St. Mary Catholic Church www.stmary-wc.org 925-891-8900

NEW Sunday Mass Times:

Sat. 4:30pm, Sun. 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm (Spanish) & 6pm

Dear Friends, Happy Lent to all of us! We don’t often think of this season as one to celebrate, but we should. These forty days (or so) are a special time for us to “retreat” from our regular ways of life, to ex-amine ourselves and our need to change, and to prepare ourselves to celebrate the Feast of our Salvation through Christ’s Death and Resurrection. Now that’s reason to rejoice! Throughout this season, we have special times for additional prayers. In addition to our regular daily and weekend Masses, we also have the Sta-tions of the Cross on Fridays during Lent starting at 6:00 p.m. in English. Beginning at 6:30 each Friday evening we will have our annual Lenten meal, to which everyone is invited. Stations of the Cross in Spanish will begin at 7 pm. I also encourage you to take one of our Lenten prayer booklets to use as a springboard to your daily prayer. This can be a wonderful time to grow closer to the Lord, to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” in what we say and do. May the Lord bless us throughout this holy season, and may we be pre-pared to celebrate the gift of salvation and the promise of life in heaven with our loving, Risen Lord! Father Fred

STRENGTH AGAINST TEMPTATION The first Sunday of the season of Lent always includes a Gospel account of the temptation of the Lord Jesus in the desert by the devil. This year, the story is set against the backdrop of the first reading from Gene-sis, which recounts the very first temptation by the dev-il. That story is set in a garden of delight. The Gospel story is set in the desert. As believers, we know that temptation comes our way in our own gardens of de-light as well as the deserts of our lives. As Lent begins, our attention is drawn to that temptation within each of us to become like God—we want control, power, and answers to all of life’s difficult ques-tions. As communities of faith, we are given this season of repentance so that we can join our hearts with others on the difficult journey of conver-sion. We look to God and to one another for strength against temptation. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

ORGANIZATIONS CYO, Jerry Florence stmarycyo.wc@gmail.com 510-504-5954 Charismatic Prayer Group, Jim Crowley 944-0359 Eucharistic Adoration, Mary Johnstone 954-7205 Filipino-American (Fil-Am) Ministry, Elena Gaoiran 525-7089 Finance Council, Brian Mulligan 210-1031 Homebound Ministry, Helene Vizcarra 891-8936 Hospital Ministry, Angeles Ron 856-8780 Knights of Columbus, John Cuddihy 286-4515 Respect Life Ministry, Jim Crowley 944-0359 Rosary Makers, Ana Lau 256-4428 St. Vincent de Paul, Barb Erickson 937-2817 Walking with Purpose, Laura Lencioni 997-4379

On Saturday, March 7, at 12:00 Noon we will have a special Mass which

will include the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. All those advanced in years or with serious illness are encouraged to attend. All are welcome!

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 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

1:00 p.m. Spanish, 6:00 p.m.

Sacrament of Penance Saturdays 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.

DEVOTIONS

Eucharistic Adoration Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

First Fridays: all night Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Fatima Devotion: First Saturday Hispanic Holy Hour: Other Saturdays

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 weekend’s second collection is for Parish Maintenance. We appreciate your generosity!

DATE TIME MASS INTENTION 02/29 4:30 pm Nora Dougherty (L) B’D’

03/01 7:00 am Albino Reyes

9:00 am The People of St. Mary Parish

11:00 am Israel Castillo

1:00 pm Carlos Luis Melo (L)

6:00 pm Chris Jude Amies

03/02 6:30 am Santiago Leones

12:05 pm Sammy Lantin

03/03 6:30 am Pat McCarthy

12:05 pm Oscar Orpiano

03/04 6:30 am Joy Todd (L) B’D’

12:05 pm Chris Jude Amies

03/05 6:30 am Martin & Sarah Topay

12:05 pm Jeanette Scott

03/06 6:30 am Ted & Joy Todd & Family

8:15 am St. Mary School Community

12:05 pm Col. Guillermo Garcia

03/07 8:30 am Jon & Bonnie Armstrong & fam.

