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 March 13, 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: Liturgy Coordinator, Sean Cooper 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

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: Sean Cooper, (510) 581-5870 or transfigyouthcv@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 Marian Room, Parish Hall. Please call the Parish Office, 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 Director, Martin Mijalski. 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”

Fifth Sunday of Lent March 13, 2016

I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing

Christ Jesus my Lord. — Philippians 3:8

Mass Intentions (March 12-19, 2016) Sat. 4:00p.m. Helen Meyer Sun. 7:30a.m. Special Intention for Sierra La Mar 9:00a.m. Donna Perata 11:00a.m. For the People Mon. 8:00a.m. Elvira Gomes Tues. 8:00a.m. Augusto & Eduina Silva and Family Wed. 8:00a.m. Special Intention for Neal Lucette Thurs. 8:00a.m. Dorothy Meeker-Dugas Fri. 8:00a.m. Lilia Sousa Sat. 4:00p.m. Alice Sullivan

Stewardship Corner The collection total for: March 5th & 6th—$10,057.00 (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.

Remember Transfiguration in your Will and Living Trust

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

Transfiguration Catholic Church

Stations of the Cross & Benediction Transfiguration—March 18th—7:30p.m.

During Lent, children of the parish are asked to share their pennies with the Poor of the World. The children can come up during the collection at Mass and place their money in the glass jar in the sanctuary labeled “Pennies for the Poor”.

Dear Parishioners, I would like to continue with some more Terms and Customs of the Triduum from last week’s letter. A Catechumen is one who is learning about Christianity in preparation for formal entry into the church....Robert Black, Thanh Thi Le, and Susan Hanegan, Abel Mendes, Marie Bolio who will be receiving First Communion and Confirmation. Mandatum is the Latin word for command referring to Christ’s command that we love one another given to his followers at the Last Supper. Holy Thursday is sometimes called “Maundy Thursday” because of the mandatum. The Service of Light takes place at the beginning of the Easter Vigil. The new fire and the paschal candle are blessed, the can-dle is lit and all light their candles from it. Honoring Christ as the light of the world, it concludes with the singing of the Exsultet, the Easter proclamation. Evening Prayer is a part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the offi-cial public prayer of the Church comprised of hymns, psalms, spiritual and biblical readings, and prayers. Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday concludes the Paschal Triduum. The Stripping of the Altar occurs at the end of the Mass of Holy Thursday. All the altar coverings are removed, symboliz-ing the fact that Christ was stripped of his garments upon his arrest. The Veneration of the Cross is part of the liturgy of Good Friday. The clergy and congregation approach a cross or cruci-fix one by one, and offer a gesture of respect by either bowing or kneeling and reverently kissing the crucifix. This is an opportunity for all of us to enter more deeply into the services of Holy Week. Blessings, Fr. Mario Borges

Parish Holy Week Services Palm/Passion Sunday, March 20 Weather permitting, all of the weekend Masses will begin in front of the church. We will bless the palms and distribute them outside at the beginning of Mass. We encourage everyone to wear red on Palm Passion Sunday. We recommend that you arrive earlier than usual to find convenient parking and to re-ceive your blessed palms at the beginning of Mass. Holy Thursday, March 24, Morning Prayer—8:00a.m. Mass, 7:30 p.m.—Adoration until 10:30p.m. and closing with prayer. Agape Reception after 7:30p.m. Service Good Friday, March 25, Morning Prayer—8:00a.m. Good Friday Service—12:00 Noon Taize Prayer & Communion Service,7:30p.m. Easter Vigil, March 26, Morning Prayer—8:00a.m. Vigil Mass—7:30p.m. Easter Sunday, March 27—Mass, 7:30a.m. 9:00a.m. (Children’s) 11:00a.m.

Transfiguration Church Thursday, March 17, 7:30p.m.

Agape Reception Everyone is invited to the Agape Reception of (ethnic) breads after the 7:30p.m. service on Holy Thursday, March 24th. Sign up in the vestibule by Palm Sunday if you would like to bring bread. Please bring pre-cut (bite-size) breads by 7:00p.m. to the parish hall.

Flower Collection There will be a flower collection next weekend for flowers to decorate our church for Easter. Envelopes are available in the pews. You may make a donation in memory of a loved one.

We invite all women to join us for: WINGS (“Women in God’s Spirit”)

Wings is a faith enhancement group that encourages Spiritual growth through prayer, scripture study,

Catechesis, life sharing and community. Transfiguration Church, Marian Rm. Parish Hall

Thursday, March 17, 2016, 9:15-11:15a.m. Speaker: Tricia Bruketta

Topic: “Spiritual Growth Through Patient Loving”

Baptism Class

The next Baptism class will be Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Please call the Parish Office to register.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14 — Psalm 130

Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11 Gospel: John 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 [41c-62]; Ps 23:1-6; Jn 8:12-20 (or Jn 8:1-11 if Year A readings were used on Sunday) Tuesday: Nm 21:4-9; Ps 102:2-3, 16-21; Jn 8:21-30 Wednesday: Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Dn 3:52-56; Jn 8:31-42 Thursday: Gn 17:3-9; Ps 105:4-9: Jn 8:51-59 Friday: Jer 20:10-13; Ps 18:2-7; Jn 10:31-42 Saturday: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22; Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a Sunday: Lk 19:28-40 (procession); Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14 — 23:56 [23:1-49]

Adult Bible Study Monday evening, March 14, 2016 in the Marian Room, Parish Hall, 7:00-8:30p.m. No sign-up required, just drop in. Free will offering.

