St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
February 23, 2023
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
[Take Up Your Cross]
"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." - Luke 9:23
Prayer: Dear Lord, may your enormous love for me inspire me to
take up the cross and love others.
Prayer: Dear Lord, may your enormous love for me inspire me to
take up the cross and love others.
Source: "A Season of Deep Everlasting Healing" by Deacon Eddie Ensley and Deacon Robert Hermann
1.
March First Friday 24 Hour Adoration
The First Friday 24 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration for March will begin on Friday, March 3. We ask that you please sign up to spend some time with our Lord as the Blessed Sacrament cannot be left alone. We especially need coverage during the overnight hours. Please sign up for an hour or more here: https://signup.com/go/coGySpU
2.
Friday Stations of the Cross & Soup Suppers
Stations of the Cross will take place every Friday during Lent at 7:00pm in English and 8:00pm in Spanish in the church.
3.
Feasting on Holiness: Beyond Giving Up Chocolate for Lent with Janèt Sullivan Whitaker
Join us for our Lenten Parish Mission: Feasting on Holiness: Beyond Giving Up Chocolate for Lent with Janèt Sullivan Whitaker. Over three days, Janèt will help us focus on ways to grow in our own holiness by focusing on creating time for God, reflecting on our own unique giftedness, and our generosity of heart through reflection, scripture, prayer, and song. Morning and evening sessions will be offered February 27-March 1: 9:30am and 7:00pm in the church. Both the morning and evening sessions are the same each day.
Janèt Sullivan Whitaker (pronounced ‘Janette’) is a theologian, singer, composer, storyteller, and recording artist. Her liturgical compositions, widely sung throughout the church, are commercially published by OCP Publications in Portland OR, and WLP/GIA in Chicago, IL. Her compositions include such well-known hymns as In Every Age, Day of Peace, The Least of These, and Here At This Table.
4.
A Note on Liturgy: Why are we using some Latin and Chant during Lent?
You will note that during Lent we will be incorporating some chants for our sung parts of the Mass to add a special sense of mystery and solemnity during the Lenten season. This includes some parts in Latin (Sanctus [Holy]/Agnus Dei [Lamb of God]) and Greek (Kyrie, eleison [Lord, have mercy]). Like so many of the special devotions and practices we offer during Lent, such as Stations of the Cross and additional opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, these chants remind us of the many timeless traditions of the Church. They also add to the solemnity of the season.
The solemn and penitential nature of Lent prepares our hearts, minds, and souls to participate in the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord during the Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil). Finally, the season of Lent calls for more simplicity and restraint, as is evident by our sparse church environment, with its lack of flowers and flashy decorations, and the fact that these chanted parts of the Mass are sung without any piano or organ accompaniment. All of this will make us more aware of the shift to the much more joyful and celebratory nature of proclaiming Christ’s resurrection at our Easter celebrations and throughout the Easter season!
5.
Build your business and help us grow a
vibrant faith community
Kjirsten Finnegan from LPi, our bulletin printer, will be securing new ads for our church in the coming weeks. As a valuable member of the business community, we invite you to expand your reach and grow your business with a print ad in our parish bulletin and/or a digital ad featured on ParishesOnline.com.
6.
40 Days for Life - Feb. 22 - April 2
We are in great need of peaceful, prayerful witnesses for Life outside Planned Parenthood, in both the Concord and Walnut Creek locations. The campaign begins Feb 22 and ends April 2. This is the perfect Lenten self-sacrifice, to give just one hour per week. We pray the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Angelus, Memorare, and peacefully answer any questions. There is a very peaceful presence among all who gather to pray - a blessed hedge of protection. Remember, your one-hour commitment can save lives!
7.
Classy Crafters Invite You!
We make all kinds of craft projects throughout the year for our annual craft sale in the Fall. All proceeds are donated to a worthy cause. If you like to craft, have fun with friends in a casual and relaxed setting, and make a difference in others' lives, please join us! Not sure what kind of project you can bring to work on? Stop by and we'll show you what each of us is making! We meet every Wednesday from 10:00am to 1:00pm in Classroom A-1. Come and go as you please. All are welcome!
8.
Food For Families Drive
The Knights of Columbus are again sponsoring the Food For Families Drive to support the St. Bonaventure Food Pantry. Your generosity provides a big impact. You help many families in need each week and we give you a big “Thank You”.
Starting February 25/26, we will be collecting food on the last weekend of every month. For your convenience, we’ve provided a “Preferred Items” list to choose from. Keep this list and just toss a couple of extra items into your shopping cart. These items are the staples that are needed by our Food Pantry each week.
Please return your donation to the foyer of the church starting February 25/26.
Tuna | Peanut Butter | Canned Fruit | Canned Vegetables | Canned Kidney Beans |
Canned White Beans | Mac & Cheese | Pasta Sauce | Tomato Sauce
Canned White Beans | Mac & Cheese | Pasta Sauce | Tomato Sauce
Thank you for your generosity.
9.
