SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS

Transcription

1 DIOCESE OF PHOENIX SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS Catholic Church & School NOVEMBER 4, 2018 THE THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. MARK 12: West Thomas Road Avondale, AZ Phone: (623) Fax: (623)

2 MASS TIMES Saturday Vigil 5:00 pm Sunday 7:00 am 9:00 am 10:45 am 5:00 pm DAILY MASS Monday - Saturday RECONCILIATION Saturday 8:30 am 3:30 pm PARISH OFFICE Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 12:00 pm 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Friday 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Saturday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Sunday 7:30 am - 2:00 pm SCHOOL OFFICE (623) Monday - Thursday 7:30 am - 3:30 pm Friday 7:30 am - 12:00 pm OFFICE OF EVANGELIZATION & CATECHESIS (623) x214 Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm GIFT SHOP (623) x242 Monday - Wednesday 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Thursday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Saturday 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Sunday 7:30 am - 8:30 am 10:00 am - 12:30 pm 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH & SCHOOL PARISH ADMINISTRATION & STAFF Reverend John Muir Pastor Reverend Anwar Zomaya Associate Pastor Reverend Venantius Yikore Associate Pastor Deacons Deacon Ken Porter Senior Deacon Chuck Shaw (Retired) Deacon Edgar Carnecer Deacon Jason Robinson PARISH ADMINISTRATION & STAFF Julie Cipriano, Executive Assistant to the Pastor Jessica Alire, Director of Human Resources & Operations Selena Rivas, Receptionist MaryLina Luna, Coordinator of Safe Environment & Administrative Assistant Nick DeClue, Computer Systems Regina DeSpain, Sacramental & Records Clerk Glenn Biggs, Maintenance Director Glenn Volkenant Jr., Maintenance Ron Shipman, Maintenance Geoff Stricklin, Director of Mission Advancement Delilah Garcia, Coordinator of Liturgical Décor & Funerals Joel Morehouse, Director of Sacred Music Heather Porrell, Coordinator of Sacred Liturgy Deacon Ken Porter, Coordinator of RCIA Ariadna Ruiz, Coordinator of Parishioner Engagement Michael Garibaldi, Coordinator of Family Evangelization & Catechesis Anna Dice, Facilitator of Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation Andrew Starbuck, Coordinator of Youth Ministries Michael Villanueva, Coordinator of Marriage & Family Ministries Jennifer Doyle, Facilitator of Infant Baptism Yuliana Gonzales, Facilitator of Marriage Preparation SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION & STAFF Cynthia Scheller, Principal Margy Eroh, Administrative Assistant Dan Kerestes, Finance Mary Francis Haluska, Senior Education Specialist

3 MASS INTENTIONS Wednesday Tuesday Monday Sunday :00 am 9:00 am 10:45 am 5:00 pm Gene Pavoggi Joseph B. Ortega Intentions of the Parish Alex Acosta Jr. Mary Noreen Kurt Alex Acosta Intentions of Sally Martinez BAPTISM The baptism process is three months long and parents within the parish boundaries are asked to be registered and active in the parish community. Families outside the parish boundaries are expected to be registered and active for a minimum of three months prior to the baptismal process. Baptisms are typically celebrated the 4th Sunday of every month. MARRIAGE The Diocese of Phoenix requires couples to participate in an engaging nine month marriage preparation program. Individuals within the parish boundaries are asked to be registered and active in the parish community. Individuals outside the parish boundaries are expected to be registered and active for a minimum of three months prior to beginning marriage preparation. RELGIOUS EDUCATION To register for classes, families within the parish boundaries are asked to visit the Religious Education Office. Families outside the parish boundaries are expected to be registered and active for a minimum of three months prior to registration. PARISH REGISTIRATION Registration is the official way we join a parish community, please stop in the Parish Office, during office hours to complete a registration form or register online to become a registered parishioner. To be considered an active registered member of the parish, members are asked to participate in the parish envelope system at least twice a month. ROSARY & DIVINE MERCY PRAYER To join us in prayer please meet in the cry room after Daily Mass or after the 5:00 pm Mass on Sunday with the Guadalupanos. Saturday Friday Thursday :00 pm 5:00 pm Linda Hopper Rudy Velasquez Intentions of the Parish John Higginbatham Rom Drew ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY Please consider volunteering or donating to the St. Vincent de Paul Society that helps those in need, please call GRIEF TO HOPE MINISTRY Do you need support and consolation within our community of faith when a loved one has died? Please contact Deacon Ken Porter in the Parish Office for more information. Meetings are Thursdays at 9:00 am. CLEANING ANGELS MINISTRY Did you know that our beautiful church is cleaned by faithful volunteers known as the Cleaning Angles? This special ministry is in need of more volunteers. The Cleaning Angels clean two days a week, Wednesdays and Thursdays after the morning mass from 8:30-10:30am. If you are interested in joining in this ministry, please Selena Rivas in the parish office. MARTHA/MARY LINEN MINISTRY Laundering and preparation of Eucharist linens for daily and Sunday Masses. If you would like to help, please contact Elie Suida at MOMS MINISTRY Moms Ministry provides an opportunity for women of all ages and walks of life, to practice their common faith, nurture their spirituality. Please visit for more information.

