St. Perpetua Church

Celebrating our Faith Enriching our Community Sharing our Gifts

Eucharist Daily Mass

Monday-Thursday, 8:30 am (Chapel)

Weekend Liturgies

Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 8:00, 9:30 & 11:30 am

Holy Days 8:30 am, 7:00 pm

Reconciliation

Saturday 4:00-4:30 pm or by appointment

Baptism

Contact the Parish Office for Sacramental Preparation and

Baptismal date.

Marriage Contact the Parish Office at least six months prior

to anticipated wedding date for sacramental preparation.

Homebound, ill or Infirm

Contact the Parish Office if you, need to receive communion

or Anointing of the Sick at home or in the hospital.

Assisted listening devices

available

St. Perpetua School Contact the school office for

enrollment (TK-8) and After School Program.

Tours by appointment call 284-1640 or skozel@csdo.org.

3454 Hamlin Road, Lafayette, CA 94549 Phone (925) 283-0272 Fax (925) 283-6534

www.stperpetua.org

Parish Office Hours Monday—Friday 7:30 am—4:00 pm

Parish Staff

Reverend John Kasper, OSFS Pastor jkasper@stperpetua.org x202

Christoph Nauer Pastoral Associate chnauer@stperpetua.org x203 Kristine Kvochak Director of Faith Formation kristine@stperpetua.org x204 Gary Guerrero Director of Youth Ministry and Confirmation gguerrero@stperpetua.org x208 Jan Stegner Middle School Faith Formation Coordinator jstegner@stperpetua.org x206 Katherine Korsak Business Manager kkorsak@stperpetua.org x207 Arlene Connors Secretary aconnors@stperpetua.org x201 Sr. Laurel O’Neal, Er . Dio. Pastoral Assistant www.notesfromstillsong.blogspot.com Karen Goodshaw, School Principal kgoodshaw@csdo.org 284-1640 Suzanne Kozel School Office Manager skozel@csdo.org, 284-1640 David Ramirez Maintenance Manager dramirez@stperpetua.org x214 Lorena Rojas, Housekeeping lrojas@stperpetua.org Knights of Columbus Ruben Galindo, galindo1jr@yahoo.com Fr. John’s Homilies Available Online Fr. John’s homilies are posted on our website at www.stperpetua.org/homilies

Dear Friends, During an interview with Charlie Rose last Sunday on CBS’ show “60 Minutes,” Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, made the allegation that the Church had an "economic interest" in "unlimited illegal immigration." "To come to grips with the problems in the church, they need illegal aliens — they need illegal aliens to fill the churches. They have an economic interest in unlimited immigration, unlimited illegal immigration…. As much as I respect Cardinal Dolan and the bishops on doctrine, this is not doctrine," Bannon continued. "This is about the sovereignty of a nation and, in that regard, they're just another guy with an opinion." Fortunately, the American Bishops were swift to respond with this statement: "“It is preposterous to claim that justice for immigrants isn't central to Catholic teaching. It comes directly from Jesus Himself in Matthew 25, 'For I was hungry and you gave me food…a stranger and you welcomed me.' Immigrants and refugees are precisely the strangers we must welcome. This isn't Catholic partisanship. The Bible is clear: welcoming immigrants is indispensable to our faith. Caring for and about the 'Dreamers' is nothing more than trying to carry out that seemingly simple, but ultimately incredibly demanding, commandment. It is a commandment found throughout Sacred Scripture, reaching back to the Hebrew scriptures, including Leviticus, 'when an alien resides with you in your land, do not mistreat such a one' (Lv. 19:33). In fact, the Church has been pro-immigration since God called Abram to leave Ur: 'Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father's house to a land that I will show you' (Gn. 12:1). To suggest otherwise is absurd… Our pro-immigration stance is based on fidelity to God's word and honors the American dream. For anyone to suggest that it is out of sordid motives of statistics or financial gain is outrageous and insulting." As a Church we believe in many doctrines: universal salvation, incarnation, resurrection, sanctification, redemption. Faith, however, is not made up of doctrines or theories. Faith is based on relationship and encounter, with a God who is revealed through Love. Our Catholic Christian faith is based on the Love of God revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. That is the preeminent Doctrine: Y ou shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with all your being and all your might. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. This is the ultimate doctrine that informs and determines our decisions and our actions. Father John Kasper, OSFS

