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
Congratulations again to our newly young women and men who were confirmed last weekend by Archbishop Peter Chong! It was a great celebration and if you were not there in person, I invite you to look at the recording on the parish website. Go ahead and forward it to the homily if you don’t have the time to watch the full Mass.
Archbishop Peter had met the candidates the night before at their rehearsal and invited them into a process that asked them to reflect on the commitment to Jesus, the Church, and the Holy Spirit that they would make the next day when they received the Sacrament of Confirmation. After the archbishop gave a short address, each of the candidates spoke to the Church assembled about what they realized through the two years of their preparation and the short discussion the night before. I will not synthesize their good words but encourage you to take a look at it.
Today with the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost we invoke the Holy Spirit anew on each of us individually and as a parish and hopefully as God’s presence to transform our world. Pope Leo is proclaiming reminders that each of us who have been given the Holy Spirit at our Baptism and Confirmation are missioned to transform the world we live in using the unique and special gifts that God has given us.
I am so grateful for many of you who generously use your gifts for the wellbeing of our parish and allowing it to try to fulfill its mission of building up God’s Kingdom in our world. At the Sunday Mass, we will ask members who give of their time and talent and treasure toward empowering this mission.
I have already in a previous week mentioned and questioned where we would or would not be if we didn’t have individuals who proclaim God’s Word to us when they lector or who minister to us the Sacred Body and Blood of the Lord. Where would our young people be without the guidance of coaches who teach our young people the rules of the sport and how to exercise it with Christian conduct? The school board has tackled a number of issues to keep our school deserving of the acclaim it receives in our city.
The list can go on and on, but toady we ask on this feast of the Holy Spirit which enlightens us to continue to pour out God’s love so that everything we do or say is guided toward the love of God and neighbor and the cause of our action. Thank you to all who make it happen!
This past Wednesday, the Mass intention was for the benefactors of our parish. Over these hundred years, many sacrifices were made that allowed our church building, school, offices, meeting rooms and event center to be built, maintained and paid for. Our bills for water, power and insurance, and everything else it takes to fix and maintain our aging buildings. I assure you of my personal gratitude and ask you to continue that generosity so the next hundred years can continue the good work started a hundred years ago.
Please say a prayer also for all who minister today in our midst and to all who support our efforts with their tithing, volunteering, encouragement, and zeal. May the Holy Spirit renew the fact of the earth today and especially our local parish. May God return a hundred-fold the generosity each has shown. And may God continue to bring to fulfillment the good work that has been started here at St. Theresa Parish a hundred years ago!
Pentecost
Wear red to Mass this weekend.
Our theological tradition names seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Which of these do you most need right now?
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.
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.
“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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
St. Theresa Parish Online Prayer Request
FOR THE SICK OR RECENTLY DECEASED
You can submit names for the Prayers of the Faithful (Prayers for the Sick or Recently Deceased) online. Please complete the form, and their name(s) will be added to the weekly Flocknote, bulletin and The Prayers of the Faithful at the weekend Masses.
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.
This was sent to a parishioner using another parishioners name as the sender in an attempt to obtain the parishes account information.
What's the current available balance in the account? And do we have Zelle or Venmo Linked with our bank account? Also, You need to process the payment immediately to the vendor for our Website Upgrade . Kindly get back to me Asap.
A number of people have once again received phony emails and texts from Fr. Bob and/or our principal Alicia Ortegon asking for gifts cards. If you receive an email from either of them requesting help with gifts, gift cards, money ..... PLEASE IGNORE and DELETE. It's a scam! They will never request help from you in this manner.