Tuesday,
September 7, 2021
“Ephphatha! Be Opened!”
If you have ever participated in the celebration of a child’s baptism, you may have heard the words Ephphatha! Be Open! They are spoken by the minister after baptism when the child’s ears are touched. By that ritual, the child is prepared to grow up speaking God’s word – the Truth – in life.
Instead of boring you with sacramental theology here, I would rather inspire you with the Good News that, as it happened at your baptism, Jesus is saying to you always, “Ephphatha!” The questions you may ask are, Be open to what? In what way am I to be opened? And who says I'm closed anyway?
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus made the deaf man with a speech impediment not only hear and speak but doing so, the man then joined the others continuously praising God. The Bible tells us “the more he ordered them not to [speak to anyone], the more they proclaimed it” (Mark 7:36b).
The prophet Isaiah gives us a hint that a time will come when Christ heals people, they will be able to walk, see, hear, and speak again. Saint James explains to us what all these concretely mean in the Christian life, it is accepting people without discrimination, and it involves paying attention not to the external appearances but to the true inner value of people.
The life of Christ is an open life, Christ accepts people of all kinds and backgrounds without discrimination. We are baptized in order to live as best as we can in the life of Christ. As the slogan of our Men of Faith says, “Be Christ To Someone Everyday.” In this way, we can answer the questions in the first paragraph.
Each one of us must examine our lives and see the ways we are to be opened. You may be someone who is unwilling to accept opposing views or work with differences; you could be doctrinally rigid, ritually purist and scrupulous, politically partisan and cultic, adamantly resistant to change, growth and progress. And, even here in our exercising of ministry, some of us may form cliques with walls that stop other parishioners from joining.
Some of us believe our ministry is better done by us alone, and so, we are not opened to other interested participants. Finally, there are those of us who think we are already opened, and that we don’t need change. Following Jesus’ teaching, to say “I am opened” means you are not opened.
I invite you to make a plan, spend a moment each day in quiet to have an “Ephphatha” experience! In silence, ask yourself how open or willing you are to live like Christ today; how prepared are you to approach people as Christ would? And how hungry and thirsty (expectant) are you for a piece of good work today?
As we resume in-person worship in these fragile and unstable post-pandemic times, may God touch us and remove the fear that obstructs our Christian living. May Jesus’ word resound afresh in our ears, that we may courageously rebuild our community with opened hearts, minds, and actions even as we observe caution and collaborate with God’s gifts in science and technology.
Fr. Kwame
If we have advanced information we will notify you beforehand via flocknote.
If you have any questions please contact Tree Gorman.
About Adverse Weather and Our Outdoor 11:30 am Mass...
Q.) How would hot weather, smoky conditions, or rain affect our outdoor 11:30 Mass:?
A.) We will hold the 11:30 Mass indoors under the following conditions:
• AQI of 150 or greater.
• 100+ degrees predicted by noon.
• 60 degrees or lower predicted.
• 20% or more chance of precipitation predicted.
SAVE THE DATE
September 11th and 12th
Join us on Saturday, 9/11 for our 5:00 pm Mass!
After Mass, we will be hosting our third Family Picnic. This time it will be held on the Plaza instead of the back lawn.
Come enjoy a pizza dinner and time to spend with family and friends.
Coffee and pastries will be available after each Mass on Sunday, 9/12.
The "Ministry Fair" will be open at all Masses, both Saturday and Sunday!
We would like to inform you that as of August 19, 2021, St. Charles Borromeo has given to the Bishop's Appeal $38,621.16. That is 69.84% of the goal of $55,300. Thank you for your generosity!
The appeal continues, so families still have the opportunity to contribute to help our Diocese to meet the needs of the least of our brothers and sisters in and outside of our missionary-disciple Church.
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.
May God richly bless you.
• At this time we have run out of the yellow envelopes used for your "Missionary Donation". If the Holy Spirit inspires you to donate, please feel free to use one of the standard white envelopes and in the "Other" section indicate "Missionary Donation". No gift is too small.
• Our trash collection bin has been relocated from inside the Keeley foyer to the courtyard. If you have any questions please contact Holly O'Hagan.
• One of our parishioners, Regina Molitoris (Scout Member) shared with us an incredible story regarding how she rescued a great horned owl. To view the story, click HERE.
• Enjoy a delightful article featuring our very own Fr. Kwame as he blessed the Cuda Ridge grapevines.
• The handrail that will be installed onto the Ambo within the church has been delayed. We anticipate this new handrail installation to occur at the end of September. If you have any questions please contact Bob Lindberg.
Join us Tonight!
September 7th at 6:30 pm
Topic:
"How Do We See God"
The Come and See group at St. Charles is inviting you to our next meeting. Currently, our group meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30 on zoom.
To join us, you do not need to have participated in previous meetings. Feel free to share this link with someone you think would like to join us.
Join Our Zoom Meeting at 6:30pm:
Meeting ID: 871 5013 5359
Passcode: Jesus2021
Regards,
Sep
9
FINAL SESSION "Why We Do What We Do At Mass"
Featuring Fr. Kwame on Zoom
at 7:00 pm
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
"Why We Do What We
Do At Mass..."
Presented by:
Father Kwame on Zoom
When:
Thursday Evening at 7:00 PM
September 9th
1.) Join us on Zoom at 7:00 pm:
Meeting ID: 870 3397 4447
Passcode: 671280
Dial by phone: (669) 900-6833
Reconciliation Appointments
SIGN UP for ten-minute appointments
on Saturday, September 11th
between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm
Please Join Us!
Wednesday, September 8, 2021,
5:00–6:15 p.m.
Topic:
How Does Your Faith Approach
Health Issues?
Speakers:
Caryl Shill, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
Rev. Heather Leslie Hammer, Asbury United Methodist.
Wednesday, September 8, 2021,
Wednesday, September 8, 2021,
5:00–6:15 p.m.
Join the Zoom meeting HERE
There will be time for questions.
All are welcome!
Sep
8
How Does Your Faith Approach Health Issues?
Come and learn some ways different religions’ beliefs, traditions,
practices and rituals address topics such as nutrition, addiction,
mental health, and contagion.
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
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 for further information.
At the retreat, we will creatively use music, poetry, Scripture, quiet time, journaling, and small group sharing as a way to explore your personal legacy.
From this experience, we will craft our
own funeral ceremonies.
own funeral ceremonies.
Bidi Millet and Margaret Riley will be your guides on this journey. Both Bidi and Margaret are seasoned spiritual directors. Learn more about them HERE.
Sep
10
Your Graced Legacy September 10th - 12th
The retreat will assist you in creating your own funeral ceremony.
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Needs You!
Needs You!
Our Liturgy pillar is seeking Catechists for "Children's Church."
Please contact Tree Gorman to help craft a safe and family-friendly liturgy for our children.
Sep
13
Come listen to an inspiring presentation by Richard Murray, of The Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Antioch, CA is a teacher, writer, and a former Carmaldolese monk.
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Richard Murray, of The Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Antioch, CA is a teacher, writer, and a former Carmaldolese monk currently working on his first book on the Bible and the spiritual evolution of humanity.
Please join us as he walks us through Three Theories of Atonement that give us several perspectives on the meaning of Christ’s earthly death.
Dinner will be provided. Join us in the Keeley Center Hall or on Zoom. A free-will offering will be available at the event.
Click HERE to join the meeting, starting at 7:00 pm.
Meeting ID: 814 3347 5456
Passcode: 228996
Handouts, Prestudy, and Bio available HERE
For more information please contact:
Jim Lucas
(925) 980-7871
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
"Not a Place Where...But a People Who"
