staff Support
We're here for you! Our clergy and pastoral staff continue to be available to you during this pandemic. We can offer pastoral counseling by appointment, over the phone or by videocall, and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is available in person when needed. Please call the parish office at (925) 672-5800 to make an appointment. We offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the church on Saturdays at 3:30 pm.
The office has reopened for walk-up visits, Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-1:00 pm, and Friday 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Staff are also available by appointment. Please call the main office number or call or email the staff person directly. As our staff are working from both the office and home, it is often easier to reach people by email. However, we are monitoring phones and voice mail, and will return messages as soon as possible.
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Parish Connections Thank you to everyone in our parish community who is working to reach out and keep in touch. If you need assistance, or would like to volunteer to help others by running errands, picking up groceries, etc., please email info@stbonaventure.net. The St. Bonaventure Food Pantry is open Tuesdays from 8:30-10:00 am in the parish parking lot. See our website for more information. (Note: The Food Pantry thanks you for your continuing donations of food and other items, but is no longer requesting bags -- they have a sufficient supply.)
Thank you for the many ways you continue to support our community!
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Your Gifts Are Keeping Us Open
We want to say THANK YOU to our parishioners and those who are not members yet but have sent us their donations to help in this unprecedented time.
We are so grateful to many who are now sending their donations through mail, online and collection box methods. Your efforts and generosity are greatly appreciated and are helping us continue to live our mission as a community of faith.
To learn more about online giving or other options, please click here. If you attend weekend Mass or walk-up Holy Communion, you may drop off your gift personally.
May God bless all of you and reward you abundantly for your support of your parish.
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May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.