Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
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Parish Newsletter
August 12, 2020
Keeping Us Connected
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A Letter From Our Pastor - Fr. Paulson |
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Dear Friends,
This Saturday, August 15th we shall celebrate the Feast of the Assumption outdoors. We will do two masses in the morning. (7.30am and 9.00am) During this pandemic, we need the blessings of our Blessed Mother. In 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of Mary a dogma of the Catholic Church in these words: "The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heaven."
Over the last few months, churches around the world went to a digital-only service in response to the situation and government recommendations on social distancing. The looming question of whether or not digital content could replace a church service was answered in a moment of crisis.
Digital will never replace the value of physical, in-person connection with a church community, yet at the same time, it will forever be an experience for those in our communities who are sick or unable to attend services for other reasons. That is why CTK and St. Stephen are embracing a combined alternative of both digital and in person services. I want to thank you for all the support you have given me, the number of thank you notes that you sent us at the office.
As a leader, I have embraced every opportunity offered to unite people and reach the community through the power of digital outreach. In my conversation with our Core Team, we have looked at a number of options, as we get ready for the fall and the winter months. You are more than welcome to give me your feedback or comments.
1. We will be expanding our Wi-Fi to cover all our parking lots, so that those of you with smart phones or tablets can see and hear the Mass as you sit in your cars regardless of the season - hot, cold or rainy. The Church intends to buy a few smart tablets for those who need assistance with technology. They will be programmed to view the services while you are in the parking area. Our ushers will distribute them on request, and collect them back after the service.
2. Improve the current transmission of online services. This is being done as we speak. We have purchased cameras and laptops, and other accessories needed.
3. To set up a large TV on the lawn, that can be used for PowerPoint presentations during Mass and Funerals. This can also be used for outdoor Bible Studies, Movie nights and so much more. Even our School and Faith Formation Students can benefit from this technology. This is still in discussion.
4. Set up two covered areas for drive through communion during the rainy season. During the rains, we can still attend parking lot masses through smart phones or tablets, and then drive through for communion.
5. We will offer one more mass on Sunday at 12.00 noon to accommodate our Spanish community in Concord and adjoining areas who have little opportunity for masses. We will offer this until the pandemic is over, and they can go back to their home churches.
While most of these ideas are still at an early stage of planning and implementing, we feel that this will definitely help us prepare for the months to come. Today, Wednesday, I will be a panelist on Pleasant Hill City Zoom conversation on Social Justice. More information will be given. The Pastors of Pleasant Hill have worked closely with the city on a number of social justice concerns, and the leaders have been very collaborative.
Fr. Paulson
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Join Fr. Paulson with other Faith and Civic Leaders of Pleasant Hill this Evening |
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Fr. Paulson invites you to sign up to attend this livestream event, Wed. (tonight) August 12 at 6:30pm. He will be a member of this discussion panel on the role of faith communities in social justice.
Sign up, and submit questions, Here
For more information, including other ways to watch, go to:
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The Feast of the Assumption of Mary |
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Saturday, August 15
7:30am & 9am Outdoor Masses
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Honored each year on August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into Heaven.
Celebrate this feast day with us on Saturday either on the lawn, (bring your own chairs) in your car, or watch live on our Facebook page.
Please note: 7:30am Mass will be in front of the church on the patio.
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Zoom Welcome Parties Continue
for Fr. Lee
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"Small Group Zooms" to Welcome Fr. Lee
We are planning small group Zoom "Welcome Parties” to facilitate introducing to the parish our new priest, Fr. Lee. There will be several 30 minute Zoom meetings starting:
Monday, August 17 at 11:30am for CTK
Friday, August 14 at 11:30pm for St. Stephen
To keep the groups small and personal, we will limit them to 10 parishioners plus the host and Fr. Lee. More dates will be added!
If you would like to be invited, please send your email address to:
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Op Ed Page - Mercury News/East Bay Times |
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As the pastor of two Catholic parishes in the East Bay, I have been disappointed in our church leaders who have the capacity to change minds and attitudes during this time of national reckoning over race...
From Fr. Leo Edgerly (Pastor of Corpus Christi):
"My brother Paulson,
You nailed it! Thank you for putting on paper the concerns that your Black sisters and brothers have toward our Church. We sometimes feel like step-children. But as I shared with you, because of prophetic priests like you, I remain optimistic."
