April 12th, 2021
Dear St. Charles Family:
Let us give thanks to Deacon Dave Cloyne, for providing us with his message for the Second Sunday of Easter! (see below)
Fr. Kwame
Is Thomas Our Twin?
We too often forget that faith is a matter of questioning and struggle before it becomes one of certitude and peace. You have to doubt and reject everything else in order to believe firmly in Christ, and after you have begun to believe, your faith itself must be tested and purified.—
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton
Every year on this Sunday, the Octave of Easter; we hear the story of Thomas the one who struggled to believe what his friends were telling him. We must always remember as Thomas look at the Lord for only a moment, shouted “My Lord and my God!” Twenty centuries later, it remains the best and truest response.
Thomas’s story forces us to consider; questions regarding faith and belief and doubt and trust and certainty. Difficult questions of what it means to be a person struggling to understand what it means to live a life for, with, and in God.
Should we be people who need no evidence to believe? Or “proved” to us beyond a shadow of a doubt?
To be honest we all have questions and doubts. Some see that their doubts as evidence that they don’t believe. Sometimes the questions or doubts we have from not knowing; the lack of complete comprehension or understanding; keep’s us from being able to step out in faith. The challenge for us is to somehow be ok in that middle ground, in the in-between, in that place where neither certainty nor unexamined questions have a place. Can we be a people who:
Believe in God and wonder who God is at the same time?
Follow Jesus and still wonder if our picture of him is even close to being complete? Accept God’s commandments, yet still, wrestle with tough moral issues?
Trust that Jesus is the Way, while still respecting and being understanding of those of other faiths (or no faith)?
Continuing with Thomas Merton: Christianity is not merely a set of foregone conclusions. A life of faith is full of these sorts of “disconnects”; apparent paradoxes that we are asked to embrace and live out. Faith is really not about being completely certain. Nor is it about following blindly without using the minds that God gave us. Rather, it’s about stepping out into the unknown; without having every answer; without having everything “figured out” and without really “knowing” the mind of God. Yet striving to show the world our love for him. While seeking his Devine Mercy, wisdom, understanding every phase of our lives.
It’s believing and wanting reasons to believe at the same time.
We are all like our twin Thomas: who probably wanted desperately to believe his friends, yet needed a little reassurance, a little evidence, a little understanding, a little light to illuminate Jesus Resurrection.
Deacon Dave
Apr
13
Come and See on Zoom
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
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
Tuesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
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.
Apr
14
RELIGION CHAT - Interfaith Interconnect
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Please Join Us on Zoom
Interfaith Interconnect Religion Chat!
Topic:
How does your community provide for
those who come in need of forgiveness?
those who come in need of forgiveness?
The meeting room opens at 4:45 p.m., and
the program begins at 5:00.
the program begins at 5:00.
Speakers:
Rev. Ellie Kilpatrick,
Unitarian Universalist Church, Livermore
and
Bishop Roger Persson,
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Rev. Ellie Kilpatrick,
Unitarian Universalist Church, Livermore
and
Bishop Roger Persson,
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
After the presentations, there will be time for questions, followed by optional participation in break-out groups. All are welcome.
A recording of last month’s program on this topic is available on II Facebook: https://fb.watch/4mnGZuQcPu/
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.”
Contact Marcia at 925-321-0730
Apr
15
WINGS on Zoom
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
THURSDAY, April 15, 2021 @ 9:45AM
Presenter:
Sr. Joann Heinritz
Topic:
In These Chaotic Times,
“Lord, Teach Us to Pray!”
“Lord, Teach Us to Pray!”
Join Zoom Our Meeting at 9:45 am:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87094358288?pwd=ZWJqWC9jYzF3R09JVUNGWEFmMHdOQT09
Meeting ID: 870 9435 8288
Passcode: 552749
Dial by Phone:
+1 408 638 0968
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87094358288?pwd=ZWJqWC9jYzF3R09JVUNGWEFmMHdOQT09
Meeting ID: 870 9435 8288
Passcode: 552749
Dial by Phone:
+1 408 638 0968
Joann Heinritz is entering her 57th year as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet of the Los Angeles Province. She ministers in the sabbatical program at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley as a spiritual director, retreat director, and instructor. She also serves in the formation program of her Congregation as Director of Sisters in Temporary Profession.
