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Mass and Stations of the Cross Video Schedule The church will remain locked during these celebrations since no public gatherings are allowed.
Daily Masses:
English Monday through Saturday 8 am
Spanish Monday through Friday 4 pm
Sunday Masses:
English 5:30 pm Vigil (Saturday), Sunday 10 am
Spanish 8:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Stations of the Cross (Bilingual) 6 pm Fridays
To View St Francis of Assisi Facebook Mass Videos, click on link below - you do not need a Facebook account to view these videos.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Also available at YouTube - St Francis of Assisi Channel, click on link below
St Francis of Assisi YouTube Channel
Letter and Video from Fr. Ismael, Pastor, to St. Francis of Assisi Parishioners (English and Spanish)
We invite everyone to pray during this coronavirus crisis
Emergency Food and Meals Information - click on the links below
Senior Emergency Food and Helping Hand Programs
To City of Concord Parishioners and Residents,
We are working with the City of Concord to provide food distribution at our Concord Catholic parishes. This opportunity is available to Concord residents only, and proof of residency will need to be provided. Food will be available at St. Francis of Assisi, on a first come, first serve basis: Thursday, April 2nd from 9 a.m. - 12 noon. Please drive into the back parking lot, and circle around the gym, food will be placed in your trunk, to have as little contact as possible, for social distancing purposes. If you, your family, or anyone you know of, needs help getting food, medicine, or other necessary items, please call the Parish Office at 925-682-5447 or email us at Church@SFAconcord.org and leave the person's name, telephone number, and other pertinent information, and we will pass it along to the City of Concord, who is helping in this regard.
Please know that the St. Francis of Assisi Clergy and Staff have you all in our thoughts and prayers, and if you need anything, please contact us at the phone or email above. Stay in community with us by viewing Daily Masses and Stations of the Cross at www.sfaconcord.com
Yours in Christ, Fr. Ismael Gutierrez
Pope Francis March 27 Message
Pope Francis meditated on the calming of the storm from the Gospel of Mark during the prayer service over which he presided on the steps of St Peter's Basilica on Friday evening March 27, 2020.
Pope Francis Grants Emergency Plenary Indulgences Emergency Plenary Indulgences
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE EFFECTIVE 3-20-2020
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide order for all residents to ‘stay at home’ amid a coronavirus outbreak. The stay home order is in place untill further notice.
Essential services will stay open such as pharmacies, grocery stores, takeout and delivery restaurants, gas stations and banks.
Everyone is required to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or go to an essential job. If you go out, keep at least 6 feet of distance from others and wash your hands frequently.
Bishop Michael Barber has issued the following instructions:
All public Masses are suspended until further notice. St Francis of Assisi priests will continue to celebrate private Masses for the intention specified for the date and time of the Mass as well as for all the parishioners here at St Francis of Assisi. Due to the above mentioned order, no parishioners will be permitted to attend these Masses.
Churches will remain open to provide a place of private prayer and solace for people. St Francis of Assisi Church will be open every day from 8:30 am until 8 pm except when a Mass or Stations of the Cross are being celebrated. The church doors will be locked during these times since public gatherings are prohibited. Please feel free to come and pray when the church is open. Proper hygiene and social distancing will continue to be emphasized per CDC guidelines as posted on their website (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/), especially washing your hands often and maintaining at least an arm's length distance from others.
All other events at parishes and schools are to be postponed, rescheduled or cancelled until further notice. ALL programs for Confirmation, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Bible Study, Senior Luncheon and Sacraments (e.g. Reconciliation) etc. are cancelled until further notice.
PARISH FINANCIALS: Due to the closure of the Church and no Masses during this Covid-19 crisis, donations have dropped dramatically. We now have a SHORTFALL of over $16,000 in what we need to pay the monthly bills.
For those who can afford to, you can still mail in your donations to the church or drop them in the white drop-box outside the Parish Office. Better yet, consider donating electronically via our Faith Direct website at https://membership.faithdirect.net/CA762 - you can also text a donation to us. Text $ amount to 925-204-2211 and follow the link to complete a one-time registration. God Bless You!
February Year to Date 2020 Expenses for Parish = $190,364
Thank you to all who continue to support our parish through your donations.
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The Parish Office will be closed until further notice.
SEE THE BULLETIN ON THIS SFA WEBSITE FOR THE WEEKLY SCHOOL REPORT
St. Francis of Assisi School is a private Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Through the 8th grade Catholic school.
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
Individuals between 18 and 59 are also obliged to fast and eat only one full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Eating two smaller meals is permitted if necessary, to maintain strength, but eating between meals is not.
These obligations, however, do not apply to those whose health or ability to work would be seriously affected.
Individuals are also encouraged to do penance in other ways, such as prayer, acts of self-denial, almsgiving, and through works of kindness and compassion.
Registration for our Fall 2019-20 programs is closed now. 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
Our next Senior Luncheon will be Tuesday September 8 at 12:15 PM. All seniors are invited to our luncheons celebrated on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from February thru May and September thru December. The luncheon are held in the Pope John Paul II Center and all are welcome. No charge for the luncheon, but donations are accepted.
If there is anyone who would like to be part of this ministry, all helping hands are welcome. Clean up; Prepping the meals; Serving the meals. Cooks will be asked to provide one 9" x 13" pan according to the menu set up for that month. Cookbooks are available. Please contact Marian Morbeto at (925) 6766158
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.
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.
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 will continue the study of the Gospel of St. Matthew. This is a perfect time to join us.
0 Mary, you shine always on our way as sign of our safety and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the foot of the Cross bound yourself to the suffering of Jesus, keeping strong in your faith.
O Salvation of God's people, you know what we need and we are sure you will provide it for us just as at Cana of Galilee the joy and feasting could return after that moment of trial.
Mother of Divine Love, help us, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us, He who took upon Himself our sufferings and is marked by our sorrows and so, lead us, toward the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
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 2020 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?
Thank you for your prayers and gifts!
January/February Activity: • An emergency supply of food was provided for 104 households (418 individuals) in Jan. and 88 households (339 individuals) in Feb. • Special Assistance : Seven families on the verge of becoming homeless were stabilized with assistance from SVdP.
Thank You for your generous response to our Christmas appeal and for your continuing food and financial support for our ministry of service to those in need. We are also very thankful and blessed to receive assistance from the St. Vincent de Paul District Council in Pittsburg, as well as from several Catholic churches in our area. The support for St. Vincent de Paul at St. Francis is critical, as the number of neighbors in need in our community is greater than ever!
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, Size 5-6 diapers, laundry soap, toiletries.
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.
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