St. Theresa Mission Statement
We are a welcoming, active Catholic Community
united by our faith, open to transformation, growing spiritually
and reaching out to love and to serve others as Jesus taught us.
A Word from the Pastor
This weekend we welcome back Archbishop Peter Chong of Fiji. Many of you remember when Fr. Peter lived at St. Theresa Rectory as he completed his doctoral studies at GTU.
Archbishop Peter’s presence is another facet of our hundred-year history, and I know you will have time to personally greet him and hopefully celebrate Mass with him over the next couple of weeks. This weekend we are honored that he will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in the parish. We congratulate the young women and men who will receive this sacrament and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and bless the rest of their lives. We also look forward to seeing these young men and women continue in our parish taking on fully initiated roles and ministries that keep our parish vibrant.
With the feast of the Ascension celebrated this weekend and Pentecost right after it, I think a short presentation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit may renew all of us as we journey with the Lord along the way:
“The "gifts of the Holy Spirit" refer to specific graces or supernatural abilities given by God through the Holy Spirit to individuals, enabling them to serve God and others. These gifts are distinct from the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are character traits formed within believers. There are several lists of gifts, with the most common being the seven traditionally identified in our Catholic tradition. Additionally, the New Testament lists various spiritual gifts for the benefit of the church.
These gifts are considered to be graces that perfect the virtues of those who receive them, enabling them to live a more holy life and to be more responsive to God's inspirations.
Wisdom: The ability to discern God's will in all areas of life and to make wise decisions.
Understanding: A deeper insight into the truths of faith, allowing for a more profound grasp of God's revelation.
Counsel: The gift of knowing how to give good advice and make wise decisions for oneself and others.
Fortitude: The strength and courage to stand firm in faith, even in the face of adversity.
Knowledge: The ability to understand God's plan for the world and to live in a way that honors Him.
Piety: A deep respect and reverence for God, along with a love for prayer and worship.
Fear of the Lord: A reverence for God that leads to a life of obedience and humility.
Spiritual Gifts (New Testament):
The New Testament describes a variety of gifts, often listed in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4, that are given to individuals for the benefit of the church.
These gifts include things like wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpreting tongues.
Purpose of the Gifts:
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to equip believers to serve God, build up the church, and share the gospel with others.
Distinction from Fruits of the Spirit:
The gifts are distinct from the fruits of the Spirit, which are character traits that are the result of the Holy Spirit's indwelling in a believer's life. Fruits of the Spirit include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. “
My prayer is that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be generously poured out on our newly Confirmed and that each in their own way will enrich our parish and Church with the fruit they will produce. Again, thank you, Archbishop Peter, and congratulations to our Confirmandi!
If you haven't picked up your new box of collection envelopes or would like to start using envelopes please contact the parish office at admin@sttheresaoakland.org or call 341.202.0077.
St. Theresa 100th Jubilee Year
Upcoming events.
Upcoming Events
May 31: Confirmation, 5:00 pm Mass, with Archbishop Peter Chong
We will celebrate the Confirmations that have been celebrated at St. Theresa over the past 100 years.
If you received Confirmation at St. Theresa Church we are asking that you submit a picture that we will display at the Masses the weekend of May 30 & 31. Use the link on the Jubilee website page (see above) to submit a picture.
June 8: Parish Ministries Celebration
We will acknowledge and bless all parish volunteers at the 9:00 am Mass.
Following Mass, all parish volunteers and their families are cordially invited to join us for a Continental Breakfast in the Event Center.
Family members are welcome to join us!
RSVP to momgab@aol.com
June 14: Mass and Celebration with Archbishop Peter and the Fiji Community
All are invited to the 5:00 pm Mass with Archbishop Peter and Fijian choir member from the Bay Area.
Following Mass there will be a celebration in the Event Center. All are welcome.
July 20: Men's Club Summer Outing at Woodminster
The play is at 8:00pm preceded by our optional regular picnic dinner beforehand inside the theater, above the stage. Doors open at 5:30. Parking is available in the lots immediately next to the theater. The adult half-priced tickets are $34/each. Please contact Luigi Bonacini at labona@sbcglobal.net with your request by Monday July 14.
August 23: Back to School Mass, Concert on the Lawn and Taco Truck
All students, teacher, and educators are invited to bring their backpacks with them to our Back to School Mass for a special blessing.
Following Mass bring some chairs stop by the Taco Truck for some great food and stay for our Concert on the Lawn.
Catholic Organizations Helping Migrants, Refugees, and At-Risk Populations
*Catholic Relief Services (CRS) -- Operation Rice Bowl and other funds
*Jesuit Refugee Services
*Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC)
Urge Congress to Protect the Persecuted
“It is the historic policy of the United States to respond to the urgent needs of persons subject to persecution in their homelands. . . . Congress further declares that it is the policy of the United States to encourage all nations to provide assistance and resettlement opportunities to refugees to the fullest extent possible.”
