31st Sunday in Ordinary Time 11/4/07

Transcription

1 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time 11/4/07

2 St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville, IL (Main Office) Visit us on the internet at (Religious Education) (Facsimilie) Pastoral Staff Full Time Rev. Joel Fortier Pastor, Rev. Mark Cote Associate Pastor, Rev. Bob Colaresi, O. Carm. Weekend Assistant Rev. Mr. William Worden, D. Min. Deacon, ext. 105 Rev. Mr. Chuck Lane Deacon, ext. 220, Rev. Mr. Jim Breen Deacon, , Rev. Mr. Larry Kearney Deacon, ext. 225, Rev. Mr. Michael Barrett Deacon, ext. 220, Jacob Chojnacki, Director of High School Ministry, ext. 123, Gerry Czerak Business Manager, ext. 106, Corinne Seguin-Dart Director of Junior High Youth Ministry, ext. 117, Patti Dougherty Director of Religious Education, ext. 109, Julie Frazier Liturgy and Music, ext. 111, Robert Frazier Liturgy and Music, ext. 112, Jan Olah Director of Pastoral Care, ext. 124 Chari Rosales Director of Adult Education & RCIA ext. 138, Michael Ryder Director of Outreach, ext. 121, Pastoral Care Staff Part Time Felicia Lawlor, M.S., R.N., Faith Community Nurse, ext 104, Support Staff Full Time Nancy Cirmo Religious Education Assistant, ext. 118, Lori Culberson Liturgical Assistant, ext. 120, Kathy Ferguson - Receptionist, ext. 100, mainoffice@stapostle.org Diane McQueen Parish Assistant, ext. 101, dmcqueen@stapostle.org Anne Schultz Outreach & Adult Faith Formation Assistant, ext. 113, aschultz@stapostle.org Angela Tuttle Liturgy Assistant & Communications Coordinator, ext. 110, atuttle@stapostle.org Support Staff Part Time Pat Berkhout Evening/Saturday Receptionist, ext. 119, nitecrew@stapostle.org Marge Coronado Evening Receptionist, ext. 119, nitecrew@stapostle.org Marilyn DeMeo Database Coordinator (T/Th), ext. 107, mdemeo@stapostle.org Susan Francesconi, Coordinator of External Communications, sfrancesconi@stapostle.org Jorge Gonzalez Custodian Sue Sportiello Accounts Payable (M/W), ext. 107, ssportiello@stapostle.org Ted McKeown - Facility Coordinator, ext. 133, facility@stapostle.org Theresa Sheliga Sacristan Coordinator, ext. 116 Lynne Vehlewald Librarian, ext. 125, library@stapostle.org Pastoral Leadership Community Pam Foster Julee Gard Steven Grumbine Dan O Grady Ray Vogt Commission Facilitators Worship Matt Balda Parish Life Faith Formation Lorraine Katz Administration Dave Otto Service Phil Meno Stewardship Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday reconciliation is available after 8:30 a.m. Mass, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., or after the 4:30 p.m. Mass in the Reconciliation Room of the Chapel. Fr. Joel and Fr. Mark are available during the week by appointment. Communal Penance services are held occasionally throughout the year. Sick and Home Bound Call the Church Office to receive prayer/eucharist from a priest, deacon or Minister of Care. Baptism Baptisms are usually celebrated 2-3 Sundays each month at a 1:45 p.m. service. On selected dates, Baptisms are celebrated at weekend Masses. Parents are required to attend an awareness and renewal evening prior to the Baptism. Call the Church Office a few months in advance to make arrangements. Matrimony A couple planning on being married at St. Thomas should contact the church six months in advance. One year is preferred. Either the bride or groom, or their parents, must be a registered parishioner for at least three months prior to calling to set a date. Religious Education Call the to register. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Any person wanting to learn more about the Catholic Faith, or to join our Catholic community should call the church at Counseling Service Call Samarian Interfaith or Jan Olah, Pastoral Care x 124. Sunday Nursery Nursery care is available for your child age one (must be walking) to four at the 9 & 10:45 a.m. Mass. For more information call the church office. Liturgy Schedule Daily (Monday Friday) Rosary 8:10 a.m. Mass 6:30 & 8:30 a.m. (Saturday) Mass 8:30 a.m. Weekend Saturday Vigil 4:30 p.m. Sunday 7:30, 9:00, 10:45 a.m., & 12:15 p.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every first Friday of the month 9 a.m. Noon.

