Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
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Parish Newsletter
March 17, 2021
Staying Connected
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The Feast Day of St. Patrick
(Patron Saint of Ireland)
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
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A Letter from our Pastor ~ Fr. Paulson
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Dear Friends,
In this week of reflection on a year amid the pandemic, we plan to close a chapter in our Covid ministry... our amazing tent. Among all the other miracles that helped us continue our ministries this year, we saw the hand of God in the form of a large tent.
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Seven months ago, a Catholic woman executive prepared for her imminent passing, down to how her loved ones could grieve together at her funeral during a global pandemic. CTK had a beautiful “meadow” where we had begun outdoor services and livestreams in an evolving series of EZ Ups and shade structures. Her parish was unable to accommodate. We were. We invited them to CTK.
What soon arrived were installation cranes, electricians, inspectors and many other professionals. After this devout woman’s funeral, our faith community was gifted the use of this unique ability to minister outside, truly from Above. For seven months, under the tent, we’ve been able to offer hundreds of masses outside, socially distanced... as well as communions, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, youth ministry, musical concerts, sadly, many many funerals and much more. To our community, and to others as needed.
Now, on April 21, it will be time to return this gift to its owners, so they can once again use it for their business. And we are grateful. Very grateful. We pray that their business may prosper. I could not ask them for more time, as I felt that they needed it more than us. We shall continue to offer services outdoors as the weather continues to be good, and as long as we need to.
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It may be quite an understatement to say that these past 12 months have been full of surprises and challenges for all of us. Just over a year ago we faced the sudden realization that we needed to stay apart physically in order to stay safe and we wondered how we’d be able to continue all our ministries. By quickly experimenting with livestream technology on Facebook & YouTube, we found a way to bring Sacramental celebrations into your homes so we could all “Hear the Gospel and make a difference” together again. Video announcements to keep the information flowing to all, Zoom meetings for both staff and volunteers to keep important projects on target, phone calls and emails to keep in touch with parishioners sheltering in place at home…. We’ve learned SO much together about how to “be church” online and remotely, and that we don’t always need a church building to be a thriving parish community!
As we look forward to gathering again inside our worship space, we have every intention of keeping this “digital” part of our community experience going strong; and even building upon the initiative so we can always connect wherever and however you are! To that end, we’ve been working hard to build a robust Livestream & video recording/editing system inside our church. Discretely placed High-Definition cameras throughout the church interior (7 of them actually!), all run from a Control Room where we can capture every kind of celebration and the various elements involved. This includes not just the Mass, but also the potential for Weddings, Funerals, Adult Ed & CTK School events i.e. Christmas programs and Graduation. We have also re-wired all the cable paths to our video projectors with the goal of replacing and modernizing those to HD image quality and be able to incorporate that content into the broadcasts for remote viewers/participants. Some of you have sent in large donations with the note, “use it where you need it most” and I am grateful. Your continued support AND participation is what makes all this possible and of value – thank you!
I would like to wish everyone a happy feast of St. Patrick today. And I invite you to the feast of St. Joseph on Friday at 6.00pm CTK (outdoors) and 7.00pm St. Stephen (indoors).
Fr. Paulson
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Novena Masses in Honor of St. Joseph |
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In preparation of the
Feast of St. Joseph
we still have 2 Novena Masses
Wednesday & Thursday, March 17 & 18
at 7pm in the church
St. Stephen - Thursday, March 18 - 7pm/Indoors
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Join us Friday, March 19th
6pm Mass - Outdoors
As we celebrate
The Feast of St. Joseph.
(Livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube)
St. Stephen Church - 7pm Mass/Indoors
At this mass we will also celebrate the 500 year anniversary of
Christianity in the Philippines.
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Individual Confessions - Saturday |
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Individual Confessions
are available:
CTK - Saturday, March 20 at 3pm/Outdoors
St. Stephen - Saturday, March 20 at 10:00am
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Palm Sunday - March 27/28
Saturday - 4pm - Outdoors
Sunday:
7:30am - Indoors
9am, 10:30am, 12pm (Spanish), 4pm - Outdoors
St. Stephen - 9:30am Mass - Indoors
Holy Thursday - April 1
6pm Mass - Outdoors
St. Stephen - 6pm Mass - Indoors
Good Friday - April 2
1pm - Stations of the Cross - Outdoors
1:45pm - Reflection/Talk - Outdoors
2pm & 6pm - Liturgy of the Passion - Outdoors
7:30pm - Liturgy of the Passion (Spanish) - Outdoors
St. Stephen - Stations of the Cross - 5pm - Outdoors
Easter Vigil, Saturday - April 3
7pm Mass - Outdoors
St. Stephen - 7pm Mass - Indoors
Easter Sunday Masses - April 4
7:30am - Indoors
Outdoors - 9am, 10:30am, 12 noon (Spanish), 4pm
St. Stephen - 9:30am - Outdoors
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Links to our services can be found at ctkph.org
or clicking the images below
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We are so excited to have our 7th and 8th graders
back on campus with us this week!
