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Second collection July 20 & 21 for SFA Religious Education support.
PARISH FINANCIAL INFORMATION
WEEKLY COLLECTIONS:
Sunday Collections July 14 = $8,791
Faith Direct eGiving = $3,650
Total Donations = $12,441
The parish needs $16,000 weekly just to meet expenses
Year To Date SHORTFALL = ($22,126)
January - June Expenses for Parish = $605,646
Thank you to all who continue to support our parish through your donations.
To see the Report to the Parish on 2018 Results click on this link: Report to the Parish on 2018 Results
The 2019 Bishop's Appeal continues. You will find envelopes in the baptistery area of the Church that can be used to make a one time donation or a pledge. Mail your envelope to the Diocese of Oakland or drop it in the collection basket. The goal established by the Diocese for St. Francis of Assisi this year is $47,700.
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Our value-centered academic programs empower students to be faith - filled people, lifelong learners and problem solvers and globally responsible citizens.
Please feel free to call the school office at 925-682-5414 to schedule a tour and to get information about our academic programs.
You can also visit us on our website at: www.sfaconcord.org
Cathy VanderKlugt, Principal
Dear Friends at St. Francis of Assisi Parish,
I hope this finds you well. Dodoma is dry, with some little showers here and there. We did not receive enough rain this year, and some crops are failing. It is also getting cold, and young lads are in heavy sweaters.
All in all we are doing well. Dodoma is growing very fast, since the current President declared that all government officials should relocate from Dar Es Salaam. We are experiencing a fast growing population but with limited infrastructures to cater for all the social services and other general need. It is poor planning on the part of the government.
Just a quick note on St. Ignatius Prep and Primary School:
Notable Achievements:
The school has expanded to about 600 students. This is due to the developing City of Dodoma which has become the capital of Tanzania. With some of your support and donations in the previous year we have managed to get the second bore hole that supports us with clean water. We have started the underground water tank which will help us more in securing the rain water to be used in dry season. Water shortage has become a reality in Dodoma as many people have shifted to Dodoma recently.
We have the plans to expand the school since the needs are greater for the quality education. The expansion will go gradually with the availability of funds. We celebrated 15 years of our school since it started. It was great to see that the first group that you have supported for the last fifteen years are now at the University. Our former students have started the alumni group which is very encouraging to the school to see our former students keeping the spirit of the school and coming back to support the younger ones.
Challenges
1. We still have a great number of pupils who are from poor families and other have become orphans while at school. We continue to support their education, thanks for your generous support over the years.
2. We need more underground tanks to store rain water to support us during the dry season, your support has been a big plus to help us carry on with such initiatives.
3. We have started the outreach programs to reach the poor people in the neighbourhood so that we may prepare them to join our school. We trust that with your support, this initiative will produce positive results in the near future!
4. The increasing number of students will continue to call for more clean water. We are planning for a third bore hole, as the number of students increase.
We cannot be more than grateful for the continuous support you give us. Your contributions continue to make the difference in the lives of many of our young men and women. Thank you so much for your generosity and support to this ministry of ours in Dodoma. We wish you many blessings. We keep you in our humble prayers!Fr. Sossy, SJ
Luyembe Sossy, SJ
St. Charles Lwanga Parish,
P.O. Box 2019-80200,
Malindi, Kenya.
Mobile: +254-745-739 586; +255-784-278 600
Father Ismael and the St Francis of Assisi School Board invites you to join us in welcoming our new Principal, Cathy VanderKlugt, to our community. We will begin with 10 am Mass on Sunday, August 11th. After Mass please join us in the John Paul II room for refreshments and an informal meet and greet. We look forward to seeing you there!