3 Dear Friends, We don t make ourselves right with God. It is not the self-righteous person who is acceptable to God, it is the sinner who humbly acknowledges their need and dependence on God, who is open to the saving love of God, who is approved. We heard that in last week s gospel. We are made right with God through God s initiative of grace which comes to us in Jesus. We can t save ourselves, Jesus does. We confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior of our lives! God does for us what we can t do for ourselves. Thank God. We can t take away our own sins, we can t heal and repair the brokenness of our There is hope for the rest of us! lives, God s merciful saving love does that in Jesus. We re invited to respond and get caught up in it. And that s what we see happening in the gospel today with Zacchaeus. He is curious and led by faith to see Jesus and welcomes the initiative of Jesus to dine with him in his home. So do we welcome that initiative, humble sinners that we are. And we are grateful for what God in Jesus does for us, eats with us, feeds us, restores us to life, heals us, saves us. And so we are grateful like Zacchaeus, and rededicate our lives to the righteousness of God. Today salvation has come to this house, Jesus says: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost. We accept and respond to God s saving grace and love, which is so beautifully described in today s first reading,...before the Lord the whole universe is as a grain of sand...but you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people s sins that they may repent. For you love all things that are...you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things! Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, so that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O Lord! We see a picture of that in the gospel story of Jesus with Zacchaeus today. The salvation of such a man can only mean there is hope for the rest of us! May we have the grace and willingness of faith to respond to God s grace as Zacchaeus did. God Bless you all with love, Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time November 4, 2007 The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest until it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds. Psalm 145:14 P.S. Today we welcome Fr. Don back to tell us of his mission work in Ecuador as we support his efforts to live and spread the gospel there. Please be as generous as possible.

4 Worship Commission Healing Masses We will have special prayers for physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational healing at all masses on the weekend of November 17 and 18. All who wish to be prayed for may stand after the homily and a priest, deacon, or member of our prayer team will come to pray with you. Peace Masses on Veterans Day Next Sunday, November 11 we will celebrate two special Peace Masses at 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. We will pray for all who have served and who currently serve our country in the military. We will also pray for peace and the end to all war on conflict. NEEDED Names of People in the Military We want to know the names of parishioners or names of family members who are in the military and are currently deployed in the Middle East. We would like to acknowledge them and pray for them and their loved ones at masses. Please contact the Liturgy Office if you can provide us this information. Display Honoring Military Service We have a display in the Narthex honoring those who currently serve or who have served in the military. Anyone may leave a picture there of someone who is serving or who has served in the armed forces, either living or deceased. There is also a book at this display for people to make an entry about those we are honoring. Prays / Praise Audio Downloads See our website for a complete set of audio downloads from our St. Thomas Prays / Praise series with John Angotti. The most recent one from October 24 has been posted. If you did not have the opportunity to attend this event then listen to the download. It was wonderful. John Angotti in November John will be at St. Thomas again on Wednesday, November 14 for the next Praise Night and then at the Saturday 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Masses on the weekend of November 17 and 18. Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time THE SETUP Poor Zaccheus! In today's tale, Luke sets him up as an unbelievably nasty villain, a sinner par excellence, if there can be such a thing. He's a tax collector; moreover, he's the chief tax collector, the head sinner. He's also a wealthy one, so he's probably very good at extortion, cheating, oppressing the poor, and all sorts of foul behavior. He's short, considered a physical malady and sign of God's disfavor in his culture. To top it off, he lives in Jericho, a city condemned by Joshua when the Israelites settled in the Promised Land. But Jesus knows and sees what the author of Wisdom has told us earlier today: that the imperishable spirit of the Lord, lover of souls, is in all things, even in this reprehensible little knave. And this Jesus, getting nearer and nearer his destiny in Jerusalem, not only allows Zaccheus to speak with him, but seeks him out. Jesus boldly invites himself to stay under Zaccheus' roof and incorporate himself into the life of this malefactor. No wonder the people who were looking on started to grumble! AN EARLY--OR LATE--CHRISTMAS Luke's Gospel is the source of what has become known as "the" Christmas story. Two of the major themes of Luke's infancy narrative are joy and the coming of salvation. Zaccheus today welcomes Jesus with joy, and Jesus announces that salvation has come. In the scene that precedes this one (we don't hear it at Sunday Mass), salvation comes when Jesus heals a blind man just outside Jericho. Jesus has transformed the city of condemnation into one of vision and light. The presence of this Jesus is enough to remind Zaccheus of his sins so he might, as Wisdom reminds us, abandon his wickedness and come to believe in the Lord by living an upright life. He makes promises to Jesus that his future actions will be fair and just. We never find out whether he keeps these promises, but the significance of the passage is that the faith of Abraham supersedes the condemnation of Joshua; the obstacles to grace in Zaccheus' life are not as important as the relentless, seeking, saving heart of the Lord, lover of souls. Today's Readings: Wisdom 11: :2; Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13, 14; 2 Thessalonians 1: :2; Luke 19:1-10 Copyright (c) 2006, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. November 4, 2007 Page 4

5 Pray For Our Parish 31 st Sunday in Ordinary Time God of the covenant, in Jesus your Son you came to seek out and save what was lost. Make us worthy of your call. Fulfill by your power our every good resolve, that we may have the joy of welcoming you in our home, and of sharing with all people the good things of earth and of heaven. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. From: Prayers for Sundays and Seasons, Liturgy Training Publications. Mass Intentions Monday, November 5, :30 Pat Huff, by Bob Jones Tuesday, November :30 Nicholas Segina, by Mary Segina Wednesday, November 7, :30 Agnes Stoffregen, by The Stoffregen Family Daniel Fitzmaurice, by Family Thursday, November 8, :30 Nabil Rabbat, by Nadia Behna Friday, November 9, :30 Tim Augustine, by Illinois Toll Workers Pat Huff, by Mr. & Mrs. Richard Jaracz Saturday, November 10, :30 William Undine, by Tim & Helen Swanson M. M. Thomas, by The Mulaikal Family Sunday, November 11, :30 For the People of St. Thomas 9:00 Pearl Damore, by The Purpura Family Sgt. David Caruso, by Mom & Dad 10:45 Andrew Kall, by Tom & Mary Clare O Grady All Veterans, by VFW 12:15 Aurelio Lopez, by Amy Deguzman Mary Mula, by Carmela McGill For the sick Haley Knoll, friend of Rick Jordon Eve Rejamn, daughter-in-law of Bruno & Loretta Rico Mejorada, friend of Mildred Garcia Don Roth, brother-in-law of Audrey Easton Gordon Young, father of Jennifer Sanchez Mark Fisher, friend of Pat Minihan Deborah Green, mother of Jen Kolb For those recently married... Andrea Baiardo & Jeffrey Heimer For our new parishioners The Wildes Family The Johnson Family The Trafton Family The Jackson Family The Crespo/Rodriguez Family The Adam Stone Family The Young-Eleazar Family The Polinski Family Quinn & Holly Thalheimer Today s Readings First Reading Lord, you love all things that are, and loathe nothing that you have made (Wisdom 11:22 12:2). Psalm I will praise you name for ever, my king and my God (Psalm 145). Second Reading May God bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11 2:2). Gospel Today salvation has come to Zacchaeus house, because Zacchaeus too is a descendant of Abraham (Luke 19:1-10). Readings for the Week Mon: Rom 11:29-36; Lk 14:12-14 Tues: Rom 12:5-16b; Lk 14:15-24 Wed: Rom 13:8-10; Lk 14:25-33 Thurs: Rom 14:7-12; Lk 15:1-10 Fri: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17; Jn 2:13-22 Sat: Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27; Lk 16:9-15 Sun: 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14; Ps 17; 2 Thes 2:16 3:5; Lk 20:27-38 [27, 34-38] Page 5 November 4, 2007