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CTK 8th Grade Graduation
Congratulations to our 8th graders who held their graduation outdoors at CTK on Saturday. Thank you for being such a great class and displaying your leadership to all the younger grades.
May God be with you and bless as you enter your journey through high school and beyond.
(Picture was taken pre-covid)
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Wedding
We celebrated a wonderful outdoor wedding on Saturday morning on our patio. Congratulations to Samantha and Joseph D'Addabbo.
May God bless and carry you through a lifetime of blessings and happiness throughout your marriage!
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Baptism
On Saturday, through the sacrament of Baptism, we welcomed Joaquin Nathaniel to our CTK and St. Stephen Family. Joaquin is the son of Chantrea & David. Congratulations!
May God grant your little one all the blessings of His gentle love.
Welcome to the family!
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Confirmation
At Sunday's 6pm mass we confirmed our first of many confirmandi. Congratulations to Emma Sullivan (pictured with her sponsor).
May the gifts of the Holy Spirit be present in your life now and forever.
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We are in the process of updating our parish database with current information including phone numbers, emails, etc. Please click the link below to fill out the digital form to update your information.
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Join us Every Thursday
For our Speaker Series followed by our
Outdoor Weekly Mass
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Join us every Thursday at 5:00pm on Facebook Live
This Thursday, August 13 at 5:00pm, our speaker will be Joe Silveira. Joe is the principal of our school at CTK. He will speak to us about reopening and the future plans of the school along with the challenges that lay ahead.
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Thursday, 6pm Mass
Honoring Our Mother of Perpetual Help
After our speaker, stay on for our 6pm weekly mass where we honor Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Either in your car,
on the lawn, or in your home on Facebook Live!
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Outdoor Masses Continue This Weekend Both in our
Parking Lot and Grass Area
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No Reservations or Sign Ups Required
You can get out of your car and onto the grass
(bring your own chairs/blankets)
Face Masks are required
Or continue to stay in the comfort of your car-tune into FM 106.7
All masses will be live streamed on Facebook
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Weekday Mass:
Thursdays 6pm only
(Honoring Our Mother
of Perpetual Help)
Weekend Masses:
(Saturday) 5pm
(Sunday) 7:30am, 9am,10:30am, 12noon (Spanish) & 6pm
New - (Sunday) 12 noon Spanish Mass beginning this Sunday Aug. 16
Please Note:
7:30am mass will take place outside, on the patio, in front of the church.
5pm mass - (Sat), 8/22 we will celebrate the 60 year jubilee of our sisters.
Drive Through Holy Communion - Sundays
11:30am to 12 noon
(In front of the church)
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Streaming Live on Facebook
Monday - Saturday
9am - Chapel Mass
5:40pm - Holy Rosary
(except Thursdays, Sat. & Sun.)
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St. Stephen Church
Walnut Creek
Sunday - Mass at 9:30am - Outdoors
Drive Through Communion - 10:15am
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Technology/Outdoor Donation |
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If you would like to make a donation for our technology/outdoor fund, we would be most grateful! Your donation would go toward enhancing our live streaming of masses and ministry for our parishioners, as well as a comfortable outdoor space. Please click the button below to donate. You can always write a check and mail it to CTK.
Thank you for your support!
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For those of you who get offertory envelopes -
they are coming!
More information will be available in next week's newsletter.
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Weekly Reflection on Sunday Readings |
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20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Welcome to our weekly reflections on
the Sunday Scriptures.
“‘Woman, how great is your faith.’ . . . And her daughter was healed at that moment.”
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Thank you for your Continued Financial Support to CTK and St. Stephen Church |
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Keeping Connected
Sunday Offering
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On-Line Giving: (click button below)
Online giving now includes St. Stephen Parish.
We depend upon your contributions!
Your generosity and prayers help ensure that CTK and St. Stephen can continue running its essential ministries and pay their staff.
Thank you again for your donations as we work together to sustain our community now and in the future.
Offertory Envelopes/Paper Checks:
Can be sent directly to CTK:
195A Brandon Rd.
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Can be sent directly to St. Stephen
1101 Keaveny Ct.
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Thank you for your support!
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O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you,
Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
(Pope Francis's prayer to Mary during the Coronavirus Pandemic)
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"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference" |
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