On Sunday, March 26th at the 9:00 am Mass the Sacrament of the Sick will be administered to all those who suffer from a serious, acute or chronic illness. Caregivers are also encouraged to attend.
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Seder Dinner
March 29, 6:00 pm
Reservation Required
Click on the Seder Dinner link on the Lenten Events page to make a reservation.
Many thanks to all who bought cookies, cakes and other goodies helping support the efforts of many of the youth of the parish who next week will travel south and build a house in a day for a homeless family. Almost two thousand was raised through sales and outright donations. I ask all to pray this week that the journey this coming weekend will be successful, safe and life-changing for the family that has been homeless for a long time and the individuals who will experience the build. I am proud to report that many who have gone before have looked differently at the world in a more compassionate, loving, Christian disciple manner after this experience.
If you did not, but still wish to make a donation toward this effort, make your donation, drop it into the regular collection basket and we will make sure it supports this annual opportunity.
Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and giving to the poor (almsgiving). We have many, many opportunities personally and as a community to exercise these traditional facets. Please sign up for the Seder dinner. We have not been able to do it for a couple of Covid moratorium years, but it is a great way to prepare for Holy Week. In the three Synoptic Gospels, Jesus institutes the Eucharist and gives us the example and command of love when he washes feet at a Passover Dinner. We gather and follow the Seder (Order) of a Passover dinner, and it will be enlightening if we recall the account on Holy Thursday.
There are too many opportunities to give to the poor and it is difficult at times to discern which ones to support with our personal budgets and decision about tithing. The Bishop’s Appeal this year begins again and this weekend we watch the short film the bishop’s office has sent us. I assure you that none of the funds given to this effort go anywhere but to the ministries mentioned. The diocese does continue to support above what the parishes do on their own religious education programs that train teachers and provide resources. An annual youth day joins several other northern California dioceses for a large gathering in the fall at the CA fairgrounds in Vallejo.
I am happy to see this year the ministry of Rachel’s Vineyard is mentioned. Over the years I have encouraged several to go to this retreat. The results have been supportive and healing without dire or any judgement. Walking with Women is a very good opportunity for us as a Church to do more to support women with the many challenges of raising a child. It goes well beyond the insistence against abortion.
I know there are many ways to support charities, but I do encourage you to support again the Bishop’s appeal. Our parish goal is the same as it has been for several years of $35,800.
The bishop in the video mentions the Eucharist Revival the bishops have called for in our whole country and mentioned a diocesan wide gathering in the fall which will be at St. Raymond parish in Dublin. More details about this will be given when we get closer to the event. The parish staff has begun working on how we can integrate this call into our own parish experience. We are guided by Pope Benedict’s letter/exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis that was written after the Synod on the Eucharist. It articulates that the Church needs to look and study and rejoice in three clear components: the Eucharist is a mystery to be believed, a mystery to be celebrated and a mystery to be lived.
As we continue our Lenten journey, let us meditate on what the Lord gave us on the night of the Last Supper: his true presence with us always, the gathering we are all called to fully and actively participate in each week and the charity, compassion and love that follows because if the Lord’s gift. Jesus feeds us with himself to nourish us on our way. We are now called to follow that example and feed those in need with our love, encouragement, forgiveness, and charity because of his unconditional gift!
I hope St. Patrick’s Day was grand. Celebrate St. Joseph’s Day with good food, drink and joy!
Bishop’s Communication
You may have seen the recent news concerning the Diocese of Oakland's response to AB 218. We encourage you to read Bishop Barber's statement and FAQ section on the Oakland Diocese website. This provides the extent of the information we currently have. The parish will continue to operate normally and will keep the victims of priest sexual abuse in our prayers. You can read the Bishop's communication by using this link: www.oakdiocese.org/ab218-response.
Scam Alert
A number of people have once again received phony emails from Fr. Bob and/or our principal Alicia Ortegon asking for gifts cards. If you receive an email from either of them requesting help with gifts, gift cards, money ..... PLEASE IGNORE and DELETE. It's a scam! They will never request help from you in this manner.
During Lent we are reminded to develop a more conscious spiritual life and share what we have with those in need, One practical way to achieve this goal is to make the change to eGiving for St. Theresa parish.
You can use our online giving platform to deepen your commitment to the church and the ministries you care about most. Your recurring gifts will sustain our mission month after month. You will also help our parish by cutting costs for envelopes and paper, and allowing our staff to spend less time processing cash and checks and more time on ministries.
Thank you for your continued support of St. Theresa.
Text “GIVE” to the number above to receive a link to our online giving page.
You may also use Online Giving for Second Collections.
March 25 & 26 Bishop's Ministries Appeal
April 1 & 2 - Parish Maintenance & Improvement Fund
Help decorate the church for Palm Sunday and Easter.
We will decorate for Palm Sunday on Sunday, March 26th following the 9:00 am Mass.
We will decorate for Easter on Saturday, April 8th at 9:00 am.
