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St. AgnesSt. AgnesSt. Agnes Catholic Community
A Perpetual Adoration and Stewardship Parish
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, Monday-Thursday
Website: www.stagnesparish.net * E-Mail: [email protected]
August 28, 2016August 28, 2016
22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
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MASS SCHEDULE
PASTORAL STAFF
Pastor Rev. Fr. Johnson Abraham [email protected]
Deacons Bill Drobick—[email protected] Tony Reyes—[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] or [email protected]
Liturgical Musician Lily Melendrez
Youth Ministry Coordinator Linda D’Souza [email protected]
Bulletins Please submit your articles to: [email protected]
Pastoral Council Chair Linus Farias [email protected]
Saturday Vigil: 5PM
Sunday: 7AM, 9AM, 10:45AM & 5PM
Daily Mass in the Chapel at 8AM Monday - Saturday (Communion Service on Wed.)
Confessions: Saturday 3:30PM
3886 Chestnut Ave., Concord Tel.: (925) 689-3990 Office Hours: 7:30 - 4:00 M-F
Principal: Jill Lucia [email protected]
Secretary: Ana Kelley [email protected] Website: www.stagnesconcord.com
SCHOOL OFFICE
“My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” (Sirach 3:17-18)
Our first reading today comes from a book not found in the bibles used by either Protestants or Jews. It is a book of wisdom teachings that the Church examined and found to be divinely inspired. The passage above helps us understand that through humility we gain proper consciousness of our place in relation to God.
When we kneel or genuflect, we give humble reverence to the Lord we come to worship. We have to teach our children that head bows and posture are part of the way we pray. I have always been moved by ordination masses where those who seek to become priests or deacons lay prostrate on the floor. On Good Friday, our liturgy begins with prostration of those leading us in prayer.
Both the gospel and the first reading from Sirach give us advice. We learn that God appreciates the virtue of humility. The word humility comes from the Latin word humilis, which means “on the ground.” It is derived from humus which means “earth.” When someone encourages us to humble ourselves, we are being invited to be “well-grounded” and attentive to others.
Some say the Book of Sirach is like Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanck. In his autobiography, Franklin says: “I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue [humility] but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it.” This seems to line up with Ben Sira’s advice in the book of Sirach that we should be wise enough to at least try to grow into this virtue.
The Lives of the Saints can help us with our prayer life in a world that is so often upside down, seeking greater glory rather than humble ways. St. Ignatius Loyola once suggested that if someone on retreat could not sincerely pray for a virtue, the next best thing is to pray for the grace to desire it enough to pray for it. St. Francis de Sales taught his friends, “Practice those little virtues suited to our littleness…virtues which are better practiced in going downhill than in climbing.” (Letters of Spiritual Direction – Paulist Press, 1988)
Mother Teresa found this “littleness” in how she went about her ministry. “You don’t have to do great things – just small things with great love.” This week we are called to humility, a virtue that only the humble can truly appreciate. May we be inspired to be wise enough to keep our ear to the ground so that we recognize the opportunities to grow in humble ways. Deacon Bill
SUNDAY COLLECTION FOR AUGUST 21: $10,264.00 Includes Faith Direct Giving
We thank you for your Stewardship.
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DAILY MASS IN THE CHAPEL Monday - Saturday at 8:00 AM. (Communion Service on Wed.)
PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION - Chapel 24/7 Contact Sumner or Veronica Peery at 827-0916 for scheduling.
FOR ADULT LEARNING: (RETURNS IN SEPT.)
SCRIPTURE SHARING - Thursday 9:30 a.m. in the Ministry Ctr. BIBLE STUDY—Wednesday 7:00 p.m. 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 Marie Frisbie—676-6028.
MARTINEZ SHELTER MEALS: Please call Yvonne Mennel: 925-200-6716 or [email protected].
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL MINISTRY Please contact the St. Vincent de Paul Hotline at (925) 689-0838, Ext. 250.
