Fr. Kwame s Corner THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF PLEASANTON. To know Christ better, live as He calls us to live, PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

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1 To know Christ better, live as He calls us to live, and and make make Him Him better better known. known. THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF PLEASANTON APRIL 14, 2019 PALM OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD Fr. Kwame s Corner The Three Days: How Jesus Saved the World It s Passion (aka Palm) Sunday! With this celebration we begin the holiest of Weeks because, in this Week, we will celebrate and remember the accomplishment of Jesus Christ to save humanity. On Passion Sunday, we are given a hint that we are about to witness again and celebrate the paschal (or saving) actions of Jesus on our behalf. These saving actions are his Suffering, Dying, and Rising! This is how we were and are being saved. This is what Christianity offers to and promises the world; and we celebrate these saving actions in the service Roman Catholics call the Triduum or three days Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. You may ask, why three days? The Christian practice of celebrating Easter with the Triduum was inspired by Jesus himself. In the gospels Jesus frequently referred to the three days to teach both his followers and opposers alike (see Matthew 16:21; 26:61; 27:40; Mark 14:58; 15:29). When people asked him to show them a sign to prove he was the savior, he told them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19). The Bible continued that, by this temple Jesus meant his own body, so When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and believed (John 2:22). As the disciples of Jesus today, we too remember, re-actualize, re-incorporate, or re-live what Jesus did to save us in a single Easter celebration across days. It is important for us to understand that those three days do not mean three celebrations: Easter is a 3-day long celebration! The early Christians reserved those three days for this one celebration which began on Holy Thursday; and they did not leave the grounds until after Holy Saturday. In our times, there may be legitimate reasons why one might participate in only one or two days. (Con nued on page 2) CATHOLICSOFPLEASANTON.ORG

2 APRIL 14, 2019 (Con nued from page 1) However, our reason cannot be that the three days have separate celebrations like we have different Sunday Masses to be picked from. By so doing, we lose the richness and the inspiration of the whole Easter celebration. Therefore, here are the different parts of the ONE EASTER CELEBRATION: HOLY THURSDAY: On this we observe what we call the Mandatum or the mandate. It is the central part of all that Jesus came to teach. This day is also called Maundy Thursday. The heart of Jesus teaching and of Christianity is Love. Jesus commands us to love one another as he has loved us. We kick off our Triduum with a Morning Prayer at Saint Augustine at 8:30 AM. Then, at 8 O Clock in the evening at Saint Elizabeth Seton, we gather to celebrate the Mass of the Lord s Supper in which we follow Jesus example by ritually washing each other s feet. As the beginning of our 3-day celebration, this Mass has conclusion. Instead, we all depart in silence, recalling and reflecting on Jesus agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and his arrest. GOOD FRIDAY: We regather to continue our ritual journey with Jesus. On this day the cross and Jesus s suffering and death is our focus. Jesus taught that the greatest love one can give is to lay down one s life for a friend. Here we recall that he did not only teach and say this, but he actually lived it by dying on the cross a sign of sacrifice and unconditional love which our world so badly needs. We have Morning Prayers at 8:30. Then, individuals are invited to do their private meditations, reflections and prayers until 12 Noon when the community gathers for the Way of the Cross at Saint Augustine. At 4:30 PM we regroup for the Cross Walk showing to the world this work of Jesus from Saint Augustine to Saint Elizabeth Seton through Downtown Pleasanton. Good Friday evening service continues at 8 at Saint Elizabeth Seton where read the passion of Christ, pray for the world, show our solidarity and love for the cross of Christ, and share communion. Again, the community departs in silence without ending the celebration. HOLY SATURDAY: Our focus today goes from the burial of Jesus in the tomb to his resurrection to complete this saving work of God for humankind. We gather at Saint Augustine at 8:30 AM for the Morning Prayer. At 8 O clock in the evening, we celebrate the Easter Vigil in which we use different symbols to highlight meaning of Jesus resurrection. We recall the darkness of the world and power of the Light of Christ to dispel that darkness. We read and listen to stories that capture the history of work Jesus accomplished how we came to be saved. We initiate new members of the. We renew and recommit ourselves to believe and live out our faith in Jesus Christ. We have communion and we acclaim the fact that Jesus Christ our savior has risen from the dead and lives forever! This concludes our Easter Triduum which begins with Thursday through Friday to this night. EASTER is also the First Sunday of Easter. On this day there are six Masses from which you may choose. At Saint Augustine, we have 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:15 AM at the Grotto, and 12:00 PM Masses and at Saint Elizabeth Seton there will be 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Masses. We therefore encourage all Catholics to make the Triduum and one of the Sunday Masses. We also invite all Christians and non-christians alike to join us if even to celebrate what we believe is the greatest gift that God has given to liberate the world and humans the pure act of love for peace! Fr. Kwame PAGE 2

