A Word From Our Pastor
Many thanks to all who brought socks for the St. Vincent dePaul Center. As we finally begin to get cold and rainy weather, the simple gift of socks will make a great difference in the lives of those who receive them.
We come to the last months of the year and already the stores and ‘black Friday’ deals online crowd our shopping experiences. I’m always startled when I see Christmas decorations up before Halloween or quickly put them out the day after Halloween.
If you are taking advantage of early shopping, I hope you will consider a gift for the annual Christmas Gift Drive (formerly called the ‘Giving tree’ project). Like the socks, the St. Vincent de Paul Society which helps those locally in need all year round, tries to provide for families a small contribution of toys and clothes for Christmas. We always hear around this time how the Lord will judge us one day. The story of the sheep and the goats being separated with the Lord commenting, ‘when I was hungry, you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me a drink, when I was naked you clothed me….” Let us seize this yearly opportunity to thank the Lord who has showered so much on us and made us heirs of God’s Kingdom.
Many continue to be helped in our own local area by your ongoing support of our parish St. Vincent dePaul conference. We have a collection for our local chapter on the four last weekends of the month when a month has a fifth Sunday.
I don’t blame you if some have noticed there has been an asking for help continually since August. There are many in need and since I am happy to say we have a reputation as a parish of being very generous to those who ask, we find more and more asking for our help. Like all of the requests we get in the mail once we donate to a charity (remember Fr. Tony’s boxes of request letters a few years ago!). The parish staff tries to spread these worthy causes out and my rule is to not have more than two special requests a month (be it a bake sale, a blanket drive, a toy drive, help for fire victims, etc.). At times we have to make choices as we can’t do it all.
Together we can do a lot, but you know best what fits into your budget. Please give what you can, and don’t feel bad if on some occasions you simply cannot.
We are grateful for the rain this past week and pray it is the beginning of an end to the drought. With the colder weather we know all too well that in spite of the vaccinations and other precautions the flu season and more covid cases will surround us. This is a good time to remember that if you are not feeling well and definitely if you have the flu or a bad cold to stay at home! Definitely, feel free to wear a mask for your own protection and the protection of others. But especially, if you are sick, please stay at home for that weekend. You may have a mild case, but we have many in our parish who are immune compromised and even a mild cold may become a major health challenge to someone. We are continuing to provide a live stream of the nine o’clock Mass for those who are ill or vulnerable. Many other parishes have stopped this service, but we believe the needs of this parish warrant it to continue.
Please come look at the pictures on our All-Soul’s tables. Please add a name that the rest of us can pray for in the Book of Remembrance that will be kept in the sanctuary throughout the month of November until Advent begins. We all feel the loss of those we have loved and who have loved us but have died. May our prayer and support for each other at the time of a death and as the years pass after we loose someone be a major perk in being part of the parish. The Eucharistic Prayer for Various Occasions reminds us that God “accompanies us with love as we journey through life”. Part of the way that is clearly experienced is when we accompany each other in the parish through the joys and challenges of life.
Assisted Listening available at Weekend Masses
There are two ways to enjoy crisp, clear audio in the church for our weekend Masses.
1. Download the Everywhere App on your smartphone and connect via Bluetooth to your earbuds or hearing aid.
2. Check-out an Assisted Listening Device to use during Mass.
Option 1:
Download the app, connect to the church wireless network, put in your earbuds, open the app and you are set.
The WiFi password you will need to connect to our wireless network will be available at the sound system desk before and after Mass.
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Option 2:
Assisted Listening Devices are available at our weekend Masses. You can check out a device at the sound system desk prior to Mass.
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If you have any questions contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org
You may drop off the unwrapped gifts in the box in the vestibule by the St. Theresa statue.
You may make a Sunday donation by using online giving. Choose Give Now and the Sunday Offering fund.
Thank you for your continued support of St. Theresa.
You may donate by using the Online Giving button or the QR code.
You may also use Online Giving for Second Collections.
November 12 & 13 - Archdiocese for the Military
November 19 & 20 - Campaign for Human Development
December 3 & 4 - Parish Maintenance & Improvement Fund
December 10 & 11 - Religious Retirement
Our Thanksgiving Day Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 am on Thursday, November 24th.
