Monday, March 1st, 2021
My Soul is Thirsting for Justice
Pope Paul VI wrote in his message of invitation to celebrate the World Day of Peace: “the invitation we give to celebrate Peace resounds as an invitation to practice Justice: ‘Justice will bring about Peace’ (See Isaiah 32:17). We repeat this now in a more incisive and dynamic formula: ‘If you want Peace, work for Justice’” (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, December 1971).
The word “Justice” like many biblical words, terms, and concepts, has been hijacked by partisan politics. This has led the people of God – the ONE BODY of Christ – to division, factions, and cliques.
Through our division, we counter-witness to Christ, our faith, and communion. We must heed Pope Paul’s words; we need to reinvest the word “justice” with the Christian meaning and power it deserves. Let us rebuild our unity and peace by working for Christian justice.
Join us in-person for our Lenten Mission reflections in the Church, or watch our live-streamed videos...
Lenten Mission Dates
(All Sessions Begin at 7:00 pm. Reservations Required)
(All Sessions Begin at 7:00 pm. Reservations Required)
• Friday, March 5th: “Biblical Roots of Justice” - SIGN UP
• Saturday, March 6th: “Christian Meaning of Justice” - SIGN UP
• Sunday, March 7th: “Doing Justice for Peace" - SIGN UP
Parish Lenten Reconciliation
95 Five Minute Appointments are Available Between
10:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturday. March 6th
10:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturday. March 6th
(Two priests will be present)
• 10:00 am - 11:00 am in the Courtyard - SIGN UP
• 12:05 pm - 1:00 pm in the Church - SIGN UP
• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm in the Church - SIGN UP
Meanwhile, my State of the Parish Address has been rescheduled and the video will be included in a special flocknote on Sunday, March 14th.
Blessings,
Blessings,
-- Fr. Kwame
Jesus Boost Podcast
This week's episodes are about MERCY
Episode 22:
A Merciful Message for the Imperfect
Cleanse the soul, refuel the spirit, and be inspired by listening to examples of true mercy in action.
Episode 23:
Episode 22:
A Merciful Message for the Imperfect
Cleanse the soul, refuel the spirit, and be inspired by listening to examples of true mercy in action.
Episode 23:
Be inspired and empowered each week! Jesus Boost invites you to connect with and tap into the infinite strength and unconditional love of God, available to everyone. There is so much beauty, joy, and power in knowing you are never alone and that Jesus is by your side on this journey. Jesus Boost is your reminder with honest, insightful commentary about modern-day situations, supported by scripture and words of wisdom from renowned leaders. Come away with a fresh perspective, a smile, and a wonderful, unique spiritual lift to help you greet life with renewed hope and strength.
Mar
2
COME and See on ZOOM
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not going.
might be going.
Adult Faith Formation Zoom Meeting
"COME AND SEE"
We welcome all who are interested in walking with Jesus
Tuesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
This Week's Topic:
This Week's Topic:
STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH
Each meeting lasts about 40 minutes and includes a brief discussion on a topic basic to the Catholic faith. You don't have to go to one meeting to be able to go to another. The meeting format will accommodate discussion, so please bring your questions.
If you have a friend or family member who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith we invite you all to “come and see”.
To Join Zoom Meeting, Click HERE
Meeting ID: 321 832 6812
Password: Jesus2020
Meeting ID: 321 832 6812
Password: Jesus2020
We look forward to seeing you there!
For more information, contact
Daniel Goodman at gotfordtires@gmail.com.
For more information, contact
Daniel Goodman at gotfordtires@gmail.com.
All are welcome
to tune in!
to tune in!
Questions:
Janet Schott
925-373-9346
or
Cindy Kline
925-724-7636
View Our
PRESENTATION SCHEDULE
PRESENTATION SCHEDULE
Mar
4
WINGS on ZOOM
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going.
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This Week With WINGS
Guest Speaker:
Pastor John Bost
Topic:
Dreaming with Your Eyes Wide Open:
A Primer on the Dialectic of Hope
We warmly welcome the return of Pastor John Bost, whose last visit with WINGS was met with rave reviews! Pastor Bost is entering his 15th year as Lead Pastor and Head of Staff at Holy Cross Lutheran Church here in Livermore. Under his leadership, Holy Cross has become a top 100 congregation in giving to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s World Hunger program. The Church is in the top 10% of ELCA congregations in the country in giving beyond its four walls, and has invested over half a million dollars in local and international partnerships.
