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St. Mary Catholic Church
2039 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek, CA 94596
www.stmary-wc.org
MASS TIMES
Monday through Friday
6:30 a.m. & 12:05 p.m.
Saturday
8:30 a.m.
Saturday Vigil Mass
4:30 p.m.
Sundays
6:30 a.m. * 8:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m. * 11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. Spanish-new time
6:00 p.m.
Sacrament of Penance
Saturdays 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
DEVOTIONS
Eucharistic Adoration
Thursdays 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fridays 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
(First Fridays all night)
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fatima Devotion
First Saturday
9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Our Lady of
Perpetual Help
Saturdays 9:00 a.m.
(at the end of 8:30 Mass)
PARISH OFFICE
2051 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
OFFICE HOURS
8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M.
Monday through Friday
THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR
January 19-25
MONDAY, JANUARY 19
7:00 PM Movie Night/FF
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
6:30 PM Hispanic Prayer Group/CR
7:00 PM Middle School Session/Gym
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
7:00 AM Men’s Scripture Study/OS
9:00 AM Women’s Scripture Study/FF
9:30 AM Adult Faith Formation/FF
10:00 AM Charismatic Prayer/CR
7:00 PM Adult Faith Formation/FF
7:30 PM Choir Practice/Church
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22
7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/FF
12:45 PM Walking with Purpose/FF
7:00 PM Hispanic Prayer Group/CR
7:00 PM Young Adults/OS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23
7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/FF
7:00 PM Hispanic Young Adults/OS
7:00 PM Hisp. Choir Practice/Church
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24
8:00 AM Men’s Prayer Group/OS
9:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/FF
5:30 PM Crab Feed
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25
9:00 AM Sacrament Prep. Prog./FF
11:00 AM Hispanic Faith Form./FF
10:30 AM RCIA/FF
4:00 PM Band Practice/Church
FF = Faith Formation Center
CR = Parish Hall Conference Room
OS = Our Space
There is a Second Collection this
weekend for our diocesan seminary. Thank you for your support of our future priests!
We would appreciate
your cooperation in
sending all correspondence to our new mailing
address: 2051 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek, CA
94596. The post office will soon
be returning to the sender any mail
with the wrong address. If your
donations come directly from your
bank, please notify your bank of
our new address. Thank you!
Parish offices will be
closed on Monday,
January 19,
in observance of Martin
Luther King Jr. Day.
Dear Friends,
It has been quite a few weeks around here. Father Hugo’s mom and sister
were visiting last week from Brazil, and have left to do more traveling. Father
Hugo will be on vacation with them until February 5. I wish him a restful vacation, with special time with his family.
This week I am excited to welcome my friend, Father Darryl Pepin, who
will be visiting us for the next couple weeks from Bark River (near the booming
metropolis of Escanaba) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Father Darryl and I
have been friends since 1983 when we both became Vocation Directors together
and met at the Orientation Meeting in St. Paul, MN. Why he likes leaving the U.P.
in January to come to California is beyond me. Maybe it’s just to relax after the
busy-ness of Christmas. Perhaps it’s to visit an old friend. Or perhaps it’s to head
to the Wine Country to “soak up some local color.” Whatever the reason, I am
always glad to have my friend here for a visit. Welcome to St. Mary, Father
Darryl!!!
Today is our first Sunday of the Ordinary Time cycle: it is the Second
Sunday. But there is nothing “ordinary” about these days. The name of this season
comes from the ordinal or counting numbers, and it is our time between now and
Lent (starting on Feb. 18) to celebrate ourselves as Church and as the followers of
Christ.
Today we also begin the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Let
us join with those Christians from many different churches who are celebrating
this same week of prayer, and may we always work to see what is common among
us, and put aside our differences.
Have a blessed week!