12:00 pm Mass with Anointing of the Sick

MASS SCHEDULE

PRAY FOR THE SICK

Staff and Administration Website: www.stmary-wc.org

Parish Office 891-8900 Fax 934-1358 Fr. Fred Riccio, friccio@stmary-wc.org Pastor 891-8900 Fr. John Blaker, 891-8900 In residence Ana Lau, alau@stmary-wc.org Office Manager 891-8908 Aileen Baker, abaker@stmary-wc.org Bookkeeper 891-8911

Faith Formation

Mary Kerfs, lifeteen@stmary-wc.org Administrative Assistant 891-8939 Tim Mannix, RCIA & tmannix@stmary-wc.org Liturgy Coordinator 891-8921 Austin Pisciotto apisciotto@stmary-wc.org Grades 4-8 891-8944 Maureen Tiffany mtiffany@stmary-wc.org Grades K-3 891-8942 Heather Abraham, habraham@stmary-wc.org Confirmation 891-8934

School

Office 935-5054 stmary@st-mary.net Website: www.st-mary.net Alumni: stmaryalumni@st-mary.net Garrett Padia, Principal 935-5054 Advisory Council Joel Williams, President 768-6711 Parents Club Shannon Crvarich, Co-President 949-973-8046 Lisa Kavanagh, Co-President 768-9890

Allison Flamez Margarita Caracas Elsa de Rossi Monica Jara Ana Alvarez Isabel Castillo Susana Jaime Maria Vargas Anthony De Cristoforo Rosalinda Reyes Annabelle Semira Joseph Suta Jeanine Gordon Christine Pollnow Jake Johnston Bill Clark Diane Hewson Clarissa Gutierrez Julia Rodriguez Fred & Emilia Sohn Raul Gonzalez

Raquel Zittel Dominador Hontucan

Quinn Gurnett Oralee Floria Henry Escano

Mary McLoughlin Angela Regan Beverly Regan Josefina Zabat Audry Robinson Loretta Holmes Nancie Campi

Betty Baker Victor Miguel Barrios

Carol Erikson Nydia Pajarillo Danyel Sheets

Beth Wainwright Ron Giglio

Robin Wood Carlos Luis Melo

St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) - March 3 Born into Philadelphia society, Katharine was an infant when she lost her mother. Her father remar-ried and the couple taught their daughters that their wealth was a “gift on loan” to be shared with the poor, whom they fed and cared for in their home. Invited by priest friends to witness firsthand the destitution on Native American res-ervations, Katharine resolved to devote her inher-itance to this apostolate and enter a contempla-tive order. When, however, in private audience, she begged Leo XIII to send missionaries to staff the schools she was building, the pope replied, “My child, why not become a missionary your-self?” Katharine renounced a 20-million-dollar fortune and founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, adoring Christ present in the Eucharist and ministering to Christ suffering in victims of racial discrimination. Her Sisters established over 60 schools nationwide, including Xavier University, New Orleans, the first dedicated to professional education for African Americans. In 2000, John Paul II canonized “Mother Drexel,” praising her “excellent example of practical charity and gen-erous solidarity with the less fortunate, long the distinguishing mark of American Catholics.” —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR March 2-8

FF = Faith Formation Center SA = St. Anthony Rm. (near parish hall) SE = St. Elizabeth Hall (Conf. Rm.) SJ = St. Joseph Room SM= St. Michael Room SP = St. Peter Room ST = St. Therese Room

MONDAY, MARCH 2 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 7:00 PM Walking with Purpose/FF TUESDAY, MARCH 3 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 7:00 AM Men of St. Joseph/SA 8:30 AM Walking with Purpose/FF 9:30 AM Rosary Makers/FF-ST 7:00 PM Hispanic Prayer Group/SA 7:00 PM Faith Form. 6th-7th-8th Gr/FF 7:30 PM Choir Practice/Church WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 6:45 PM Encounter Youth Group/SJ 7:00 PM Charismatic Prayer/FF-SM 7:00 PM Catholic Man Night/Chapel

