Dear Parishioners,
May the Peace of Christ Abound in Your Hearts
Thank you all for attending Holy Mass in the Church with all your families and friends!
After the beautiful celebration of the birth of our Savior, may we all experience the abounding peace that comes only from Jesus. As the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward people.” - Luke 2:14.
It is our gathering (ecclesia) that makes the church. Everyone is invited to attend Holy Mass in person as you are able. The words of the psalm should ring in our hearts as we come to Church. “I rejoiced when I heard the people saying, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” - Psalm 122:1.
A Family Feast
We have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate family and children this Saturday, December 30, at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 31, at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m. These Masses will celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The Holy Family is certainly a paradigm for family life. They, too, had to endure misunderstanding, rejection, being refugees, suffering, paltry living conditions, and so on. Their true joy came from unwavering trust in God. As Mary’s Magnificat says: And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant…” - Luke 1:46.
I invite everyone to read the Magnificat from the Bible: - Luke 1: 46-55.
Begin Your New Year with Holy Mass
Next Monday, New Year's Day, is also the feast of Mary, Mother of God. The precise title “Mother of God” goes back at least to the third or fourth century. In the Greek form Theotokos (God-bearer), it became the touchstone of the Church’s teaching about the Incarnation. The Council of Ephesus in 431 insisted that the holy Fathers were right in calling the Holy Virgin Theotokos. At the end of this particular session, crowds of people marched through the street of Ephesus shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!” Join us for this Holy Mass on Monday, January 1, at 10:00 a.m.
I was privileged to walk through the ruins of the city streets of Ephesus in modern-day Turkey. It was a unique experience remembering the city that was so special to the early Church. Saint Paul (Acts 19:8–10) and Saint John the Apostle preached there. And it is believed that our Blessed Mother Mary lived there for some time!
God bless,
--- Fr. Augustine Joseph
The Week Ahead
- Thursday, December 28:
- Mass 9:00 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- Scout Troop Meeting 7:00 p.m. (Pope)
- Family Rosary 7:00 p.m. (Chapel)
- Friday, December 29:
- Mass 9:00 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
Parish Office Closed
- Saturday, December 30:
- Reconciliation (no appointment needed) 4:00 - 4:30 p.m. (Church)
- Vigil Mass 5:00 p.m. (Church) - Sunday, December 31: Feast of the Holy Family
New Year's Eve
- Mass 7:30 a.m. (Church)
- Mass 9:30 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- Mass 11:30 a.m. (Church)
- Monday, January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
New Year's Day
- Mass with Music at 10:00 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
Parish Office Closed - Tuesday, January 2:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
Parish Office Closed
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
