Christ the King - St. Stephen Parish



www.ctkph.org

www.saintstephenparish.org

Parish Newsletter

"Staying Connected"

May 17, 2023

Dear Friends,


We have all probably managed the care of someone close to us who is dying. You may wonder how you can comfort the person, prevent suffering, and provide the best quality of life possible in their remaining time. If the person can no longer communicate, you may be asked to make difficult decisions about their care and comfort. This can be overwhelming for family members, especially if they have not had a chance to discuss the person’s wishes ahead of time or if multiple family members are involved and do not agree.

 

I would like to invite you to a session on End-of-Life Decisions

on Tuesday, May 30th at 7:00pm at St. Stephen Parish Hall.

The session will involve Catholic teaching, assistance with preparing an Advanced Medical Directive as well as planning one’s Catholic funeral.

There is a long tradition in Catholic moral theology that is as relevant today as when it was developed over 500 years ago. It speaks of “reasonable” care in terms of the benefits of such treatments being proportionate to the burdens that the treatments impose. The tradition does not prescribe a hard-and-fast rule regarding specific medical procedures but rather urges prudent decisions regarding the benefits and burdens of medical treatments for the patient. In doing so, the Catholic tradition offers a middle ground between two extremes, on the one hand intending the death of a patient by euthanasia or assisted suicide, and on the other hand continuing useless or excessively burdensome treatments, often against the patient’s wishes.

 

Modern medical technology has given us wonderful opportunities to bring about cures, slow the process of disease, and alleviate symptoms. This same technology, however, can at times create hard decisions for patients and their families about continuing its use when treatment becomes burdensome to the patient without providing benefit. Patients and their families may fear an impersonal prolonging of the dying process in an intensive care unit, surrounded by tubes, wires, and machines. At the same time, they may also fear that refusing such treatment will make them seem to be “hopeless” cases, that others will not respond to their needs and that they will be abandoned. Family members may even feel that not doing everything possible is to abandon their loved one, even though this is not the case. Such competing concerns about continuing or refusing treatment complicate end-of-life decisions, making them seem almost impossible to make.

 

Catholics believe that human life is a gift from God, a sacred gift that no one may dispose of at will. All persons, regardless of their medical condition, possess inherent dignity and are worthy of respect, protection, and care. Respect for human dignity and human life demands that we will take reasonable care of our lives. Such respect, however, does not mean that we must do everything possible to prolong physical life, especially when death is inevitable or when treatments would be too burdensome for the patient.

 

Fr. Brian Timoney and I worked with Dr. Terry Heywood in preparing our Advanced Medical Directive forms and uploading them on our doctor’s website. We have also notified people who need to take care of us when decisions have to be made. This is important whether you are young or old, because we do not know how life will unfold before us. More than anything else, pray for a Happy Death. Growing up in a Salesian house, it was an important part of my spirituality. Don Bosco strongly believed that a person consecrated to God should be prepared for the time when s/he meets the divine bridegroom for the eternal wedding feast.

 

Fr. Paulson

Town Hall Meeting

Helping the Poor in Our Community:

A Town Hall Meeting

Tuesday, May 23, 6:30pm

CTK’s Parish Hall

Please register below


Please join Christ the King - St. Stephen Parish community for a town hall meeting to discuss ways in which our community can support people in need, following the closure of our on-campus food pantry. 

 

Join us for a presentation by the St. Vincent de Paul staff regarding the needs of our community, and engage in a robust brainstorming session to explore ways in which we can answer the call to serve the poor. 

 

This meeting will serve as a listening session for the Parish’s Pastoral Council and the St. Vincent de Paul staff. We want to hear all of your ideas – big and small – about how we can support our brothers and sisters in need. 

 

All are welcome. For meeting logistics and facilitation, we need to know how many people plan to participate. Please register if you plan to attend here.

This meeting will be held in-person only; there will not be a virtual/Zoom option. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact CTK’s office at 925-682-2486.

Upcoming Adult Faith Formation


The International Rosary that was scheduled for

Thursday, May 25th is cancelled.


We will try and reschedule it for the fall.

Thank you for your understanding.

 

End of Life Decisions Teaching

Tuesday, May 30th at 7:00pm

New Location: St. Stephen Parish Hall


Everyone involved in a patient’s care should understand how a person’s history and cultural and religious background may influence expectations, needs, and choices at the end of life. The natural law and the Fifth Commandment require that all ordinary means be used to preserve life, such as food, water, exercise, and medical care.


