90 Years Young and Still Evolving

Transcription

1 Seventh Sunday of Easter May 12, 2013 f 5PM The Mothers of STA 9AM Doreen Kaelin Req. by: Joseph Dorothy Tryon Req. by: The Family 11AM Jennie Rudzinski Req. by: Carol Rodriquez & Family Ginny Guiffre Req. by: The Schulz & O Byrne Families Monday 9 Anna M. Ufer Req. by: Leon & Sue Horger Michael & JoEllen Peterman Req. by: Barbara Picciani Tuesday 9 Howard & Moira Nieman (L) 25th Ann. Req. by: Deirdre Hanley Edna McClosky Req. by: Edna Thornhill Wednesday 9 Amy Whitmore 32nd Bday Req. by: Carol Joseph Wolstenholme Req. by: Joyce Bohacz Thursday 9 NO MASS Friday 9 Elgien Suplski Req. by: STA Seniors Saturday 9 William Smith Req. by: Howard & Cynthia Salmon Mary Thornhill Req. by: Edna Thornhill Pentecost Sunday, PM Stanley Alexandrowicz Req. by: John Brochon Mary Roba Req. by: Al & Rose Litz 9AM Rose Picciani Bday Req. by: Ron & Barb Picciani John Masko Req. by: The Family 11AM Angela DeMarchis Req. by: Joe Bongard Dorothy Noone Green Req. by: Gen, Gert, Donna, Nick, and Lynn Ever generous Father, You have made each of us in Your image and likeness through Jesus. We rejoice in our unique goodness and in the abundance of creative gifts you have freely given us. Open our minds and hearts to know our talents and gifts, and grace us with courage and conviction in using them for the good of our St. Thomas Aquinas parish family. Stir us with courage that we may point out others talents and gifts and encourage them to bring their creative gifts to the work of our parish. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Breakfast Club Please join us on Sunday, May 12th. Bring your Mother and anyone that has been like a Mother to you for great food and fellowship. This will be the last Breakfast for the summer break and we will return in September. 077 PAGE 1

2 Father Mike s Musings Happy Mother s Day to our grandmothers, godmothers, and mothers; thank you all for your nurturing love!! As we have just finished our Parish Mission, we have been privileged to know the Unconditional, Freeing, and Forgiving Love of God, and the powerful intercession of Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, thanks to Father Paul Bryan and Sister Mary Sninsky. I thank each of you who helped during the mission as a reader, a symbol bearer, a musician, and a participant. As I think of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, who is dear to the Redemptorists, I am grateful that I can call her mother, as I call Arlene Davis my mother. As I was checking Prayers in Honor of Mary on the website, I discovered interesting facts about Marian Prayers. I want to share them with you, my parish family. If you would like to get closer to Mary, there are many prayers that help to give us graces, that is, sharing in God s life and love, for the sake of our salvation, such as the Rosary, the Hail Mary, the Hail, Holy Queen, the Memorare, the Angelus, and the Magnificat (From Evening Prayer of Christian Prayer). Some Marian prayers are based on Mary s apparitions which have been approved by the Catholic Church, such as prayers to Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Knock, Our Lady of LaSalette, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For many centuries, theologians, who study all that is related to God, have correctly observed that Mary has been given all of God s graces (she is full of grace ), to dispense as she sees fit for our journey to the life of Heaven. St. Bernard observed, the more she is honored, the greater is the glory of her Son. Our Patron Saint observed, as sailors are guided by a star to the port, so are Christians guided to Heaven by Mary. We can always be confident of her maternal assistance as she constantly asks Jesus to take care of us. We will have the May Crowning at the end of the 11:00 Mass next Sunday, with help from the young people of Level 6 PREP. Peace and Love, 90 Years Young and Still Evolving Masses May 18 and 19, 2013 Confessions and 5:00PM Mass: Fr. Mike 9AM Mass: Fr. Mike 11AM Mass: Fr. Sheehan Baptisms: Fr. Mike Sunday Scriptures, Reading I: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, Gospel: John 20:19-23 Lectors May 18 5PM S. Aykit & J. Wallover 9AM E. Hancin & R. Andrews 11AM J. Kochuvelli & W. Scenna May 18 Extraordinary Minister 5PM S. Berna & T. Litz 9AM J. Fritz & J. Foder 11AM J. Shirley & R. Gutherman Altar Servers Schedule May 18 5:00PM M. Aykit, M. McMahon, T. O Keefe 9:00AM D. Kringe, R. Kringe, A. Kresge 11:00AM O. Ogbonna, K. Ogbonna, L. Marion Offertory Collection May 5, 2013 Adults (256) $ High School (10) $31.00 Children (1) $2.00 Total $ Special Monthly $ Home Missions $60.00 Comparison of Sunday Offering May 6, 2012 Total $ Father Mike Father Mike, Deacon John and the Finance Council: Joe Gergo, Elaine Gibbs, Susan Horger, Lynn Mooney, John Wrightson, and John Duffner, parttime Business Manager, thank you for generously supporting our parish. 077 PAGE 2

