St. Mary Church, Walnut Creek, CA

Mass with Father Fred for the First Sunday in Advent Streaming the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not quite full and active participation in the Mass, but here's how we may get the most out the experience: 1) Set up a Prayerful space with a crucifix, candle, and some flowers/plants... 2) Dress up as you would for attending a Sunday Mass 3) Take 10 to 15 minutes of personal reflection to prepare your heart for the live streamed Mass 4) Think of a prayer intention you intend to offer during Mass 5) Do an examination of Conscience or read the Mass readings at bible.usccb.org 6) Participate in the physical gestures and spoken responses 7) Pray an Act of Spiritual Communion and / or come to SMIC for Communion (drive-thru) Sun, 10AM - 11AM, enter via Bont Lane. https://youtu.be/VJy6SF6vhY4

"As we enter this holy season of preparation for the birth day of the Lord and for His coming in glory, let us pray that the Lord will open our hearts and change them to good. May we grow in holiness and grace, in charity and love. May the Spirit of the Lord be our one desire, so we may live out our Faith as we minister to one another." Father Fred via Flocknote Sacraments at SMIC this weekend, Nov 28 & 29: Saturday: Confession from 3:00-4:00 in the Faith Formation Building n...ext to the Parish Offices. Please follow the guidance of our Staff person if there are several people present. We want you to remain distant and safe. Sunday: Drive-thru Communion in the parking lot behind the church, 10AM - 11AM. Enter from Bont Lane and please keep your mask on until AFTER you've received the host.

The Giving Tree is a bit different this year, but it still supports our neighbors in need! St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul is collecting $20 gift cards from Target or Walmart to distribute to families that need our support during these challenging times. This can help them get gifts for their children for Christmas, or basic fundamentals, in a safe and secure way. Multiple cards are welcomed! But please make them $20 each. Gift cards can be dropped off at drive-thru Communio...n on Sun, 12/6, 10AM - 11AM, or in the church mailbox located outside of the church office. St. Vincent de Paul thanks you all for your continued support and prayers!

Mass with Father John on the Solemnity of All Saints Father Fred's Bulletin Message: A very happy and blessed Feast of All Saints. I hope you were able to find creative ways to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve, and are now ready to shed all the bad stuff and take on the spirit of a saint. ... Former Bishop Floyd Begin used to love the expression We are all called to be saints. Indeed, that message is so true. By our life with Jesus, by our reading of Scripture and our prayers, and especially our Sacramental life, we grow in holiness and grace, even with our human weaknesses. Let us pray for the help we need from the Holy Spirit to become true saints, witnessing our faith in this world, and celebrating the fullness of life in the Heavenly Kingdom. Have a wonderful week! https://youtu.be/hafm0AOC-nE

One last message of "thanks" on this day. #StMaryBlessed #gratefulhearts #StMaryStrong

Mass with Father Fred on Thanksgiving Day Father all-powerful, your gifts of love are countless and your goodness infinite; as we come before you on Thanksgiving Day with gratitude for your kindness, open our hearts to have concern for every man, woman, and child, so that we may share your gifts in loving service. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - Collect Prayer... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdcpn193Okg

Mass with Father Fred for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time From Father's bulletin message: Love God and love your neighbor! So simple, yet so profound and complex. Yet that is what Jesus calls us to do in our lives. These are the most important commands, and they sum up the totality of the Gospel message. Jesus gave His life for us, calls us to love each other as we love ourselves, and to treat each other the way we want to be treated. ... The Opening Prayer of the Liturgy this weekend is equally as powerful: Almighty and ever-living God, increase our faith, hope and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise. May we receive the grace we need to bear good fruit in our lives. https://youtu.be/UPSZog_YZm0

Mass with Father John for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Father Fred's bulletin message: Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, but render unto God the things that are God’s, is the answer Jesus gives when questioned about the payment of taxes. This question wasn’t asked of Jesus only to test and discredit Him. But as only Jesus would do, the complete answer would take everyone aback. ... Take a look at yourself in a mirror. Take a long look. We have been made, as we read in the Book of Genesis, in the image and likeness of God. So if we look into a mirror, we are glimpsing God! Oh sure, our wrinkles and spots and graying hair may be showing, but that, too, is part of the beauty of God. So today we need to ponder how we are to render ourselves to God. Do we honor the Lord by striving to observe His commands? Do we seek to love God by loving our neighbors? Do we seek to help the poor, the abandoned, the homeless, the outcasts by sharing the blessings we have received? Let us pray that we may have the strength to return our hearts and minds to the Lord, knowing that God alone is the source of life and true happiness for us." https://youtu.be/1Wih-ra1y0g

