Welcome to St. Francis of Assisi Church

Missionaries of Jesus visit to our Parish on 26 & 27th June 2021

06-18-2021

Reasons why Missionaries of Jesus be considered to participate in Mission Cooperative Plan

More than 65 % of the annual budget to support the mission worldwide comes from the Mission Cooperative Plan.

We are working in the southern part of the Philippines; in the southern part of Papua New Guinea and in the northern part of Guatemala. In all these places, we journey with the poor and tribal minorities pushed by mainstream society to the far-flung villages. We also work with the immigrants in the USA: in two poor parishes of Los Angeles and in the border USA and Mexico in Brownsville, Texas.

In all the parishes where we work, the people cannot finance the sustenance of the missionaries and the different missionary works:

Evangelization: in Guatemala, our three missionaries serve 50far-flung and poor villages. During the offertory, people offer corn, bananas, and other crops. People are very generous, but they do not have money. The missionaries cannot use the corn and other crops to run their vehicles to go to all the villages to give faith and bible formation and also to celebrate the sacraments. It's the same situation in Papua New Guinea and Digos, Davao del Sur in the Philippines. In Digos, our two missionaries visit 30 villages situated in different mountains. Some villages are accessible only by motorcycle or with a horse. The Mission Office of the Missionaries of Jesus subsidizes these parishes.

Education: In most of our parishes we help poor but deserving students from grade schools to college. These students give back to the parishes as they involve in different ministries. Part of education is the formation of our 23 seminarians coming from the Philippines, Guatemala, Colombia, and Vietnam.

Socio-economic and Punctual response to disasters: In the Philippines, we are now involved in helping the Taal Volcano victims recover and rebuild their livelihood. Three of our parishes in the Philippines have a lot of informal settlers and therefore people live through “scratching and pecking” (from a Filipino idiom “isang kahig, isang tuka” – as in the action of a chicken, scratching the soil and pecking whatever food therein). They can hardly make it through the day. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of these families in the parishes. Now, the Missionaries of Jesus help to network, coordinate, fundraise to provide rice and other necessary sustenance for the poorest of the poor.

Health: Our missionaries help the people they serve in terms of health education but also through a punctual response when people are sick. Every year, our Mission Office in Los Angeles organizes Medical-Dental Mission in parishes the MJ work. We bring doctors, dentists, and medicines. We solicit money from friends; we subsidize whatever is lacking.

Rev. Crespo Lape

   Associate Pastor in twin parishes at Precious Blood and St. Kevin in Los Angeles, California

Missionaries of Jesus visit to our Parish on 26 & 27th June 2021

06-18-2021

Reasons why Missionaries of Jesus be considered to participate in Mission Cooperative Plan

More than 65 % of the annual budget to support the mission worldwide comes from the Mission Cooperative Plan.

We are working in the southern part of the Philippines; in the southern part of Papua New Guinea and in the northern part of Guatemala. In all these places, we journey with the poor and tribal minorities pushed by mainstream society to the far-flung villages. We also work with the immigrants in the USA: in two poor parishes of Los Angeles and in the border USA and Mexico in Brownsville, Texas.

In all the parishes where we work, the people cannot finance the sustenance of the missionaries and the different missionary works:

Evangelization: in Guatemala, our three missionaries serve 50far-flung and poor villages. During the offertory, people offer corn, bananas, and other crops. People are very generous, but they do not have money. The missionaries cannot use the corn and other crops to run their vehicles to go to all the villages to give faith and bible formation and also to celebrate the sacraments. It's the same situation in Papua New Guinea and Digos, Davao del Sur in the Philippines. In Digos, our two missionaries visit 30 villages situated in different mountains. Some villages are accessible only by motorcycle or with a horse. The Mission Office of the Missionaries of Jesus subsidizes these parishes.

Education: In most of our parishes we help poor but deserving students from grade schools to college. These students give back to the parishes as they involve in different ministries. Part of education is the formation of our 23 seminarians coming from the Philippines, Guatemala, Colombia, and Vietnam.

Socio-economic and Punctual response to disasters: In the Philippines, we are now involved in helping the Taal Volcano victims recover and rebuild their livelihood. Three of our parishes in the Philippines have a lot of informal settlers and therefore people live through “scratching and pecking” (from a Filipino idiom “isang kahig, isang tuka” – as in the action of a chicken, scratching the soil and pecking whatever food therein). They can hardly make it through the day. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of these families in the parishes. Now, the Missionaries of Jesus help to network, coordinate, fundraise to provide rice and other necessary sustenance for the poorest of the poor.

