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1 CHURCH OF ST. THOMAS MORE GLENDALE, AZ May 10, 2015 Mother s Love Liturgy There could not be any better readings than the ones we hear proclaimed today to hear on Mother s Day weekend! We are very familiar with the image of God as Father, but from the very beginning of Scripture, we see that Mother reflects the image of God as well: in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Gen 1: 27) Welcome to the Parish Prayer of St. Thomas More: Give us, good Lord, the grace to work for the things we pray for. Our warmest welcome to all who worship with our parish family, whether long time registered or newly arrived in the parish. If you are not registered, please stop by the Parish Office and pick up a registration form. Proverbs 9: 1-6 describes God as a woman calling her children to a great feast. Isaiah evoked the image of a Mother for God, when he asked: Could a mother forget her children? (Isaiah 49:15) And today s readings, especially the letter from St. John, show us a parent who is pure love, and I can t think of a better way to describe a Mother than pure love. Consider the following phrases from the three readings: In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter tells Cornelius: God shows no partiality. (Acts 10: 34) While my brother and sisters could argue about who Mom likes best, we know deep down that she loves us all equally, with no partiality. And St John writes: Everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. (1 John 4: 7) Mothers are truly begotten by God, they are a gift of love from the One who is love itself. They show us love and in their many acts of love, they reflect God to us. A Mother s love can be summed up in the Greatest Commandment, found in today s Gospel of John: Love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down one s life John 15: 12-13) I cannot begin to recount the many ways my own Mother has laid down her life, set aside her own needs, for me. She has given me so much; she has given me the gift of life itself! Thanks Mom, and Happy Mother s Day to all the Moms in our St. Thomas More community! Steve Raml Director of Liturgy & Music For your convenience a drop box is located outside the Parish Office front doors if you wish to leave paperwork when the office is closed. Please do not leave checks or cash. CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN SPECIAL COLLECTION Sunday, May 17, 2015 Next week, our parish will take up the Collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign. This collection communicates the Gospel through Catholic social media activities and enriches our faith through television, radio, and print media. Half of all proceeds remain in our diocese. Envelopes have been included in your packets. Thank you for your support. Beginning Monday, June 1, the Parish Office will be observing Summer hours as follows: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Closed Friday and Saturday Sunday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Catechists Are The Heart Beat Of The Christian Formation Program! Become a catechist, the rewards are fantastic! Enjoy sharing your faith and talents with the children Witness the conversion of the children as they grow in faith Prepare children to receive the sacraments: Reconciliation and Confirmation/ First Communion Enjoy the fellowship of the catechist teams Catechist faith formation, materials, and support are provided Contact Maria or Ann in the Parish Office for more information.

2 SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Summer Sunday Breakfast May 17, 8:00 11:00 a.m. $5.00 Per Person The menu will include: pancakes, scrambled eggs, potatoes, breakfast meats, cold cereal, juice and coffee. Each month we will have a special breakfast item. Upcoming dates: June 28, July 26 and August 23 Thursday, May 14, is the last regular session for Thursday Morning Bible Study. A Mother When you re a child she walks before you To set an example. When you re a teenager she walks behind you To be there should you need her. When you re an adult she walks beside you So that as two friends you can enjoy life together. Author Unknown Adult Formation LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU The implications of this love are powerful, courageous and living our lives on this higher order allows us to enter more deeply into life when the love is received and then given to another. This is eternal life Easter joy, the endless receiving and giving of love. We become open to all people, it is expressed in our greeting of when we gather, when we give Christ s peace, and when we come to the table to eat and drink Christ s Body and Blood that sends us to give life to others. It is never meant to hoard this love for ourselves. The Spirit shapes us in love and gives us an apostolic heart. These last weeks of utter loss of life, burning cities and attacking others, a mother found