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WEEK AT A GLANCE
SUNDAY -Third Sunday of Advent / Holiday Food Drive Continues
-Second Collection for Retired Religious
-RE Program for 3 year olds (A), Room D, During 9:15 Mass
-RE: PreK/K Program: PreK, Parish Hall, A,B & C; K Program, CTK School; During 9:15 Mass
-Children’s Liturgy of the Word, During 9:15 Mass
-RE Older Sacrament (Gr. 6-8), RE Office, 10:40 am
-Santa Claus Visit sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Parish Hall, 11:30- 2:30 pm
-Youth Group: Christmas Party, Parish Hall, 7-9 pm
MONDAY -RE Older Sacraments (Gr 3-5), Parish Hall, 4:00 pm
-San Quentin Vigil, Church, 7:30 pm-9:00 pm
TUESDAY -Legion of Mary, Ministry Center, Following 8:00am Mass
-MOMS’ Support Group, Ministry Center (Chapel, Dining Room, Library), 9:30-11:30 am
-Catholic Cemeteries Mass, Church, 1:00 pm
-RE: Grades 1-5; Grades 1-3, School, 3:40-5:00 pm; Grades 4 & 5, Parish Hall, A, B, C, 3:40-5:00 pm
-RE: Grades 7/8, Parish Hall, 7-8:30 pm
-Rosary and Mother of Perpetual Help Devotion, VCMtg Rm, 7:00 pm, contact Andy @229-3038
-Spanish Prayer Group, Ministry Center (Common Rm), 7:30 pm
-Knights of Columbus, Chapel, 7:30 pm
WEDNESDAY -RE: Grades 1-5; Grades 1-3, School, 3:40-5:00 pm; Grades 4 & 5, Parish Hall, A, B, C, 3:40-5:00 pm
-RE: Grade 6, Parish Hall, 7-8:30 pm
-St. Vincent de Paul Mtg, Ministry Center (Chapel), 7pm
-Weekly Charismatic Prayer Meeting, 6 St. Lawrence Ct., 7:30 pm (for info. call 932-0395)
-Centering Prayer, Resurrection Episcopal Church (399 Gregory Ln.), 7:30 pm
THURSDAY -Centering Prayer, Ministry Center (Library), 10 am
-RE: Grades 1-5; Grades 1-3, School, 3:40-5:00 pm; Grades 4 & 5, Parish Hall, A, B, C, 3:40-5:00 pm
-School Christmas Program, Church, 7:30pm (Christmas Program Rehearsal 1:15-2:45 pm)
-RCIA Inquiry, Ministry Center (Chapel & Dining Room), 7:15 pm
FRIDAY -Communal Penance Service, Church, 7:30 pm
SATURDAY -Men’s Fellowship Group, Ministry Center (Chapel), 7:30-8:30 am, Contact John at 372-7873
-Communal Penance Service, Church, 3:30 pm
SUNDAY -Fourth Sunday of Advent / Holiday Food Drive Continues
-RE Program for 3 year olds (B), Room D, During 9:15 Mass
-RE: PreK/K Program: PreK, Parish Hall, A,B & C; K Program, CTK School; During 9:15 Mass
-Children’s Liturgy of the Word, During 9:15 Mass
-RE Older Sacrament (Gr. 6-8), RE Office, 10:40 am
-Church decorating, Church, 1:30 pm / Drop off poinsettias by 3:00 pm, Church
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“The Christ the King Shopping Mall Now is Open!” - (1) Fair Trade Coffees, teas, cocoa mix and chocolate bars at competitive prices with the small profit for our sister community in El Salvador (after all masses); (2) Rosary Beads, Religious Articles and Al Garrotto book sales from the four novels he has authored (Sunday after all masses); (3) Entertainment Books @ $25 and See’s Candies to support our Youth Ministry to teens; (4) Scrip (like gift certificates) great for your use of as gifts with proceeds going to our Parish School (after 8, 9:15 & 10:45 masses).
Christmas Family Choirs – 3:30 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm. You are called to share your familys’ voices in song. Plan to be a part of our Christmas Eve Family Choirs. You all must attend ONE practice at 6:00 pm, Tuesday, December 20th in church. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Join us as we make beautiful music together.
A Family Event – December 19th, 7:00 pm Church: Hope you have marked your calendars and plan to join us for an evening of enjoyment, song, and family participation. Frank Runyeon’s “3 ˝ Stories of Christmas” will be a delightful presentation. Free will donations accepted for outreach.
Youth Ministry News – Join us tonight for high school youth group Christmas Party in the Parish Hall from 7-9 pm. See’s Candy and Entertainment Books ($25) will be on sale after all the masses. This fundraiser helps us raise money for our summer work camp with the poor in Mexico.
CTK Women’s Retreat …Feb. 3-5, 2006 at Mercy Center, Burlingame. Theme: Drawing from the Well (Deepening your relationship with God). Director will be Sr. Joann Heinritz, CSJ. Fee: Approx $200/$50 deposit (space is limited). Questions, contact Sr. Joanne at 682-2486.
Holiday Lights – Holiday Treat – Our good neighbor off Gregory Lane on Cortsen has his spectacular Christmas decorations again. Be sure to drop by in the evenings – its sensational. Any free will donations go to the Children’s Hospital Fund.
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Fr. Jim McGee’s Thoughts
“In recent days there has been much media attention given to the scheduled California state execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams, scheduled for 12:01 am on December 13th at San Quentin. In response to this possibility, which goes against our Catholic teaching on the dignity of ALL life, there will be an ecumenical vigil prayer service on Monday evening, December 12th, at 7:30 - 9:00 pm at Christ the King Church in Pleasant Hill.
I have offered to preside at this important gathering of prayer for 1) an end to the use of violence as a means for preserving societal safety as well as a means for excising the pain of horrible evil through violence, and 2) to pray for an end to the violence that plagues our personal lives and world.
As Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles has said: “For the Church to be consistent “pro-life”, it must also stand in opposition to capital punishment. In upholding this position, we recognize that we are clearly in the minority and that an overwhelming majority of Californians, and even Catholics, support the death penalty. Nonetheless, moral and ethical principles cannot and will not be dictated by public opinion polls. We must stand firm in our belief.”
In addition, the use of the death penalty in the USA is deeply flawed: more than 115 people on death row have been exonerated of their crimes and distinguished research shows that the use of the death penalty disproportionately affects the poor and people of color, and doesn’t deter crime. Twelve states do not allow the use of the death penalty; 5 more have not executed anyone since 1976. This month there will be the 1,000th execution in the USA since 1977.
Statement by Marietta Jaeger, murder victim’s mother: “Believe me , there are no amounts of retaliatory acts that will compensate for the loss of my little girl or restore her to my arms. Even to say that the death of one malfunctioning person is going to be just retribution is an insult to the immeasurable worth to me.”
If you cannot join us for the prayer vigil on December 13th at Christ the King, perhaps you can join us in spirit with the prayer of Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ:
God of Compassion, You let the rain fall on the just and the unjust. Expand and deepen our hear s so that we may love as You love, even those among us who have caused the greatest pain by taking life. For there is in our land a great cry for vengeance as we fill up death rows and kill the killers in the name of justice, in the name of peace. Jesus, our brother, You suffered execution at the hands of the state but you did not let hatred overcome you. Help us to reach out to victims of violence so that our enduring love may help them heal. Holy Spirit of God, You strengthen us in the struggle for justice. Help us to work tirelessly for the abolition of state-sanctioned death and to renew our society in its very heart so that violence will be no more. AMEN!”
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