Teens, we have had a great start to Youth Ministry this year. At Mass today we hear the Gospel on forgiveness. Jesus puts a number on his answer to Peter in today’s Gospel on how many times we need to forgive someone, but that is only to make a point. The parable isn't about the quantity of times to forgive, the parable teaches about the quality of forgiveness and how one ought to behave once God has forgiven you. What does the servant do that makes the king angry? – He refuses to forgive his fellow servant the debt that he owes. Because we have all received God's forgiveness, God expects that we will also be forgiving toward others. Jesus' answer to Peter's question is found at the end of the parable. The number of times that we forgive another is less important than the depth of our forgiveness. We must forgive one another from the heart. Messages on forgiveness are part of the regular discourse at Youth Group and Confirmation. How to, when to, and why to. Join us this week for Youth Group where we look at “Why am I here” on Thursday, September 21 at 7:30 pm in the RRC. Confirmation gathers next on Sunday, September 24 at 4:30/6:30 pm in the Chapel for a look at the choices in life we make, every day. Questions? Let Gary know.

Concert in Support of Refugee Family

Grace Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek is inviting you to a special concert next Sunday, September 24 at 3:00 p.m. as part of their fundraising and awareness program in support of two local refugee families – one of which we are sponsoring. The concert is free but donations will be accepted for these two families. The church is located at 2100 Tice Valley Blvd.

Shoes that Fit

"Kids are back in school and The Outreach Committee is once again sponsoring SHOES THAT FIT, a national award-winning program, that supplies new, sturdy, athletic shoes to children in need! With your help we will once again be pairing up with Los Medanos Elementary School in Pittsburg. We now have exciting news that we have connected with a second school in Pittsburg, Willow Cove Elementary School. Willow Cove is located inside a diverse multi-cultural neighborhood. It is one of the two elementary schools in the district that has a Dual Immersion program. For the students enrolled in this program, the instruction is provided in Spanish and English.

FAITH FORMATION BEGINS!

Our first classes will be on: Sunday, September 24th

10:30 a.m. for 1st - 5th grade

Children attending Mass are asked to meet in the back of the church immediately following communion.

Classes meet in the School Building.

Sunday, September 24th 6:00 pm for 1st - 8th grade

1st - 5th grade classes meet in the School Building 6th - 8th grade TEAM meets in the Church.

Tuesday, October 3rd

5:30 pm for 1st - 5th grade School Building

We look forward to seeing all of you soon!

Kristine & Jan

Welcome into the Catholic Community Congratulations! This weekend we welcome the following child into our parish community through the waters of Baptism:

Dash Joseph DeWeese

son of Mark DeWeese & Christine Lopez May our community embrace Dash and may

our word and example be a reflection of God's love for him. Let us offer our joy-filled prayers and congratulations as a sign of our support and welcome!

CCIH Homework Club Support: We are looking for compassionate individuals to help in our afterschool Homework Club that goes from August through June. Sites we serve are Pleasant Hill, Concord and Pittsburg. At this time we have a big need for more volunteers in our

Concord site as we increased our program from 1 day per week to 4 days per week. You will provide academic and mentoring support to children from extremely low-income homes in grades K-12. Commitment is one afternoon per week (M-Th) for the entire school year. Adults and high school sophomores through seniors are encouraged to apply. at www.ccinterfaithhousing.org/volunteer-interest

Upcoming Warm Coat Drive

If you are cleaning out your closet and have some warm coats that you don’t wear, we will be having a Warm Coat Drive the weekend of October 14/15. Details to follow.

