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Dear Friends, All of the Faith Formation programs are up and run-

With all the fires in Napa and Sonoma Counties – ning with full groups and some amazing catechists, and so many other places as well in California, Ore- some amazing parents and some awesome Kinder- th th th th gon and Washington – today’s First and Gospel gartner to 5 Graders in Little Saints, 6 , 7 and 8 Readings give us even more reason to pray that we, graders in EDGE and our High School Youth group. in our own “vineyard” may be protected and Featured again this week is Little Saints under the strengthened by the Lord. guidance of Austin Pisciotto, Coordinator. Austin has But to have this happen, we need to keep our- put together an amazing program that involves par- selves close to the Lord, to place our hope and trust in ents and catechists working with small groups in a Jesus, and to seek a deeper relationship with Him ZOOM format. The children are learning about GOD each day. and the stories of Jesus’ ancestors from the Old Tes- In these trying and difficult times, it is easy for tament. Children were asked to draw a picture of rd people to give up on the Lord, to turn their backs or God. One 3 grader drew a traffic signal because to lose trust and hope in Him. I’ve met a number of God sometimes tells us to stop, to go and to slow people who say they can’t pray, they don’t pray, or down. How would you draw God? they won’t pray. But prayer and the presence of the Lord in our lives is the only thing that is going to get us through. We need to pray, to ask, to seek, and to find the presence of Christ guiding our lives always, never abandoning us. So let us not abandon the Lord. Let us turn to Him in our need and seek the strength and grace of His Holy Spirit to give us courage, faith, and trust always. Next week look for Father Fred information about EDGE, Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Let us pray for his our Junior High program intercession, blessing the animals, and all of creation, with joy and peace! THE GIFT OF THE REIGN OF GOD Matthew’s Gospel today expands on Isaiah’s ballad considerably. A comparison with the same story in Mark’s Gospel clearly shows us that here the author is busy teaching this community of Jewish Christians: “This is a story about Israel a long time ago; this is Monday: Gal 1:6-12; Ps 111:1b-2, 7-9, 10c; also a story about Jesus and the skeptical leaders.” Lk 10:25-37 Jesus as much as told these Jewish leaders that they Tuesday: Gal 1:13-24; Ps 139:1b-3, 13-15; were the tenants who first stoned their own prophets. Lk 10:38-42 And he told the leaders they were the tenants who Wednesday: Gal 2:1-2, 7-14; Ps 117:1bc, 2; would soon even dispose of him—Jesus—and, in do- Lk 11:1-4 ing so, would forfeit their privileged place of present- Thursday: Gal 3:1-5; Lk 1:69-75; Lk 11:5-13 ing to the world the promised Messiah. Friday: Gal 3:7-14; Ps 111:1b-6; Lk 11:15-26 “And this,” says Matthew’s Gospel, “is a story about Saturday: Gal 3:22-29; Ps 105:2-7; Lk 11:27-28 you, the inheritors of what was first offered to Israel.” Sunday: Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Phil 4:12-14, The reign of God was first opened to Israel and is 19-20; Mt 22:1-14 [1-10] now given to the whole world, but it must be received as a gift. The first Christians are the new tenants in the AmazonSmile has donated vineyard. The deeper reality of the reign or kingdom of God is that it is available to everyone on the face over $200 million to charities! of the earth—Israel included. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. You can help increase AmazonSmile donations to St Mary by shopping at SECOND COLLECTION ON OCTOBER 11: smile.amazon.com/ch/94-1156831 or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon CATHOLIC VOICE

Shopping app Thank you for your support! Staff and Administration Website: www.stmary-wc.org

Parish Office 891-8900 Fax 934-1358 10/04 Nick Georgedes Fr. Fred Riccio, [email protected] Pastor 891-8900 The People of St. Mary Fr. John Blaker, 891-8900 Jon & Bonnie Armstrong (L) In residence Deacon Paul Turek [email protected] 10/05 Andres Ochotorena Ana Lau, [email protected] Office Manager 891-8908 10/06 Meinbress Family (L) Aileen Baker, [email protected] Bookkeeper 891-8911 10/07 Chris Sheppard (L) B’D’