MINISTRY TO THE SICK: Please call Naomi (925) 798-5592.
CARING HANDS-JOHN MUIR HEALTH: Contact Kathy Friend by e-mail at [email protected].
Faith and Spirituality
PLEASE PRAY FOR HEALING
Spencer Allen Ben Andersen Kay Andersen Ron Artale Rolinda Atienza Mary Lou Austria GinaMarie Balbuena John Bedecarre Goody Carino Marcia Carter
Gil Chavez George Conlow Rose Viagi Cuinonez Dave Dewan Stephen Dixon Pauline Elcenko Amador Rodriguez Espinoza Marietta Finnegan Amia Garcia
Guy Grace Maria Hills Ernie Holt Suzanne Klassen Joseph Mallon Crystal Martinez Maria McCarthy Marv McKean Rosalia Messina Chris Morris
Evangeline Narag Edward Nettleman Carol Peters Rich Peters Micah Pilkerton Joanna Poplawska Mary Pulliam Elizabeth Renfro Joseph Riccobuono Laura Rizza
Gina Rubin Maureen Ryan Rick Smith Carolyn Thompson Cliona Thuillier Laura Wehrlie Pat Weisinger
Please call the church office to add/remove names from the above list.
CFF, EDGE, CONFIRMATION & LIFE TEEN ENROLLMENT
A registration table for Children’s Faith Formation, EDGE, Confirma-tion and Life Teen will be available this weekend after all Masses. Please register no later than Thurs-day, September 1st. If you have any questions, please call the parish office at 925-689-0838 ext. 210. .
NEW TO THE FAITH OR NEEDING TO COMPLETE YOUR SACRAMENTS?
St. Agnes RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) begins its program of sacramental prepara-tion for Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation on Sunday, September 11, 2016. Classes meet weekly on Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 10:30 am. in the Ministry Center. There is no cost and no obliga-tion! For more information, visit our website at: www.stagnesrcia.com or email Deacon Bill at [email protected].
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Learn more about your faith through Adult Bible Study. This fall’s session is entitled “John’s Gos-pel…..Too Deep?” Meetings are on Wednesday evenings, beginning September 28 from 7:00—8:30 p.m. in the Ministry Center. If you wish to have a student workbook, the cost is $15.
Join our study group and dive into the Gospel of St. John. Sign-up cards are at the Welcome Table, or email Deacon Bill at [email protected].
SCRIPTURE SHARING meets weekly from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Thursdays, in the Assembly Room. Our class will resume on Thursday, September 8th. Study will be the Pentateuch and the Books of Numbers and Deuteronomy.
All are welcome to join us, For more information, call Burt Hayes at 925-825-1384.
Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To him be Glory, both now and evermore. Amen.
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Calendar for the Week Mass Intentions
Saturday, August 27, 2016 5:00 p.m. S. Johnson—Repose
Sunday, August 28, 2016 7:00 a.m. Grant Cvitanich—Repose William Hurley—Repose
9:00 a.m. Darren Blattler—Repose Chris Morris—Special Intention George & Lynda Conlow - Special Intention
10:45 a.m. For the People of St. Agnes, Living and Deceased
5:00 p.m. Patricia Afinowicz—Repose
Monday, August 29, 2016 8:00 a.m. Mary Harry—Repose
Tuesday, August 30, 2016 8:00 a.m. George Conlow—Special Intenti0on
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 8:00 a.m. Communion Service Only
Thursday, September 1, 2016 8:00 a.m. Ed Joaquin—Repose Ramon Carlos Casas—Repose
Friday, September 2, 2016 8:00 a.m. Kenneth Dixon—Repose
Saturday, September 3, 2016 8:00 a.m. Rosita Frazier—Repose Dennis Robles—Repose
5:00 p.m. Mr. & Mrs. Martin Pilkerton—Repose Paul Plicner—Repose
Sunday, September 4, 2016 7:00 a.m. Stephen Cox—Repose
9:00 a.m. Trudy Darjes—Repose Paul LeKatz—Repose Frank Leano—Repose
10:45 a.m. Deceased Members of the Grewis Family—Repose Farrington Family—Special Intention
