St. Theresa Mission Statement
We are a welcoming, active Catholic Community
united by our faith, open to transformation, growing spiritually
and reaching out to love and to serve others as Jesus taught us.
St. Theresa Parish Lenten Opportunities
The retreat will be recorded and will be available to view later in the day following each session, on the Lenten Retreat Page of the parish website https://sttheresaoakland.org/Lenten%20Retreat
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.
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.
There will be a limited number of tickets available for purchase at the door.
A Word From Our Pastor
An Update on the Synod
ROME – With his lengthy and debated Synod of Bishops on Synodality set to wrap later this year, Pope Francis took several steps this weekend to bolster the process in the lead up to a meeting that will bring four years of global consultation to a close.
The results of that consultation were discussed at the continental level in seven different regional assemblies, and conclusions from those meetings were then addressed at a universal level last October, when bishops, clergy, religious, and laypeople from around the world gathered in Rome for the entire month to discuss how to implement synodality in every facet of church life.
Titled, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission,” the synod is focused on how to transform Church life and structures to make Catholicism a more dialogic, collaborative, and welcoming home for all believers. It will formally close with this year’s fall discussion.
Pope Francis also named several new consultors to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. He also named several women as consultors, including Sister Birgit Weiler, a professor of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University in Peru; Ms. Tricia Bruce, president of the Association for the Sociology of Religion; and Ms. Maria Clara Lucchetti Bingemer, professor of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.
In addition, the pope Saturday also issued a chirograph establishing different study groups that will collaborate with various departments of the Roman Curia, called dicasteries, in delving into some of the themes that emerged during last year’s October synod discussion.
Though a variety of issues were explored during last year’s session, such as poverty, climate change, and the need for peace amid the many ongoing wars and violent conflicts throughout the world, the most passionate and divisive issues addressed were the role of women and outreach to the LGBTQ+ community.
Issues that drew the most varied and emotional input were women’s priestly ordination, the female diaconate, and whether or not to allow blessings for same-sex couples.
Pope Francis from the start took two of these issues – women’s priestly ordination and blessings for same-sex couples – off of the table in his responses to a set of dubia, or doubts, put to him by five conservative cardinals shortly before the synod began.
In his responses, which the Vatican made public, Francis offered a cautious opening to the blessing of same-sex unions and a seemingly firm “no” to women’s ordination.
He further cemented this openness to same-sex blessings in December, when the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, led by papal friend and confidant Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, a fellow Argentine, issued the controversial declaration Fiducia Supplicans on the pastoral nature of blessings.
In that document, the DDF with Pope Francis’s approval outlined the circumstances in which blessings could be given to couples in irregular situations, including divorced and remarried couples with no annulment and same-sex couples, provided the latter were not done in formal liturgical settings and did not cause confusion with the Catholic sacrament of marriage.
Fiducia Supplicans generated a wave of controversy and backlash reflective of the fiery debate that happened in the synod hall during last year’s discussion, though on a much larger scale.
By publishing the text in the interim before the second Rome-based synod session begins this year, Francis has taken another step to ensure that discussion this fall will not get bogged down by irreconcilable differences on one specific issue.
Similarly, Francis this year has seemed to take a direct and personal interest in the issue of women, choosing to dedicate the two most recent meetings of his Council of Cardinals to the role of women in the church.
Called the “C9,” the Council of Cardinals is a select group of cardinals from around the world who advise Pope Francis on matters of church governance and reform. In both their December and February sessions, the group was addressed by a panel of women on how to better facilitate the presence of women in the church, especially in positions of decision-making and leadership.
One of the women who participated, Spanish nun Linda Pocher, has said that while the topic of women’s priestly ordination is not being discussed, Pope Francis supports the women’s diaconate and is studying methods for its implementation.
In a recent interview with Europa Press, Pocher said the pope “is very much in favor of the female diaconate,” and that she and the two other women invited to speak during the February C9 meeting, including an Anglican bishop, specifically addressed this topic.
By delving into this topic so intentionally with his closest group of advisors, it is possible that Pope Francis is planning to act unilaterally on it in much the same way as he did same-sex blessings, taking a divisive issue off of the table before the synod begins so participants don’t get hung up on differences of opinion about an issue that in all likelihood, no one will agree on.
What happens on that issue come October, or even beforehand, remains to be seen, but there are plenty of other topics that the new dicasterial working groups will explore, including other aspects of women’s involvement in the church.
By establishing these working groups, Pope Francis has taken one concrete step in ensuring that the spirit of synodality will remain an active force within the Vatican even after the Synod on Synodality itself concludes.
Elise Ann Allen on X: @eliseannallen
Parish / School Workday ~ March 9th
We will have a work day where volunteers come together to help with facility and maintenance projects on the campus. Lunch will be provided!
The latest email scam attempt:
This was sent to a parishioner using another parishioners name as the sender in an attempt to obtain the parishes account information.
What's the current available balance in the account? And do we have Zelle or Venmo Linked with our bank account? Also, You need to process the payment immediately to the vendor for our Website Upgrade . Kindly get back to me Asap.
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.
Parish Finance Committee
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.
Our theme for the 2023/2024 year is:
”Walking the Journey of Faith”
WINGS continues this Winter on Wednesday mornings throughout the months of January and February. This faith enhancement group for women encourages spiritual growth through prayer, scripture study, life-sharing and community. Our Winter session meetings, each with a different expert speaker generally focusing on scripture and different aspects of our faith, takes place, from 9:15-11:15am, on Wednesday’s in the Meeting Rooms. Our engaging speakers will uplift you and keep you informed. You’ll experience a welcoming community as we support each other in our spiritual growth. Feel free to invite a friend! Women from local parishes and other denominations are most certainly welcome. If you’re new to WINGS or wish to sample a meeting, feel free to attend the meeting at St. Theresa’s. If you have any questions, contact Denise at mollend@aol.com.