We invite you to bring the bread and wine for your Thanksgiving Meal for a special blessing.
Dear parishioners – the office needs your assistance for a report.
Recently our parish had a safety and security protocols inspection to be sure we are following diocesan guidelines. As a result, there is an item we need your assistance with. The parish office needs to have a Master List of EVERY key distributed for parish property. If you have a key or keys, please send me an email (melody@sttheresaoakland.org) (or you may call if you prefer) and let me know which keys you have and the location they are for. We’ve already begun making a list with some of the more recent handouts, however some were given out many years ago. If everyone with a key would respond by Friday,, December 2nd, it would be greatly appreciated.
Moving forward, should there be a need for a key that it not located in one of the lockboxes, you’ll need to come to the office to obtain and sign for a key, which must be returned.
If you have questions, please contact the church office 510-547-2777 x120.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
St. Theresa School is currently accepting applications for grades TK through 8. As part of the St. Theresa Parish, we invite you to visit our school for a tour so you can see firsthand the close knit community of like-minded students and faculty. Tours will be held on various Tuesdays from November through January. We are also hosting Information Sessions for each grade level and an Open House event the last weekend of January. RSVP required for tours. For details and more information, feel free to visit our website www.sttheresaschool.org or you may contact our Director of Admissions, Michelle, at m_halligan@sttheresaschool.org We hope to hear from you soon!
Safe Environment Training for Parish and School Volunteers
For many parish and school volunteers it is time for you to renew your training. You will receive an email reminder with a link for you to complete the online training. Please complete the training by the renewal date in email you received. You need to be current with your training to volunteer in any program in the Parish and School.
If you have any problems or questions contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org.
To renew click on the link in your email or go to https://www.virtusonline.org or click on the link in the upper right corner of the parish website sttheresaoakland.org.
WINGS is a faith enhancement group for women encourages spiritual growth through prayer, scripture study, life-sharing and community. Our Fall session meetings, take place on a Zoom platform from 9:15-11:15am, on Wednesdays. Our engaging speakers will uplift you and keep you informed. You’ll experience a welcoming community as we support each other in our spiritual growth. Feel free to invite a friend! Women from local parishes and other denominations are most certainly welcome. If you’re new to WINGS or wish to sample a meeting, send your email address and request the week’s Zoom link, and any questions you may have about joining WINGS, to Denise Mollen at mollend@aol.com. She will send you the link to Zoom.
Our theme for the 2022/2023 year is:
.
Abide in God's Love
November 16
Dionne Cola
Pastoral Assistant, St. Benedict’s Parish, Oakland
Speaking for Women in the Church
Social Justice Committee (SJC)
A time to pray about many things: wars, climate changes, the homeless, immigrants and refugees. As you look at your ballots in preparation to vote maybe look at it with a lens of what a proposition or candidate will do to help those in our community most in need or how will racial justice be served best or how will climate change be affected.
Pope Francis’ New Documentary on Care for Creation Featuring Laudato Si’
The Letter, a new full-length film focused on global solidarity and care for creation tells the story of Laudato Si’ and how climate change is affecting the Earth and all those who inhabit it. The film follows four individuals from across the globe and brings together their unique experiences of the ecological crisis. The film was produced in collaboration with the Laudato Si’ Movement and in partnership with the Vatican and calls all people to a new and profound awareness of what is happening to our common home.
The Letter was released on YouTube Originals on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. You can get involved in several ways:
Watch The Letter on YouTube
Promote the film to your networks and/or on social media
Host a screening of The Letter in your parish; Maybe we can figure out how to do this at St. Theresa???
Find USCCB resources like the Laudato Si’ Study Guide (also in Spanish) to share with your parish
Join us at our next Social Justice meeting on November 14 at 7pm. RSVP for zoom link with Lydia Deck k at ltdeck@me.com
St. Vincent de Paul
Current Needs
Volunteers Needed for the Dining Room at the Direct Services Campus in West Oakland: 8:30am to 1pm Tuesday through Saturday. Volunteers to help prepare, and bag warm meals for our guests and serve the meals at the gated entrance to the courtyard. These excellent hot takeaway meals are being provided while the dining room is closed due to COVID. Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Kristen Bernal: Email kbernal@svdp-alameda.org 510-277-6435.
