And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

Transcription

1 And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

2 St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church 8501 Calumet Avenue, Munster, IN Mission Statement : The Roman Catholic Saint Thomas More Parish Family welcomes and invites every person to join us on our journey in faith and celebration. With the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and through Sacred Scripture and Tradition, we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all, especially in loving service to those in need. As part of the Universal Church, we affirm the dignity of every person. All this we do to give glory and honor to God. Pastoral Staff Pastor... Reverend Michael J. Yadron; Ext. 312 myadron@stm-church.com Associate Pastor... Reverend Richard C. Holy; Ext. 314 rholy@stm-church.com Deacons... Mr. Joseph Stodola... Dr. Napoleon Tabion... Mr. Daniel Zurawski Stewardship Director... Noreen Bickel; Ext. 330 Pastoral Care Coordinator... Deacon Napoleon Tabion; Ext. 315 Director of Religious Formation... Mrs. Sandra Morgan; Ext. 332 Parish Office Staff Office Hours:M-F 8:00 ~ 8:00 / Sat. 8:00 a.m. ~ 4:00 p.m. Web Site address is: parish.office@stm-church.com Office Phone Office Fax Bulletin Editor... Mrs. Candy Ally; Ext address for bulletin is: bulletin@stm-church.com Bookkeeper... Mrs. Barbara Gondeck Ext. 307 Daytime Receptionist... Mrs. Susan Strain; Ext. 310 Evening Receptionist... Ms. Veronica Brtos; Ext. 310 Pastoral Ministries Circle of Prayer... Mary Jo Humpfer Environment & Art... Jean Bados Eucharistic Ministers... Ruth Banas Hospitality Ministry... Ann D Orazio Lectors... Jim Kaspar Music Ministry... Miss Angie Lorandos , Ext. 338 Nursery... Kaaren A. Mashura St. Vincent depaul... Mrs. Kathy Georgelas SVDP Youth Conference... Janyne Little Vocations Committee... Mrs. Mary Kochis Pastoral Council Tom Alexander... Margaret Canady Kevin Cloghessy... Elaine Herrmann, Chairperson Don Kopenec... Jackie Kovach Phil McIntosh... Lucy Perz Dwight Reed... James Secviar Joyce Stodola... Timothy Rutz St. Thomas More School Pre-School through 8th Grade Office Hours: M-F 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. School web site ~ School Phone School Fax Principal... Mr. Chet Nordyke; Ext. 328 School Administrative Assistant..Mrs. Jennifer Gonzalez; Ext. 328 School Reception & Office Associate Mrs. Mary Jo Biscan; Ext. 329 Dir. of Student Special Services... Mrs. Tina Boyle; Ext. 323 Home & School Association.... Mrs. Vesna Sopcic Parish & School Offices Associate... Mrs. Pam Wadycki; Ext. 339 Cornerstone Center 8635 Calumet Avenue ~ Munster, IN Phone Fax Sacramental Information Confessions Saturdays... 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. First Friday... 1/2 hour before the 6:30 a.m. Mass Baptisms... First and Third Sundays at 1:00 p.m. Parents must be registered parishioners and regularly attending at least six months before the baptism. At least one of the godparents must be a practicing Catholic. Pre Baptism Class... 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Parents must call the Parish Office to schedule class and/or Baptism. Marriage... Must be a registered, practicing member of the parish at least six months before beginning the six month preparation program for marriage. Communion calls and visits to Hospitals and Homebound: Call the Parish Office for Sacraments at hospital or at home. New Parishioner Registration To make it as convenient as possible for you, new parishioners may register at any time in the Parish Office. New Parishioner Orientation New parishioners are invited to attend a New Parishioner Orientation at 9:00 a.m. in the Solar Room on the last Sunday of every month. If you have not yet registered and want more information about our parish, you are welcome to attend the orientation. St. Thomas More Religious Education Kindergarten through 8th Grade Office Hours:M-F 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Religious Education Phone Director... Mrs. Sandra Morgan; Ext. 332 Administrative Assistant... Mrs. Charlotte Herr; Ext. 336 Grades K through 8 ~ Wed. & Thurs. 4:30 ~ 6:00 p.m. Pastoral Commissions Chairpersons Formation/Education... Mrs. Elaine Caco Parish Life... Mrs. Marilyn Pajor Peace & Social Justice... Mr. David Kapala Spirituality & Worship... Mrs. Margot Blocher Stewardship... Diane Houser Parish Organizations Altar & Rosary Society... Cindy Keilman Elizabeth Ministry... Pam Domasica Holy Name Society... Joe Adams Senior Citizens... Mary Wilson Respect Life... Alice Wohler Knights of Columbus... Thomas Alexander Blue Army... Rose Marie Malburg Finance... Barbara Shaver Planned Giving... Ken Krupinski Building Maintenance... Bob Ray Boy Scouts... Paul Liszewski Cub Scouts... Curt Anglin Girl Scouts... Barbara Jamrose Catering/Hall Rental... Kathleen Pagorek Mom s Group... Kim Power Ushers Club... Jim Marmalejo Gabriel Project... Kathy Trotman Page 2

