He found in the temple area

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1 MARCH 4, RD SUNDAY OF LENT He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the -Jn 2:14-15a GOSPEL MEDITATION ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE We all have things in our lives that don't belong there. Maybe it's the poor way we allow someone to treat us, maybe it's a habitual sin, maybe it's a pattern of thought or attitude that traps us in a cycle of regret, anger, or an inability to forgive. Jesus has bold words for us today: "Take these out of here." When we hear the story of the Cleansing of the Temple, it can be easy to look down on the animal-sellers and money -changers. However, they set up shop in the Temple for a very practical purpose. People needed to buy animals to sacrifice, they were going to sacrifice them in the Temple: ergo, quite a convenient, successful marketplace! For many of us, the negative influences in our lives don't come out of nowhere. We might have considered them quite practical and reasonable initially. We wanted to keep the peace, so we allowed someone to talk to us disrespectfully. A person hurt us deeply and we weren't prepared to let go of our resentment right away. Over time, these can fester and corrupt our inner life in a way we didn't expect. The response of Jesus is a strong one. "He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area." God wants us to be whole, healthy human beings. He knows how destructive it is for our souls to be caught up sin -- our own sin and those of others. God's love for us is startlingly fierce. In a few short weeks we will celebrate the culmination of that courageous love as Jesus goes to his death on the cross. In the meantime, Lent is an opportunity for cleansing and renewal. If we've allowed into our lives things that don't belong, let today be the day we ask Jesus to clear them out. It's not always easy or pretty, but it's necessary for our hearts to function the way they were made. God will turn our tables over if we ask Him to. Inside p2 Prayer Request p3 Hope for Haitians p4 Spousal Loss p5 Lent St. Thomas More Catholic Church

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3 VISIT US ONLINE AT 3 Bethlehem Nativity Products Bethlehem Nativity Products will be visiting your parish on behalf of the Christian families in Bethlehem. For centuries, the Christian and Catholics in Bethlehem have earned a living by carving olive wood religious art to sell to visiting pilgrims. Fewer pilgrims are journeying to the Holy Land today, making it difficult for Catholic artisans to support their families. During our visit to your parish we will have hand carved Nativity scenes, ornaments, statues, crosses and much more beautiful olive wood, hand carved religious items. Please consider purchasing a piece of art from the Holy Land to support your fellow Catholics who choose to stay and protect the Holy sites where Jesus himself lived. Your purchase will make a difference in the lives of many Catholic families, Please support this noble cause. Visit our website at Please visit our display Saturday, March 10th & Sunday, March 11th. We accept monthly installment for large items. We accept cash, personal checks and all credit cards. Thanks for your generosity. STM EASTER FLOWER DONATIONS Please donate online through WeShare or use your Easter Flower Envelope. Thank You. Council of Catholic Women Convention Do you ever wonder why our kids say their relationship with God is important to them, but that does not seem to be reflected in their Church attendance? Why does the way I live my faith look so different from others in my family? Sandy Blevins, a Theology teacher at Boylan H.S, will explore these and other Rockford DCCW convention. It will be held at St. James Parish Center, 428 N. Second St., Rockford, on Saturday, April 7, :30-2:30. Program includes business meeting, Mass and Installation of officers, lunch and speaker. Send $25 registration payable to RDCCW to Sharon Schindler, 8778 Grandview Dr, Roscoe, IL For more information, contact jeannosek@gmail.com or Deadline is March 22, 2018 Life Matters Any woman who is pregnant and in need can turn for help to the pro-life movement. Never feel alone, call Project Rachel at The Life Center at or Fox Valley Pregnancy at Hope for Haitians St. Thomas More is working with the Diocesan Hope For Haitians organization on another Lenten project this year. As a parish we have funded homes, a casava bakery, goats, chickens, fruit trees, education of students, and more over the past several years. This Lent, 2018, we would like to provide the corn mill and the housing for it to get the corn crop in one of the villages ready for market. Our funding will not only make the crop more profitable for the village but it will make it more productive. The total amount that we are pledging is $25,200. Please prayerfully consider making a donation to support the Poorest of the Poor in Haiti. Envelopes for your donation are available in the church gathering space. Bereavement Ministry Trained volunteers are available to provide spiritual support and comfort to all parishioners mourning a death loss. Please call the parish office at

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5 CALL OUR PARISH OFFICE ANYTIME AT We invite you to continue your spiritual growth by participating in our Lenten activities. Stations of the Cross Friday, March 9th... 2:15pm & 7:00pm Friday, March 16th... 2:15pm & 7:00pm Friday, March 23rd... 2:15pm & 7:00pm Friday, March 30th... 7:00pm Adoration Every Wednesday(Chapel)... 9:00am - 4:00pm Guardian of Adoration Contact Sharon Hall for more information. Rosary Every Thursday(Chapel)... 6:30pm Reconciliation Every Wednesday... 9:00am - 10:00am Be Reconciled - A Diocesan Day of Penance Wednesday, March :00am - 8:00pm Saturday, March :00pm - 4:30pm Monday, March :00pm - 9:00pm Wednesday, March :00am - 11:00am Holy Week Palm Sunday - Masses begin in the Gathering Space March :00pm March am, 10am & 12pm Holy Thursday - (with incense) March :00pm Good Friday - March :00pm Holy Saturday Blessing of the Easter Food March :30am Easter Vigil Mass (with incense) March :30pm EASTER SUNDAY April am, 10am & 12pm SPRING FORWARD ON SUNDAY, MARCH 11TH

