St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
September 22, 2022
"Love is the greatest power for the transformation of reality because it pulls down the walls of selfishness and fills the ditches that keep us apart."
- Pope Francis
- Pope Francis
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"El amor es el mayor poder para la transformación de la realidad porque derriba los muros del egoísmo y llena las zanjas que nos mantienen separados."
- Papa Francisco
- Papa Francisco
1.
Thoughts from Deacon Bill
"We are called to pursue righteousness, love, patience and gentleness rather than riches."
“I learned to hold my treasures loose because it hurt when God pried open my fingers to take what he wanted.” - Anon
Our readings this weekend offer us a reminder and a warning; a reminder of our responsibility to recognize the plight of those around us who are most in need and to share our blessings; our time, our treasure and our talent to help meet those needs. A warning that at some point each of us will be held accountable for how we’ve used the blessings we have been given especially as it concerns one another.
2.
Adoration Schedule Change for this Friday
Due to both the church and chapel being used for Funerals this Friday, September 23rd, our normal schedule of Eucharistic Adoration will not take place. Instead, please join us at 2:00pm in the chapel for a Holy Hour with Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and concluding with Benediction. The Blessed Sacrament will only be exposed during the Holy Hour this Friday.
3.
Peace Concert Fundraiser for Ukraine
Our St. Bonaventure Choirs will present a Peace Concert Fundraiser for Ukraine on Sunday, September 25 at 2:30pm in the church. Proceeds will be dispersed to the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council to assist Ukrainian refugees. An Ice Cream Social will follow in the Ministry Center Courtyard. Please join us for an afternoon of beautiful music and come support our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.
4.
What Adult Faith Programs Are You Looking For?
As we continue to dive into the recent survey results and Synod discerning your comments, we have identified some theme interests for Adult Faith Formation offerings. As we plan, we want to hear from you again. Please take a moment to complete the survey below. If you have any comments, please email them to ccravanas@stbonaventure.net.
5.
Connecting the Dots: Oakland Cursillo Opportunity!
You will be hearing more about this unique retreat-like experience that will be provided by the Oakland Cursillo community. In the meantime, we wanted to provide a little more information for your consideration. Sounds like a time of instruction, super pious dry days doesn’t it? Read on, my friend!
Did you know…
- Cursillo is a “short course in Christianity”
- It is provided in 4 fun-filled days and 3 glorious nights in the confines of St. Elizabeth Seton parish in Pleasanton. Who could pass up an opportunity like this!
- The weekend is filled with the “lived experience” of Christianity. What does that mean? Experiencing the power of the Spirit and observing the movement of Christ in individual lives, just like yours!
If you have been asking yourself, seems like something is missing from my life, what is that? This is the weekend for you!
If you have been telling yourself after a homily or a reading, “God doesn’t work like that in my life.” This is the weekend for you!
If you have been saying that you don’t want to “jump into the deep end” without more context, then this is for you: http://oak-cursillo.org/about.html No, really, truth be told, this link is for everyone to understand a little more about this International Christian movement.
6.
Blessing of the Animals: Saturday, October 1
@ 10:00am
As we approach the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, we will be holding our annual Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 1st at 10:00am in the Ministry Center Courtyard. All of your animal friends are welcome, whether they have four legs, fins, wings, or no legs. We ask that animals be either caged or leashed. Thank you.
7.
Knights of Columbus Membership Drive
The Knights of Columbus is an International Order of Catholic men who are called to lead with faith, protect our families, serve others, and defend values in a busy changing world. St. Bonaventure Council 6038 will be holding a membership drive at all masses this coming weekend, September 24/25. Joining the Knights helps bring Catholic men together in a powerful way.
We are called to pursue righteousness, love, patience, and gentleness rather than riches.
8.
Women's Christian Fellowship Retreat
Registration is now open for the 27th Annual Women’s Christian Fellowship Retreat October 28-30, 2022, at St. Clare’s Retreat Center in Soquel, CA. Theme of the retreat is “Be Not Afraid.” Father Jerry Brown, former pastor of Brentwood’s Immaculate Heart of Mary parish, will direct our weekend of hope and spiritual enrichment.
Ladies, we invite you to come to the retreat and personally experience God’s loving presence. Despite all the fear and anxiety in these uncertain times, do not be afraid, for God knows the plans He has for us and will fill our hearts with blessings and peace.
Space is limited, so register as soon as possible to
secure a room. COVID safety protocols will be followed throughout the weekend.
Retreat details are on the registration brochures available at the parish office, in the church foyer, and at our website.
For more information, please call Andrea at (925) 529-7675.
9.
