Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
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Parish Newsletter
November 17, 2021
Staying Connected
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Dear CTK & St. Stephen Family,
When Fr. Paulson first asked me to share a few words for this week’s letter I have to admit I was a bit intimidated at the thought and timing of it. However, in the midst of so much turmoil in our lives and in the world, this is also a time of grand celebration and deep gratitude for all that we have and all that we are together. I’m honored to share in that with you all each day, let alone here in this written space.
This weekend we celebrate our very own Feast of Christ the King. This is a great feast day throughout the whole Catholic Church of course, but here in Pleasant Hill - it IS who we are. It is our very name - It’s on the building. It’s on the letterhead. It’s on the parking lot signs and all over the school. If you go to google.com and type the phrase “christ the king” (yes, even in lower case and with spaces), our church is among the first references you will find. Yes, we see the words “Christ The King” everywhere and everyday, but do we actually feel it in our hearts? As a community do we truly live the truth of our own parish name? I think we do!
I have to say I used to struggle a bit with the connotation of a ‘king’ as my God. Perhaps I’ve seen too many medieval based movies where the king holds court over his “subjects” and thus views them as lowly peasants not worthy of his time and attention. Yet, our loving Christ invites us to be a part of His royal family, not just a people to pay homage. We are invited to His table of plenty each and every day. I do not propose we are equals to Him of course, but we are truly rich in knowing Him; how lucky we are in that! As a parish, we are blessed to be a ‘royal family’ working together in fellowship to know, honor and serve Him through and with each other. I am so grateful to you all for reminding us in your presence and your actions, that Christ is truly THE King and that is indeed something worth celebrating all year!
Speaking of gratitude, as we look towards Thanksgiving this week I cannot express enough how thankful I am for this community and the myriad of ways that you all have pulled together to stay connected. We continued the beautiful celebration of the Sacraments over the past 18 months as well. When I started my tenure as your Pastoral Council Chairperson in January of 2020 I thought, “how complicated can it be really?” Little did I know! Soon the pandemic hit and we were all faced with the notion of being Church together when we really couldn’t be together in any way that we had come to know prior. From hastily live-streaming Mass to Facebook from the small chapel on a smartphone to almost daily Zoom calls with various Ministry volunteers to figure out new models to keep serving, you all stuck with us. You all stuck with each other. For that I say a resounding Thanks Be to God!
With open hearts and minds our staff and clergy were willing to keep going without fail, and added so much to their already full plates to keep this community thriving. Sacraments were celebrated; in the parking lot, on the grass, on the patio, online and over FM! However and wherever they could find a way to share the Good News with us, they just never stopped. In my role here, I’ve had a front row seat to watch and work alongside some of the most incredibly committed staff and priests any parish has ever dared dream of being blessed with. For the love, dedication and beautiful witness of our staff and clergy, I shout Thank You Jesus!
Yes, it’s been an “interesting” year to say the least. While we count our blessings that it hasn’t been worse, I do recognize that it has indeed been hard. Uncertainties with health, national and world leadership, economic instability, planning for the future - unfortunately it can get to be a long list, but we have Christ OUR King - and we have each other in Him. The other day I passed a sign in front of a church up in Sonoma that read, “When life brings you more than you can stand, kneel.” This Thanksgiving above all, I am incredibly grateful for this community and all the ways we have learned to kneel together, all over again….
Lastly, a quick reminder to consider the book Fr. Paulson recommended last week, “Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered, and Learn to Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts” by Kirsten Powers. He’ll be hosting discussions on it in December and it’s a great way to begin with your own Advent reflections. Also, please remember to take a few minutes to participate in the Diocesan “Disciple Maker Index Survey” as an opportunity to make your voice count on behalf of CTK and St. Stephen. A link to the online survey is up on our main web page and is open until November 22. Paper versions are also available in the back of the church or in the office.
Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Michael Hall
CTK Pastoral Council Chair
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“Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered, and Learn to Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts.”
Join Fr. Paulson for both discussion sessions:
Thurs. Dec. 2 - 9:30am (In the church)
Thurs. Dec. 9 - 7pm (on Zoom)
Zoom link can be found here
Books can be purchased at the parish office for $20.
