ZFor the Sick & Homebound Fr. Thierry Geris, Terry Flynn, Tina Reyes, The Fourth Sunday of Lent. God Waits. Mass Intentions.

Transcription

1

2 God Waits The Fourth Sunday of Lent Today's liturgy invites us once more to visit the Gospel of the Prodigal Son. A son that in very offensive ways asks for his inheritance even before his father is dead. As we all know very well, the father grants his request and the son goes his own ways, far away from his father. We are very familiar with the natural consequences for this son: famine, solitude, isolation. When he finally realizes that everything is going wrong, he opens his eyes and returns to his father. The physical suffering he experiences reminds us of our own our spiritual experience when we decide to walk away from God our Father: our souls walk directly to their ruin. Without God nothing can go well. Surprisingly, when he returns his father, he welcomes him with open arms and throws a party. Trusting and following God's ways is the best inheritance we could ever ask. Saint Augustine says it in this beautiful way: 'you allowed me to follow my paths in hard labor so that, if I should not want to labor any more, I might return to your ways I confess my sin before you: I went my own way and wandered far from you; I left you with whom my best interests lay, and it was for my own good that everything went wrong for me without you, for if all had gone well for me without you, the chances are that I would never have returned to you'. If God lets us walk away from Him, He is always expecting that we will return to Him. The natural result of coming back to God's house is its deep joy. Happy "joyful" Sunday Fr. Estanislao Mikalonis, Parochial Vicar "The Light Is On For You" On Wednesdays from 6-8PM, the doors of St. Thomas Aquinas Church are open and the Light is on For You! Bring a family member or friend, come in, and rediscover God s heart of mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus Christ desires to lift your burdens off your heart which you may have been carrying for a short time or years. To find guides to confession and testimonials of people from around our diocese visit Mass Intentions Sunday, March 6: 4th Sunday Lent 7:15 am STA... Joseph Koo 9:00 am SAG... Tsung Chai Koo Readings: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12/Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7/2 Corinth. 5:17-21/Luke 15:1-3, Monday, March 7: Sts. Perpetua & Felicity 12:15 pm STA... All Souls Readings: Isaiah 65:17-21/Psalm 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b/John 4:43-54 Tuesday, March 8: St. John of God 8:30 am OLR... Rev. M.D. Stanley (SI) Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12/Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9/John 5:1-16 Wednesday, March 9: St. Frances of Rome 12:15 pm STA... William Gretz, Sr. Readings: Isaiah 49:8-15/Psalm 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18/John 5:17-30 Thursday, March 10 Readings: Exodus 32:7-14/Psalm 106:19-20, 21-22, 23/John 5:31-47 Friday, March 11 8:30 am OLR... All Souls Readings: Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22/Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23/John 7:1-2, 10, Saturday, March 12 Readings: Hosea 6:1-6/Psalm 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab/Luke 18:9-14 z Please Pray ZFor the Sick & Homebound Fr. Thierry Geris, Terry Flynn, Tina Reyes, Lydia Li, Desmond Fitzgerald, Tom Bednar, Renee Thompson, Stephen Lee, Rodialo J. Nardo, Romulo de Grano, Helene McKelvey, Rosamila Agluba, John Bertussi, Hanadi Pratt, Scott Simon, Agnes Tan, Tesfaye Dinka, Rose Lefebvre, Sharifah Shahrim, Olivia Gail Fermin, Andrea Binger, Corazon De Padua, Mary Kugland, Peggy Peterson, Noreen Scholz, Eleanor Webb For the Recently Deceased Fred Carelli, Kate Church, Gary Stelle, Sr., Anne-Marie Kroeger, Jean Galvin, Gloria Carmichael, Alice McCarty, Marie Kieraldo, John Nittler, William Ambrosio, Thelma Maxine MacDonald, Madeline Muzio, Therese Knight, Gala Fermin, Karen Fruin, Al Bettencourt Pray For Lists guidelines: Have permission from the person to be listed. Go through the Pastoral Home Ministry to list the names. Names will be on the list for 3 months and then be removed. Can request names to be continued after 3 months. Contact the Pastoral Home Ministry x22 or fongmt@hotmail.com Sunday, March 13: 5th Sunday Lent 9:00 am SAG... Frank Briggs, Sr. Readings: Jeremiah 11:18-20/Psalm 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12/John 7:40-53 Daylight Savings Begins Daylight Savings Begins next Sunday. Spring Forward One Hour or you will be very late for Mass. Fridays of Lent All the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from eating meat. All who are 14 years of age and above are bound by this law, and there is no upper age limit.

