A Word From Our Pastor
Thanks to all who started Thanksgiving Day by attending Mass. It is not a day of obligation, but throughout our churches, so many come together because it is such a relaxed and prayerful liturgy and a wonderful way to begin the secular day for which we give thanks! It might also be the last Mass of the liturgical season that so many in the parish attend as we begin a new ‘year of Grace’ this weekend with the beginning of Advent.
As with the beginning of the new calendar year that is just a month away, many make ‘new year’s promises,’ and we can do the same for our church community. Deacon Greg Kandra writes this wonderful piece that encourages us to start the adventure:
“I live not far from a synagogue in Queens, New York and on the wall outside is a plaque, dedicated to Helen Keller. The legendary blind and deaf writer once lived in a house that stood on that spot. Sometimes I walk past and wonder whether the neighborhood has changed much since her day. I might close my eyes and imagine, for just a moment, what she felt, what she sensed, and what she feared.
It must have been terrifying. She couldn’t hear the cars, or the children on bicycles, or the stirring of the leaves in the wind. She wasn’t aware of the planes descending overhead, getting ready to land at the airport. She wouldn’t know if someone was approaching her – no footfall, no voices – and she didn’t even know if it was daylight. To her, it was always night.
Little wonder, then, that Helen Keller once famously summed up our existence with this simple proclamation: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” In her universe, every moment was an adventure. It had to be. Otherwise, she would have remained forever a prisoner of her senses.
Well, we get some idea of the daring that life involves as we begin the season of Advent.
Whether we realize it or not, we’re embarking on an adventure of our own. The name of this season, after all, shares the same root as “adventure” — from the Latin, adventus, meaning arrival. The arrival we await, of course, is the Messiah. And what an adventure that waiting will be.
It can be a challenge. These days, the nights grow longer. For many, the weather turns colder. We are as far as we can ever be from the sun. But we know in our bones and in our hearts that this darkness will not last. So we wait it out. We light candles. We trim trees. But there is so much to do, too! As the nights lengthen and the light dims, we shop, we wrap, we spend time in long lines at the post office and bear gifts for one another and attend parties where we drink too much eggnog and make too many promises we never manage to keep.
And we sing. O come; o come Emmanuel. When will we be ransomed? When will our Rescuer arrive? At the start of Advent, as we begin this adventure, we are striking out, stepping boldly into the dark. But we are not alone. We will encounter many other travelers along the way. A teenager will run to her cousin to announce a miracle. Later, she and her husband will travel toward a stable in a distant town. Wise men will set out to follow a star. What a journey! We may find ourselves disoriented at the turn the road takes.
But we remember this: life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. And we feel certain we are heading in the right direction. We take heart and take hope. We know there will again be light.
But for now, we will wait. Advent is a time of perpetual anticipation. Dorothy Day once compared this season of expectation to pregnancy; it is like a mother waiting to give birth. She was a mother, and she understood that analogy well.
But I keep going back to her contemporary, Helen Keller — who once wrote something that makes me wonder if Dorothy Day had it backwards.
As Keller wrote, in a very different context: “Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence.” Could it be that the power of this season lies not in waiting to give birth, but in waiting to be born?
Perhaps we are the ones who are in the womb, in darkness and silence, waiting – in every sense — to be delivered.
Either way, I think, this moment in time — this waiting, this anticipation, this expectancy, this Advent — is a daring adventure. And it is not nothing — in fact, it is everything. Let’s get started.” From The Living Gospel: Daily Devotions for Advent 2018, Greg Kandra (Ave Maria Press)
I invite all women of the parish (including high school students) to come on Tuesday night for Advent by Candlelight. I invite all men of the parish (high school students included) to come to on Thursday night for a prayerful and fellowship filled night to begin Advent and for all family to come on Sunday, December 4 for a Family Advent Retreat.
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.
Online Giving makes spreading generosity quick, convenient, and secure!
Please consider choosing one of our e-giving methods listed below and schedule a recurring gift:
Thank you for your continued support of St. Theresa.
Text
510-876-9679
Text “GIVE” to this number to receive a link to our online giving page.
You may also use Online Giving for Second Collections.
December 3 & 4 - Parish Maintenance & Improvement Fund
December 10 & 11 - Religious Retirement
December 31 & January 1 - Parish Maintenance & Improvement Fund
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.
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 30
Paul Dolan
Retired Vintner
My Spiritual Journey: How Our Spiritual Life Changes as We Age
Social Justice Committee (SJC)
From Ignatian Solidarity Network-
This Advent, commit to simplicity.In a season that can mistakenly be focused on gifts and consumption, explore ways to live simply as we hopefully prepare for the coming of Jesus and the restoration of the earth. This year, we’ll be mixing innew daily challenges, as well as accompanying PDFs for folks who prefer not to use the interactive calendar.
Step one: Sign up for the challenge to receive reminder emails to check the Advent calendar which will be filled with daily inspiration to live simply and intentionally while healing the earth this Advent.
Step two: Set your intention for this season by pledging to focus on simplicity in a particular area of your life.
Let’s celebrate this season of hope by keeping it simple.
Join us for our meeting on December 14th at 7pm for special guest speaker- Dr. Javay Ross. Please RSVP to Lydia Deck at ltdeck.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 59.69% of our parish goal.
$21,369.50 has been pledged
as of November 15, 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