St. Mary Catholic Church www.stmary-wc.org 925-891-8900

Dear Friends, Welcome once again to “Ordinary Time” on the Church calendar! We all know that life is anything but ordinary. This term refers to the counting or numbered weeks of the Liturgical Year and we celebrate this until the sea-son of Lent begins (this year with Ash Wednesday on February 26.) This is a time when we focus on the teaching and preaching of Jesus, and it gives us a perfect opportunity to see how we are growing in our Faith, seeking to learn more about Christ and deepening our relationship with Him as we reach out in service to others. May this time be one of growth and devel-opment for all of us. This week we welcome back Father Darryl Pepin from Bark River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Needless to say, he is coming out to our “warm” weather and thinks he is going to have some vacation time while he’s here. Please don’t tell him that I have several jobs and projects for him to help with during his stay! When you see him, please give him a warm welcome. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to sneak away here and there to “soak in the colors” of the Wine Country. Have a wonderful week. God bless you. Father Fred

Upcoming Second Collections

January 19 Grotto Grounds February 2 Parish Maintenance February 9 Chapel Maintenance March 1 Parish Maintenance March 22 Catholic Relief Services March 29 St. Vincent de Paul April 5 Easter Flowers May 3 Parish Maintenance May 10 Garden Maintenance May 17 Catholic Charities May 24 Catholic Communications

CALLED TO BE HOLY With this Sunday we begin Ordinary Time. The readings tell us about God’s relationship with Israel and John the Baptist’s relationship with Jesus. Israel’s relationship with God is so close, so inti-mate, that it is through Israel that God’s “salvation [will] reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). But we know from John the Baptist that for Israel to accomplish God’s will, it must also recog-nize that Jesus is the Son of God. During these weeks we also get to know Jesus. We begin to understand more deeply our relationship to Jesus and what that relationship means for us, who are “called to be holy” (1 Corin-thians 1:2). Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

ORGANIZATIONS CYO, Jerry Florence stmarycyo.wc@gmail.com 510-504-5954 Charismatic Prayer Group, Jim Crowley 944-0359 Eucharistic Adoration, Mary Johnstone 954-7205 Finance Council, Brian Mulligan 210-1031 Homebound Ministry, Helene Vizcarra 891-8936 Hospital Ministry, Angeles Ron 856-8780 Knights of Columbus, John Cuddihy 286-4515 Respect Life Ministry, Jim Crowley 944-0359 Rosary Makers, Ana Lau 256-4428 St. Vincent de Paul, Barb Erickson 937-2817 Walking with Purpose, Laura Lencioni 997-4379

MASS TIMES Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. & 12:05 p.m.

Saturday 8:30 a.m.

Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30 p.m.

Sundays 6:30 a.m. * 8:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m. * 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Spanish

6:00 p.m.

Sacrament of Penance Saturdays 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.

DEVOTIONS

Eucharistic Adoration Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

First Fridays: all night Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Fatima Devotion: First Saturday Hispanic Holy Hour: Other Saturdays

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Saturdays 9:00 a.m.

(at the end of 8:30 Mass)

PARISH OFFICE

2051 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596

OFFICE HOURS

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday

DATE TIME MASS INTENTION

01/18 4:30 pm Joe Hickey

01/19 6:30 am Lucia Dauz

8:00 am Denise Blais Normandeau

9:30 am Lauren McSorley

11:00 am The People of St. Mary Parish

1:00 pm Salvadora Padilla

6:00 pm Marrieta Ricafort

01/20 6:30 am Linda Castro (L)

12:05 pm Daniel Koepke

01/21 6:30 am Ted & Joy Todd (L)

12:05 pm Lea Morrison

01/22 6:30 am Elizabeth Peters (L)

12:05 pm Huquette Howell

01/23 6:30 am Marianne Meinbress (L) B’D’

12:05 pm Grego Family (L)

