Monday Evening, July 20, 2020:
Dear St. Charles Family:
I pray that you are all doing well and coping with the current circumstances. However, if you've been struggling with the changes brought on by the pandemic, please consider reading my Sunda bulletin message (below), as it was written just for you!
In case you missed last Thursday's flocknote, I want to make sure you are aware that we have suspended Saturday evening Vigil Masses for the time being. However, you may continue to watch our weekday 9:00 am Mass videos at home, AND for Sunday's 9:30 Mass, you can sign up to reserve seats located in the Church's shaded west lawn area, where you can view Sunday's live video on two 60" TV screens, along with fellow parishioners.
Speaking of the west lawn area, reconciliation appointments are held there on Friday mornings, and you can sign up below for an appointment.
Meanwhile, please continue to hold Karen Miller in your prayers, as she is in the hospital until Wednesday and is waiting to receive the results from today's biopsy procedure.
Blessings,
Blessings,
-- Fr. Kwame
Make Your Reservations by
Clicking on the Appropriate "Sign-Up" Button
At Least 24 Hours in Advance
July 24th: Friday Reconciliation (Ten Minute Appointments)
Friday Individual Reconciliation - Lawn Area
10:00 - 10:10 AM Reconciliation Appointment
10:10 - 10:20 AM Reconciliation Appointment
10:20 - 10:30 AM Reconciliation Appointment
10:30 - 10:40 AM Reconciliation Appointment
10:40 - 10:50 AM Reconciliation Appointment
10:50 - 11:00 AM Reconciliation Appointment
July 26th: SUNDAY 9:30 AM Morning Mass - OUTDOOR LAWN SEATING ONLY
Arrive no later than 9:15 am
Sunday 9:30 am Mass
Jul
21
TUESDAY Evening Q&A w/Fr. Kwame
Fr. Kwame's Q&A Zoom Meeting
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Jul
22
WEDNESDAY Evening: "Come and See"
Adult Faith Formation Zoom Meeting
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
"COME AND SEE"
Adult Faith Formation Zoom Meeting
We welcome all who are interested in walking with Jesus
Wednesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
If you have a friend or family member who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith we invite you all to “come and see” - Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM.
To Join Zoom Meeting, Click HERE
Meeting ID: 321 832 6812
Password: Jesus2020
Password: Jesus2020
Questions? Contact Daniel Goodman at gotfordtires@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Jul
23
Thursday Evening Adult Bible Study
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Jul
27
MONDAY Evening - Walking with Purpose
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Angela Layton's Zoom Invitation:
Walking with Purpose
Bible Study Program
Monday Evenings at 7:00 PM
To Join Zoom Meeting, Click HERE
Meeting ID: 821 4834 5945
Password: WWP2020
Regular Telephone?
+1 669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 821 4834 5945
Password: 6033117
In Case You Missed Sunday's Video...
Thanks to Den Fisher who, once again, generously filmed and edited Saturday's second outdoor First Eucharist Mass...
Bulletin Message From
Sunday, July 19, 2020
God is the Reason We Must Change
This week, one of our staff members informed me that it is now time to change how we assess the viability of the Church. Before, we would count the number of people who occupied the pews during each Mass, and we continued doing so during the weeks of our physical re-opening. However, those numbers are no longer an accurate measure of St. Charles' activeness.
In these pandemic times, we must find new metrics. These include the number of viewers of our live-streamed Masses, the addition of YouTube subscribers, the participation in our Zoom meetings, comments and feedback received, and yes, the celebration of the sacraments. Each of these must now be factored into our determination whether a Church is alive or dead in this pandemic era. Therefore, we must change how we assess our own viability!
Today, on this 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are blessed with texts from the Wisdom tradition of the Bible. Such texts do not concern geographical, historical, or scientific lessons. Instead, Wisdom texts are didactic -- they seek to educate us on values worth adopting for living in even the most tumultuous circumstances. Thus, all of our readings suggest that we dare and yield to change – repent!
The first reading includes these words: “But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us… you taught your people… that those who are just must be kind… You gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins” (see Wisdom 12:16f).
These words profoundly provide us with the knowledge that God’s way is the reason we human beings – and all Christians for that matter – must never say no to change. God’s action toward us is one of persuasion, leniency, clemency, permissiveness, explanation, and reasoning. From those who seek comfort, consolation, healing, the strength to live, and courage from God, you can tell how much their seeking generates a gracious approach that leads them to confidence. To repent is to change, and to change is to be confident and courageous to embrace novelty.
This Gospel reading deepens our knowledge that we must dare to change because God already initiates the change process for us. As owner and sower of good seeds, God does not impatiently uproot the weeds that grow in the midst of the good crop. God allows all the time for the young crop to grow even in the midst of those bad weeds. Judgment and condemnation are not necessary at the time of learning and growing. With patience comes learning, knowledge, maturity, and change.
From all of this, we know that God still is the secret that leads us to our successful journey of change and repentance. It is God who paves the road for us to take steps that include adjustment after evaluation - perhaps moving back a step or two - but ultimately steps that move us forward. Sunday's second reading echoes this secret: it is the spirit of God within us that prays; we can’t call anything “prayer” unless it is done by God’s spirit in us (see Romans 8:26-27).
As the COVID-19 pandemic intensifies, it causes additional closures, prohibitions, interruptions to our work, and our worship - not to mention our physical relationships with others. In turn, for many of us, the lack of these human activities leads to loss, frustration, fear, and spiritual and emotional paralysis.
God’s wisdom can help us face these terrifying times squarely: God has survival and success waiting for us, but only if we are willing to repent - that is, to change our course of living from what we knew in the past to the new ways that are proposed to us. Whether this will be a new normal or not, we cannot force our way into recycling the same old way we've related with one another. Just as we need to change the way we assess the viability of our parish, so each one of us must change the way we worship, learn, and live in loving service of our sisters and brothers in need.
May we yield to the wisdom of God, learn, and be empowered by the knowledge of who God is - in order to dare and venture into the unknown, and to repent, change, survive, and thrive!
-- Father Kwame
Life Transitions for Aging Adults
Virtual Community (LTAAVC)
Providing ONLINE resources for
physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support
Informative Emails are Sent Daily
Keep informed, connected, and engaged with:
• Information on Covid-19 and Resources
• Topics on Aging
• Exploration of Racial Injustice
• Promotion of Health and Wellbeing
• Online Entertainment Suggestions
For information or to register contact:
Molly Fisher
925-449-8849
For more information, click on the image above or click HERE
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
