Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Parish Newsletter
June 23, 2021
Staying Connected
A Letter from our Pastor ~ Fr. Paulson
Dear Friends,
 
We are going to celebrate the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help tomorrow, Thursday at the 6.00pm Mass. The mass will be preceded by a Biblical Rosary starting at 5.30pm. 
 
When the pandemic began, we priests started our devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, praying for her intercession every day, dedicating our parish communities of CTK and St. Stephen to her maternal intercession, asking for protection from Covid 19 and other hardships that come from this pandemic. 
 
I am happy to report that our community has been blessed during this time. I have done many funerals for folks who died from Covid 19, but I am not aware of anyone from CTK or St. Stephen community who contracted the disease and died. Some of our parishioners with underlying medical conditions who contracted the disease had a very mild version of the disease. I would like to invite you to join us in our festivities tomorrow in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. “There is no one, however wicked, whom Mary does not save by her intercession when she wishes. He who has recourse to Mary shall be saved.” - St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori 
 
I would like to turn our attention to another dis-ease plaguing our church at this time - disunity and polarization. 
 
Over the past many days, I have received letters, emails and text messages that expressed anger, disagreement and in some cases, wanting nothing more to do with the bishops or even the church over the current issues regarding communion to persons perceived at odds with our doctrines. 
 
Someone called the office wanting to know how our own bishop has voted with regard to denying communion to people in public office. Personally, it is the most difficult time of my own personal calling as a priest, as I see myself more and more confronting ideologies and issues that emerge from peoples’ political beliefs rather than the teachings and example of the historical Jesus, who lived in our midst and exhibited nothing but compassion. I am always encouraged and shaped by the Jesus of the Gospels who chose to eat more with sinners than with saints. His own actions demonstrated that inclusion was one of the most efficacious vehicles of conversion and unity. 
 
I have tried always to go back into the Upper Room for my own understanding of the Eucharist, as instituted by Jesus. The Upper Room reminds us of service, fraternity, sharing, harmony, peace, promise, but also of pettiness, curiosity, and betrayal. 
 
The Upper Room represents the most beautiful part of being a Christian and, especially, of being a priest: becoming a friend of the Lord Jesus. Pope Francis would describe the Upper Room in these terms, “How much love and goodness has flowed from the Upper Room! How much charity has gone forth from here, like a river from its source, beginning as a stream and then expanding and becoming a great torrent?” 
 
Jesus would wash the feet of the disciples including the one who was about to betray him. And then he would take a morsel of bread, one that He has declared as His own body, and dip it in his own cup filled with wine, the one He had declared His own blood and give it to Judas. 
 
It was the ultimate act of affection without judgment. Again and again, Jesus would appeal to Judas’ dark heart, and again and again, Judas remained unmoved. 
 
The fact is that our Lord and Savior would not deny Judas His own body and blood. That is truly love. Eucharist is all about love. I hope and pray that our bishops will come to the right decision about the Eucharist without negating love and causing division. 
 
I want to be very clear that I absolutely support life from conception to natural death. I believe that abortion is intrinsically evil. I also believe that declaring the abortion issue as a pre-eminent issue does not condone other evils in our society or for that matter even what we consider insignificant. To be a Christian means to be holy, and nothing is outside the purview of perfection. 
 
Remember that love transcends all. I am hoping that our church will send a consistent message of holiness or perfection.
 
More than 73% of the U.S. bishops casting ballots at a virtual conference this week supported tasking the USCCB's doctrine committee to draft language on maintaining consistency with the Eucharist. A section of the document is expected to include a specific admonition to Catholic politicians and other public figures who disobey church teaching on abortion and other core doctrinal issues. 
 
Approval of a final document would need the support of two-thirds of bishops. Whatever the outcome of the final decision, it would still be up to the individual bishop to decide how to implement it in his own diocese. Right now, all we have is what we read and hear from the media. I would ask you to be patient and wait for the document before making any personal decision.
 
Catholics, in general, are divided on party lines over whether President Biden should receive communion: 55% of Catholic Republicans think he should be denied communion, and 87% of Catholic Democrats think he should be able to receive communion, according to Pew Research. 
 
Let us continue our fervent prayers for our bishops in the meanwhile, and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit during these months leading up to November. Remember, our faith is a person, Jesus Christ and His Word and His example. 
 
Blessings,
Fr. Paulson
Feast of our Mother of Perpetual Help
Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Join us Thursday, June 24th at 6pm for mass in the church.
Special Biblical Rosary begins at 5:30pm.

Rosary and Mass will be livestreamed.
Mass Changes
This Sunday, June 27th
will be the last
9am mass outdoors
&
the last 12pm Spanish mass.