Health: Our missionaries help the people they serve in terms of health education but also through a punctual response when people are sick. Every year, our Mission Office in Los Angeles organizes Medical-Dental Mission in parishes the MJ work. We bring doctors, dentists, and medicines. We solicit money from friends; we subsidize whatever is lacking.

Rev. Crespo Lape

   Associate Pastor in twin parishes at Precious Blood and St. Kevin in Los Angeles, California

2021 Bishop's Appeal Has Begun

By embracing Rebuild My Church, you are contributing greatly to building up the Kingdom of God here in the East Bay. We are asked to pray for our fellow parishioners, clergy, leadership, and those served by the ministries offered by the Church, and for the success of the 2021 Bishop’s Appeal. All gifts to the Appeal are equally important. As stewards of our faith we are asked to make a sacrificial, proportionate and thoughtful gift. Those who are blessed with more are challenged to give more, but everyone is asked to respond.

Imagine what can be done in the name of our local faith community if every parishioner were inspired by Rebuild My Church and participated in our annual Bishop’s Appeal. While parishes rely on the financial support of parishioners through weekly offertory collections, the diocese also relies on these same parishioners to make possible the many services it provides to literally thousands of individuals each year. Jesus Christ promised us at His Ascension: "I will be with you all days until the end of the ages." If Christ has helped you and your family, if He has been generous to you, will you consider sharing some of the blessings you have received with Christ and His Church?

You may have received Bishop’s Appeal letter from the Diocese to encourage you to give for the major programs of the Diocese of Oakland. Our parish goal is $47,700. We are at 38% of the goal. Please pray about this and if you are able, support the work that furthers Christ’s mission in our Diocese. Thank you for your prayers and gifts!

Scripture Sharing Cancelled Until Further Notice

Special Event Coming Up Here At St. Francis? - Rent Our Gym

The Family Center/Gym has dining capacity for up to 275 and includes tables and chairs and also room for dancing,

Commercial Kitchen

Includes AV system: projector with drop down screen, microphones and set-up.

Senior Luncheon

There will be a Senior Luncheon on Tuesday, September 7 at 12:00 in the John Paul Room. Please join us for a delicious lunch and fun social time. If you have questions please call Caroline Pereira at 925-381-4321 or Mayte Munoz at 925-305-9240. Thank you

Text A Donation To St Francis of Assisi Church

Adult Faith Formation/RCIA - 2021-22 Program

Amazon Smile Donates to St. Francis of Assisi Church When You Make Amazon Purchases

St Vincent de Paul Ministry

Most- Needed Food Items: Cheerios, Oatmeal, Rice, Dried Pinto or Black Beans, Masa Mix, Cooking Oil, Apple Juice, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Saltine or Graham Crackers. Other Needs: Diapers Size 5-6, Laundry Soap, Paper Products, etc. School Supplies: We will collect donations of backpacks, binders, paper, pencils, etc., through July and August for the new school year.

WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS, FOOD DONATIONS, AND GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT DURING THIS CRISIS!. Financial and Food Donations can be dropped off at the SVdP Office during regular hours.

We regret that we cannot accept used clothing and other donations– please take them to the SVdP Thrift Store on Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill.

We are in need of bilingual volunteers interested in helping with home visits to families in crisis. We also need help picking up food orders from the Contra Costa Food Bank on Thursday mornings. Please call Jane (939-5978) for more information.

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. Please call 932-5811 for information or to volunteer.

"Favorite" Us on eBAY - Make Us Your Preferred Charity

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.

Parish/School Repairs Update - Clean Air HVAC THANKS!

Clean Air HVAC donated one of the units which would have cost us over $9,800. In addition, in 2018 Clean Air HVAC donated one of the two new heaters/ac units installed at the Parish Office which would have cost us $7,000. This represents significant cost savings for the Parish/School. Our Parish Repairs second collections helped pay for the cost of the other HVAC unit.

We are very grateful for the quality of work done by Clean Air HVAC and their continued support of our School and Parish. We wish to thank Roy Branda, one of the owners of Clean Air HVAC and a parishioner and member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. We highly recommend Clean Air HVAC to our St. Francis of Assisi parishioners and School families.

St. Francis of Assisi School News

SEE THE BULLETIN ON THIS SFA WEBSITE FOR THE WEEKLY SCHOOL REPORT

Our value-centered academic programs empower students to be faith-filled people, lifelong learners problem solvers, and globally responsible citizens.

You can also visit us on our website at: www.sfaconcord.org

Cathy VanderKlugt, Principal

Africa Sister Parish/School Donations Thank You