Thanksgiving Day Mass
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.
For the blessing you will be asked to hold the items.
A Word From Our Pastor
How fast the liturgical year has passed! As we enter Thanksgiving week, we become keenly aware that Advent begins next weekend and a new liturgical year with it.
Advent was originally created to lead up to the great celebration of the Incarnation (Christmas). The Church fasted and prayed as Israel prayed for liberation and the coming of the Messiah. We now use this very short period to again hear the prophecies that led Israel to hope that God would intervene on their behalf against their oppressors and truly fulfill the promise to Abraham and Sarah, that more descendants than the stars would possess and live in peace in a land filled with milk and honey.
We wait in joyful hope for the fulfillment of God’s Reign and we with all of the Body of Christ will dwell forever in glory and see God face to face. A new liturgical year helps us to keep focus on all God has done for us and continues to do as God journeys with us along the way and to confirm our faith that what God promises will be fulfilled.
I again invite you in the midst of a world already celebrating Christmas, to listen, sing, and live in the joyful hope that Advent presents through its prayers, music, environment, and promises. I especially invite all the women and men to the evenings and the Family Advent Retreat mentioned in our Flocknote and bulletin that will give a special time to reflect on the richness of this short period.
This week before we break into Advent, the country and most celebrate Thanksgiving. Last year, I was especially thankful for your amazing and countless prayers, meals, cards, and assistance as I recovered from the removal of the 22 lb. tumor in my abdomen. As so many have mentioned, I look much better and am happy to report that I feel much better, and the CT scans confirm the absence of any cancer. A million thanks for your ongoing encouragement and love.
I missed the annual 9am special Thanksgiving Mass last year for the first time in my forty-one years as a priest and I did indeed miss it. That Mass which is not a holy day or Sunday has always been one of my favorite celebrations because everyone is there by choice and there never seems to be a rush or competition to other things like most Sundays. I will be there this year and I hope more and more of you will join your fellow parishioners in beginning a national day of thanks to God with this special Eucharist. In spite of many personal and worldwide challenges, we have much to be thankful for and acknowledging this together is a great way to start this holiday.
After a minor flood, the Event Center was quickly cleaned up and dried and open for use again. At the Men’s Club meeting last Sunday, one of the men reported how wonderful it was to have this center open for CYO games, late night basketball for ‘older’ players and the daily use that the school uses it for their gym classes and gatherings. At the reopening in the beginning of September, the names of many donors were displayed on the building. Even though those names are now put away, I ask all and especially the newest generation that utilizes this structure to say a prayer of thanksgiving for these families and friends of the parish who sacrificed to build this structure, pay off the cost and now maintain it. May it be a source of many, many games and events that service our parish community and others for many years!
As we close this liturgical year with the feast honoring Jesus who is our King, I personally thank all of you for your support, generosity, and diligence. Covid and other challenges has made the past year again unique to all the others. I look forward to this new year with some return to days like before this strange interruption and most importantly, I look forward to continuing the journey to God with all of you!
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
Advent
We will be decorating the church for Advent on Friday, November 25th at 10:00 am.
Come and spend an hour preparing the church for the Advent season.
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 19 & 20 - Campaign for Human Development
December 3 & 4 - Parish Maintenance & Improvement Fund
December 10 & 11 - Religious Retirement
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:
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Abide in God's Love
November 23
Thanksgiving Break
Social Justice Committee (SJC)
A time to pray about many things: wars, climate change, the poor, immigrants, and refugees. As thanksgiving approaches may we also recall how blessed we are “for the beauty of this earth.”
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 December 14 at 7pm with special guest speaker Dr. Javay Ross -Pediatrician, Medical Director, Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center RSVP for zoom link with Lydia Deck 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
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