This Week at St. Perpetua September 17, —September 24, 2017

Second Collection September 17 Facilities

Maintenance Sunday—Catechetical Sunday Rise & Shine Mass, 9:30 am Faith Formation Training, 10:30 am, RRC Monday School Golf Tournament, 11 am, Orinda Country Club Centering Prayer, 7:15 pm, Chapel Tuesday Faith Formation Parent Meeting, 7 pm, Church Wednesday Free Voice Lessons, 7 pm, Church RCIA, 7 pm, Parish Office Youth Group, 7:30 pm, Chapel Thursday Youth Group, 7:30 pm, RRC Sunday— Children’s Liturgy of the Word during the 9:30 am Mass Faith Formation, 10:30 am, RRC Teen/Youth Family Mass, 11:30 am, Church Confirmation, 4:30 pm, Chapel Faith Formation, 6:00 pm, RRC Confirmation, 6:30 pm, Chapel

MASS INTENTIONS September 16, - September 24, 2017

Saturday 5:00 pm Lisa Rene-Williams Sunday 8:00 am Elisabeth Nauer 9:30 am Caitlin Carson 11:30 am For the Community Tuesday 8:30 am Ron Olowin Wednesday 8:30 am Don Potter Thursday 8:30 am Joe Parlette Saturday 5:00 pm Henry Graf Sunday 9:30 am Elisabeth Nauer 11:30 am For the Community

TOGETHER WE PRAY FOR THE SICK: Marie Saroyan, Chris Fliflet, Elizabeth Cox, Jennifer Rosko, Giselle Contreras, Juanita Estrellas, Dennis Callahan, George Buonocore, Caroline Bancroft, Charlotte Cairney, Judy Russell, Karen Zapotowski, Orlando Portillo, Jenny & Norma Carosella, Alex McLin, Fabricio Mendoza, Anne Lagache, Karl Smida, Bruce Wood, Pat McGinnis, Mary Beth Mettz, Steve Luna, Chris Bruzzone, Thomas Bond, Betty Magnoli, Carol Farrell Raffa, Terry Osburn, Cass Candell, Dylan Cazin and Peter Welch.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Parents have the inside track on this story of the debtor who won’t forgive his own debtor. How many millions of times have moms and dads forgiven their child by the time she graduates from high school, because love compels them to understand her and give her another chance? But let them miss a soccer game and she can’t seem to forgive them for decades. That’s the crazy math of parents and kids, which, of course, comes full circle when the kids have kids themselves. And it’s about the same crazy math as the one in this gospel. The king’s debtor owes him ten thousand talents, which is the equivalent of 6 billion dollars today. And the debtor’s debtor owes him one millionth of that―whatever that is. You’ll have to do the math, I can’t, but whatever that is, he won’t forgive it and he sends his debtor to prison. Grr. A friend shared this story with me decades ago, and I’ve never forgotten it. Her son and daughter, always best friends, had for some reason fallen out and hadn’t spoken in a month. Whatever it was her son did, her daughter announced that she would never forgive him because he lied to her. My friend’s answer was priceless: Seriously? I’ve been lied to by every member of this family at some point over the years, and I’m still here, making dinner and driving car pool. I’ve forgiven you and your brother at least a thousand times. Am I the only one around here who knows how to forgive? What a metaphor for the love of God, whose mercy is new every morning. Forgive someone today. Make your mom proud.

In what ways are you aware of having been forgiven by others?

Kathy McGovern ©2017 www.thestoryandyou.com

WATCH FOR SAGE NEWS! Some changes have come this fall. Instead of a newsletter our events will be covered in weekend bulletins, The Timely Perpetuan and word of mouth. Due to Parish construction and temporary loss of facilities we will have fewer events. We hope to continue monthly Bridge on second Fridays starting in October. We are also working on an Advent Day of Reflection and a Sunday matinee at the Town Hall Theater. More to follow soon.

Hurricane Relief

We've all been watching with great concern, sadness, and even horror at the damage Hurricane Harvey is causing in Texas and surrounding areas. If you want to do something to help please visit the website of Catholic Charities USA, the official domestic relief agency of the US Catholic Church. https://catholiccharitiesusa.org/

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