6 Faith and Spiritual Formation Commission Soul Searchers St. Thomas Soul Searchers will meet once a month to read, explore, experience, and discover the fathers and a few mothers of the Christian Church from the second to the seventh centuries A.D. as compiled in The Roots of Christian Mysticism by Olivier Clement. In his introduction, Clement states, I have tried to allow the chief witnesses of the undivided Church to speak for themselves Many lived in times of persecution, when society veered between skepticism on one hand and various forms of gnosis on the other. These readings will mine the heart and soul of those who held, and were held by something so amazing and extraordinary that the world was changed by it. The reading is Part III, Chapter 2 (pp ) of The Roots of Christian Mysticism. The text is available at Borders or Barnes and Noble. Handouts are available in the pick-up drawer under S. Deacon Will and Mary Maloney are group leaders. The next meeting of Soul Searchers will be Saturday, November 10 from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. in the St. Thomas Lighthouse. All are welcome to attend this monthly discussion group. Come whenever your schedule allows and enjoy a wonderful experience. Fall Men's Night Bring your friends and join the men of the parish for the St. Thomas annual Men's Fall Night. This is a great way to start the men's group's 18th year here at St. Thomas. Patrick Reardon, our guest speaker, is a feature writer and former urban affairs writer for the Chicago Tribune where he has worked since He has authored three books entitled, Daily Meditations for Busy Dads, Starting Out: Reflections for Young People and Love Never Fails: Spiritual Reflections for Dads of All Ages. Patrick is a provocative speaker and will share his thoughts on traveling life's journey. Mark your calendar now so you can join us on Friday November 9 starting with a light dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the Ministry Center Lighthouse. Tickets for this event will be available after all masses on the weekends of October 27/28 and November 3/4. Questions? Call Ted McKeown at x 133 or Jim Breen at C.A.R.E. CORNER Another gift of the Holy Spirit is that of understanding. Although the original disciples had first-hand knowledge of Jesus, it seems they often misunderstood Him. It wasn t until after the events of Jesus death, resurrection and ascension that the disciples began to more fully comprehend the necessity for and the meaning of all those events. And they didn t really get it until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We, too, might be able to recite a lot of details about the life of Jesus, but we need to move beyond knowing about Him to experience of Him and what His saving actions mean for us personally. Which brings us to the gift of wisdom. Wisdom allows us to see things more clearly. More often than not, wisdom is the product of experience. Wisdom allows us to see the bigger picture of life and to put all things into perspective. For the early disciples, wisdom helped them to see the urgency of proclaiming Jesus as Messiah and the importance of using the power of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles in order to win over new disciples. Wisdom also helped provide the right words for their speeches before crowds November 4, 2007 Page 6

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8 Religious Education Catechist Meeting Tuesday, November 6 is the next catechist meeting for Grades Pre-K through 5 th grade beginning at 7:15 p.m. in the Cabin for prayer. At 7:30 p.m. we will move into the Gathering Area, followed by Grade Level Meetings. Reminder: No Religious Education classes on Tuesday, November 6 due to this catechist meeting. Also, no classes Thanksgiving week (Tuesday, November 20 and Saturday, November 24). Reporting Sexual Abuse Anyone who has reasonable cause to suspect the sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy or other Church personnel is urged to report the matter immediately. To inform the Diocese of Joliet, call Sr. Mary Frances Seeley, OSF (Victim Assistance Coordinator) at or write the Diocese of Joliet, 425 Summit Street, Joliet IL Contact DCFS at or call the office of the local County States Attorney. Junior High s Got Things Going On! What will this child become a St. Thomas Teen with Character! The next general meeting for the St. Thomas Teens (TTC) is November 8 in the Youth Center. The youth will explore the meaning of RESPECT; how it looks and is acted upon in the world in which youth interact. Join in the discussion and activities from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. This month s meeting will be led by Tony Meno, Dan Wycklendt, Brittany Reynolds, Mari-Claire