3 St. Thomas Aquinas Parish This Week s Highlights Sunday, March 6 9:15 am...regular Class (ISTP) 10:15 am...regular Class (SESS) 10:30 am...catechesis Pre-Conf 1st & nd yr (DC) 10:30 am...catechesis K-6, Adult (ISTP) Monday, March 7 7:00 pm...rcia (SAGH) 7:00 pm...seder Dinner Mtg (OLRH) Tuesday, March 8 7:00 pm...spanish Baptism Class (PC1) 7:00 pm...spirituality Tuesday (SAGH) 7:30 pm...knights of Columbus (THB) Wednesday, March 9 4:00 pm...ysop (OLRH) 6:00 pm...rcia Children (DC) 6:00 pm... S.O.U.P. (OLRH) 6:00 pm...lenten Confessions (STA) 6:00 pm... Faith Form. Penance (OLR) 7:00 pm...psc Meeting (OLRH) Thursday, March 10 10:00 am...prayer Group (SAGH) 12:00 pm...ignatian Exercises (THLib) 7:00 pm...1st & 2nd First Communion Catechesis (PC1st & 2nd) 7:00 pm... Taize Prayer (OLR, OLRH) 7:00 pm...tmc Board (THDin) Friday, March 11 6:30 pm...goretti Group (Seminary) 7:00 pm...stations of the Cross (OLR) 7:30 pm...young Adult Meeting (KC) Saturday, March 12 9:00 am...liturgy Board (SAGH) 5:45 pm...st. Patrick's Day Party (SESAud) 3:00pm...Seder Dinner-Spanish(OLRH) Presider Schedule 5th Sunday of Lent March 13, 2016 St. Albert the Great 1095 Channing Ave. Sat 5:00 pm... Fr.Mikalonis Sun 9:00 am... Fr. Mikalonis Sun 11:00 am (Byzantine) Fr. Hernandez St. Thomas Aquinas 751 Waverley St. Sun 7:30 am... Fr. Hester Sun 8:45 am... Fr. Izzo, S.J. Sun 10:30 am Fr. Luong Sun 12:00 pm... TBD Our Lady of the Rosary 3233 Cowper St. Sun 9:00 am (Spanish)... Fr. Stanley Sun 10:30 am Fr. Stanley Tuesday, March 8: Spirituality Tuesday Assembly FORGIVENESS with guest speaker Deacon Dominick Peloso Pope Francis has declared this the Year of Mercy, and forgiveness will play an important part in it. Forgiveness allows us to "pull anchor" (instead of dragging one around) and get closer to the Lord and each other. Deacon Dominick will present examples and inspirations on how this most important virtue is the key to individual, societal and world peace. This is a perfect opportunity to enhance our spiritual life during Lent. Please join us at 7pm at the Hospitality Center at St. Albert the Great. Deacon Peloso entered the seminary for the Diocese of Honolulu at age 13. He was in the seminary for 10 years until He has a Bachelor Degree in Philosophy, four years graduate work in Catholic Theology from St. Patrick s Seminary, and a Master s Degree in Public Administration. He was a Menlo Park Police Officer for 31 years, 25 of them as Assistant Chief of Police. He retired in He is married to Mary Ellen, and they have 3 children and eight grandchildren. Dominick was ordained a permanent deacon in 1999 and serves at Nativity Church in Menlo Park. Catholic Relief Services Next Sunday, our parish will take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection. This collection supports six Catholic agencies that touch more than 100 million lives around the world. The funds from this collection help provide food to the hungry, support to displaced refugees, and Christ s love and respect to all people. Next week, please give generously to The Catholic Relief Services Collection and help Jesus in disguise. Taize Prayer During Lent It originated in Taize, France, instigated by Brother Roger, sixty years ago. It had such a powerful effect on the participants that word spread about it, and people from all over the world began to visit Taize and pray there. They still come today. Come and be part of this universal uplifting of the heart to God and be filled with peace. A wonderful Lenten opportunity. Final Lenten session: Thursday, March 10th from 7pm-8pm at Our Lady of the Rosary Church. March Goretti Night Lenten Sacrament Supercharge Night: "What are you looking for?" The Goretti Group aims to spread the joy of authentic love. All are welcome! Friday March 11, St Patrick's Seminary, 320 Middlefield Rd, Menlo Park. 6:30 pm. Adoration & Confessions, 7 pm Mass, 7:30 pm Dinner, 8 pm Talk, 9 pm Social Time. RSVP: GorettiRSVP@gmail.com for dinner. Saturday, March 12 - Annual St. Patrick's Day Party Our parish St. Patrick s celebration will be held this year on March 12. An Irish band and the Irish dancers from Greene Academy of Irish Dance will perform. As always, great food will be served (and pizza for vegetarians and those not caring for the corned beef and cabbage dinner.) The price is $15 for adults and $5 for children, which includes a free activities packet for youngsters. Tickets go on sale after all the Masses this weekend.