Sunday Offerings
Sunday Offering: March 6 - 12
ONLINE GIVING,59 DONORS: $ 3,869.50
MASS.DROP-OFF/MAILED, 38 DONORS: $ 2,842.00
Pastoral Council
Are you interested in serving your parish on the St. Theresa Pastoral Council? The Pastoral Council is a body of active parishioners that supports the goals and vision of our parish community and staff. This is a 3 year commitment and we meet monthly. For more details, please contact Paulette Tuckner at pmtuckner@comcast.net.
The law of fasting allows one full meal and two smaller ones.
The law of abstinence prohibits the eating of meat. The Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence in the United States.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. The obligation of abstinence begins at age 14. The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59.
Dispensation from Lenten fast on March 17
Fridays are traditionally a day of fasting and abstaining from meat, especially during the penitential season of Lent. March 17 is also the feast of St. Patrick, which is often marked with celebration. Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, has granted all Catholics in the Diocese of Oakland a dispensation from the requirement to abstain from all meat on this day, and to consider a separate sacrificial or charitable act that day.
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.
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.
Social Justice Committee (SJC)
"Our relationship with the environment can never be isolated from our relationship with others and with God" - Pope Francis, Laudato Si, 119
In 2015, Pope Francis released his encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home”, the first-ever papal encyclical devoted to the global environmental crisis. Inspired by his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi and his deep communion with all Creation, the Pope issued a powerful appeal to the Church and “all people of good will” to urgently come together and respond to “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
The SJC will be holding their March meeting in person for the first time on Thursday, March 30th, in the Meeting Rooms. In preparation for this year's Earth Day, April 23rd, the committee will be viewing the film,
The Letter: A Message for Our Earth.
This moving 80-minute film is inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, and tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline leaders from around the world to discuss the letter, leaders who have directly experienced the ecological crisis and are doing something about it. The exclusive dialogue also reveals insight into the Pope’s personal history and stories never seen since he became the Bishop of Rome.
Please join the SJC for their meeting on March 30th, 7:00pm, at St. Theresa’s. RSVP to Lydia Deck, 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 help prepare, and bag warm meals for our guests and serve the meals at the gated entrance to the courtyard. 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.
ST. Vincent de Paul is experiencing a large surplus of women’s clothes. As a result, please only donate men’s clothes.
Nonperishable, non-expired food donations: Our on-going food collections for the needy people in the 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. Food donations may be left in the back of the vestibule in various baskets next to the “Giving Tree at any time.
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 or with any questions.
You may use online giving to make a donation to the St. Theresa St. Vincent de Paul conference. https://sttheresaoakland.org/donate.
WINGS - Women In God's Spirit
WINGS meetings, take place in person in the Meeting Rooms and on Zoom from 9:15-11:15am, on Wednesdays. If you need the zoom link contact 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”
March 22nd
Deanne Pearn, MPP
Executive Director, Hope Solutions
Maintaining Our Humanity in the Face of the Homeless Crisis
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.
We are printing a limited number of bulletin's in-house for those who do not receive the Friday Flocknote. This will be a four page bulletin with basic information. Everything that is contained in the bulletin is now available in the Friday Flocknote.
St. Theresa Parish Online Prayer Request
FOR THE SICK OR RECENTLY DECEASED
You can submit names for the Prayers of the Faithful (Prayers for the Sick or Recently Deceased) online. Please complete the form, and their name(s) will be added to the weekly bulletin and The Prayers of the Faithful at the weekend Masses.
Please remember in your prayers all those who are ill especially:
Matt Mercier, Heidi Parmelee, Aiden Farinella, Dolores Gomez, Alegria Hipolito, Betty Wharton, Juanita Estrella, Olga Lamberti, Wendy Parmelee, Roger Baylocq, Ida Scodella, Alicia Gonzalez, Susan Springer, Badri Nakhjavani, Wendy Jones, Orlanda Gonzalez, Kevin Chapman, Diane Cerille, Ruth McCabe, Tom Wilberding, Shirley Roberts, Karen Milliman, Danny Ramos, Mark Leonard, Christopher Rodriguez, Maryanne Walsh, Rhonda Santeen, John Whatley, Bishop John Cummins, Nancy Coyne, Kevin Stallone, Della Spinelli, Jeanne Cuttitta, Susan Buller, Amy Kantowitz, Ann Springer, Guy Wallace, Ray Bertolotti, William McCarthy, Cindy Crimmins, Fred & Lidia Loupy, Rebecca Rogers, Kathleen Guevara, Clarence Robinson, Armando Diaz de Leon, Fr. Ron Schmidt, Patty Estopinal, Laura Jones, Jeff Mills, Mary Pat Power, Bonnie & John Bouey, Susan Rubio, Martin Tierney, Fr. Paul Schmidt, Marley Malone, Isabella Guillot Williams, Violet Chancey, Ann Kirkman, Ann & Hal Lauth, Serra Bonanno and her son George.
Please remember in your prayers, those who have died especially