THURSDAY, MARCH 5 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 4:00 PM Faith Formation 4th-5th Gr/SE 7:00 PM Hispanic Prayer Group/Church 7:00 PM Young Adults/FF-SP FRIDAY, MARCH 6 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 7:00 PM Hisp. Choir Practice/SA

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 8:00 AM Men’s Prayer Group/FF-SM 9:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel SUNDAY, MARCH 8 9:30 AM Faith Formation K-3rd/FF 10:30 AM RCIA/FF-SJ 11:00 AM Hispanic Faith Form./FF 4:00 PM Band Practice/Church

Characteristics of an Everyday Stewardship for Lent – Mindful

What is it that tempts you the most? Is it an action, a person, or a place? It is something that seems innocent enough, like a food, a drink, or an event? When you really start reflecting, you find that there are many temptations all around. Even if you are strong and never suc-cumb to a certain temptation, it is still there waiting for a weak moment in your life. One difficultly in the life of a disciple trying to live a stewardship way of life lies in the temptations we never actually see. We are too busy thinking about past failures or successes, or we are fixated on what pos-sibilities the future holds that we miss the important things going on in the present. Jesus could be standing directly in front of us, but we miss him because we are looking everywhere except straight ahead. Being mindful means that we are looking out for how and when God will call us this very day. Our decisions this day will have a huge impact on the future. If we only look to the future, we will miss those important calls to action. We may even find ourselves in a desert of sorts, looking for any way out we can find. However, God may need us to give of our-selves for a reason we cannot yet discern while in that desert. We need to stay awake, be aware, and look for His hand in all things. If we don’t, we may even miss the pathway out of that desert when it presents itself. — Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS ©LP

DAFFODIL SALE TO BENE-FIT A FRIENDLY PLACE/

MANOR March 7-8 Pots of lovely daffodil bulbs will be available for $12 each after all Masses next weekend (except the 7am Mass) Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, A Friendly Place/Manor in Oakland offers a safe ha-ven for destitute women. A Friendly Place serves as a daytime hospitali-ty center, and A Friendly Manor pro-vides transitional housing for home-less women. Many women have found a new lease on life through the efforts of the Sisters and their staff. Your support of this cause is greatly appreciated!

Join us for coffee, donuts and fellow-ship this Sunday, March 1, after the 9:00 Mass.

As usual, St. Mary’s Council of the Knights of Columbus will be hosting Len-ten Suppers on

the Fridays of Lent. Supper will be served in the parish gym at 6:30 pm, after the Stations of the Cross. Tickets will be sold after Mass on Sundays and in the par-ish office. It helps a lot with plan-ning if you can buy your tickets ahead of time instead of at the door.

Adults: $10 Children under 12: $5 Family (2 adults & up to 4 chil-dren under 12): $30 Season ticket (6 meals): $50

Join us for Stations of the Cross in the church all the

Fridays of Lent. English: 6:00 pm Spanish: 7:00 pm

MARCH 8 - SPRING FORWARD

Calling All Women! Magnificat SOTI, a Ministry for Catholic Women,

invites all to their Prayer Breakfast - Saturday, March 21 - 9:30-12:30 Crowne Plaza, 45 John Glenn Dr, Concord, CA

Please join us for a morning of Praise, Prayer, and Inspiration as our speaker, Cindy Rippee, a religious educator and Bible study teacher, shares with us her testimony about how the Life in the Spirit seminars have changed her life and the life of her family. Born into an alcoholic home, she is now a Benedictine Oblate affiliated with the Prince of Peace Abbey. Cindy will share with us how the Word of God has brought her through unspeakable loss into living with joy each day. Men are always welcome to attend! Tickets are $33/$40 after March 14. For more information: https://magnificat-ministry.net/ca-walnut-creek For reservations or questions, call Kim Sullivan at 925-683-8220 or email: Magnificatsotirsvp@gmail.com

