Christ the King - St. Stephen Parish

www.ctkph.org

www.saintstephenparish.org

Parish Newsletter

"Staying Connected"

November 29, 2023

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Season of Advent! I love this season in spite of how busy it can be. Sister Janet Schaeffler, OP, describes these four weeks before Christmas as a “time for holy listening” as we await the coming of Jesus in our lives and our world. “Advent is our introverted season,” she wrote in her little Advent booklet. “The world around us does a lot of chatting, chattering, and contesting. Advent gives us a space for holy listening.”

Advent is a time when we, like the shepherds, keep watch, waiting with anticipation in the cold and lonely dark. Or like the three magi journeying toward Christ with their hearts set on more than what they could see with their eyes. My suggestion this Advent is to slow down as much as you can. Walk slower, don't talk as much, read the daily Mass readings, the Advent booklet and listen. Manage your gatherings so that they can be celebrated, not overwhelming. Rethink your "commitments" so you can be present to the peace of Christ awaiting you.

This Advent, your parish will be giving you a special gift of a book, titled “Beautiful Eucharist.” We are in the Eucharistic Revival Year, and nothing can change your life more than a personal contact with Jesus in the Eucharist. When we meet Jesus, he transforms us in strong and unexpected ways. “Beautiful Eucharist” is a breathtaking compilation of life-altering reflections on Jesus, who is genuinely present in the Eucharist and gloriously present in our lives.

There are quite a few important (and fun) feasts and celebrations during the Advent season. Look ahead to see what’s coming up so you can plan small celebrations throughout the season. Here are a few that you can prepare for and if your schedule allows you, attend church as well:

December 6 | Feast of St. Nicholas: Saint Nicholas, a bishop who lived during the third century, is the original “Santa Claus.” On the feast of St. Nicholas, children leave their shoes by the door for St. Nicholas to fill with candy. This tradition recalls the story of how St. Nicholas secretly provided the dowry for young maidens so they could get married. This feast day is also a good opportunity to tell kids the true story of “Santa Claus.” 

December 8 | Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation in the United States, commemorates the immaculate (“stainless”) conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

December 12 | Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: We will celebrate it on Sunday, December 10th at the 4pm Mass with Mariachi. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron of the Americas. Please join us.

December 13 | Feast of St. Lucy & December 14 | Feast of St. John of the Cross.

December 15: We begin the Christmas Novena with our Filipino community celebrating Simbang Gabi every evening at 6.00pm. Simbang Gabi, which means "Night Mass," in Filipino, is a novena — a nine-day series of Masses in anticipation of Christmas and to honor the Blessed Mother. Our Filipino society prepares meticulously for this Novena.

May this season of Advent be a time of peace, joy and devotion!

~Fr. Paulson

Phase II of our carpet installation will be taking place Thursday and Friday this week:

Thursday, November 30 - 9am Mass Cancelled

Friday, December 1 - 9am Mass Cancelled

First Friday

Join us this Friday, December 1, for our

Monthly First Friday

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Please Note:

Exposition will take place in the Ministry Center Chapel for this week.

(A time for quiet reflection and prayer)

Exposition at 5 pm followed by

Mass at 6pm in the Church

2024 Calendars are here!

They will be available this weekend in the back of the church at both CTK and St. Stephen.

Our Prison ministry is collecting

2024 calendars for the incarcerated. 

If you have calendars you are not using please drop them off at CTK’s Parish Office. Those with beautiful scenery are especially welcome.

If you know of someone incarcerated who would like to receive spiritual support through a monthly mailing, please let us know. 

Daily Advent Reflections

Daily Reflections, sent straight to your email:

Dynamic Catholic and Formed.org and

Advent Reflections with Bishop Barron



One Prayer A Day for Advent (direct link)

Finding Treasure in the Waiting Time

Practical Preparation for the

Advent Season



 Monday, December 4

10am and again 7pm

St. Stephen Parish Hall

Speaker - Kathy Roberts

Advent is a time of waiting and preparation, and it can often be a time of uncomfortable stress. Join us for an unrushed hour in which we’ll explore real ways to find real treasure during the beautiful season of Advent. Treasure awaits… Register here

Join us for a discussion of Raymond E. Brown’s

“A Coming Christ in Advent”

on Mondays, December 11 and 18, at 10:30 am in the

Ministry Center Chapel at CTK

Fr. Brown reflects on the annunciations in Matthew and Luke, on the Magnificat and Benedictus canticles, and on the “origins of Jesus” as given in the first words of the New Testament. For discussion purposes, the book will be divided into two sections: chapters 1-3 and chapters 4-6. No Registration needed.