Registration for our Fall programs will begin August 1st. Please go to the Sacraments page on our website for more information. 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 Luncheon will be September. Have a wonderful summer! All seniors are invited to our luncheons celebrated on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from February thru May and September thru December
The Senior Luncheon is still looking for people to help with this ministry. If you could set up or clean up, or even prepare a meal or two, then please contact Marian Morbeto at (925) 6766158
For Catholics, the sanctity of the confessional is unquestionable. It is central to our faith and to our constitutional right to the free expression of religion. SB 360 Mandated reporters: clergy (Hill, D-San Mateo), as proposed, attempted to undermine the seal of confession for all the faithful. Now, even though amended, SB 360 still denies the sanctity of confession to priests and to thousands of Catholics who work with priests in parishes and other Church agencies and ministries. (Read Archbishop José Gomez's statement.)
Clergy and ministers are already mandated reporters of abuse when it comes to their administrative duties. That is right and important. It must continue unabated. But inserting the government into the confessional is not going to help children. Abusers are notoriously meticulous, secretive and deceptive. They would not likely seek spiritual reconciliation or counseling but rather go to great lengths to conceal their hideous crimes.
In addition, Canon law is very clear that any priest who violates the seal of confession is automatically excommunicated. That will not change. In fact, several priests have been martyred rather than violate the seal.
The free exercise of religion has been recognized for centuries by nations around the world. SB 360 would undermine that, create confusion, deter counseling and discourage spiritual counseling without gaining any protection for children.
Please urge a NO vote on SB 360 unless it is amended. Any law that does not keep this unique form of religious communications private and available to every person, is wrong and violates Californians’ rights to practice their religion freely.
Meets in the Hospitality Room of the Church on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:00 am. The Registration Fee is $20.00 and it includes a Study Guide. Please register with the Parish Office: (925) 682-5447. Each session includes prayer, reading, discussion and snack! All Are Welcome!
We are currently reading the Gospel of Luke. Facilitators: Barbara Lassen MS and Carmen Scholl RN, MTS
Thank you for being a part of our St. Francis of Assisi family. I appreciate all that you do for our parish and community by sharing your God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure.
This summer, I pray that you will have some quiet and restful time that includes the love, joy and peace of being with family and friends. Please consider that St. Francis of Assisi continues to be open for Mass, numerous activities and the Sacraments. During these summer months your generosity through Faith Direct can help provide the consistent resources we need to operate our parish and ministries. Being part of this challenge is simple. To donate electronically at no cost to you visit: membership.faithdirect.net/CA762
Fr. Ismael Gutierrez, Pastor
We, the SFA community, have been blessed with the presence of these wonderful women in our school, most recently Sr. James Marien, Sr. Anna Marie and Sr. Anne Eugene.
In gratitude to the Sisters of St. Joseph for their many years of service for their many years of service, to St. Francis Parish and School community, we will be dedicating a NEW TILE WALL in their honor. If you would like to be part of this lasting tribute, you are invited to come to the School or Parish Office and fill out a purchase request of a 6” x 6” Tile at $100. This donation will cover the costs of materials and a donation to the Sisters. This effort is being coordinated by our School.
To all the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who have served here - THANK YOU!
An emergency supply of food was provided for 76 households (294 individuals) in June. Other assistance (rent, utility, etc.) was provided for three (3) families in June. We are in need of bilingual volunteers interested in helping with home visits to families in crisis. Please call 682 -5811 for more information
Most Needed Food Items: (baskets for donations are on the altar stairs). Apple or Grape Juice, Cheerios, Rice, Dried Pinto Beans, Masa Mix, Cooking Oil, Saltine/Graham Crackers, Jelly/Jam, Peanut Butter, Spaghetti sauces, Canned Soup, Vegetables, Chili, Tuna or Meats,Large Size diapers, laundry soap, toiletries, paper products. .
Other Needed Items: Elementary School Backpacks & Supplies (binders & paper, pencils & sharpeners, erasers, rulers, crayons, etc.) are now on sale! Please help SVdP provide elementary kids with what they need to do well in school! 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. The next church collection for SVdP is scheduled for August 10 & 11. Please be generous
Food Pantry Hours: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY. Closed on Tuesday and Thursday.
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