>
Save the date - Tuesday November 27th - #GivingTuesday
You can help St. Francis of Assisi Church by thanking God for all of the blessings that he has bestowed upon you during the year on #GivingTuesday! Simply CLICK HERE and you will be redirected to the Faith Direct - St Francis of Assisi eGiving website were you can enroll securely online. Our Parish Code is CA762.
PARISH FINANCIAL INFORMATION
WEEKLY COLLECTIONS:
Sunday Collections November 4 = $8,842
Faith Direct eGiving = $3,713
TOTAL Donations = $12,555
The parish needs $16,000 weekly just to meet expenses
Year To Date SHORTFALL = ($28,749)
January to October Expenses for Parish = $977,516
To see the Report to the Parish on 2017 Financial Results click on this link: Report to the Parish on 2017 Financial Results
Thank you to all who continue to support our parish through your donations.
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon.com you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
Support our Church by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com. Choose St Francis of Assisi Church Concord CA as your favaorite charity and we will receive 0.5% of the of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases from the Amazon Smile Foundation.
3x your impact! Amazon is tripling the donation rate on your first smile.amazon.com purchase - through March 31! Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/94-2234428 and Amazon donates to St Francis of Assisi Church
Questions should be addressed to one of the following:
Religious Education in Spanish for children and adults: Scarlett Salaverria (925) 375-1066 or Scarlett@sfaconcord.org
Religious Education in English for children and adults: Nathan Cho (925) 375-1067 or Nathan@sfaconcord.org
Youth Ministry and Teen Sacraments: Kathy De Lemos (925) 375-1057 or Youth@Sfaconcord.org
We have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every first Friday of the month following the 8:30 am mass until Noon in the Chapel and again from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. All are invited.
Our next Senior Luncheons will be on Tuesday, December 11th. HELP NEEDED! If you would like to help with this ministry either by preparing items, helping to set up or serve and/or clean up, contact Marion Morbeto at (925) 285-1846 or email mmorbeto@astound.net
Aug. 16, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The news we have been receiving about the horrible actions of priests, bishops and cardinals has stunned and disgusts me. Those who have harmed children and vulnerable adults must be held accountable. The bishops who refused to stop this immoral and criminal behavior must also be held accountable. I am shamed by the actions of these men and have vowed to work with all people of good will to make our Diocese a safe place for all.
To that end, we have policies and procedures in place mandating that every person who serves in our Diocese, whether clergy, religious, staff or lay volunteer, receives training in how to identify and stop predatory behavior. The Diocese of Oakland has a zero tolerance policy to the sexual abuse of minors on the part of anyone who serves the church. We also have staff which respond to each allegation of abuse, and have a loving and responsive team to assist survivors of clerical sexual abuse. We have an independent Diocesan Review Board composed of lay experts in psychology, police investigators, retired judges and abuse survivors, which examines complaints of misbehavior. I follow their recommendations.
I welcome the initiative of Cardinal DiNardo, President of the US Bishops Conference, whose August 16 statement, to establish an investigation into questions surrounding bishops’ accountability, an opening of new and confidential reporting channels for complaints, proper independence and lay, not clerical, leadership of the process. (You can go to the Oakland Diocese website to see this statement: https://www.oakdiocese.org/offices/communication/media-relations/news-releases-2018/bishop-barber-welcomes-initiative-to-improve-accountability)
The love of Christ compels us to be better models of Jesus’ love, mercy, and healing. We must never violate the trust placed in us. As Bishop of Oakland, I promise there will be consequences for those who do.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, SJ, Bishop of Oakland
Any reports of abuse should be directed to our Chancellor, Steve Wilcox, at swilcox@oakdiocese.org or 510-267-8334.
Over 10 years ago, the Diocese of Oakland implemented a “Safe Environment” policy and program to protect our children and vulnerable adults from sexual abuse by anyone working or volunteering at our churches or schools. The program requires an FBI background check via finger printing of any person, clergy or staff or volunteers, who work directly with children here at St. Francis of Assisi Church and School. In addition, all volunteers and ministry members are required to take an online sexual abuse awareness class at the www.Virtus.org website every 3 years. This website is now being used by many Dioceses throughout the united States and provides a regional and national database. In addition, a Megan’s Law check is run every year to ensure that none of our St. Francis of Assisi clergy or staff or volunteers are recently convicted sex offenders. Bishop Barber has made it clear that he has a zero tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse of minors on the part of anyone who serves the church.
The Parish Office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 22nd and Friday, Nov. 23rd for the holidays.
Food Pantry Activity:
An emergency supply of food was given to 110 households (495 individuals) in the month of September and 125 households (544 individuals) in the month of October.
FoodMaxx gift cards ware given to 140 eligible families.
Special Assistance (utility, rent, etc.) was provide for eight families in October.
Most-Needed Food Items: (baskets for donations on the altar stairs) Apple or Grape Juice, Cheerios, Canned Soup, Vegetables, Fruits, Chili, Tuna or Meats, Saltine or Graham Crackers, Rice, Dried Pinto Beans, Cooking Oil, Masa Mix or any (non-expired) items you wish to donate.
SVdP is requesting monetary donations to help with their FOOD BASKETS FOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS. Please be generous and help us help those in need during this holiday season. Thank you!
St. Francis Church has four “second collections” each year for the SVdP Ministry. You can also make or send a donation anytime to SVdP here at our Church. We are most grateful for your continued and very generous support.
Food Pantry Hours: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY. Closed on Tuesday and Thursday.
Shop or sell on eBay and support St. Francis of Assisi Church. Add us as your Favorite charity on eBay to see us as your preferred charity in eBay checkout. You will also be able to easily donate a portion of your proceeds to us when you sell on eBay AND get some of your seller fees waived and receive the tax credits. Visit our charity page today and be part of a growing eBay community that has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to thousands of charities.
Click here 
to add us as your Favorite charity on eBay.