3 PALM OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD April 14 MONDAY April 15 TUESDAY April 16 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 12:00 PM Jane Cook Monina Umali Cyril Miranda 8:30 AM Patricia Fitzgerald 8:00 AM 8:30 AM Ed McCrary 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 12:00 PM 7:30 PM 6:00 AM St. Vincent de Paul Easter Basket Sort Hall Rosary Hispanic Prayer Group St. Vincent de Paul Committee Meeting Rosary Infant & Toddler Playgroup Al-Anon Tuesday PM Youth & Family Reconciliation Rectory Room 13 WEDNESDAY April 17 8:30 AM Alfonso Ortiz 8:00 AM Rosary Military Peer Support Group Rectory THURSDAY April 18 8:30 AM Morning Prayer FRIDAY April 19 8:30 AM 11:00 AM Morning Prayer Al-Anon - Friday AM Good Friday Stations of The Cross AA Words of Wisdom Hispanic Prayer Group Rms. 4, 5 &7 SATURDAY April 20 8:30 AM 8:45 AM Morning Prayer Al-Anon Saturday AM April 21 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 12:00 PM April 14 9:00 AM 11:00 AM 4:00 PM 6:30 PM Shirley Santos Joseph Spada Jose Diaz Cruz 10:15 AM RCIA Inquiry Room A MONDAY April 15 12:10 PM Kim Bretoi 11:30 AM 12:45 PM Rosary & Angelus Eucharistic Adoration TUESDAY April 16 12:10 AM Aaron Di Making (L) 11:30 AM Rosary & Angelus Triduum Choir Rehearsal WEDNESDAY April 17 12:10 AM Danilo Yaloung 11:30 AM 12:45 PM 5:00 PM Rosary & Angelus Eucharistic Adoration Children s Choir Rehearsal Teen Choir Rehearsal THURSDAY April 18 FRIDAY April 19 8:00 PM Mass of the Lord s Passion 8:00 PM Liturgy of The Word SATURDAY April 20 8:00 PM Easter Vigil April 21 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Liturgy of the PAGE 3

4 APRIL 14, 2019 Scripture Readings April 21, Acts of the Apostles 10:34a, Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9 Easter Food Baskets The St. Vincent de Paul Ministry is collecting NON-EXPIRED, non-perishable food for its Annual Easter Food Baskets for the needy in Pleasanton. Please leave food donations in the food bins located in the vestibules of each church any time. Lenten Reconciliation Youth & Family Communal April 16 at 7:30 PM St. Augustine The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most unique and beautiful aspects of Catholicism. Jesus Christ, in His abundant love and mercy, established the Sacrament of Confession, so that we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the. The sacrament washes us clean, and renews us in Christ. Communal Reconciliation mixes public prayer and individual confession to a priest, followed by absolution. Good Friday Office Hours In observance of Good Friday, the Rectory, Faith Formation and St. Elizabeth Seton Offices will be closed at 12:00 PM on Friday, April 19. Good Friday Cross Walk The Good Friday Cross Walk will begin at St. Augustine parking lot at 4:30 PM on Friday, April 19. Please join us in this solemn procession through town. The walk is approximately 3.2 miles and will end about 7:30 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton. More information is available in the vestibules. CRS Rice Bowl Palm Sunday: Encounter Our Neighbors We encounter Jesus this week in Jerusalem, a community he knew well. We prayerfully enter our own communities too, encountering those who are hungry and thirsty, and those who need our help. How does our Lenten journey motivate us to serve those we meet in our daily lives? Learn more at crsricebowl.org or visit the parish website. This project is organized by the Social Justice Committee. Grief Ministry The death of a loved one is a shattering experience. It leaves us in a state of shock, confusion, pain and sadness. You do not have to suffer alone. We invite you to participate in our grief support meetings. We will be meeting at St. Elizabeth Seton, on April 25, May 9 and 23, June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25 and August 8. Contact Eleanor at (925) for more information. All are welcome regardless of religious affiliation. We re Hiring! Part Time Secretary St. Augustine Rectory Job Title: Part Time: Secretary (St. Augustine Rectory) 1:00 PM 5:00 PM Monday - Friday Position Overview The secretary position is responsible for assisting with all church office activity. Working directly with the entire office and pastoral staff, the secretary effectively communicates and manages incoming visitors, phone calls, mail and other items as necessary. This position requires a person who will responsibly manage church resources and help the ministries of the church meet the needs of the parish. For a complete job position description, please check our website at catholicsofpleasanton.org. a cover letter and resume to omorineau@catholicsofpleasanton.org. PAGE 4

