Christ the King - St. Stephen Parish

www.ctkph.org

www.saintstephenparish.org

Parish Newsletter

"Staying Connected"

October 2, 2024

Dear Friends,

The 2024 CTK Festival was held on Friday – Saturday, September 27th and 28th. I want to thank everyone who volunteered their gifts of time, talent, and treasure in support of this event!

I am so grateful for our school community that rallied behind Nicole Becker-Zucconi, Denise Rigli, Natalie Prendergast, Corrina Chin, Stacy York and their spouses to make the festival a communal celebration for all of us. I have to say this year was one of the best festivals I have participated in here at CTK.I have to say this year was one of the best festivals I have participated in here at CTK.

Update on our Church Roof at CTK: We have been assessing the damage caused to the church roof from years of water intrusion. We need to assess the extent of the damage to the structure itself: the plywood that supports the shingles and underlayment; the beams that support the plywood and hold the sheetrock material in-place; the level of deterioration of the sheetrock itself; and finally, the presence or absence of asbestos and or mold in the construction materials. To carry out the assessments we employed four separate contractors: Oliver and Company, a construction company recommended by the Diocese, Walter P. Moore a water proofing contractor, the contractor we selected to repair the skylight, Enviro-star a hazardous materials sampling and analysis company, and TBP Architecture to look at the structural components.

The Moore company did an initial inspection of the church ceiling and roof and prepared a sketch of where we should sample both the roof and the ceiling. Oliver tasked a scaffolding company to erect three scaffolds to allow access to the ceiling so Oliver could open the ceiling. The Enviro-star company took the necessary samples and the architect and structural engineer inspected the structure from the inside of the church. AVC roofing opened two areas of the church roof so the same individuals could inspect the plywood, the beams and the area near the skylight cylinder where the leaking was expected to be the major source of the problem. Those inspections were completed September 23.

Preliminary results suggest that the major damage area is the area at the back of the church where the ceiling was billowing. Samples taken there showed some mold, mainly on the downslope side of the 6inch by 10inch beam that follows the path of the bubbling of the ceiling at the back of the church. The ceiling and the roof are now closed and will not be reopened until next year, after the rains have ceased. It will probably be until about mid-October before we have had a chance to evaluate what they have found. I will keep you updated. I want to thank you for your prayers. I am grateful to our Facilities Team and the Finance Committee for working together on these projects.

Updates to church sound and visual systems at CTK: We upgraded our church sound system processor to a new digital platform. This allows for greater control of the system from various locations in the church, “presets” for different types of liturgies and other events and customized sound control for what goes out on livestreams and recordings for a better experience there. We have installed a new video controller to improve the picture quality at the projectors and plan to add a monitor in the vestibule along with a connection for temporary viewing outside as needed. This also means new sources other than just the PowerPoint computer can be viewed on the projectors, including the cameras that are used for live-streaming. The screen in the vestibule will ultimately replace the bulletin board out there and function as “digital signage” for community information before and after mass. I am grateful to Michael Hall for facilitating these updates which are expected to provide a rich spiritual and liturgical experience for all of us.

~Fr. Paulson

Blessing of the Animals

Friday, October 4

2:30pm/CTK Lawn

CTK School invites all school families, parishioners and neighbors to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis in the annual Blessing of the Animals Prayer Service. All friendly pets are welcome to join on the main lawn in front of the church. Suggested arrival time is 2:30 p.m., prayer service begins at 2:40 p.m.

You’re Invited to our CTK-St. Stephen

Parish Picnic

For the Entire Family!

Sunday, October 20 - 12pm to 2pm

The picnic will be on the Large Lawn at CTK

BBQ Food, Fun, and Yard Games!

The cost is Free! But please rsvp

      or call the CTK office.

St. Vincent de Paul Bundle Sunday is Back!

Start collecting your extra new and slightly used items to donate during our Bundle Sunday Collection.

The St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the CTK parking lot on Oct. 5/6 during mass times to collect your donations of gently used clothes, shoes, belts, purses, jewelry, towels, linens, knick-knacks, bikes etc. We particularly need kitchenware such as pots & pans, dish sets, utensils and small kitchen appliances. No electronics, mattresses, box springs or furniture. If you are at St. Stephen, you can drop items off at the back of the church.

Are you looking for a deeper spiritual connection, a chance to meet other parishioners or some time away from the hectic pace of your life? 

Join us for ChristLight XVII. 

Registration is now open.

ChristLight is a parish-based weekend experience that invites us to renew our faith in the presence of God, as individuals and as a parish community. ChristLight gathers women and men to share Prayer, Fellowship, Stories, Song and fun! …plus, the meals are awesome! 

