Monday Evening, November 2nd, 2020:
Dear St. Charles Family:
- This Tuesday evening's "Q&A on Catholic Faith" is postponed until next week, due to the election. Meanwhile, Thursday evening's Adult Bible Study Zoom session remains on schedule.
- The date for reconciliation appointments this week will be Saturday, November 7th, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, and you may sign up HERE.
- On Friday, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held in the church all day, beginning at 9:30 am. Also, as before, the benediction will occur at 6:30 pm. Sign up for your reservation HERE.
- Don't miss my bulletin article for Sunday, which can be found below.
Blessings everyone,
Fr. Kwame
Sign Up for Your Reservations Here
Please Sign Up at Least 24 Hours In Advance
All are Invited to Receive Communion in the Church
Sunday Mornings Between 10:45 AM and 11:30 AM.
Nov
4
Wednesday Evening: "Come and See"
Adult Faith Formation Zoom Session
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Adult Faith Formation Zoom Meeting
"COME AND SEE"
We welcome all who are interested in walking with Jesus
Wednesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
Each meeting lasts about 40 minutes and includes a brief discussion on a topic basic to the Catholic faith. You don't have to go to one meeting to be able to go to another. The meeting format will accommodate discussion, so please bring your questions.
"Come and See" sessions are provided for everyone who is interested, including the following:
"Come and See" sessions are provided for everyone who is interested, including the following:
- Catholics who feel their spiritual formation has stopped and are not sure how to get it growing again
- Non-Catholics who are curious about our faith
- The first step for those who wish to explore becoming Catholic
- Those Catholics who wish to complete the sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation.
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”.
To Join Zoom Meeting, Click HERE
Meeting ID: 321 832 6812
Password: Jesus2020
Meeting ID: 321 832 6812
Password: Jesus2020
For more information, contact Daniel Goodman at gotfordtires@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Nov
5
Thursday Morning WINGS
9:45 am on Zoom
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Our theme: Faith, Hope, and Harmony
This Week's Guest Speaker:
Fr. Thomas Bonacci
Presentation:
A reflection on John 14:23
Jesus replied: Anyone who loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make a home in him.
The three theological virtues are the backbone of our spirituality as disciples of Jesus. The virtue of charity is the harmony of the Holy Spirit living deep within us. Moved by the spirit, we faithfully follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Inspired by the spirit, we become the Hope of Jesus as we feed the hungry, cherish the poor, and welcome the stranger. Our lives are meant to be in harmony with God’s love for everyone.
Fr. Bonacci is a Passionist Priest, loyal tote h charism of St. Paul of the Cross. He is the founder and director of the Interfaith Peace Project of Contra Costa County.
Thursday, Nov 5, 2020, at 9:45 AM
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86017545863?pwd=Ym5BTFFjUG05aXZFOVVoaGJyeURPdz09
Meeting ID: 860 1754 5863
Passcode: 466213
Telephones can dial:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 860 1754 5863
Passcode: 466213
Passcode: 466213
WINGS, a faith enriching ministry for women of all ages and life stages meets Thursday mornings on Zoom. Enjoy engaging speaker presentations and small groups sharing with women in your faith community.
Questions may be directed to Janet Schott 925-373-9346, or to Cindy Kline 925-724-7636 (for Zoom help).
Nov
5
Fr. Kwame's Adult Bible Study Session
Thursday Evening at 7:00 pm on Zoom
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY - NEW SERIES
Our topic for October 2020 through June 2021:
“The Gospels: What Would Jesus Do?"
“The Gospels: What Would Jesus Do?"
This series begins with the promise of Jesus’ birth and ends in June 2021 with his last words and ascension.
Please note that the best bible version suitable for an adult bible study are: New Revised Standard Version (Revised Standard Version); New American Bible or the Catholic Study Bible.
Thursday, Nov 5, 2020, at 7:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88982865716?pwd=Q3RMVTdJcXlXcTBLemVDTFVFTFhqUT09
Meeting ID: 889 8286 5716
Passcode: 2yYqyd
Telephones can dial:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 889 8286 5716
Passcode: 644620
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88982865716?pwd=Q3RMVTdJcXlXcTBLemVDTFVFTFhqUT09
Meeting ID: 889 8286 5716
Passcode: 2yYqyd
Telephones can dial:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 889 8286 5716
Passcode: 644620
CCOP Mass of Remembrance
On Thursday evening, November 5th at 7:00 pm, the Catholic Community of Pleasanton will webcast a live video of their Mass of Remembrance. The Mass of Remembrance is a special liturgy to celebrate the lives of our loved ones' who have gone before us to live in the light of the Lord.