Faith Formation 10/08 McGill Family (L)

Maureen Tiffany [email protected] 10/09 Erlinda Narboneta Director of Faith Formation 962-5808 Mary Kerfs, [email protected] 10/10 Prudencia & Manuel Rodrigues Administrative Assistant 891-8939 Austin Pisciotto [email protected] Coordinator K-Grade 6 891-8944 Jethro Castillo [email protected] Youth Minister Grades 7-12 891-8920 Heather Abraham, [email protected] Coordinator Confirmation 891-8934 St. Mary School & Community Service Tim Mannix [email protected] RCIA & Liturgy Coordinator 891-8921 The students, families, faculty, and staff of St. Mary School School are beginning our 60th year in an unprece- dented way! Although we are starting our academ- Office 935-5054 ic year in Distance Learning, our community is [email protected] stronger than ever. With grateful hearts, we thank Website: www.st-mary.net Alumni: [email protected] God for the gift of our school and for the oppor- Garrett Padia, Principal 935-5054 tunity to celebrate 60 years as a family rooted in faith, academics, and service.

Anthony De Cristoforo Oralee Floria Allison Flamez Mary McLoughlin Monica Jara Angela Regan Ana Alvarez Beverly Regan Isabel Castillo Josefina Zabat Susana Jaime Audry Robinson Rosalinda Reyes Loretta Holmes Jeanine Gordon Nancie Campi Christine Pollnow Betty Baker Jake Johnstone Victor Miguel Barrios Diane Hewson Carol Erikson Clarissa Gutierrez Nydia Pajarillo Julia Rodriguez Danyel Sheets Fred & Emilia Sohn Beth Wainwright Raul Gonzalez PRAY FOR Robin Wood Raquel Zittel Billy Silva Quinn Gurnett THE SICK Mary Kennedy David Toy Marcella Hatch Ana Lopez Cheryl LaMarre Dominador Hontucan October MONTH OF THE HOLY

