St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
November 25, 2021
"And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory."
~Luke 21:27
1.
Thoughts from Father Lawrence
I hope you will join me in taking advantage of this holy season as we “prepare the way” for Jesus to be renewed in our hearts.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are entering the holy season of Advent (already!). It's hard to believe how rapidly the liturgical year passes. With the celebration of Christ the King of the Universe last Sunday which marks the end of the liturgical year, we now “prepare the way” for the Lord’s coming as a human being at His nativity. The incarnation of Emmanuel – “God with Us” – is the fulfillment of the hopes of the hopes of prophets and sages of the Old Testament. God was made man so that man could be made like unto God.
2.
Preparing Our Hearts
Advent is a time of joyful preparation for the celebration of the Incarnation and Jesus's birth, a time of prayerful preparation for the second and final coming of Jesus Christ, and a time of spiritual preparation for Jesus coming into our hearts every day.
We invite you to consider using one of these resources during the season of Advent:
1) FORMED Daily Advent Reflections
Daily Advent reflection videos by email from Dr. Tim Grey, President of the Augustine Institute.
Click HERE for information and to register.
Sign up free for FORMED for more great Catholic content. Click HERE for details.
2) Advent Reflections with Bishop Robert Barron
Spend your time with Christ in the Gospel this Advent alongside Bishop Barron and the Word on Fire community. Sign up to receive an email reflection in the inbox each morning.
We invite you to consider using one of these resources during the season of Advent:
1) FORMED Daily Advent Reflections
Daily Advent reflection videos by email from Dr. Tim Grey, President of the Augustine Institute.
Click HERE for information and to register.
Sign up free for FORMED for more great Catholic content. Click HERE for details.
2) Advent Reflections with Bishop Robert Barron
Spend your time with Christ in the Gospel this Advent alongside Bishop Barron and the Word on Fire community. Sign up to receive an email reflection in the inbox each morning.
Click HERE for information and to register.
3) Pray and Reflect with Hallow
Find peace this Advent with Hallow, the #1 Catholic prayer and meditation app. Try their special Advent features as well as their wide array of everyday content. Now with a 3-month free trial, as well as more material in the free version.
Click HERE for more information.
4) Catholic Relief Services Online Advent Calendar
Scripture, quotes and images filled with hope as we reflect on the needs of our displaced global family.
Click HERE for the calendar and reminders.
3) Pray and Reflect with Hallow
Find peace this Advent with Hallow, the #1 Catholic prayer and meditation app. Try their special Advent features as well as their wide array of everyday content. Now with a 3-month free trial, as well as more material in the free version.
Click HERE for more information.
4) Catholic Relief Services Online Advent Calendar
Scripture, quotes and images filled with hope as we reflect on the needs of our displaced global family.
Click HERE for the calendar and reminders.
3.
Mass and Adoration
No 5:00pm Sunday Mass on November 28
Please note that there will not be a 5:00pm Sunday Mass on Sunday, November 28. All other Mass times remain the same and the 5pm Sunday Mass will return on December 5th.
December First Friday 24-Hour Adoration
The First Friday 24 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration in December will begin on Friday, December 3. We ask that you please sign up to 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/client/invitation2/secure/817015302738012010/false#/invitation
4.
Sharing Hope at Thanksgiving
Our collection at Thanksgiving Mass this year (today at 9am) is for our long-term partner Hope Solutions, formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing. The name Hope Solutions expands the focus to the many ways in which they offer hope on the road to permanent housing: through advocacy, support, mental health, tutoring, parenting classes, and so much more!
As we celebrate our blessings at Thanksgiving, let us remember the estimated 15,000 people who experience homelessness in Contra Costa County each year. On any given night, more than 5,000 people are without homes, nearly half of whom are children. To learn more about the live-giving work of Hope Solutions, and make a donation online, please click HERE.
For more information about homelessness in Contra Costa County, please click below. Thank you to our Faith in Action ministry for compiling this information, and to all who participated in the recent prayer service to end homelessness. May we all continue to work and pray for this goal.
5.
Giving Tree Needs Your Kindness
We continue toward our new normal and coming back together, giving and caring for each other. We want to remember our parish’s charisms of charity and generosity. With our concern for safety and well-being, our Giving Tree program will follow last year’s format. This year, our Giving Tree will be a gathering and sharing of Gift Cards. We would love your donations of gift cards: $25 grocery store (Lucky, Safeway, Food Maxx and Grocery Outlet) AND for local gift shopping (Target, TJ Maxx & Walmart). You can place your gift cards in the marked box in the Church foyer OR you can drop it at the parish office in the mail slot to the right of the main office door beginning November 13/14 through December 5th.
6.
Hand-Carved Religious Olive Wood Art After
Masses on November 27 & 28
The team from Bethlehem and Jerusalem will be visiting and displaying their olive wood religious art handmade by Catholic families. It is a wonderful opportunity to buy your gifts for your loved ones. By buying these articles, you get a religious masterpiece and support your Catholic brothers and sisters in the Holy Land to stay in the holy land and keep the holy places.
7.
Respect Life Ministry
Respect Life Prayer in Front of the Blessed Sacrament
Tuesday, November 30, 10:00am-3:00pm, Chapel
Join together for a special time of prayer regarding the Supreme Court deliberations on Dobbs v. Jackson, the Mississippi case which could overturn Roe v. Wade, as we pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten the minds of the Justices that they will decide morally and justly. We will end with Benediction at 3pm.
Rachel’s Vineyard Healing Retreat
Women's Healing retreat for those who have had an abortion. Fri-Sun, Dec. 10-12 in San Francisco. Call Maureen to register at (415) 614-5567 or click HERE for more information.
8.
Register Now for Kringle Mingle Christmas
Join us for this year’s Kringle Mingle Christmas Activity on December 4, 9:00-11:00am in the Large Hall. Visit with Santa and stay to make some ornaments and other crafts. $5/child. Please sign-up in the office by December 1. Due to COVID we cannot serve food, but we can still gather for the fun. Please wear masks.
9.
DONOR MATCH: CAN YOU HELP?
Our online giving provider Faith Direct is providing a donor match program. Online gifts help reduce costs. For every first offertory gift from a new recurring donor that is added between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021, Faith Direct will match that first gift, up to $50, with a maximum match of $1,000 for our church.
To be eligible, more than one installment must be set-up and the first recurring gift must be by December 31, 2021. We appreciate your generosity and your support of our parish. We prayerfully ask that you consider helping us meet this goal. Please follow this link to sign-up.
More news and events:
● SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, December 11 at 7:30pm: Join Vintage as they present their 18th annual Christmas Concert in the church.
● Winter Nights: Volunteer now for the Winter Nights Family Shelter, hosted here at St. Bonaventure from Jan. 3-17. Click HERE for information about volunteer opportunities, ranging from providing meals and childcare to overnight volunteers. Contact Anne Sparks with questions or to volunteer at sbwinternights@gmail.com.
● 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.
● The Knights of Columbus of St Bonaventure announces the 2021-22 Youth programs for Essay(s) and Poster(s). Information is now available for the Youth of the parish attending parochial, public schools, Youth Formation and homeschoolers. Go to KofC6038.org for all entry forms or contact Claire Tryon, KofC C Youth Director for more information at greyeototo@gmail.com.
● 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. 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 on Tuesday, December 7 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. 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.
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.
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.