ST. THERESA PARISH PHOENIX, AZ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2017

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1 ST. THERESA PARISH PHOENIX, AZ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2017 My Brothers and Sisters, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays simply because we get the opportunity to wallow in gratitude for all that God gives us. Think of it there are so many blessings, so many gifts that God gives us gifts that, in many cases, are all too easy to take for granted. Gifts that are given to us not because we ve earned them, but simply because our God loves us. In these next few days before Thanksgiving Day, perhaps we can take some time to take into account some of those easily-taken-for-granted gifts. Gifts like health, the gift of our five senses, relationships with those who love us and with those whom we love. Houses to live in, beds to sleep in, food to eat these are some gifts many people don t have. Employment, security, the ability to travel even the ability to simply drive or walk to church. The beautiful weather and scenery of our state of Arizona; the ability to worship in freedom and enjoy our other constitutional rights as Americans. Of course, this only begins to scratch the surface in naming God s gifts in our lives. It s really incredible when we begin to list the gifts we have been given; the reasons we have to be people of gratitude. Many of us are aware that the word eucharist has its roots in the Greek word that means to give thanks. Every time we gather for Mass, every time we celebrate the Eucharist, we are expressing our gratitude to God. Listen carefully to the words of the Liturgy especially the words of the Eucharistic Prayer and it becomes so very obvious that thanksgiving is really a strong theme of every Mass. What better way can there be to begin our Thanksgiving Day than celebrating the Eucharist? Though it is not one of the holy days of obligation of the Catholic Church, Thanksgiving Day could well be called a holy day of volition: one of those days we voluntarily choose to celebrate Mass together, under no obligation, simply because it feels right to do so in order to give God thanks. This Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, we will gather for Mass at 9:00AM. Plan to join the community in celebrating the Eucharist as we begin the wonderful day of gratitude we call Thanksgiving! With a little advance planning, this should be a convenient time in everyone s schedule. Please note that the 9:00AM Mass is the only Mass celebrated at St. Theresa on Thanksgiving Day there will be no 6:30AM Mass this Thursday. If you re planning to serve bread with your Thanksgiving Dinner, you re welcome to bring it along with you for a special post-communion blessing that will be offered. May God s blessings continue to come upon us and upon those we love during this season of gratitude and may God continue to form us as a community of thankful praise! With grateful prayers, Rev. Charles G. Kieffer Pastor

2 33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME PARISH NEWS Hand Carved In Bethlehem Make sure to stop by the tables of religious wares (nativity sets, rosaries, statues, crucifixes, etc.) after all Masses the weekend of December 2nd & 3rd. Ayman Khair will be here once again, representing about 180 Christian families from Bethlehem. These families have been dependent upon sales of their hand carved religious articles to tourists. Due to the conflict in the Middle East, tourism has been cut off. In order to survive, they have turned to Christian communities in the US to purchase their articles. These hand carved religious articles are beyond description. Carved from wood of the sacred Olive tree, this workmanship has been traditional for these families for hundreds of years. It is hoped that through the efforts of Mr. Khair that these families have a little income and are able to stay living in the Holy Land. Thank you! Boy Scout Firewood Sales The weather is starting to cool down & it's time to start thinking about firewood! Troop 147 will be selling firewood after all Masses THIS weekend, November 18th & 19th. Cost is $100 1/2 truckload, $200 full truckload. Delivery (in the area) is included. Families For Caring The holidays are right around the corner and the Christmas tree is up in the vestibule of our church filled with ornaments. Each ornament represents a gift to purchase for someone less fortunate than ourselves. Our goal is to help children and families have a brighter Christmas morning. The agencies you will support by picking an ornament and buying a gift this year include: Used jogger strollers for teens who cannot afford medical wheelchairs (Ryan House) Residents of Verde Villas apartments across the street on Thomas Rd (Catholic Charities) Refugee children new to Arizona this year (Catholic Charities) Gift of Mary Shelter located in south Phoenix (St. Teresa of Calcutta s religious order) Pastoral Care Ministry Our St. Vincent de Paul parish conference (families in our neighborhood) Local neighborhood schools: we have adopted families and will also assist with school nurse and teachers supplies It is so beautiful to see parishioners give with grateful hearts to ensure our neighbors have a Merry Christmas through this outreach program. Thank you! Questions: Please call Anne Tickets available online at