How Powerful Is the Rosary? September 23 - November 1 Meet Bl. Bartolo Longo, a man who went Come, spread a culture of LIFE! from being a satanic priest and occultist to becoming the “Apostle of the Rosary.” Bishop Michael Barber, bishop of the Oakland Dio- Bartolo was born in and raised in a cese, recently wrote a letter endorsing our 40 Days devout Catholic family. While in college in for Life vigil. In his letter he urges priests, deacons, , he fell in with a rather unsavory laity, and all people of good will to participate in crowd. Forgetting his Catholic upbringing, this life-saving ministry. He included a quote he abandoned his faith and grew deeply from Pope Francis (General Audience, March 25, involved in satanic practices, eventually 2020): becoming a satanic priest. During this time, Bartolo participated in "Each human being is called by God to enjoy the full- profane rituals, denounced Christianity, ness of life, and is entrusted to the maternal care of the and led many people to engage in occult Church; every threat to human dignity and life cannot practices. He experienced extreme depres- but have an effect on her heart, on her maternal sion and despair, along with haunting de- 'womb'. To defend life is not an ideology for the monic visions. Eventually, a concerned Church. It is a reality, a human reality which involves friend encouraged him to turn away from the occult and led him to a Dominican all Christians, precisely because they are Christian and because they are human." priest who helped Bartolo escape the influ- ence of satanism. We will be standing and peacefully praying during The most significant influence in Bartolo’s a 40-day vigil in the public right-of-way outside of conversion was the rosary. One day he had a mystical vision in which the Blessed the local abortion facility in Walnut Creek, which is Mother asked him to promulgate the ro- literally just around the corner from St. Mary Church. sary, so Bartolo did just that. He became a Vigil hours are from 7am to 7pm, and you are en- Dominican and took the name couraged to join for an hour a day, an hour a week, Rosario. He spent many of his following or even an hour in total! Your prayerful presence years in Pompeii, where he encouraged makes a difference in witnessing for life and in help- public devotion to the rosary, began a ro- ing to present local options and support for women sary confraternity and started to restore an other than abortion. old church, which was later rebuilt and named the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Please join us in the prayer vigil…we need YOU, Holy Rosary of Pompeii. God needs you, to witness and pray for this most in- Bartolo promoted the rosary until his death in 1926. When Pope St. John Paul II nocent of life! Sign up at 40daysforlife.com/walnut- beatified him in 1980, he called him the creek, or by calling 925-984-7602 or emailing “Apostle of the Rosary.” [email protected] One thing we can learn from Bartolo’s life is this: We cannot underestimate the pow- er of the rosary for the salvation of souls. Through it, Bartolo was transformed from a slave of Satan into a friend of our Lord. It just goes to show that with God, all things are possible, and with the rosary, there is no such thing as a lost cause. Saturday, October 10, 12:00 Noon (Focus.org) Join us to participate in this Rosary Crusade 2020 on Saturday, October 10, at 12 noon. We will gather “O blessed rosary of Mary, sweet chain for one hour right outside of St. Mary Church. which binds us to God, bond of love which unites us to the angels, tower of Please contact Jim Walsh, 925-699-0550 or salvation against the assaults of hell, safe [email protected] for more information or port in our universal shipwreck, we shall to volunteer to help. never abandon you.” We look forward to honoring Our Lady and asking —Blessed Bartolo Longo, “Apostle of the Rosary” her to bless America and the world. En toda la narración de la Biblia, la “viña” es un símbolo de la historia de Israel. El profeta Isaías nos lo muestra con su Lunes: Gál 1:6-12; Sal 111 (110):1b-2, 7-9, 10c; Cántico de la Viña: Lc 10:25-37 “Déjenme cantar, en nom- Martes: Gál 1:13-24; Sal 139 (138):1b-3, 13-15; bre de mi amigo, la can- Lc 10:38-42 ción de mi amigo por su viña. Una viña tenía mi ami- Miércoles: Gál 2:1-2, 7-14; Sal 117 (116):1bc, 2; go en una loma fértil. La cavó quitando las piedras y Lc 11:1-4 plantó cepas escogidas. En medio de ella construyó Jueves: Gál 3:1-5; Lc 1:69-75; Lc 11:5-13 una torre y también cavó un lagar. Él esperaba que Viernes: Gál 3:7-14; Sal 111 (110):1b-6; produjera uvas, pero sólo le dio racimos amargos”. Lc 11:15-26 (Isaías 5:1-2). El cántico refleja el dilema del bien y Sábado: Gál 3:22-29; Sal 105 (104):2-7; del mal, de la fe y de la infidelidad. Esto aparece Lc 11:27-28 reflejado en la primera lectura y en el Evangelio. So- Domingo: Is 25:6-10a; Sal 23 (22):1-6; mos la viña de Dios, tanto el pueblo de Israel de Fil 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt 22:1-14 [1-10] aquel entonces, como la comunidad mundial de la actualidad. PEDIR AYUDA Dios siempre espera la conversión y la fidelidad del Pide ayuda a Nuestra Seño- pueblo; por eso enviaba a los profetas para re- ra. Pidele que le suplique a cordarle sus infidelidades. El dueño es Dios y de mil y su Hijo que te haga conocer una formas se hace presente para que la humanidad lo que debes hacer. vuelva su vida hacia Él. ¿No es acaso lo que se nos ha —Beata María Rosa Durocher pedido a razón del coronavirus? El Papa Francisco insiste en que en medio de todo lo que vivimos, sea el SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS “vino nuevo la viña de la misericordia”. El Papa con- (1182-1226) tinúa: “La urgencia de responder con frutos de bien a Fiesta: 4 de octubre la llamada del Señor, que nos llama a convertirnos en su viña, nos ayuda a comprender qué hay de nuevo y Francisco nació en Asís, Italia, original en el cristianismo”. (Radio Vaticano). ¿Qué en la familia Bernardone, una nos pide Dios en este momento de reacomodo en el familia rica dedicada al mundo a causa del sufrimiento de la pandemia? ¿Qué comercio de telas. A los estoy dispuesto a dar yo para aliviar el sufrimiento veinte años se unió al ejército de otros? y cayó prisionero y enfermo;