4 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH & SCHOOL A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR Dear Friends in Christ, For years after I committed my life to Christ at age 15, I was skeptical about the Blessed Virgin Mary. Why pay attention to her, when I know the Risen Lord? Doesn t attention to her detract from attention to God? I was turned off by some of the affection some people showed her. It looked over-the-top. For religious fanatics. Maybe even superstitious. Yet I longed to experience more personally Jesus and his power. I wanted more of him in my life, but I didn t know what to do. My skepticism melted away in my first year of seminary. I read in the Gospel of John when from the Cross, Jesus said to the disciple John: Behold, your mother. I saw that Jesus was speaking spiritually to all of his disciples to, like St John, take her into their homes. I read in the Second Vatican Council, Everyone should have a genuine to Mary and entrust his life to her motherly care. So, helped by my priest mentor, I entrusted myself to Mary in a special total consecration that year. Soon, subtly, my confidence in my relationship with Jesus shot through the roof. I experienced amazing spiritual strength and focus like never before to center my life in God. But why did this consecration to Mary work for me? Because the essence of Christian spirituality of the gospel itself is the mystical reproduction of Jesus in our souls. Recall that by God s free choice, from that moment at the cross, Jesus chose to reveal Mary as the spiritual mother of Christ s body the Church. That s every baptized person. We pray at Mass that we may become one body, one spirit in Christ. As we say in the Creed, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. That remains the pattern for the mystical body of Jesus here and now. In this process, Mary now spiritually mothers the one body of Jesus in the Church. The Bible makes clear: wherever the Holy Spirit and Mary are, Jesus comes forth with amazing power and fruit: his birth, the wedding at Cana, the Cross, and Pentecost. Are you looking for help in your life? Are you stuck in your lack of spiritual growth? Do you feel like you ve lost hope? I want to invite you to consider making that same consecration with me in a few weeks. I ve got an easy way to do it that I think you ll really like. So will you join me? If the answer is yes, join me in a special 33-day preparation for a Consecration to Mary from 10 to Dec 12. Join me in preparing to offer ourselves to Mary as our spiritual Mother on December 12th at 6-8 pm, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Again...if that seems weird, think of St John at the Cross. Think of Pentecost. We re offering ourselves to Jesus and the Holy Spirit through Mary s maternal help. To assist you, I have a free book I d like to give you to help : 33 Days to Morning Glory, by Fr. Michael Gaitley. If you want this excellent book, pick one up after Mass in the vestibule on You can also pick one up in the parish office beginning 9. It will walk us through our time of preparation from 10 to Dec 12. Simply read the given section for each of the 33 days and you ll ready by Dec 12. If you want to connect with me for updates and encouragement through this time, text STACC to then click on 33 Days. You ll receive my occasional updates on your phone for 33 days! If you have any questions, call the parish office for help. Truly in Jesus through Mary, Fr. John Muir

