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199 Brandon Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
USA
tel: 925-682-2486

 
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July 20, 2014



Dear Parishioners,

One of the very important signs when there is a change of pastor and when a new pastor is assigned is how the last parish feels about their outgoing pastor. Well, it is very clear to me and to everyone that St. Mary’s Parish in Walnut Creek is both in shock and grieving over the transfer of Fr. Paulson here to Christ the King. I’ve heard from countless people how sad they are and really in mourning.  It comes from people in the youth group who know they will miss him badly and also from those who will miss his preaching badly. In a recent letter from St. Mary’s transition team to the parish, it actually concludes with this interesting paragraph:
“Finally, anyone interested in taking part in the toilet-papering of the Christ the King rectory and school should meet in the parking lot on Saturday around midnight.  Just kidding.  Let’s keep them in our prayers too. Even though we know how blessed they are to be having Fr. Paulson become their pastor, they are going through their own transition.”
Among other things, Fr. Paulson is a “climber” in the best sense of the word. This weekend he joined a small group to climb Holy Cross Mountain in Colorado, up to 14,000 feet.  Next weekend he takes 100 of his parishioners from Saint Mary’s to spend a weekend climbing Half Dome in Yosemite.


Fr. Paulson

This is not only a time of transition for myself and Christ the King parishioners, but for many priests and parishes in the diocese. Although many of you will not know each by name, I need to keep you up to date on all the recent transfers. They are many and here it goes: 

Fr. Fred Riccio who served recently as administrator of St. Rose in Crockett; and before that he served as pastor of Queen of all Saint’s in Concord, then moved to St. Joan of Arc in San Ramon and then became pastor of St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda, has been assigned effective September 15th as the new pastor of St. Mary’s in Walnut Creek. Fr. Leo Asuncion (our local dean and acting pastor at St. Catherine’s in Martinez) has been reassigned as acting pastor in Crockett, effective August 1st. Fr. Clarence Zamora who until recently has been serving in Hawaii has been made pastor of St. Catherine’s in Martinez effective August 1st
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Effective July 1st, Fr. John Dereen, after several tumultuous years at St. Joseph in Berkeley, has been assigned as pastor of St. Joseph in Pinole to replace the retiring Fr. Paul Schmidt and Fr. Paul Dinh, after serving as a military chaplain has been made pastor of St. Michael’s parish in Livermore.

Fr. Ken Nobrega, who has been in residence in the Berkeley parish while serving as Director of Vocations and Diocesan Exorcist, has been made acting pastor of St. Joseph in Berkeley.  Meanwhile, Fr. Neal Clemens who has been Director of Priest Personnel has been reassigned to St. Joseph of Berkeley and has been named Director of Vocations, Fr. Robert Mendonca has been appointed associate at St. Raymond’s in Dublin and Fr. Mark Amaral, our neighbor and acting pastor at St. Stephens in Walnut Creek, has been put in charge of formation of Deacons in our diocese.  And finally, Fr. Paul Schmidt (retired and my roommate!), has been appointed as full time Director of Personnel or Vicar of Clergy!  

 
I want you to know I have been lobbying with both the Personnel Board and Bishop Barber to make Fr. Cotter a pastor in our Diocese.  Recently I described him as having been a gift to us here at Christ the King. His ministry and especially his sermons have been uplifting and downright exciting. In view of that, it is a little difficult for me to make the following very strong recommendation; however, I believe I owe it to the Personnel board, to Vince and to the Diocese to do so.  I recommend Fr. Vince in the highest possible terms to be considered for and made pastor here in the diocese as soon as possible. So far there has been no response which is at least a partial, yet temporary blessing for us here at Christ the King.

I want to call your attention to two important events this week. Number 1 is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene which includes a mass in the church on Tuesday, with a visiting homilist and number 2, Kate Doherty’s discussion and showing of a TED talk on Friday night in rooms A & B of the hall at 7:30 pm. TED talks, which stand for “Technology, Entertainment and Design”, are a global set of conferences which were founded in 1984 out of Silicon Valley. Speakers are given a maximum of 18 minutes to present their ideas in the most engaging ways they can. Read more about both in today’s foldout and bulletin.

Your Pastor,
Brian T. Joyce

 

 
 
    		 
 


Save the Date: Summer movies!  Join us July 25th for a discussion hosted by Kate Doherty on the wildly popular TED Talk by Brene Brown.  Brene Brown studies human connection – our ability to empathize, belong, love.  In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research.  The evening starts at 7:30 pm.

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CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE
Tuesday, July 22 2014
Co-sponsored by Saint Perpetua Catholic Community, Lafayette, and Christ the King Parish, Pleasant Hill
Morning Eucharist 8:00 AM in Church
Christ the King Parish with visiting homilist:
Fr. Tom Bonacci, C.P., Interfaith Peace Project “Living in the Resurrection”
Evening Presentation & Prayer 7:00 – 8:00 PM
with reception to follow
St. Perpetua Catholic Community, 3454 Hamlin Rd., Lafayette

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Ministry to traveling Catholics
For nationwide Mass times and location:
www.Masstimes.org

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