Pray for the Defeat of Proposition 1 and
to End Abortion
As we enter Respect Life Month, the bishops of California are inviting all Catholics to engage in prayer and fasting to end abortion and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to form the minds and hearts of California citizens to defeat Prop 1. With that in mind, our bishops are hosting a Novena to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary to Defeat Proposition 1 from September 29 to October 7—see the Novena flyer and visit www.CAcatholic.org/Prop1 for the daily video messages. At the same time, please join our interfaith friends of 40 Days for Life from September 28 to November 6 for their annual campaign to end abortion: www.40daysforlife.com.
Comunidad Hispana
1.
La Hermandad del Señor de los Milagros
de Concord
Invita al público en general a participar en la festividad que se realizara en homenaje al Señor de los Milagros
Novenario - 7:30pm
Viernes Sept. 23 Small Hall
Viernes Sept. 23 Small Hall
Sabado Sept.24 Small Hall
Domingo Sept.25 Music Room
Lunes Sept. 26 Small Hall
Martes Sept. 27 Small Hall
Miercoles Sept. 28 Music Room
Jueves Sept. 29 Chapel
Viernes Sept. 30 Chapel
Sabado Oct. 1 Chapel
Misa y procesión:
Domingo 9 de Octubre
12:45pm
2.
Ore por la derrota de la Proposición 1 y para terminar con el aborto
Al entrar al Mes de Respeto a la Vida, los obispos de California están invitando a todos los católicos a orar y ayunar para terminar con el aborto y por un derramamiento del Espíritu Santo para abrir las mentes y los corazones de nuestros ciudadanos para derrotar la Prop 1. Con ese propósito, están ofreciendo una Novena a Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario para Derrotar la Proposición 1 del 29 de septiembre al 7 de octubre—ver el volante de la Novena y visite a www.CAcatholic.org/Prop1 para mirar los videomensajes diarios. A la vez, están invitados a unirse con nuestros amigos interreligiosos de 40 Días por la Vida del 28 de septiembre al 6 de noviembre en su campaña anual para terminar con el aborto: www.40daysforlife.com.
3.
Ayudar a dar un comienzo limpio
Ofrece a nuestros hermanos y hermanas sin hogar la oportunidad de lavar su ropa en una lavandería local. Necesitamos voluntarios para ayudar un sábado al mes. Para obtener más información o para ser voluntario, envié un correo electrónico a Norene Mason at: teammason@comcast.net.
Ministry Notes
More news and events:
● Staying connected - St Vincent de Paul: SVdP is here to help with temporary financial assistance to our parishioners in need. Please call the church at 925-672-5800 and ask or put in ext. 2234. Please leave your name, phone number and a brief message and one of our dedicated Vincentians will call you within 24 hours.
● Is God Calling You to Full Membership in the Catholic Church? It begins with an awareness…or stirring in one's heart for something more. It could be a curiosity or sense of longing for fulfillment. The process for adults becoming Catholic is formally called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
- This process is for unbaptized adults
- Those baptized in another Christian tradition
- OR baptized Catholic adults who want to prepare to receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion
Have you been thinking about becoming a Catholic for some time but never got around to doing anything about it?
Come and see where God is calling you!
There is still time to join this session of inquirers to the Catholic Faith.
If you have questions or you'd like to learn more about the RCIA process, please contact Carla Cravanas at ccravanas@stbonaventure.net or by calling 925-672-5800 extension 2217. Or visit our website at www.stbonaventure.net/rcia for more information.
● FORMED: Check out what’s being offered on FORMED this week by clicking here. 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.
● Classy Crafters: The Classy Crafters is up and running again every Wednesday from 10:00am to 1:00pm in Classroom A-1. The crafts we make will be sold at our annual sale in November and all proceeds go to a worthy cause. If you like to craft, chat, and meet new friends, please join us! Want to know more about us? Feel free to stop by any time and we’ll fill you in! Or – give Donna Trana a call at:
734-474-7618.
734-474-7618.
● 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!
● Help Give a 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 Norene Mason at: teammason@comcast.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.
● Nourish ENRIQUECIMIENTO PARA CUIDADORES:
Te invitamos a conectarte y tener una conversación para alimentarte emocional y espiritualmente a todos aquellos que ofrecen cuidado para otros durante este tiempo de incertidumbre y ansiedad.
Nuestras reuniones son cada 2do y 4to viernes del mes a las 7:00pm a través de ZOOM
Nuestras reuniones son cada 2do y 4to viernes del mes a las 7:00pm a través de ZOOM
TE ESPERAMOS
Para más información, contacta a Biviane Ochoa al (650) 278-6462 o email itsbiviane@gmail.com
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.
Adoración al Santisimo
Todos los martes de 6:00 a 7:00 pm en la Iglesia
6:00 – Santo Rosario y Reconciliación
6:30 – Santa Misa
Unción de los enfermos el primer martes de cada mes
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.