©LPi durante su recuperación algo cambió en él y comenzó a descubrir a Dios en lo ordi- nario de la vida. Sus encuen- Octubre, Mes del Santo Rosario tros con Dios en la contem- plación de la naturaleza fueron cada vez más Les ruego que se conviertan en frecuentes hasta que descubrió que los verdaderos apóstoles del rosario. Promue- tesoros están en el cielo. Regaló los bienes de su pa- van el rosario. Insistan en el ro- dre a los pobres, pero su padre, Pietro, estaba tan sario. Enseñen a rezar el ro- molesto que después de golpearlo, lo llevó frente al sario. Hasta diría, háganle obispo. Ahí, Francisco se desnudó y le dio su ropa, propaganda al rosario. Es a pues pertenecía a su padre, y se fue a vivir a una través del rosario que podemos pequeña iglesia llamada Porciúncula. Dios le pidió traer de nuevo a Cristo las al- que renovara la Iglesia, pero no materialmente, sino mas que se han desviado del espiritualmente. ¡Y lo hizo! Recordó la esencia de vivir camino. Es a través del rosario pobre para abrazar así a los pobres, que son la úni- que podemos hacerlos amantes ca riqueza. Fundó la Orden de los Frailes Menores de Cristo por la mediación de (Franciscanos) y murió a los 44 años llevando en su Su Madre. —Siervo de Dios Padre John Hardon cuerpo los estigmas de la Pasión. —Miguel Arias, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. Terry Allen Locally owned & operated Marisa Cox Certified Financial Planner®, AWMASM Lic #1056357 REALTOR® HULL’S Kitchen Cabinet Call Us Now for Walnut Creek Chapel Upgrade in 1-5 Days Ranked in the Top 4% of Upcoming Events Realtors in the East Bay FD250 • COA538 • CR196 1-Day Wood Restoration Selling Homes Since 2002! ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FUNERAL DIRECTORS • Refacing • Roll-Outs • Buying or Crematory On Site Custom Cabinet • More Selling a House Family Owned & in the East 925-932-8609 • Toll-Free: 888-758-8500 925.979.8194 Bay? Call Me www.enhancewa.com Operated Since 1892 [email protected] &Let’s Chat All Facilities are onsite www.kitchentuneup.com 700 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Suite 200, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 BRE # 01343504 Take your 925-934-5400 FAITH 1139 Saranap Ave. ON A JOURNEY. Call us for your Walnut Creek, CA 925.383.3084 transportation needs! (CST 2117990-70) “Serving the Catholic marisacox.com Wheelchair • Gurney Catholic Cruises and Tours [email protected] Medical Appointments Faith Since 1892” and The Apostleship of the Sea Dialysis • Hospital Discharges of the United States of America Long Distance Transports Catholic Cruises/Tours to Worldwide Destinations Dispatch: (925) 428-2790 Hours: Mon-Sat Call us today at 860-399-1785 or email Grow in your faith, 4:00AM-10:00PM find a Mass, and [email protected] Mention this ad/parish connect with your www.CatholicCruisesandTours.com for a 15% Discount. Catholic Community with OneParish! Get this weekly bulletin delivered by email - for FREE! Download Our Free App or Visit Sign up here: MY.ONEPARISH.COM https://www.jspaluch.com/BulletinSubscribe.aspx

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