Dart, Christine Coronado, Sarah Hay and Julian Serna. Attention Junior High Catechists! On Nov. 5, in the Lighthouse at St. Thomas, catechists will gather to preview and plan activities for the Advent Season. These catechetical meetings are, unfortunately, few and far between so a robust attendance is expected. Light refreshment will be served to revive the tired bodies, meaningful conversation will feed the mind and prayer will stimulate the spirit! Come Celebrate Life at the EDGE! On November 30, from 7-9:00p.m. at All Saints Catholic Academy, Junior High youth are invited to Celebrate Life with speakers and activities. Come and enjoy good company and a good time. Permission slips and flyers are available in the Gathering Space and through the R.E. classes. The Parent to Parent Program at Hill Middle School welcomes participants to session # 5, from 7:15-8:15 p.m. on Mondays during the junior high R.E. courses. This week will focus on a parent s right to expect their child to be drug free, responsible, and respectful. Discussion will focus on how parents can communicate a family belief system clearly, as well as how to turn unfulfilled expectations into opportunities rather than problems. All parents are welcome to add to this important topic. CHARACTER COUNTS! Make everyday ethics your plan for a better world. Here s a list of quick and easy ways to show good character and make your corner of the planet a better place to be Be sure to say please, thank you, and you re welcome. Give blood. Don t speed, even a little bit. Share your lunch. Tell someone they look great today. Don t honk. See how many people you can compliment in a day. Don t cut in line. Smile at someone who looks like they need a little cheering up. Be extra pleasant to a food server. Tell three people you haven t met to have a good day. Offer a babysitting night. Let someone go ahead of you at the grocery store. Let someone pull out ahead of you. Conserve energy by turning off the lights. Invite someone new to lunch. Donate to an organization you believe in. Tip unusually well. November 4, 2007 Page 8

9 Trec Youth Ministry News Special thanks to all the students who attended our Quest Retreat this past Sunday with Sal Solo. It was an incredible time of searching out how God has called us and given us a great purpose in life! Special thanks to al the students who participated in Sleep Out Saturday this weekend! Wow, what a great experience and event that we had! Pray that they fully recover from sleep deprivation! J Harvest Sunday flyers will be distributed this Sunday November 4 and a few may be delivered to the doors this week. Remember, that November 11 we will be collecting food and enjoying serving our community. We will be eating food, provided by our volunteers and small group led by Paul Bittorf. Thanks guys! Quest is tonight at 7:30 p.m., unless other plans were made by your leaders! On November 11, Harvest Sunday, there is no Quest that night. XLT Nights: We are going to be gearing up our rehearsals again for our occasional BIG Quest meeting in the gym. Contact Youth Ministry ext 123 to sign up for this ministry! For those that are currently involved, Joshua, our youth worship coordinator, will be contacting you. Somethin s Poppin for Kettle Korn Lovers Kettle Korn will be popping fresh and furiously after the week-end masses on November 4, 11, and 18. Donations are being targeted for the Christmas outreach programs which will be supported this year by the junior high and high school Religious Education programs. This effort is owned by the youth of St. Thomas and involves hard work, long hours and unlimited enthusiasm! Youth are invited to volunteer for shifts to sell and to assist in the effort by phone at or through their perspective R.E. programs. Stewardship in earnest, begins right here, right now! Pilgrimage following the lives, footsteps, and spirituality of Sts. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila Colonial and Carmelite Spain April 13 26, 2008 led by Fr. Bob Colaresi, O. Carm. Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Cordoba, Seville, Segovia, Salamanca, Avila, and Fontiveros Cost $3,700 double occupancy For more detailed information, brochure and registration form, contact:darlene at , at the Carmelite Spiritual Center. Page 9 November 4, 2007