5 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As construction of our St. Vincent de Paul building begins on the western edge of our campus, we re excited about the growth of Christ s mission to the poor in our area. Service of the poor has always been an essential and very visible part of the Church s ministry. However, as you may recall, there is another function of our new building which is equally vital but perhaps underappreciated; our new building will also house our maintenance department- all of its equipment and work space. Our Catholic tradition has always understood that physical things have high dignity. Buildings, in one sense, are not less important that the ministry that takes place within them. Why is this? God uses things we can see to reveal and make present things we can t see. This starts with creation. In its beauty, grandeur, and remarkable order we can perceive God the Creator. In the physical form of the human body, we glimpse the interior soul! This pattern is expressed most clearly by the Incarnation. When the invisible God took on human flesh in Jesus, it was like an ancient mic drop! Physical matter can even be God! Through Jesus even simple matter like bread and wine can be a means of his presence. Following this, even buildings that are well built, attractive, and maintained can be sacramental, somehow revealing God and the Heavenly City toward which we are all journeying! Gift Shop Naming Update suggestions prayerfully reduced to Parish vote at Masses Dec. 1-2! SVDP Construction Update - Construction has begun. Projected completion March Gift Shop Update - Architectural drawings are in final approval. Our exciting new St. Vincent de Paul building is an opportunity to re-engage our commitment to the poor. But it s also an occasion to appreciate our beautiful campus and the people who work tirelessly to make it so. In Him, Geoff Stricklin Director of Mission Advancement

6 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it. (Genesis 2: 15) The dignity and essential participation of buildings and grounds in the mission of the Church begins in the beginning! Recall that among the few commands that God gave to Adam in the book of Genesis was to till and keep the earth, bringing order and fruitfulness from the raw materials of creation! Our maintenance department carries on this earliest of God s invitations! Artistic renderings of the Tabernacle from the Book of Exodus. Later in the Old Testament God demonstrated the essential importance of skillful building. After God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt he brought them out to the desert, gave them the 10 Commandments and then set about to give them very precise instructions for building the first place of worship; the Tabernacle. God chose Bezalel of Judah to be the chief artisan. He was filled with the Spirit of God, a designer, engraver, and carver of metals, stone and wood, with ability and intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship, skillful in embroidering and weaving, and inspired to teach. (Exodus 35 and 36) An added benefit! One of the fringe benefits of consolidacting our maintenance department into this spacious new building is that it will free up other space on campus for the vital work of parish ministries. Currently our maintenance department is spread out in several different locations including offices, storage, and work space in St. Clare Hall as well as a workshop in the room known as the pop out which is the space attached to the southwest corner of the school s buildings. By consolidating maintenance, the pop-out room will transformed into dividable meeting space for parish ministry groups. The current maintenance office will become office and meeting space for our Youth Ministries. And the room known as the St. Francis room in St. Clare Hall, currently used for storage, will become another meeting space for parish ministries! THE POP-OUT

7 ST. JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL invites you to our Open House on Sunday ember 11, :00-3:00 pm. Join us to learn about the philosophy of education of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia, college-preparatory curriculum, Ethics & Culture program, House System and Varsity athletes. 120 N. 137th Ave. Avondale, AZ ext Application Opens 1, 2018 Priority Deadline Dec 31, 2018 High School Placement Test Dates: Jan 12, 2019 & Jan 26, 2019 EDDIE ZULEGER 13TH ANNUAL VETERANS AND SERVICE PERSONNEL APPRECIATION DINNER & PROGRAM Sponsored by Father Joseph T. O Callahan Assembly 2669, Knights of Columbus. Please join us as we pay tribute to American Patriots who presently serve or have served in the US Armed Services with Distinction and Honor. Active duty members from each branch of the Armed Services, as well as Veterans who have served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan will be honored. EGIVING WITH FAITH DIRECT! Many of you are aware and take advantage of the convenience of electronic giving to our parish and we are grateful for that. We believe it is time to upgrade to a more streamlined online provider for our egiving needs through Faith Direct. For those of you who have yet to join us in giving online, I strongly encourage you to do so. Here s why: Faith Direct enables parishioners to make your Church contributions through either direct debit from your checking/savings account or through your credit/debit card. No more writing checks or searching for envelopes on the way out the door. Now you can apply the convenience of direct debit to your parish offerings in much the same way as you may now use it to make your mortgage, car or tuition payments. Faith Direct also offers you personalized offertory cards to replace your envelopes for the collection basket. Please join me in enrolling by responding to the mailing you will receive or visit to enroll securely online. Our parish code is AZ907. God Bless You! Rev. John Muir When: Saturday, ember 10th, 2017 Where: St. Clare Hall, St. Thomas Aquinas Church Time: Promptly begins at 18:30 hours (6:30pm) Costs: $20.00 a ticket (no tickets will be sold at the door) Tickets will be sold after Masses or contact Ken Kurtz at (623) kkurtz4@cox.net SACRED RELICS EXPOSITION - St. Thomas Aquinas Parish welcomes you to a teaching and exposition of Sacred Relics. Over 150 relics will be shown, some believed to be as old as 2000 years. Among the treasures will be relics of St. Peter, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Maria Goretti, St. Thérèse of Lisieux (the Little Flower ), St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Faustina Kowalska. In addition, there will also be present a piece of a veil which is believed to have belonged to Our Lady and one of the largest remaining pieces of the TrueCross in the world. presented by Fr. Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross ST. CLARE HALL - PRESENTATION IN THE CHURCH THURSDAY NOV 29 at 7:00 PM ADOPT-A-FAITH FORMATION CHILD I understand that there are several Faith Formation families of our parish that require partial or full scholarship assistance so that their children may receive religious instruction and/or sacrament preparation. I would like to help a Faith Formation family experiencing financial need by providing a scholarship donation. I would like to sponsor Faith Formation child/children and have checked one of the following options. (Please make check payable to St. Thomas Aquinas Faith Formation. Return this form and your donation in an envelope to the Family Evangelization & Catechesis Office or place in the collection basket with attention to Faith Formation Office.) Thank You. YOUR DONATION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE! $55 for 1 child $100 for 2 children $90 sacrament preparation for 1 child $100 per child for Basics of the Faith - Yrs. 1 or 2 Other Amount (used where needed most) Name Phone / Total Amt. Enclosed $ (Area Code)