5:00 p.m. People of St. Agnes, Living and Deceased
Parish Events and Meetings
Sunday, August 28, 2016 8:00 a.m. Couples for Christ
Monday, August 29, 2016 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass—Chapel
Tuesday, August 30, 2016 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass—Chapel 11:00 a.m. STARS Luncheon—Church Hall
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 8:00 a.m. Communion Service—Chapel 7:30 p.m. Jim Gill Band Practice—Church 8:00 p.m. Young Adult Ministry—Cauchi Hall
Thursday, September 1, 2016 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass—Chapel 6:00 p.m. Children’s Choir—Church 6:30 p.m. School Board Meeting—8th Gr. CR 6:30 p.m. Women’s Tea Meeting—G.P. 7:30 p.m. Adult Choir Practice
Friday, September 2, 2016 8:00 a.m. First Friday Mass—Church 1:30 p.m. School Mass—Church 5:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus Barbeque Dinner—Church Hall
Saturday, September 3, 2016 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass—Chapel 8:30 a.m. Lector Practice—Church SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Monday: The Passion of St. John the Baptist Friday: First Friday Saturday: St. Gregory the Great; First Saturday Please note that Choir Practice for both the Adult and Children’s Choirs begins this week. We thank all of our wonderful cantors and pianists for sharing their talents and leading us in song this summer.
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Parish News and Activities
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
AUGUST 27/28 CFF, EDGE, Life Teen, and Confirmation Enrollment Weekend 30 STARS Luncheon, 11:00 a.m.
SEPTEMBER 2 Fish Fry, 5:30 p.m.—Church Hall 8 Scripture Study Resumes, 9:30 a.m., Min. Ctr. 11 RCIA Begins—8:30 a.m., Ministry Center
The next luncheon meeting of STARS will be this Tuesday, August 30, 2016, beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the Church Hall. All seniors, retirees and guests are welcome. This luncheon will be a “potluck,” so those who plan to attend are asked to bring their choice of either a main dish, a salad or a dessert (enough for 6).
STARS meet 10 times per year (not July or Septem-ber) and features guest speakers and activities. Five of those monthly meetings are catered, and reserva-tions are required. The remaining five meetings are potlucks and for those no reservations are required. STARS also sponsors Casino Bus Trips, Retreats and other activities.
The next Casino Bus Trip for STARS will take place on October 11 to Thunder Valley Casino. Please see the flyer at the Welcome Table with information.
Please Join Us! There are no dues or membership requirements. For further information, you may call Bob or Sandi Rigor at 925-282-0387 or inquire at the church office.
YOU ARE INVITED! FIRST FRIDAY BARBEQUE
Friday, September 2, 2016 5:30 p.m.—7:00 p.m. St. Agnes Parish Hall
Cost: $7.00 per person
Menu: Tri-tip, baked beans, salad & roll No need to heat up your kitchen on a Friday evening. Join your fellow parishioners, friends and family with a delicious barbeque dinner, and let the Knights of Columbus do the cooking! No reservations or advance tickets needed. Just show up for a good time and a great meal.
ST. AGNES FIL-AM CASINO TRIP
The St. Agnes Fil-Am is hosting a casino trip to Red Hawk Casino on Saturday, September 17, 2016. You are all invited to join this jolly group as they embark on another fundraiser to benefit St. Agnes Church. The cost is $35.00 per person (must be 21 years or older) with a $15.00 refund for slot card or $20.00 for match play card and a $5.00 food coupon to be given upon arrival at the casino. The pick-up time is 9:00am at the St. Agnes parish parking lot with an estimated arrival at the casino by 11:00am and returning to Concord at around 7:00pm.
