St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

A statement from Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ on the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr. as the 46th president of the United States ... Archbishop Gomez has issued a very pastoral and unifying statement. I agree with it completely. The Catholic Church, and the Diocese of Oakland in particular, stands ready to work with the incoming Biden Administration on issues such as immigration, health care, climate, the death penalty, racial justice and the economy. But we will stand up for the right to life for the unborn child, the right of parents to choose the best education for their child, and the right to religious freedom given to us by God, and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. We pray for healing and unity for our country but a healing and unity that leaves no one behind. Statement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as 46th President of the United States of America Most Reverend José H. Gomez Archbishop of Los Angeles, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops My prayers are with our new President and his family today. I am praying that God grant him wisdom and courage to lead this great nation and that God help him to meet the tests of these times, to heal the wounds caused by this pandemic, to ease our intense political and cultural divisions, and to bring people together with renewed dedication to America’s founding purposes, to be one nation under God committed to liberty and equality for all. Catholic bishops are not partisan players in our nation’s politics. We are pastors responsible for the souls of millions of Americans and we are advocates for the needs of all our neighbors. In every community across the country, Catholic parishes, schools, hospitals, and ministries form an essential culture of compassion and care, serving women, children, and the elderly, the poor and sick, the imprisoned, the migrant, and the marginalized, no matter what their race or religion. When we speak on issues in American public life, we try to guide consciences, and we offer principles. These principles are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the social teachings of his Church. Jesus Christ revealed God’s plan of love for creation and revealed the truth about the human person, who is created in God’s image, endowed with God-given dignity, rights and responsibilities, and called to a transcendent destiny. Based on these truths, which are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, the bishops and Catholic faithful carry out Christ’s commandment to love God and love our neighbors by working for an America that protects human dignity, expands equality and opportunities for every person, and is open-hearted towards the suffering and weak. For many years now, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has tried to help Catholics and others of good will in their reflections on political issues through a publication we call Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. The most recent edition addresses a wide range of concerns. Among them: abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, immigration, racism, poverty, care for the environment, criminal justice reform, economic development, and international peace. On these and other issues, our duty to love and our moral principles lead us to prudential judgments and positions that do not align neatly with the political categories of left or right or the platforms of our two major political parties. We work with every President and every Congress. On some issues we find ourselves more on the side of Democrats, while on others we find ourselves standing with Republicans. Our priorities are never partisan. We are Catholics first, seeking only to follow Jesus Christ faithfully and to advance his vision for human fraternity and community. I look forward to working with President Biden and his administration, and the new Congress. As with every administration, there will be areas where we agree and work closely together and areas where we will have principled disagreement and strong opposition. Working with President Biden will be unique, however, as he is our first president in 60 years to profess the Catholic faith. In a time of growing and aggressive secularism in American culture, when religious believers face many challenges, it will be refreshing to engage with a President who clearly understands, in a deep and personal way, the importance of religious faith and institutions. Mr. Biden’s piety and personal story, his moving witness to how his faith has brought him solace in times of darkness and tragedy, his longstanding commitment to the Gospel’s priority for the poor all of this I find hopeful and inspiring. At the same time, as pastors, the nation’s bishops are given the duty of proclaiming the Gospel in all its truth and power, in season and out of season, even when that teaching is inconvenient or when the Gospel’s truths run contrary to the directions of the wider society and culture. So, I must point out that our new President has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender. Of deep concern is the liberty of the Church and the freedom of believers to live according to their consciences. Our commitments on issues of human sexuality and the family, as with our commitments in every other area such as abolishing the death penalty or seeking a health care system and economy that truly serves the human person are guided by Christ’s great commandment to love and to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, especially the most vulnerable. For the nation’s bishops, the continued injustice of abortion remains the preeminent priority. Preeminent does not mean only. We have deep concerns about many threats to human life and dignity in our society. But as Pope Francis teaches, we cannot stay silent when nearly a million unborn lives are being cast aside in our country year after year through abortion. Abortion is a direct attack on life that also wounds the woman and undermines the family. It is not only a private matter, it raises troubling and fundamental questions of fraternity, solidarity, and inclusion in the human community. It is also a matter of social justice. We cannot ignore the reality that abortion rates are much higher among the poor and minorities, and that the procedure is regularly used to eliminate children who would be born with disabilities. Rather than impose further expansions of abortion and contraception, as he has promised, I am hopeful that the new President and his administration will work with the Church and others of good will. My hope is that we can begin a dialogue to address the complicated cultural and economic factors that are driving abortion and discouraging families. My hope, too, is that we can work together to finally put in place a coherent family policy in this country, one that acknowledges the crucial importance of strong marriages and parenting to the well-being of children and the stability of communities. If the President, with full respect for the Church’s religious freedom, were to engage in this conversation, it would go a long way toward restoring the civil balance and healing our country’s needs. President Biden’s call for national healing and unity is welcome on all levels. It is urgently needed as we confront the trauma in our country caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the social isolation that has only worsened the intense and long-simmering divisions among our fellow citizens. As believers, we understand that healing is a gift that we can only receive from the hand of God. We know, too, that real reconciliation requires patient listening to those who disagree with us and a willingness to forgive and move beyond desires for reprisal. Christian love calls us to love our enemies and bless those who oppose us, and to treat others with the same compassion that we want for ourselves. We are all under the watchful eye of God, who alone knows and can judge the intentions of our hearts. I pray that God will give our new President, and all of us, the grace to seek the common good with all sincerity. I entrust all our hopes and anxieties in this new moment to the tender heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ and the patroness of this exceptional nation. May she guide us in the ways of peace and obtain for us wisdom and the grace of a true patriotism and love of country. Photo: Joseph R. Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Biden's wife, Jill, holds the family Bible during his inauguration at the Capitol in Washington Jan. 20. CNS photo/Andrew Harnik, pool via Reuters)

Midnight Mass at St. Charles...