Father Fred
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception School in Walnut
Creek is currently accepting applications for the 2015-16
school year. Applications are available in our school office
and our website (www.st-mary.net). All are welcome at our
Open House, Sunday, January 25. Join us at the 9:30 am Mass
followed by visits to our classrooms from 10:30-12:00. If you
are considering a Catholic education for your child (grades PK
through 8), this is a wonderful opportunity to join our faith-filled family. For
Pre-Kindergarten, children must be 4 years of age by September 1, 2015.
Classes are Monday – Friday from 8:15 am – 12:15 pm. For Kindergarten,
children must be 5 years of age by September 1, 2015. Classes are Monday Friday from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm.
If you have questions, please contact the school at 935-5054, or visit our website at www.st-mary.net.
ORGANIZATIONS
CYO, Jerry Florence
[email protected]
Charismatic Prayer Group, Jim Crowley
Catholic Divorced, Widowed & Separated, Char Buckman
Eucharistic Adoration, Mary Johnstone
Finance Council, Brian Mulligan
Gabriel Project-Hotline
Homebound Ministry, Helene Vizcarra
Hospital Ministry, Angeles Ron
Immaculata Guild, Arlene Verdugo
Knights of Columbus, Will Roberts
Pastoral Council, Chris Watson
Respect Life Ministry, Jim Crowley
Rosary Makers, Ana Lau
St. Vincent de Paul, Brian Kavanagh
510-504-5954
944-0359
932-5054
954-7205
210-1031
1-800-910-0191
891-8936
640-8146
933-6215
210-1330
314-1355
944-0359
256-4428
937-2817
MASS SCHEDULE
CONTACTS
Parish Office
Fr. Fred Riccio, Pastor
Email: [email protected]
Fr. Hugo França, Hispanic Ministry
Msgr. Ted Kraus, in-residence
Email: [email protected]
Ana Lau, Parish Office Manager
Email: [email protected]
Philip Atkinson, Director of Parish Staff &
Facilities, Email: [email protected]
Mariana Salas, Baptism Registration
FAITH FORMATION
Austin Pisciotto, Administrative Assistant
Tim Mannix, RCIA & Liturgy Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Doug Talmadge, Director of Youth Ministries
and Faith Formation
Email: [email protected]
Phil Battaglia, Youth Ministry Director
(Volunteer)
SCHOOL
Office
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.st-mary.net
Alumni: [email protected]
Suzanne Edwards, Principal
Advisory Council
Christine Olinger, President
Parents Club
Kshama Perera, Co-President
Teresa Cademartori, Co-President
Kids Club
Vicki Schwartz
891-8900
891-8900
DATE
TIME
01/17
4:30 pm
Salvadora Padilla
891-8900
891-8900
01/18
6:30 am
Bob Norment
8:00 am
Catherine Armstrong
9:30 am
St. Mary Parishioners
11:00 am
Antonetta Caravolli
891-8908
891-8910
891-8937
891-8939
891-8921
962-5806
932-5504
935-5054
935-5054
01/19
01/20
01/21
01/22
01/23
838-5202
838-2779
939-6465
938-5114
PRAY FOR THE SICK:
Katherine Hall, Mayra and Norma Jiron, Eduardo
Benitez, Cheryl Mannix, Christian Schelley, Elizabeth Cox, Pat Roland, Claudia Linch, Joseph Mallon, Fr. Bill Marshall, Minda Valencia, Edward
Tracey, Marilyn & James Brennan, Felipe Dimalanta, Elino Fortades, Russ Spencer, Francisco
Garcia, Sheila Deignan, Mirna Salazar, Karra
Sievers-Wada, Mayra Chavez, Carlos Maticorena,
Kelly Green, Clark Quartaroli, Mei-Mei LopezChua, Yoshihiko Moriya, Ron Connolly, Alfredo
Duarte, Christopher & Daniel Moradi, Isabel Castillo, Julia Rodriguez, Judy Ryan, Juan Javier Corrales, Amber Luehe, Ken McTaggart, Jeanne
Vaccaro, Andrea Morse, Sally Mancino.
