Christ the King - St. Stephen Parish
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Mass Schedule for Both Campuses
Christ the King Campus
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 4:00 p.m.
- Private Confessions Saturday 3:00 - 3:30 p.m.
St. Stephen Campus
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 9:30 a.m.
- Private Confessions Saturday before the 5:00 p.m. Mass
Weekday Masses (9:00 a.m.)
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday – St. Stephen
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday – Christ the King
First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- St. Stephen Church which begins at 8:15am, followed by Benediction at 8:45am and Mass at 9:00am.
- You can also attend Eucharistic Adoration every Friday from 3pm to 5pm in the chapel at the CTK Ministry Center
Weekly Bulletin
Our bulletins are a snapshot of important events at Christ the King - St. Stephen. You'll find everything from Fr. Paulson's letter to what's happening with Youth Ministry.
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Dear Friends,
Over the past several decades, many have noticed a decline in the number of Catholics attending Mass regularly. But there is another decline — quieter, yet even more significant — the number of people approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Confession lines that once stretched across church aisles are now often sparse. For many, the sacrament has slowly faded from spiritual life, almost becoming a forgotten practice.
Some say, “I can talk to God directly about my sins.” And that is true. We absolutely can and should speak honestly with God in prayer. But the deeper question is this: How many of us actually do? And even more importantly, do we still recognize what sin is?
We are, in many ways, losing the sense of sin.
Almost 50 years ago, Dr. Karl Menninger raised a concern for both psychiatrists and religious leaders. His book,
Whatever Became of Sin? noted that our understanding of the sins which caused us to need healing and forgiveness had shifted to something outside of ourselves — the familiar excuse that “the Devil made me do it.” Personal responsibility was lost; victimhood took its place. Half a century later, his insight still challenges our contemporary world.
Saint John Paul II similarly described the “sense of sin” as an acute perception of the seeds of death contained in sin — a moral awareness that develops when a person lives close to God and is immersed in the Gospel. He compared it to a thermometer of the conscience. When the thermometer no longer registers, it does not mean there is no illness; it means we have lost the ability to detect it.
Our culture often explains human struggles primarily through psychology, social conditions, or personal wounds. These perspectives can offer real insights and compassion, but they do not eliminate the reality that human beings still make choices — deliberate choices — that harm themselves, others, and their relationship with God. Catholics call these choices sin because they represent choosing our way over God’s way.
The modern world has not eliminated suffering, guilt, or brokenness. If anything, many people carry deeper anxiety, loneliness, and restlessness than ever before. Therapy can help heal wounds, but it cannot replace salvation. We need more than coping — we need grace. We need forgiveness. We need reconciliation.
This is precisely why Christ gave us this sacrament. After His resurrection, Jesus breathed on His apostles and said, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.” (John 20:23)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not a human invention. It is Christ’s gift
— a concrete encounter with mercy. It is where we hear, not just hope, but
know that we are forgiven. It is where burdens are lifted, hearts are restored, and peace becomes real. Confession is not about shame. It is about freedom. It is not about condemnation. It is about healing. It is not about looking backward. It is about beginning again.
Perhaps the deeper reason many avoid confession is not disbelief, but fear — fear of facing ourselves, fear of being judged, fear of vulnerability. Yet every priest who sits in that confessional is there for one purpose only: to be an instrument of God’s mercy.
The Cross itself only makes sense if sin is real. If there is no sin, then Christ’s sacrifice becomes unnecessary. But if sin wounds the human heart — and we know it does — then the Cross becomes the greatest act of love in history. We do not need less mercy today. We need more.
Reconciliation is not a relic of the past — it is an amazing gift from God for the present. Perhaps it is time to rediscover it. Perhaps it is time to come home. One simple place to begin is by learning or revisiting the Act of Contrition, which I have included below. Personally, it has become a meaningful habit for me to pray these words each evening after a brief examination of conscience before going to bed. I invite you to consider doing the same. Let us embrace fully the richness of our faith, especially the healing grace offered to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
~Fr. Paulson
Resources for your Lenten Journey
Lenten Reflections
Thursdays • 10:00am - 11:00am • CTK Chapel
Presenter - Pamela Prime
- Feb 26 – A Time to Embrace Wisdom
- Mar 5 – A Time to Receive Mercy and Forgiveness
- Mar 12 – A Time to Experience the Peace of Christ
- Mar 19 – A Time to Become the Love We Seek
Please join us Fridays in Lent to pray
The Stations of the Cross
Different ministries will host each Friday in Lent:
Christ the King Church
Fridays - 6pm
February 20, 27 | March 6, 27
St. Stephen
Fridays - 12 pm - Guided Outdoor Mediations
Please note: Friday, March 20, we will have Stations of Cross at 6pm
followed by a soup dinner.
SS Campus will be open for self-guided outdoor Stations
Monday & Wednesday, 11am-2pm
Friday until 6pm
Parish Lenten Reconciliation Services
Christ the King Church
Saturday, March 21 | 2:30pm
Thursday, March 26 | Confessions - 8am before Mass
St. Stephen Church
Friday, March 13 | 6:30pm
Stations of the Cross will begin at 6pm
What's Happening at Christ the King - St. Stephen
Special Lenten Events
Lenten Retreat with Fr. Paulson
Saturday, March 14 • 9:30 a.m. – 12Noon • St. Stephen Church
Embracing the Paradox & the Cross: A Paradox and a Sign of Contradiction
Retreat with Pamela Prime
Saturday, March 28 • 10:00 a.m.–12:00 Noon • CTK Parish Hall
The Healing of Our Hearts
Seder Meal with Rabbi Roberto Graetz
Tuesday, March 31 • 6:00 p.m. • St. Stephen Hall
Adult Education
Our 11-week study of The Gospel of John
will begin on March 2.
An eleven-week study of The Gospel According to John will begin on Monday, March 2. The Gospel of John is a testament to the divine nature of Jesus, the Word made flesh, the Light of the World. Study material is available as a paperback or e-book at LittleRockScripture.org.
We meet on
Mondays at 10 AM in Room A in CTK’s Parish Hall.
Dance Ministry
Join us on Thursdays (New Day)
February 26 at 7pm
In CTK's Parish Hall
Come out and Learn how to Line Dance,
Grow in Faith, and Build Community
Questions? Contact Nelson Gonzales ngonzales@ctkph.org
Dress a Child Around the World Sewing Ministry
We will meet for our next sewing session, next Wednesday, February 18th, 9:00 am, at the CTK Parish Hall.
These are the dates of rest of our sewing sessions through May 2026: March 18, April 29, and May 27.
For more information, please contact Maria Elena Sandoval at sfcity4@gmail.com.
Livestreamed Masses
The following Masses are livestreamed for those unable to celebrate with us.
Christ the King and St. Stephen Campus
Monday - Saturday
9:00am
First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Mass
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin at 8:15am followed by Mass at 9:00am
Saturday
4:00pm Vigil Mass
Sunday
10:30am
Staying Connected Archive
View the last 4 editions of Staying Connected
Contact Us
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Christ the King Church
199 Brandon Rd, Pleasant Hill CA
St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct, Walnut Creek, CA