From Father Fred's morning email: "Today we celebrate the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, also known as St. Teresa of Jesus. Her wisdom and spirituality has inspired the Church for 500 years and she is considered one of the Doctors of the Church for her teaching and her grace. Her most popular prayer is this:... Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices. Let us pray for her intercession, that in these difficult and challenging times, we may find strength in the grace of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit among us. Please enjoy her prayer, set to song by the Taize Community -- a song I'm sure is familiar to many of you. God bless us, today and always. Father Fred" https://youtu.be/fvfTVxgkWpo

Sign-ups for Masses this weekend (10/17 & 18) are now open at: stmaryoftheimmaculatecon.flocknote.com/signup/21217 It will close Friday evening to allow time for preparation of seating. Please make sure the number of people in your group is indicated correctly! Arrive 15 minutes before Mass begins to allow time for orderly seating according to the chart. Note that there are no bathroom facilities available. Finally, BYO mask and personal sanitizer! If you know someone who do...es not have access to the internet, they can call the parish office to register at: 925-891-8900. There is no advance registration necessary for Daily 12:05 Mass or Sat 8:30AM Mass. See you at Mass!

Mass with Father Fred for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time From Father's bulletin message: Today we hear the beautiful Psalm 23 The Lord is My Shepherd and we are once again moved by the beauty of the words and can easily think of several musical versions of this Psalm. ... In these days of crisis and difficulty, it is good to remember that the Lord is indeed guiding us like a good shepherd, going before us to keep us safe, caring for us, searching for us when we are lost, lifting us into his arms and carrying us when we are weak. As we work harder each day to follow Jesus, our Shepherd, let us also take time to pray to him, to listen to his voice, and to be filled with the love and grace he so abundantly gives. Have a blessed week! For this week's bulletin and links to Daily Mass, please see the parish website at: stmary-wc.org https://youtu.be/fhuxiempD-o

Reminder: Join us TODAY, Sat, 10/10 at Noon to participate in Rosary Crusade 2020. We will gather for one hour right outside of St. Mary Church. We look forward to honoring Our Lady and asking her to bless America and the world! Please contact Jim Walsh, 925-699-0550 or [email protected] for more information or to volunteer to help.

Join Archbishop José H. Gomez, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholics across the USA in praying a virtual rosary in a moment of unified prayer for America on Wednesday, October 7, at Noon PST. The faithful are invited to join in this prayerful moment of unity for our country to seek healing and ask Our Lady, on her feast, to pray for us and help lead us to Jesus. You may join via Facebook (page tagged above), YouTube, or usccb.org/rosary-america #RosaryForAmerica

Sign-up for this weekend's (Oct 10 & 11) Masses is now open on the parish website (stmary-wc.org) ! Sign-up closes Friday at 9PM in order to allow for creating the seating charts, so please don't wait. If you know anyone who might wish to attend but has no internet access, they may call the Parish Office (925-891-8900) between 8 AM and 2 PM Monday through Friday. All Masses are in the gym. Times: Vigil Mass (Sat) 4:30PM, Sunday Masses: 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 AM, and Bilingual Ma...ss at 1:00 PM. All attendees must be preregistered. No reservation is needed for Daily Mass at 12:05PM or Saturday morning Mass at 8:30AM. Thank you for your patience and we look forward to seeing you (masked) at Mass!

Mass with Father Fred on Mon of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time Collect Prayer Set our hearts aflame, O Lord,... with the Spirit of your charity, we pray, that we may always think thoughts worthy and pleasing to your majesty and love you sincerely in our brothers and sisters. Through Christ our Lord. Amen https://youtu.be/vTQWZx6Vm-Q

Mass with Father Fred on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time When circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Act of Spiritual Communion: My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You have already come, I embrace Y...ou and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You. Sign-ups for next weekend's Masses: Online sign-ups will be posted on Tuesdays for the following weekend. Sign-ups will be closed on Friday night, allowing us to prepare the seating chart and be ready for the Masses. The Drive-thru Communions are discontinued by direction of the bishop. https://youtu.be/Sc2xnCObKps

Sacraments at SMIC this weekend: Saturday Confessions: 3:00-4:00 in the Faith Formation Building next to the Office. (Face-to-Face only) Sun. Masses: We regret that, due to the time required to prepare seating charts, registration for this weekend's Masses is now closed. ... Note that Mon-Fri Masses at 12:05 in the Gym does NOT require registration in advance Protocols for Mass attendance: Arrive for Mass 15 minutes before time in order to be seated by an usher. You must wear a mask from the time you leave your car until you return there. We ask that you bring your own sanitizer and use it just before entering the Gym and again just before you receive Communion. Once you have received Communion at the end of the Mass you are asked to return to your car and return home. There can be no socializing or congregating before or after Mass. Thank you for your understanding and your patience.

Mass with Father Fred on the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels Collect O God, who in your unfathomable providence are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us, hear our supplication as we cry to you, that we may always be defended by their protection and rejoice eternally in their company. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.... https://youtu.be/6cpA_iNqTKE