Congratulations to our twenty-two students who celebrated their First Communion last weekend! We are very proud of them and look forward to celebrating each and every Sunday, the gift the Lord has given to us to nourish us along the way.

On Saturday, May 31 with Archbishop Peter Chong, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with a number of our high school students. The pictures you sent in celebrating First Communion were wonderful and enjoyed by many (and continue to be available for viewing on our parish website!) We again ask if you were Confirmed at St. Theresa’s over the past hundred years, that you again send in those pictures.

I have been asked several times about a couple of pictures that did not look like pictures from a Baptism or First Communion. These pictures show some of our parishioners who did have their Baptism here or celebrate their First Communion here, but sadly, the actual pictures of those events were lost with many family pictures in the Oakland fire. These families still wanted us to celebrate and honor those who over the hundred years celebrated these events in our parish.

This weekend we have the Memorial Day Holiday. Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember all members of the U.S. military who have died in the service of our nation. Let us pray in thanksgiving for their ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and pray for their families who were never the same without them!

With joy we have witnessed the passing of Pope Francis who hours before his passing from this world came out to bless and greet us! His focus was always on us and our journey to walk together equal in God’s sight,  building God’s Kingdom in our hatred and war-torn world in spite of so many obstacles, road blocks and lies. May Pope Francis rest in peace with the assurance of our prayers and love for his service.

Now we welcome Pope Leo who has said he will try in his own way and style to continue the work Pope Francis did on our behalf for the past twelve years. What a surprise it was when an American was elected pope. I and many honestly did not think this would ever happen in our lifetimes! 

Here are a few comments about him from Fr. James Martin, SJ, who is know for many amazing books, has been a mentor to some of the Jesuit seminarian/deacons our parish has welcomed and who participated in our parish when our social justice committee sponsored a discussion on LGBT+ issues with parishioners:

James Martin, S.J., on Pope Leo XIV 

Michael O’Loughlin: You and Cardinal Robert Prevost, who is now Pope Leo XIV, shared a table at the Synod on Synodality. What was it like working with him? What is he like? 

James Martin, S.J.: He’s a great guy. He’s very soft spoken, very modest, humble; reserved is a good word. He’s a guy who chooses his words carefully, but when he spoke, people listened. So, I would say, as a man of few words, I really liked him. He’s very friendly, very personable, and people really respect him in the Vatican. 

MO: We are speaking just a day after Pope Leo XIV was elected. What are your initial thoughts when it comes to how he might interact with LGBT people in the church? 

JM: Well, I know a lot of people are looking at some comments he made in 2012, but that was a long time ago. And I also think in general; he’s a very open person. He’s committed to synodality. He mentioned that in his very short speech, which is all about listening and participation and inclusion, and he’s always been very open to all sorts of perspectives. It’s also different what he says as a cardinal versus what he does as a pope.

MO: What are some things people need to know about the newly elected pope?

JM: I think the first thing is that he was prior general of the Augustinians, which is a really important post, and it means the Augustinians trust him. He was the head of the Dicastery for Bishops. It’s a position of great responsibility in the Vatican; it’s the person who helps to choose the bishops for different dioceses. He has wide experience in the global south. He was in Peru for a long time; he speaks multiple languages. So, I think he’s really the perfect candidate. 

Remember that he’s committed to synodality, that he’s an open person, he’s very smart, he has worldwide experience. He’s an American, so he has a certain understanding of the American culture. 

But also, what someone says or does as a cardinal does not always predict what they say or do as a pope. We need to remember that the Holy Spirit gives him the grace of office. 

MO: What are your thoughts on the first pope elected from the United States? 

JM: It’s pretty amazing. I didn’t expect it. And of course, there was a heresy a long time ago called Americanism, which was condemned by the Vatican, which was about religious freedom and democracy. And so, this is a sign that the American church has really kind of reached maturity. Also, the idea that the pope would speak in an American accent to Americans and American Catholics is really remarkable. I have a feeling that’s going to really rejuvenate the church in the United States.”

We pray for the pope at every Mass we celebrate. I encourage all to continue to do that but to also pray during your individual prayer that Pope Leo will continue the good work God continued through Pope Frances and bring the Church every closer to one another and renew the world and our Church!

For St. Vincent de Paul Society, preventing homelessness begins with home visits.

https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/for-st-vincent-de-paul-society-preventing

Our Parish SVdP Conference meets bimonthly, every third Saturday at 9:30am. If interested in learning more about our Conference’s work, contact Judy Bojorquez at jtsbojorquez@yahoo.com with any general questions. Call Greg Govan at 510-547-0911 if you have a specific question.

You may use online giving to make a donation to the St. Theresa St. Vincent de Paul conference. https://sttheresaoakland.org/donate.

The reception of the Precious Blood guideline from Bishop Barber, dated May 15, 2023 states; "Other than the priest, no communicant may ever dip the Sacred Host into the chalice to communicate himself."

Weekend Mass Schedule

The 9:00 am Sunday Mass is live-streamed on our YouTube channel for the ill and Homebound.

The link for the live-stream will be on our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/sttheresaoak

YouTube channel link

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn5JX1e3QrqXTsa_7qmNCIw

Weekday Mass Schedule

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Matt Mercier, Heidi Parmelee, Dolores Gomez, Alegria Hipolito, Betty Wharton, Juanita Estrella,  Olga Lamberti, Wendy Parmelee, Roger Baylocq, Susan Springer, Wendy Jones, Orlanda Gonzalez, Kevin Chapman, Diane Cerille, Tom Wilberding, Danny Ramos, Mark Leonard, Christopher Rodriguez, Maryanne Walsh, Rhonda Santeen, John Whatley, Nancy Coyne, Kevin Stallone, Della Spinelli, Susan Buller, Ann Springer, Ray Bertolotti, William McCarthy, Cindy Crimmins, Fred & Lidia Loupy, Rebecca Rogers, Kathleen Guevara, Clarence Robinson, Armando Diaz de Leon, Fr. Ron Schmidt, Bonnie & John Bouey, Susan Rubio, Fr. Paul Schmidt, Marley Malone, Hal Lauth, Phil Stover, Joey Smith, Raymond Buckley, Jr., Norma Ninalga, Betty Jo Olson, Jennifer Walwark, Greg Govan, Anita Lim, Marilyn McCabe, Steve Lauth, Mary Malloy, John Donovan, Mary Martinez, James Spalding, Tiffany Converse, Adrian McEvilly, Joan Marchi, Diana Nelson Curtis, Charlie Schnellbacher, Theresa Joyce, Maureen Carver, Vince Nims, Barrett Baker, Rick Fama, Eleanor Ceccarelli, Lois Johnson, Antoinette Tamburrino, Anne Marie Roseme.

Baptisms and Marriages:  by appointment admin@sttheresaoakland.org

To arrange a Funeral call parish office 341.202.0077 or email admin@sttheresaoakland.org

Family Faith Formation (Grades TK-5) & R.C.I.C:         Keri Nims ~ keri@sttheresaoakland.org

Middle School Youth Ministry (Grades 6-8):                  Keri Nims ~ keri@sttheresaoakland.org

High School Youth Ministry/Confirmation:                    Keri Nims ~ keri@sttheresaoakland.org 

R.C.I.A.  Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults:     Cathy Brady ~ cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org