They also can be found on Amazon or Kindle.
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The Feast of Christ the King |
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This Weekend - November 20-21
All Masses
Join us this weekend as we celebrate our
Parish Feast Day!
Saturday 4pm Vigil Mass
Sunday Masses: 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am & 4pm
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Solemnity of Christ the King
FEAST DAY
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe is the last Sunday of the liturgical year before a new liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. Pope Pius XI instituted this feast for the universal Church during the Jubilee Year of 1925 in his encyclical Quas Primas in order to combat a global rise in the evils of atheism, secularism, and communism due to the majority of mankind having rejected Christ and his law. He declared that without honoring the authority of Christ as King, the world would have no hope of lasting peace. His goal was that all world leaders, governments, and nations would honor Christ the King in their civil and political affairs, as well as uphold the rights of His Church, and that the faithful would be reminded that Jesus must reign as King in each individual heart, mind, will, and body.
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Sunday, November 21
12 noon
All CYO Participants and their families are
invited to this special mass.
(Parishioners are also invited to attend)
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Thursday, November 25
You are invited to attend our
Thanksgiving Day Mass
9am
You are welcome to bring the bread and wine you will be serving on Thanksgiving Day for a special blessing.
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Have You Completed Our Parish Survey?
Deadline is Monday, Nov. 22
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We need your help!
Please help us by participating in a diocesan-wide survey!
CTK Parishioners can click here
St. Stephen Parishioners can click here
If you prefer a paper copy of the survey, you may pick one up in the back of the church or at the parish office.
Thank you for helping with this important project!
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Scroll of our Faithful Departed
CTK and St. Stephen Church
The Church holds the month of November in dedication and remembrance of our beloved faithful departed, and honors with great respect the memory of the dead, especially those who have passed during this year. Please see the scroll of names of CTK and St. Stephen loved ones who have passed. Here
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Book of Remembrance
In the church, near the baptism font, we have our Book of Remembrance. You may write in the names of your deceased loved ones as we do each year. The Book will be out for the month of November. Kindly bring your own pen.
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Congratulations to Reese Jordynn who was baptized over the weekend!
Welcome to Christ the King and St. Stephen Family!
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Parents: Karleen & Jerremy
Baby: Reese Jordynn
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Weekly Reflections on Sunday Readings |
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Welcome to our weekly reflections on
the Sunday Scriptures.
Feast of Christ the King
In Jesus’ response to Pontius Pilate, he gave an other-world meaning to “kingdom.” He did not refer to a physical territory. Rather, to the power of a king. Read More
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All Masses are Inside the Church.
Face 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 - Nov. 20/21 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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Sacrament of Reconciliation - Private Confessions every Saturday from 3pm to 3:30pm, in the church.
Drive-Thru Holy Communion - Every Sunday 11:30am to 12 noon, in front of the church.
Thursday Mass - 6pm - Honoring our Mother of Perpetual Help, Rosary begins at 5:40pm, in the church. Worship Aide Here
Holy Rosary - Livestreamed on Facebook at 5:40pm, Monday - 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
Sunday - Mass at 9:30am
Worship Aide Nov. 20/21 Here
St. Stephen daily mass:
Monday - Friday at 8am
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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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Upcoming Second Collections:
Nov. 21 - Hungry and Homeless
Collection for local agencies to help with food and homelessness.
Nov. 28 - Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Our special collection will support the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. More than thirty-eight million people in the United States live in poverty. This collection supports programs that empower people to identify and address the obstacles they face as they work to bring permanent and positive change to their communities. Learn more about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development at www.CCHDEastBay.org.
Thank you for your generous support!
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To Christ Our King
O Lord our God, You alone are the
Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations.
We pray to you in the great expectation of receiving from you mercy, peace, justice,
and all good things.
Protect our leaders, our families, and the land of our birth.
Guard us we pray, Most Faithful One.
Forgive us, Sovereign King, our sins against you.
Jesus, you are a King of Mercy.
Have mercy on us and forgive us.
Most awe-inspiring King, we bow before you and pray:
‘May your Reign, your Kingdom, be recognized on earth. Amen.’
Source: My Catholic Life
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"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference" |
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