Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
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Parish Newsletter
September 15, 2021
Staying Connected
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A Letter From Our Pastor - Fr. Paulson |
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Dear Friends,
This week Pope Francis visited Slovakia and met with civil and religious leaders including poor communities and their people. Addressing government authorities on the first full day of his visit, the pope said the traditional custom of welcoming guests is a powerful message of love, especially toward migrants and vulnerable people. “No one should be stigmatized or suffer discrimination. Our Christian way of looking at others refuses to see them as a burden or a problem, but rather as brothers and sisters to be helped and protected.”
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The pope had a message for the country's bishops, priests and religious in Bratislava's St. Martin's Cathedral. "The church is not a fortress, a stronghold, a lofty castle, self-sufficient and looking out upon the world below," he said. Instead, he told the historically traditionalist Catholic community to adopt a posture of humility and a readiness to engage the world around it, especially its young people and those on the margins. "How great is the beauty of a humble church, a church that does not stand aloof from the world, viewing life with a detached gaze, but lives her life within the world," he said. "Living within the world means being willing to share and to understand people’s problems, hopes and expectations." "This will help us to escape from our self-absorption, for the center of the church is not the church!" Pope Francis continued.
Pope Francis also paid tribute to the 105,000 Slovak Jews killed during the Holocaust, and Francis again reiterated his condemnation of anti-Semitism. "Let us unite in condemning all violence and every form of anti-Semitism, and in working to ensure that God’s image, present in the humanity he created, will never be profaned," he pleaded. "Our world needs open doors," Francis said, as he lauded the interfaith efforts between Christians and Jews in recent years and urged continued collaboration. "The blessing of the Most High is poured out upon us, whenever he sees a family of brothers and sisters who respect and love each other and work together," he concluded.
I would like to give a shout out to our Scout Troop 221 who commenced their service project here at Christ the King, taking upon themselves the task of cleaning up our beautiful gardens around the campus. Scouts together with their parents were here for a number of hours removing weeds, cleaning up the leaves around the church and much more. I know they will be back again to do more work, and on behalf of our community, I say “Thank You.”
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I would like to thank you for the many donations that have already been sent to the parish for the poor people of Haiti and the suffering citizens of Louisiana. Two weeks after the earthquake, about two dozen members of a church dressed in their Sunday best, sat on whatever suitable objects they could pull out of the wreckage of the Catholic Church that once stood nearby. The magnitude 7.2 earthquake destroyed hundreds of churches, including the main Catholic church in the small town of Marceline. Louisiana is right now on the path of another destructive hurricane, and according to the weather service, “Soils have not yet recovered from Hurricane Ida a couple weeks ago in eastern Louisiana. These areas are currently receiving heavy rainfall which is expected to continue … priming soils for flooding, and Beaumont/Port Arthur/Lake Charles can be particularly sensitive to flash flooding, thus the High Risk.” Let us support our brothers and sisters with our prayers and generosity.
Fr. Paulson
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Blessing of the Animals
("Drive-Thru")
Monday - October 4th
3:15pm to 4pm
Join us at Christ the King Church from 3:15pm to 4:00pm on Monday, October 4th (The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi), for a "Drive Thru" Blessing of the Animals. You are invited to bring your pets from home to receive a special blessing from the clergy.
Come through the large parking lot and drive in front of the church. For the blessing, you may get out of your car with your pet. Be sure your pet is on a leash or in a cage.
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Haiti/Louisiana Special Collection |
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Second Collection
September 18th/19th
Haiti/Louisiana Special Collection
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti's southern peninsula on August 14, reducing towns into rubble and leaving nearly 2,000 people dead. Countless others have been recovered with life-threatening injuries.
This collection will also help the people of Louisiana who were affected by the devastation of Hurricane Ida. The storm is being described partly in terms of its catastrophic effect on the region’s power infrastructure, which in turn creates problems for water, sewage, gasoline supply and communications.
St. Stephen and CTK will have a second collection on September 18/19. You can send in your donations early to the office marked for Haiti / Louisiana. We will keep you posted on how your donations are distributed.
You can donate on-line here.
Thanks for your generous donation!
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Healing Mass
This Saturday, September 18th at 10:30am
We invite you to bring your loved ones to our next Healing Mass on Saturday September 18 at 10:30 am. This is a parish Mass during which we celebrate the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick: intended especially for the elderly, those with chronic illness, upcoming surgery or any kind of physical or mental illness. Everyone will be required to wear a mask and to be socially distanced from those you do not live with. We also seat people in every other pew. People may choose to sit outside on the patio in front of the church; please bring your own chair.
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This year’s RCIA process begins
next week - September 23.
