Church of the Transfiguration 4000 E. Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley, CA 94552-4908

(510) 538-7941 Fax (510) 538-7983 E-mail: transfig_office@sbcglobal.net Website: www.transfigchurch.com August 14, 2016

Rev. Mario L. Borges, Pastor ● Rev. Terence O’Malley, Parochial Administrator Deacon Martin J. Leach ● Deacon John A. Mignano ● Deacon Timothy L. Moore ● Deacon Burton J. Rigley

LITURGICAL MINISTRY: Eucharistic Ministers, Stephen and Carina Kowalewski Lectors, Barbara Mehan Altar Servers, Clarence Decano Youth Liturgy, Michelle Gilman

FINANCE COUNCIL: Chairman, Mark Zaleski

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS: Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), 60 Plus or Minus Club, Cursillo Group

SAINT VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY: (510) 274-0830 Serving our community.

SICK & HOMEBOUND MINISTRY: Claudia Paquette, (510) 537-8986

STEWARDSHIP: Chairperson, Ed Coelho, (510) 881-5705 WINGS “Women in God’s Spirit”: Bobbie Blackard,510-581-4149 HALL MANAGER: Pat Ballinger, (510) 537-1502

HALL RENTAL MANAGER: Ann McAusland, 510-239-7941

YOUTH MINISTRY: Alfonso Corona III transfig.oasis@gmail.com PARISH OFFICE: Phone: (510) 538-7941 Fax: (510) 538-7983 Hours: 8:00 a.m. — 4:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday (Closed between 12:00 & 1:00 p.m.) Friday, 9:00a.m. — 12:00 Noon - Saturday & Sunday—Closed Secretary, Gloria Meeker Secretary/Bookkeeper, Phyllis Moore

SCHEDULE OF MASSES Saturdays 4:00 p.m. Sundays 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. (Except First Fridays - 9:30 a.m.) Communion Service - Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. CONFESSIONS Saturdays 3:00-3:45 p.m. BAPTISMS: Pre-baptismal class is required. Class is held the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the Rectory. Please call the Parish Office, (510) 538-7941, to register. MATRIMONY: Six months advance notice required. Please call the parish office. WEDDING COORDINATOR: Mel Speed (510) 909-9334 or melspeed@live.com FUNERALS: Please contact the funeral home of your choice and then the parish office. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Director, Patrice Ballinger (510) 537-1502 or TransfigCCD@aol.com RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Please call the parish office. MUSIC MINISTRY: Director, Alexander Katsman (510) 538-7941, Ext. 302 or Transfig_Music@sbcglobal.net

Mission Statement: “Transfiguring Our Community Through Faith”

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time August 14, 2016

[Jesus] endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.

— Hebrews 12:2

Mass Intentions (August 13-20, 2016) Sat. 4:00p.m. Frank Frauzzi Sun. 7:30a.m. For the People 9:00a.m. John Ferreira 11:00a.m. Mark Nedderman Mon. 8:00a.m. For the People Tues. 8:00a.m. Louise & Patricia Georges Wed. 8:00a.m. Gregory Davis Thurs. 8:00a.m. Jay & Marie Morisset Fri. 8:00a.m. Reparation to The Sacred Heart of Jesus Sat. 4:00p.m. Elvira Gomes

Stewardship Corner The collection total for the weekend of: August 6th & 7th —$8,924.00 (compared to $12,000 average weekly stewardship goal) Thank you for continuing in your stewardship role of providing for the upkeep of our parish community.

We extend a warm welcome to new parishioners. Please pick up a registration form in the vestibule of the church and return it to the Parish Office. This helps us to serve you better.

Special Collection Envelopes When using the “Special Collection” envelopes, please write the name of the collection on the envelope. You may also write the name of the collection in the memo line of your check. This will help the office to give you proper credit. Thank you.

Remember Transfiguration in your Will and Living Trust

Baptism Class The next Baptism class will be Tuesday,

September 13, 2016. Please call the Parish Office to register.

Adult Bible Study Monday evening, August 15, 2016 in the Marian Room, Parish Hall, 7:00-8:30p.m. No sign-up required, just drop in. Free will offering.