A light breakfast and snacks will be provided en route to the casino. Bingo and raffle tickets will also be available on board to add to the fun and to generate additional funds. For seat reservation, please contact Precy Fiscus at (925) 787-1363 or Joel Manalang at (925) 876-5199.
We thank you for your support of the Fil-Am and St. Agnes Church.
COOKBOOK NEWS! The new cookbooks for St. Agnes Parish have arrived. You can see a sample at the Welcome Table and sign up to pur-chase your own copy.
Cookbooks are $15 each and make wonderful Christmas or hostess gifts.
If you pre-ordered a copy when you submitted your recipe, you will hear from us soon as to how and when to pick up your copies.
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Community News
STEWARDSHIP – Part 3 of 3
Over the past two weeks we have discussed the topic of Stewardship, what it is and how it became a way of life at St. Agnes Parish. This week we will share with you information on how you too can be part of Stewardship at St. Agnes through our various ministries.
St. Agnes Parish currently sponsors about 50 very active ministries. Each year in the past we have held a Ministry Fair to encourage people to sign up or recommit their time and talents to the parish. This year we are going to shake things up a bit differently. Rather than asking people to renew their commitments, we are going to expend our efforts on making all of our various ministries better known and only ask people to sign up for the first time.
On September 24-25, after all the Masses, we will have sign-ups for the Reaching Out Ministries. These are the ministries where we make outreach to help people in our local community. We will have tables at the back of the church that weekend with representatives from the Blood Drive, Caring Hands, Faith in Action, Giving Tree, Helping Hands, JustFaith, Loaves and Fishes, Prayer Tree, Respect Life/Gabriel Project, St. Mary’s Christmas Dinner, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Vinnie’s Little Helpers, Share, Shelter Meals and the Tutoring Ministries. The Knights of Columbus will also be soliciting membership that weekend.
Later, on November 19-20, we will have sign-ups for the Worship, Buildings & Grounds, and Communications Ministries. Then on February 25-26, we will have sign-ups for the Gathering Ministries as well as the Knights of Columbus again. And to show our thanks and appreciation for all that you contribute to the parish, the Stewardship Committee will host a gratitude event on the weekend of May 20-21.
Of course, you don’t need to wait until the Enrollment Weekend to sign up for a ministry. We have information in the back of the church all year on our various ministries, and our volunteers at the Welcome Table can help you as well. Over the next three weeks we will relay information on the various Reaching Out Ministries so that you can see if they fit your talents or interests.
INTERFAITH MEETING OF PRAYER FOR PEACE—Join Bishop Barber and fellow parishion-ers, together with international and local interfaith leaders, in a plea for ALL of us to do something pos-itive for peace: PRAY!
Bishop Barber has invited people of all faiths to meet at the Cathedral of Christ the Light (the cathedral complex) on the Tuesday after Labor Day, Septem-ber 6, at 5:45 p.m. in an historic appeal for peace in our community, in our country, in our world.
Prayer groups (Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hindu-ism and Buddhism) begin at 5:45, followed by Q&A with prominent leaders of various faiths at 6:30, and a Procession and Appeal for Peace at 8:00.
For more information check the website at Www.InterfaithWestCoast.com.
MARRIAGE HELP—Retrovaille (prounounced retro-vi) has helped tens of thousands of couples at all stages of disillusionment or misery in their mar-riage. This program can help you too. For confiden-tial information or to register for the upcoming pro-gram, beginning with a weekend on September 16, 17 & 18, 2016, call 510-276-4118, e-mail [email protected], or visit the web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.com.
FROM A LETTER TO FATHER JOHNSON ABRAHAM FROM SHARE DATED 8/8/16: “Thank you and the Members of St. Agnes Church, for your generous Weekly food donations to the Share food pantry. These weekly donations are a great help to us at Share, to feed the many homeless and needy, requesting food daily. Thank you...St. Agnes Parish for your support and helping us to feed the Needy and Homeless in our Community.
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