St. Bonaventure Catholic Community
March 18, 2021
Reminder: Join us at 9am Mass on Friday, March 19 to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, either live in the church or streamed on Facebook
1.
Staying Safe
This past week we saw Contra Costa country move from the purple to the red zone. Although red sounds worse in the odd choice of colors signifying California COVID restrictions, it's actually better. Less restrictions doesn't mean we should let our guard down, however. COVID is still a very dangerous virus and new variations seems to be even more communicable. At Mass we continue to require entry screening, face masks and social distancing. Our goal is to celebrate our faith together both prayerfully and safely. Here and elsewhere please be safe and when you are eligible, get vaccinated.
As we move toward Holy Week and Easter may God's blessing be with you!
Fr. Lawrence
As we move toward Holy Week and Easter may God's blessing be with you!
Fr. Lawrence
2.
Lent at St. Bonaventure
5.
Respect Life Ministry:
Celebrating Respect Life Month
“Come Back to Me with All Your Heart: Lent in a Time of COVID”
Monday Mission Evenings, Feb. 22-Mar. 22 at 7pm
Monday Mission Evenings, Feb. 22-Mar. 22 at 7pm
This Monday, March 22, join Deacon Dominic Tarantino as we explore the theme of Almsgiving. Livestreamed on Facebook.
Music will be provided by Vintage. For a special treat on this last night of our mission series, Vintage will stay on Facebook for a mini-concert after the mission ends. Please join us!
(Did you miss any earlier mission evenings? Watch them HERE!)
Friday Stations of the Cross
● 6pm Spanish Mass & Stations in the Church
● 7pm English Stations of the Cross, YouTube
● 7pm English Stations of the Cross, YouTube
This Friday, March 19, we will be praying The Way of the Cross: Praying the Psalms with Jesus, from Ascension Press. We encourage you to join us at 7pm HERE so that we may pray as a community.
All of our past Stations remain available on our YouTube channel to pray during Lent.
Reconciliation
Thursdays 3:30pm and Saturdays 2:30 pm
Be sure to take advantage of this amazing sacrament of God's forgiveness during Lent! Our last regularly scheduled time for Reconciliation before Easter will be Saturday, March 27.
Daily Reflections
Lenten reflections by parishioner Mary Franceschini on our website or by email
Please join us! Click HERE for more information on our Lenten offerings.
3.
Great Opportunities
in the Easter Season
Mark your calendars and get ready for two new offerings beginning this Easter Season.
1) Faith and Racial Healing
You have questions, we have answers! Join us Tuesday, March 23rd at 7 p.m. for more information about the upcoming JustFaith Ministries’ Faith & Racial Healing: Embracing Truth, Justice and Restoration. The program is designed to guide participants through a study of the history of racism in the United States so that we might better understand and more effectively eradicate modern-day racial injustice. We will discuss the materials, reading schedule, goals of the program, hear feedback from prior session participants, and much more! Contact Laura Nakamura for the Zoom link for the Q&A Session at at lmnakamura610@gmail.com. (Faith & Racial Healing will run Tuesday mornings or evenings beginning April 6.)
2) The Wild Goose
Discover a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. "Wild Goose” was a term that the ancient Celts had for the Holy Spirit. Featuring Fr. Dave Pivonka and various interviews, The Wild Goose invites viewers to an encounter, or a renewed encounter, with the Holy Spirit. Each session includes a short (25-30 minute) video with time for discussion and prayer. Monday evenings at 7pm, April 12 to May 24, with a daytime session Wednesdays at 10am, April 14 to May 26. Visit our webpage for more information and to register.
4.
Liturgy Notes
Solemnity of St. Joseph
Join us at 9am Mass on Friday, March 19 to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, either live in the church or streamed on Facebook. Those who have ben preparing for their Consecration to St. Joseph (sponsored by the Women's Christian Fellowship) will offer their prayer of consecration at this Mass.
Holy Week and Easter Schedule Online
How to Cancel Your Mass Registration
We understand -- sometimes your plans change. Because Masses fill up, it's very helpful if you can cancel your online Mass registration so that the space becomes available to another parishioner. Click HERE for instructions.
5.
Pew and Chair Campaign
Our recent Pew and Chair Campaign has been a great success. As of this writing, we have just 16 church pews and 54 chapel chairs that have not been dedicated. The response has been wonderful and we don’t want you to miss your opportunity.
The donation for a pew is $2,000 and a chair is $1,000. You can make the payment as a one-time gift or pledge over one year—paying quarterly or monthly. To complete the dedication, visit our website or call the parish office at (925) 672-5800.
If you have already dedicated a pew, please find the location of our pew plaque on this map. Installations are on-going. If you do not find your name, please check back in a week. We will begin the installation of the chair plaques soon and will post the map of those locations.
Thank you for your support of this important campaign.
More news and events:
● Bishop's Appeal: Please join us in financially supporting the 2021 Bishop’s Appeal to help further our efforts to bring more people to Jesus, and please pray for the Appeal, our Bishop Michael Barber and our diocese as a whole. Click HERE for more information on the Bishop's Appeal.
● Respect Life Ministry: Our Baby Items Drive continues at all Masses this weekend and during the last weekend in March. We especially need clothing sizes 3-18 mos. and diapers of all sizes, including the larger sizes. Thank you for your continued generosity and support to help us as a parish to be Walking with Moms in Need.