ChristLight XVII will be held the weekend of November 8, 9 and 10 at the St. Stephen campus. At ChristLight, all are welcome to share in an open and trusting community where we can focus on our journey of faith. Space is limited so sign-up now.

Saturday, November 2

4pm Mass at CTK

Saturday, November 2

5pm Mass at St. Stephen



A special Mass of Remembrance will be held on Saturday November 2 on both church campuses. At the Mass we will pray specially for all who have died during the past 12 months and whose funeral was held at Christ the King-St. Stephen Parish.

Do you have a loved one who died during the past 12 months? Were they not buried from Christ the King-St. Stephen Parish? Would you like their name included on our scroll? Please call the parish office at 925-682-2486 and leave their name.  Deadline to submit names for the scroll is October 24.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

St. Stephen Parish Hall

Friday, October 25

To schedule a time slot

Please click here

Questions? Email: office@ctkph.org

Every year we take up a count of people at all

Masses during the month of October. 

This is required by our diocese. We would need 4 volunteers at each Mass to walk down the aisle and count the people in one section of the church. Would you be so kind as to help? Please respond to Sr. Dominic Marie at sisterdominic.marie@gmail.com. Thank you in advance.

Pastoral Care



If you are interested to serve as a Pastoral Care Minister to the Homebound or to local care facilities please contact Sr. Dominic at sisterdominic.marie@gmail.com or 925-246-1122.

If you enjoy arranging flowers ~ we are looking for volunteers to prepare the weekend flowers at St. Stephen Church. 

If interested, please contact Sr. Dominic Marie at sisterdominic.marie@gmail.com or

925-246-1122. It would be very appreciated!

Our CTK County Fair was a wonderful parish event!

Thank you to all who attended, a fun time was had by everyone.

Congratulations on Edan's baptism!

Parents:  Maricon and Eduardo

Baby: Edan (Baptism - Sept. 15)

Transforming loss into a force for good! Members of our CTK Grief Group volunteered at Shelter Inc to prepare a homecooked meal for families in need. In addition to our regular Grief Group meetings, we have started a volunteer initiative - pouring love into others is a way to honor our loved ones, share in meaningful work, and discover the healing power of giving back. 

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Have you suffered a loss? Recent or some time ago? Please join us for our CTK Grief Group that meets the last Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center at CTK. Whether you need on-going support or just a support check-up during the holidays or an upcoming anniversary, there is a wonderful group of people waiting to support you. All are welcome. Come once or often, whatever your grieving heart needs. You are not alone.

Please call Donna @ 510-381-3615 for information or to register.

Thank You for a Successful CTK County Fair!



We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this year's CTK County Fair an incredible success! The energy, the enthusiasm and all those smiles will be memories that last a lifetime. A special shout-out goes to our amazing Festival Committee, who worked tirelessly all summer to bring the County Fair theme to life. Your dedication and creativity truly made the event something special.



We'd also like to express our gratitude to our generous sponsors. Their contributions allowed us to bring our vision to life and introduce exciting new rides and games, helping to make this festival a memorable experience for all.



As we look ahead to next year, we’d love to hear your feedback! Please take a moment to share your thoughts and suggestions by clicking Festival Feedback here. Your input will help us make next year’s event even better!



Thank you once again for being part of the CTK community! 

Nicole, Denise, Natalie, Corrina and Stacy 

Your 2024 Festival Committee: Nicole Zucconi, Denise Rigli, Natalie Prendergast, Corrina Chin, Stacy York, Patricia Golez, Peter Symonds, Tony Zucconi, Leo Santini, Kristina Holcombe, Patrick Bradley, Matt Knauff, Analyn Landau, Kim Mai-Underwood, Sonia Wilson, Kirsten Sawyer, Jacqueline Hanley, Heather Clarke, Shantelle Durbin, Jen Luippold, Nicole Stanley, Lindsay Melaas, Sandy Wingard, Marisa Cox, Diana Urcuyo, Marisa Mathis, Dustin Dockery, Susan Stonebraker, Kristine Baldacci, Amber Balestrieri, Leanna Cosgrove, Scott Greer, Chris York, Saul Montoya & Rosa Armendariz Montoya. 

Our Amazingly Generous Sponsors for the CTK County Fair: Castlerock Wealth Management, The Hamilton Family, WiseGirl and Back Forty, Jack's Cantina, Mt. Diablo Orthodontics, Abio Properties, Abel Chevrolet, OAG Architects, Williams Torres Family, The Maher Law Group, KMHF Family Law, TJ, Alhambra Valley Millworks, Bali Construction, Balestrieri Family Farm & Winery, Scotto Cellars, Justin Kinder from Kinders BBQ, United Rentals, CaliCraft Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewery, Firestone Brewery, Constellation, Diageo Beer Company, Bennie from Grocery Outlet Petaluma, Frias Family Vineyard, Knights of Columbus and The Italian Catholic Federation of CTK. 