01/24 6:30 am Gerald Sanders

8:15 am St. Mary School Community

12:05 pm Bianca Garibaldi

01/25 8:30 am Karin Lisboa

MASS SCHEDULE

PRAY FOR THE SICK

Staff and Administration Website: www.stmary-wc.org

Parish Office 891-8900 Fax 934-1358 Fr. Fred Riccio, friccio@stmary-wc.org Pastor 891-8900 Fr. John Blaker, 891-8900 In residence Ana Lau, alau@stmary-wc.org Office Manager 891-8908 Aileen Baker, abaker@stmary-wc.org Bookkeeper 891-8911

Faith Formation

Mary Kerfs, lifeteen@stmary-wc.org Administrative Assistant 891-8939 Tim Mannix, RCIA & tmannix@stmary-wc.org Liturgy Coordinator 891-8921 Austin Pisciotto apisciotto@stmary-wc.org Grades 4-8 891-8944 Maureen Tiffany mtiffany@stmary-wc.org Grades K-3 891-8942 Heather Abraham, habraham@stmary-wc.org Confirmation 891-8934

School

Office 935-5054 stmary@st-mary.net Website: www.st-mary.net Alumni: stmaryalumni@st-mary.net Garrett Padia, Principal 935-5054 Advisory Council Joel Williams, President 768-6711 Parents Club Shannon Crvarich, Co-President 949-973-8046 Lisa Kavanagh, Co-President 768-9890

Allison Flamez Margarita Caracas Elsa de Rossi Monica Jara Ana Alvarez Isabel Castillo Susana Jaime Maria Vargas Anthony De Cristoforo Rosalinda Reyes Annabelle Semira Joseph Suta Jeanine Gordon Christine Pollnow Jake Johnston Bill Clark Art Coombes Diane Hewson Tyler Coolie Clarissa Gutierrez

Julia Rodriguez Fred & Emilia Sohn

Raul Gonzalez Helen Budde Raquel Zittel

Dominador Hontucan Quinn Gurnett

Oralee Floria Henry Escano

Mary McLoughlin Angela Regan

Beverly Regan Josefina Zabat

Audry Robinson Loretta Holmes

Nancie Campi Bob Bussani Betty Baker

Victor Miguel Barrios Carol Erikson

Where Do I Go? Where do I go when I’m afraid? A secret place I know Where I am safe in comfort’s arms — This is the place I go… Where do I go when I’m unsure? A special place I’ve found Where I am given answers that Lead me to solid ground… Where do I go when I am sad? A happy place I’ve known These many years — a haven that To no one I have shown… No need for me to be afraid, Nor should I be unsure; No pangs of sadness should I bear — God shares His Love so pure… And I abide with confidence; No doubts assail me there — His shelter all-encompassing — Indeed, His Love foursquare. Henry W. Gurley

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE CRAB FEED

We need volunteers who can assist in the kitchen with prepa-ration. We need two crews of four people each; the first one from 8 am to 12:30 pm, and the other from 4 to 9 pm. Please call Ana Lau at the Parish office if you can help: 925-891-8900.

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR January 20-26

FF = Faith Formation Center SA = St. Anthony Rm. (near parish hall) SE = St. Elizabeth Hall (Conf. Rm.) SJ = St. Joseph Room SM= St. Michael Room SP = St. Peter Room ST = St. Therese Room

MONDAY, JANUARY 20 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 7:00 PM Hispanic Prayer Group/SA 7:00 PM Faith Form. 6th-7th-8th Gr/FF 7:30 PM Choir Practice/Church WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 6:45 PM Encounter Youth Group/SJ 7:00 PM Charismatic Prayer/FF-SM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 4:00 PM Faith Formation 4th-5th Gr/SE 7:00 PM Hispanic Prayer Group/Church 7:00 PM Young Adults/SA FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 7:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel 7:00 PM Hisp. Choir Practice/SA

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 8:00 AM Men’s Prayer Group/FF-SM 9:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration/Chapel SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 9:30 AM Faith Formation K-3rd/FF 10:30 AM RCIA/FF-SJ 11:00 AM Hispanic Faith Form./FF 4:00 PM Band Practice/Church