You will be able to view this celebration by logging onto catholicsofpleasanton.org or CCOP's YouTube channel or Facebook page.
On the CCOP website, you will find the worship aid and the readings.
If you have any questions, please call Mary Kay Clauser at 925-699-0199
Seeking Parishioners to Join
the St. Charles Pastoral Council
If you have a Vatican II vision for the parish and flexibility and openness with people and ideas that you can share with Fr Kwame, we would like you to join the pastoral council. We are looking for six new members to join three current members. We hope you will prayerfully consider nominating yourself or encouraging someone to self-nominate who you would like to see serve on the pastoral council. A flyer with information about the pastoral council and a self-nomination form due November 20 was included in the November parish mailing or is available here.
Some facts about the Pastoral Council:
- Terms: Two with 1-year terms, two with 2-year terms, and two with 3-year terms.
- Meetings: During the months of September through June.
- Meeting agendas: Social time; check-in about what was seen or heard in the parish; gathering prayer, study, and reflection; update, dialogue, or reviewing progress on the long-range plan or goal(s); discussion of the pastor’s and parishioner’s concerns; announcements; next steps/future needs/next meeting planning; and a final blessing or prayer.
What are the responsibilities of a Pastoral Council?
The Pastoral Council (PC) is an advisory or consultative body for the pastor/administrator. The members meet with the pastor and offer him the wisdom of the community. The PC is responsible for seeing the bigger picture of the parish and embracing all three pastoral dimensions of the parish: learning, liturgy, and living. The PC develops the parish mission, long-range pastoral plans, and goals including monitoring the progress and implementation of those plans and goals. In addition to doing long-range planning, the council members deal with whatever pastoral concerns the pastor or parishioners bring before them.
If you have questions or would like to have an e-copy of the form emailed to you, please contact Mary Fair at 925-454-9919, Julie Gallagher at 925-373-6441, or Tim Gomes at 925-997-3417.
Nov
9
Monday Evening - WALKING WITH PURPOSE on Zoom
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Walking with Purpose
Bible Study Program
Opening Your Heart
by Lisa Brenninkmeyer
Monday Evenings, 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Questions? Contact:
Angela Layton
602-799-6648
wwpstcharleslivermore@gmail.com
Nov
9
Men of Faith at 7:00 PM
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Men of Faith Encounter on Zoom
Speaker:
Bishop Robert Barron (prerecorded)
Bishop Robert Barron (prerecorded)
Men of Faith is completing a three month series on prayer. Following Matthew Kelly and Father Larry Richards - now in November - we feature Bishop Robert Baron, who is an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Bishop Barron explores what prayer is and what actually happens when we pray. It is an intriguing talk and should make for a lively discussion throughout the evening. Please join us to learn more about how you can build a better and more enriching prayer life for you, your family, and our world.
Meeting Topic: Prayer
Date: November 9, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87549585591?pwd=ZjNpTHBqekZpUnZUVDE0MHg1NWRYQT09
Download the Handout Here.
All are welcome. Please tell your friends and come for fellowship and a great message. We are looking forward to seeing you and meeting new friends.
Steve Campbell
(925) 858-3833
steveplants@gmail.com
Interfaith Interconnect Virtual Religion Chat!
Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 5:00–6:15 p.m.
Topic: How does your congregation help to bridge
the different political or social justice views within it?"
Speakers: Imam Dawood Yasin, Muslim; and Gaurav Rastogi, Hindu.
Zoom host: Muslim Community Center, Pleasanton.
Online via Zoom: http://mcceastbay.org/chat
The meeting room opens at 4:45. The program begins at 5:00.
We hope to see you on Zoom on November 11th!
BTW, if you missed the October program on this topic, the recording is available here.
The St. Charles annual Giving Tree starts this weekend in a different, safe way due to the pandemic. Giving Tree boards are set up in Borromeo Hall for social distancing to ensure everyone’s safety. We ask everyone to wear a mask, maintain social distancing, step-up to a board one person or family at a time, and only touch a tag when you take it.