God of love, ever caring, ever strong, stand by your children in their time of need. Look after them and grant them
Your healing and Your peace. We ask this in the name of
Jesus the Lord. Amen.
For prayer requests, please call the rectory
at 891-8900.
01/24
MASS INTENTION
1:00 pm
Khalil Mokalla
6:00 pm
Maria Espinosa
6:30 am
Henry Segalas, Sr.
12:05 pm
Marie Tower
6:30 am
Virtudes Sparvoli
12:05 pm
Peggy Dettmer (L) B’D’
6:30 am
Our active & retired military
12:05 pm
James Mallamo
6:30 am
Martha Nau (L)
12:05 pm
Stephen Cox
6:30 am
Donna McGill
8:15 am
St. Mary School Community
12:05 pm
Bianca Garibaldi
8:30 am
Margie Horan (L) B’B’
Saint Agnes (died 304)
January 21
Writing about Saint Agnes in the
year 377, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of
Milan, declared: “This is a virgin’s
birthday into heaven: let us imitate
her chastity! And a martyr’s heavenly birthday: let us offer ourselves
in sacrifice!” Chastity: mastery of
oneself in order to give of oneself
whether in the priestly, religious, married, or single state.
Sacrifice: “to make holy,” to set someone or something
apart for service. Ambrose knew these virtues indispensable for discipleship, but challenging to practice in his
world—or our own. Barely a teenager, Agnes faced gruesome tortures bravely and, when ordered to worship pagan
gods, boldly made the Sign of the Cross instead. Thus, her
youthful courage strengthened adult believers who wavered under persecution or grew indifferent when persecutions passed. To bestow on Agnes its highest honor and
keep her witness fresh in believers’ hearts, the Church inscribed her name at the heart of the Eucharistic liturgy, in
the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I), until Vatican II
the Roman Church’s only Eucharistic Prayer.
—Peter Scagnelli, © Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
Treasures from
our Tradition
Today’s Gospel story of John and
his disciples seeing and following
Jesus sounds so simple and casual,
it’s easy to miss the significant acts of
faith that are made.
John points to Jesus: “Look,” he
says, “there is the Lamb of God.”
John’s faith in Jesus is evident, so
evident that John’s disciples immediately leave his side to follow this
Jesus.
The two disciples make their own
act of faith. They follow Jesus, spend
time with him, and are quick to
spread the good news of their discovery: “We have found the Messiah.”
It is easy to forget that the expectations of generations, the hopes of
many ages of faithful people were
being fulfilled in these simple acts of
faith. The Lamb of God, the Messiah,
foretold by the prophets, had finally
come. Nearly everyone among the
Jewish people was watching for the
Messiah back then; who in our own
society watches for signs of the presence of the Messiah today?
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
The Crab Feed is
this coming Saturday, January 24.
Have you reserved
your place yet?
This is something
you won’t want to miss! Come, join
the fun and enjoy a delicious dinner
with family and friends in a festive
atmosphere.
Reservation forms are available on
our website (stmary-wc.org), in the
church vestibule, and in the parish
office.
If you can volunteer to help, please
call Phil Atkinson at 925-891-8900.
Old customs fade slowly, and in
1560 the Council of Trent tried for
significant change in pastoral care of
the sick. People resisted, thinking
that the last breath was the right time
for the sacrament. Although physical
improvement was often noted after
anointing, it was seen as a kind of
bonus, rather than an expected outcome of a prayer for good health,
strength, patience, and even healing.
More than 400 years later, many
people still do not ask for anointing
until it is literally too late for the
person to have reasonable hope of
healing, or at least be aware enough
to participate in the ritual. By then, it
may even be too late for viaticum,
the true “last rite.”
We have a treasure in our tradition that we seem reluctant to use.