The 40 Days for Life mobilization to pray & fast for an end to abortion continues in Concord and Walnut Creek through Palm Sunday, March 28. Click HERE for more information about both of these important ways to support our commitment to life.
● Take a weekend away at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter to gain a richer, fuller married life together. Go to wwme.org to find the next virtual Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience that works for your schedule from the comfort of your own home!
● Nourish for Caregivers provides caregivers a faith perspective, as well as practical and emotional supports, useful tools, and shared experience.
Meetings every other Tuesday from 2-3 pm on Zoom. For more information, email Helene Billeci at fuzyfrank@aol.com.
Meetings every other Tuesday from 2-3 pm on Zoom. For more information, email Helene Billeci at fuzyfrank@aol.com.
Nourish offers meetings in Spanish too! For more information, please contact Biviane Ochoa at itsbiviane@gmail.com or (650) 278-6462.
Resources for Coping During the Pandemic
Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone. Click HERE for spiritual, parenting, emotional, and mental health resources for coping during the pandemic.
Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone. Click HERE for spiritual, parenting, emotional, and mental health resources for coping during the pandemic.
Tea Time Video
Tuesday Tea Time will be on hiatus for a few weeks and return after Easter. In the meantime, you are invited to share any topics you like to explore, ministries you'd like to learn more about, and/or people you'd like to hear from in future videos by responding to this Flocknote.
ALL ABOARD!!
Bible Camp is Coming
LITURGY AND PRAYER
Please visit our website at www.stbonaventure.net for the most up-to-date liturgy information.
All of our liturgies have returned inside unless otherwise indicated. Saturday Vigil (4pm) and Sunday Masses require advance registration on our website or by calling the parish office at (925) 672-5800 weekdays between 8:30 am and 12:30 pm. There is no registration required for daily Masses. (Registration will open Mondays at 10 am, Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday.)
We continue to livestream the Sunday 9 am (English) and 10:30 am (Spanish) Masses and offer walk-up Holy Communion from noon to 1 pm. For our full Mass schedule, please click HERE.
Sunday readings: Click here
(Note: we are using the Year A readings due to a Rite of Scrutiny for our Elect preparing for Initiation at the Easter Vigil.)
Download Worship Aids for Sunday:
If you need help with watching a liturgy or other event live-streamed on Facebook, please click here.
Health Reminders
Please join us for our liturgies through Facebook if you have tested positive for COVID in the past 14 days, if you have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, if you were exposed to COVID in the past 14 days, or if you feel actively sick. Thank you for helping us keep St. Bonaventure a safe, welcoming place for all.
Prayer, Spirituality and Formation:
Prayers for Those Who Have Died: Please join us in praying for members of our community who have died. You may find their names on our website. May they rest in peace.
Daily Mass Readings: Click here
St. Bonaventure Domestic Church tips and links: Click here
Mass Intentions, Online Prayer Vine & Drive-thru Prayer Information: Details here
Online Spiritual Communion Service: Details here
Christian Centering Prayer Group: Details here
Word on Fire Videos on Flocknote: Details here
(Staying at home more? Take advantage of Bishop Barron's great videos! The "Conversion" series is perfect for Lent. Remember, you must have a Flocknote account with a password to access these videos.)
STAYING CONNECTED
Sacraments, Pastoral Counseling, and Staff Support
We're here for you! Our clergy and pastoral staff continue to be available to you during this pandemic. We can offer pastoral counseling by appointment, over the phone or by videocall, and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is available in person when needed. Please call the parish office at (925) 672-580 to make an appointment. We offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the classrooms on Saturdays at 2:30 pm, and during Lent we've added a second opportunity on Thursdays at 3:30 pm.
The office has had to close for walk-up visits, but staff are available by appointment. Please call the main office number or call or email the staffperson directly. As our staff are working from both the office and home, it is often easier to reach people by email. However, we are monitoring phones and voice mail, and will return messages as soon as possible.
Under current health regulations our ministries are unable to hold regular meetings at the parish. We are able to schedule outdoor gatherings for prayer and worship. Please contact your staff liaison if you are interested in scheduling a prayer gathering.
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Parish Connections Thank you to everyone in our parish community who is working to reach out and keep in touch. If you need assistance, or would like to volunteer to help others by running errands, picking up groceries, etc., please email info@stbonaventure.net. The St. Bonaventure Food Pantry is open Tuesdays from 9-10:30 am in the parish parking lot. See our website for more information. (Note: The Food Pantry thanks you for your continuing donations of food and other items, but is no longer requesting bags -- they have a sufficient supply.)
Thank you for the many ways you continue to support our community!
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Your Gifts Are Keeping Us Open
We want to say THANK YOU to our parishioners and those who are not members yet but have sent us their donations to help in this unprecedented time.
We are so grateful to many who are now sending their donations through mail, online and collection box methods. Your efforts and generosity are greatly appreciated and are helping us continue to live our mission as a community of faith.
To learn more about online giving or other options, please click here. If you attend the drive-in Mass or walk-up Holy Communion this Sunday, you may drop off your gift personally.
May God bless all of you and reward you abundantly for your support of your parish.
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May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.