These opening lines of the Refugee Act of 1980—the law creating the statutory authority for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)—communicates the importance of responding to the needs of those forced to flee their homes because they are persecuted on the basis of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Carrying out the Gospel’s mandate to care for the “least of these” (Mt. 25:31-46), the Catholic Church has served refugees in the United States since well before USRAP’s creation. Learn more about USRAP and the Catholic Church.
Today, no refugees are being resettled through USRAP. This ban impacts thousands of refugees who had already been fully processed, undergone extensive security checks, and approved for refugee status by the federal government while outside of the United States. This includes many persecuted Christians, as well as Afghans who had been approved for special immigrant visas because of the assistance they provided to the U.S. mission and U.S. service members in Afghanistan.
The indefinite suspension of USRAP is the result of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 20. The order requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to submit a report by April 20, 2025, regarding whether refugee resettlement is in the national interest. However, the order leaves the decision about whether to resume refugee resettlement to the President alone, without any timeline stated for that decision.
On January 24, the State Department issued suspension notices to domestic resettlement agencies, including the USCCB, impacting their ability to carry out services under the Reception and Placement (R&P) Program. The R&P Program provides crucial assistance to refugees and Afghan special immigrant visa holders during their first three months in the United States to support their successful integration and help them to achieve self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. Services provided through the R&P Program include help finding initial housing, securing employment, enrolling children in school, scheduling medical appointments, and English language classes.
The chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, addressed the suspension of USRAP on January 22, stating: “Indefinitely halting refugee resettlement is unmerited, as it is already proven to be one of the most secure legal pathways to the United States.”
Ask your members of Congress to lift up their voice in support of upholding our nation’s bipartisan legacy of refugee resettlement.
Send this Message to Congress
Support Refugee Resettlement to Protect the Persecuted
As a Catholic and your constituent, I urge you to engage with the Administration to resume the resettlement of refugees and Afghan special immigrant visa (SIV) holders.
Being a place of refuge for those fleeing oppression, including Christians and other people persecuted for their faith, is fundamentally American. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has safely and effectively fostered this, with strong bipartisan support, for almost 45 years.
The President’s recent executive order providing for the indefinite suspension of refugee admissions leaves thousands of thoroughly vetted people, who in some cases have waited years to experience freedom, in a state of grave uncertainty. Stop-work orders issued to domestic resettlement agencies also threaten the support promised to recently arrived refugees and SIV holders, undermining their prospects of self-sufficiency.
Protection of people fleeing persecution and those who risked their lives to support our country is not only in the national interest but a moral responsibility. Please urge the Administration to immediately resume refugee resettlement.
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/YserWGk94GHOgzS7fAtZ2w
Social Justice Committee:
It is Laudato Si’ Week May 24-May 31st
Pope Francis’ Laudate Si’ encyclical celebrates 10 years.
St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures’ turns 800 years old
A Vision for our Common Home
“I would like to invite everyone to tackle this journey together…Only in this way we will be able to create the future we want: a more inclusive, fraternal, peaceful, and sustainable world.” – Pope Francis
The Laudate Si’ Action Platform equips Catholic institutions and individuals to journey towards total sustainability in the spirit of Laudate Si’. https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/about/ https://laudatosiweek.org/
“We have forgotten that God is not to be found "out there" in some vague expanse of space, but right here in the places where we find ourselves.”
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/10th-anniversary-laudato-si-touch-earth-right-front-you
JOIN the St. Theresa’s SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE!! Write to ltdeck@me.com for more information.
St. Vincent de Paul
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.
Text to Donate
Text “GIVE” to the number above to receive a link to our online giving page.
You can use our online giving platform to deepen your commitment to the church and the ministries you care about most. Your recurring gifts will sustain our mission month after month. You will also help our parish by cutting costs for envelopes and paper, and allowing our staff to spend less time processing cash and checks and more time on ministries.
Thank you for your continued support of St. Theresa.
You may also use Online Giving for Second Collections.
May 31 & June 1 Parish Maintenance & Improvement Fund
June 7 & 8 Catholic Communications / USCCB
June 21 & 22 Holy Father (Peter's Pence)
Sunday Collection (May 19—25):
Online: 44 Donors, $ 2,957.00
Mass Donations: 33 Donors, $ 1,799.00
Reception of the Precious Blood
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."
Assisted Listening available at Weekend Masses
There are two ways to enjoy crisp, clear audio in the church for our weekend Masses.
Option 1:
Download the app, connect to the church wireless network, put in your earbuds, open the app and you are set.