guilty of killing her child, and violence in Syria, Yemen and all across our precious earth, stand in stark contradiction to the actions of Christ; giving his life in love that all may have life. I end with a story from Sister Jose Hobday, OSF whose mother was a Seneca Indian. What she writes is for all of us, mothers and dads, grandparents raising children and friends who care. I was six years old and sitting on a block of concrete, crying. I don t remember why. My mother came along and asked why I was crying and I said; Nothing, leave me alone. She did and I began to really cry. She came back and sat beside me. She quietly said; You know, I must tell you something there are going to many times in your life that you will cry, and not know why. You won t understand and neither will anybody else. You may marry the nicest man in the world, but at times like this, he won t know what to do to help you. Then she said she would teach me a prayer for the times when I was crying and didn t know why, and for the times when I did. She made me get up from the block. She said; Now put your arms around yourself. I did, but it was not good enough. You re just folding your arms. Put them all the way around yourself. Cuddle your body. Hold yourself the way you would hold a baby in your arms. Now after you have a real good hold, close your eyes and rock yourself. Rock yourself real good, the way you would a baby and just keep doing it. When you grow up, no matter how old you are, and you find yourself crying, I want you to rock yourself. As you do it, remember you are God s child and God understands why you are crying. Remember that God holds you close just the way you are holding yourself God loves you very much and just keep rocking and be comforted. I recommend this for all of us stand wherever you are in the kitchen, the bathroom, in your yard let God hold you and all you love, all the suffering it may be the only way to know in our hearts that love Jesus felt from the cross as he gave his life in love for all of us. It may be a way we hold others to know they are not alone as we are crying in front of our TV s. It is a prayer of comfort for all we cannot reach. Mary Ann Ronan

3 Youth Ministry Grades 6-12 Registration for 2015/2016 youth ministry programs is taking place and registration forms are available in the Parish Office. Please contact Gaby in the Parish Office with questions about the program. GROWING IN FAITH, ACTING IN LOVE Faith Formation Grades K - 5 ELEMENTARY FAITH FORMATION Calendar / Class Times / Days Available: Session A Monday: 4:45-6:00 p.m. CLOSED Session B Monday: 6:30-7:45 p.m. Session C Tuesday: 4:45-6:00 p.m. Session D Tuesday: 6:30-7:45 p.m. Will Your Child Begin Kindergarten Or First Grade Next Year? Now is the time for them to start their faith journey too! YES Young Enthusiastic Seniors 50 + Couples and Singles May 13, at 12:00 Noon, Parish Hall As has become the tradition for the last luncheon of the current YES season, there will be an ice cream social and games will be played. Bring a friend and a dish to share. Friendship and fellowship for single parishioners 40+. Potluck/General Meeting Thursday, May 14, 6:00 p.m., Modular Building All 40+ singles are invited to the monthly potluck/ social meeting. For more information contact Tina at tja2919@gmail.com or Richard at azcoyner@q.com. BETHANY GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP will meet this month on Tuesday, May 12 and May 28, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parlor of the Church We invite you to come as often as you need or want. There is no registration required. This group meets monthly the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. For more information, contact Linda in the Parish Office. ANDRÉ HOUSE SUMMER COLLECTION Donations of bottled water, powdered Gatorade are being accepted. Donations may be left in the gathering space of the church. A listing of other needs will be forthcoming. THANK YOU!!!! Registration for Christian Formation is taking place at the Parish Office. SISTERS MAY MEETING Monday, May 11, 7:00 p.m. Modular Building All women of the parish are invited to the potluck to share in fellowship with fellow parishioners. This meeting will close out the current SISTERS season. This promises to be an evening filled with music, laughter and fun! The SOPHIAS (SISTERS board) will provide Sloppy Joes and you are invited to bring the item that corresponds to the first letter of your last name: A-H Salads I-N Chips or Buns O-Z Desserts MEMORIAL MASS FOR DECEASED CHILDREN (Young or Older) Saturday, May 16, 6:00 PM Do you know anyone who has lost a child, young or older? Your intervention may be exactly what God wants you to do to help alleviate suffering. Please consider informing them of this upcoming service which will take place at: Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery, 8502 W. Pinchot Ave, Phoenix. A light reception will follow.