Men’s Clothing (casual, work, denim, and work pants, and shoes in good condition) and women’s hygiene articles can be dropped off in the Church vestibule. These donations are distributed through SVDP Clothes Closet in our Downtown Community Center.
Nonperishable, non-expired food donations: Our on-going food collections for the needy people at Sacred Heart Parish have been graciously acknowledged by those who have been served. This is becoming a regular opportunity for us to feed the hungry, especially during these difficult economic times. We bring the food to Sacred Heart around the third Sunday of the month to accommodate our neighbors some of whom are on various forms of public assistance that leave them short of funds when it come to purchasing food at the end of the month. Food donations may be left in the back of the vestibule in various baskets next to the “Giving Tree at any time.
Bay Area Rent Relief
Our Parish Conference of St Vincent de Paul is here to help our neighbors in need, including assisting those who qualify for California’s rent relief program to apply for and receive these State funds. If you know of anyone in need requiring assistance, please refer them to our Conference.
Our Parish SVdP Conference meets bimonthly, every third Saturday at 9:30am. If interested in learning more about our Conference’s work, contact Judy Bojorquez at jtsbojorquez@yahoo.com to be added to email distribution and with any questions you might have.
You may use online giving to make a donation to the St. Theresa St. Vincent de Paul conference. https://sttheresaoakland.org/donate.
Volunteer for a Liturgical Ministry
Please consider volunteering for one of our Liturgical ministries. Liturgy is the work of the people and we need your assistance.
What is your gift, passion, what do you really like to do? Do you like to read, talk with people, serve people, work behind the scenes, electronics? Turn that passion into a ministry, there is something for everyone. Prayerfully consider one of the following ministries.
Contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org to volunteer or for more information.
https://sttheresaoakland.org/ministries/liturgical-ministries
Thank you for your faithful support.
Lector
Eucharistic Minister
(must be fully vaccinated)
Sacristan
Altar Server
Greeter
Usher
Projectionist
Video Ministry
(9:00 am Mass)
Altar Linens
Weekend Mass Schedule
5:00 pm Saturday
9:00 am Sunday
The 9:00 am Sunday Mass is live-streamed on our YouTube channel for the ill and Homebound.
The link for the live-stream will be on our Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/sttheresaoak
YouTube channel link
Low Gluten hosts are available at all weekend Masses.
The hosts are less that 20 parts per million gluten, under .002%
Please use the presider's communion station to receive a low gluten host.
Weekday Mass Schedule
Monday - Friday
8:30 am
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday ~ 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Outside, on the upper landing, at the entrance to the church.
Mass Intentions
To request a Mass Intention contact Melody Marr at 510.547-2777, ext. 120 or melody@sttheresaoakland.org
Mass reservations open each Tuesday at 9:00 am for the upcoming Sunday and close on Thursday at noon.
Celebrant
The Most Reverend James Massa
Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn
Saturday, the Twelfth of June
Two Thousand Twenty-One
at 10:30 in the morning
Fordham University Church
Fordham University
Bronx, New York
If you have any questions, please contact Nina Green at 510/541-7188, or by email to nggreen177@att.net.
Pick up a copy of the Advent & Christmas Reflection booklet in the vestibule of the church this weekend.
Come and help Decorate the church for Ordinary Time
We will be taking the Christmas decorations down and decorating for Ordinary Time following Mass on Sunday. Please come for an hour and help decorate the church for Ordinary Time.
Parish Office Hours
Office Hours:
Monday, 12:00pm - 2:30 pm
Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:30 pm.
Melody Marr (Parish Administrator) (510) 547-2777, ext. 120 ~~ melody@sttheresaoakland.org.
Please support the 2022
Bishop's Ministries Appeal
St. Theresa Parish Goal - $35,800
We are currently at 57.74% of our parish goal.
$20,669.50 has been pledged
as of October 31, 2022.
Thank you for supporting the Annual Bishop's Ministries Appeal
You may make a donation using the Oakland Diocese giving option.
https://www.oakdiocese.org/bishops-appeal-donation-page
https://www.oakdiocese.org/bishops-appeal-donation-page