Los Angeles
Religious Education Congress
2023
Dear St. Charles Friends:
First of all, be sure to read the important announcement (below) from Mark Kotch. Feel free to join me and our staff in thanking him for his dedicated service to St. Charles. Not everyone knew that Mark's work as our Director of Living was as an unpaid volunteer! Mark can be reached via email at his ("paying") work address: m.kotch@compass.com.
Meanwhile, I am excited to announce that the members of our high school youth ministry are hoping to attend the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress once again this year. With a simple donation for this purpose, you can help make their desire a reality!
The LA RECongress is the largest annual gathering of its kind in the world. This four-day event is held at the Anaheim Convention Center and is sponsored by the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. RECongress began in 1956 as an institute for religious education teachers. Since then, RECongress has grown to include people of all ministries, vocations, and faiths.
With your support, our teens will experience several keynote speakers, workshops, and a Liturgy planned specifically for young people. Participants also receive access to an exhibit hall showcasing religious art, music, publishing houses, academic institutions, Catholic apostolate groups, diocesan ministries, and national organizations.
The youth ministry will host a table outside of the church after each Mass next weekend, Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12. Please stop by and speak with our teens about the LA RECongress and their desire to attend. I'm sure they will be greatly appreciative if the Holy Spirit inspires you to help by making a donation.
As a fun new way to show your support for making their trip possible, our teens are offering an optional sweatshirt drive. To participate in this option, you will receive a St. Charles Borromeo sweatshirt with a $100 donation, of which $50 is tax deductible.
Donation Options:
- Sweatshirt Drive (questions? email Shane Galvan)
- Money Wall (located in the church vestibule)
- Tithely (online donation - Select "LA Congress")
- Cash
- Personal Check made out to St. Charles Borromeo. (Be sure to write LA REConress donation on the memo line.)
On behalf of the entire high school youth ministry, Shane Galvan and I thank you in advance for your support!
God Bless,
Communications Manager
Dear St. Charles Friends:
As 2023 approached, I, like most of you, looked at the goals and resolutions for 2023. As I approach retirement, I need to focus on my “paying” job to maximize my income. (I want the good life in retirement!)
While I love the work I do for the parishioners and Fr. Kwame, it is hard to balance my career, St. Charles, and my family’s needs simultaneously.
I have informed Father that, as of February 1, I will be stepping aside from being the Living Pillar Director. St. Charles is my wife’s and my parish, and that is not going to change. Our family greatly respects Fr. Kwame, his pastoral work, and his vision of St. Charles.
In closing, for those of you that give so much, remember to be life‐giving and supportive of the staff and other volunteers who want to serve and help make a difference at St. Charles.
God Bless,
Mark Kotch
The Week Ahead
You May Also View Our Complete Calendar
- Wednesday, February 1:
- Communion Service 9:00 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- K-5 Faith Formation 3:45-5:15 p.m. (All Classrooms/Hall)
- Children's Choir Practice 5:30 p.m. (Church)
- Adult Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. (Church)
- Middle School Youth Ministry 7:00 p.m. (Hall) - Thursday, February 2:
- Communion Service 9:00 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- WINGS 9:30 a.m. (Hall)
- Knights of Columbus 5:30 p.m. (Meeting at St. Michaels)
- Friday, February 3:
- Youth Confirmation II Retreat (Offsite)
- Mass 9:00 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- Doris Lennon Funeral and Reception 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Church/Hall)
- Saturday, February 4: Name Tag Weekend
- Youth Confirmation II Retreat (Offsite)
- Private Funeral Reception 10:00 a.m. (Hall)
- Individual Reconciliation 4:00-4:30 p.m. (Church)
- Vigil Mass 5:00 p.m. (Church) - Sunday, February 5: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Youth Confirmation 2 Retreat (Offsite)
- Mass 7:30 a.m. (Church)
- Pre-School/Tiny Treasures 9:30 a.m. (Dominic)
- Mass 9:30 a.m. with Children's Choir (Church/Livestream)
- Family Mass 11:30 a.m. (Church)
BULLETIN BULLETIN BULLETIN BULLETIN
This just in...
