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St. Agnes Catholic Community
A Perpetual Adoration and Stewardship Parish
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 23, 2014
PARISH OFFICE 3966 Chestnut Ave. Concord, CA 94519
Tel: (925) 689-0838 Fax: (925) 689-7899
Office Hours: 9:00am - Noon * 1:00PM - 4:30pm, M-F
Website: www.stagnesparish.net * E-Mail: [email protected]
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MASS SCHEDULE
Dear Friends:
Saturday Vigil: 5PM
Sunday: 7AM, 9AM, 10:45AM & 5PM Today, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.
Daily Mass in the Chapel at 8AM
Monday - Saturday
(Communion Service on Wed.)
Confessions: Saturday 3:30PM
PASTORAL STAFF
Parochial Administrator
Rev. Fr. Johnson Abraham
[email protected]
Business Manager
Marlene McCann
[email protected]
Director of Religious Education
Lila Rutkowska
[email protected]
Secretary-Religious Education
Donna Cassianos
[email protected]
Director of Music Ministry
May Hembrador
[email protected]
Liturgical Musician
Lily Melendrez
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Linda D’Souza
[email protected]
Office Secretary
Cecilia Humann
[email protected]
Pastoral Council President
David Wood
[email protected]
SCHOOL OFFICE
3886 Chestnut Ave., Concord
Tel.: (925) 689-3990
Office Hours: 7:30 - 4:00 M-F
I don’t know who first uttered these words, but they set forth a truly important bit of wisdom:
“If there is nothing above us, we will be consumed by all that is around us.”
Our nation’s Founding Fathers recognized this truth when they wrote:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Our human dignity, rights and freedoms come to us not from our President, our
Congress or our Supreme Court, they come to us from God above, our
Creator.
The situation in our world was not much better in the early 1900’s, a time
when World War I had been fought as well as a time when Communism,
Naziism and Secularism were on the rise. And, so, it was that on December
11, 1925 Pope Pius XI established this Solemnity of Christ the King for
the entire Catholic Church to be celebrated at the end of the Church’s liturgical year.
As interesting as history may be, and as interesting as the context may be
for the establishment of this liturgical Solemnity, we must pay attention to
what is meant by the image of Christ as king. What sort of king is He?
What do we understand to be the kingship of Christ?
As Christians, we claim Jesus Christ to be our King. We find ourselves under His kingship. He will establish His justice and peace among us. But in
order to do so, he relies on our allegiance, he relies on our cooperation, and
he relies on the gift of our very lives and souls, in order to reveal His kingdom here “on earth as it is in heaven.”
We do it when we are prepared to answer “Yes” to the king’s six questions:
“I was hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick, imprisoned; did you help
Me”? We are reminded that if we answer yes to these questions, we are actually establishing the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
Happy Thanksgiving. May we give thanks to God for all the blessings and
thank one another who accompany us on our life’s journey.
Fr. Johnson
Thanksgiving Day Mass
Principal: Jill Lucia
[email protected]
Thursday, November 27
Blessing of Bread & Wine
Mass 9:00am
Secretary: Ana Kelley
[email protected]
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WE ARE INVITING ALL TO OUR SECOND
ST AGNES ADVENT RECOLLECTION
WHEN: DEC. 6, 2014
TIME: 9:00AM – 3:00PM
eGiving with Faith Direct
RECOLLECTION MASTER: JESSE ROMERO
1st Talk – JESSE ROMERO’S CONVERSAION
STORY
We have recently introduced a new way for you to
support our parish offertory: Faith Direct. Faith
Direct enables parishioners to make their Church
contributions through either direct debit from their
checking/savings account or through their credit/
debit card. No more writing checks or searching for
envelopes on the way out the door. Now you can
apply the convenience of direct debit to your parish
offerings in much the same way as you may now use
it to make your mortgage, car or tuition payments.
2nd Talk – BE BOLD, BE CATHOLIC, GO
AGAINST THE TIDE
3rd Talk – WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE
LEAVES THE CHURCH
Registration fee - $15.00 – Deadline Dec. 1st.
Contact - Marie Rojo @925-689-8814 or at
Faith Direct also offers you personalized offertory
cards to replace your envelopes for the collection
basket.
Catholic Daughters of America
The Catholic Daughters of America Court #1934 St.
