Christ the King - St. Stephen Parish

Come Celebrate with Us

Christ the King Campus

Monday - Friday

9:00am (livestreamed)


First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Mass

5:00 PM - 6:00PM, Mass at  6:00 PM  (exposition and Mass livestreamed)


Saturday

9:00 AM & 4:00 PM Vigil Mass (both Masses livestreamed)

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Confessions


Sunday

7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 4:00 PM (10:30 AM Mass livestreamed)


St. Stephen Campus

Monday - Friday

8:00 AM


Saturday

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Confessions, Mass at 5:00 PM


Sunday

9:30 AM

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Staying Connected

Dear Friends,


Many of our children are preparing themselves for the sacrament of First Reconciliation. I had the opportunity to address their parents on the importance of this moment in the lives of their families. I want to share with you a part of my conversation with them.


“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 passed over to something outside of oneself, the famed excuse that “the Devil made me do it.” Personal responsibility was lost; victimhood took its place. Half a century later, his book still stands as a challenge to our own contemporary world.”


“In Catholic circles in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, patterns of regular confession that were once in abundance began to fade. And that raises a similar question: Whatever became of confession? While frequent confession became a thing of the past, Catholics continued to receive Communion. A traditionally minded Catholic response was that people treated Communion lightly, and their moral consciences were badly distorted. Those on the other end of the spectrum saw Communion itself as the healing remedy. It did not require confession to prepare for it.” (Taken from America Magazine). 


“Why confess your sins to a priest when you can just confess them straight to God?” At one time or another, most Catholics have heard this objection from their Protestant friends. We may have even heard it from a fellow Catholic who doesn’t understand the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.


A group of friends brought a paralytic on a stretcher to Jesus so that He could touch and heal him. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd they removed the roof above him and lowered the paralytic bed in front of Jesus. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The religious leaders were scandalized by this announcement to forgive sins because they believed Jesus to be “a mere man” and were horrified by His claim to have an authority that belonged to God alone.

But Jesus answered them: “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic— “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Jesus proved His divinity to them—and therefore His ability to forgive sin—by His power over creation, which He demonstrated through miracles of healing or of absolute power (such as walking on water or cutting a violent storm short with a mere command).


Alright. It’s one thing for the Son of God - being God – to forgive sin. What about Catholic priests forgiving sin?


The Old Testament reveals an interesting thing. It’s this: from the earliest days of God’s interaction with the human beings He created, He has chosen to speak and work through hand-selected persons on behalf of everyone else. God doesn’t have to do this. But for His own purposes—which we may find mysterious—He chooses to. Abraham. Noah. Moses. Isaiah and all the prophets, right up to John the Baptist. The Lord chose to communicate His will through them, to bring about His will through them, and to perform great works through them. They became His mediators.


In His mercy and unfathomable wisdom, Jesus chooses to associate us with Himself and even allows us to participate in His mediation. Jesus granted the ministry of reconciliation to the twelve Apostles after His Resurrection, as recorded in the Gospel: “The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” In this moment, He handed His mission of forgiveness over to the Church; specifically, to Her ordained ministers, the successors to the Apostles.


That is why the Catechism says: “…by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name. …he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution [power to forgive sin in the name of Christ] to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the “ministry of reconciliation.”


Please note what is (and is not) being said here: when a sinner participates in the Sacrament of Confession, and receives absolution from the priest, it is God who forgives—not the priest himself. If you find this hard to believe, it will be helpful to read the Words of Absolution recited by the priest: “God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”


The priest stands in for the person of Christ—that is, in persona Christi. When we confess, we confess first and foremost to God whom we have offended. Then the priest—acting on the authority given to him by Christ through the Apostles—forgives us in the name of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity. Christ told His Church that “the sins She forgave would be forgiven.” We Catholics take Him at His word. (To be continued later)


On the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King. The feast was established in the 20th century and it was designed to give special recognition to the dominion Christ our Lord has over all aspects of our lives. Happy Feast to all of you! May He lead us! Special thanks to Bishop Michael Barber for celebrating the Sunday 4pm Mass with us at CTK.


Thanksgiving comes this week and we hope you join us for a parish family Mass on Thursday morning at 9am. It is always a great celebration. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from the entire staff at Christ the King-St. Stephen Parish.


-Fr. Paulson


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What's Happening at Christ the King - St. Stephen

  • The Feast of Christ the King

    Join us in welcoming Bishop Michael Barber on Sunday, November 24 as he celebrates the 4:00 PM Mass on the Feast of Christ the King!

  • Thanksgiving Mass

    Thursday, November 28

    You are invited to attend our Thanksgiving Mass Celebration


    Christ the King at 9:00 AM

    Reception to follow on the patio.


    Bring your bread and wine to be blessed at this year‘s Thanksgiving Mass! This is a wonderful custom that unites our Eucharistic celebration at the altar with your family celebration at home!

  • The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

    Join us for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe


    Sunday, December 8 at the 4pm Mass at Christ the King


    Celebrate with us at this Spanish/English Mass with a mariachi band!  You are welcome to our parish hall for tamales after Mass.

  • Feast of thte Immaculate Conception

    Join us for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (A Holy Day)


    Monday, December 9


    Masses at Christ the King

    • 6:30 AM
    • 9:00 AM
    • 12:05 PM
    • 7:00 PM

    Masses at St. Stephen

    • 8:00 AM
    • 6:00 PM
  • CLOW Returns to Christ the King

    Young Children: 


    Welcome Back to CLOW on Sunday, September 22!

    (Children's Liturgy of the Word)


    At the 9:00 a.m. Mass, children will have the opportunity to join other children in a special Children's Liturgy. Children will listen to the readings of the day in an interactive, child-friendly way so they can better understand God's Word and strengthen their faith.


    CLOW Details


    Time: Sundays at 9:00 a.m. Mass


    Ages: Kindergarten - 4th Grade


    Upcoming Dates: Sept 22,Sept 29,Oct 27,Nov 3,Nov 17, Dec 8


    No registration necessary. Children will be called forward at the start of mass, and will return to the church to present the Gifts and sit near the Altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. They will return to their families during Peace be with You.  CLOW is optional, children may participate if they'd like, or remain with their families throughout mass. Questions? Please contact Heidi Nuti.

    Email Heidi Nuti

Saturday November 23 at 10:30am


"Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the Church and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:14).


 All are welcome to join us for a parish Mass and celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. 


Bring relatives and friends from local care facilities – those who are able to come. Questions? Contact Sr. Dominic Marie


Email Sr. Dominic

Livestreamed Masses

The following Masses are livestreamed for those who are unable to celebrate with us.


Christ the King Campus
Monday - Friday

9:00am (and livestreamed)

First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Mass

5:00pm - 6:00pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Mass

Saturday
9:00am
4:00pm Vigil Mass

Sunday
10:30am

Staying Connected Archive


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Christ the King Church

199 Brandon Rd, Pleasant Hill CA

St. Stephen Church

1101 Keaveny Ct, Walnut Creek, CA

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