3 The Epiphany of the Lord January 3, 2010 CELEBRANTS Saturday, January 9 5:30 pm Father Rick Holy Sunday, January 10 6:30 am Father Rick Holy 8:00 am Father Rick Holy 10:00 am Carmelite 12:00 noon Carmelite Saturday, January 9 8:30 am M. Kish, K. Loughlin 5:30 pm E. & R. Jachna, E. Johnson, B. Nowak, M. O Shea ~ MC ~ Greg Sunday, January 10 6:30 am M. Doherty, A. Hajduch, M. Lee 8:00 am A. Bilse, M. & M. Blocher, I. & N. Hinojosa MC ~ Caleb 10:00 am R. & S. Cloghessy, A. & W. McDunn, M. McGrath ~ MC ~ Quinn 12:00 noon P. Heuer, K. Kennedy, J. Malungcot MC ~ Patrick If any of your family or your friends are sick at home or in the hospital and cannot come to Mass, please call our Pastoral Care Office at , ext. 315, and we will be glad to bring them Communion. Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." SUNDAY, January 3 ~ The Epiphany of the Lord 6:30 am Charles Mikalian (Ann.) by Wife & Family 8:00 am For Our Parish Family Living and Deceased 10:00 am Frank & Jean Kovach by Joe & Kathleen Kovach 12:00 pm Frank B. Gajewski (Ann.) by Geraldine & Eugene Lesko & Family MONDAY, January 4 ~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 6:30 am Sig Deluga by Annette Lynch 8:30 am Marcia Etter by Mike & Margie Webb & Family TUESDAY, January 5 ~ St. John Neumann 6:30 am Felix Prentkowski by Wife & Children 8:30 am Saverio Amatulli (Ann.) by Wife & Family 10:00 am Edward Jaranowski by Hinojosa Family (MASS AT MED-INN CHAPEL, Group 2) WEDNESDAY, January 6 ~ Blessed Andre Bessette 6:30 am Adrian Porras by Sylvester Porras Family 8:30 am Tom Sidor (Ann.) by Jean Sidor THURSDAY, January 7 ~ St. Raymond of Penafort 6:30 am Intention of Evans Family by Paula & Jose Serrano 9:00 am Amelia Mercier (Ann.) by Robert Mercier & Family FRIDAY, January 8 6:30 am Patricia Casey (Ann.) by Husband Jim 8:30 am John Rokosz (Ann.) by Wife Alice & Family SATURDAY, January 9 8:30 am Donald J. Bunting (Ann.) by Susan Strain 5:30 pm Marian G. Riley by Theresa Boland SUNDAY, January 10 ~ The Baptism of the Lord 6:30 am Ann Carnavacciolo (Ann.) by Husband & Daughters 8:00 am For Our Parish Family Living and Deceased 10:00 am Antonio Porras Jr. & J.D. Brown by Sylvester Porras Family 12:00 pm In Thanksgiving for 50 Years of Marriage of William & Dorothy O Brien Mt 2:1b-2 SAVE THE DATE Our annual Ministry Appreciation dinner will be held on Saturday, January 30, If you are involved in a ministry you are invited to attend this special event. Joseph A. Bogusz Jr. James J. French Page 3

