St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
March 16, 2023
1.
Bishop Barber to Bless New Reredos:
March 25, 5:00pm Mass
Bishop Michael Barber will be celebrating the 5:00pm Mass with us on March 25, 2023 and will bless the new reredos. The last time Bishop Barber visited us was on June 21, 2020, which happened to be Father’s Day. It was a parking lot Mass and was the first time Bishop Barber had celebrated a Mass with a congregation since the COVID shelter-in-place lockdown. He was so happy to celebrate Mass with a congregation! I hope you will join us for his return on March 25th.
I want to take a moment to thank a number of talented parishioners and staff members for their great collaboration in bringing about the new reredos that adorns the altar area of our church. This project began almost two years ago as the capstone to our many church renovation efforts. Those efforts were begun by Fr. Mathew Vellankal with the refinishing and reupholstering of our church pews. They continued with the renovation of the foyer, bathrooms, lighting, video, church flooring and chapel. A new altar adornment was also in Fr. Mat’s vision. I think he would be happy with what we have done.
Special thanks in designing the reredos goes to Anthony Arteaga, Christa Fairfield, Cynthia Striley, Vicki Farnham, and Kathy Chisolm as well as Christ Kamages and crew of CJK Studio. We wanted the design to "fit" our space and so we picked up design
elements from the existing church. The reredos features pillars which are similar to those at the entrance of the church. It has curves which mimic the overhang at the church entrance and sanctuary floor, and it rises in stages after the pattern of the original wood paneled inset behind the altar. The pillars are stained to match the statues of the Risen Christ and Our Lady, and the crucifix is a refurbished version of the one we’ve had in the church for many years.
Special thanks go to Randy Thomas, a member of our facilities maintenance staff, for carefully planning the reredos installation and for personally manufacturing some of the components which safely anchor the reredos to beams behind the rear wall. The installation team included Randy, Alfredo Diaz, Erich Laffert, Malcolm Doiron, Pedro Reyes, and me.
Lastly, I would like to thank several anonymous donors who added to existing funds from the pew and chair dedication campaign to help make the new reredos possible. Please plan to join us when Bishop Barber comes to bless our new addition at 5:00pm on March 25th. I pray that you are having a fruitful Lent. Be assured of my prayers, and may God bless you all.
Fr. Lawrence D’Anjou
Pastor
2.
Special Dispensation for St. Patrick’s Day
Bishop Michael Barber has granted a dispensation from abstinence of meat on the upcoming Feast of Saint Patrick on Friday, March 17.
He encourages all who make use of this dispensation to engage in another sacrificial or charitable act that day.
3.
Lenten Reconciliation Service: March 28 @ 7pm
You are invited and encouraged to join us and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at our Lenten Communal Reconciliation Service on Tuesday, March 28 at 7:00pm in the church. Several priests will be available to hear individual confessions.
We gather together because we are confident and grateful that God is merciful. Lent is the time when the entire Church enters into the period of purification and enlightenment as we journey along with our elect and catechumens who are preparing for the Easter Sacraments.
4.
Hope Walk - May 20th
St. Bonaventure’s is joining in the 2023 Hope Walk on May 20th at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek. You may be asking what is a Hope Walk and why is St. Bonaventure’s participating? It is a fun filled 5K walk around the Heather Farms Park, in support of the Cancer Support Community, San Francisco Bay Area. The Cancer Support Community provides much needed support not only to cancer patients, but their families at no charge. The funds raised by this event support the many programs they offer. As Catholics, we are called by our faith to action and to serve others. And this is a great opportunity to do so!! I don’t know many people that haven’t been affected by cancer, including my family and friends. So if you would like to join our team, please go to HopeWalkBayArea.net. Click on Teams and locate the St. Bonaventure Catholic Community Team and then click “Join” to register. Registration is $25 minimum. If you can’t join the walk, please donate by once again going to HopeWalkBayArea.net. Click on Teams and locate the St. Bonaventure Catholic Community Team. Click on any team member and then donate. If you have any questions please call me, Vicky Farnham (team captain) 925-408-0693. Thank you so much for your support!
5.
Knights Membership Drive
Members of our Knights of Columbus Council will be outside the church after the Masses on March 18 & 19 to offer all the men of the parish the opportunity to join our brotherhood. You perhaps have seen us around the parish or may know one of us. The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world.
Since our founding in 1882, the first principle of our order has been Charity through which we actively assist the Church and our neighbors in need. We were also founded to protect the livelihood of Catholic families. We do this by providing our members and their families with life insurance and annuity products through our highest rated insurance program.
Join us in our work for God and neighbor. Our Council has undertaken many charitable activities that benefit the parish and our community, such as the distribution of Coats for Kids to underprivileged children, and many spiritual activities, such as the hosting of the Family Rosary. And you also see us serving as Sacristans, Lecturers, Ministers of Hospitality and Eucharistic Ministers. This is a partial list of all that we do, but we could do much more with your help.
As a member of our Council, you will have the opportunity to strengthen your faith and become a better Catholic, and as a married man a better husband and father. And, you will have that special opportunity to “give back.”
Visit our table next weekend outside the main entrance to the church to get more information about what we do and how to enroll for free at kofc.org/joinus.
6.
Easter Flower Offering
You can honor a loved one, either living or deceased, with a gift to our Easter Flower Fund. Envelopes can be found in the exits of the church, or you may fill out the information on the form posted on the bulletin, cut it out, then send it or bring it to the office. What a wonderful way to remember someone special!
7.
Friday Stations of the Cross & Soup Suppers
Stations of the Cross will take place every Friday during Lent at 7:00pm in English in the church and 7:00pm in Spanish in the chapel.
8.
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.
9.
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!
10.
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!
Comunidad Hispana
1.
Servicio de Reconciliación de Cuaresma: 28 de marzo a las 7:00 pm
Usted está invitado y animado a unirse a nosotros y recibir el Sacramento de la Reconciliación en nuestro Servicio de Reconciliación Comunal de Cuaresma el martes 28 de marzo a las 7:00 pm en la iglesia. Varios sacerdotes estarán disponibles para escuchar confesiones individuales.
Nos reunimos porque estamos seguros y agradecidos de que Dios es misericordioso. La Cuaresma es el tiempo en que toda la Iglesia entra en el período de purificación e iluminación mientras caminamos junto con nuestros elegidos y catecúmenos que se están preparando para los sacramentos de Pascua.
2.
Ofrenda de flores de Pascua
Puede honrar a un ser querido, ya sea vivo o fallecido, con un regalo a nuestro Fondo de Flores de Pascua. Puede completar la información en el formulario publicado en el boletín, recortarlo y luego enviarlo o llevarlo a la oficina. ¡Qué maravillosa manera de recordar a alguien especial!
Ministry Notes
More news and events:
● 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 to 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.
● 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.