Since 2013, Pastor Bost has served as President of the Livermore Homeless Refuge. He is particularly excited about his current role with the City of Livermore as an Advisory Member to the Vineyard 2.0 Project. This project involves the purchase and development of a former church site to build a 23-unit permanent-supportive housing complex with a full complement of wrap-around services. When completed this project will serve as Livermore’s flagship facility for what is possible in finding meaningful solutions to Livermore’s growing homeless population.
With the pandemic, Pastor Bost has turned to more technology-driven solutions, and has assumed two new roles as Audio-Visual Storyteller and Specialist for the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and for Kelly Bowers, Superintendent of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District.
Pastor Bost holds degrees in Social Work with a minor in Sociology from Appalachian State University, Boone, NC; and a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH. He considers himself the luckiest person in the world to be married to Shawnda Bost, Open Hearts Volunteer Coordinator, and current manager of the Alameda County Fair C-POD Emergency Food Program. They have three amazing kids, a dog, and three cats.
Join Our Zoom Meeting at 9:45 am:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85301008246?pwd=OTNNV2JWS1NlVTFKYTNyc0l6NlRZQT09
Meeting ID: 853 0100 8246
Passcode: 743541
Dial by phone
+1 408 638 0968
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85301008246?pwd=OTNNV2JWS1NlVTFKYTNyc0l6NlRZQT09
Meeting ID: 853 0100 8246
Passcode: 743541
Dial by phone
+1 408 638 0968
Mar
4
Thursday Evening Adult Bible Study on Zoom
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going.
not going.
might be going.
Fr. Kwame's Adult Bible Study Program
Thursday Evening at 7:00 pm on Zoom
Topic:
The Sermon of Jesus (continued)
(A link to the handout will be included in Thursday's flocknote.)
Join the Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82965830019?pwd=TTlIR1RocUpPWXYvZDRQK01IZFRadz09
Meeting ID: 829 6583 0019
Passcode: 8gdaUq
Or Dial by Phone:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 829 6583 0019
Passcode: 398081
Watch Videos of Fr. Kwame's Previous
Adult Bible Study Sessions
Adult Bible Study Sessions
On Saturday at 10:00 am (or at any later time), you may finally watch the long-awaited Memorial Mass for Karen Adams...
Mar
8
Men of Faith on Zoom
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going.
not going.
might be going.
Attention Men!
The Men of Faith group will hold their monthly Zoom meeting next Monday, March 8th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Guest Speaker will be Father Jim Sullivan, who many of you may remember from his time as a deacon at St. Charles or when he presented the Parish Mission a few years ago. On Monday, Fr. Jim's topic will be “How to Apply the Bible in Daily Life.”
We encourage each of you to make every effort to be part of this great evening. Beforehand, you can:
1.) Read Father Jim's bio HERE
Here is the entire Zoom URL:
(https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89990059062?pwd=cnMycGozWDM1Q1ZXZkk5N3pQekx3Zz09)
For More Information, Please Contact:
Steve Campbell steveplants@gmail.com, or:
Jim Lucas gojimlucas@gmail.com
Mar
8
Monday Evening - WALKING WITH PURPOSE on Zoom
Are you going?
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going.
not going.
might be going.
Walking with Purpose
Bible Study Program
Opening Your Heart
by Lisa Brenninkmeyer
Questions? Contact:
Angela Layton
602-799-6648
wwpstcharleslivermore@gmail.com
Interfaith Interconnect
Religion Chat - All Are Welcome!
Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 5:00–6:15 p.m. on Zoom
Topic:
How does your community provide
for those who come in need of forgiveness?
How does your community provide
for those who come in need of forgiveness?
Speakers:
Jim Ghilardi, Catholic, and Parima Shah, Jain.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84549376829
The meeting room opens at 4:45 pm, and the Program begins at 5:00 pm. After the presentations, there will be time for questions, followed by optional participation in break-out groups.
Interfaith Interconnect comprises over twenty Tri-Valley congregations, including St. Charles. Its mission is, “To enrich, inform and educate ourselves and others about the great diversity of faiths and cultures in our valley.”
