St. Joseph Church - Pinole

Our Oktoberfest theme: TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!

My dear friends in Christ,

This coming week, we begin a new school year! I am excited to welcome back our children, teachers, staff, and families. I hope everyone enjoyed a joyful and restful summer vacation. Welcome back! May this new school year be filled with learning, friendship, faith, and God’s abundant blessings.

Our Oktoberfest theme this year, “Together We Are Strong!”, reminds us that we are not meant to walk alone. We are a family of faith, united as members of the Body of Christ. Each of us has a place, a gift, and a responsibility in building up our Church, school, families, and community.

On August 15, we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, honoring Mary as a model of faith, humility, and service. Mary teaches us to trust, serve, forgive, and put God before ourselves. Her life reminds us that when we say “yes” to God, His grace can bear fruit through us.

As a community, we also face challenges. Sometimes we hurt one another through our words and actions, and we can become divided by pride, anger, resentment, jealousy, or misunderstanding. Jesus gives us the beautiful image of the grain of wheat:

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit (John 12:24)!”

There are things within us that need to die—pride, selfishness, resentment, bitterness, fear, and jealousy. When these things die, something beautiful can grow: humility, forgiveness, generosity, courage, holiness, love, and mercy.

What needs to die in me so that Christ can grow in me?

Our Christian life must always be marked by mercy, love, welcome, and hospitality. No one is perfect. We all need forgiveness and God’s mercy. When a stranger, visitor, new family, or someone who feels forgotten encounters our welcoming spirit, they can experience God’s love through us.

Let us create a spirit of hospitality, not hostility; unity, not division; forgiveness, not resentment; and friendship, not exclusion. As Father James Tucker beautifully reminds us, hospitality is not about changing people, but about offering them a space where change can take place.

May our Church truly be a place where everyone is welcomed, where people encounter Christ, where mercy is experienced, and where strangers become friends and friends become family.

I am deeply grateful to all who generously give their time, talents, and lives to our Church. So much happens behind the scenes because of your willingness to serve. I encourage everyone to consider becoming more involved in our ministries, movements, and activities.

And let us give with joy, remembering: “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

My dear friends, let us truly live our Oktoberfest theme:

Together, we can build a stronger Church.
Together, we can build a stronger school.
Together, we can build stronger families.
Together, we can create a community where everyone feels welcomed and loved.

Let us choose love over anger, forgiveness over resentment, humility over pride, and hospitality over hostility.

May Mary, our Mother and model of faith, teach us to say “yes” to God with generous hearts. May Jesus unite us as one family, so that through our words, actions, and service, others may see His face among us.

Together we are strong because together we belong to Christ!

May God bless our children, our families, our teachers and staff, and our entire parish community as we begin this new school year.

Your grateful servant,

Fr. Geoffrey

Dear friends in Christ!

You are invited to celebrate with us the Solemnity of the Assumption on Saturday, August 15 at 9am!

I hope to see you all!

In Christ,
Fr. Geoffrey

August Birthday Blessing

First Saturday Holy Rosary

My dear friends in Christ,

Thank you! Thank you!

Our Mission Appeal Sunday was truly a wonderful success! Sr. Helen Murage was deeply touched and overwhelmed by your warm welcome, generous hospitality, and faithful support. She asked me to share her heartfelt letter of gratitude with our parish family:

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph,

On behalf of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Nyeri, I am deeply grateful for your warm welcome, your prayers, and your generous financial support, which you shared with us last weekend. Your generosity is a beautiful witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Your donation, so kindly given and warmly received, will help us respond to the needs of the people we serve. Through your kindness, we are able to make a real difference in their lives and help them experience God's love and compassion.

Please be assured of our prayers for you, your families, and your loved ones.

Yours in the Mission of Christ,

Sr. Helen Murage, S.M.I.

Fr. Joseph and I, too, are deeply grateful and proud of our parish community. Thank you for the warm welcome and generous hospitality you extended to Sr. Helen. More importantly, thank you for opening your hearts to the mission of the Church.

This Sunday's Gospel (Matthew 14:13–21) tells us about the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Faced with a hungry crowd, the disciples wanted to send the people away. But Jesus challenged them with these remarkable words: "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves." With only five loaves and two fish, placed into His hands, Jesus blessed them, multiplied them, and fed everyone until all were satisfied.

That Gospel is not only about bread; it is about discipleship. Jesus continues to say to each of us, "Give them some food yourselves." He invites us to place whatever we have into His hands—our time, our talents, our compassion, and our resources. When offered in faith, even what seems small becomes a blessing for many.

Last weekend, you answered that invitation. Through your generous support of the Mission Appeal, you became part of Christ's miracle. Your gifts will help feed the hungry, educate children, care for the sick, strengthen families, and proclaim the Gospel to those who long to experience God's love. Your generosity is an extension of Christ's compassion.

There is a moving story from World War II. An American soldier was walking through the ruins of a church that had been destroyed by bombing. Amid the rubble stood a statue of Jesus. Although much of the statue remained intact, both of its hands had been blown away. Deeply moved, the soldier placed a sign beneath it that read:

"You are My missing hands."

What a beautiful reminder for all of us!

By virtue of our Baptism, we are called to be the hands of Jesus that serve, the feet of Jesus that go out to those in need, and the heart of Jesus that loves without counting the cost. Every act of kindness, every prayer, every sacrifice, and every gift offered in charity allows Christ to continue feeding a hungry world.

Thank you for being Christ's hands in our world. Thank you for sharing His compassion with our brothers and sisters through your generous support of the missions.

May the Lord, who multiplied the loaves and fishes, continue to multiply His blessings upon you and your families, filling your hearts with His peace, joy, and abundant love.

God bless you all!

In Christ,

Fr. Geoffrey

Friday Night Walk with Faith