Sister Joann holds Masters degrees in Theology from Collegeville MN, and in Spirituality from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, and has been certified as a Massage Practitioner at the Care Through Touch Institute, all of which she incorporates in her ministry of spiritual direction, retreats and teaching a passion for embodied spirituality and holistic well-being. She has given retreats both nationally and internationally, empowering individuals and groups to explore ways to become whole and holy.
Monthly Grief Support Group
Saturday, April 17, 2021
10:00 AM -11:30 AM on Zoom
This is an opportunity for anyone who has lost a loved one, to share their experience with others in a safe place. Expressing your feelings help to process what you are going through. Please join us.
If you have not attended before, need more information, or the Zoom link, please contact Claire La Scola at clairelascola@gmail.com or call 447-9800 to register. Claire is a retired nurse and psychotherapist.
Jesus Boost Podcast
This week's episodes are about MERCY
Episode 29:
Episode 29:
Oh, Happy Day! Jesus washed our sins away! Rejoice with me and celebrate our Savior
who opened the gates of heaven!
This enthusiastic episode shares
why holy week is called
The Passion of Christ, why our
The Passion of Christ, why our
hearts should sing with
praise and thanks, and steps
to live more joyfully
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.
4th Friday Bible Sharing (April 23rd) - Join us on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85387633181?pwd=T1NyUDlweXRWNnBaTkRQNGhwY0d4QT09
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85387633181?pwd=T1NyUDlweXRWNnBaTkRQNGhwY0d4QT09
Meeting ID: 853 8763 3181
Passcode: 763341
Coming to Mass: Welcome Home!
We are excited to see so many people coming back to church in the wake of things opening back up. In light of the increased numbers and the still largely unvaccinated population of younger people in our parish, I would like to take a moment to review some ways St. Charles is working to help keep you safe:
• Contact Tracing: We are still requesting everyone to sign-up for Mass 24 hours prior to a celebration for the purposes of contact tracing.
• Temperatures: In the Orange Tier of re-opening, we are not taking temperatures at the door, but wish to remind you that if you are experiencing ANY symptoms to please STAY HOME.
•. Safe Seating: We have placed tape markers on the wooden pews in the church. These taped areas indicate where to be seated. If you see the tape, you may sit there. If you see a small line of tape in the middle of a pew, that is a seating area for one or two people only. If you see three lines of tape, please avoid that area, only if we are streaming a video. Those places are perfectly fine for the 5 pm and 11:30 am Masses, but during Daily Mass or 9:30, your head might be a bit more widely broadcast than you like.
•. Exiting the Church: After Mass has been dismissed, we will exit out the two south doors of the church to prevent gathering in the church for socializing and to keep the flow of the people going forward.
•. Smaller Numbers: While our Worship Space is quite large, for the purposes of safe social distancing given our layout, we are open to a bit less than 50% capacity. As we open more space for prayer in the days to come, we will do so with safety in mind always first.
•. Collection: We are not passing the collection baskets, but we will continue to have baskets on the altar and at the font for those who wish to make their donations in person. We always encourage Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT), but if you prefer a physical rather than digital offering, you may deposit in the baskets before and after the Mass, during walk-through distribution, or during the Preparation of the Gifts.
•. Separate materials: At this time no minister shares materials to avoid cross-contamination. Lectors, musicians, priests, and even the Deacons have their own binders and copies of things to prevent cross-contamination and each resource is sanitized and wiped down before the next group of ministers comes through. This is why we are still not producing Worship Aids.
•. Indoor Choir: Our outdoor choir members have moved inside, but we have a partition panel between the assembly and the choir, multiple air purifiers in the music area, and all singers are still required to wear masks when inside the building.
•. Walk-through Communion Distribution: We will continue to have a walk-through Communion distribution at this time. We know many of our parishioners are still awaiting vaccines, unable to receive the vaccine for medical reasons, and are aware many of our children are immune-compromised and have no suitable vaccine available to them. Until we are certain we can safely serve the most vulnerable in our parish, we will continue this option.
- Sanitation Efforts: The church is sanitized between services for the safety of our parishioners.
We are investigating other ways to serve our community in the days to come and will let you know as changes are occurring. Furthermore, we ask that you treat EVERYONE as a potential contaminant to your environment. Wear masks over your chin and nose, keep a bubble, and do not assume others are comfortable with being touched or penned in.
Until we worship without restrictions: we give praise to our God for the changes that have brought us this far, and we acknowledge the work still to do to bring us fully out of the grave.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