The Book of Proverbs, from the Old Testament, contains poetry whose primary purpose is to teach wisdom. It is directed to the young and inexperienced, but also to those who desire advanced training in wisdom. The Proverbs covers a wide field of human and divine activities. In verse 1:5 we read: A wise man will hear them and advance in learning; an intelligent will gain sound guidance (NAB).
From Benson Commentary this verse is translated as; A wise man will hear — Is not self-conceited, but willing to learn from others, and, therefore, will attend to the following instructions; and will increase learning — Thereby he will gain this great benefit, he will increase in knowledge and wisdom. Listening is learning and increasing knowledge.
The Gospel of Mark this week presents us with the Transfiguration of Jesus; yet with the dramatic, the “visual” was that day, the heart of the story seems to be not what they saw, but what they heard; “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” God our Father invites us to view Jesus like he does — as the beloved Son with whom he is well pleased, and as the voice who is worth hearing.
While the three apostles were almost filled with awe, wonder, and confusion God didn’t want them to remain all caught up in that. Rather, he wanted to “ground” them, make sure that they realized that the most important thing would be what Jesus said and taught and did. Jesus would have something important to say to them, ask of them, expect of them. And he has important things to say to us too.
As it is done by millions of people daily; reflecting on examining Jesus’s life, we see that Jesus was a social justice hero. The gold standard on how we show respond to our brothers and sisters. Listening to Jesus, we gain knowledge and wisdom about how God wants us to treat others. Fulfilling the greatest commandment, “to love God and your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus opens his public ministry by saying: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he anointed me to bring glad tiding to the poor. He sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free. Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing (NAB).” Jesus is giving us his mission statement, given to him by his Father. And as a loving and obedient son, Jesus came to do the will of his father.
Referring back to the Proverb’s verse; when someone of knowledge and wisdom speaks – someone who knows what he or she is talking about – we’d do well to listen. And, if that’s the case, can you think of anyone who commands greater respect, greater credibility, greater authority than Jesus?
When Jesus speaks to us, we should listen to him. We should take his teachings and place his words into our hearts; employing them in such a way as to continue his mission. As we do, we will have a fuller knowledge of him enabling us to become more like him in the arena of justice. We will be transformed into his likeness so that when others see us, they’ll see a reflection of Jesus and be drawn closer to his grace and love.
In paraphrasing Father Foley; The words Jesus gives us are a gift, but we must give ourselves back to him as a self-sacrificing gift. Having received the gift of Christ, we are compelled to go into our world and give ourselves.
If your soul is thirsty for justice – listen to Jesus.
- Deacon Dave
In addition to Deacon Dave's homily, yesterday's Second Sunday of Lent Mass included the Rite of Election for Christopher Keck, Jack Loui, Jameson Loui, Grace Thomas, and Conor Thomas. Also included was the introduction of our candidates preparing to complete their initiation into the church: Lynn Bousliman, Rosemary Rerich, Susie Dial, and Jolie Bourque. Be sure to watch for them...
St. Charles Social Concerns Committee
Lenten Collections - February 17 through April 1, 2021
One of the many important activities of the St. Charles Social Concerns Committee (SCC) is to sponsor the Lenten Collection starting on Ash Wednesday and continuing through Holy Thursday. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the collections in 2021will be monetary only. Parishioners have the opportunity to donate much-needed funding to the organizations supported by the SCC. 100% of your donation will support these agencies and directly benefit people most in need.
Receiving your support in 2021 through the Lenten Collection are:
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
- Livermore Homeless Refuge
- Interfaith Sharing Food Pantry
- Oakland Catholic Worker
- Tri-Valley Haven Food Pantry
- Open Heart Kitchen
- Elizabeth House
Monetary donations in the form of check or on-line donation can be made by mailing your donation to:
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
1315 Lomitas Ave, Livermore, CA 94550,
or on-line at www.stcharleslivermore.org/give.
Please note: Checks payable to St. Charles designated “Lenten Collection” will be divided equally among the seven charities. If you wish to have your check go to a specific organization, please write the name of the organization in the memo line of your check. We cannot accept checks payable directly to the agencies.
If you have any questions, please call:
Linda Nidever-Galles
Lenten Collection Coordinator
(925) 443-4943
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
