St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
January 20, 2022
1.
More Liturgical Ministers Needed
We are in need of more liturgical ministers (Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Sacristans, and Audio/Visual) at all of our Masses. Training is provided and volunteers self-assign using Ministry Scheduler Pro, a web and app-based scheduling program, so all volunteers are able to easily signup for Masses according to their own personal schedules. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your talents with our parish. Please click the button below to volunteer. Please contact Anthony Arteaga, Director of Liturgy & Music, with any questions.
2.
5:00pm Sunday Mass Schedule Change
Effective immediately, and until further notice, the 5:00pm Sunday Mass will only take place on evenings when there are Teen Confirmation sessions. The currently scheduled dates for the 5:00pm Sunday Mass through the end of this year’s Confirmation program are as follows: January 23, February 6, February 20, March 6, March 20, April 24. The schedule can also be found on our website HERE and is also posted on the glass cases both in front of the church and in the church foyer.
3.
Join us for Alpha—Invite a friend
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, February 7th. For further information go to our website.
4.
Blood Drive - February 19, 2022
The Knights of Columbus are hosting a Community Blood Drive for the American Red Cross on Saturday, February 19, 2022, in the Large Hall from 10am to 4pm. More information will follow later. If you are able to donate blood, please note this event on your calendar.
5.
Walk for Life
**Note change in plans due to Covid. We will NOT be coordinating a meeting at Bart on January 22nd. We encourage you to come on your own, with friends or family.
For those who aren’t able to go into S.F. for the Walk for Life this year, we invite you to stop by our parish Chapel and pray the Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the intention of reminding our country and our world of the sanctity of human life of all of our brothers and sisters. The Chapel will be open from 11:00am until 1:30pm.
6.
Super Bowl Fund Raiser – Crab Feed 2022
The Knights of Columbus are hosting their Super Bowl Fund Raiser (aka Crab Feed) on February 5. Tickets for In-Person and Take Out will go on sale January 8 and 9, 2022 and continue through January until we are sold out. See us after Mass in the main lobby of the Church.
Because of Covid-19 restrictions and concerns, we are having BOTH an in-person event for a maximum of 200 people AND a take-out opportunity for those who would rather sponsor their own small gathering in their home. The price is $70 per person with a discounted price of $65 for groups of 8 or more. All persons attending the in-person event must show at the door a valid fully vaccinated card or a negative result from a Covid test performed within the past 72 hours.
The menu will be Crab (3-lb uncracked per person), Pasta with Bolognese Sauce, and Caesar Salad. The event will include a no host beer and wine bar, raffle prizes, dessert raffle and Live Auction. The theme is “Super Bowl.” Wear your favorite team colors.
Please come for the fun and fellowship and at the same time help us with our charitable activities. COVID-19 restrictions have precluded us from having a fund raiser for almost 2 years. Regardless, we continued to perform our Faith in Action programs benefitting the St. Bonaventure community as well as our surrounding neighbors in need. To fund these charitable programs, we used our financial reserves and now need to replenish our council coffers to provide continued support in the future.
7.
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 7-8:30pm beginning February 16th. Spanish classes will meet on Sunday mornings evenings from 11am to 12:30pm. 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 Carla Cravanas for more information about the English Confirmation classes at (925) 672-5800 x 2217 or ccravanas@stbonaventure.net. For the Spanish program, please contact Fr. Arturo in our Hispanic Ministry Office at (925) 672-5800 x2225 or acardenas@stbonaventure.net.
8.
KOFC Ultrasound 2nd Collection on 1/22 & 23/2022
The Knights of Columbus St. Bonaventure Council 6038 is asking for your financial support for our participation in the National Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative. Essentially the program provides a 50% match to the funds raised locally for the purchase of ultrasound machines for Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC). These Pregnancy Resource Centers provide pro-life services to pregnant women, some of whom are abortion-minded. Experience shows that PRC’s equipped with an ultrasound machine persuade over 75% of these women to have their babies.
Over the past several years Council 6038 has placed ultrasound machines around the Bay Area, including one here in Concord with Options Health, due to the generosity of certain benefactors. We are now asking for your help to expand our effort. An ultrasound machine costs from $30,000 - $40,000 depending on the manufacturer and the model. Often we have obtained the help of another organization, 4US that provides 25% of the cost. So our need per machine comes to an average of $8,000. Please help us increase our reach to save more babies. Each ultrasound machine will save over 1,000 babies over the life of the machine. Please give generously to the 2nd collection at the Masses on January 22 & 23, 2022. Be sure to mark your donation for the Knights of Columbus (KOFC) Ultrasound Campaign.
9.
St. Vincent de Paul -
Summary Report for Fiscal Year 2020-2021
St. Vincent de Paul has had a challenging year with the pandemic adding to the misery of some of our neighbors. But with the grace of dedicated Vincentians and the financial support of a generous parish we rose to the occasion.
Our fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Forty-one brave Vincentians gave more than 7000 hours with visits to neighbors, listening to their concerns and creating a path going forward. Sometimes that involved paying bills, referring them to services, giving them food, clothing, and furniture. SVdP served 181 families (238 adults and 130 children).
(Continue on our website)
(Continue on our website)
10.
Flower Offerings
Because of Jesus Christ, we believe in the Communion of Saints. As we celebrated Christmas and bless each other with grace, love and gifts, we honored living family members; and we remembered those who have preceded us to the New Life by our Christmas Church decorations and flowers.
Arturo, Rita, Patty, Virginia, Simona, James, & Guadalupe Camacho
Melvia & Ronald Chavez
Elias Cosmet
Lucy Goidi
Scott Holm
Florence & Joseph Novicky
Ignacio Pangelinan & Family
Maria Sammut
Leonida Tinio
Ministry Notes
More news and events:
● Women's Christian Fellowship Retreat Postponed: The Annual Women’s Christian Fellowship retreat scheduled for this February at St. Clare’s Retreat Center has been postponed. It is our prayer that we all stay healthy and feel rescheduling our retreat is the prudent and safe decision. Please watch for details on our new date later in the year. For more information, please call Andrea at (925) 529-7675.
● Healing the Heart Workshop: Mark your calendars for our next 6-week workshop: March 1-April 5, 2022. For more information, please click HERE.
● 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.
Holiday Workshop
● 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.
● 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!
Ongoing
Schedule & Activities
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.