Dear Parishioners,
A pilgrimage is more than a journey to a holy place. It is a journey of the heart - a journey that invites us to look more deeply at God, at others, and at ourselves.
Our pilgrimage took us to places that have inspired generations of people to seek God. At Jasna Góra in Czestochowa, we encountered the deep devotion surrounding Our Lady of Czestochowa. At the Divine Mercy Shrine, we were reminded of Christ’s message of mercy: that no sin is greater than God’s mercy when we sincerely turn back to Him. In Medjugorje, we experienced a place where countless pilgrims come seeking peace, prayer, conversion, and reconciliation.
Yet our pilgrimage also brought us to Auschwitz—a place that confronts us with the terrible reality of human suffering and the capacity of humanity for evil. Standing there, one cannot easily comprehend how people could inflict such cruelty upon other human beings. The contrast between places of prayer and places of unimaginable suffering leaves us with a profound question: What is within the human heart?
The pilgrimage reminded me that every human being is capable of both good and evil. We can build or destroy, forgive or hate, serve or exploit, bring hope or cause despair. The difference often begins with the choices we make each day.
The question, therefore, is not simply, “Am I capable of evil?” We all carry weaknesses, temptations, selfishness, and woundedness. The deeper question is: Which will I allow to grow within me - the good or the evil?
Every day, we water something within our hearts. Prayer, forgiveness, compassion, humility, and generosity nourish goodness. Anger, resentment, prejudice, selfishness, and indifference can nourish something very different.
We were blessed to visit and pray at Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s cell. The saints and martyrs remind us that goodness can shine even in the darkest circumstances. Auschwitz reminds us what can happen when hatred and indifference are allowed to grow unchecked.
As we return from our pilgrimage, may we carry its lessons into our homes, our parish, and our daily lives. May we choose mercy over judgment, forgiveness over resentment, love over hatred, and service over selfishness.
The journey may have ended, but the real pilgrimage continues - in the heart. What will we choose to grow there?
Thank you all for your prayers. We had good weather with very few challenges. We also prayed for our entire parish every day during the pilgrimage.
--Father Augustine
Our pilgrimage took us to places that have inspired generations of people to seek God. At Jasna Góra in Czestochowa, we encountered the deep devotion surrounding Our Lady of Czestochowa. At the Divine Mercy Shrine, we were reminded of Christ’s message of mercy: that no sin is greater than God’s mercy when we sincerely turn back to Him. In Medjugorje, we experienced a place where countless pilgrims come seeking peace, prayer, conversion, and reconciliation.
Yet our pilgrimage also brought us to Auschwitz—a place that confronts us with the terrible reality of human suffering and the capacity of humanity for evil. Standing there, one cannot easily comprehend how people could inflict such cruelty upon other human beings. The contrast between places of prayer and places of unimaginable suffering leaves us with a profound question: What is within the human heart?
The pilgrimage reminded me that every human being is capable of both good and evil. We can build or destroy, forgive or hate, serve or exploit, bring hope or cause despair. The difference often begins with the choices we make each day.
The question, therefore, is not simply, “Am I capable of evil?” We all carry weaknesses, temptations, selfishness, and woundedness. The deeper question is: Which will I allow to grow within me - the good or the evil?
Every day, we water something within our hearts. Prayer, forgiveness, compassion, humility, and generosity nourish goodness. Anger, resentment, prejudice, selfishness, and indifference can nourish something very different.
We were blessed to visit and pray at Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s cell. The saints and martyrs remind us that goodness can shine even in the darkest circumstances. Auschwitz reminds us what can happen when hatred and indifference are allowed to grow unchecked.
As we return from our pilgrimage, may we carry its lessons into our homes, our parish, and our daily lives. May we choose mercy over judgment, forgiveness over resentment, love over hatred, and service over selfishness.
The journey may have ended, but the real pilgrimage continues - in the heart. What will we choose to grow there?
Thank you all for your prayers. We had good weather with very few challenges. We also prayed for our entire parish every day during the pilgrimage.
--Father Augustine
- Friday, September 25:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel) - Saturday, September 26:
Special Collection: Hawai'i Storm Relief and Recovery Fund
- Reconciliation 4:00 - 4:30 p.m. (Church)
- St. Vincent de Paul - Potluck 5:00 p.m. (Pope)
- Vigil Mass 5:00 p.m. (Church)
- WINGS Promotion Table 6:00 p.m. - Sunday, September 27:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Special Collection: Hawai'i Storm Relief and Recovery Fund
Family Fellowship Sunday (Coffee and Donuts) After ALL Masses
- Mass 7:30 a.m. (Church)
- WINGS Promotion Table 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Mass with CLW 9:30 a.m. (Church)
- Pre-School/Tiny Treasures 9:30 a.m. (Dominic)
- Mass 11:30 a.m. (Church)
- Altar Server Pizza Party/Training 2:00 p.m. (Church/Hall) - Monday, September 28:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- Children's Sacrament Parent Orientation 5:30 p.m. (Hall)
- Christian Meditation 5:30 p.m. (Ignatius)
- High School Youth Ministry 7:00 p.m. (Hall) - Tuesday, September 29:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- SET Meeting 9:30 a.m. (Oscar)
- Faith Formation (Kindergarten-5th Grade) 3:45 p.m. (Hall)
- Faith Formation (1st-5th Grade) and Parent Orientation 6:15 p.m. (Hall) - Wednesday, September 30:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- Faith Formation (Kindergarten-5th Grade) 4:30 p.m. (Hall)
- Adult Choir Rehearsal 6:30 p.m. (Church)
- New Testament Bible Study Group 6:30 p.m. (Oscar)
- Middle School Youth Ministry (MSYM) 7:00 p.m. (Hall)
- OCIA Meeting 7:00 p.m. (Pope) - Thursday, October 1:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- WINGS Meet and Greet 9:30 a.m. (Hall)
- Knights of Columbus 5:00 p.m. (Hall)
- Rosary Crusade 7:00 p.m. (Chapel)
- Scout Troop Meeting 7:00 p.m. (Hall) - Friday, October 2:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 5:00 p.m. (Chapel)
- Rosary Crusade 7:00 p.m. (Chapel)
If You Are in Need of Prayer...
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