The following will be addressed at this meeting:

  • Catholic Teaching on End-of-Life decisions – Fr. Paulson
  • Preparing an Advanced Medical Directive with Forms supplied – Dr. Terry Heywood
  • Preparing for one’s funeral – Forms supplied – Sr. Dominic
  • How to go about taking care of your loved one, after he/she dies – Donna Bradshaw

“For Such a Time as This"

Monday, June 26th, at 7pm

CTK Parish Hall

Speaker: Kathy Roberts

 

“Who knows that you have been called…

for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)


This verse resonates from ancient days into our own time. There have always been challenging “times,” and it helps to know that the Bible gives us both insight and practical advice as we face them.


Come for an evening of sharing some ways that we

can count on God’s Word to give us hope in trying times!

Over The Weekend

On our first weekend (of two) celebrating First Eucharist, we want to congratulate our First Communicants who celebrated their First Holy Communion on Saturday. We are grateful to Deacon John Ashmore, Julie Ashmore, Rosa Panelli, and the catechists who together worked to prepare them for this very special day on their journey of faith.

Congratulations to our newly baptized.

Welcome to the Christ the King - St. Stephen Family!

Parents: Samantha & Joseph

Baby: Mora Ann

May crowning at St. Stephen Church on Sunday.

School News

Parish Festival

Friday, June 2nd - 5pm to 9pm

and Saturday, June 3rd - 2pm to 9pm

 

Our theme will be "Let's Rock n' Roll CTK"

and it is sure to be a 'Rockin' good time! 


Games, Food, Entertainment, Family Fun!

Raising money for our ministries and our school!


CTKFestival.org

Visit our Facebook Page at Christ the King Festival

for our entertainment line-up and food vendors!

 

Donations needed:

Starbooks: books in good condition (no textbooks), CDs, and DVDs (no VHS) can be placed in the designated bin in front of the school by May 31st. We also need copy paper/office storage boxes with lids for book storage. Contact Suellen Noland at snnoland@hotmail.com with questions.

New: Wine: for the wine toss can be dropped off in front of Room C after weekend masses or at the school office during the week by May 30th.

Gently used, clean stuffed animals: can be placed in the designated bin in front of the school by June 2nd in the morning.

Kid- focused prizes for gift baskets: contact Madeira Fountaine at deiradeira@hotmail.com for more information.

 Baked Goods (Nut Free) for Cake Walk: Contact Jacqueline Hanley   jacchai@yahoo.com for more information.

Sponsorships: Contact Stacy York at stacyleeyork@gmail.com

 

Volunteers needed:

Starbooks: help sort books before Festival. Contact Suellen Noland at snnoland@hotmail.com to volunteer.

Game booths, ticket sales, set up, clean up: signup.com/go/rfDzScz

 

Pre-orders:

Pre-order wristbands and wine tickets at a reduced rate and game tickets and KOC’s Ball Tip Combo Meal on our website: ctkfestival.org. Pre-order discount ends May 26th. NO CASH will be accepted at Festival for wristbands or tickets. Skip the line and pre-order! Food vendors will accept cash.

Please email christthekingfestival@gmail.com with any questions.

Weekly Reflections

The Ascension of the Lord

Welcome to our weekly reflections on

the Sunday Scriptures.



We need to focus on Jesus’ final instructions before his permanent departure. Some who witnessed Jesus’ final appearance still harbored lingering doubts. 

Read More

Weekly Church Bulletin

News From Our Diocese


Thank You For Your Financial Support

Give Now

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

Or regular and/or second collections.

If you do not wish to give on-line,
you can continue to contribute using your offertory envelopes.

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

Mass Schedule CTK & St. Stephen

CTK Weekday Masses

9am Mass - Monday - Friday

(9am Masses will be livestreamed)


CTK 6pm - Thursdays

(Rosary begins at 5:40pm)

(Rosary and Mass will be livestreamed)


CTK Weekend Masses

Saturday

9am and 4pm Vigil

(Saturday 4pm Mass will be livestreamed)


CTK Sunday

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

(10:30am Mass will be livestreamed).

St. Stephen Church

1101 Keaveny Ct.

Walnut Creek 94597


Saturday - Mass at 5pm

Sunday - Mass at 9:30am


St. Stephen Daily Mass: Monday - Friday at 8am

Readings for Sunday Mass Here

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

or by clicking the Facebook or YouTube images below.

Ongoing Services

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Private Confessions every Saturday from 3pm to 3:30pm at CTK and 4:30pm at St. Stephen.


Drive-Thru Holy Communion - Every Sunday 11:30am to 12 noon, in front of the church at CTK and by request at St. Stephen.


CTK Thursday Mass - 6pm - Honoring our Mother of Perpetual Help, Rosary begins at 5:40pm, in the church. Worship Aide Here (Also livestreamed).

Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

Sunday, May 21

"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference"

“To Live and to Love in Christ”