Dear Friends,
On September 24, 2026, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was beatified in St. Louis. We can now call him Blessed Fulton J. Sheen. This joyful moment invites us to rediscover an American priest whose witness reached far beyond the walls of the Church.
Many of you may remember watching him on television. With his flowing cape, a blackboard, and a wonderful sense of humor, he spoke about the deepest questions of human life. His program, Life Is Worth Living, brought faith into American homes, reaching Catholics and people of other faiths alike. He could make people laugh and then leave them thinking about their conscience, their relationships, and their need for God.
His remarkable journey included a childhood moment that could easily have ended in embarrassment. At eight years old, while serving Mass for Bishop John L. Spalding, young Fulton dropped and shattered a wine cruet. After Mass, the bishop reassured the frightened boy and predicted that he would one day study at Louvain in Belgium and become a bishop himself. Both predictions came true. After studying at St. Viator College and Saint Paul Seminary, Sheen was ordained on September 20, 1919, and later pursued advanced studies in philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain.
I love that story because it reminds us how much an adult’s response can mean to a child. A mistake became an opportunity for encouragement. For parents, teachers, and priests, there is a lesson here: see the possibilities in a child, even when you are standing beside something they have broken!
For the United States, Sheen’s example reminds us that faith can contribute meaningfully to public life. His preaching connected religious belief with personal moral choices and the great social questions of his time. Today, his example challenges us to speak about our faith with clarity, intelligence, and warmth. We can hold firm convictions while treating those who disagree with dignity.
Yet central to Sheen’s life was something quieter: his daily Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. He made a commitment at his ordination to spend an hour each day in Eucharistic adoration and remained faithful to it throughout his priesthood. He died on December 9, 1979, in the private chapel of his residence, in the presence of the Lord he loved.
In his autobiography, Treasure in Clay, he described the Holy Hour as being like “an oxygen tank to revive the breath of the Holy Spirit.” That is an invitation for us too. I warmly invite more of our parishioners to join us for Eucharistic adoration every Friday, from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m., in the Ministry Center chapel.
Come for an hour, half an hour, or simply a few quiet minutes. You do not need beautiful words or a special method of prayer. Bring your gratitude, your worries, your grief, or the names of people you love. Sit in the Lord’s presence and allow yourself to be loved.
Sheen’s beatification invites us to carry his message into our own lives: life has meaning, every person has dignity, and our relationship with Christ deserves our time.
Life is worth living. Every person is worth loving. And there is room for you in the chapel.
Fr. Paulson
What's Happening at Christ the King - St. Stephen
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
All are welcome to come and spend quiet time in
prayer and reflection.
Mass of Remembrance
A special Mass of Remembrance will be held on
Sunday, November 8 at 10:30am.
At that Mass we will pray specially for all who have died during this past year and whose funeral was held at Christ the King-St. Stephen.
Do you have a loved one who died during the past 12 months? Were they not buried from Christ the King-St. Stephen Parish? Would you like their name included? Please call the parish office at 925-682-2486 and leave their name. Deadline to submit names is October 31.
Questions? Sr. Dominic Marie at 925-246-1122.
Weekly Scripture Reflections
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Welcome to our weekly reflections on
the Sunday Scriptures.
In this weekend’s readings we find God at the extremes of human behavior. A pagan king receives praise while super-religious zealots get scolded. What are we to make of such a God?
Read More
CTK - St. Stephen Transition Committee
A transition status update and parishioner listening sessions will be held at
St. Stephen on Saturday, October 24, following the 5:00 p.m. Mass,
and Sunday, October 25, following the 9:30 a.m. Mass.
Please note new date!
We encourage all parishioners to attend, hear the latest information, ask questions, and share their thoughts, hopes, and concerns with the Transition Committee. Read More.
Do you enjoy singing? Would you love to share the joy of making music with your children, grandchildren, or other kids in your extended family? The CTK Family Choir is returning for its fifth season, and we’d love to welcome new singers and families!
The Family Choir is open to children of all ages and their families. We sing at the 9:00am Mass on the first and third Sundays of each month, as well as at the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Our first Sunday back will be September 20, when we’ll sing for the Children’s Liturgy.
We sing fun, accessible music that the whole family can enjoy, and no formal musical training or choir experience is necessary—just a love of music and a willingness to sing!