6 6 CALENDARS & SCHEDULES Parish Calendar Visit our website to see the complete schedule and calendar. DATE TIME EVENT Monday March 5 Tuesday March 6 Wednesday March 7 Thursday March 8 Friday March 9 Saturday March 10 4:30 pm 6:00 pm 9:00 am 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 9:00 am 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 9:15 am 2:15 pm 7:00 am Youth Choir Lancaster Rm Bell Choir Cambridge Rm Eucharistic Adoration Chapel Benediction Chapel Bible Study Canterbury Rm High School Choir Lancaster Rm RCIA Chelsea Rm Adult Choir Lancaster Rm Prayer Group Tudor Rm Spred Canterbury Rm Rosary Chapel -Canterbury Rm Stations of the Cross Church Stations of the Cross Church That Man Is You -Chelsea Filipino Choir Lancaster Rm Filipino Ministry-Novena Chapel Readings for the Week Sunday: Ex 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 [Jn 6:68c]/1 Cor 1:22-25/Jn 2:13-25 Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b/Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4 [cf. 42:3] /Lk 4:24-30 or Ex 17:1-7/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7ab, 7c-9 [8]/Jn 4:5-42 Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43/Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 [6a]/Mt 18:21-35 Ex 17:1-7/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7ab, 7c-9 [8]/Jn 4:5-42 Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9/Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, [12a]/Mt 5:17-19 or Ex 17:1-7/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7ab, 7c-9 [8]/Jn 4:5-42 Thursday: Jer 7:23-28/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 [8]/Lk 11:14-23 or Ex 17:1-7/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7ab, 7c-9 [8]/ Jn 4:5-42 Friday: Hos 14:2-10/Ps 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17 [cf. 11 and 9a]/Mk 12:28-34 or Ex 17:1-7/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7ab, 7c-9 [8]/Jn 4:5-42 Saturday: Hos 6:1-6/Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab [cf. Hos 6:6] /Lk 18:9-14 or Ex 17:1-7/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7ab, 7c-9 [8]/Jn 4:5-42 Next Sunday: 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23/Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 [6ab]/Eph 2:4-10/Jn 3:14-21 Mass Intentions for the Week If you would like to have a Mass said for someone, call the parish office to schedule. The contribution for reserving the intention of a Mass is $ Monday, March 5 8:30 am Jerry Girka, Leola Christopherson Tuesday, March 6 8:30 am Sam Watson, Victoria Chatto Wednesday, March 7 8:30 am Wright Family, Rosanne Abbate Thursday, March 8 8:30 am St. Jude, Rosalie Peifer Friday, March 9 8:30 am Lara Strzempa, Ron Wright Saturday, March 10 5:00 pm Richard N. Rosinski, Stanley Jurgens Sunday, March 11 8:00 am Evelyn & Frank Jones, People of STM 10:00 am Rev. Andrew Plesa, Bill Molitor 12:00 pm Daniel Weiler, Bob Cundiff Liturgical Roles Weekend for March 10th & 11th. Presiders 5:00 pm Father Rich 8:00 am Father Deitz 10:00 am Msgr. Linster 12:00 pm Father Rich Altar Servers 5:00 pm L Rolando, A Tiu, K Tiu 8:00 am I Burnett, H Herrero, F Wojtas 10:00 am R Lockard, T Talaga, L West 12:00 pm R Bodio, N Maloney, C Paullin Lectors 5:00 pm O Tiu 8:00 am M Poyer, D Rothgeb 10:00 am J Wiel, C Orfie 12:00 pm Musicians 5:00 pm T Pobojewski, D Johnson, S Ward, JA Aukofer 8:00 am P Sajdak, K Lockard, M Gumapas, M Zimmerman, JA Aukofer 10:00 am Adult Choir 12:00 pm J Garza, C Olson Eucharistic Ministers 5:00 pm E Thompson, F Celarek, J Taeyaerts, T Eternick, D Eternick, K Stasukaitis, G McGann 8:00 am P Lopatowski, L Heuer, M Gogoel, R Callahan, C Hopkins, J Roder, L Carlsen 10:00 am M Berens, D Varley, K Mudgett, I Janczak, C Flores, R Wiel, M Hudson, G Stuart, J Radcliffe 12:00 pm J Gutierrez, K Wright, S Matson, P Lublow, M Zarcone, F Greene, L Asmussen

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