Our 4:00 pm Children's Christmas Mass...

"Christmas is the most wonderful time. Even if you don’t consider yourself religious, just for today, let this Mass the music and the prayers just wash over... you, and see what happens. -- Bishop Barber Mass for the incarcerated: This year it’s on DVD By Michele Jurich Staff writer Each year since he was ordained bishop of Oakland in 2013, the Very Rev. Michael C. Barber, SJ, has celebrated Mass close to Christmas at a correctional facility in the diocese. Six of the Masses have been at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County and one at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond. With these facilities closed to public visits because of COVID-19 restrictions, celebrating Mass in person was not an option. Richard Denoix, Catholic chaplain at Santa Rita Jail and coordinator of the diocesan detention ministry, led the effort to bring Christmas to the incarcerated. St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Livermore, which established a technology ministry in 2014, hosted the Dec. 19 celebration and recording of the Mass of the Nativity, to be viewed on Christmas Day. Denoix made DVDs of the recordings, and sent them to Santa Rita Jail and the West County Detention Facility, as well as the juvenile detention centers in both Alameda and Contra Country counties. The Christmas Mass could reach about 3,000 incarcerated people. Facilities have been receiving DVDs of Sunday Masses, which are played on the facilities’ televisions. Denoix, who served as lector, is in formation for the permanent diaconate. Before the beginning of the Mass, Rev. Kwame Assenyoh, SVD, parochial administrator of St. Charles Borromeo, showed the bishop around the church, pointing out the cameras that would record the Mass. Behind a desk, to the side of the altar, sat a team of two: Jim Oliver, the parish audio/visual technician, and Joe Tallarico, parishioner and member of the technology ministry. They would oversee the recording of the Mass; five cameras are placed around the church. From behind a tall, hard plastic screen, Ira Stein, director of music at the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, took his seat at the grand piano, and Jessica Palacios took her place in front of the microphone. As Palacios sang, O Come, All Ye Faithful, the procession of deacon, priests and bishop approached the altar, bedecked with Christmas trees. Deacon John Mignano, who serves at Transfiguration Parish in Castro Valley and in detention ministry, led the procession, followed by Rev. Luke Ssemakula, who serves at the Catholic Community of Pleasanton and in detention ministry; Rev. Assenyoh; and Bishop Barber. In welcoming those participating in the Mass from the detention facilities, Bishop Barber offered this invitation: Christmas is the most wonderful time. Even if you don’t consider yourself religious, just for today, let this Mass the music and the prayers just wash over you, and see what happens. Although the inmates, wearing blue uniforms, were not physically present, they were there in spirit. Later, standing before the altar, Bishop Barber, in his the homily, told his unseen congregation the story of the friendship between a Jesuit seminarian and an inmate at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. The story of Bernie Bush, SJ, who went to the island to assist the chaplain at Mass and Lawrence Trumblay, a convicted bank robber from Chicago who had been described as as dangerous John Dillinger illustrates the redemptive power of friendship. Before he gave the final blessing, Bishop Barber thanked those involved in the Mass and in detention ministry, and offered to his incarcerated congregation: I know how much your family means to you; how much your spouses and your children mean to you. When I give the blessing, I not only bless you but I bless them. too. I know how dear they are to your heart. God loves them and God will protect them if you just ask Him. The procession left the altar to Joy to the World. At the final Wonders of His love, the musicians added, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad.

BISHOP BARBER ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF OAKLAND DIOCESE RACIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE The Most Reverend Michael Barber, S.J., Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, today a...nnounced the formation of the Diocese of Oakland Task Force for Racial Justice, which he has charged with examining the many ways the sin of racism afflicts the People of God in the Diocese. After prayer, study, interviews and discussion, the Task Force will offer recommendations to Bishop Barber outlining tangible steps that will help address the scourge of racism. This group will also discuss the feasibility of reestablishing the Black Pastoral Center, and the engagement of the community in activities, spiritual and corporal, to help combat racism. The Task Force will be led by Fr Leo Edgerly Jr., Pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Piedmont. Task Force members include Dr. Chiquita Tuttle: St. Benedict Parish, Oakland, Dionne Cola: St. Benedict Parish, Oakland, Julie Hadnot: St. Benedict Parish, Oakland, Larry Hancock: St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Joyce Scotlan: St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Maurice Harper: St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Vernon Whitmore: St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Marc Paulino: Holy Rosary Parish, Union City, Michael Foster: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Oakland, Magdalena Harper: Corpus Christi Parish, Piedmont, Andrew Armanino: St. Isidore Parish, Danville, Kathy Gannon-Briggs: Christ the King, Pleasant Hill, Patrick Shandonay: St. Joan of Arc Parish, Fr. Steven Bell, CSP: Holy Spirit Parish-Newman Hall, Berkeley, Fr. Jesus Nieto-Ruiz: Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary, Union City, Fr. Aidan McAleenan: Pastor of St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Fr. Jayson Landeza: Pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Oakland, Fr. Paulson Mundanmani: Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Pleasant Hill and Fr. Kwame Assenyoh: SVD: Administrator of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Livermore. Bishop Barber also noted that today marks the memorial of St. Peter Claver, who ministered to enslaved Africans and is the patron saint of African-Americans as well as enslaved people everywhere. Accordingly, Bishop Barber offered the Sacrifice of the Mass in reparation for sins based upon race during today's Mass at The Cathedral of Christ the Light. In the coming days, the Diocese of Oakland will create a resource center on the Diocese website, which will be regularly reviewed and updated. Visit www.oakdiocese.org. To learn more, please visit: https://oakdiocese.org//bishop-barber-announces-formation-