Flocknote

Dear St. Charles Parishioners...

• Please Welcome Fr. Sijo Tharakunnel:

When you see Father Sijo Tharakunnel at St. Charles, please welcome him warmly! Fr. Sijo currently works with the Syro-Malabar community in Livermore and will soon reside in our rectory. Although Fr. Sijo is not assigned to our parish, he may occasionally help with liturgical celebrations at Saint Charles. I thank our Bishop, Michael Barber, for planning and making this feasible.

If you are curious, Father Sijo was born in South India and worked as a missionary in North India for a number of years. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one of the Eastern rite Churches that is in communion with the Roman Catholic church.

• Ash Wednesday - One Week from Today:

Time certainly goes by quickly, as we already find ourselves at the threshold of the holy season of Lent! Be advised, however, that Ash Wednesday is not about ashes. Instead, it is about change, transformation, renewal, rejuvenation, repair, and restoration of our lives. It is an opportunity to become whole again.

The great themes of the season of Lent are: 1.) Fasting, 2.) Prayer, and 3.) Almsgiving. I invite every parish member to make plans to use these Lenten themes in the most effective ways to provide you with personal spiritual growth.

On Ash Wednesday, we will celebrate Holy Masses at 9:00 am, noon, and 7:00 pm. All are welcome to our annual soup and grilled cheese dinner hosted by the Men of Faith. Dinner will be served from 5:00 - 6:45 p.m.

• Lenten Collections:

In keeping with the theme of almsgiving, our Lenten collections will begin on Ash Wednesday. Each week, we will highlight a different charitable organization that will do good work with your gracious donations. The first such organization is Oakland Elizabeth House. (To donate online, click here and select Lenten Collection from the drop-down menu.)

Our social concerns ministry is working diligently to ensure these worthy causes get the assistance they need. Please see the back of your monthly mailer to see each charitable organization, or refer to our bulletins for more information.

• Changes in our Communion Procession:

Our liturgical committee has deemed that a new procedure will make the procession to receive Holy Communion more convenient. Beginning this weekend, the welcome announcement for each Mass will explain the new procedure. Additional communion stations will be available to moderate the time for receiving the Holy Eucharist, and ministers will guide you to avoid any hassle or perplexity.

• Kneelers in the Church:

Laughter is indeed the best medicine! A few days ago, I received an email with a very "helpful suggestion" regarding kneelers in the Church. For your amusement, I am sharing part of it now, with permission from the author, who will remain anonymous.

Yours in Christ,

--- Fr. Augustine Joseph

The Week Ahead

Thursday, February 8:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- WINGS 9:30 a.m. (Hall)
- Faith Formation (K-5th grade) 3:30 p.m. (Hall)
- RCIA (Adult Faith Formation) 5:45 p.m. (Oscar)
- A Family Rosary 7:00 p.m. (Chapel)
- Scout Troop Meeting 7:00 p.m. (Pope)
Friday, February 9:
- Mass 8:30 p.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
Saturday, February 10:
- Reconciliation 4:00 p.m. (Church)
- Vigil Mass 5:00 p.m. (Church)
Sunday, February 11: Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
- Free coffee, donuts, and fellowship after each Mass
- Mass 7:30 a.m. (Church)
- Mass 9:30 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- Right of Sending RCIC/T 9:30 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- Pre-School/Tiny Treasures 9:30 a.m. (Dominic)
- RCIA Dismissal 9:30 a.m. Mass
- Youth Confirmation Year 2 Class 10:00 a.m. (Pope)
- RCIC/T Class (Baptism/FE) 10:30 a.m. (Hall)
- Mass 11:30 a.m. (Church)
Monday, February 12:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- Christian Meditation 5:30 p.m. (Ignatius)
- Men of Faith Dinner Meeting 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. (Hall)
Tuesday, February 13:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- A & E Change to Lent 9:45 a.m. (Church)
- Prime Time Lunch Bunch Noon (Hall)
- Children's Choir Practice 5:30 p.m. (Pope)
- Adult Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. (Pope)
Wednesday, February 14: Ash Wednesday
Lenten Collection - Elizabeth House, Oakland

- Mass 9:00 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- Small Faith Group (Builta) 10:00 a.m. (Ignatius)
- Mass 12:00 p.m. (Church)
- Liturgy of the Word Service, Distribution of Ashes, and Lent Fair for K-8th Grade and families 4:30 p.m. (Church/Pope)
- Soup and Grilled Cheese Dinner 5:00 p.m. (Hall)
- Mass with Music 7:00 p.m. (Church)