10 Service Commission Outreach & Social Justice Global Warming: A Catholic Response There is a general consensus on the phenomena of global climate change as a result of human activities. There is no consensus on what we should do about it or why this is an important issue for Catholic Christians. The Science of Global Climate Change & Catholic Social Teaching on the Environment: Wednesday, November 7, 7:30 p.m., St. Margaret Mary in the COR Center Presenters: Mr. Seth Dibblee - Environmental scientist - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fr. Jonathan Foster, OFM - Franciscan priest, very active in the environmental movement. Global Warming and Public Policy Choices-A Panel Discussion Thursday, November 15, 7:30 p,m, St. Margaret Mary Parish in the COR Center Panelists: Rev. Clare Butterfield-Episcopalian priest and Director of an ecumenical environmental group. Dr. Tom Fanning-Nuclear Engineer and Physicist, studies design concepts for recycled nuclear fuel. Katy Scott, Mother of Iraq War Veteran A World Beyond War Tuesday November 6, 7:00 p.m. St. Thomas Lighthouse The mother of a U.S. Army veteran severely wounded in Iraq will discuss her experiences in Resurrection Through the Suffering of War; a Mother s Experience of Her Soldier Son s Wounding The presentation will provide the foundation for a discussion of a Christian response to war and a world beyond war. Based on her experiences as a mother and a chaplain of five years, Katy will discuss the immense toll war exacts on veterans, their families and victimized civilians, arguing that humanity must evolve beyond war. Scott is especially focused on supporting soldiers and their families healing from the wounds of war. Pie For Breakfast? Not sure which pie to order for Thanksgiving? Samples will be available for tasting in the gymnasium after all Sunday Masses today. Orders may be placed at that time. Pick-up is Sunday, November 18 before, during, and after all Masses. St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Drive November Get Your Closets Ready for Your Holiday House Guests The work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is funded by your gifts, both monetary directly to the St. Thomas conference and by your donations to the St. Vincent de Paul store in West Chicago. Clean out your dressers, closets, and cabinets and help provide needed household and clothing items to area families. A truck will be in the St. Thomas parking lot after Masses the weekend of November Bags for donations will be passed out the weekend of November Or you may use your own heavy duty bags and boxes. Donations of gently used items clothing, shoes, coats, purses, dishes, cookware, towels, bedding, jewelry, toys, etc. are greatly appreciated. No hangers, please. Receipts will be provided. If you have large items to donate, please call St. Vincent de Paul at to arrange a pickup at your home. If you miss the clothing drive, items may be put in one of the two drop boxes across from the rectory at any time. SVDP also accepts donations of vehicles to pass onto people in need of transportation to and from their job. Please call All donations are tax deductible. November 4, 2007 Page 10

11 Christmas Card Project Each year, Companions sends out thousands of Christmas cards to incarcerated men and women. St. Thomas will again participate in this project. Please bring your cards to the decorated box you will find in the Gathering Area by November 17. Here are the guidelines: Sign one or more Christmas cards. We will use Companions return address. Add a message if you wish but please do not be preachy. Attach a first class postage stamp to each envelope. Do Not seal. Do Not use stickers, glue or tape on the cards or envelopes. Do Not enclose anything. Please choose cards that represent a diverse population. Shopping for a Worthwhile Cause Do your Christmas gift shopping and support artisans and producers in developing countries and in the US who are working to sustain themselves. Saturday, December 1, 4 to 6 p.m. and Sunday, December 2, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The sale will be held in the St. Thomas Gathering Area and is sponsored by the Justice and Peace Ministry in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services A large variety of Fair Trade products from around the world including home décor, Christmas items, jewelry, toys, novelties, coffee, tea, and chocolate will be available. Quilted items from Tutwiler, Mississippi and knitted scarves and small items made by residents of Warrenville Youth Center will also be featured. In the hospital? Call the parish office and one of our parish nurses or ministers of care will visit, bring Eucharist or assist you with your needs! Counseling Service: Call Samaritan Interfaith or Jan Olah, Pastoral Care x 124 Pastoral Care Parish Nurse Notes: November Is National Alzheimer s Disease Awareness Month. For complete information on the causes, signs, stages, history etc., the Alzheimer Association has abundant information on its web site, including a 30- page document on the statistical facts and figures of Alzheimer s. See facts. Briefly, Alzheimer s disease is a progressive and fatal brain disease; it is the most common form of dementia; and it has no current cure. Alzheimer s destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer s gets worse over time. Today, it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Harvard Mental Health Letter states these facts: An estimated 5.1 million Americans currently have Alzheimer s; including 4.9 million people age 65 or older. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer s and other dementias total more than $148 billion annually. By 2030, the number of Americans with Alzheimer s is expected to increase by more than 50%, to 7.7 million. Caregivers, family and friends of Alzheimer individuals can access support groups at Alden courts of Waterford in Aurora and Sunrise Assisted Living in Naperville. The Alzheimer s Association has a 24/7 Helpline at or Call the parish nurse office x104 with questions. Blood Drive St. Thomas is sponsoring a blood drive with the Heartland Blood Center on Monday, November 19, from 3-7:30 pm in the gym. Interested donors are asked to call the Parish Office at for scheduling. Receive a premium Heartland Blood Center sweatshirt when you share the gift of life. Thank you for your consideration. Page 11 November 4, 2007

12 Stewardship Commission Stewardship A Way of Life Last Weekend s stewardship of financial gifts... Weekly Sunday Offertory (week 18) Envelopes Loose Automatic Direct Debit Mailed in & stock donations Total for week *Based on Collection Counters Reports Fiscal Year (7/1 to 6/30) to date: Weekly Average 7/1/07 to date: % of Annual Sunday Offertory Goal Sunday Offertory Goal YTD Goal for Fiscal Year 7/1 to 6/30 Remaining for Fiscal Year $23,641 19,799 3,842 $16,017 $2,788 $42,446 $632,209 $35, $648,000 $1,872,000 $1,239,791 At Donut Sunday THIS weekend, November 4 Spotlight Diocesan Appeal updated Results Parish Appeal Goal Pledges received at St. Thomas % of Goal Pledge to date Remaining amount to goal: $142,888 $124, $18,638 on Ministry A Limited Time Offer From our Federal Government! Those over 70 ½ years of age can make a contribution from an IRA or a Rollover IRA directly to a charity without having to pay income tax on the withdrawal. Gifts of up to $100,000 ($200,000 per husband and wife if 70 1/2 or over) can be made in the calendar year 2006 and again in Gifts must be completed by December 31, 2007, when the provision expires. Please consider speaking with your tax preparer or accountant about this gifting possibility. Thank you for considering St. Thomas the Apostle in your charitable giving plans. Celebration of the Arts Come to Donut Sunday and check out this week s featured Ministry learn about Celebration of the Arts, their community involvement, their activities, and ways in which you might be able to participate! November 4, 2007 Page 12

13 Parish Life Commission S.A.M. Single Adult Ministry Mon, Dec 3, SAM Planning meeting. All welcome Thurs, Dec 6, We will provide a meal for Hesed House. Deliver your food dish to STA by 5:00 PM. Details will follow. Sat. Dec 22, Spirit of Christmas, a spectacular and dazzling follies show at the Paramount in Aurora. Showtime is 7:00 p.m.. Cost $40.50 to $ Contact Betty by Nov. 26 to reserve seats or msbkost@oco.net Tues, Nov. 6, 1:00 p.m. Lunch at Quincy's in Naperville Tues, Dec. 4, 1:00 p.m. Lunch at Warrenville Pancake House, 2 S. 505 Rt. 59. Call Barb Bigus at to make your reservation. Current Young Adult Ministry News: Current spreads the good news of Jesus by building a community of young adults that meet the social, spiritual, service, and support of all young adults. COMING EVENTS: November 7 CURRENT CORE Team meeting 7 p.m. at St. Thomas! (Join us for prayer, planning, and socializing! We d love to meet you!) November 13 I &M YACHT Club 7 p.m. Aurelio s Pizza at West 143 rd Street in Orland Park. Cost is $5 admission plus whatever you order off the menu. The speaker is Ms. Jackie Posek, Campus Minister at the University of Chicago on Being a Young Adult Catholic in the Modern World November 17: HOME MASS at 7 p.m. Location TBA. Join us for our annual home mass and pot luck meal afterwards. All adults are invited to this celebration of the Lord s love for us! Fr. Mark Cote will be the celebrant. Please contact Matt at to RSVP and get directions. This is a special annual event that you do not want to miss! Knightly News Naperville Knights of Columbus Council No E. Ogden Avenue, Naperville Web site: napervillekofc.org Tuesday 11/06/07 Knights Monthly Business Meeting 7:30 p.m. Saturday 11/10/07 Carson s Community Days Tuesday 11/13/07 Ladies Auxiliary Meeting 7:00 p.m. Thursday 11/22/07 Happy Thanksgiving Friday-Saturday 11/23 & 11/24 Creche Setup SSPP 9 a.m. Sunday 11/25/07 Christ the King Mass and Honor Guard SSPP Tuesday 11/27/07 Blood Drive St. Raphaels The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic Men s Fraternal Service Organization that focuses on Church, Community, Council, Family and Youth activities. For further information, please contact Jack Guasta at or Terry Ross at Page 13 November 4, 2007