We visit the sick, we anoint those
who are in the first crisis of illness,
we give Communion to those who
are dying, and we keep vigil and
pray for those close to death. When
anointing is celebrated early enough,
optimally when the sick person is
still at Sunday Mass, it can be a
source of courage, faith, and hope
for a difficult road ahead. When we
anoint our sick, we remind them that
they belong to Christ and a community of faith. We bring them into the
presence of Christ to reconcile, heal,
and give strength and hope. We resist forces that isolate and alienate
the sick; the symbol of touch is a
powerful act of acceptance. Why
wait until the crisis of illness is dire
before we apply such a rich remedy
to body and soul?
—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Monday Night
at the Movies
Theme for 2015:
The Reel World and
New Evangelization
Movie for Monday, January 19:
Meet John Doe - There are three things
that REALLY make this a classic movie:
N° 3, Gary Cooper; N° 2, Frank Capra;
and last, but not least, N° 1, Barbara
Stanwyck. Great performances from the
supporting cast as well, including some
wonderful humorous moments with Walter Brennan.
All films are presented in the Conference
Room, Building #1, of the new Faith Formation facility.
The movie begins at 7:00 p.m. Sodas and
light refreshments are provided. There is
Adult Faith Formation 2015
Theme: Par t 1 The J esus of Scr iptur e
January 14-April 15
Presenter: Fr . Donald Senior , CP
Facilitator: Msgr . Ted Kr aus
Description: This study is about J esus
of Nazareth. It is taught by one of the
world’s leading Catholic New Testament
experts. Discover the truly life-giving
Jesus, the one alive in the Church and in
the world today: the Jesus of Scripture.
All sessions are held in Building #1 of the
new Faith Formation Center on Wednesdays from 9:30 am to 11:00 am and repeated the same day from 7:00 to 8:30
pm. Participants can come to the session
that best accommodates their schedules.
There is no fee.
Wednesday, January 21 Session:
The Gospels as Portraits of Jesus
Please bring your Bible with you.
Birthright of Concord
Annual Volunteer Training
WALK FOR LIFE - Sat., January 24
Join us to celebrate the beauty, dignity and sacredness of life from conception until natural death.
Info Faire: 11:00 am
Rally: 12:30 pm
Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco
Info: Jim Crowley, 925-944-0359
Friday, February 7
7:00 to 9:00 pm
Saturday, February 7 10:00 am to 3 pm
3106 Clayton Rd., Concord
Birthright offers confidential, personal
and loving help to any pregnant woman
or one suspecting pregnancy. Please
prayerfully consider volunteering and
join us for our annual training. Bring your
lunch for Saturday’s session.
For questions or to reserve a spot, contact
Libby Field at 925-798-7227.
COURAGE/ENCOURAGE
Support for those struggling with
Same-Sex Attraction
Courage is a worldwide
Catholic support group
for men and women
struggling with same-sex
attraction who want to
live chaste lives in accord
with Scripture and the
Church’s teachings. It
was founded by Fr. John
Harvey O.S.F.S. in 1980.
Encourage provides support for parents or others
who are concerned about
a loved one struggling
with this issue.
These are the only Catholic support groups true to
Scripture and the teaching of the Catholic Church.
You will hear the voice of Christ in these groups. You
are not alone. People care.
The Catholic Church welcomes all of her children.
Our identity is not our sexual orientation. We are created in the image of God. Christ died so that we ALL
may have eternal life in Him.
For confidential Catholic help, please contact:
[email protected] or 650-450-2286
www.CourageRC.net
“Courage is doing the work of God!” John Paul II
Women of St. Joan present
Our Eighth Annual Women's Retreat
Models of Faith For the Modern Woman
"Saturday At St. Mary's" is a new
CD of "Music for Reflection." It
is now available for purchase
from the St. Mary Saturday musicians. The album features Lynn
Guidi, vocals; Andrea Morse,
piano; Ernie Mansfield, flute; and
Pawel Walerowski, cello; playing
selections from the music they
perform at the Saturday Mass.