Effective July 4th:
All masses will be indoors and the
12pm mass will be in English.

See Mass Schedule below for all mass times.
Faith Formation News
Grades 1-8 - Pre-Register for Classes
Religious Education is looking for Teachers!

The most important task facing parents is passing on the faith to their children. Christ the King Religious Education is your ally and partner in achieving this goal. We are looking forward to resuming in person classes for children in grades 1 through 8, starting in September, and are in need of catechists for all grade levels. Read More
Weekly Church Bulletin
(Click Image)
CTK School News
School Introduces
'CTK Ray' Newsletter

In early June Christ the King Catholic School unveiled the CTK Ray, a biannual magazine designed for school families, friends, alumni, prospective students, parishioners, and neighbors. The CTK Ray features a collection of news articles, reflections by students, teachers, and parents, a message from the principal, and an update on CTK alumni. Future issues will also announce upcoming events and activities. Find the new publication online by clicking here.
Over the Weekend
Congratulations to our teens who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday. Please keep them in your prayers as they take this next step in their journey of faith.
Through the Sacrament of Baptism we welcomed
these precious children on Saturday to our
Christ the King and St. Stephen Family. Congratulations!
Parents: Colleen & TJ
Children:  Pierina Victoria & 
Teresa Federica 
Parents: Doris & Richard
Baby: Edrick

Parents: Shelbie & Joeseph
Baby: Jeric Ronald

News From our Diocese
Religious Freedom Week
Religious Freedom Week, June 22-29

Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all. Beginning June 22, the feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, the USCCB invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and act to promote religious freedom. For prayer resources click here
Weekly Reflections on Sunday Readings
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Welcome to our weekly reflections on
the Sunday Scriptures.

When Jesus arrived at Jairus’s home, he did not get caught up in the mourners’ wailing. Rather, he declares the child alive but asleep (v. 39). The professionals mock him. After all, they knew death when they saw it. Jesus sends the noisy crowd outside and takes with him the girl’s father and mother, who believe in his power. 
Mass Schedule
Weekday Mass
9am - Monday - Friday Indoors/Church
(9am Masses will be livestreamed)
6pm - Thursdays - Indoors/Church

Weekend Masses:
Saturday
9am - Indoors/Church
4pm - Indoors

Sunday
7:30am - Indoors/Church
9am - Outdoors (for this week only we will be outside)
10:30am - Indoors (New)
12 noon (Spanish) - Indoors/Church (last week for the Spanish Mass)
4pm - Indoors/Church
Saturday 4pm and Sunday 10:30am Mass will now be livestreamed.
Mass Reminders
If you wish to stay in your car, you can tune into FM 106.7
Or watch from your smart phone/tablet:
Wifi ID: CTK Streaming - Password: outdoor1
Song Sheet for Mass - June 26/27 Here
Spanish Mass Worship Aide/Guía de Adoración Here
Readings for Sunday Mass Here
Links to our services (live or archived) can be found at ctkph.org
or clicking the images below
Ongoing Services:
Drive-Thru Communion, Mass, Holy Rosary, Sacrament of Reconciliation
Drive-Thru
Holy Communion

Every Sunday
11:30am to 12 noon
In front of the church
Sacrament of Reconciliation

Private Confessions will continue every Saturday from
3pm to 3:30pm

Please meet in front of the church
Thursdays, 6pm - Indoor Mass
Honoring Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Rosary begins at 5:30pm
this week
Worship Aide Here
5:40pm - Holy Rosary
Livestreamed on Facebook

Monday through Friday
St. Stephen Church - Masses
St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct.
Walnut Creek 94597

Saturday - Mass 5pm - Indoors/Church
Sunday - Mass at 9:30am - Indoors/Church
Worship Aide: Here

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.
Thank You for Your Continued Financial Support to CTK and St. Stephen Church
On-Line Giving: (click button below)
We depend upon your contributions!
Offertory Envelopes and
Paper Checks
Can be sent directly to:
Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Rd.
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Offertory Envelopes and
Paper Checks
Can be sent directly to:
St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct.
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Bishop Barber and the Racial Justice Task Force Share Junteenth Prayer
From Saturday, June 19th
Almighty and Ever-Faithful God,
 
You, whose Word of Liberty was proclaimed by Moses
to free the Israelites from Egyptian enslavement
send that same Word, heralded on Juneteenth in a proclamation of emancipation,
to our African American brothers and sisters
inhumanly bound in American enslavement.
 
Though our Freedom Journey is far from ended
and the Freedom Proclamation continues to unfold,
we give you thanks and praise for seeing us to this point on our mighty long way.

"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference"