A Word From Our Pastor

I want to again thank all who stayed after the Masses last week for the annual ‘listening sessions.’  All staff and pastoral council members who took notes will collate the comments and consider what actions might be taken in the coming weeks and months. A couple of ideas may be brought forward back to you for your consideration such as: 

Are there some who can now step up and help at the weekend liturgies as lectors, ministers of the Eucharist, greeters, altar servers and those who can hand out the Lenten day by day book and the Advent/Christmas book?

How can we enliven our weekly worship with participation, music and song and preaching? Is it time to look at changing the Sunday Mass schedule? And this is just to name a few of the good comments that were presented. Stay tuned and be ready to continue the conversation and volunteer in a possible new way in the coming year.

I also ask you to present ideas on how we will celebrate the parish’s hundredth anniversary next year. Please let me or a staff member know.

This week marks the third year since Pope Francis designated the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as the Sunday of the Word of God. You might want to look at the short letter Pope Francis wrote three years ago entitled: Aperuit illis. Here are a few paragraphs from the introduction for Mass which reminds us of the role of the Word of God in the life of each of us, the Church:

“ In hearing of God’s word, the Church is built up and grows, and in the signs of the liturgical celebration God’s wonderful, past works in the history of salvation are presented anew as mysterious realities. God in turn makes use of the congregation of the faithful that celebrates the Liturgy in order that his word may speed on and be glorified and that his name be exalted among the nations.

Whenever, therefore, the Church gathered by the Holy Spirit for liturgical celebration, announces and proclaims the word of God, she is aware of being a new people in  whom the covenant made in the past is perfected and fulfilled. Baptism and confirmation in the Spirit have made all Christ’s faithful into messengers of God’s word because of the grace of hearing they have received. They must therefore be the bearers of the same Word in the Church and in the world, at least by the witness of their lives.

The word of God proclaimed in the celebration of God’s mysteries does not only address present conditions but looks back to past events and forward to what is yet to come. Thus, God’s word shows us what we should hope for with such a longing that in this changing world our hearts will be set on the place where our true joys lie. (Preamble 7)

When God shares his word with us, God awaits our response, that is our listening and our adoring “in Spirit and in truth’ (John 4::23). The Holy Spirit makes our response effective, so that what we hear in the celebration of the liturgy we carry out in the way we live: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)

The liturgical celebration and the faithful’s participation receive outward expression in actions, gestures, and words. These derive their full meaning not simply from their origin in human experience but from the word of God and the economy of salvation, their point of reference. Accordingly, the faithful’s participation in the liturgy increases to the degree that as they listen to the word of God made flesh in Christ. They endeavor to conform their way of life to what they celebrate in the liturgy, and then in turn to bring to the celebration all that they do in life. “

The Finance Committee has a need for someone whose background includes being a controller.

It will not be a big time commitment but we need your skills.  If you'd like to explore this, please call Carolyn Mahoney at 510-918-1987.

Social Justice Corner

Happy New Year!  Praying for peace as we enter the new year.

Stay tuned for Social Justice happenings.

Contact Lydia Deck for more information about meetings.ltdeck@me.com

Black History month or African-American History Month is traditionally observed during the month of February but several communities begin with the start of Martin Luther King Jr weekend. This is the tradition at St. Columba. Their celebration series begins soon!

Martin Luther King jr Quote on Peace:

“It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but the positive affirmation of peace.”

African American Celebration Series

Marvelous are Your Works, O Lord

At St Columba’s in Oakland- 6401 San Pablo Ave.

See their website https://stcolumba-oak.com/bulletins for details

January 13-14: Fr. Bryan Massingale

Professor of Theology, Chair in Applied Ethics, Fordham University

January 20-21: Rev. Dr.  Joseph Evans

Director, BST Center for Truth, Racial Healing and Restorative Justice

January 27-28: Dr. Chiquita Tuttle

Director, African American Pastoral Center, Diocese of Oakland

February 4: TBA

February 7-10: Gospel Choir Workshop with M Roger Holland II

February 11: Fr B Kwame Assenyoh

Chaplain St. Mary’s College (CA)

Roger Holland Worshop Choir (at 10:30am liturgy)

There are two ways to enjoy crisp, clear audio in the church for our weekend Masses.

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 with any general questions. Call 510-547-0911 if you have a specific question.

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

Weekend Mass Schedule

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

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn5JX1e3QrqXTsa_7qmNCIw

Matt Mercier, Heidi Parmelee, Dolores Gomez, Alegria Hipolito, Betty Wharton, Juanita Estrella,  Olga Lamberti, Wendy Parmelee, Roger Baylocq, Alicia Gonzalez, Susan Springer, Wendy Jones, Orlanda Gonzalez, Kevin Chapman, Diane Cerille, Tom Wilberding, Shirley Roberts, 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, 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, Laura Jones, Jeff Mills, Mary Pat Power, Bonnie & John Bouey, Susan Rubio, Fr. Paul Schmidt, Isabella Guillot Williams, Violet Chancey, Ann Kirkman, Hal Lauth, Phil Stover, Joey Smith, Raymond Buckley, Jr., Norma Ninalga, Betty Jo Olson, Jennifer Walwark, Greg Govan, Anita Lim,  Marilyn McCabe, Helen Lightner-Smith, Steve Lauth.

Baptisms and Marriages:  by appointment admin@sttheresaoakland.org

To arrange a Funeral call parish office 510.547.2777, ext. 120

Family Faith Formation (Grades TK-5) & R.C.I.C:     Keri Nims ~ keri@sttheresaoakland.org

Middle School Youth Ministry (Grades 6-8):     

High School Youth Ministry/Confirmation:     

R.C.I.A.  Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults:     Cathy Brady ~ cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org

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.