CTK School

Weekly Newsletter Here

that First Eucharist is a two-year program, two consecutive years. If a child completes his/her first year and does not come back the following year, the first year class will not be counted when the child returns. After completing first year, the child must return the following year to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

that the Diocese of Oakland has a Special Religious Education (SPRED). SPRED assists parishes in the Diocese of Oakland reach out and integrate children, teens, and adults with special needs into the parish family. Volunteer catechists play a vital role in assisting individuals with autism intellectual disabilities, severe cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy so they may grow spiritually among friends, receive ongoing faith formation and participate in the liturgical and community life of the Church. On October 9 there will be a catechist training. Please contact Teresa Gonzales for more information on tgonzales@ctkph.org

Registration Open for October 18th

Golf Tournament

Attention golfers and all people who like to have a good time! Registration for this year's Christ the King Monsignor Wade Golf Tournament presented by Castle Rock Wealth Management is now open! 

Register Here www.ctkgolf.org 

Join us on Friday, Oct. 18 at Boundary Oak Golf Course in Walnut Creek for our annual scramble, which raises money for the Father Declan Emergency Fund, a tuition assistance program established to assist families should a need arise during the school year. The proceeds also benefit the New Leaf Science Program.

Your $225 registration fee includes: Scramble Tournament, Golf Cart, Range Balls, Tee Prizes, Breakfast, Food & Drinks on the Course, Contest Awards, BBQ dinner & Music.

Lots of FUN! Register today!

Sponsorships are still available. 

A big THANK YOU for all who assembled 400 kits of food Saturday for our unhoused brothers and sisters! Your generosity of time and effort enables CORE teams to distribute food and valuable information to help the unhoused with their challenges.

Check CORE's website here and be impressed with what they provide.

Want to do more? Come to our Faith In Action meeting

Tuesday, October 15th at 7pm in room C of the parish hall.  

Questions? Email Carolyn Peters at: peterscaja@protonmail.com

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Welcome to our weekly reflections on

the Sunday Scriptures.



“Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” How can we, as adults, become childlike in the expression of our faith? It starts with recognizing that everything we have, and more importantly everything we need, comes from God. Read More

Tour With Fr. Paulson to Vietnam and Cambodia!

February - 2025

With an Extension Trip to India

For more information and a brochure

Email us at office@ctkph.org

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

Or regular and/or second collections.

CTK Weekday Masses

Monday - Friday

9am Mass

(9am Masses will be livestreamed)

CTK Weekend Masses

Saturday

9am and 4pm Vigil

(Saturday 4pm Mass will be livestreamed)

CTK Sunday Masses

7:30am, 9am, 10:30am and 4pm

(10:30am Mass will be livestreamed).

Readings for Sunday Mass Here

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

or by clicking the Facebook or YouTube images below.

Ongoing Services at CTK & St. Stephen

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Private Confessions every Saturday from 3pm to 3:30pm at CTK and Saturday before the 5pm mass at St. Stephen.

CTK Thursday Morning Mass - 9am - Honoring our Mother of Perpetual Help, Worship Aide Here (Also livestreamed).

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - October 4

St. Francis (1181-1226) was born in Assisi, Italy, to a wealthy cloth merchant. He was a spoiled child given to pleasure, fine dress, liberal spending, and worldliness. Handsome and courteous, he was a favorite among the nobility. As a chivalrous young knight he took part in a battle between the Italian city-states and became a prisoner of war in Perugia. After his release he became seriously ill, and while reflecting on his wanton life he had a profound conversion experience. He gave up his frivolous life, cut off his family ties, and embraced a life of extreme penance and poverty in such a dramatic manner that it caused many to think he had gone mad. While praying before a crucifix in the church of San Damiano in Assisi he received a call from Christ to rebuild the Church, “which had fallen into ruin.” St. Francis followed Christ in a radical manner by patterning his new life after the example of the Apostles in the most literal way possible: he dressed as a poor peasant, worked odd jobs for food, and went through the countryside preaching repentance, love of Jesus, and peace. His joyful, radical way of life attracted followers, and with them he founded the Order of Friars Minor and the Poor Clares. His order was approved by the Holy See in 1210 and grew rapidly. Two years before his death he became the first known saint to receive the stigmata. His holiness was so widely attested that only two years after his death the Church proclaimed him a saint. St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of peace, ecology, the environment, animals, Italy, merchants, and families.