St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
June 17, 2021
“Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.”
(2 Cor 5:17)
1.
Liturgical Update
We are excited to be able to welcome more people back to Mass this weekend. Based on the California reopening and guidance from the Diocese of Oakland, registration is no longer required for indoor Masses. Every pew is now available for seating. If you have been vaccinated you have the option of not wearing a mask indoors. However, non-vaccinated persons, including minors, must wear masks indoors. If a Mass or other liturgical celebration is outdoors, no one needs to wear a mask.
We encourage you to join us in person if your health permits. We are continuing to livestream the 9 am Sunday Mass and offer walk-up Holy Communion from 10:15-10:45 am. Bishop Barber has announced that he will lift the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation on August 15th, the Solemnity of the Assumption.
Please click HERE for more details and our Mass schedule. We have only received guidance from the Diocese regarding worship and are awaiting further direction regarding other gatherings, meetings, ministries, receptions, etc. Please stay tuned for more updates.
2.
Children’s Faith Formation
Children’s Faith Formation (pre-K to 5th grade) Leaders Needed
Do you enjoy talking with children? Do you like their sense of wonder and questions about the world around them?
We are looking for teachers/catechists for the upcoming program year. We meet weekly September-May, multiple times a week. Maybe one will work for your schedule. You do not need to “know” everything there is about God. We will help you and there are many resources available.
Please contact Eileen Limberg if you are interested or have any questions at elimberg@stbonaventure.net or 672-5800 x 2204.
Family Fun Night
St. Bonaventure's Faith Formation program invites you to an evening of family fun and ice cream on Monday, June 28, 6:00-7:30 pm on the grass area by the classrooms. Come when you can and stay the whole time or whatever fits in your schedule. Bring a picnic dinner, a blanket and/or chairs.
We will have some games and craft opportunities for the kids. And of course there will be ICE CREAM for everyone. If you can help (or have teens who want to help) with the games and overseeing the crafts, please contact Eileen Limberg at elimberg@stbonaventure.net
3.
Curious About Becoming Catholic or
Completing Your Sacraments?
Wondering where God might be calling you?
A new group of adults interested in exploring the possibility of becoming Catholic or thinking about being baptized will begin meeting August 29 in English and Spanish. This process is for adults who were never baptized, were baptized in another Christian denomination, or were baptized Catholic but never received Eucharist and Confirmation. For more information, please contact Gina Cattalini at 672-5800 x2217 or gcattalini@stbonaventure.net (English) or Fr. Arturo at the Hispanic Ministry office 672-5800 x2225 (Spanish).
This is a great time to invite someone in your life who might be ready for the next step in their faith journey. We also need sponsors to walk with candidates through this process. Sponsors are current Catholics who are willing to share their own faith journey and help connect candidates to the broader parish community. Please contact Gina or Fr. Arturo for more information.
4.
Faith in Action: Clean Start
Clean Start is a coalition of several Concord churches offering the homeless an opportunity to wash their clothes on the fourth Sunday of the month. We were able to provide two events before the lockdown and look forward to restarting this much-needed service. Many different groups provide food and clothes. Unsheltered people often have access to showers at a gym. They have access to the internet through the library, but they have little access to opportunities to clean their clothes. They may even just wear the same clothes until they can get new clothes and dispose of the clothes they had been wearing.
This important work requires a minimal commitment. We need two to four people willing to spend a couple of hours at a laundromat on Saturday morning once a month helping people with their laundry. The more people on the list, the less often each person needs to participate. If you are looking for a way to participate in a social justice ministry but have limited time, Clean Start is perfect for you. For more information or to volunteer, email Judi Herman at drjudi@att.net.
5.
Scripture Study
Register now for the St Bonaventure Scripture Study program on 1st and 2nd Corinthians, beginning in September. The Scripture Class meets on Thursdays September through May at 10:00 am, and again at 7:00 pm. Participants may attend either class since they both follow the same schedule. Please click HERE for more information on the program and registration.
6.
Bishop's Appeal
Thank you to everyone who has already supported the Bishop’s Appeal. Please click HERE to donate and to learn more about the many programs and ministries funded through the Bishop's Appeal.
More news and events:
● Mothers’ Survey: We’re inviting all mothers of young children to share interest for restarting our Mothers Group, creating a childcare co-op during 9am Mass, and any other ideas you may have. Please click HERE for the brief online survey. For more information please contact Gina Cattalini at gcattalini@stbonaventure.net.
● 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.
ALL ABOARD!!
Bible Camp is Coming
Liturgy & Prayer
We are so happy to welcome everyone back to Mass. All of our liturgies have returned inside except for the Sunday 11am Mass. There is no registration required. If you have been vaccinated you have the option of not wearing a mask indoors. Non-vaccinated persons, including minors, must wear masks for indoor liturgies.
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 and additional information, please click HERE.
Sunday worship aid: Click HERE
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.