A Word From Our Pastor

Congratulations on a great ‘Catholic Schools Week’ opening Mass and open house at the school last Sunday! The student lectors had good, strong voices for reading, the musicians brougt bells, violin and beautiful voices to our celebration, the young ushers collected like they have been doing it every week and overall, the energy led by the student leadership team was appreciated by all.

I am so happy that so many went over to tour the school and were dazzled by the science projects. Students led personal tours of the school to visitors and many students gained extra credit when they stood by their science project and answered questions. Dioramas in the school hallway, great displays on bulletin boards in the hallway and in the classrooms, all led this to be a wonderful open house. We are proud of our students, teaching staff and administration for a great event. We pray as the next generation applies for enrollment that the good things we celebrate will continue and remain a strong part of the parish mission.

Every parishioner who supports the school by speaking positively about it when out and about, when posting something on social media that praises it, when making a donation to assist with tuition scholarships and when affirming its important place in the life of the parish is part of this mission. Congratulations to all who continue to help educate our young ones in body, mind, and spirit.

Continuing to present our bishop’s decision and direction to change some liturgical practices I offer with some personal commentary (in parenthesis) an explanation offered by the Bishop of Gary, Indiana since we did not receive some explanation from our own bishop.:

For two decades our diocese has adopted the permissible posture of standing after the Agnus Dei and throughout Communion. ( In Oakland it has been longer.) The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) specifically allows for this: “In the Dioceses of the United States of America ( the universal instruction in the rest of the world does give this direction and the faithful remain standing)…The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.” (cf. GIRM, 43). 

Since all the other dioceses around us (and almost all in the United States) follow the US norm of kneeling after the Lamb of God, there are moments of disunity as people from other dioceses come to Mass in our churches and they are confused why everyone else doesn’t kneel. The same confusion happens when our faithful go to Mass in other dioceses.

In light of the Eucharistic Revival, this is a fitting time for us to rediscover how our bodily posture is symbolic of our interior disposition. Standing is an ancient posture of respect, attention, and readiness. One stands at attention when the judge enters the court. In Exodus, the Israelites are instructed to eat the Passover standing, like people ready to move. We always stand for the Gospel as a sign of reverence for the words of the Lord. Standing is also a posture that has a symbolic connection to the resurrection.  For this reason, when praying to the Litany of Saints during the Easter Season we stand, while during the rest of the year we kneel.

Depending on the context, kneeling can be considered a penitential sign, but kneeling is also a reverential act toward our Lord: “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10).

We believe the liturgy we celebrate here on earth is a participation in the heavenly liturgy. The Book of Revelation describes worship in heaven. While standing is certainly recognized as a posture during worship (Rev. 7:15), when the Lamb of God is presented initially before the throne of heaven, everyone falls down in worship before Him (cf. Rev. 5:1-14).

As we kneel, we acknowledge that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist, and we kneel down in worship before Him because Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 

Finally, a word about silence in the liturgy:  Silence is a most difficult activity for us today. Our daily life is full of sound, some good, but most just noise of one sort or another. Silence is golden because it allows us to be recollected, to wonder about God’s loving presence in our lives. At Mass we also need time to reflect in silence about the Word proclaimed and the Sacrament received. Some silence after each scripture reading and after the homily and after all have received communion allows each person and the community to collectively reflect on the ever-abiding presence of God in our midst.

Here are some of the practical implications:  

After the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is sung/spoken, the faithful will kneel, as they are able (since my cancer surgery kneeling and genuflecting has been a problem for me. I was not supposed to do it for a year so my large incision could fully heal. I was determined this year to start again, but pain ensues when I knelt for even a short time. Anyone who has bad knees or hips or knee replacement or many other reasons should know they are always exempt from this rule!), until it is time to rise and join in the Communion Procession.

Upon returning to their place after receiving Holy Communion, the faithful are free to kneel, sit, or stand. (I am sad that our and other bishops have not just made this the rule when they do for during and after Communion.)

When all have received Communion, the faithful are encouraged to kneel or sit for a period of sacred silence and prayer.

The liturgy is a great gift in which we are guaranteed an encounter with Christ. Pope Francis reminds us of the richness of our encounter with the Lord in the Eucharist and all the sacraments:

For us, a vague memory of the Last Supper would do no good. We need to be present at that Supper, to be able to hear his voice, to eat his Body and to drink his Blood. We need Him. In the Eucharist and in all the sacraments we are guaranteed the possibility of encountering the Lord Jesus and of having the power of his Paschal Mystery reach us. The salvific power of the sacrifice of Jesus, his every word, his every gesture, glance, and feeling reaches us through the celebration of the sacraments. (Pope Francis, Desiderio Desideravi, 10-13).

My prayer is that this change in posture will enhance our unity and give us a deeper appreciation for the gift of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.

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.

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, 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, Mary Malloy, Peter Cuttitta.

Please remember in your prayers, those who have died especially Eduardo Suarez & Greg Wong.

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