July 19th - Monday
“Come Away by Yourselves … Rest for a While”
(Mark 6:31)
“The unexamined life is not worth living,” says the ancient sage Socrates. Life involves action and activity but before and after the action we must spend time to plan and think through and then reflect, rest and rejuvenate. Socrates’ wisdom inspired human culture to begin taking vacations. But, it is more important to note that, hundreds of years after him, Jesus makes vacating our busy lives to “rest for a while” part of the Christian lifestyle.
Jesus tells the apostles to practice something he himself very frequently practiced (Mt 14:13, 23; Mk 1:35, 6:46; Lk 4:42, 5:16). We know from these texts that he usually “stole away” to solitary places in order to pray. Jesus vacates the usual places of activity so that he can reflect on what he has already done and rethink God’s will and agenda for him going forward. This, then, is what he means the apostles should do; and one of the above texts even indicates that spending time away often to pray and reflect is a secret to the success of Jesus’ mission.
Like other priests in our diocese, I have 4 weekends and 6 Monday-Fridays in a year to vacation. Yet, I often find reasons not to spend all of this time or spend some of them in stay-cation. By so doing I often find myself in a continual active mode; and yes, I can see how that poorly reflects on my ministry, I am the first culprit of not following Jesus’ lifestyle and admonishing today.
Recently, however, generous parishioners and friends have intervened to save me from my un-Christian habit. I have received pre-paid vacation packages that my friends insist I cannot refuse. I am so grateful and speechless for the blessings that our St. Charles community shares with me.
They seem to be telling me what Jesus tells the apostles in the gospel, “come away by [yourself] to a lonely place and rest for a while.” If you think your life is good now, it can be better with stealing away for a while, because of the unreflective life – a life without retreats, a relationship without evaluation, a mission activity, and leadership without discernment and planning – is un-Christian and has no future.
When you take a vacation this summer or any other time, wherever you go, be sure to rest, have fun, rejuvenate, and rethink your life and relationship with God and your neighbor in light of Jesus’ advice.
Fr. Kwame
Congratulation to Gabriel Russell on receiving his
First Eucharist!
Saturday, June 26th
Jul
24
God, Gospel & Gather Fest - This Saturday!
Saturday from 6:00pm-8:45pm. This is a time to share your thoughts on returning to Church. What can St. Charles do to make you feel more comfortable? Take time to share with us, good music, friendship, food, and comfort in knowing we are all in this together. We will have a listening table available to confidentially share what is on your mind!
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Reconciliation Appointments
on Saturday, July 24th
between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm
You will notice new mask signage located around the parish. To comply with CDC, State of California, and County notification guidelines for mask requirements, St. Charles Borromeo will be displaying both English/Spanish signs at each entrance door of the church, hall, office, and other facilities.
We will notify you if any changes arise.
If you have any questions
please contact Holly O'Hagan
Are you finding it challenging to return to church after the pandemic?
Topic: Post COVID Struggle
Listen now as I share the joy of being in a loving relationship with our Creator, then pass it on!
This episode shares what I love about our faith, my church family, and our God.
Lisa Tolido
Jul
28
“Home, Property, and Vehicle Safety." An evening with Livermore
Police Chief Jeramy Young.
Wednesday, 7 pm-9 pm Come listen to Livermore Police Chief Young discuss safety and wellness within our community.
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Click HERE to read Police Chief Jeramy Young's bio, who will be visiting our Parish to share tips to ensure safety.
This event is being sponsored by the Living Pillar Committee of St. Charles.
Aug
6
Adoration: 3:00PM - 6:00PM Benediction: 6:00PM-6:30PM
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Aug
9
Join us in the Keeley Center Monday, 6:30-8:30 PM
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Men of Faith will hold their next monthly meeting on Monday, August 9th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Father Leo Edgerly, Pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Piedmont, CA since 1999, has served the Diocese of Oakland in several important roles since he was ordained in 1984.
Please join us for his talk, God Writes Straight with Crooked Lines, and enjoy some particularly Good News!
Dinner will be provided. Confirm your meal HERE.
Jim Lucas
(925) 980-7871
Aug
11
Wednesday, 7:00-8:15 pm.
"How Does Your Community Provide For Those In Need Of Forgiveness?"
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Topic:
How does your community provide for those in need of forgiveness?
Speakers:
Rabbi Laurence Milder, Congregation Beth Emek;
and Dr. Abdul-Mun'im Sombat Jitmoud, Muslim.
Afterward, there will be time for questions and optional participation in break-out groups. All are welcome!
Click HERE to view the June 9th episode with St. Charles' member Maria Owen as the speaker.
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 or Interfaith.interconnect@gmail.com.
2021 Community Interfaith Student Support Program
(CISSP) Backpack Project
We are grateful to share the news that the CISSP backpack project is a “go” for the 2021-2022 school year!
Representatives of the 10 faith congregations participating in the CISSP backpack project met on April 28th and started planning the 29th year of the project. Since it was still unclear what Covid safety restrictions would look like in August, it was the consensus of the committee to again have our supplier and distributor fill the backpacks.
During May we met with the four LVJUSD Child Welfare and Attendance Specialists to get the projected number of students who would benefit from receiving a backpack this year. They reported a need for 805 filled packs and supplemental supplies for backpacks donated by another source and not yet distributed. We have received donation commitments from all 10 congregations to cover the projected costs of the 2021 project. Uniforms Direct will be delivering the backpacks and supplies to Livermore on August 18th.
Regarding St. Charles’ contribution to the project: Since all costs last year were covered by the general CISSP account, we did not have to spend money from the St. Charles account.
Thanks to the previous generosity of our parishioners, fewer backpacks distributed last year, and unused reserves for shoe gift cards because of the closure of Payless Shoes, we have enough money to support our current commitment and do not have to request donations from our parishioners for this year’s project!
How To Help: In addition to the backpacks and supplies that will be delivered by Uniforms Direct to Marylin, Jackson, and Junction schools on August Eighteenth, approximately 330 filled packs will be delivered to St. Charles to be distributed by volunteers to the remaining LVJUSD schools.
If you can help with this distribution on either Wednesday, August 18th or Thursday, August 19th, or have questions regarding the project, please email Sue Putnam.
I pray that next year, we will be back to filling backpacks with our parishioners and able to gather and distribute to students’ homes as we have done in the past.
Thank you for your very generous past support!
We ask for your continued prayers for the success of the 29th year helping Livermore students in need!
Blessings,
Sue Putnam
St. Charles Backpack project coordinator
Social Concern’s Committee
Calling all Parishioners!
As we always say: The Mass is missing something when you are not here. We are missing something when YOU do not serve with the gifts you have been given to share.
Please contact the heads of your former ministries to discuss coming home. You can also contact Tree Gorman, Director of Liturgy, to inquire about whether your ministry is back yet. We welcome you to look into joining one of a number of ministries for the first time.
We are here to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact Holly O'Hagan for further information. We are here for you!
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
"Not a Place Where...But a People Who"