5 PALM OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD 7 Last Words Schedule Change Please be advised that there will be no Last Seven Words Of Jesus of Good Friday. Please reach out to the Director of Liturgy if you have questions. Easter Plant Donations Needed If you would like to donate flowering and green plants that we can use for our Easter environment, please drop them off at the churches anytime during Holy Week, but no later than Noon on Good Friday. Your generosity is always greatly appreciated! Thank you. - Dn. Gary March Stewardship of Treasure March Sunday Plate Budget: $140,414 March Sunday Plate Actual: $122,897 % via On-line Giving: 29% YTD Sunday Plate Budget: $410,330 YTD Sunday Plate Actual: $374,976 % of Budget 91.38% March Arise & Build Receipts $52,598 Total A&B Campaign Receipts $3,868,984 Total Receipts % of $3.6M Pledge 1.07% Thank you for your Stewardship! Click on the Giving tab of the CCOP Website to review the 2017 / 2018 Parish Financial Report Louie Natividad Dorothy Le Brane Pete Montini Agnes Fuentes Eudia Elardo-Autor Ely Vertucio Galliguez Alexander Volynsky Nick Miller Phillis Cowan Marcel ter Beek PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Lydia Fuentes Kellie Beaty Richard Guasco Sue Selna PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Dan Lydon Fr. James Matthews Farolito Cristobal Nemesia Arnobit Selso (Tuto) Sandoval Fr. Paul Minnihan Easter Stewardship of Treasure As we look forward to Easter Sunday, please note that the Easter collection is the second largest of the year. This collection funds the operation of the CCOP Parish and Ministries. We thank you for your diligent practice of stewardship and generosity. CCOP Finance Council Divine Mercy Sunday Sunday, April 28 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM St. Elizabeth Seton Join us on this great Feast of God's Mercy with Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena Prayer. Refreshments will follow. WELCOME NEW FAMILIES Mauricio & Maria Molina Nipu Moolayil & Claudia Mekkat Manuel Morejon & Aurora Martinez Shawn Munguia Manuel Munoz & Luisa F. Carbajal Nonso & Adaobi Onochie Allan & Aurora Palsis Randy & Marjorie Paulasa Linder & Cristina Perez Gabriel & Karen Peri Tomek Pilch & Domenica Ginocchio Beverly Piña Elbert Policarpio & Annie Wong Bertha Ruelas Preciado Alexius Raju & Kavita Antony Randhu & Malbella Reyes Michael & Kristi Sahlman Julian Simon & Jimila Thankappan Rich Simpson Joe & Soniya Thomas Susan Tracy Gary & Adriana Vennanica Rajo & Neena Verghese Phillip Westfall PAGE 5

6 HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE PALM April 14 HOLY THURSDAY April 18 No Confessions GOOD FRIDAY April 19 No Confessions ST. AUGUSTINE Procession to start before all Masses at the Grotto 8:30 AM: Morning Prayer (No 8:30 AM Mass) 8:30 AM: Morning Prayer (No 8:30 AM Mass) 12:00 Noon: Stations of the Cross 4:30 PM: Start of Cross Walk (Begin St. Augustine parking lot to St. Elizabeth Seton) ST. ELIZABETH SETON Procession to start before all Masses in the St. John Paul II Activity Center No 12:10 PM Mass, Rosary, Angelus 8:00 PM: Mass of the Lord s Supper Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until midnight No 12:10 PM Mass, Rosary or Angelus 12:00 PM-: Private Meditation In The 8:00 PM: Liturgy of the Word Veneration of the Cross Simple Communion HOLY SATURDAY April 20 No Confessions EASTER April 21 8:30 AM: Morning Prayer No 8:30 AM or 5:00 PM Mass 8:00 AM Mass (No incense) 10:00 AM Mass (Adult Choir) 10:15 AM Mass in Grotto 12:00 PM Mass 8:00 PM Easter Vigil (We begin with the Holy Fire at the St. John Paul II Activity Center.) 9:00 AM Mass (Children s Choir, no incense) 11:00 AM Mass (Youth Choir) No evening Masses