Play That One Again

How many times have you sung the church song, “Here I Am, Lord”? If you grew up Catholic and are around my age (still 50!), the answer is more than you can count. The song that quotes various verses of Scripture is sung using guitar, piano, or organ, by cantors and choirs, in traditional and modern churches. It is truly a Catholic greatest hit of the modern Church. The question is how many times when singing the refrain have you really taken to heart what you were singing. “Here I am, Lord; is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.” Like the biblical figure Samuel, we are responding to the call of God by asking for clarification that we are indeed the one being called. We then follow up the question with a profound statement: “I will go if You lead me.” It is profound because we are pledging to our God that we are willing to go wherever He wants. We are accepting the challenge put forth in the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral letter, “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,” to become mature disciples who respond to the call of Jesus Christ regardless of the cost. We have sung this pledge repeatedly for many years. We never have any idea what God will call us to do and where to go. Sometimes the request can ask us for quite a lot. Hopefully, we respond like a mature disciple. If not, maybe we should reflect more the next time this song is played. The melody will not allow for the words, “I will see if I am busy and then decide to go if you lead me.” Then again, I don’t want to sing that to God, the source of all life anyway. Do you? — Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS ©LPi

Order forms available in parish office & church vestibule

Parish offices will be closed on Mon-day, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Retrouvaille... A lifeline for marriages Do you feel lost, frustrated, hurt, or angry with your spouse? Retrouvaille helps married couples heal and renew their marriages. The next Week-end Program will take place February 21-23. For more information or to register, visit our web-site at HelpOurMarriage.com or contact Gus & Edda Rivera at (510) 709-6063. Our Weekends transform marriages!

PURIFIED!

Don’t miss this in-credible event for all families, ages 13 and up.

PURIFIED! will take place Sunday, March 1, 2020, 7-9pm, at St. Vincent-St. Patrick High School in Vallejo, and will feature interna-tional speaker and author Jason Evert, who has spoken to more than one million teens on the topic of chastity. The event will include a presentation for teens and parents about dating relationships, and God’s plan for human love, fol-lowed by a time for Adoration and Reconciliation. All families are strongly encouraged not to miss this INCREDIBLE opportunity! Each tick-et is only $20 per person and in-cludes Chastity Project Materials for each attendee. Registration and ticket purchase is available online at www.chastity.com/purified. For more information con-tact Ana Jaime 707-280-0717.

1500 Benicia Rd., Vallejo

Walk for Life West Coast This Saturday, January 25 Join fellow Catholics and pro‐lifers from all over California and beyond as we stand up for the littlest among us at the 16th Annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco on January 25. There will be Mass at 9:30AM at St. Mary’s Cathedral celebrated by Arch-bishop Alexander Sample from Port-land, OR. The rally begins at 12:30PM in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, and the Walk, down Market Street, begins at 1:30PM. Last year’s Walk drew 50,000+ people. For complete information about the Walk, visit www.walkforlifewc.com or call 415‐658‐1793.

MARRIED COUPLES RETREAT Presented by Fr. Rusty Shaughnessy, OFM &

Richard and Karla Obernesser

February 7-9, 2020

www.sandamiano.org 925-837-9141

“I’ll take care of me for you, You take care of you for me.”

Open House Sun, January 26

at 10:30 am

Applications TK/K due

January 31

THE VINEYARD St. Mary Church

YOUTH MINISTRY (K-12) LITTLE SAINTS Kinder - 3rd Sunday 9:30am - 11:00am

ROCK 4th - 5th Grade Thursday 4:00pm - 5:30pm

BLAST 6th Grade Tuesday 7:00pm - 8:30pm

EDGE 7th - 8th Grade Tuesday 7:00pm - 8:30pm

CONFIRMATION Call for info

YOUTH GROUP 9th - 12th Grade Wednesday 6:50pm - 8:30pm

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Office 925-891-8939 Lifeteen@stmary-wc.org Sunday– Thursday 8:30—5:30pm

Catequesis en español Ages 6-13yrs Sunday 11:15am - 12:45pm

Disciples in Training

Faith Formation

Youth Ministry

Sunday, January 19, 2020

GOT CONFIRMATION? Do you have a 9th-12th grade teen that could

be ready for our Summer Confirmation Program? If so, contact the Faith Formation

Office to find out what’s next!