14 Administration Commission Jobs Ministry Weekly Networking Meeting Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. (after the 8:30 a.m. Liturgy) Lighthouse The November St Thomas the Apostle Jobs Ministry Meeting will be held on Thursday evening November 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the Lighthouse. Our Speaker will be Tamara K Fay, a management training consultant, who has spent the last 17 years developing solutions to assist companies effectively solve organizational and training issues. Tamara s management training consulting has produced measurable results for corporations and small businesses. Tamara s background has been built on a foundation of management positions at Marshall Fields, Saks Fifth Avenue and Merrill Lynch. Tamara currently offers workshops at the Professional Development Academy at North Central College, as well as the Supervisory Series through DePaul University s Management Development Center. Tamara s presentation is titled Reinventing Yourself by Identifying Transferable Job Skills. Tamara will explore : Understanding the three important job skills of the 21 st Century Defining internal factors and external forces and the impact they have on your career Learning the three different types of skills that all Job Seekers must know in order to be effective in the job search Please plan to attend this very informative presentation by Tamara K Fay, as she shares her Reinventing Yourself by Identifying Job Skills. For additional info please contact Jim Breen at jimb4853@yahoo.com. "The ST THOMAS JOBS MINISTRY needs a slightly used LAP TOP COMPUTER. If you have one to donate please call Jim Breen at We would sincerely appreciate your generosity" November 4, 2007 Page 14 THE WEEK AHEAD Monday, Nov. 5 9:00am-12:00 p.m. Gathering Place Café, Gathering Area 4:15 5:15 p.m. Youth Choir, Church 6:30 7:30 p.m. Pre-Ministry Coffeehouse, Gathering Area 7:00 9:30 p.m. Just Faith, Resource Center 7:00 9:00 p.m. Jr. High Catechist Meeting, Lighthouse 7:30 9:30 p.m. Testify Rehearsal, Chapel Tuesday, Nov. 6 8:00 8:45 a.m. Wholistic Practices, Gym 9:00am-12:00 p.m. Gathering Place Café, Gathering Area 10:00 11:00 a.m. Care Pantry, Lighthouse 6:15 7:15 p.m. Handbell Rehearsal, Church 7:00 9:30 p.m. Catechist Formation, Ministry Center 7:00 9:30 p.m. Adult Basketball, Gym 7:00 9:00 p.m. Young Adult Focus Group, Rectory Basement 7:30 9:00 P.M. Bible Time Line, Lounge 7:30 10:00 p.m. Pax Christi, Lighthouse 7:30 9:30 p.m. Voices of Faith Rehearsal, Church Wednesday, Nov. 7 9:00am-12:00 p.m. Gathering Place Café, Gathering Area 4:15 5:30 p.m. Jammers, Church 6:00 10:00 p.m. ALPHA, Lighthouse 7:00 9:30 p.m. Coed Volleyball, Gym 7:00 9:15 p.m. Leadership Night, Ministry Center 7:00 9:30 p.m. Pax Christi, Resource Center 7:30 9:00 p.m. APEX, Youth Center 7:30 9:30 p.m. Sojourners Rehearsal, Church 7:30 9:00 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul, Rectory Basement Thursday, Nov. 8 9:00am-12:00 p.m. Gathering Place Café, Gathering Area 9:00am 11:00 a.m. Healing the Soul, Youth Center 6:00 7:30 p.m. Trec Band, Church 6:30 7:30 p.m. Pre-Ministry Coffeehouse, Gathering Area 7:00 9:00 p.m. Baptism Meeting, Lighthouse 7:00 8:30 p.m. Character Counts, Youth Center 7:30 9:00 p.m. Jubilate Rehearsal, Church Friday, Nov. 9 9:00am-12:00 p.m. Jobs Ministry, Lighthouse 9:00am 12:00 p.m. Gathering Place Café, Gathering Area 5:00 11:00 p.m. Fall Men s Night, Lighthouse Saturday, Nov. 10 8:00am-2:00 p.m. Grief Workshop, Rectory Basement 8:00am-4:30 p.m. Six Sigma, Gym 8:30 10:30 a.m. Ensemble Rehearsal, Church 8:30 11:4 5a.m. R. E. Classes at All Saints Academy 9:00 10:30 a.m. Men s Christian Fellowship, Resource Center 9:15 10:30 a.m. Soul Searchers, Lighthouse 10:00 11:00 a.m. Rainbows, Ministry Center 2:00 4:15 p.m. Library Hours Sunday, Nov. 11 9:00am-12:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Word for Children thru 5 th grade, Ministry Center 9:00am-1:00 p.m. Welcome Sunday, Lighthouse 10:00 11:30 a.m. Puppet Practice, Resource Center 12:15 3:00 p.m. RCIA, Senior Center 12:30 4:00 p.m. Harvest Sunday, Gym 6:30 7:30 p.m. Encounter Mass, Church