You may pick-up tags on Saturday, November 7 from 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Sunday, November 8 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, Monday, November 9 from 10:00 – 11:00 am (for seniors), and Wednesday, November 11 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm. There will be additional tag pick-up times in November – check the flyer and calendar in the November parish mailing or go to the Giving Tree link on our website...
Enter names in our
Virtual Book of Remembrance
VIRTUAL BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
At St. Charles every November, we have three cherished traditions to remember our beloved dead. We read the names of those who have died in the past year during the Prayers of the Faithful, parishioners write the names of their deceased loved ones in our Book of Remembrance and bring pictures to place on our altarcitos.
Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we are not able to allow anyone to personally inscribe the names of their deceased loved ones in our Book of Remembrance or bring pictures to the church.
We know how important this is to our parish family and have created an electronic way for you to enter the names of your beloved dead in our Virtual Book of Remembrance. We will pray for all our deceased loved ones and remember those whose names you have entered in our Virtual Book of Remembrance during the month of November.
Sunday's Bulletin Message
Saints wash their robes “white in the blood of the Lamb”
Saints are not made by Rome! Long before the pope proclaims someone a saint, it is the saint’s own family, friends, and or community who do the hard work involved. That work involves testimonies to the fact that the person lived a life conforming to the life of Christ – the Lamb of God. Therefore, it is the family, community, and friends that first make someone a saint.
Today we celebrate - in a solemn way - all of the Saints, some of whom the Church has formally proclaimed but most of whom are not. As I have hinted earlier, whether they are formally known or not, only one thing matters when we celebrate any saint: It is actually the life of Jesus Christ that we celebrate.
The saint is a saint simply because he or she tried to copy some - not every - part of Christ’s life. Their lives are concrete expressions and examples that we can see and feel that we too can live the life of Jesus. This is why the readings all together do not talk about a particular saint. Instead, all three scriptures today are a laser focus on the life of Christ.
About the life of Christ, John tells us it is like a robe that is washed and made “white in the blood of the lamb” (see Revelation 7:14). The saints are people who washed their lives (robes) in the blood of Christ, but the robe became white. You may ask, why is the robe not red? This expression by John is very significant. The words are figurative: The robes are our own human lives; the blood of the lamb means the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, washing the robe in the blood of the lamb signifies that a saint is someone who took on the life of sacrifice, and who loved in a sacrificial way, even in this world that is full of selfishness, wickedness, and cheating.
Moreover, a saint is one who never quits sticking close to the ways of Jesus Christ - in spite of trials, tribulation, insults, disease outbreak, or pandemic.
A saint is a child of God: a child never quits or gives up being a child of loving parents. Therefore, in light of the second reading today, a saint cannot give up being a child of God, because God loves us with a love that is unconditional – a love that never ends. It is a love that keeps loving - and even more when we do wrong, as God loves us more when we sin in order for us to return to him.
The gospel reading spells it all out for us with the beatitudes according to Matthew. The word beatitude means blessedness, or a blessed lifestyle or character. Together, they are the lifestyle of Jesus Christ: being poor in spirit, merciful, peacemaking, righteous, clean of heart, mourning, meek and humble, and surviving adversity and insults (see Matthew 5:1-12).
The beatitudes are sometimes understood as the constitution of Christianity. They are the lifestyle – the laws – that govern the citizens of heaven, the saints. Every saint took a page out of the beatitudes and strived to live according to that beatitude in his or her life in this world; and now we believe, after. death, this lifestyle – the beatitudes – become full and complete.
As we celebrate this lifestyle of Jesus Christ in the Saints, we are mindful that we face many situations of adversity in our world, church, country, and even families. We face injustices of all kinds: death and grief in our families, suffering, confusion, disappointments, partisan political turmoil, factions, poverty, and natural disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and pandemics.
Let us realize that the only thing that matters is that these injustices are a test of our commitment to live the lifestyle of Christ. Whether we are sick, dying, losing our homes, or suffering in any other way, let us remember that we can still keep our lifestyle in Christ, as we can still love, be merciful, and make peace. We can and must keep our robes white even as we wash them in blood, because that blood is the blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ.
May all the Saints pray for us!
Fr. Kwame
If You Missed Sunday's Mass...
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