John Baptist de la Salle invites all women to come
and join them. The CDA meet on the 2nd & 4th
Thursday’s of each month.
For more information, contact Eiko Asselin at:
[email protected] or 925-825-3982
If you have not already signed up, please consider
completing an enrollment card, or visit
www.faithdirect.net to enroll securely online. Our
parish code is CA646.
Thank you.
St. Agnes Retired Seniors will have their
Friday Fish Fry
Hosted by:
St. Agnes Knights of Columbus
Friday December 5th
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location - Church Hall
Cost - $5, kids 3 and under are Free
Christmas luncheon meeting on December 2, in the
church hall. Gathering begins at 11:00 AM and
lunch is at 11:30 AM. All St. Agnes Seniors and
guests are invited.
This will be a catered luncheon by Boston Market.
The menu will feature sliced turkey, mashed potatoes
with gravy, steamed vegetables, and corn muffins,
accompanied by cranberry sauce and dessert. The
cost is $12.50 each, and the reservation deadline is
November 24th.
SAVE THE DATE
Please save the date for the eleventh annual "Walk
for Life" in San Francisco on January 24, 2014. This
is our opportunity to raise our voices in respect of
human life. More information will follow as we coordinate our plan for St. Agnes parishioners who will
be joining this important event. A flyer is attached
for your information.
For reservations, contact Patricia Vizcay at 6892701, or visit the Welcome Table after Sunday
Masses.
Stewardship Corner
Advent daily reflections by Fr.Baron. Available at:
www.adventreflections.com
Sunday Collection for Nov. 16
$10, 649.
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CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK
SUN
Nov 23
8:30AM
RCIA
A.R.
3:00PM
Confirmation Session
Church
MASS INTENTIONS
7:00AM
John Newton - Repose
Jason Zarri - Repose
9:00AM
Bono, Gardella & Capurro Families - Repose
Dina San Juan - Repose
Maria Persyn - Repose
10:45AM Neal Coenen - Repose
5:00PM
For the people of St. Agnes, living and deceased
MON
Nov 24
8:00AM
7:00PM
Mass
Edge
Chapel
Cauchi Hall
8:00AM
Doris Rygh - Special Intention
Agapito Francisco, Jr. - Repose
Kathleen York - Repose
TUE
Nov 25
8:00AM
7:00PM
Mass
LifeTeen
Chapel
Cauchi Hall
8:00AM
Sal & Irene Lo Grasso - Repose
Tomas Legaspi, Sr. - Repose
Lucita Benavidez - Repose
WED
Nov 26
8:00AM
7:00PM
Communion Service
Jim Gill Band Practice
Chapel
Church
8:00AM
For the people of St. Agnes, living and deceased
THU
Nov 27
9:00AM
Thanksgiving Day Mass
Church
8:00AM
Daniel Sorbel - Repose
Ernest Cornella - Repose
Edgar Belmonte - Special Intention
Chapel
Chapel
8:00AM
Marcial Penaranda - Repose
Adoracion Penaranda - Repose
Remedios Penaranda - Repose
Chapel
Church
8:00AM
Jean McCloskey - Repose
Josh Belmonte - Repose
Parish Office Closed
FRI
Nov 28
8:00AM
6:45PM
Mass
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Parish Office Closed
SAT
Nov 29
8:00AM
8:30AM
Mass
Lector Practice
5:00PM
Kenneth Lee - Repose
SUN
Nov 30
7:00AM
Wayne Coppock - Repose
9:00AM
Rafael Sison - Repose
Juanita Coquioa Sison - Repose
10:45AM Neal Coenen - Repose
5:00PM
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For the people of St. Agnes, living and deceased
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PLEASE PRAY FOR HEALING
Ron Artale
Camille Bainbrigde
Betty Baltazar
John Bedecarre
Maureen Brophy
George Conlow
Lynda Conlow
Nancy Cotter
Nancy K. Cox
Henry De Graca
Christopher Doorack
Sal Escano
Junita Estrellas
Louis Ferrari
Brooklyn Foley
Francisco Garcia
Theresa Gartner
Josephine Grove
Jax Grundmann
Ed Jaoquin
Giving Tree
JoAnn Lee
Trevor Ludlow
Joseph Mallon
Evelyn Martin
Mathew Ouimet
Ed Palma
Andrew Palmer
Gelacio Pangilinan
The Parffit Family
Rose Potavin
Amador Rodriguez
Gina G. Rubin
Stella Ruybalid
Doris Rygh
Maria San Miguel
Louie Sison
Connie Torrisi
Juner Valencia
Ronald Yancey
Thanks to everyone who took the “Stars.” You are
truly making a difference for the needy of our community. Reminder: the return date is the weekend
of December 6/7th no later than after the 10:45
Mass on Sunday. Please bring them to Mass that
weekend. Bring your gifts and leave them on the altar. There is no need to wrap the gift card presents,
just make sure that the tag is on the gift. God
Bless!!