This professional studio recording will make a great gift
for any occasion! All the proceeds from sales will go to the
St. Mary's Building Fund. Requested donation is $15 or
two for $25. Please see any of the St. Mary's musicians
after the 4:30 pm Mass, come to the parish office, or call
Ernie at (510) 524-2055.
St. Mary School’s Book Fair
Sunday, February 8, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
On Sunday, February 8, St. Mary School is
delighted to present Bay Area author Penny
Warner, author of the acclaimed children’s
book series, The Code Busters Club. She will
be signing copies of her books at 12 pm in the
Parish Hall Conference Room. Check out her website at
www.pennywarner.com. Make a morning of it by attending the 11:00 Mass and then coming to shop for your Valentine at the Book Fair. Mark your calendar now!
Catholic Underground Event for Young Adults
Saturday, January 24, 7:30 p.m.
St. Mary Magdalen Parish, 2005 Berryman St., Berkeley
Bay Area Catholic young adults (18-35) are invited to an
evening featuring adoration and prayer at 7:30 pm followed by a social and concert with musical performers
Celli@Berkeley and HIS Project beginning at 8:45 pm.
This is a great opportunity to meet other young adults from
around the diocese.
Saturday, February 7, 2015, 8:00am to 4:30pm
St. Joan of Arc Gym, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon
Our Keynote Speaker, ValLimar Jansen, is a world-renowned musician,
singer, and inspirational speaker.
Please register in advance; tickets will not be
available at the door. Registration options:
 Register online at: http://tinyurl.com/
WOSJ2015 (Credit cards only)
 Call 1-800-838-3006 (credit cards only)
 Pay by check by completing a registration
form. Mail or deliver the completed form with
check payable to St. Joan of A rc to the Parish
Office. (Registration forms are available at St.
Joan of Arc Parish Office or church vestibule.)
Donation: $40 - Includes the program, continental breakfast, lunch, and
afternoon refreshments. Mass will be held mid-day.
Please go to www.sjasr.org for more details
Questions? Email Kristie Schuchart at [email protected].
We are very grateful for all who contributed to our Capital Campaigns. The
Diocese is requiring the repayment of
the existing $1.58M loan we have from
our recent construction projects and
preparation for the Chapel, before starting actual construction of the Chapel.
The good news is we have just made
our first loan payment to the Diocese!
We are enjoying the new buildings and parking lots, but
they came at a higher cost than anticipated. We still owe
$1.38M. It is crucial that those of you who have pledged
continue paying towards your obligation. We are counting
on it for the next quarterly loan payments.
Thank You and God Bless,
Philip Atkinson
Director of Staff & Facilities
San Vicente (Siglo III)
Tradiciones de Nuestra Fe
22 de enero
an Vicente nació en Zaragoza, España y, debido a su
buen uso de la palabra y formación académica, fue nombrado como coadjutor del obispo Valerio para que lo ayudara en la predicación, pues el obispo era tartamudo.
Una vez ordenado diácono, se distinguió por la predicación elocuente y la
defensa de la fe. Fue arrestado mientras visitaba a su obispo, preso a causa
de la persecución impulsada por el
emperador Daciano quien, al saber
que visitó a su obispo, mandó que lo
apresaran, haciéndolo caminar desde
Zaragoza hasta Valencia. Una vez
preso se le sometió a la tortura; no
obstante, la tortura no lograba nada y
el emperador, lleno de ira, mandó que
golpearan a los torturadores. Posteriormente lo hizo encerrar en una celda oscura, llena de tiestos filosos para
que se cortara sus pies, pero no renunció a su fe cristiana, convirtió al carcelero y cantó himnos de alabanza.
Finalmente, puesto que nada lograba
contra él, lo encarceló de por vida y
ahí, en la soledad de su celda y sus
enfermedades encontró la muerte.