3 St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Lottery Winners Dates not printed were unsold tickets. STA Lottery Tickets...are sold after all the Masses. They are $5 each for one month or $50 for the year. *** Pre-Jordan Classes*** The next class is on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7:30 PM in the Parish Meeting Room. Parents and godparents must attend a class within the last 3 years. If you have any further questions, please call the Parish Office at Tribunal Information Night Father Sean Bransfield, Assistant Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal, will be in Father Crehan Hall on Wednesday, June 12 at 7PM, to provide information about annulments and to answer questions. As annulments can be easily misunderstood, seize the opportunity to learn the facts from an expert. Father Mike especially encourages parishioners who are in civil marriages because one or both spouses were previously married in the Church to learn about annulments. Attention All Gardeners! We need your help weeding the flower beds at St. Thomas Aquinas. Anyone interested? Please come May 18th at 10AM. Snacks will be provided. Separated/Divorced Support Group Please join us on May 26th at 2PM in the School Meeting Room. Open forum. Come ask your questions and find answers. All are welcome in the eyes of the Lord. If you have any questions please contact Peg Duffy at Remember in your prayers. OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY. Many of our parishioners have family members serving in dangerous assignments around the world. Please keep them in your prayers. OUR SICK. Tony Bartal, David Bowman, Scott Batcho, Helen Amato, Jacqueline Cheney, Harlow Adams, Daniel Beisel, Joan Mundy, Ryan Weeks, Elizabeth Kane, Barbara Bongart, Evelyn Doyle, Mike Reynolds, Stephanie Yost, All those who are sick. OUR DECEASED Anne Bongard All the deceased of the parish. Manna Bags Kindly return your filled Manna Bag on Saturday, May 18 or Sunday,. Canned food items in greatest need are: beef stew, tuna fish, fruit, vegetables, pasta, soups, and pork & beans. Thank you for reaching out to people in emergency situations. Manna Prayer Jesus, many times throughout Your life You fed hungry people and You called others to help. You called the young child with the loaves and fishes to share his gifts. You call each one of us today. Open our eyes to see the needs of others. Open our ears to hear your call to share. Open our hearts to welcome all people to the table of love. Amen. 077 PAGE 3

4 Cross Catholic Outreach Please welcome Father Richard Kunzman who will speak at all the Masses on behalf of Cross Catholic Outreach which was founded to create a meaningful link between parishes in America and the priests and nuns working in the Church overseas in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Please be generous in your response to Father s appeal. Brochures will be provided if you wish to support this worthy Catholic ministry. Attention All Ladies! The Women s Group is starting up again! The book we will be using is called Wrapped Up - God s Ten Gifts for Women. The introduction meeting is Thursday, May 16 at 7PM in Fr. Crehan Hall. Snacks will be provided. Please call Jaime Roth at Catholic Charities Appeal Collection Update As the Appeal continues, our parish with $10, already paid, with $ due in unpaid pledges, has reached 52% of our goal, according to Michael Wixted, Parish Representative from the Office for Stewardship and Development. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, and greatly helps thousands of our less fortunate brothers and sisters who are served by the Catholic Church of Philadelphia. As you are accustomed to, our parish will participate in the In-Pew Weekend next weekend. Please remember: the purpose is to provide an opportunity for you who have not yet contributed to this vitally important cause to contribute according to your means. Experience the joy of giving. Thank you for your generosity. Employment Opportunity The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Bensalem are looking for someone to work doing seasonal grounds keeping during the Spring to Fall growing season. Mowing lawns, edging, trimming shrubs and landscaping. If interested please apply to SBS, 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem or call Barbara at , ext Years Young and Still Evolving Vocation Office Summer Programs Brothers of Borromeo Vocation Congress is a summer day of fun, food and formation for 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Boys of the Archdiocese. This is an opportunity for boys to have a day of healthy fun at St. Charles Seminary on Wednesday, June 26.. Quo Vadis Days, June 27 to June 30. This program provides a unique and extended opportunity to assist high school men in leading a life of virtue, desiring a deeper faith and discerning a call to serve God in priesthood. This will again be held at Malvern Retreat House. For more information on either event please visit the website at: HeedTheCall.org Charismatic Mass and Healing Service The North Vicariate Prayer Communities will hold a Charismatic Mass and Healing Service on Friday, May 17, 2013 at St. Martha Church, Academy Rd. Philadelphia. Prayer and Praise at 6:45PM and Liturgy at 7:15PM. Celebrant will be Father Mike. If you need any additional information or directions call Bobbie at Trenton Thunder, July 6th The Knights of Columbus Council #4765 are now selling tickets to the Trenton Thunder game against the Reading Phillies on July 6. Tickets are available and can be purchased from a member of the Knights of Columbus or at the Parish Office. Cost is $11 each. Congratulations! Our parish recently received notification of the performance of our high school students on the Third Quarter Report. We are particularly proud of those who demonstrated academic excellence. Archbishop Wood: Nicholas Lafferty Father Judge: Stephen Law and Stefan Helmlinger Archbishop Ryan: Brooke Mahler, Nicholas Winstanley, and Russell Andrews. 077 PAGE 4