If you are a member of the St. Agnes Parish Family and are having a difficult time financially this season, the St. Agnes Giving Tree could help make
your or your family's Christmas a little brighter. Stop by the Ministry Center and complete a
short form by Tuesday, December 9th. The inforTHANK YOU!!!!
On behalf of the St. Agnes Knights of Columbus, I
would like to thank the parishioners of St. Agnes
Church for their outpouring of support for our
Wheelchair Sunday program held the weekend of
Nov 8/9. I am overwhelmed with the generosity of
our Parish for this program. As of Monday, Nov
17th, the parishioners of St. Agnes have donated
$13,242.86! That is over 88 wheelchairs! That is 88
individuals who will have their prayers answered
and will be given HOPE! That is 88 families’ lives
positively affected by your generosity. I am sincerely
touched by this outpouring of love by YOU to give
Hope to those in such desperate need.
2nd Annual St. Agnes Christmas Dinner & Dance
December 13, 2014
Tickets
Adults - $20.00 * Children 5 - 11 $5.00
Under 5 - No Charge
Tickets on Sale after all Masses and in the Ministry Center
Nov. 15 & 16 * Nov. 22 & 23 * Nov. 29 & 30 * Dec. 6 & 7
Excellent Stewardship Opportunities
The Social Ministry committee has three openings. Chairpersons are needed for the St. Mary's
Christmas Dinner, Blood Drive (held annually on
Good Friday), and the Respect Life Committees. The Social Ministries Committee would offer
full support and has information about each committee. If you would like to learn more about these
committees, please contact Mary McCarthy
([email protected] or 935.673.8881) or Yvonne
Mennel at:
David Wood, Grand Knight
St. Agnes Knights of Columbus
CHILDREN’S FAITH FORMATION & EDGE
For Thanksgiving week, there are no CFF or EDGE
sessions this Monday, Nov. 24th. Sessions will resume on Monday, Dec. 1st..
CONFIRMATION
The next Confirmation session is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 23rd.
LIFE TEEN
For Thanksgiving week, there is no Life Teen session. The next session will resume on Tuesday, Dec.
2nd.
[email protected] or 925.689.2795.
Thanks in advance for your prayful consideration of
these needs.
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SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNTIES FOR PRAYER
PARISH CENSUS AND OUTREACH
PROJECT STARTS IN NOVEMBER
DAILY MASS IN THE CHAPEL
Monday - Saturday at 8:00 AM. (Communion Service on Wed.)
Father Johnson and the Pastoral Council have initiated a process to update our parishioner family records. We are calling this the “Census and Outreach
Project.” During the month of November, binders
with an alphabetical listing of our current parishioners and their contact information (name, address,
phone number, email) will be placed at the Welcome
Desk. We are asking every Parishioner to stop by
after Mass to verify their information and update
where appropriate. Once this step is complete,
changes will be entered into our Parish Data System.
PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION - Chapel 24/7
Contact Dick or Kaaren Duckart 925-676-8248 for scheduling.
The “Outreach” part of the project will begin in January, when we will invite volunteers to help us contact (first by phone and then, if necessary, by mail)
those parishioners who did NOT verify their information during the November phase of the project.
Volunteers will attempt to determine the status of
the parishioner or family. Have they moved? Are
they unable to attend Mass due to illness? Is their
absence from our parish temporary or permanent?
With this information, we will be able to have confidence our records are accurate, and we may even be
able to help some parishioners reconnect with St.
Agnes.