Advent Reconciliation Service

Come and experience the healing power of the

Sacrament of Reconciliation as we prepare

our hearts for Christmas.

CTK:

Saturday, December 9 at 3pm or

Monday, December 11 at 6pm

St. Stephen:

Friday, December 15 at 6pm

CTK Youth Music Ministry Christmas Concert

Tuesday, December 12 at 7pm in the Church at CTK

You are all invited to a Christmas Concert by CTK’s own youth music ministry from our Sunday 4pm mass and children of CTK-SS. This concert is free and all are welcome! Let’s start our holiday with a festive night of music and songs.

If you are ages 5-12 years old and would like to sing with other CTK-SS children for the Christmas concert, please attend the practices on Wednesday, Nov 29 and Tuesday December 5 from 6pm to 7pm in the church at CTK. We will be singing easy Christmas songs. Please call or text Nelson at 925-375-9608 if you plan to participate or have any questions. 

SIMBANG GABI -- The Filipino Society of Christ the King/St. Stephen Parish cordially invites you to join in the celebration of "Simbang Gabi", a nine-day novena in preparation for the birth of Jesus, at Christ the King Church from December 15th to the 23rd. Mass begins at 6:00 pm. every night, except Dec. 16, 17 and 23 when mass will start at 4:00 pm. A celebration of gratitude with entertainment will be held after the last mass on the 23^rd in the gym. For additional information, please contact Maritess Baula (925-899-9078) or Imelda Santos (925-623-7340).

      St. Stephen Togan Choir

  This Sunday - 9:30am Mass



Our Tongan Choir has returned to St. Stephen Church and will be singing on the first Sunday of every month at the 9:30 Mass.

Join us this Sunday, December 3, as we enjoy their beautiful music.

St. Stephen’s Giving Tree

The St. Stephen St. Vincent de Paul Conference will be sponsoring an Advent Giving Tree for the benefit of Hillcrest Congregational Church Layette Program in Pleasant Hill, CA.



Read More

Congratulations to Luke and Spencer who were recently baptized.

Welcome to Christ the King-St. Stephen Family

Parents: Lyndsay & Kevin

Baby: Luke Jeremiah

Parents: Marcie & Rob

Baby: Spencer Stone

Congratulations to Raul and Lilliam Ortega who celebrated 53 years of marriage on Saturday with a special blessing at the 4pm mass.

Congratulations also to Art and Carol Vogl who celebrated 63 years of marriage on Sunday with a special blessing at the 10:30am mass.

Merry Christmas

from Christ the King - St. Stephen Parish

Cub Scout Pack 401!

(At CTK & St. Stephen)

Our Cub Scouts are planning to sell Christmas Wreaths for our annual fundraiser after this weekend Masses on December 2-3.

The cost is $30 for a 22" Wreath. Please stop by and pick out a Wreath from your CTK - St. Stephen Cub Scouts! 

First Sunday of Advent

Welcome to our weekly reflections on

the Sunday Scriptures.



A pregnancy theme dominates the season of Advent. Mary’s accepting, carrying, and nurturing Jesus energizes the spirit of these four weeks. How can we—both men and women—relate to the Advent mystery of inner silence and unseen growth? Read More

To donate a one-time/on-line donation.

Or regular and/or second collections.

CTK Sunday

7:30am, 9am, 10:30am and 4pm

(10:30am Mass will be livestreamed).

Readings for Sunday Mass Here

Links to our services (live or archived) can be found at ctkph.org

or by clicking the Facebook or YouTube images below.

Ongoing Services at CTK & St. Stephen

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Private Confessions every Saturday from 3pm to 3:30pm at CTK and Saturday before the 5pm mass at St. Stephen.

New CTK Thursday Morning Mass - 9am - Honoring our Mother of Perpetual Help, Worship Aide Here (Also livestreamed).