April 26th, 2021
“I Know Mine and Mine Know Me”
(John 10:14)
Back in the days when I was about to be enrolled in high school, I found myself and my mom standing outside the headmaster’s office, among other candidates and their parents. Each waited to be called inside for enrollment.
The headmaster came out repeatedly and tapped people he knew into his office. I saw a father telling his worried son, “Son, don’t worry - he will call us soon… I know him.” But as the headmaster continued coming out, calling others and by-passing them, it dawned on the son to ask his father: “Dad, you say you know him, but does he know you?”
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” It is a time to reflect, learn and practice something new about the leadership quality of our risen savior Jesus Christ. Note that the word shepherd applies broadly to everyone who is baptized – a Christian, whose lifestyle becomes an example to others. Too often we associate the word “shepherd” with bishops and priests because they are officially our pastors. However, the Christian life is automatically a leadership life, and Christian life has an influence on life in the world.
In the gospel reading, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, I know mine and mine know me.” This indicates the new thing we must learn about Christian leadership: A leader is not self-made but is a relationship to those who are led. And, to be successful, our Christian leadership must be recognizable by those we claim to be leading.
A Christian leader’s life must be one that is spent – laid down as Christ did – for those he or she leads and must be able to attest, by their own life - the sacrifice of their leader. In short, we cannot call ourselves leaders in isolation from those we claim to lead, as leadership is not made in a vacuum! We can claim we are leaders and know those we lead, but this would be a fantasy if those we lead do not recognize or know us.
After the death and resurrection of Christ, the followers of Christ grew steadily in spite of persecution only because their sacrificial lifestyle was understood, acknowledged, and welcomed by many people. People recognized the refugee followers for the first time as “Christians” in Antioch, Syria. In our first reading, Peter and companions asked their listeners to recognize the “good deed” done to a “cripple” in the name of Christ (the cornerstone) as a reason for their conversion. And so, for the world to know us it must see Christ within us. To be leaders, we must show Christ in our lifestyle. Concretely, what exactly does this mean for us?
When we were baptized, we were anointed with the oil called “Sacred Chrism”. Additionally, we were pronounced priests and priestesses, prophets and prophetesses, kings and queens. This is because Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is all of these. Therefore, each of us has the responsibility to lead exemplary lifestyles for other people to recognize and follow and to attest to our leadership.
Our country is entering a moment of recovery from the pandemics of disease, injustice, divisive politics, religious confusion, and the like. Christian leadership is needed today more than ever. Christians must bring the sacrificial love of Christ into every fabric of our lives.
Like Jesus, let us embrace our leadership responsibilities in a way that those we lead may recognize and follow. With Jesus, let us say “I know mine and mine know me.” Happy Good Shepherd Sunday!
Fr. Kwame
Jesus Boost Podcast
This week's episodes are about MERCY
Episode 31
Episode 31
Apr
27
Tuesday Evening COME AND SEE on Zoom
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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
29
Thursday Morning WINGS on Zoom
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THURSDAY, April 29, 2021 @ 9:45AM
Presenter:
Fr. George Williams, SJ,
who will share his experience as
Chaplain at San Quentin
who will share his experience as
Chaplain at San Quentin
Join Zoom Our Meeting at 9:45 AM:
Meeting ID: 883 1803 3259
Passcode: 564566
Dial by Phone
+1 669 900 6833
Father Williams was born in New Haven, Ct. After graduation from Syracuse University in 1979 with a dual degree in Political Science and communications, he served five years as an Air Force Officer in Alaska, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.
He left the Air Force in 1984 and joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Nome, AK working as the rock show DJ and news editor for KNOM, a Jesuit-founded radio station serving the people of Western Alaska. In 1987 he returned to Boston and entered the Society of Jesus.
Father Williams' call to work in prison ministry began in 1993 as the Catholic Chaplain at the Suffolk County Jail. He earned an MSW and an M. Div. from Boston College and a master’s degree in Spiritual Direction from the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge. He was ordained as a priest in 2004.
While in theology studies, he worked as a counselor at the Bridge House in Framingham, MA, a faith-based halfway house for ex-prisoners. Following ordination, he worked as the Catholic Chaplain at MCI-Concord. He began a doctoral program in Criminology at Northeastern University in 2007. He moved to the Bay Area in 2010 to be the Catholic Chaplain at San Quentin Prison.
While working at San Quentin, Father Williams researched, wrote and de- fended his doctoral thesis, “Resisting Burnout: Correctional Staff Spirituality and Resilience,” earning his Ph. D in April 2017.
He is a founding member of the Catholic Prison Ministry Coalition, established in 2018.
Fr. Williams retired from the California Department of Corrections last summer to begin his new assignment as Pastor of St. Agnes Jesuit Parish in San Francisco.
Apr
29
Thursday Evening ADULT BIBLE STUDY on ZOOM
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Fr. Kwame's Adult Bible Study Program
Topic:
THE GOSPELS pt. 8
A handout will be included in Thursday's flocknote.
Join Our Zoom Session at 7:00 pm:
Join Our Zoom Session at 7:00 pm:
Meeting ID: 898 6090 0040
Passcode: 837405
Or Dial by Phone:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 898 6090 0040
Passcode: 837405
You May View VIDEOS of Previous
Adult Bible Study Sessions
Adult Bible Study Sessions
May
3
Monday Evening WALKING WITH PURPOSE on ZOOM
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Walking with Purpose
Bible Study Program
Opening Your Heart
by Lisa Brenninkmeyer
1.) Order Your Book HERE
Questions? Contact:
Angela Layton
602-799-6648
wwpstcharleslivermore@gmail.com
May
4
Tuesday Evening CYBERSECURITY Training Session on ZOOM
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Cybersecurity Training Session
Presented by:
Erwin Chiong
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Avolve Software Corporation
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Avolve Software Corporation
Join Our Zoom Session at 7:00 pm:
https://zoom.us/j/94746821111?pwd=SHFONGZjZE44WGtoWExYYWo1WXNsdz09&from=addon
Meeting ID: 947 4682 1111
Passcode: 859143
One tap mobile: +16699006833,,94746821111#
May
10
Monday Evening MEN of FAITH in the COURTYARD!
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Attention all men of St Charles:
Mark your calendar for Monday, May 10, 2021, at 6:30 pm
to attend the Men of Faiths return to in-person meetings.
We will meet in the courtyard of Keeley Center, and a dinner of Pizza and Sodas will be served. Are you not yet comfortable with public gatherings? If so, do not worry we will also broadcast the material on Zoom starting at 7:00 pm.
Our featured speaker will be Sgt. Steve Goard of the Livermore Police Department.
Participate in a great presentation on Policing in Livermore with some time for Q & A after the presentation.
Please RSVP Here: t.ly/mZ87 so we know how much pizza to order.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
