Monday Evening, November 16th, 2020:
Dear St. Charles Family:
As many of you have heard, Governor Newsom has moved several counties, including Alameda County, back into the purple tier in order to "pull the emergency brakes" on the spread of COVID-19. For us at St. Charles Borromeo, this means that the only type of "in-person" Mass allowable would be outdoors. Within a day or two, I will be sending another flocknote that will include our new plans for worship, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, you will find below that Wednesday evening's "Coping With Grief During the Holidays" presentation will now be held on Zoom, and we have new information regarding the Giving Tree project.
In other news, our "Come and See" series of Zoom meetings are now being held on Tuesday evenings.
In other news, our "Come and See" series of Zoom meetings are now being held on Tuesday evenings.
Also, our Suba Orphanage Board recently received an update and new pictures from Fr. Eliud, which you can view here.
Blessings,
Fr. Kwame
Gifts and gift cards may also be returned to the rectory during normal business hours, Monday – Thursday.
All gift cards with the activation receipt are due on Sunday, December 6 in a ziplock bag or envelope. All wrapped gifts are due on Sunday, December 13 with a gift receipt and the tag clearly visible for recipient verification and sorting.
We are extremely grateful to our St Charles family for caring for the less fortunate and so generously supporting the Giving Tree every year!
Due to Governor Newsom's official order today to slow the spread of the virus, which put the “emergency brakes” on the State of California and moved Alameda County into the widespread purple tier, we are suspending the remaining four Giving Tree tag pick-up dates in the Hall because we are not allowed to gather indoors.
Mary Fair, the Giving Tree Coordinator, along with the Social Concerns Committee encourages all parishioners who would like to support the 150 recipients whose tags have not yet been taken, to donate to St Charles either in your tithing envelope or on Tithe.ly. We thank everyone who has already so generously donated, which will help us purchase gifts for the tags not taken.
Or, if you would like to shop for an individual or purchase a specific gift card, please call Mary Fair at 925-454-9919, who will be happy to provide you with the recipient’s specific wish list information (gender, age, sizes, and gift description).
Gift drive-thru drop-offs will begin on Sunday, November 29 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. Additional gift drive-thru drop-off dates will be Mondays, November 30 and December 7 from 10:00 – 11:00 am, Wednesdays, December 2 and 9 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm, Saturdays, December 5 and 12 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm, and Sundays, November 29, December 6 and 13 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm.
Nov
17
Tuesday Evening "Q&A on Christian Faith"
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going.
not going.
might be going.
Nov
10
Men of Faith at 7:00 PM
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going.
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Fr. Kwame's Q & A on Christian Faith
Tuesday, November 17, 2020, at 7:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 884 7685 1050
Passcode: QgvC0S
Telephones Dial:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 884 7685 1050
Passcode: 653951
Nov
17
TUESDAY Evening: "Come and See"
Adult Faith Formation Zoom Session
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Adult Faith Formation Zoom Meeting
"COME AND SEE"
We welcome all who are interested in walking with Jesus
New Date > TUESDAY Evenings at 7:00 PM < New Date
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
18
Coping with Grief during the Holidays
Wednesday Evening at 7:00 PM on Zoom
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going.
not going.
might be going.
Coping with Grief During the Holidays
The celebration of holidays can bring much joy and happiness to us. Those who have suffered the death of a loved one recently or in the past, however, may dread facing the festivities and wonder how they will get through the days and weeks ahead.
The Grief Support Ministry of St. Charles and St. Michael are sponsoring a meeting led by Michele Shimamura, MFT, and Jamie Schellenberg, MFT. They will provide information and lead discussions on this sensitive topic.
The Grief Support Ministry of St. Charles and St. Michael are sponsoring a meeting led by Michele Shimamura, MFT, and Jamie Schellenberg, MFT. They will provide information and lead discussions on this sensitive topic.