4 The Epiphany of the Lord Stars are amazing-not the people who claim star-status because of their work in sports or entertainment-but the stars that populate the universe. Most are between one and ten billion years old, a time span impossible to comprehend. Other than the sun, the closest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri, about twenty-five trillion miles away, another calculation that is impossible to comprehend. The exponential numbers scientists use when working with stars, whether it is age, distance, weight, composition, luminosity, or any other characteristic, race beyond our everyday calculations of hundreds and thousands. Stars are just too big for us humans. No wonder Matthew's infancy narrative included a star as the sign for the newborn king. Everything about this child's birth seemed unimportant: born in Bethlehem instead of the big city, Jerusalem; unknown to the important people of the day; the pregnant woman taken into Joseph's home quietly so as not to cause scandal; a quiet, unremarkable birth in an unimportant country in the empire. But then there's that star! Big, shining, revealing that there is more to this event than meets the eye. Visitors come from afar, and upset the balance of power as they seek the child who would be king. Epiphany is the manifestation of Christ to the world. And the star shows him to be who he really is-king of the universe and Lord of all. So it shouldn't seem so strange to us that Matthew would point out one of those incomprehensible entities in the night sky as the signifier of the One who is beyond all human understanding. What is remarkable is that that One came to be one of us so that we could understand him. P lease pray for the sick of our parish... Coleen Alexander Margaret Amatulli Doris Aurelio Maria Aurelio Irene Baker Cody Baldwin Antonio Belmonte Tom Bernacke Michael Berry Michael Blazevich Diane Bochnowski Michael Boston Cheryl Bostrom Judy Buksa Stephany Burney Dorothy Campbell James Campbell Lorraine Caparelli Al Carollo Carol Carollo Kathleen Cecil Jacqueline Morrow Christian Frank Coman Vincent Corsello Mike Curtain Irene Dettmer Irene Dickey David Drewniak Madeline Dunn Marian Dzurovsak Ronald Evans Sr. Beatrice Flahaven Elizabeth Follmer John Forde Phyllis Garber Andrea Garritano Joseph Gasiorek Karen Gianotti Dorothy Gillespie Howard Gralewski James Grunewald Ceil Guziar Amy Hayes Chuck Heggi Eleanore Heggi Marie Henke Evelyn Hennes Robert Hesek Ray Humpfer Steve Izzo Dennis Jablonski Elizabeth Jacob Stanley Jayjack Rosemary Jerzak- Staszel Emery Johns Dorothy Jurkash Debbie Kaczka Robert Kalka Margaret A. Kapala Carol Keilman Rev. Matthew Kish Josephine Knesek Janet Knight Alice Kolember Ken Kors Dorothy Kovach Helen Krull Julia Kukta Jerome Kula Debbie Le Monier Mary Leahy Jo Lisiniewicz Edward Liskiewicz Stanley Liskiewicz Maria Lovell Gregory Mahoney Stanley Makowski Mary Manchak Brady Martin Kathryn McBride Joseph Mendoza Faye Meny Sandi Merlo Olga Mihalo Andrew Moll David Moll Gerald Moran Jean Narvid Donna Nichols Steven Nowaczyk Bella O Bryan Valerie O Donnell Danny Ogren Audrey Ostroff Johanna Petruch Elizabeth Pilones Andrew Pieczyrak Adam Potapczak Helen Pukoszek Anthony Saklaczynski Ann Sardella Mary Sarnowski George Sauer Jean Schultz Marie Schultz Marianne Schwartz William Schwartz Zachery Scriff James Secviar Renee Shehan Grace Sheridan Cynthia Sindall Carolyn Smiley Deborah Stareck Carolyn Sutley Georgianne Suto Rose Theis Gerardo Trevino Anthony Ubuane Adele Wall Sally Walters Lucille Wonnell Cecilia Ziegler Page 4 SUNDAY, January 3 MONDAY, January 4 7:00 pm Blue Army ~ Chapel 7:00 pm Parish Life ~ Conference Room 7:00 pm Peace/Social Justice ~ Teachers Lounge 7:00 pm Vocation Committee ~ Small Conference Room School Resumes TUESDAY, January 5 9:00 am Moms Group ~ Solar Room 9:15 am - 6:30 pm ~ Eucharistic Adoration ~ Chapel 1:00 pm Prayer/Vocations ~ Chapel 6:00 pm Divine Mercy Chaplet ~ Chapel 7:00 pm RCIA ~ Solar Room 7:00 pm Video Bible ~ Conference Room WEDNESDAY, January 6 1:00 pm Senior Citizens ~ Solar Room 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm ~ Religious Education Classes THURSDAY, January 7 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm ~ Religious Education Classes 7:00 pm All Seasons Chorale ~ Church FRIDAY, January 8 SATURDAY, January 9 9:30 am Gabriel Project ~ Solar Room 10:00 am Oblates ~ Conference Room SUNDAY, January 10 8:00 am - 1:00 pm ~ Blood Drive ~ Gym 1:30 pm Padre Pio Cenacle ~ Chapel Readings for the Week of January 3, 2009 Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12 Monday: 1 Jn 3:22---4:6/Mt 4:12-17, Tuesday: 1 Jn 4:7-10/Mk 6:34-44 Wednesday: 1 Jn 4:11-18/Mk 6:45-52 Thursday: 1 Jn 4:19---5:4/Lk 4:14-22a Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13/Lk 5:12-16 Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21/Jn 3:22-30 Next Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or 40:1-5, 9-11/Acts 10:34-38 or Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7/Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