If you or someone you know isn’t Catholic, but just wants a better understanding of what the Church believes and teaches, you are invited to join us. Hopefully we’ll answer your questions and, who knows, you might decide that you want to join the Church. If you are a Baptized Catholic who has not received the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or First Holy Communion, you are also invited to join us. We are eager to support you on your faith journey.
If you are a fully initiated Catholic who would like to share your faith with others, or perhaps serve as a Baptism or Confirmation Sponsor for new candidates and catechumens, we welcome you to become a part of the RCIA Team. There’s no better way to grow in one’s faith than by sharing your faith and walking with someone who is searching for answers. Please contact us at faithformation@ctkph.org, or call us at (925) 686-1174.
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Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Priorities, are defined as, “rights to precede others in order, rank or privilege; things given special attention.” Our priorities send a message to the whole world: “This is important! I choose this because it is worthy of my time and respect.”
Congratulations to the many parents who have made religious education a priority in their lives and the lives of their children. The overscheduling of children says a lot about priorities. Read More
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Deadline to sign up for High School Confirmation and Youth Group
is this Friday, September 17th
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HS Youth Group
Twice a month on
Thursday Evenings
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Confirmation Prep
Twice a month on
Sunday Afternoons
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Volunteer to be a Catechist/Teacher Aide - click Here
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Dress A Child Around the World /Sewing Ministry
Cancelled Until Further Notice.
Due to the rise in Covid cases and with an abundance of caution, we are cancelling the sewing ministry at this time. We will let you know when we will start up again. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Vogl at 288-0488.
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Congratulations to the children who were baptized over the weekend!
Welcome to Christ the King and St. Stephen Family!
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Parents: Ashley & Christopher
Baby: Hudson Michael
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Parents: April & Edgar
Baby: Brooklyn Reese
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Parents: Nicole & Robert
Baby: Arya Kai
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Weekly Reflections on Sunday Readings |
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Welcome to our weekly reflections on
the Sunday Scriptures.
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Time is now running out for Jesus. It’s time to prepare his closest disciples for the tremendous responsibility of continuing his work. But they cannot seem to understand all this talk about his “death” and “rising.” Read More
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Fr. Tom Joseph is Selling his Car
2018 Mercedes GLC300W
$35,000
Mileage:14,458
Polar White, Trim: Almond/Moc
If interested, please call the parish office at
(925) 682-2486.
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All Masses are Inside the Church.
Masks are required.
Weekday Masses
9am Mass - Monday - Friday
(9am Masses will be livestreamed)
6pm - Thursdays (Rosary begins at 5:40pm)
(Rosary and Mass will be livestreamed)
Weekend Masses
Saturday
9am and 4pm Vigil
(Saturday 4pm Mass will be livestreamed)
Sunday
7:30am, 9am, 10:30am and 4pm
(10:30am Mass will be livestreamed).
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Worship Aide for Mass - Sept. 18/19 Here
Readings for Sunday Mass Here
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Links to our services (live or archived) can be found at ctkph.org
or clicking the Facebook or YouTube images below.
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Ongoing Services:
Drive-Thru Communion, Mass, Holy Rosary, Sacrament of Reconciliation
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Drive-Thru
Holy Communion
Every Sunday
11:30am to 12 noon
In front of the church
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Sacrament of Reconciliation
Private Confessions will continue every Saturday from
3pm to 3:30pm
Please meet inside the church.
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Thursdays, 6pm - Indoor Mass
Honoring Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Rosary begins at 5:40pm
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5:40pm - Holy Rosary
Monday through Friday
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St. Stephen Church - Masses |
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St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct.
Walnut Creek 94597
Saturday - Mass 5pm - Indoors/Church
Sunday - Mass at 9:30am - Indoors/Church
Masses at St. Stephen are now being live-streamed on the St. Stephen Facebook page. If you are unable to attend with us in person, please join us through Facebook. A link is on our web site: saintstephenparish.org.
Only the 9:30am mass will be live-streamed.
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Thank You for Your Continued Financial Support to CTK and St. Stephen Church |
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On-Line Giving: (click button below)
We depend upon your contributions!
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Offertory Envelopes and
Paper Checks
Can be sent directly to:
Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Rd.
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
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Offertory Envelopes and
Paper Checks
Can be sent directly to:
St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct.
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
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The Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows
September 15
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Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
Our mother of sorrows, with strength from above you stood by the cross, sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, and with tender care you bore him in your arms, mourning and weeping.
We praise you for your faith, which accepted the life God planned for you. We praise you for your hope, which trusted that God would do great things in you. We praise you for your love in bearing with Jesus the sorrows of his passion.
Holy Mary, may we follow your example, and stand by all your children who need comfort and love.
Mother of God, stand by us in our trials and care for us in our many needs. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen!
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"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference" |
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