8 AQUINAS GIFTS & BOOKS Volunteer Opportunity! Aquinas Gifts & Books ( our current gift shop) is a blessing to the church family here at St. Thomas Aquinas as well as the surrounding faith community! To continue to serve the community, the gift shop needs committed volunteers! Do you have 3-4 hours to serve one Saturday evening or Sunday morning per month? Are you looking for a rewarding and dynamic way to serve the Family of Christ at St. Thomas Aquinas? If your answer is yes, then please call, or stop by the Gift Shop and get the details! If you enjoy meeting people and are looking for a place to serve, this may be your ministry! We look forward to hearing from you! Mary Lou Frisbi mlfrisbie@stacc.net x243 WE NEED LINEN ANGELS! Do you want to join a ministry without going to meetings? Do you like to keep your hands busy when you watch TV? Why not join the Martha/Mary Linen Ministry. Preparing linens for the alter is a wonderful way to serve our Lord. What a great way to serve the Lord while mindlessly watching TV! We need lots of saints to come help this year. Commitment is minimal and rewarding. For more information please text, call or Elie Suida esuida@cox.net SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL HOLIDAYS AHEAD FOR ST. VINCENT de PAUL! Reminder: Our dedicated Vincentian volunteers will be passing out bags with a list of requested items attached next weekend at all masses. Please return these donated food items BEFORE 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, ember 18th to ensure your donation is included in our food boxes for the Thanksgiving Food Drive that day. In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus tells us: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. You.our St. Thomas Aquinas Family of Faith prove your love continually through your sharing with those less fortunate! God Bless you! Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation Calendar It has come to our attention that some of you are still using the Faith Formation calendar that was distributed at the conclusion of the catechetical year. As you know, due to staffing changes over the summer, and a broadening vision of Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation, it was necessary for certain changes to be made the calendar being key of them. Therefore, if you were not able to attend the Parent Orientation on September 11th and 12th, please be sure to stop by the Faith Formation Office this week for a copy of this year s updated calendar. Questions? Contact mgaribaldi@stacc.net CALL TO PRAYER FOR BISHOPS INTENTIONS Bishop Olmsted, Bishop Nevares and bishops nationwide are joining in seven days of prayer and fasting prior to their general assembly in ember, where they will make critical decisions regarding the tragedy of clergy abuse. A letter with more details from Bishop Olmsted is available at fidelity.dphx.org/resources. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS TROOP 64 S 3RD ANNUAL CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT & FESTIVAL Registration Open! $32/team To register send to Deacon Jason at jrobinson@stacc.net December 1st 11:00 am - 4:00 pm At Saint Thomas Aquinas Grade School Players pay, bring the family for free! Giant slide, bounce house, games, prizes, food and more for the whole family! ATTENTION CURRENT VOLUNTEERS If you have already completed a foundation class, please visit the Safe Environment Training at phoenix.setanet.org, click on My Obligations to complete the renewal class Preserving Human Dignity through Virtue Please submit your confirmation notice to your ministry coordinator. Annulment Information Seminar by the Tribunal, Diocese of Phoenix Where: Diocesan Pastoral Center 400 E. Monroe Street Phoenix, AZ When: ember 10, am to noon What: This seminar will explain the annulment process and answer any questions. Information will be available in both English and Spanish. Call the Tribunal for more information diocesetribunal.org/en/events Bring your children to the Adoration Chapel and join us for a Holy Hour hosted by our STA MOMS Ministry. We create a space for children of all ages to be the primary adorers of Jesus in the Eucharist. We pray, sing, and use the ARRR method of relational/ contemplative prayer to create space for conversation with Jesus. This is not a drop-off event; guardians must accopany their children. Please call Michele Tucker at or Kandi Madden at info@ stamoms.com with any questions. Tues 8th - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Thur 29th - 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