February 28th
Lindsay Nivens-Forsini
Art Historian
Women in the Bible
Social Justice Corner
Join us this lent as we follow the meditations and prayers with the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
Lent 2024: it’s time to refresh.
In a world filled with personal and structural sin that allows injustice to grow, we are invited to refresh our souls and our imaginations to make space for the Spirit to work through us:
To reshape a dehumanizing immigration system into one that centers human dignity.
To recommit to making racial justice a reality.
To renew trust in abundance versus scarcity so that all people’s needs are met while safeguarding a fragile planet.
During the Lenten season, Psalm 23 reminds us of God’s intent that we find times of refreshing:Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
St. Ignatius of Loyola refers to these times of refreshing as consolations: a deep-seated sense of God’s presence leading to spiritual growth.
How are we being refreshed and consoled in our lives, in our Church, and in our work for justice?
Throughout Lent, writers from the Ignatian network will guide us ina season of refreshing.Join us each day to be replenished, reinvigorated, and refreshed.
Here is the website for you to register but we will be highlighting some of their postings on Flock Note.
https://ignatiansolidarity.net/lent-2024
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Join us for our first social justice committee meeting on March 21st at 7pm. Join us planning on how we can respond as community to social justice issues that abound in our community and globally. What little tasks can we do as a parish community?
Contact Lydia Deck for more information. ltdeck@me.com
Text to Donate
Text “GIVE” to the number above to receive a link to our online giving page.
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.
You may also use Online Giving for Second Collections.
March 2 & 3 - Parish Maintenance & improvement Fund
March 9 & 10 - Catholic Relief Services
March 29 - Holy Land (Good Friday)
Sunday Offering: February 12 - 18
Online: 54 Donors, $1,928.50
Mass/Drop-Off/Mailed: 42 Donors $4,269.00
Ash Wednesday
Online: 6 Donors, $165.00
Mass/Drop-Off/Mailed: 30 Donors, $1,704.00
Assisted Listening available at Weekend Masses
There are two ways to enjoy crisp, clear audio in the church for our weekend Masses.
Option 1:
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.
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.
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If you have any questions contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org
St. Vincent de Paul
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
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.
Contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org to volunteer or for more information.
https://sttheresaoakland.org/ministries/liturgical-ministries
Thank you for your faithful support.
Lector
Eucharistic Minister
Sacristan
Altar Server
Greeter
Usher
Projectionist
Video Ministry (9:00 am Mass)
Altar Linens
Weekend Mass Schedule
5:00 pm Saturday
9:00 am Sunday
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
Low Gluten hosts are available at all weekend Masses.
The hosts are less than 20 parts per million gluten, under .002%
For additional information go to https://www.parishcrossroads.com/low-gluten.htm
Please use the presider's communion station to receive a low gluten host.
Weekday Mass Schedule
Monday - Friday
8:30 am
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday ~ 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Please remember in your prayers all those who are ill especially:
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, 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.
Mass Intentions
February 24 - March 3
To request a Mass Intention contact Melody Marr
at
510.547.2777, ext. 120
or
melody@sttheresaoakland.org
Please remember in your prayers,those who have died especially Kevin Eason, Sr. and Tom Greeves.
Parish Office Hours
Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Safe Environment Training for Parish & School Volunteers
For many parish and school volunteers it is time for you to renew your training. You will or have received an email reminder with a link for you to complete the online training. Please complete the training by the renewal date in the email.
If you have any problems or questions contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org.
To renew or register for the first time, click on the link in your email or go to https://www.virtusonline.org or click on the link in the upper right corner of the parish website sttheresaoakland.org.
Please remember that in order to volunteer at the parish in any capacity (Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Catechist, Choir Member, St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, CYO etc.), or school, you must complete the training.
Rev. Robert J. McCann, ext. 121
Pastor
rjmccann@sttheresaoakland.org
Rev. Abraham Addam, ext. 122
In Residence
Rev. Ngema W. Enow, ext. 128
In Residence
ngemawil.enow@gmail.com
Cathy Brady, ext. 126
Liturgy Director
cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org
Rob Cakebread, ext. 127
Music Ministry Director
rob@sttheresaoakland.org
Melody Marr, ext. 120
Parish Administrator
melody@sttheresaoakland.org
Keri Nims, ext. 124
Coordinator for Early Childhood Catechesis & RCIC
keri@sttheresaoakland.org
St. Theresa School
Alicia Ortegon, 510.547.3146
St. Theresa School Principal
a_ortegon@sttheresaschool.org
website: www.sttheresaschool.org
Parish Organization Contacts
Pastoral Council:
Chris Colby
ccolby@well.com
Finance Council:
Carolyn Mahoney
carolyn.mahoney675@gmail.com
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Greg Govan
glgovan@comcast.net
CYO (Catholic Youth Organization):
Clarence Robinson
sttheresaathletics@gmail.com
St. Theresa Men’s Club
mensclubsttheresa@gmail.com
Legion of Mary
Tom Wallace
tomw1313@sbcglobal.net
WINGS
Geri Tong
geritong1944@gmail.com
Social Justice Committee (SJC)
Lydia Deck
ltdeck@me.com
Consolation Ministry
Cecile Cuttitta
cecile.cuttitta@att.net
Men’s Faith Sharing
Jim Frei
jim@ottofrei.com
Cursillo
Geri Tong
gt4palancaoakland@gmail.com
Kinderchurch
Shanon Ciston
s.ciston@gmail.com
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