5 The Pastor s Page Epiphany One of the proper definitions of epiphany is manifestation, especially of a deity. That would be the operative definition upon which we reflect this weekend. When we celebrate the Epiphany, we celebrate the day that Jesus Christ manifested Himself to the world through the representatives of the world, the Magi. That is the meaning of today s celebration. However, it must not be the only meaning. Because if all we do is reflect upon that historical moment long ago when Jesus showed Himself to the world through the Magi, we place everything in the past. And just as Christmas is a dual celebration celebrating the past as we remember the birth of Christ and awaiting the future when Christ will come again Epiphany must have more than one meaning for us. The Epiphany cannot be only about the Lord s manifesting Himself, it must also be about how WE manifest the Lord in our daily lives. St. Theresa of Avila reminded us of this in the sixteenth century when she wrote: Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet, on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which He looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet. Yours are the eyes, you are His body. Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes, through which He looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours. Consider being the hands and feet and eyes and body of Christ in this world. Be Jesus for others. Manifest His love! I BID YOU A FOND ADIEU Immediately after the 6:30 and 8:00 a.m. Masses today (Sunday, January 3rd) I am leaving for the airport to go to the Orlando Clinic for almost two weeks to be treated by Doctor Mickey and Nurse Minnie! I will return the evening of January 15th. Until then, I leave you in the capable hands of Fr. Rick. Our Masses for Christmas and New Years were beautiful due to the hard work of many people, most especially our choir and musicians, Environment and Art Committee members, lectors, ushers, greeters, Eucharistic Ministers, servers and Masters of Ceremony. Thank you all for your hard work and faithfulness. You made our prayer experiences such a joy! Of course, offering prayer experiences would mean nothing if there were no people there to take part in them. Therefore, allow me to thank all of you, our faithful parishioners, for your attendance at the many Masses throughout the past few weeks. I hope you were edified in being able to worship together as a parish family. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE A magician was working on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The audience would be different each week, so the magician allowed himself to do the same tricks over and over again. There was only one problem. The captain's parrot saw the shows each week and began to understand how the magician did every trick. Once he understood he started shouting in the middle of the show: "Look, it's not the same hat." "He's hiding the flowers under the table." "Hey, why are all the cards the Ace of Spades?" The magician was furious but couldn't do anything; it was, after all, the captain's parrot. One day the ship ran into trouble, and sank. The magician found himself on a piece of wood in the middle of the ocean with the parrot. They stared at each other with hate, but did not utter a word. This went on for a few days. After three days the parrot said: "OK, I give up. Where's the boat?" Priests and deacons have served the Diocese of Gary more than fifty years. Others have served in the territory that is now the Diocese of Gary. Please pray for those men who have been called to God and whose anniversaries of death are this week: January 3: Msgr. John A. Sullivan (1972) January 4: Msgr. H. James Conway (1968) Rev. Richard R. Grunenburg (1969) January 9: Rev. Eugene C. Hoffman (1980) Page 5