Email: Lifeten@stmary-wc.org Phone: 925-891-8939

FIRST RECONCILIATION RETREAT DATES St. Mary School

Monday, Jan. 27 12:30pm - 2:00pm

Meet in Faith Formation

St. Mary Faith Formation Saturday, Feb. 1

2:15pm - 4:15pm Meet in Faith Formation

HIGH SCHOOL TEENS REGISTER NOW FOR SEMESTER 2!

Encounter High School Youth Group meets

Wednesdays, 6:50pm—8:30pm in the St. Elizabeth Hall!

Visit the Encounter H.S. Webpage at: stmary-wc.org

and click on “Grow In Faith”

LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA Lunes: 1 Sm 15:16-23; Sal 50 (49):8- 9, 16bc-17, 21, 23; Mc 2:18-22 Martes: 1 Sm 16:1-13; Sal 89 (88):20-22, 27-28; Mc 2:23-28 Miércoles: 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; Sal 144 (143):1b, 2, 9-10; Mc 3:1-6 Jueves: 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7; Sal 56 (55):2-3, 9-13; Mc 3:7-12 Viernes: 1 Sm 24:3-21; Sal 57 (56):2-4, 6, 11; Mc 3:13-19 Sábado: Hch 22:3-16 o Hch 9:1-22; Sal 117 (116):1bc, 2; Mc 16:15-18 Domingo: Is 8:23 — 9:3; Sal 27 (26):1, 4, 13-14; 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17; Mt 4:12-23 [12-17]

FECHAS IMPORTANTES Enero 19, Clase 11:15am Enero 26, Clase 11:15am

Febrero 2, NO HAY CLASE

925)357-3048 jcain@stmary-wc.org

¡Aparta la Fecha! Retiro

Febrero 20-23, 2020

Padre Rafael Chávez

Para más información 925-856-8780 Ángeles

El anuncio profético de Juan Bautista continua; el domingo pasado con la Fiesta del Bautis-mo del Señor él decía no mere-cer desatarle las correas de sus sandalias. Hoy anuncia otra im-portante profecía: “Este es el Cordero de Dios, el que quita el pecado del mundo.” Y el Evan-gelio continúa narrando la gran-deza del Hijo de Dios por medio de Juan, quedando su testimonio hasta nuestros días: “Aquel sobre quien veas que ba-ja y se posa el Espíritu Santo, ése es el que ha de bautizar con el Espíritu Santo.” Juan revela que Jesús es el Cordero de Dios que será sacrificado para el perdón de todos los pecados del mundo y que Él es Dios que bautizará con el Espíritu Santo. También el Evangelio revela dos cosas importantes sobre el Bautismo: el Bautismo con agua nos lava, limpia del pecado; el Bautismo con el Espíritu Santo nos ayuda a conocer íntimamente quién es Jesús. Los Sacra-mentos son misterios que nos ayudan a relacionarnos y conocer al Cordero de Dios. La enseñanza de la Liturgia de hoy es que el Bau-tismo no es un simple evento ritual que hacen los padres al bautizar a sus hijos, sino que es el inicio de la jornada de toda la vida; es el proceso de con-versión de cada bautizado. En la Eucaristía, afirma-mos nuestra fe en el Cordero de Dios cuando el sa-cerdote dice, “Este es el Cordero de Dios, que quita el pecado del mundo. Dichosos los invitados a la cena del Señor.” ¿Qué relación existe entre el Cordero de Dios y nuestro Bautismo? ©LPi

La segunda colecta de hoy es para el mante-nimiento de la Gruta de la Virgen. Gracias por su ayuda.