~~Religious Education~~

S . P ' D D S , M 19!

DON’T MISS OUT... Tickets on Sale after all masses

March 12 and 13 … $25.00 per person Get Yours Today!

Live Irish Music provided by "Charmas"... want a sneak peek? Go to www.charmasband.com Cocktail Hour (no host bar) - 5:00pm Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner - 6:00pm Dancing and Entertainment - 7:00pm Dessert, Auction and Raffles Still interested in helping out? We have plenty of volun-teer opportunities. For more information or to purchase tickets please contact Andrea Sullivan …(510) 919-0437 or amsullivan1@hotmail.com.

C.C.D. C . C . D .

Classes, as usual, this week.

Altar Servers Wanted!!! Want to be an Altar Server or know someone who is inter-ested? We are now recruiting new Altar Servers for our Transfiguration Church Parish! Children who are 10 yrs. and older and who have received first Holy Communion are eli-gible. Parents who would like their children to serve at the altar may contact Clarence Decano, (415) 937-4509.

Eucharistic Ministers Needed! We are in need of Eucharistic Ministers for the 9:00a.m. Mass. If interested, please call Carina Kowalewski at (510) 582-4808.

Volunteers Needed We are in need of volunteers who are willing to take over the job of putting the names of children on our Baptism Banner. Please call the Parish Office if you can help, (510) 538-7941.

Catholic Relief Services Collection This Weekend

Flowers for Good Friday, March 25th Be sure to attend Good Friday services and bring flowers from your garden to share with your friends around you. We will also carry them in the burial procession.

Easter Environment Set Up Our parish environment team will be meeting in the church on Friday, March 25 at 8:45p.m. immediately following the Good Friday Taize Service, to prepare the Church for East-er. If you can be of help, please contact Sean Cooper at transfigyouthcv@gmail.com or (510) 581-5870.

STRAIGHT LINES “God writes straight with crooked lines,” the saying goes. The power of Paul’s testimony that everything is junk but knowledge of Jesus and the power of his resurrection is a straight enough message. And, God knows, Paul had a crooked journey before his blinding insight straight from God. Through Isaiah, God reminds us all that the past great works were as nothing compared to the new creation. “Can’t you see it?” we are asked, as if we are still wandering along our crooked lines. And there is no straighter line than that between the woman whose misery is intense and the God whose mercy in Jesus is deeper and more acute. You just can’t beat this kind of good news. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Liturgy Meeting There will be no Liturgy Meeting in March. The next meeting will be on Thursday, April 21st at 7:00p.m. in the Parish Hall. All are welcome.

St. Vincent de Paul Next Meeting, Sunday, March 20th, 10:00a.m.

Parish Hall—All are welcome.

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

The Church’s Missionary Transformation—#124 The evangelizing power of popular piety The Aparecida Document describes the riches which the Holy Spirit pours forth in popular piety by his gratuitous initiative. On that beloved continent, where many Chris-tians express their faith through popular piety, the bishops also refer to it as “popular spirituality” or “the people’s mysticism”. It is truly “a spirituality incarnated in the cul-ture of the lowly”. Nor is it devoid of content; rather it discovers and expresses that content more by way of sym-bols than by discursive reasoning, and in the act of faith greater accent is placed on credere in Deum than on cre-dere Deum. It is “a legitimate way of living the faith, a way of feeling part of the Church and a manner of being missionaries”; it brings with itself the grace of being a missionary, of coming out of oneself and setting out on pilgrimage: “Journeying together to shrines and taking part in other manifestations of popular piety, also by tak-ing one’s children or inviting others, is in itself an evan-gelizing gesture”. Let us not stifle or presume to control this missionary power!

Fr. Terry’s Remarks—When Pope Francis and others praise and extol popular piety, they do so on the grounds that often it helps many of its devoted people to incarnate their faith and action in the lives and culture of the poor and rejected peoples. This is what the bishops of Central and South America say: '' We praise God for the men and women of Latin America and the Caribbean who im-pelled by their faith, have worked untiringly in defense of the human person, especially the poor and outcast. In their testimony, taken to the point of total commitment, the dignity of the human being shines forth.'' (Aparecida Document. 125) In these documents they don't talk like you and me but we saw this past week in a Central American State, how a staunch defender of her people was killed for that very reason. Faith and devotion with-out good works is dead. A truly genuine faith, an authen-tic devotion makes us true missionaries and gets us out of our beds and recliners. Even taking part in pilgrimages and taking others along is in itself an evangelizing action.