4 March 6, 2016 Weekly Stewardship Report February 28 (Week 35) Offertory by Mass: Sat, 5:00pm (SAG)... $1,130 Sun 9:00am (SAG)... $3,186 Sun 9:00am (OLR)... $1,174 Sun 10:30am (OLR).. $1,476 Sun, 7:30am (STA)... $1,164 Sun, 8:45am (STA).....$421 Sun 10:30am (STA)....$401 Sun 12:00pm (STA)....$293 Mail $207 Online Giving $2,763 Total $12,215 Weekly Goal $11,500 Thank you for sharing God's Gifts! Rejoicing in God s Mercy ADA Update Report # 6 - ADA Goal: $135,000 Pledged: $114,000 * Pledges: 223 Average Pledge: $512 * % of Goal: 84% We need 42 more pledges at $500 each to reach our goal. If you are waiting to see if we reach our goal before you make your pledge, we need your help now. We only received 10 pledges last week. There are just 2 weeks remaining in the active phase of this year s Appeal. If we do not make our goal, we will have to make up the difference from our parish savings. Over 100 parishioners pledged in 2015 whom we have yet to hear from. We need the help of every family to reach our goal. Remember, anything raised above our ADA goal will directly benefit St. Thomas Aquinas! Thank you for your support of Bishop McGrath s ministry in our local Church of San Jose. Deanery II - Lenten Penance Liturgies In addition to our normal Saturday Confessions schedule and "The Light is on for You" program on Wednesday evenings, more Lenten Penance Liturgies are available: St. Simon (Los Altos) March 14 at 3:30pm & 7:00pm St. William (Los Altos) March 17 at 3:30pm & 7:00pm Our Lady of the Rosary Church March 21 at 7:00pm (English/Spanish) St. Albert the Great Church March 23 at 7:00pm Parish Seder Meal Our Annual Parish Seder Meal will be on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30pm at Our Lady of the Rosary Hall. All are welcome, but space is limited. Please reserve your spot by ing Anne Morrison at ahbert55@aol.com

5 Welcome new parishioners to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish! We encourage you to register as members of our growing family. Please your name, address, and phone to Current members please contact the Pastoral Center to update your information. KEY REFERENCES DC... Dermody Center DCCh Dermody Center Chapel OLR.. Our Lady of the Rosary Church OLRH OLR Church Hall KC... OLR Kerry s Corner PC... Pastoral Center SAG.. St. Albert the Great Church SAGH SAG Hospitality Ctr. HOLY SACRAMENTS Please contact the Pastoral Center at for more information. Anointing of the Sick: By request or every first Monday of the month after the 7:15 am Mass. Every first Friday at the 8:30 am and 12:15pm Mass. Christian Initiation: Become a Catholic or renew your Catholic faith (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) as an adult, youth or child. Funeral: Arrange for a Funeral, Memorial Mass or graveside service for a loved one. Infant Baptism: Preparation may begin before or after the birth of your child. Marriage: Arrangements need to be made at least six months prior to the proposed marriage date. ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE STAFF, & COMMITTEES Main Phone: (650) Business & Operations Manager: Chuck Tully ext. 20 ctully@dsj.org Admin Assts: Cathy Miller ext. 24, camiller@dsj.org; Ron Aranha, raranha@dsj.org Pastoral Stewardship Council: (every 2nd Wed. 7:00 pm OLRH) Chair: Steve Carter (SCarter@ aslcpa.com); Vice-Chair: Anne Morrison (ahbert55@aol. com); Secretary: Gabe Kralik (gabekralik@thujaglobal.com) SESS.. St. Elizabeth Seton School SESA. SES Auditorium STA... St. Thomas Aquinas Church THB.. STA - Thomas House Basement THD.. STA - Thomas House Dining Room THL.. STA - Thomas House Library Community Life: Anne Morrison (650) Green Committee: Katia Reeves (katia.reeves@sbcglobal.net) Human Concerns Committee: Chair: Paul Chestnut (650) St. Vincent de Paul Society: (650) For truck donation pickup (650) Parish Site Committees: STA: Kay Williams ; OLR: Chris Lundin clundin@stanford.edu; SAG: Pat Briggs (650) ; Kathleen Hart (650) ; St. Elizabeth Seton School (Daughters of Charity): 1095 Channing Avenue (650) Principal: Evelyn Rosa Advancement Director: Danielle Ambler (650) STA Photography: (650) , photography@ paloaltocatholic.org PALOALTOPHOTOG/SpecialR1 Stanford Hospital Chaplaincy: Catholic Chaplain: Lucile Packard Children s Hospital Chaplaincy: Rev. Diana Brady (650) Widows/Widowers Group: Lorraine Dabney (650)