Transfiguration Catholic Church

Coffee and Donuts JV & Tess Bernas will be hosting coffee and donuts this Sunday after the 9:00a.m. Mass. Stop by and enjoy the fellowship.

Pancake Breakfast We will not have a Pancake Breakfast in the month of August. We will resume on September 25th.

THE COSTS OF DISCIPLESHIP Today’s responsorial psalm, Psalm 40, is more familiar to us with the refrain “Here am I, Lord.” This “Here am I” is Jeremi-ah’s great prophetic response to God’s call. But today’s story of Jeremiah and the refrain “Lord, come to my aid!” remind us that there are always two sides to following the call of God. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews knew this, too. He re-minded his readers that even weighted down with burdens and sins, we can still persevere by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, who himself knew the shame and pain of the cross, but saw beyond it to the joy of sitting at the right of the throne of God. Jesus himself gave the disciples a “sneak preview” of a baptism that would not be as wondrous as the one in the Jordan that inaugurated his ministry, but would be one of fire and anguish. Today’s words from scripture may not be terribly soothing, but in their honesty and strength we can acknowledge the difficul-ties of daily discipleship, and take comfort in the assurance of our own salvation in Christ. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Planting the Seeds of Stewardship Stewardship is a part of discipleship. The call to disci-pleship begins with vocation, the call to follow Jesus and imitate His way of life.

For Your Information

Monday, August 15, 2016 is not a Holy Day of obligation.

St. Vincent de Paul Bundle Sunday Cancelled There will be no St. Vincent de Paul Bundle Sunday this year. The Alameda District Council of St. Vincent de Paul is closing the Oakland Thrift Store and warehouse due to budget considerations. Also, there will be no home pickups. If you would like to donate useable cloth-ing and household items (no e-waste) to St. Vincent de Paul, you may take them to either the SVdP Fremont Thrift Store, 3777 Decoto Rd., Fremont (510 792-3771) or the SVdP Livermore Thrift Store, 1817 Second St., Livermore, 925-455-1104. "Sorry for the inconvenience".

Congratulations to the parents of: Casey Olivia Perry Zackary Jonathan Avila Aubrey Rose Lynn Perry Lorelai Helen Davis-Langella Milestone Jacob Frederico Orillaneda who were baptized here last Sunday.

Credit, Debit, and Electronic Check Offerings If you would like to make your Sunday offering by credit or debit card, or electronic check, please go to our website: transfigchurch.com, and click on the “Donate” tab. From there, click on the “Donate Now” button to be taken to a secure website to complete the setup of your offering.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10

Second Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4, Psalm 40 Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10-12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56 Tuesday: Ez 28:1-10; Dt 32:26-28, 30, 35cd-36ab; Mt 19:23-30 Wednesday: Ez 34:1-11; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 20:1-16 Thursday: Ez 36:23-28; Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; Mt 22:1-14 Friday: Ez 37:1-14; Ps 107:2-9; Mt 22:34-40 Saturday: Ez 43:1-7a; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Mt 23:1-12 Sunday: Is 66:18-21; Ps 117:1, 2; Heb 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Monday: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Tuesday: St. Stephen of Hungary Friday: St. John Eudes Saturday: St. Bernard

Thank you for advertising in our bulletin. We appreciate your support!

Confirmation “Opening Night”

The me has come for our H S teenagers to consider con nuing their Religious Educa on and exploring the idea of comple ng their Ini a-

on into the Roman Catholic Church. Our Catholic Sacraments of Ini a on are three: Bap sm, Eucha-rist and Confirma on. High School Students, do

