Holy Week 

THE TRIDUUM

(from sundown on Holy Thursday until sundown on Easter Sunday) is the culmination of the forty days of the great fast of Lent, and the doorway to the great celebration of the Easter Season. It is the focal point of the entire liturgical year. In these three days we experience all that it means to be a Christian community.

Holy Thursday, April 21: The Lord's Supper, 7:30 p.m.       

Good Friday, April 22: Stations of the Cross, 1:15 p.m.

                                The Lord's Passion, 2:00 p.m.

Easter Vigil, April 23: The Lord's Resurrection, 8:15 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 24: 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m.

FANTASTIC RESPONSE TO HV/AC PROJECT

We have had a tremendous response to our appeal for support to replace our broken heating system in the church and parish hall and to add much-needed air-conditioning. In less than a month's time 120 parish families/individuals have contributed over $63,000. The total cost of the project will be about $65,000, so we have nearly enough from parishioner's gifts to cover the cost without using our savings. Work will begin right after Easter and most of it will be completed while the parish school is on Easter break. There is still time to be a part of this project and your participation is still needed. Connect here and find out how you can add your support. Thanks to everyone who has been so generous thus far. This will be a significant improvement added to the long list of improvements you have made possible here at St. Perpetua Community.

First Communion

Almost one hundred second graders from the faith formation program and St.Perpetua School will be celebrating the sacrament of Eucharist for the first time in May.  The families will participate in 11:30 am Mass and an afternoon retreat on May 1.  The First Eucharist Masses will be at 5:00 pm on May 7 and 14, and at 9:30 and 11:30 am on May 8 and 15.  Prayer partner cards should be sent to Cathy Giroux at the parish office by May 1.

St. Perpetua teens completed the last of our service trips in April.  This year our teens have sorted and boxed food at the Contra Costa Food Bank warehouse and served meals at St. Anthony's in San Francisco.  This community service is in addition to the parish service teens offered as small group leaders at the EDGE retreat, parish carnival clean up, Christmas set up and take down. This year, teens served over 275 community service hours: 225 under the St. Perpetua banner at external events and another 50 hours in the parish. The teens look for ways to be involved in the parish and community.  If you have ideas for teens call the parish office and let us know!

Spring Garden Tour 

School News

A major congratulations is in order!  On Wednesday, March 30, Cannon Armistead, Bella Penza, Grace Southwick, and Hayley Miller traveled down to Golden Gate Park for the San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair.  They competed against 360 other students from grades 7-12.  St. Perpetua was very successful!  Hayley Miller received a 4th place award for her project, In the Mind of the Beholder (Behavioral Science).  Grace Southwick placed 3rd and won a special award from the American Meteorological Society for her project, Please Pass the Salt (Biology).  Bella Penza received a 2nd place award and a special award from the American Chemistry Society for her project, UnbeLEAFable Chromatography (Biology).  Finally, Cannon Armistead placed 1st with his project, Blade Design: Energy for Generations (Engineering).  Bella and Cannon will be headed down to Los Angeles on May 2nd and 3rd to compete in the California State Science Fair.  Congratulations to all of our young scientists.  We are so incredibly proud of all of you!  Good luck to Bella and Cannon at their next level of competition!·

Oatmeal, Other Cereal (unsweetened if possible),

Thank you so much for your generosity!  

Annual Bishop's Appeal: Reaching Our Goal 

On behalf of Bishop Cordileone,  I want to thank you for your past support and all you have done to make the 2011 Annual Bishop's Appeal ("Many Generations; Stewards of One Faith") successful to date. Our Diocese has reached $1.57 million in pledges and our parish has reached 83% of our goal of $29,000 from 142 registered families/individuals. The amount our parish has raised thus far is $24,715. Special thanks to all the donors. The Annual Bishop's Appeal provides supplemental income for the operating costs of Diocesan ministries, programs, services and parish needs, reaching out to thousands of people throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The Diocese cannot subsidize all the necessary programs alone; therefore, we ask all registered parishioners to help in whatever way you can. It is important to note that Bishop Cordileone has unequivocally stated that none of these funds will be used to settle any lawsuits or be used for legal fees. All contributions are used for ministries and programs supporting people throughout the diocese. You can find out more about the Annual Appeal and how to particpate at http://oakdiocese.org/development/index.htm.