The WiFi password you will need to connect to our wireless network will be available at the sound system desk before and after Mass.
Option 2:
Assisted Listening Devices are available at our weekend Masses. You can check out a device at the sound system desk prior to Mass.
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If you have any questions contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org
Volunteering Made Simple
Have you thought about volunteering but worry about fitting it into your schedule? We know life is busy, but here's the good news - serving on Saturdays and Sundays is easier than ever! Out parish used Ministry Schedule Pro, so you can check the schedule online anytime, get reminders, and even request a sub when needed. If you're willing to volunteer, we'd love to have you! Come see me after church today, and I'm happy to help you get connected.
Contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org to volunteer or for more information.
https://sttheresaoakland.org/ministries/liturgical-ministries
Thank you for your faithful support.
Lector
Eucharistic Minister
Sacristan
Altar Server
Greeter
Usher
Projectionist
Video Ministry (9:00 am Mass)
Altar Linens
Weekend Mass Schedule
5:00 pm Saturday
9:00 am Sunday
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
Low Gluten hosts are available at all weekend Masses.
The hosts are less than 20 parts per million gluten, under .002%
For additional information go to https://www.parishcrossroads.com/low-gluten.htm
Please use the presider's communion station to receive a low gluten host.
Weekday Mass Schedule
Monday - Friday
8:30 am
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday ~ 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Please remember in your prayers all those who are ill especially:
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, Doug Brune, Greg Anderson, Judy Udove.
Mass Intentions
May 31 - June 8
To request a Mass Intention you can use the online form at
https://sttheresaoakland.org/pray/mass-confession-times/mass-intention
or by email or phone at: admin@sttheresaoakland.org
341.202.0077
Please remember in your prayers, those who have died
especially
Clare Balabla Mukiibi, the mother of Fr. Luke
Schedule a Mass Intention Online
St. Theresa Parish Goal
$35,800
Percentage Achieved 21.81%
$7,807.00
as of May 15, 2025
Thank you for supporting the Annual Bishop's Ministries Appeal
Donation envelopes are available in the church vestibule.
You may make a donation using the QR code or the Oakland Diocese giving option.
Checks must be made out to Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland.
https://www.oakdiocese.org/bishops-ministries-appeal
https://www.oakdiocese.org/bishops-ministries-appeal
Parish Office Hours
Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Parish Office, ext. 120
Parish Office (direct line) 341.202.0077
Rev. Robert J. McCann, ext. 121
Pastor
(direct line) 341.202.0159
rjmccann@sttheresaoakland.org
Rev. Ngema W. Enow, ext. 128
In Residence
(direct line) 341.202.0137 ngemawil.enow@gmail.com
Cathy Brady, ext. 126
Liturgy Director
(direct line) 341.202.0086
cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org
Rob Cakebread, ext. 127
Music Ministry Director
(direct line) 341.202.0139
rob@sttheresaoakland.org
Keri Nims, ext. 124
Coordinator for Early Childhood Catechesis & RCIC
(direct line) 341.202.0076
keri@sttheresaoakland.org
St. Theresa School
Alicia Ortegon, 510.547.3146
St. Theresa School Principal
a_ortegon@sttheresaschool.org
website: www.sttheresaschool.org
Parish Organization Contacts
Pastoral Council:
Chris Colby
ccolby@well.com
Finance Council:
.
.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Greg Govan
glgovan@comcast.net
CYO (Catholic Youth Organization):
Carlos Palacios
sttheresaathletics@gmail.com
St. Theresa Men’s Club
mensclubsttheresa@gmail.com
Legion of Mary
Tom Wallace
tomw1313@sbcglobal.net
WINGS
Cindy Crimmins
cyncrim@gmail.com
Social Justice Committee (SJC)
Lydia Deck
ltdeck@me.com
Consolation Ministry
Cecile Cuttitta
cecile.cuttitta@att.net
Men’s Faith Sharing
Jim Frei
jim@ottofrei.com
Cursillo
Geri Tong
gt4palancaoakland@gmail.com
Kinderchurch
Shanon Ciston
s.ciston@gmail.com
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
Safe Environment Training for Parish & School Volunteers
It is that time of year when notices of expiring Virtus training will be arriving in your email. Please uuse the link in the email to lob into Virtus and take the training that have been assigned. Training must be renewed every three years.
To renew or register for the first time, click on the link in your email or go to https://www.virtusonline.org or click on the link in the upper right corner of the parish website sttheresaoakland.org.
Please remember that in order to volunteer at the parish or school in any capacity (Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Catechist, Choir Member, St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, CYO etc.), you must complete the training.
If you have any problems or questions contact Cathy Brady at cathy_b@sttheresaoakland.org.