33 Days to Morning Glory: Marian Consecration
If you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus and His Blessed Mother, please join us for a 33-Day Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Five consecutive consecration gatherings will take place on Saturday mornings at 8:30am, from Feb 18 through March 18, in classroom A1, and will culminate on the sixth Saturday with a Mass of Consecration on March 25th at 8:30am. Every session will offer a video by Fr. Michael Gaitley followed by refreshments and discussion.
Please register at the parish office or at www.stbonaventure.net/33days. You can obtain the book, 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley, in the parish office for $18. You can also purchase the book yourself from several sources.
All are welcome to join us to grow in faith and community.
10.
Winter Nights Shelter - Needs Your Help
St Bonaventure is helping with Winter Nights this year from March 6 through March 20. Concord Methodist Church (CMC) located on West Street is hosting. We need four or five groups to provide and serve meals. If you are interested in cooking for Winter Nights, get a group of your friends together and let us know. You will take your already prepared food to CMC ‘s kitchen, serve the families and clean up afterwards. Groups providing food will also help clients prepare lunches for the following day.
Additionally, we need people to:
- help unload the Winter Nights truck with client’s belongings on March 6 and load the truck again March 20.
- do clients laundry (towels) during their stay at the Church.
- watch children when parents come in for the day, if the parents need it e.g., read to the children.
Any monetary donations are greatly appreciated and needed.
If you would like to help, please email, or phone the church office and leave your phone number and email address and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
If you would like to help, please email, or phone the church office and leave your phone number and email address and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your help. Blessings, Anne Sparks tosparks-40@astound.net
11.
Laundry Help for Those in Need
Our Clean Start Ministry volunteers come together once a month to do the laundry for those in need: those needing shelter, families who have fled their countries, day laborers and others living on the edge. Like many other expenses, the cost do laundry increases every week. You may be shocked to learn that a wash load is now $8-10 per larger load and nearly $5 for a small washer. There is also the cost of the laundry soap, dryer sheets and bleach. You can help keep this ministry going and help it to grow beyond just one Saturday a month. We would love to add additional Saturdays. Please drop your donation in an envelope marked “Clean Start” in our Sunday collection basket.
12.
READY, SET, LAUNCH!
Be Prepared for a STELLAR adventure
Bible Camp is June 26-30, 2023
Now is the time to plan activities for those sunny days of summer. Our Bible Camp offers a pre-school program for 3- and 4-year-olds which meets from 9:30-11:30am each day of camp. Our Kinder – 6th grade program meets from 9:30-12:30pm. 6th Graders are counselors-to-be and will be involved in some really awesome camp activities.
Registration will begin on April 3. The registration fees are $80 for preschoolers and $100 for Elementary aged students. Registration fees will go up by $10 after May 15. Register early!
Adults, we need you to be our Team Leaders. All you need is a desire to have loads of fun with kids! Contact Eileen Limberg at 672-5800, Ext. 2204 or elimberg@stbonaventure.net for more information.
Teens: 7th grade through high school - we need you to be our camp counselors. This is a great way to have fun, share your faith and serve in a variety of ways at camp. Contact Anastasia Harkevich at 672-5800, Ext. 2229 or aharkevich@stbonaventure.net for more information.
Comunidad Hispana
1.
33 Días para la Gloria de la Mañana:
Consagración Mariana
Si desea crecer en su relación con Jesús y su Santísima Madre, únase a nosotros para una consagración de 33 días a Jesús a través de María. Cinco reuniones consecutivas de consagración se llevarán a cabo el sábado por la mañana a las 8:30 a.m., del 18 de febrero al 18 de marzo, y culminarán el sexto sábado con una Misa de Consagración el 25 de marzo a las 8:30 a.m. Cada sesión ofrecerá un video del P. Michael Gaitley seguido de refrigerios y discusión.
Por favor, regístrese en la oficina parroquial o en www.stbonaventure.net/33days. Puede obtener el libro, 33 Days to Morning Glory por el P. Michael Gaitley en la oficina parroquial por $ 18. También puede comprar el libro usted mismo de varias fuentes.
Todos son bienvenidos a unirse a nosotros para crecer en fe y comunidad.
Antonio Arteaga
Director de Liturgia y Música
2.
Ayuda de lavandería para los necesitados
Nuestros voluntarios del Ministerio Comienzo Limpio se reúnen una vez al mes para lavar la ropa para los necesitados: aquellos que necesitan refugio, familias que han huido de sus países, jornaleros y otros que viven al límite. Al igual que muchos otros gastos, el costo de lavar la ropa aumenta cada semana. Es posible que se sorprenda al saber que una carga de lavado ahora cuesta $ 8-10 por carga más grande y casi $ 5 por una lavadora pequeña. También está el costo del jabón para lavar la ropa, las sábanas de la secadora y la lejía. Usted puede ayudar a mantener este ministerio en marcha y ayudarlo a crecer más allá de solo un sábado al mes. Nos encantaría agregar sábados adicionales. Por favor, deje su donación en un sobre marcado "Clean Start" en nuestra canasta de recolección dominical.
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.
● 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 – Santa Misa
6:30 – Adoración y Reconciliación
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.