3 ST. THERESA PARISH PHOENIX, AZ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2017 Praise for Parents Come to the next session of Praise for Parents on Monday, November 20th from 8-9AM in the STCS Upper Room. Prepare for the holidays by focusing with Fr. JC and Kelly Bennan on God s love and thanksgiving. Previous attendance at a Praise for Parents session is not required! Thanksgiving Day Mass Thursday, November 23 9:00am What better way to start Thanksgiving Day than by giving thanks to God at Mass? ( Eucharist means thanksgiving after all!) You re also invited to bring some of the bread you ll later share at your Thanksgiving dinner for a special blessing at the end of Mass. (And please note there will not be a regular 6:30am Daily Mass on Thanksgiving Day.) Christmas Flowers To help offset the cost of Christmas flowers, donations are gratefully welcome. If you wish, you may give in memory of your loved one(s). Please PRINT the name of the person to be remembered on an envelope marked "Christmas Flowers" or use the envelope provided with your offering envelopes. All names will be inserted in a special Christmas bulletin. The submission deadline for ALL names will be on Sunday, December 17th!!! Pray For Those... Who Have Died: Irene Larkin & Don Lisa Who Are Sick: Janis Cantrell RELIGIOUS EDUCATION It s NOT Too Late!!!!!! There is still room in our Elementary Religious Education Program (3 years old - 5th grade). For more information please contact Rita or by Rlaguna@sttheresaphx.org. Also if you have a 4th-12th grader who is baptized Catholic and is in need of receiving 1st Reconciliation, Confirmation, or 1st Communion please contact Rita Laguna at the information listed above. These Sacramental preparation classes will be beginning soon. CHILDREN S SACRAMENTAL PREP Congratulations To All The Second Graders from our parish who received the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation during their retreat this weekend! Stay MAGNANIMOUS! Third Grade Parents: The sacrament workbook will go home following the mandatory parent meeting on Sunday, December 3rd at 10:30AM in Fr. Feeney Hall. Register your child ahead of the meeting at We are looking forward to seeing you there. For questions, please call Gina PASTORAL CARE December Bunco... will take place on MONDAY, December 18th in Fr. Feeney Hall at 1:45 PM. Come join the Holiday Cheer!!! If you would like more information please call Patti

4 33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME CHRISTMAS SENIOR LUNCHEON Join us Wednesday, December 6th (The Feast of St. Nicholas) for the next luncheon. Doors will open at 11:30AM. Tickets are $10.00 per person. Please call Margi (leave a message if she is not home) no later than Friday, December 1st reserve your spot. Alzheimer s Support Group: Tuesday, November 28th at 4PM in the Parish Office Conference Room. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer s or dementia and need support, stop in and see if this is the group for you. Hospitalized Or Homebound? If you or a loved one is sick, hospitalized, or homebound, please call Maureen at to request Holy Communion. Appointments may also be scheduled for Confession and Anointing of the Sick. When the Church cares for the sick, it serves Christ himself in the suffering members of his Mystical Body the Church shows this solicitude not only by visiting those who are in poor health but also by raising them up through the sacrament of anointing and by nourishing them with the Eucharist during their illness and when they are in danger of death. (Decree of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, 7 December 1972) St. Theresa Kitchen Angels The New Evangelization is a task of apostolic (or pastoral) action. Authentic apostolic action is nothing other than acts of true love done for the love of God and for our brothers and sisters. Currently Pastoral Care is in need of Kitchen Angels to help with Senior Luncheons and Funeral Receptions. If you feel called to serve in this capacity or you have any questions, please contact Maureen Schaaf in the Pastoral Care or by at mschaaf@sttheresaphx.org. There will be NO ADORATION this week due to Thanksgiving. Please join us next week to spend an hour with Jesus. Pastoral Care Has Put Together A Group Of Intercessors... who are ed (at least once a week) with the needs and intentions of the St. Theresa Community. If you would like to become a St. Theresa Prayer Intercessor, please Maureen Schaaf at mschaaf@sttheresaphx.org. If you don t have and want to be included please call Maureen Schaaf at and a list will be mailed to your home each week. SCHOOL NEWS Saint Theresa Catholic School Congratulates Winners in Two Art Contests! 2017 Valley Metro s 13th Annual Cool Transit Stuff 3rd Grade Art Contest: Annie Dreier and Aeriana Timmerman were each of 12 winners out of 565 entries. Annie s and Aeriana s artwork will be displayed during one month in the 2018 Transit Education Calendar Rosary Sunday Art Contest Madelyn Posta (Kindergarten), Scarlette Shapiro (Third Grade), Brody Londrigan (Fourth Grade) and Alex Alba (Sixth Grade) were each of 3 winners per grade level out of over 3,000 entries. This year s subject was Our Lady of Fatima artists were introduced to the apparitions and miracles that took place 500 years ago in Fatima, Portugal before conceiving and creating their art piece. Thank you to Mrs. Bertica Garcia Dubus for developing our student's artistic talents with her expertise in art education. DIOCESAN NEWS Worldwide Marriage Encounter When one finds a worthy wife her value is far beyond pearls. Spouses, find value in one another by enjoying a Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) weekend together. The next weekend will be January 26th-28th at the Mount Claret Retreat Center in Phoenix. To apply online, and for upcoming weekend dates, please visit Multi-Parish Singles (MPS) Our mission is to work as a team to provide options for individual growth and development in a healthy and wholesome, down-toearth, Singles fellowship environment. We offer affordable, quality charitable, cultural, educational, recreational, spiritual, and other fellowship events to all Singles (including those never-married, single parents, divorced and widowed) age 21 and older (NO dues!). For a calendar of MPS and support activities, please visit