Our bulletin publisher has been purchased by Liturgical Publications Inc. (LPi). This situation led to the printing delay we experienced last week. LPi has asked us to be patient and understanding during this transition.
LPi requires that the cover page of each bulletin conforms to its standard format, which can be seen below on the right. Fr. Kwame's weekly article will appear on page two instead of on the cover.
Meanwhile, be sure to read the online version of last week's bulletin and Fr. Kwame's article, "To be a Catholic Christian Is to be a Minister."
Old Format: New Format:
Those Pesky Scammers are at it Again!
It has come to my attention that some of our parishioners have received "phishing" emails from scammers who are becoming increasingly clever and devious. Please remember, our staff and Fr. Kwame will never contact you via email or text requesting money, gift cards, or personal financial assistance.
If you have been a target of this type of scam, please contact me immediately.
God Bless,
Join us on
Thursday, February 2,
at 9:30 a.m.
in Borromeo Hall and
on Zoom!
Thursday, February 2,
at 9:30 a.m.
in Borromeo Hall and
on Zoom!
Presenter:
Stephanie Ferreira
“Gratitude – Leading My Path to Generosity”
“Gratitude – Leading My Path to Generosity”
Stephanie’s life journey has had some major twists and turns, but it began at her birth at Samuel Merritt Hospital in Oakland, California. She was to return to this very same hospital when she entered their nursing program at the “mature” age of 36! This rather nontraditional first-year student had already been a respiratory therapist, dialysis tech, paramedic, wife, and mother. Stephanie graduated at the age of 47 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing.
Stephanie worked in the ICU at Washington Hospital in Fremont as a cardiac post-surgical nurse for eight years. She then became the nurse manager of Chabot Nephrology in Pleasanton where the patient population was dialysis and transplantation. Stephanie worked there for 29 years until her career ended with a near-death experience.
Stephanie is a cradle Catholic and has been an active St. Charles parishioner for 10 years. She is currently a eucharistic minister, a WINGS shepherd, a member of the health core team, and a proud member of the LGBTQI ministry. Stephanie also served on the St. Charles pastoral council for seven years.
Join the Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88584364916
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88584364916
Meeting ID: 885 8436 4916
Dial +1 669 444 9171
Questions?
Janet Schott 925-373-9346 or
Cindy Kline 925-724-7636
www.stcharleslivermore.org/wings
Consider this as your invitation to make simple dresses
for girls in third-world countries!
for girls in third-world countries!
We meet once a month.
Here is the date for our next Sew-Fest:
Saturday, February 25, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location:
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1020 Mocho St., Livermore.
We need all kinds of help: sewing, ironing, and cutting. Along with your helping hands, be sure to bring your sewing machine or serger, iron, ironing board, and scissors. We will put you to work!
You can come for as long as you want — an hour or all day! (Please bring a bag lunch if you plan to stay all day!) We are always accepting cheerful cotton fabric donations!
If you can't make the Sew-Fest but would like to sew, please contact us for kits that you can sew from home.
Website:
www.DressAGirlSFBayArea.com
www.DressAGirlSFBayArea.com
Rest in peace,
Doris Lennon
Original Parishioner of St. Charles
Loving wife of Joe Lennon
Funeral Service:
Friday, February 3 at 11:00 a.m.
Reception in Borromeo Hall immediately following service.
Original Parishioner of St. Charles
Loving wife of Joe Lennon
Funeral Service:
Friday, February 3 at 11:00 a.m.
Reception in Borromeo Hall immediately following service.
and
Mike Gatzman
Longtime Parishioner of St. Charles
Loving husband of Meredith Gatzman
Funeral Service:
Saturday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m.
Reception in Borromeo Hall immediately following service.
Saturday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m.
Reception in Borromeo Hall immediately following service.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
"Eucharist: Linking Faith and Action"