4 Our Mortgage Burning Celebration last weekend was a tremendous undertaking and SUCCESS! We couldn t have done it without the help of the volunteers. Your commitment to the parish is a blessing to all. Thank You. Given in Gratitude for God s Blessings The plate collection for Sunday, May 3, was $37,076. Thank you for your faithful support. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Once again, we are happy to announce that we will award a $1,000 scholarship to students from our parish entering a Catholic High School in the Fall of this year. The scholarships are available to students whose families are registered, active and participating at St. Thomas More. Part of the definition of active and participating is that we can track consistent envelope usage. The family must also participate in ministry at St. Thomas More. The student must participate in Youth Ministry or another ministry in the parish. The scholarships are based on merit. Applicants must have a 3.0 gpa and meet additional criteria as outlined in the Scholarship Policy. The scholarship will be awarded each year of high school provided the student maintains the established criteria and the family and student remain active in the parish. For more information, please pick up an information sheet and application in the Parish Office or online at our website Deadline to apply is Friday, May 29. CONGRATULATIONS and welcome to the recently baptized members of the St. Thomas More community: Norma Brais, Elliot Butera, Elena Castillo, Guilianna Falaschi, Trent Gordon, Camryn King, Joshua Pabustan, Hunter Pinnecker, Santana Cane Sanchez, Charlotte Williams In the Gospel today Jesus says to us, This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you You are my friends if you do what I command you. By your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, you fulfill the commandment to love one another as Jesus has loved you. Thanks to Our Advertisers COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Stop by or call the Parish Office to learn more about.. ALBERTSONS COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM - Cards in the Parish Office. FRY S COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM - Enrollment in this rewards program is done online by each family. Registration forms in Parish Office. SAFEWAY - sign up by picking up a registration form in the Parish Office or visiting select group (St. Thomas More, ID# ). ANDRÉ HOUSE has volunteer opportunities available. To sign up online visit go/70a044fa8a72f4-andre2/. FAITH COMMUNITY NURSING RN s from this ministry are available to speak with parishioners. You may call the Parish Office and leave a message and one of the nurses will contact you. PARISH HALL RENTAL Please patronize our advertisers and thank them for supporting our bulletin when using their products and services. Altar flowers are donated by Helen and Brian Wetzel in loving memory of Helen Burke and in memory of all mothers. The Parish Hall is available to rent for private functions. Please see the parish web site under FAQ s or stop by the Parish Office for an information sheet.

5 PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS Tina Gantner, Joan Graham Karen Kozlowski, Simon Lam Don Sandefur, Lloyd Singer, Joanne Spiek Questions, comments or concerns, please call the Parish Office. SAINT JOSEPH SUNDAY MISSAL Now available in the Parish Office St. Thomas More is on Facebook! Search in Facebook Church of St. Thomas More or link to us on the parish website St. Thomas More Sunday Monday Tuesday Readings for the Week May Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Ps 98; 1 Jn 4:7-10; Jn 15:9-17 Acts 16:11-15; Ps 149; Jn 15:26 16:4a Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs; Saint Pancras, Martyr Acts 16:22-34; Ps 138; Jn 16:5-11 Wednesday Our Lady of Fatima Acts 17:15, 22 18:1; Ps 148; Jn 16:12-15 Thursday St. Matthias, Apostle Acts 1:15-17, PS 113, 20-26, Jn 15:9-17 Friday Saint Isidore Acts 18:9-18; Ps 47; Jn 16:20-23 Saturday Acts 18:23-28; Ps 47; Jn 16:23b-28 Sunday Ascension of the Lord Acts 1:1-11, Eph 1:17-23 Ps 47, Mk 16:15-20 Please come to Mass early enough not to disrupt. Leave late enough not to insult. Worship reverently enough not to distract. AND dress proudly enough not to offend. Buy your Sunday Arizona Republic here and support the teens. Monday, May 11 7:00 pm SISTERS Tuesday, May 12 7:00 pm Bethany Bereavement Group Wednesday, May 13 12:00 pm YES Seniors Luncheon Thursday, May 14 9:15 am Morning Bible Study 6:00 pm Journey Singles Group Potluck/Meeting 6:30 pm Evening Rosary 7:00 pm Adult Confirmation Class 7:00 pm Men s Ministry Friday, May 15 Saturday, May 16 MAY Sunday, May 17 8:00-11:00 am Summer Sunday Breakfast 6:00 pm CFS SATURDAY, MAY 9 5:00 pm +Raymond Nauman SUNDAY, MAY 10 7:30 am +Mark Brewer 9:00 am +Annie Rose Penton 11:00 am Parishioners of St. Thomas More TUESDAY, MAY 12 8:30 am +Giuseppina Zarone WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 8:30 am +Steven & +Jack Duva THURSDAY, MAY 14 8:30 am +Giuseppa Allegra FRIDAY, MAY 15 8:30 am Janice Mitchell SATURDAY, MAY 16 5:00 pm +Mary Dobbeleare SUNDAY, MAY 17 7:30 am +Betty Vanore 9:00 am Parishioners of St. Thomas More 11:00 am +Ann Panaccione Prayer List * Michael Adams * Don Adams * Linda Blanchard * * Sharon DiCosmo * * Jordyn Kube * Derrick Sandoval * Alex Spartz * Names will be kept on the prayer list for two weeks, at which time you will need to call the Parish Office to update. Thank you.