No better way to celebrate St Patrick and St Joseph this month than Catholic Man Night! Adoration, Rosary, and Confession for men, Wednesday, March 4, 7pm in the chapel. Be with God for an hour, and join like-minded men for fellowship afterward. Ro-saries and cheat sheets provided. Food and drink follow. Invite a friend. Questions? Contact: michaelgallagher1025@outlook.com

This weekend, in preparation for St. Vincent de Paul Bundle Sunday, we will be making available bags for your dona-tions. Parishioners can pick up an empty bag in the vesti-bule of the church, and then take it home and fill it, and return it to the SVDP truck in the church parking lot the

weekend of March 14-15. Items we can accept (must be clean, gently used, and free of stains, pet hair, mold, and smoke odor): Small working appliances; dishes, glassware, cookware, utensils; color and cable-ready TVs (no console TVs); working camcorders; clothing (no underwear or panty hose), shoes, accessories; puzzles and games (with all pieces); bicycles in very good condition; books (no magazines); trav-el toiletries (new & unopened); jewelry; tablecloths, blankets, bed sheets, curtains, decorative pillows, towels, rugs, pictures and frames; videos, DVDs, CDs, records; floor and table lamps; mobile phones. We cannot accept: baby bottles (unless new & unopened), car seats, mesh playpens, cosmetics, exercise equipment, BBQ grills, lawn furnish-ings, gas-powered lawn or garden equipment, golf clubs, major appli-ances, carpet, tires or wheels.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALES! Get them while they last!!

2nd Grade Brownies & 5th Grade Junior Troops from St. Mary School

Cookies will be available for purchase after 9:00am Mass every Sunday till 3/15!

When You REDISCOVER THE SAINTS, Amazing Things Happen!

Join Matthew Kelly and the Dynamic Catholic Team for another incredible journey through our BEST LENT EVER daily video reflections. It’s not what you give up; it’s who you become. Who will you be-come? Sign up at DynamicCatholic.com/amazing

Our kick-off event last Sunday was well attend-ed and featured Father Neal Clemens, who opened the evening with

prayer, followed by Fr. James Moore, O.P. and Blayne Witiig from Options Health, a pregnancy center. The attendees were espe-cially moved by Fr. Moore's testi-mony that after seeing the movie Unplanned last year, he drove di-rectly to the closest Planned Parenthood to pray. We should all imitate Fr. Moore's unabashed following of Christ. What does Christ expect of us? Does He ex-pect us to give up candy for the 40 Days of Lent? Or does He expect and demand MORE from us? Just think about it. The horren-dous slaughter of pre-born chil-dren occurs right in our midst. We are compelled to act. WE MUST ACT. PLEASE make this a Lent to re-member... a Lent when we heard the cry of the innocent victims of abortion and acted decisively. A Lent when we became more Christ-like, not worrying about what the "world" will say, but just doing the work of God, without reservation or fear. To sign up for prayer hours, please go to: 40daysforlife.com/walnutcreek

Vigil hours: 7 am to 7 pm, Monday-Saturday, until April 4

LITTLE SAINTS Kinder - 3rd Sunday 9:30am - 11:00am

ROCK 4th - 5th Grade Thursday 4:00pm - 5:30pm

BLAST 6th Grade Tuesday 7:00pm - 8:30pm

EDGE 7th - 8th Grade Tuesday 7:00pm - 8:30pm

CONFIRMATION Call for info

YOUTH GROUP 9th - 12th Grade Wednesday 6:50pm - 8:30pm

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Office 925-891-8939 Lifeteen@stmary-wc.org Sunday– Thursday 8:30—5:30pm

Catequesis en español Ages 6-13yrs Sunday 11:15am - 12:45pm

Disciples in Training

Faith Formation

Youth Ministry

THE VINEYARD St. Mary Church

YOUTH MINISTRY (K-12) Sunday, March 1, 2020

Are you looking for ways to get involved in the Parish Community? Consider helping out at one of our action-packed summer activities!

We are looking for adults AND teens to be a part of our awesome team! Contact the Faith Formation office for more information!