9 Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Grade School Our Mission St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Grade School is a partnership of parents, students and parishioners who together nurture the growth of students in faith, knowledge and service. We are excited to welcome Jelyne Capulong as our new School Nurse! Jelyne Capulong, MSN-Ed, BSN, RN, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Phoenix and pursued her Master of Science in nursing specialized in education from Grand Canyon University. She has over 24 years of experience in nursing care both in home health, private duty and hospice care. Mrs. Capulong enjoyed working as a School Nurse for three years at Saint Mary s Catholic High School and also works as adjunct professor for the nursing program at Maricopa Community College. Mrs. Capulong is an active parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church for the last 13 years and has served in various ministries. She lives with her husband Bernie and is a mother of two grown daughters Caitlyn and Cydney. She enjoys biking, hiking, exercise and loves spending time with family. CONTACT US School Office Hours Monday - Thursday: 7:30 am - 3:30 pm Friday: 7:30 am - 12:00 pm Phone: Fax: meroh@stacc.net Mailing & Physical Address W. Thomas Road Avondale, AZ Kristi Mack Scrip Chair (623) ext. 273 kmack@stacc.net WHAT IS SCRIP? Scrip is a term that means substitute money. When you purchase Scrip, you are purchasing gift cards, at face value, that are used just like cash at participating local and national retailers. Top 5 Reasons to Buy Scrip! 5 There are tons and tons of vendor options 4 Everyone can use gift cards grocery, dining out, retail, entertainment and more 3 We make it convenient we save you a trip to the store to get gift cards 2 It s easy to do and school families can earn tuition credit!! 1 The most important reason..every purchase SUPPORTS our school! Adoration for St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Grade School 9:30-10:45 am on Fridays Whether you re a school family or parishioner your purchase counts. Stop at the big blue Scrip Cart to pick up a vendor list and start shopping. Scrip sales are held before school EVERYDAY and after school on Mondays through Fridays. Scrip is also sold after the Sunday 9:00am Mass. You can get it anytime though by contacting the Scrip Chair.

10 LAS FLORES DE GUADALUPE/FLOWERS FOR MARY Our parish is doing something special this year to celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8) and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12). For the next three weekends, you will have the opportunity to sign up to purchase roses in honor of, or in memory of, someone you love, or for a particular prayer intention. The roses you purchase will be displayed in the church beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception through the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December. Roses are only $2.50 each, and you can purchase as many as you like. If you are interested, fill out the blue-colored form in this weekend s bulletin and bring it to the Guadalupanos table in the vestibule of the church after all Masses the weekends of October 20/21, 27/28, and ember 3/4.You may also drop off the blue-colored form and payment at the parish office. We hope to fill our church with roses! *********************************************************************************************** Name: I would like to purchase (number) roses Phone number: [ ] in honor of (name(s)) (Total Cost) (Event Donation Amount) [ ] in memory of (name(s)) [ ] for a prayer intention (name(s)) I would like (check one) [ ] Assorted Roses [ ] White Roses [ ] Red Roses Please include your payment (cash or check) with your form. You may bring the form and payment to the parish office or stop by the Guadalupanos table after weekend masses. The last day to sign up for roses is ember 4, 2018.