St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
September 16, 2021
"Whoever receives me, receives not me but the
One who sent me." - Mark 9:37
One who sent me." - Mark 9:37
1.
5pm Sunday Mass is back!
We began offering the 5:00pm Sunday Mass on September 12th. Liturgical ministers are badly needed. If you are a trained Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and/or Minister of Hospitality, please consider volunteering to assist through Ministry Scheduler Pro.
2.
Alpha is Coming Soon
Three weeks ago we asked you to pray for three people you hope will come to know Jesus. Today we ask you to turn that prayer into action and invite those people to Alpha. The best way to invite someone to Alpha is to sign up yourself and bring a friend!
Alpha is for anyone who wants to explore questions of faith, whether you consider yourself a firm believer or an interested skeptic. It’s a place to explore and discover, where you can ask and say anything. And it’s a lot of fun.
Alpha begins Monday, September 27. Register now on our website.
Connect. Discover. Belong.
Alpha.
3.
Adult Confirmation
Is God calling you to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation? Adult Confirmation preparation sessions begin this October for Confirmation in January or February, for adults who have already received the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.
English classes will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 pm beginning October 6. Spanish classes will meet on Sunday mornings evenings from 11 am to 12:30 pm beginning October 3. Please click here for more information and the registration form. Please register for either class at least one week in advance, with the registration form and a copy of your baptismal certificate.
Please contact Eileen Limberg for more information about the English Confirmation classes at (925) 672-5800 x2204 or elimberg@stbonaventure.net. For the Spanish program, please contact Fr. Arturo in our Hispanic Ministry Office at (925) 672-5800 x2225 or acardenas@stbonaventure.net.
4.
Join us for 40 Days for Life
Please join us as we pray to change the hearts and minds of those choosing death over life! The 40 Days for Life Campaign will begin on Sept 22 through Nov 1 at both the Walnut Creek and Concord locations of Planned Parenthood. The Vigils will be held at: 1357 Oakland Blvd., Walnut Creek and 2185 Pacheco St., Concord. These are both Planned Parenthood locations. We meet outside and pray the Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, pass out relevant information, carry signs. We are peaceful and prayerful - praying that mothers and fathers will turn away from the evil of killing children and remember that God creates each human being unique and unrepeatable. Please sign up for prayer times and join us! Click here for more information.
5.
Grade School Catechists Urgently Needed!
Dear Parishioners: We are blessed to have children back in our after-school faith formation programs again. As we begin a new season of faith formation training we need some adults to volunteer for this important ministry. You aren’t required to have teaching experience and we provide you with the class materials and the opportunity to co-teach with an another adult-like a teacher’s aide. We do have an urgent need for a teacher for a Tuesday class from 4pm to 5pm. Might God be calling you to give 1-2 hours a week to help our children learn our Catholic faith? Please pray on this and if the Spirit moves you, reach out to Eileen Limberg at elimberg@stbonaventure.net. Thank you!
6.
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.
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.
More news and events:
● Links to the Religious Exemption:
English: https://www.stbonaventure.net/documents/2021/8/Religious%20Exception%20Statement_Bishop%20Barber.pdf
● CYO Cross Country Registration is now open! Visit www.stbonaventurecyo.com for complete details.
● 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 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.
● Healing the Heart The Grief Support Program at St Bonaventure’s will have a one-evening program in early December and more six-week programs next year. If you would like more information or be notified as soon as we have definite dates, send an email to: fuzyfrank@aol.com. Dates will also be on the parish website.
● 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!
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
Sunday readings 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.
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
(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.