SAVE THE DATES June 22-26

Helping Youth Encounter Christ through a Catholic Experience of

Service, Community and Faith!

Don’t let your 9th - 12th grader miss out on this one-of-a-

kind retreat coming to St. Mary Parish this Summer

July 5 - July 10!

For Registration Info., visit-www.YoungNeighbors.org

or email Nancy@cmdnet.org.

Hoy es el Primer Domingo de Cuaresma. Cuaresma signifi-ca cuarenta días y es el tiem-po donde se prepara la fies-ta más importante del año, “La Pascua”. La Cuaresma nos recuerda el periodo de preparación para un verdadero encuentro con Dios. La Cuaresma nos invita al arrepentimiento y a la conversión. Es un tiempo sa-grado para orar, dar limosna y ayunar. La Cuaresma dio inicio el 26 de febrero y termina el Jueves Santo, antes de la Misa de la Cena del Señor. La Oración colectiva nos ayuda a ver con claridad el propósito de la Cuaresma: “Concédenos, Dios todopoderoso, que, por las prácticas anuales del sacramento cua-resmal, progresemos en el conocimiento del misterio de Cristo y traduzcamos su efecto en una conducta irreprochable.” Que seamos santos y perfectos nos recomendaba el Señor Jesús el domingo pasado. ¿Lo recuerdan? Pues, ahora es el tiempo de practicar constantemente el vencer las tentaciones que se presentan en el vivir cotidiano. La tentación es una gran oportunidad para vencer el mal y persistir siempre en hacer el bien. El desierto es el lugar preferido de Jesús para fortale-cerse en el Espíritu del Padre. ¿A qué desierto en-traremos? ¿Qué descubriremos en él? ¿A quién encon-traremos? Ahora es la oportunidad de retirar el mal que hay en nuestra vida con las mismas palabras con que Jesús al final de este Evangelio rechaza al de-monio: “Aléjate, Satanás, porque dice la escritura: Adorarás al Señor tu Dios, y a Él solo servirás” (Mateo 4:10). Con Jesús, vayamos al desierto y preparémonos para las pruebas. ¡Señor que tu miseri-cordia nos acompañe en esta Cuaresma que comienza! ©LPi

FECHAS IMPORTANTES

Marzo 1, NO HAY CLASE Marzo 6, II Viernes de Vía Crucis

Marzo 8, Clase 11:15am Daylight saving time

(925)357-3048 jcain@stmary-wc.org

BUSCA A DIOS

EN EL DESIERTO

Retiro Formación de Discípulos Febrero 20-23,2020

Nuestro evento inaugural del do-mingo pasado estuvo bien concu-rrido y le dio apertura con una ora-cion el Padre Neal Clemens. A él le siguieron el Padre James Moore, OP, y Blayne Wittig, directora de Options Health, un centro de ayuda para las mujeres embarazadas. Los asistentes se sintieron movidos por el testimonio del Padre Moore, quien despues de haber visto la pelicula Unplanned el año pasado, inmediatamente se fue a la clínica de aborto más cercana para orar allí. Todos deberíamos imitar la manera decidida del Padre Moore de seguir a Cristo. ¿Qué espera Cristo de nosotros? ¿Quiere que eliminemos los dulces durante los 40 días de cua-resma, o espera y exige algo más de nosotros? Pensémoslo bien: La horrenda masacre de los niños pre-nacidos ocurre en nuestra propia comunidad. Tenemos la obligación de actuar. Hagamos de esta cuaresma algo inolvidable...una cuaresma en la que nos llegó el clamor de las inocen-tes victimas del aborto y actuamos con decisión. Una cuaresma en la que nos asemejamos más a Cristo, sin preocuparnos por lo que digan los demas, sino hacien-da el trabajo de Dios, sin reservaciones y sin temor.

Escoge tus horas de oración en: 40daysforlife.com/walnutcreek

Horas de la vigilia de oración: De 7 am a 7 pm, de lunes a sábado, hasta el 4 de abril.