MARTINEZ SHELTER MEALS
FOR ADULT LEARNING
SCRIPTURE SHARING - Thursday mornings at 9:30 in the Ministry Center.
FOR MINISTRY
PRAYER TREE - a ministry of people who pray specifically
for those who are ill. Please notify the parish office if you or a
member of your family are in, or going into, the hospital.
HELPING HANDS: Please call Joanne Doorack (925) 798-1735
Please call Yvonne Mennel: 925-200-6716 or [email protected]
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL MINISTRY
Please contact the Waltons at (925) 825-7931 or
[email protected].
MINISTRY TO THE SICK: Please call Naomi (925) 798-5592
The Lord is my shepherd; there is
nothing I shall want. Is Jesus the
Shepherd in our marriage? Do we
know what He asks of us in our Sacrament of Marriage? The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends
are February 20-22 or August 7-9. Early registration, 4 to 6 weeks out is highly recommended. For
more information contact Mike & Jeanne @
925.672.2016 or Joe & Sue @ 925.680.7767 now or
go to oaklandwwme.org
Please be assured the information you provide will
NOT be sold to groups unaffiliated with St. Agnes
or used for dinner time “robo-calls.” This data is for
our church records so we can stay in touch with you.
After all, you and your family are an important part
of our St. Agnes family!
Please join in the festivities as Carondelet High School celebrates
the 25th Annual Visions of Christmas extravaganza from December
2–7, 2014. Seven events in six days
include five holiday teas, a community open house, and a family
breakfast with Santa. Beautiful boutique, silent auctions, and spectacular drawing trees complete with
decorations and fabulous prizes. All events held on
the Carondelet campus at 1133 Winton Dr. in Concord. For information or to make reservations
www.carondelet.net or 925-686-5353 ext. 151.
All Parishioners and Ministries
As a reminder when planning any special liturgy, a
“Special Liturgy Request Form” must be completed
at least two months prior to the planned date. This
allows for optimal coordination with others in planning Mass liturgies; e.g. music, lectors, etc. For questions, please contact the Ministry center. Thank you!
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523253
St. Agnes
Concord
(925) 689-0838
Marlene McCann or Cecilia
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Six Ways to Discover My Vocation
How can I know God’s plan for my life?
1. PRAYER. Prayer is a conversation with God not just saying prayers, but speaking to the
Lord from your heart. Everyday, read the Bible
and talk to him like he is your best friend. Ask
Him to reveal His plan for you: “Jesus, I want
to want what You want. Here I am Lord; I
come to do Your will.” Trust completely that
God has a plan for you.
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2. SACRAMENTS. The soul is the window
through which we can see God and hear His
voice. If the window is dirty because of sin, it
must be cleaned through Confession so we can
be in union with God. When you receive
Communion, ask Jesus to show you your vocation.
Prayer to Know My Vocation
3. GOOD INFORMATION. It is impossible to
discover your vocation without good information. What does it mean to have a holy
Christian marriage? What do priests do? What
is it like to be a religious brother or sister? What
is the Ministry in my local church that I want to
get involved? Find good information, then take
what you’ve learned back to prayer.
Lord, I want to be happy in this life
And spend eternity with You in the life to
come.
From the first moment of my existence,
You knew my vocation.
Please help me discover Your plan for my
life.
4. THE BLESSED MOTHER. Mary is the ultimate example of openness to the will of God.
Are you open to God’s will for you? Pray three
Hail Mary’s everyday, specifically to know
your vocation and have the courage to follow it.
Help me to know myself.
Help me to overcome my fears.
Help me to want what You want.
Help me to trust You completely.
Send Your Holy Spirit into my mind and
heart so I can see the gifts You have given
me and hear Your call to serve the Church.
Increase my desire to bring others to You
and to help them reach heaven.
5. GO ON RETREAT. Miracles happen on retreats! One of the surest ways to discover God’s
plan for you is to enter into silence and prayer
over an extended period.
6. GET ADVICE. Don’t try to discern your vocation alone, without the help of the Church.
Talk to a sister, priest or deacon you trust.
Mary Most Holy, Mother of God,
pray for me, that I can discover my vocation
and have the courage to respond in faith.
When the time comes, you must act! Move in the direction your hearts tells you, confident that God will never
send you where his grace cannot sustain.
Amen.
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