5 Congratulations! We congratulate the following children who made their First Holy Communion on May 5, Jada Espinoza Ilario Fields Nicholas Freer Marliya Harvey Andrew Kerr Zachary Litz Bailey McCormick Evan McGinnis Effie McMahon Marissa Moskovitz Patrick O Hara, Jr. Jacob Shylak Tyler Slater Kayla Steubing Kendal Thompson Damian Tomczyk Hope Tompkins Cheyann Walsh Kira Weber Brittany Gabriel Brittany Gabriel has been selected as Conwell -Egan Catholic s Student of the Month because of her kind and generous spirit. Brittany excels academically and is an Honor Student but beyond that, Brittany lives her faith everyday by her hours of service to and for others. I define Brittany as a quiet giver ; ask for her help and it gets done with no fanfare. Most of her hours of service are given joyfully as a cantor at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. There have been many Sundays where she has cantored for 2 or 3 Masses because someone was sick or just couldn t make it. Brittany is a member of our Chorus and it has been her goal to be selected as a member of the All-Catholic Chorus. This year, her senior year, that dream has been realized. The little quiet giver has received something in return for all her hard work; a spot in the All-Catholic Chorus and the Rotary Club Student of the Month. Knights of Columbus News On Sunday, May 5th in Fr. Crehan Hall, our Knights of Pope Pius XII Council and the Ladies of the Knights of Columbus held their Awards Dinner. The Award Honoree s were: Rich Blinn: Knight of the Year Russ Andrews Family: Family of the Year Joe Cochran: Special Intentions Award Eileen Brown: Lady of the Year As always, our Knights and Ladies are always looking for new members. A Follow Up To Letters of Eligibility For Sponsors and Godparents In an effort to address some confusion about these necessary Letters before the Sacraments of Confirmation and Baptism are celebrated, this information is provided. The Letter of Eligibility is NOT simply an acknowledgement that the proposed sponsor or godparent is a catholic who has celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation, and is validly married. The key to obtaining a Letter of Eligibility is that the proposed sponsor or godparent participates in Mass each Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, and celebrates the Sacraments of Reconciliation frequently. The Letter must come from the parish in which the proposed sponsor or godparent is registered; that in which he or she currently lives, and not a former parish. As the Sacraments are given by Jesus, the Church has the profound responsibility to make sure Godparents and Sponsors are suited to the task of helping parents as the First Teachers of the faith or of being excellent models of Catholic life for Candidates for Confirmation. For parents who are preparing to present children for Baptism, after the Pre- Jordan Class on the third Tuesday of the month, please be sure that the godparents have given you their Letters of Eligibility before you schedule a Baptism in our parish. Please speak to Deacon John or to Father Mike if you have questions about Letters of Eligibility. Ladies Spirituality Day Sponsored by the Ladies of the Knights of Columbus Council #4765, Ladies Spirituality Day will be held June 1st from 9AM-2PM in Father Crehan Hall. Gift of Feminity-Revelation of God s Glory. The guest speaker will be Meghan Cokeley, Assistant Director of The Office for Formation of the Laity. Light refreshments will be available but bring a brown bag lunch. All are welcome, free of charge. Register at mariekelly0623@msn.com or call PAGE 5