6 Religious Education Sacrificial Offering for December 20, 2009 Adults $32, Loose $1, Children $ TOTAL $33, Without prayer, nothing good is done. God s works are done with our hands joined, and on our knees. Even when you run, we must remain spiritually kneeling before Him. Mark your Calendar ~Saint Luigi Orione, Priest Jan. 6/7 Class 13/14 Class Report Cards Sent Home Safe Environment Program 20/21 Class 21 First Evening, First Penance and First Holy Communion Meeting 7:00 p.m. in the Gymnasium 27/28 Class Sacrificial Offering for December 25, 2009 Adults $69, Loose $4, Children $37.42 TOTAL $73, Christmas Thank You! The Christmas collection that you gave to your parish is just phenomenal. As bad as our economy is, I truly expected to see a collection much worse than last year s. Instead, you bettered last year s collection by $200. That may not sound like a huge increase but given the state of people s lives right now, that was exceedingly generous. Thank you so very much! Religious Education Office Sandi Morgan Director of Religious Education GABRIEL PROJECT MEETING Sacrificial Offering for December 27, 2009 Adults $22, Loose $1, Children $64.42 TOTAL $23, Please note the next Gabriel Project meeting will be held on Saturday, January 9, This meeting will take place in the Solar Room at 9:30AM. If you are not a member of Gabriel Project but would be interested in learning about the program, please join us at the January 9th meeting. We look forward to seeing returning members and some new faces! Page 6

7 January 3, 2010 St. Thomas More School Congratulations D.A.R.E. Graduates On Tuesday, December 1st, the St. Thomas More School 5th grade class marked the end of their four month D.A.R.E.(Drug Abuse Resistance Education) training at a graduation ceremony and reception held in the school s gymnasium. This program gives students the skills they need to avoid involvement with drugs, alcohol, violence and gangs, and the tools they need to resist negative peer pressure. Students were asked to write an essay outlining how their D.A.R.E. class had impacted their lives. Winners of this year s essay contest were Hannah Curtis, Josh Benson, Elizabeth Jevyak, Andrew Kasper, Cole Erickson, and Brianna Mossburg. Alyssa Chronowski and Michael Faso were presented the Special Participation award for their outstanding involvement in the program. Special thanks to Officer James Ghrist and the Munster Police Department for conducting this worthy program at St. Thomas More School. Best wishes to the parishioners of St. Thomas More Church for filled with many blessings! Thank you for your continued support of our school. Save the Date! The date has been set for St. Thomas More School s 60th Birthday Party and Reunion. Mark Saturday, April 24, 2010 on your calendar now. Please contact Pam Pasyk at (219) , #309 or ppasyk@stm-school.com if you have updated alumni information, as we would like to include as many former students as possible. If you are an alum, parent of an alum, or a current school parent and are interested in serving on the planning committee, please contact Pam. Open House The St. Thomas More School Open House will be held on Sunday, January 31st. Come and see why STMS is the happy home to nearly 600 students. Meet our teachers and students and tour our facilities. Page 7

8 Greeters Needed! Thank you to the many new greeters who have volunteered to help us with the hospitality ministry. We greatly appreciate your time. However, we are still in need of additional greeters for the 5:30pm, 6:30am and 12:00pm masses. Please consider helping us to welcome parishioners and visitors to our weekend masses. This only takes a smile and 20 minutes of your time. Usually we schedule greeters for one Sunday a month. Greeting is a great way for a family to participate in a ministry together! Please contact Jim or Ann at or the parish office at if you can help us out. Greeters for January 9 and 10, :30pm Main: Bill & Chris Ritseck Chapel: Michael & Christopher Korfiatis Choir: Millicent Ntiamoah 6:30am Main: Carla, Louie & Page Covelli Chapel: Joan McLaughlin 8:00am Main: James & Nancy Kaczka Chapel: Cathy, Erin & Scott Lyons Choir: Christi & Katie Kordeck and Cali Grzybowski 10:00am Main: Bev & Rich Lasky Chapel: The Maldondo Family Choir: Marge Szaframski 12:00pm Main: Joyce Stodola Chapel: The Yeager Family Choir: Pat Batchelder Page 8