Uno de los muchos
títulos dados a Jesús en los evangelios es el de A gnus
Dei (Cordero de
Dios). La imagen
de un cordero no
era extraña en la Palestina del primer
siglo cristiano, pues se encontraban
ovejas y pastores por todas partes. El
cordero es la oveja de menos de un
año. Es reconocido como símbolo de
mansedumbre e inocencia en muchas
culturas.
Fue Juan Bautista quien le dio ese
extraño título a Jesús (Juan 1:36). La
imagen del cordero despertaba en los
judíos, incluidos Jesús, Juan Bautista
y los discípulos, la memoria de los
célebres eventos del Éxodo. Cada año
las familias judías escogían un corderito y lo preparaban para sacrificarlo
en la Pascua. La mitad de la carne del
sacrificio se ofrecía a Dios y la otra
mitad se la comía la familia; de esta
manera establecían una comunión
con Dios. Designar a Jesús como A gnus Dei, era reconocer que él quitaría el pecado y que con su propia carne establecería una comunión entre
Dios y la humanidad.
S
El relato del Evangelio de hoy en el
que Juan y sus discípulos ven y siguen
a Jesús, suena tan sencillo e informal,
que fácilmente pasan desapercibidos
los importantes actos de fe que
ocurren.
Juan señala a Jesús: “Miren”, les
dice, “éste es el Cordero de Dios”. La
fe de Juan en Jesús es evidente, tan
evidente que los discípulos de Juan
inmediatamente se van de su lado y
siguen a Jesús.
Los dos discípulos a su vez hacen
un acto de fe. Ellos siguen a Jesús,
pasan tiempo con él, y no demoran en
compartir la buena nueva de su descubrimiento: “Hemos encontrado al Mesías”.
Es fácil olvidar que las expectativas de generaciones, las esperanzas de
muchos siglos de fieles se estaban
cumpliendo en estos sencillos actos de
fe. El Cordero de Dios, el Mesías,
anunciado por los profetas, finalmente
había llegado. Prácticamente todo el
mundo en el pueblo judío estaba a la
búsqueda del Mesías en esa época;
¿quién de nuestra sociedad busca señales de la presencia del Mesías hoy día?
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
CATEQUESIS
—Miguel Arias, © Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
—Fray Gilberto Cavazos-Glz, OFM, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
El Grupo de Oración San Juan Pablo II
de la Iglesia St. Mary, Walnut Creek,
te invita al
R
F
Febrero 19 al 22, 2015
Youth Retreat Center, Lafayette
¿Qué ofrece este retiro?
La oportunidad de un mayor conocimiento de tu fe, del servicio que prestas a tu
Iglesia, y de descubrir tus talentos como
cristiano y servidor.
Para más informes, favor de comunicarse
con Ángeles (925) 640-8146 o María
(925) 550-3016.
Fecha límite para registrarse:
Febrero 1, 2015
La segunda colecta de
hoy es para el beneficio de nuestro seminario diocesano. Gracias por apoyar a
nuestros futuros
sacerdotes.
La alegría plena consiste
en ver a Dios
en todas las cosas.
—San Julián
LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA
FECHAS IMPORTANTES
Enero 18, 2015
Enero 25, 2015
Clase 11:00am
Clase 11:00am
REUNION DE PADRES
NO HAY CLASE
Febrero 1, 2015
Janet Cain, Coordinadora. 925-876-0887
Lunes:
Heb 5:1-10; Sal 110 (109):1-4; Mc 2:18-22
Martes: Heb 6:10-20; Sal 111 (110):1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c; Mc 2:23-28
Miércoles: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Sal 110 (109):1-4; Mc 3:1-6
Jueves:
Heb 7:25 — 8:6; Sal 40 (39):7-10, 17; Mc 3:7-12, o cualquiera de
las lecturas para el Día de Oración
Viernes: Heb 8:6-13; Sal 85 (84):8, 10-14; Mc 3:13-19
Sábado: Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Sal 47 (46):2-3, 6-9; Mc 3:20-21
Domingo: Jon 3:1-5, 10; Sal 25 (24):4-9; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mc 1:14-20