you wish to inves gate what it means to become a fully ini -ated member of the Catholic Church? Here is your chance. Confirma on at Transfigura on is not a gradua on! Here, we strive to create a dynamic and engaging two-year program that is sure to keep you on your toes in faith and service and encourage you to step into your call as disciples for a life me. Want to learn more about it? Please join us with your Parent(s) for an Informa on Mee ng on Thursday, August 25 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. to hear the requirements, ask ques ons and make a preliminary decision. At our “Opening Night”, on August 25 we will explain the pro-gram in detail. We will then give you me to talk it over to-gether, as a family. At the conclusion of the evening, we will be accep ng the names of those teens who wish to further explore the program by a ending an all-day, mini-retreat on Sunday, Sept. 11. We will also be collec ng a permission slip and $30.00 per student to cover the costs of the mini-retreat. FYI: Confirma on Prepara on is Not offered at our Catholic High Schools; it must be completed within the parish. Parents: While the final decision to be confirmed must be that of your child; your support is crucial. If your daughter/son has expressed any interest in exploring the Sacrament of Confirma on at this me, it is essen al that you BOTH a end this Opening Night for the en re me, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. If your teen decides to wait, our next class will begin fall, 2018.

We look forward to mee ng with you on August 25.

Anniversary Mass & Reception at the Cathedral Sunday, October 2, 10:00 a.m.

The Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison St., Oakland

Mimi Streett, 510-267-8392 mstreett@oakdiocese.org Laura Windham, 510-267-8395 lwindham@oakdiocese.org Please join Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ and the Office of Marriage & Family Life in celebrating your 25+ years of marriage. You (and your registered family members) are invited to the regular 10:00 a.m. Cathedral Mass on Sunday, October 2, followed by a reception in your honor. Registered anniversary couples will receive a commemorative certificate and a reception with the Bishop and your (registered) fami-ly members. There is a $20 registration fee per couple and $10 for registered adult family members (12+ years). Parking will be available in the Kaiser parking lot across the street. Details and online registration available at: www.oakdiocese.org/anniversary. Look for more information in the August issue of The Catholic Voice, as well as information about a special drawing for a gift certificate. We congratulate you and thank you for your wonderful image of Christ’s love in our world.

Transfiguration Youth Ministry

Follow us on Twitter @transfigoasis to see what we’re up to!

LETTER FROM POPE FRANCIS THE “JOY OF THE GOSPEL” CONTINUED...

The Church’s Missionary Transformation—#146

Reverence for truth

The first step, after calling upon the Holy Spirit in prayer, is to give our entire attention to the biblical text, which needs to be the basis of our preaching. Whenever we stop and attempt to understand the message of a particular text, we are practising “reverence for the truth”. This is the humility of heart which recognizes that the word is always beyond us, that “we are neither its masters or owners, but its guardians, heralds and servants”. This atti-tude of humble and awe-filled veneration of the word is expressed by taking the time to study it with the greatest care and a holy fear lest we distort it. To interpret a bibli-cal text, we need to be patient, to put aside all other con-cerns, and to give it our time, interest and undivided at-tention. We must leave aside any other pressing concerns and create an environment of serene concentration. It is useless to attempt to read a biblical text if all we are look-ing for are quick, easy and immediate results. Preparation for preaching requires love. We only devote periods of quiet time to the things or the people whom we love; and here we are speaking of the God whom we love, a God who wishes to speak to us. Because of this love, we can take as much time as we need, like every true disciple: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:9). Fr. Terry’s Remarks— Sometimes when we are listen-ing to a preacher, we begin to get a little bit uneasy when he begins to talk about a topic that makes us feel uncom-fortable, for the topic is touching a sensitive nerve. We know in our hearts that this is an area where I should real-ly be attending to. Usually the preacher moves on and perhaps talks about the love and mercy of God and we begin to breathe more easily and file the uneasy bit until another time. That's the way I feel these days reading and reflecting on Pope Francis' teaching on homiletics, but then I sometimes remind you that part of my job is to in-vade your comfort zone and get you moving again. This is what Pope Francis is doing to us preachers these days so I should take my medicine. Pope Francis tells us that before studying the Sunday Readings our prayer should be: '' Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'' I suspect that too many of us only use that invocation as we bend over the Altar before reading the Gospel. Mea Culpa! Mea Culpa! Mea Maxima Culpa! Let us pray that more of us, even all of us will take to heart the admonitions of our Pope and devote more loving attention to the Sunday Readings.