Whether you’ve sung with us before or are thinking about joining for the first time, we’d love to have you. For more information, please email Jennifer Bennett at jbennett@ctkph.org.
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)
Returns this Sunday, October 11 at at the 9am Mass
Children will have the opportunity to join a special Children's Liturgy.
They 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: 2nd & 4th Sundays | 9:00am Mass
Ages: 4 years old - 4th Grade
No registration necessary.
Questions? Mea McGraw mauld20@gmail.com
Direct Your Impact
If you do not wish to give on-line,
you can continue to contribute using your offertory envelopes.
Offertory Envelopes and Paper Checks
Can be mailed directly to:
Christ the King Church
195A Brandon Rd.
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Community Events
We hope you can join us for one of our special events!
Use the drop down list to explore our upcoming activities. For more information, please visit our Events page.
CTK County Fair - Oct 16-17
The CTK County Fair Festival returns October 16-17 for two days of family fun, food, games, entertainment, and fellowship! You can get all the latest information on the Festival at our website: CTK County Fair
Get Your Tickets, Raffle Tickets & Festival Merchandise Early!
Festival tickets and exclusive CTK County Fair merchandise are available for pre-sale through September 11. Visit CTK Merch Store to purchase Merchandise, CTK Festival Raffle Extravaganza to purchase Raffle Tickets and CTK Ticket Sales to purchase tickets and wristbands support the Festival.
Sponsors Needed:
We're seeking sponsors to help fund carnival rides and midway games, which are at risk due to rising costs. Sponsorship commitments are needed by September 10. If you're interested in sponsoring or know a business that may be able to help, please contact the Festival Committee or visit Festival Sponsors.
Donations Welcome/We are currently collecting:
Gently used stuffed animals
Gently used children's and adult books
Bottles of wine
Bingo prizes
Donations may be dropped off at the School Office or Parish Office.
Help us keep the County Fair magic alive through your support, sponsorships, and donations!
Children's Mass - October 18th
Join us for the third Sunday of every month for our monthly Children's Mass at 9am.
"Rebuild My Church" Retreat - Oct 24
"Rebuild My Church"
A Franciscan Jubilee Year
Day of Renewal
For Christ the King-St. Stephen Parishioners
Saturday, October 24 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
"Go and rebuild my house, which as you see is falling into ruin." — Christ to St. Francis of Assisi
In this Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV, join fellow parishioners for a one-day Franciscan retreat — no overnight stay required. Through conferences, prayer, and Holy Mass, discover what it means to be living stones in the rebuilding of Christ's Church today.
The Day Includes:
● Conferences on Franciscan spirituality and sacred noticing
● A Franciscan friar's personal testimony of Gospel living
● Small group reflection and fellowship
● Holy Mass with blessing and commissioning
This program is offered on a complimentary basis. At its conclusion, participants will have an opportunity to make a voluntary goodwill offering in support of San Damiano Retreat Center.
Please register. (We will take the first 120 people)
SAN DAMIANO RETREAT CENTER
710 Highland Drive • Danville, CA 94526 • (925) 837-9141 • sandamiano.org
Dr. Michael Cunningham, OFS, D.Min., Executive Director • mcunningham@sandamiano.org
Line Dancing - Fri Oct 30th
Join our Dance Ministry in CTK's Parish Hall!
Come out and learn how to line dance!
Grow in faith and build community.
Free event! All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Nelson Gonzales
GriefShare Survivng Holidays - Oct 31
Have you recently lost a loved one and are anticipating difficulty when holiday time is here?
On Saturday morning, Oct. 31 from 10-12 noon in Room C of the CTK Parish Hall, we will be holding a GriefShare meeting called, Surviving the Holidays.
At a Surviving the Holidays seminar, you hear personal stories from those who have lost a loved one, and teaching from grief experts on how to journey through this season. This is one step you can take to get the support you need. Mark your calendar and join us for this encouraging and supportive group meeting where you can connect with people who understand. To sign up, go to GriefShare.com and sign up under Surviving the Holidays.
Questions? Email Diana Mackinson, dijoed@comcast.net.
Men's Retreat -Nov 7th
Sign-up HERE.
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
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Christ the King Church
199 Brandon Rd, Pleasant Hill CA
St. Stephen Church
1101 Keaveny Ct, Walnut Creek, CA
