Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
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Parish Newsletter
September 1, 2021
Staying Connected
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A Letter From our Pastor - Fr. Paulson |
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Dear Friends,
We continue to pray for a successful evacuation of all American citizens and our allies from Afghanistan. May God bless our men and women in the armed forces, who have sacrificed so much for peace in our world. I have one good news to share with you as we witness the chaos of evacuation and withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Christ the King Church was asked by Catholic Charities East Bay to host a family from Afghanistan for a period of 18 months to two years, or until they could be independent. It was a Muslim family of eight: father, mother with six children, ages 5-16. One of the daughters, Madina, remained in Kabul to care for the grandmother who was having surgery; and when the grandmother recovered, Madina would come to the U.S. and join her family here. When she was ready to come, the administration then stopped Muslim immigration to our country. So Madina went on a list to evacuate and remained on the list for five years.
Finding housing for a family of eight was very difficult. CCEB found them a two-story apartment in Oakland, which worked well because the entire top floor was one large room, and Kate from CTK’s staff purchased three bunk beds so all the children had a bed. The parents were downstairs. But it was infested with roaches. We would pray at daily Mass that we could find suitable housing for our Afghan family. One day Dan Crespin was at Mass and told me that he owns a 3-bedroom condo in the garden district of Walnut Creek and would be willing to rent it to the family at a cost that they could afford. Dan had just updated and painted it to be like new. The family was delighted to move into this excellent housing. Daud, the father, did not want to send the monthly rent check by mail; he asked Dan to come in person to pick up the check each month. Dan was very gracious about this request. The children loved Dan’s visit because he brought ice cream for them.
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Once the family was settled in their new home, members of our Immigration Subcommittee assisted with: Finding which school each would attend and how they would get there. Daud, the father would drive them to each school on his way to work in Alameda; arranging for Karima, the mother, to attend English language classes after the older children came home from school to care for the younger children. Some children of our community would organize soccer matches with the Afghan children to provide fun for them; others would advise them how to shop for food and other necessities; and tutoring was found for the students, if needed. |
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For five years the family gathered each night at bedtime to speak with Madina via zoom, and they all cried. Madina suffered from depression several times during the five years she was in Afghanistan without her family. The Intezar family asked us at CTK if we could help arrange for Madina to be given the status of “Evacuee with Priority” as the US was transitioning from Afghanistan by August 31, 2021. Gwen Watson contacted our U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier. Gwen worked with three of his aides who said Mark would send the request under his name to the U.S. State Department. Madina went to the Kabul Airport every day accompanied by her uncle and a cousin. After more than two weeks of daily trips to the airport, her name was called out for evacuating Afghanistan on Sunday, August 22, and she was flown to Qatar on Monday, August 23, to stay at a US Military Base until her case can be cleared for her to be able to go to a Military Base in Virginia or Washington, DC, to be picked up by her family and brought to Walnut Creek to be with her family after five years.
Thank you CTK for sponsoring this family! We are grateful that we all could be part of a good story.
Fr. Paulson
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Robin Morley will retire as the Office Manager of CTK mid-September 2021, and will transition to a life of ease and peace with her husband Mike, who has also retired after four decades in law enforcement. Robin is one of the smartest employees I have worked with, and CTK owes her a HUGE debt of gratitude. On behalf of our parish communities, I would like to wish Robin the BEST that retirement can offer.
“Because of your experience, your skill, your preparation, your sacrifice, your kind heart, and being faithful to your calling, our lives are better. And we are deeply, deeply grateful.”
Blessings,
Fr. Paulson
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This Friday, September 3rd is our Monthly
First Friday Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament - followed by Mass
Join us
6pm to 7:15pm - Exposition in the church
This will be a time for quiet prayer.
7:30pm Mass - In the church
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Second Collection
September 19th
Haiti Earthquake Relief Effort
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti's southern peninsula on Aug. 14, reducing towns into rubble and leaving nearly 2,000 people dead. Countless others have been recovered with life-threatening injuries. Disasters of this magnitude also expose Haitians to the threat of deadly cholera outbreaks, a disease endemic to the island nation that quickly infects communities as infrastructure and clean water supplies are compromised. St. Stephen and CTK will do a second collection on Sept. 18th/19th. You can send in your donations early to the office marked for Haiti. We will keep you posted on how your donations are distributed. Thanks for your generous donation for the most vulnerable population.
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Offertory Envelopes can be picked up in the church vestibule this weekend. If you are unable to come to the church, we can have them available for you in the parish office. Call the office at 682-2486 to arrange pick-up.
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On-line Registration for Faith Formation |
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7/8th Youth Group
Twice a month on
Tuesday Evenings
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HS Youth Group
Twice a month on
Thursday Evenings
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Confirmation Prep
Twice a month on
Sunday Afternoons
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Volunteer to be a Catechist/Teacher Aide - Click Here
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Healing Mass
Saturday, September 18th at 10:30am
We invite you to bring your loved ones to our next Healing Mass on Saturday September 18 at 10:30 am. This is a parish Mass during which we celebrate the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick: intended especially for the elderly, those with chronic illness, upcoming surgery or any kind of physical or mental illness. Everyone will be required to wear a mask and to be socially distanced from those you do not live with. We also seat people in every other pew. People may choose to sit outside on the patio in front of the church; please bring your own chair.
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Ushers Needed for Funerals |
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If you would like to occasionally serve as an usher at a funeral here at Christ the King ~ we could use your assistance. Ushering at funerals involves welcoming guests and showing them to a seat, handing out programs and clearing up the pews afterwards. Questions? Or, if interested contact Sr. Dominic Marie at sisterdominic.marie@gmail.com; 925-246-1122.
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Congratulations to Cole Patrick who was baptized over the weekend!
Welcome to Christ the King and St. Stephen Family!
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Parents: Michelle & Jeffrey
Baby: Cole Patrick
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Feliz Quinceañera
Congratulations to Daniela Areñas on your Quinceañera!
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Pope Francis officially invites Catholics worldwide to participate in the Season of Creation from September 1 to October 4.
The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development writes to encourage our participation this year uniting with many different faith traditions in prayer, sustainability, and advocacy. For details on the Season of Creation click here
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Weekly Reflections on Sunday Readings |
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Welcome to our weekly reflections on
the Sunday Scriptures.
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“They asked Jesus to lay his hands upon (the deaf man).” Keep in mind that the folks in this gospel story lived in a land outside the Jewish sphere of influence. At that time in history, most societies had no honorable place for anyone not physically “perfect.” Still, these foreigners recognized Jesus as a holy man of God. Read More
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All Masses are Inside the Church.
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 - Sept. 4/5 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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Ongoing Services:
Drive-Thru Communion, Mass, Holy Rosary, Sacrament of Reconciliation
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Drive-Thru
Holy Communion
Every Sunday
11:30am to 12 noon
In front of the church
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Sacrament of Reconciliation
Private Confessions will continue every Saturday from
3pm to 3:30pm
Please meet inside the church.
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Thursdays, 6pm - Indoor Mass
Honoring Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Rosary begins at 5:40pm
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5:40pm - Holy Rosary
Monday through 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 - Indoors/Church
Sunday - Mass at 9:30am - Indoors/Church
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.
Only the 9:30am mass will be live-streamed.
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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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A Prayer for Our Earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and
in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.
-From Pope Francis, Laudato Si
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"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference" |
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