9 Respect Life Corner A BANG-UP START... of the New Year in the Pro-life Movement. This is the month of the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Decision to allow abortion to be a law!! All the years of fighting this issue have been difficult and women, people, still believe it's ok to KILL a baby in the womb!! So the battle goes on...in various ways. This past year, and in the year to come, prolife activity goes on--to be seen and heard, to work at convincing, to be kind and giving, all in hope that abortion will become a law of the past. This first month of 2010, is the momentous March for Life that will again take place in Washington, D.C., on January 22, to include an evening Prayer Vigil January 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. You may call Make Valasco, Knight of Columbus, at , or Jan VanderZee, Illiana Right to Life, at , to see if you can go along. If you will be staying home, join many pro-lifers for the Prayer on the Square, Saturday January 23, from 11:00 am to 12 noon, at the Town Square in Crown Point, IN. No reservations, just come!! Also, watch this column for the day of Our Respect Life Rosary Association praying a pro-life rosary in our Chapel. And on Saturday, February 26, a Soup and Bread Pot Luck Lunch, with a grand presentation given by three speakers regarding Family Values. COME, JOIN IN!! Vocation Awareness Week is January We all have a special, important task and an obligation to do well in our own vocations but also to work for an increase in religious vocation. To get pointed in the right direction, let s start with a prayer a day, the sacraments, reading scripture and watching for signs in our youth who may be receiving a call from above and await some encouragement. Please join the Vocations Committee on Monday, January 4th, for prayer and a one hour meeting. ALTAR & ROSARY SOCIETY The January Meeting has been cancelled. February s Chili Bingo tickets will be availabe to purchase from the Parish Office starting January 13th. The tickets are $5.00 per person. If you have any questions, please contact our President - Cindy Keilman at STM Senior Citizens Club Meeting Your officers have been busy preparing for our future meetings and our many activities in Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in the STM Solar Room at 1 p.m. This will be an interesting meeting since we will be able to share our Christmas news with each other. After the meeting and refreshments, we will play cards. Please come and visit with your many senior friends. Bishop Noll Holds Entrance Exam Prospective freshmen seeking admission to Bishop Noll Institute for the fall semester 2010 are invited to take the school's entrance exam on Saturday, Jan. 9, or Saturday, Jan. 30, beginning at 8 a.m. each day. Those who take the exam on either of those dates are eligible for scholarship consideration. Cost of registration is $20 before Jan. 1, or $25 afterward. Prospective students can obtain a registration form at BNI, 1519 Hoffman St., in Hammond, or by ing Admissions Coordinator Drew Trost at atrost@bishopnoll.org. For more information, call the school at (219) Page 9

10 My Two Cents Thoughts on Stewardship of Treasure God will provide what we need. The problem comes when we confuse what we need with what we want. We actually need very little, but want so much more. Good stewards know to ask God only for the things that really matter and willingly share whatever else we have. Share YOUR thoughts at: Holy Name News Our next meeting will take place on Monday, January 18th in the Solar Room. The meeting starts at 7:30 pm. Come early at 7:00 pm for the praying of the rosary. Video and pizza/refreshments will conclude the meeting. New members are welcome! Our discussion will include our next Fund- Raiser, our annual Lenten Fish Fry and raffle. Please Save the Date, Friday, February 26th, Come join us for a Chocolate Covered Evening hosted by the Carmelite Sisters D.C.J. to benefit the East Chicago Carmelite Home on Wednesday, January 27, from 5:00 pm to 9:00pm in the Panel Room at St. John the Baptist in Whiting. We will offer a variety of products with chocolate as an ingredient for the guests to sample. The guests will have the chance to taste and compare various chocolates during the Chocolate Tasting portion of the evening. Silent auction, raffle and bake sale as well. Donation is $25 per ticket, available in the Parish Office. For more information, please call STM Senior Citizen 25th Anniversary Celebration Sunday Oct. 11th, 2009 Chairpersons Joan McCoughey & Lucille Eads CAN YOU HELP? The St. Joseph s Soup Kitchen in Hammond provides a nourishing hot meal five days a week to approximately175 people per day. No public money of any kind supports this soup kitchen. It is fully supported by donations. The soup kitchen is also being deeply affected by the economy. St. Thomas More has a ministry with 60 volunteers that cook, clean and serve. If you have been blessed and can donate funds to purchase the food, please put your donation in an envelope marked St. Joseph Soup Kitchen and drop it in the collection basket or at the Parish Office. Any little bit helps God Bless You Senior Citizens Club Officers Theresa Case ~ Vice President Lois Quinn ~ Secretary Mary Wilson ~ President Lucille Eads ~ Treasurer Page 10