5 ST. THERESA PARISH PHOENIX, AZ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2017 Mass Intentions & Celebrants (NOVEMBER 20TH-NOVEMBER 26TH) Sunday 9:00AM 10:30AM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH 6:30AM STEPHEN BUSHARD, SPECIAL INT.-FR. JC TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST 6:30AM +WENDELL ROSSMAN-FR. JC WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND 6:30AM JANE EGLE, SPECIAL INT.-FR. CHUCK 8:30AM +MARK HOLLERAN-FR. JC THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD 9:00AM +CHARLES & MARY K. MURPHY-FR. CHUCK FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH 6:30AM +MARY YABLONKAI-FR. JC SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH 8:00AM +DON LISA-FR. JC 4:00PM FOR THE PARISHIONERS-FR. JC SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH 7:30AM +JULIE BUROVAC BREGY-FR. JOACHIM 9:00AM ST. THERESA PARISH MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS, SPECIAL INT.-FR. JC 11:00AM +MARIE & ALBERT FLEMING-FR. CHUCK 5:00PM +IRENE LARKIN-FR. CHUCK The Priest scheduled to celebrate the Mass IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ~Readings ~ Week of November 19, 2017 Sunday Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; 1 Thes 5:1-6; Mt 25:14-30 or 25:14-15, Monday 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63; Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158; Lk 18:35-43 Tuesday 2 Mc 6:18-31; Ps 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Lk 19:1-10 Wednesday 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31; Ps 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15; Lk 19:11-28 Thursday 1 Mc 2:15-29; Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15; Lk 19:4144; or Sir 50:22-24; Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Lk 17:11-19 Friday 1 Mc 4:36-37, 52-59; 1 Chr 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d12a, 12bcd; Lk 19:45-48 Saturday 1 Mc 6:1-13; Ps 9:2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19; Lk 20: :00PM RCIA (Convent Upper Rm) RCIC (Club Rm) RE Classes (Msgr. McMahon Gym) Troop 147 Religious Emblem Class (Club Rm) Life Teen (Life Teen Rm) Edge (Life Teen Rm/Msgr. McMahon Gym) 7:00PM Adult Basketball (Msgr. McMahon Gym) SVDP Mtg. (Convent Conference Rm) Boy Scout Troop 147 Mtg. (PJP Rm) 9:30AM 3:30PM 5:00PM Centering Prayer (Convent Chapel) Youth Choir Rehearsal (Church) Reconciliation (Church) Rosary (Convent Chapel) Adult Choir Rehearsal (Church) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY SCHEDULE The Parish Office will be closed Thursday, November 23rd Friday, November 24th Friday 4:00PM 7:00PM Wedding Rehearsal (Church) Mary Castner Concert (Fr. Feeney Hall) 9:00AM 2:00PM 8:00PM Reconciliation (Church) Sarti/Pivonka Wedding (Church) Al Anon (Classroom 16) Alcoholics Anonymous (Classroom 17) Saturday