Welcome back - we have missed you!
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Congratulations to the children who received the Sacrament of Baptism.
We welcome you to our Christ the King and St. Stephen Family!
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Parents: Jannine & Jose
Baby: Olivia Almarosa
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Parents: Lyndsay & John
Baby: Audrey James
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Parents: Katelyn & Nicholas
Baby: Brennan Joe
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On March 19th (The Feast of St. Joseph)
Sr. Joanne Gallagher celebrates 70 years
as a sister of St. Joseph.
Congratulations Sister Joanne!
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Special thanks to Hensley Event Resources and Laurie Arons Special Events, who blessed us with the use of the tent for the past seven months.
We are truly grateful.
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Come join us for our
Thursday - Lenten Reflection
Speaker Series
Thursday, March 18th
6:30pm in the church
You can watch in person or on-line.
This week's speakers: Rick and Kathy Stein
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St. Stephen Church
Stations of the Cross/Outdoors
All are welcome!!
Prayed privately on church grounds
at 1101 Keaveny Ct., Walnut Creek
Mondays & Wednesdays 12pm to 2pm
Fridays 12pm to 6pm
Follow a guided audio experience
on your smart phone or tablet in
English or Spanish at
Stations of the Cross led by one of our clergy
Join us at 1pm every Friday outdoors at St. Stephen Church.
All are Welcome!
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Weekly Reflections on Sunday Readings |
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Fifth Sunday of Lent
Welcome to our weekly reflections on
the Sunday Scriptures.
People constantly interrupted Jesus. In this instance, some “Greeks” asked to speak with Jesus. As he did in every case, he dropped what he was doing and focused on the pressing needs of the interrupter. Why? He accepted interruptions as his ministry. Read More
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Happy First Day of Spring
Saturday, March 20th!
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No Reservations or Sign Ups Required
Mass will take place on our lawn area
(Our Large Tent is also available to sit under)
Please note some masses are now celebrated in the church
Mass will take place rain or shine!
Bring your own chairs
Face Masks are required
Or continue to stay in the comfort of your car - tune into FM 106.7
Or watch from your smart phone/tablet
Wifi ID: CTK Streaming - Password: outdoor1
Only the 4pm Saturday Mass and the 9am Sunday Mass will be livestreamed both on Facebook and YouTube.
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Weekday Mass
9am - Monday-Friday Indoors/Church
(Masses will continue to be livestreamed)
6pm - Thursdays - Indoors/Church
This week only Thursday mass will be at 7pm
Weekend Masses:
Saturday:
9am - Indoors/Church
4pm - Remains Outdoors
Sunday:
7:30am - Indoors/Church
9 am,10:30am, 12noon (Spanish) - Remains Outdoors
4pm - Back Outdoors (New)
Song Sheet for March 20/21 Masses Here
Spanish Mass Worship Aide/Guía de Adoración Here
Readings for Sunday Mass Here
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Drive-Thru
Holy Communion
Every Sunday
11:30am to 12 noon
In front of the church
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9am - Daily Mass
Monday - Saturday
In Person/Church
Mass will continue to be Livestremed
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Thursdays, 6pm - Indoor Mass
Honoring Our Mother of Perpetual Help
This week - mass will be at 7pm
Mass will not be livestreamed
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5:40pm - Holy Rosary
Mondays, Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Fridays
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Sacrament of Reconciliation
Private Confessions will continue every Saturday from
3pm to 3:30pm.
Please meet in front of the church.
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St. Stephen Church - Outdoor Mass |
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St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct.
Walnut Creek 94597
Sunday - Mass at 9:30am - Outdoors
First Saturday of the month at 4pm - Outdoors
Drive Thru Holy Communion - 10:10am
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.
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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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YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH
From Pope Francis' Apostolic Letter "With a Father's Heart."
Every day, for over forty years, following Lauds I have recited a prayer to Saint Joseph taken from a nineteenth-century French prayer book of the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary. It expresses devotion and trust, and even poses a certain challenge to Saint Joseph:
“Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen.”
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"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference" |
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