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.
Coffee and Donuts served by our School 3rd grade class!
Playground will be open after Mass
Come and help decorate the church for Easter!
We will decorate for Easter on Saturday, March 30th at 9:00 am.
Fr. Ngema, Lenten Bible Journey
March 26
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 814 9366 8881
Passcode: 722163
Passcode: 722163
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Stations of the Cross Booklets
Praying the Station of Mercy with Pope Francis
The Mystery of the Cross
Praying the Stations with Pope Francis
Praying the Stations of the Cross for Healing
Stations of Hope
Walking with Jesus on the Way to Calvary
Praying the Stations for Children
Praying the Stations for Teenagers
These booklets are available at the back of the church for your use in praying the stations of the cross in the church.
If you have accidentally taken a booklet home, please return it the next time you are in church.
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Rice Bowls
Bring your Rice Bowl to Mass this weekend.
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.
A Word From Our Pastor
Happy Holy Week! Happy Triduum! Welcome to this most important week when we celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s sacrifice, passion, death, and Resurrection and by it become connected into the mystery so that in Jesus words, we might have life and life eternal to the fullest one day! And that is very much worth celebrating.
Therefore, I welcome you to this start of Holy Week and strongly encourage you to take this week at a different pace than ‘business as usual.’ Come to the celebrations of the Triduum and participate in the washing of feet, the anniversary of the gift of the Eucharist, the veneration of the cross and the sharing of the light that proclaims: Jesus is Risen!” If we share in these rituals and become more and more a part of Christ through the sacraments and the hearing of God’s word, our hope can be firm that we will share it in the Resurrection when God calls us.
I offer the following reflection on the Paschal Mystery that was recently written about in Commonweal Magazine authored by Rita Ferrone. I hope this meditation will enrich the week ahead.
“Although the term “Paschal Mystery” is not found in the scriptures, it rests upon the biblical witness. The New Testament places the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus at the absolute center of our understanding of the mystery of Christ and our salvation. The term arose in the early Church and came into prominence in the twentieth century through the writings of Odo Casel, Josef Jungmann, Louis Bouyer, and other luminaries. Pope Paul VI hailed it as an important historical and biblical synthesis anchored in our sacramental life: “To participate in the Paschal Mystery is nothing other than to put oneself in real communion with him, dying with him, rising with him.” Our whole sacramental life has brought this insight into focus through the liturgical reform.
The Paschal Mystery not only describes the arc of Christ’s self-emptying love leading to new life and glory; it also describes how believers enter into Christ’s Passover through the sacraments. This is not a new idea. The Fathers of the Church, particularly St. Augustine, understood that the liturgy was not only about Christ’s Pasch, but also our Passover from death to life, from sin to grace. The Paschal Mystery is the paradigm or pattern of the whole Christian life, expressed with eloquent symbolism in the liturgies of Holy Week, but also celebrated every Sunday. Pope Francis was right to affirm that the work of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy conforms us so closely to Christ that “we become him.” One might reflect on this mystery endlessly without exhausting its treasures. Theologian Joseph Ratzinger in 1966 called the Paschal Mystery “perhaps the most fertile theological idea of our century.”
Christ’s passing over from death to life is what the liturgy celebrates, or else what are we doing? It is about sharing in Christ’s perfect self-offering and offering ourselves to God in communion with him. The paschal character of the liturgy is found in the transformation of the elements of bread and wine into the living Christ, but it is no less about our transformation as partakers of his body and blood.”
Please keep those in need in your prayers this week, especially those caught in war, suffering, illness, homelessness, and other trauma. May our transformation by the Paschal Mystery help us to bring and be Christ to those around us in need. As we wave our palms and sing Hosannas, may we do so one eternal day in the Kingdom our celebrations are all about.
And for something more mundane and completely different: the materials for our new roof on the church building will be delivered on Holy Thursday morning and the roof will be installed during the Easter Week break. Thank you for your ongoing contributions to the monthly maintenance fund which is making this possible and will keep us dry for another generation!
St. Theresa School
This week St. Theresa School begins its annual Tuition Assistance Drive. Over the past few years, the parishioners at St. Theresa's have been extremely generous with their contributions to help our families in need and who strive to provide a Catholic education to their children. We ask that if you are able to make a donation, please send in or drop off the envelope that you should have received in the mail to the school or place in the weekly collection baskets. We are also able to accept electronic donations using the QR code below. We thank you in advance for your support.
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
This weekend, listen to Day #24 on the website and Reflect on “Love is the answer.”
“Live in such a way so that those who know you but don’t know God will come to know God because they know you.” Author Unknown.
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Join us for our social justice committee meeting on March 21st at 7pm via zoom. 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 and zoom link: ltdeck@me.com
Our theme for the 2023/2024 year is:
”Walking the Journey of Faith”
WINGS is a faith enhancement group for women that encourages spiritual growth through prayer, scripture study, life-sharing and community. Our session meetings, 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.
March 27 & April 3
Easter Breaak
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 29 - Holy Land (Good Friday)
March 30 & 31 - St. Vincent de Paul
April 6 & 7 - Parish Maintenance & Improvement Fund
April 20 & 21 Annual Bishop's Ministry Appeal
Sunday Offering: March 11 - 17
Online: 55 Donors, $2,043.50
Mass/Drop-Off/Mailed: 43 Donors $2,684.00
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, Marley Malone, 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, James Lang, John Donovan, Mary & Leo Martinez, Sr., James Spalding, Bill Rielly., Tiffany Converse, Jim Diamintine.
Mass Intentions
March 23 - 31
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
Diana Goss, cousin of Cecile Cutttta.
The Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology is seeking and Office Manager for the college. Details about the position and needed qualifications can be found at
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
Anne Dolan
anniemariedolan@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
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.