UPDATE > Instead of holding this presentation in the church, as previously advertised, the meeting will now take place on Zoom this Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. To receive your Zoom invitation, be sure to contact Claire La Scola at clairelascola@gmail.com or (925) 447-9800.
Nov
19
Thursday Morning WINGS
9:45 am on Zoom
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Our theme: Faith, Hope, and Harmony
This Week:
Thanksgiving Special
This week, our morning meeting will be all about fun and entertainment - join us for this festive gathering!
Thursday, November 19, 2020, at 9:45 AM:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84530357561?pwd=Q1pxTWkvRllXQlMvdjhucG5VYTgxZz09
Meeting ID: 845 3035 7561
Passcode: 744882
Telephones Dial:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 845 3035 7561
Passcode: 744882
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 at 925-373-9346, or to Cindy Kline at 925-724-7636 (for Zoom help).
Nov
19
Fr. Kwame's Adult Bible Study Session
Thursday Evening at 7:00 pm on Zoom
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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, November 19, 2020, at 7:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 854 7712 3050
Passcode: dHuJN1
Telephones Dial:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 854 7712 3050
Passcode: 030766
Nov
23
Monday Evening - WALKING WITH PURPOSE on Zoom
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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
Seeking Parishioners
to Join the St. Charles Pastoral Council
Much information has been provided in the November parish mailing, bulletin notices, and Flocknotes for the last several weeks about the pastoral council, its responsibilities, terms, meeting frequency, and agendas along with a list of qualities for an effective pastoral council member.
We are seeking parishioners to become one of six new members to join three current members. A pastoral council is a group of parishioners of various backgrounds, Mass times, ethnicities, and ages who are an advisory or consultative body for Fr Kwame.
The deadline is this Friday, November 20, to complete the self-nomination form. If you have questions please call Mary Fair at 925-454-9919 Julie Gallagher at 925-373-6441 or Tim Gomes at 925-997-3417. The form is available in the November parish mailing or here.
We encourage you to consider being a part of growing and moving the parish forward, developing a pastoral plan, and sharing the wisdom of the community with Fr Kwame.
The St. Charles Health Ministry continues our mental health series with an article from Claire La Scola who kindly accepted our invitation to talk about the topic of grief, and how that affects mental health during these trying times.
Grief, Mental Health, and COVID-19
Experiencing grief during the current viral epidemic compounds the stress that is naturally occurring in our lives at this time. When we lose a loved one, it may feel as though our world is turned upside down. And, truthfully, it is. Nothing seems right. The sadness, loneliness, anger, confusion, disorganization, and all the myriad feelings leave us exhausted and out of sorts. Early in our grief, it seems sometimes that no one can possibly understand what is happening to us. Sometimes we feel as though we are going crazy. Will these thoughts and feelings ever go away?
With CO-VID some similar feelings arise. Loneliness and feelings of isolation occur for those living alone. Fear may also take over as we sit and wonder what will happen to us. Am I safe? Is it really okay to go to the store even if I wear a mask? Is my family in another state okay? For families not accustomed to being with each other all day long, day after day, tensions can develop between family members. This adds to the stress already being experienced.
What we do to manage these questions, these feelings, and our everyday lives will determine the state of our mental health.
When we are grieving it is especially important that we pay special attention to our physical health and schedule and some form of exercise every day. Walking just around the outside of your house in the fresh air can relieve the physical tension that occurs. Making the effort to eat well and getting plenty of sleep is also important. If sleep is difficult, take advantage of a nap. It has been suggested that 45 or 90 minutes leaves you rested yet should not interfere with nighttime sleeping.
Reaching out to help others can be satisfying and also takes your attention off yourself for a while. At the same time let others support you. Know whom to call if you need some support, either emotional or practical. Not everyone can help out all the time.
Expand your support network. At St. Charles Borromeo we have a Grief Support Group that meets on Zoom the third Saturday of the month from 10 am to 11:30 am. Sharing with others who have similar experiences helps to dispel the feeling of being all alone in your grief.
