Parish Newsletter

October 12, 2022

Staying Connected

Dear Friends,

During this month, you will be witnessing people taking the October count. According to Gallup, almost four in five Americans (79%) state that their lives are at least somewhat if not completely back to a pre-pandemic normal. As I traveled last month, it was interesting to observe that hardly anyone wears masks either in the airport or on the flight, that the streets are filled with people, and life goes on normally almost everywhere.

Despite this growing return to normalcy, church attendance has not fully rebounded yet. We are probably around 60% of pre-pandemic levels both at St. Stephen and CTK. As we reopened for service, I said to myself, our folks will come back may be in the spring, after Easter, after summer vacation, when the mask mandate is fully lifted, when all restrictions are lifted, when kids are back in school fulltime. And now, almost three years into the pandemic, the slow realization is finally happening: Maybe they’re not coming back. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever.

Yet at the height of the pandemic, churchgoers said they planned to return. In a February 2021 Lifeway Research study, 91% of U.S. churchgoers said they planned to attend in-person worship services at least as often as they did before the pandemic. Few said they planned on attending less than before (6%), rarely attending (2%), or not attending in-person at all (1%).

Many of our parishioners who attended mass regularly are yet to return and I believe that their absence is not so much an intentional decision. Rather, it’s the unintentional creation of a new habit. They’ve gotten out of the practice of churchgoing and haven’t made a decisive act to restart. For the most part, the engaged return. The disengaged didn’t return. There are some who are still fearful, and who attend mass online on a daily or weekly basis. Our livestream and drive-through communion numbers corroborate this fact.

The unintentional absences of churchgoers mean we must take intentional actions. Jesus said the shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one sheep that is lost. We are missing more than one sheep from the flock since COVID. And bringing them back will probably take meeting them where they are. Restarting lost habits can take work, but that work is easier when you have others walking beside you to encourage you. So, I am inviting you to engage with folks you know, the folks that you don’t see at church and take some active steps to bring them back. We are in this mission together. I personally believe that we are never going to be at pre-pandemic levels. I hope and pray that I am wrong.

After my last presentation on Pope Francis’ last apostolic letter, there was a great interest in learning about the four constitutions of Vatican II. I will offer two presentations on Sacrosanctum Concilium, (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) on Thursday, October 20th at 10.30am at St. Stephen (in person) and via zoom at 7.00pm. Zoom Link here

In order to understand the recent revision of the Roman Missal and the reasons for certain modifications and changes in the General Instruction of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, it is necessary to take as a starting point the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council Sacrosanctum Concilium  In the Apostolic Letter commemorating the twenty fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the Conciliar Constitution His Holiness Pope John Paul II stated that the principles which underlie the Council’s great liturgical charter are of “enduring value” and remain relevant in the development of the Church’s worship. I invite you to attend either of the two sessions offered.

Fr. Paulson

Vote "No" On Proposition 1

Proposition 1 is a worst-case scenario for abortion in California. It is an expensive and misleading ballot measure that allows unlimited late-term abortions — for any reason, at any time, even moments before birth, paid for by tax dollars. Prop 1 isn’t needed. Sadly, California already has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the nation that would remain in effect without the amendment, including our current limit on late-term abortions that are permitted only for the life and health of the mother. Prop 1 destroys this common-sense limit. California does not limit state spending on abortion, and with thousands more traveling from other states, the cost will be in the hundreds of millions. Don’t hand lawmakers a blank check to pay for abortions, and don’t let them make California an “abortion sanctuary.” To learn more, visit www.CAcatholic.org/Prop1

We are so excited to have Fr. Francis, the Mission Procurator Don Bosco Bangalore, India with us from the 20th of this month for a week. Fr. Francis will share the ministry of the Salesians as they transform the lives of so many street children and youth in India. He is the Director of BREADS (Bangalore Rural Educational and Development Society), an organization that protects children and youth especially on the streets of major Indian cities. You can read more information on https://breadsbangalore.org. 

Please plan to join us on October 22, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. - after the 4.00pm Mass, in our Parish Hall. There will be a video presentation. Refreshments  and appetizers will be served. 

Saturday, November 5

at the 4pm Mass

A special Mass of Remembrance will be held on Saturday November 5 at 4 pm. At that Mass we will pray specially for all who have died during this past year and whose funeral was held at Christ the King. (Do you have a loved one who died during the past 12 months? Were they not buried from Christ the King Parish? Would you like their name included? Please call the parish office at 925-682-2486 and leave their name.  Deadline to submit names is the 25th of October.) (Questions? Sr. Dominic Marie at 925-246-1122.)

 Everyone is welcome!

Saturday, October 29, 5pm at CTK

On behalf of the Young Families Ministry, we would like to invite all young families to pizza and beer (and wine) on Saturday, October 29, at 5:00 p.m. (immediately following the 4pm Vigil Mass). The event will be held on the grass near the playground on church grounds. If you and your family would like to attend - and so that we have an accurate headcount - please respond to rezaei.ryan@gmail.com by Saturday, October 22. Additionally, if anyone is willing to let us borrow any outdoor games (such as cornhole!), please let us know.  

Family Game Night

Friday, Oct. 14th

5:30pm to 8pm

On Large Lawn In Front of the Church

Please join the Youth Ministry and CTK School Parent Teacher Group (PTG) for a fun Family Game Night. More information can be found here.

ICF Pot Luck Picnic

And Bocci Ball

Sunday, October 16 at 1pm

Rodgers-Smith Park/Pleasant Hill

All parishioners of Christ the King and St. Stephen churches are welcome to join us for a pot luck picnic and short ICF meeting on Sunday, October 16 at 1 pm at Rodgers-Smith Park bocce courts. Families and people of all ages are welcome. If you don’t know how to play bocce, come anyway to socialize and just watch! For further information contact Ann Consul ann_consul@yahoo.com.

Sign up for the Men's Retreat by clicking here

Congratulations to Landyn Audrey who was baptized on Saturday.

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

Parents: Nicolette & Chad

Baby: Landyn Audrey

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Welcome to our weekly reflections on

the Sunday Scriptures.



In fashioning this parable, Jesus paints a verbal picture of a wronged woman who approached a judge who had little respect for God or anyone, especially women. Many of us blame God for all that is wrong with the world and in our lives. Jesus taught us to pray with determined perseverance Read More

Pasta Dinner Fundraiser

Saturday, November 5th

CTK's Parish Hall

See flyer for more information Here

Emergency Disaster Fund/Hurricane Ian

October 15 and 16

The second collection is for the Emergency Disaster Fund to support those affected by Hurricane Ian. Donations will support the emergency responses of our partners at Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services, the official relief agencies of the U.S. Catholic Church. Donate online here.

On behalf of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Local Committee, I am sending this email to thank you for your ongoing support of CCHD which is working to address the root causes of poverty and injustice in our local communities and in communities across the country. Please take a moment to read the attached letter that expresses our deep appreciation to you. Here

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).

Pope Francis @Pontifex

3:30 AM · Oct 12, 2022

The Lord has a great desire for us -- to make us sharers in his own life. In our dialogue with Him, we learn to understand what we truly want from our lives.

#Discernment #GeneralAudience