Parish Newsletter

January 4, 2023

Staying Connected

Dear Friends,

The Holy See Press Office announced that the Pope Emeritus died at 9:34 AM on Saturday morning in his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, which the 95-year-old Pope Emeritus had chosen as his residence after resigning from the Petrine ministry in 2013. During a briefing at the Holy See Press office, the director, Matteo Bruni, told journalists that Pope Francis will preside over the funeral of the Pope Emeritus on January 5 at 9.30 CET in St. Peter's Square.

Archbishop Gänswein, the personal secretary of Benedict XVI, has confirmed the last words of the Pope Emeritus: “Benedict XVI said in a whisper, but in an easily distinguishable way, and in Italian: ‘Lord, I love you!’"

The diocese is offering the following services:

Thursday, January 5 in union with the funeral Mass for the Pope Emeritus in Rome, Mass will be celebrated at 12.10 pm, followed by the Rosary and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the afternoon. Benediction is at 5.45 pm. Sunday, January 8, Solemnity of the Epiphany, the Mass will be offered in memory of Pope Benedict XVI, celebrated by Bishop Barber at 11 am. The Mass intention will be for the repose of the soul of the late Pope.

This year’s Social Justice collection (January 14-15) will be donated to two amazing charities. Don Bosco Technical School Shillong and Homes of Hope. I have worked at Don Bosco Technical School for 12 years as a teacher and administrator. In 2023 Don Bosco Technical School is celebrating the centenary year of its foundation. The Institute was started with the aim of providing skills training to young people for their livelihood. This mission continues even today taking up vocational training with more trades than before, adapting to the demands of the job market. At the centenary of the Institute, they would like to reach out to the 100 poor youth (boys and girls) especially dropouts from high school in the rural and urban areas who do not have opportunity to get skills training. 

Homes of Hope India was founded in 2007 with the express purpose of building orphanages, schools, training centers, and hostels for marginalized girls and young women, who are the poorest of the poor in India. Homes of Hope works in conjunction with eight congregations of Catholic nuns who otherwise would not have the funds to build critically needed structures. There are 29 Homes of Hope throughout India, which have provided a safe, loving home to thousands of girls. There are homes for AIDS orphans, war orphans, the handicapped, and sex-trafficked girls. Christ the King was one of the first parishes to support the work of Homes of Hope. Jack and Beverly Prosek have been their champions for years.

This weekend we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the visit of the Magi with gifts for the Lord. In the words of St. John Chrysostom, “For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense the honor of God, by myrrh the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, myrrh as Man.” St. Edith Stein wrote about the three gifts the Infant Jesus asks of us for this Epiphany: “He wanted the pure gold of a heart detached from all earthly goods; the myrrh of renunciation of all the happiness of this world in exchange for participation in the life and suffering of Jesus; the frankincense of a will that surrenders itself and strains upward to lose itself in the divine will. In return for these gifts, the divine Child gave us himself.” Let us continue celebrating the Christmas Season through the Baptism of Jesus on January 9.

Fr. Paulson

First Friday

This Friday, January 6th, is our Monthly First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

Exposition: 5pm to 6pm

This will be time for quiet prayer.

     Mass: 6pm in the church

You are invited to Fr. Timoney's

92nd Birthday Celebration!

Thursday, January 12th

St. Stephen Church and Parish Hall

5:30pm Mass Followed by Wine Tasting

See Flyer for more information here

Dear Friends,

I got back from Ireland on the 29th to find a stack of Christmas cards on my desk along with many, many gifts. Big thank you to all the senders. Please accept this as my thanks, because I simply cannot write to everyone individually, I feel overwhelmed by the task and my handwriting has become illegible, even to me. I would just ask the good Lord to bless you abundantly in this New Year.

Sincerely,

Brian Timoney

Religious Education and High School

Youth Ministry/Confirmation Classes resume this

Sunday, January 8th.

We are BACK!

Come join us for the 2023 CTK CYO Crab Feed!

March 11, 2023

CTK's Gym

More information can be found here

Do you feel called to share

God's word through song?



We are seeking strong and spirit-filled vocal leaders to join our Cantor ministry. Cantor responsibilities include proclaiming the Responsorial psalm and other responses and acclamations as needed, announcing hymns at various parts of the Mass, and occasionally leading hymns solo when the choir is not present.

If you'd like to learn more about cantoring and/or request an audition, please contact Jennifer Bennett at jenniferbennett1011@gmail.com. We'd love to add your voice to our vibrant parish music ministry!  

Feast of the the Epiphany

Welcome to our weekly reflections on

the Sunday Scriptures.



In all probability, Matthew wrote this Gospel while living outside of Israel in a Christian community of both Jewish and Greek origin. Christians living in Israel could no longer worship in synagogues, nor did they enjoy the protection of Roman laws. Read More

Congratulations to Carson Dale who was baptized on Saturday.

Welcome to the Christ the King and St. Stephen Family!

Parents: Ali & Joel

Child: Carson Dale

• World Day of the Sick Joint Mass with Archdiocese of San Francisco
• 2023 East Bay Respect Life Mass
• Info Session: Are you Being Called to the Diaconate?
• The January, 2023 Issue of the Catholic Voice is online.

Join Fr. Paulson on an incredible tour of Africa (Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Nairobi, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara National Park).

There is an additional package of Madagascar for those who want to continue for another 7 days. The trip will take place in June, 2023. For more information please contact the Parish Office.

To donate a one-time/on-line donation.

Or regular and/or second collections.

All Masses are Inside the Church. - Face Masks are encouraged.

Readings for Sunday Mass Here

Links to our services (live or archived) can be found at ctkph.org

or by clicking the Facebook or YouTube images below.

Ongoing Services

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  (Also livestreamed).

Epiphany is January 6th, traditionally marking the end of the 12 days of Christmas; however, in many U.S. dioceses the liturgical celebration is transferred to the nearest Sunday. (Jan. 8) Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian feasts and one of the most important. Historically, Epiphany celebrated four things: Jesus’ nativity, the Magi’s visit to the Holy Family, Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding feast of Cana. Each biblical event is a theophany, or epiphany, a special manifestation of Jesus Christ to mankind. The relationship between these events is beautifully described in this antiphon from the Divine Office: “This day is the Church joined unto the Heavenly Bridegroom, since Christ hath washed away her sins in Jordan; the wise men hasten with gifts to the marriage supper of the King; and they that sit at meat together make merry with water turned into wine. Alleluia.” In the Latin Church the visit of the Three Kings is the primary focus of Epiphany, symbolizing the revelation of Jesus Christ as a light for the Gentile nations and the Savior born for the redemption of all mankind.