Find inspiration from nature, music, prayer, and faith. Be nice to yourself. Find time for a healthy pleasure. And lastly, be grateful. Keeping a gratitude journal can change your outlook on your life’s situation, lift your mood, and shift your perspective.
Use this acronym as a way to remember the path/process for healing:
H —Help yourself and help others
E — Eat well
A — Activity
L — Let others support you. Know when to call a friend
I — Inspiration from nature, music, prayer, faith
N — Be nice to yourself
G — Gratefulness. Keep a gratitude journal. Write down even just one thing you are grateful for.
If you are feeling extremely depressed, despairing that you will ever get through your grief, contact your doctor for a referral to a trained psychotherapist who provides grief therapy.
For more information and resources, contact Claire La Scola at 925-447-9800 or clairelascola@gmail.com for resources or more information.
My Sunday Bulletin Message - Just for You...
What Have You Done with Your God-Given Gift?
In one more week, we will end our Church’s liturgical (or worship) year. The worship year that is now coming to a close began on the First Sunday of Advent in 2019. Until now, we have read mostly the Gospel of Matthew. The Gospels, supported by the other readings we proclaim and hear at Mass, inspire us with the life and teachings of founder Jesus, the Christ.
So, throughout the worship year, Christ’s life moves us to discover our own worth and gifts, and the work for which God gave us those gifts. It is therefore not coincidental at all that today’s gospel calls each one of us to account for our God-given gifts. Ask yourself: do I know my gift? And, what have I accomplished with that gift for God’s glory?
I know our usual reaction, in order to get off the hook, is to ask whether we have a gift at all, and - if so - what is it?
Some of us may outright deny that God has given us a gift. Others might complain that we don’t have sufficient, adequate, or the appropriate gift – one that we think we want, or one that matches and satisfies our own needs and idiosyncrasies. Such reactions are not inspiring or motivating. Denying that we are gifted only brings us to the end of the year empty-handed.
In Sunday's gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable to describe how the scene of our end would unfold: What would God expect of us? What would our attitude or responses and be like?
First, the master gives gifts to the servants, “to each according to his [or her] ability” (Matthew 25:15). This reminds you and me, that God HAS given each baptized individual a unique gift. No baptized person can say “I have no gift”, or “I don’t have enough of a gift”, or “I don’t have the proper gift to do x,y, or z.”
At the end of our lives, we will need to make an account of these spiritual gifts and talents that God has entrusted to us - remember that these gifts are not ours but God’s. Your gift is on loan to you, and it is for a purpose.
Therefore, we must consider the end of every worship year as a perfect opportunity for each one of us to take account of the spiritual gifts God has loaned to us - in particular, the gifts of forgiveness, peacemaking, patience, justice, and humility.
Finally, some of us may ask how to genuinely know our personal spiritual gifts. Here is one criterium: The gift must benefit the community and not just yourself. If you have a talent, time, or treasure that is spent merely to feed your needs and ego, it does not count as a gift.
God gives us gifts for the purpose of reaching out to the community. Hence, a true gift is able to multiply and reach a multitude. As the gospel tells us, “to everyone who has, more will be given …; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 25:29).
Taken literally, this may sound cruel but remember the story is parabolic. At the end of our lives, this means that the one who "has" is the person who worked and shared his or her gifts and deserves a reward. The one who "has not" is the person who did not use the gift and share it with the community. Therefore, the gift was useless in his or her hands. Since the gift was not utilized, it was not needed and must be taken away. All of this is based on the fact that God HAS given you a gift.
You don't want to show up at the end of your life empty-handed. Therefore, don’t say you don’t have a gift, and don’t say you don’t know your gift. Even though we are at the end of the liturgical year, it is not too late. You are still living, so it is now time to take this opportunity to learn and identify your God-given gift.
Once you find it, begin to exercise and spend your gift to benefit others - your family, your community, the church, your country, and our world.
Fr. Kwame
If You Missed Sunday's Mass...
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.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
