St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
September 2, 2021
1.
Sunday Reflection
Thoughts from Deacon Bill
“Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) Mark 7:34
I read an article recently about a mission volunteer worker in West Africa. As the story goes, he started a school to teach sign language and job skills to deaf students. He observed that before becoming students, many of them did not realize that they had names.
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2.
Pray With Us: Luke 11:2 Campaign
Luke 11:2 teaches us to pray 'Your Kingdom come.' Last weekend we launched the 11:02 Prayer Campaign. At 11:02 a.m., each day for 21 days, we invite everyone to pray for their city and for three people they know to come to know Jesus.
How to participate:
How to participate:
- Take one of the prayer booklets provided in the church or available on our website.
- Write down the names of three people they you would like to come to Jesus. This is for your own reference. It won’t be shared.
- Set a daily alarm for 11:02 a.m. as a reminder to pray for your 3 people.
- Be open and expectant to see how God might use them.
When we spend time with the Living God, we see Him do extraordinary things.
3.
Alpha Starts September 27
We all have questions about God, faith, and our lives.
Alpha is an opportunity to explore life's questions and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and relaxed atmosphere.
If you enjoy great conversations, if you are seeking the answers to big questions, and connecting with others, Alpha is for you.
You are not required to say anything and there's nothing you can't say. It's an opportunity to hear from others and contribute your own thoughts, and perspective in an honest, non-judgmental environment.
It's a great space to invite friends and family members who too are seeking answers to those big questions.
Whether you are searching for a way to move closer to God, or examining your faith, Alpha is the place to connect, relax and build friendships.
Alpha begins Monday, September 27th.
For further information go to our website.
4.
Registration For Religious
Education Classes
5.
First Friday 24-Hour Adoration Resumes
in September
We plan to restart our monthly First Friday 24 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration on Friday, September 3. We ask that you please sign up so spend some time with our Lord as the Blessed Sacrament cannot be left alone. Please sign up for an hour or more here: https://signup.com/go/qRZQZkW. As we face our own needs and worries, and with all that is going on in the world with violence, natural disasters, and COVID, this is the right place to be: in the presence of Jesus!
6.
5pm Sunday Mass Returns Sept 12th
We will begin offering the 5:00pm Sunday Mass on September 12th. Liturgical ministers are badly needed to make this Mass time possible. If you are a trained Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and/or Minister of Hospitality, please consider volunteering to assist through Ministry Scheduler Pro.
7.
Early Childhood Program
Do you have a Pre-schooler or Kindergartner? We have a wonderful Faith Formation program just for them on Sunday mornings. While you are at the 9:00am Mass, your child will be in the classrooms learning about Jesus’ love and the wonders created by God. Teachers and teenage helpers reflect God’s love to your child. The cost is $100 for September-May classes. Registration is happening now. Classes begin September 12. For more information and registration forms, click here.
More news and events:
● Links to the Religious Exemption:
English: https://www.stbonaventure.net/documents/2021/8/Religious%20Exception%20Statement_Bishop%20Barber.pdf
● Scripture Study: 1st and 2nd Corinthians Join the St Bonaventure Scripture Study program this September to explore 1st and 2nd Corinthians. Please click HERE for more information on this study and to register.
● Join the Columbiette On Sunday, September 12 at 6pm, we are holding a meeting to sign up new candidates. If you are interested in becoming a Columbiette and you are a practical Catholic over the age of 18, no matter what parish you belong to, please join us. We will start our meeting at 6pm in the Hall across from our church, on the corner next to the school at: 2390 Grant Street, Concord, CA
Please visit our website at: https://qascolumbiettes.wixsite.com/oursite
We are the women’s Auxiliary to the Knights of Columbus. We support our Churches, our Knights, our Youth, our Families, our Charities and all the events that the Catholic Church supports. We are very religious women who work hard all year, as a sisterhood of support. Some could become a brother Knight, but if you are a woman you could become a sister Columbiette.
● CYO Cross Country Registration is now open! Visit www.stbonaventurecyo.com for complete details.
● Healing the Heart Grief Workshop Healing the Heart is a grief support Workshop that will start a six-week session on September 7, 2021. We will meet in Classroom A1 at 7:30pm for six weeks and explore feelings of grief and tools to deal with life changes. There is no fee but we request advance registration, please call Helene Billeci at 925-822-4372 and leave a message, or email: fuzyfrank@aol.com.
● Drive-Thru Prayer A reminder that we continue to offer Drive-Thru Prayer Tuesday through Friday from 5:30-6:30pm. Drive into the parking lot next to the rectory where volunteers will be eager to pray for your intentions. All are asked to wear face masks, and prayer volunteers will keep distance from your vehicle. All are welcome.
● Calling all Crafters! Classy Crafters meets every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Classroom A-1. Everyone is welcome, no special skills are needed! If you have any questions, please call Donna Trana at (734) 474-7618.
● 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.
● Clean Start: Clean Start offers our homeless brothers and sisters the opportunity to wash their clothes at a local laundromat. We need volunteers to help on Saturday once a month. For more information or to volunteer, email Judi Herman at drjudi@att.net.
● Nourish for Caregivers provides caregivers a faith perspective, as well as practical and emotional supports, useful tools, and shared experience.
Meetings every other Wednesday is now at 7pm on Zoom. For more information, email Helene Billeci at fuzyfrank@aol.com.
Meetings every other Wednesday is now at 7pm 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: Learn to love your spouse more fully on the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience. Both virtual and in-person Experiences are available. Go to www.wwme.org to find the Experience that is just right for you!
ALL ABOARD!!
Bible Camp is Coming
Liturgy & Prayer
We continue to livestream the Sunday 9am (English) Mass. We DO NOT have walk-up Holy Communion. For our full Mass schedule and additional information, please 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
Adoration & Friday Holy Hour:
We offer Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after 9:00am Mass in the Chapel. Monday through Thursday, Adoration continues for one hour after Mass. Friday Adoration continues until 3:00pm. The Friday Holy Hour beginning at 2:00pm includes the Rosary, the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and concludes with Benediction at 3:00pm.
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 are available to help. 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 3:30pm.
The office is open for walk-up visits, Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm (closed for lunch 1-1:30pm), and Friday 8:30am-12:30pm. Staff are also available by appointment. Please call the main office number or call or email the staff person directly.
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Food Pantry
The St. Bonaventure Food Pantry is open Tuesdays from 8:30-10:00am 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 online or through the mail, as well as those who continue to give at the weekend Masses and walk-up Holy Communion.
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.