ST. THOMAS AQUINAS Roman Catholic Church 8320 Old C.R. #54 New Port Richey, FL 34653 Phone 727-372-8600 Web Page: www.stanpr.org Pastor: Rev. Eric Peters Associate Pastor: Rev. George P. Varkey Deacon: Rev. Mr. Melvin Dunphy STA Early Childhood Center: 376-2330; Bishop Larkin Catholic School (K-8): 862-6981; Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School: 857-2600 Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 21, 2018 Photo Left: Our Prayer Group at the Annual Charismatic Conference in Orlando Photo Above and Left: Our Ladies Guild sponsors a baby shower for SOLVE Learning, Living and Sharing the Good News
A MESSAGE FROM FATHER ERIC Having returned from vacation, I just want to thank you for your prayers and to say that it s good to be back with you! As you know, October is Respect Life Month, and one of the things I read on vacation was a little book about Dr. Bernard Nathanson who is the man primarily responsible for unleashing abortion onto America by using his skill as a doctor along with his great education to promote his 8- points of propaganda, including the Catholic Strategy. Dr. Nathanson was personally responsible for the death of 75,000 babies, including two of his own children. Dubbed America s Abortion King, he co-founded NARAL (the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws) in the late 1960 s, paving the way for the 1973 Roe v Wade decision which legalized abortion throughout America. In 1975, only two short years after the Roe v Wade decision, Dr. Nathanson saw the baby in the womb via a new technology called real-time ultrasound. He said he saw the baby wiggle her toes, suck her thumb and then smile? The science of real-time ultrasound revealed the humanity of the baby inside the womb, and Nathanson knew that he had made a terrible mistake. He deeply grieved over having unleashed abortion onto America and for years thought of taking his own life. A young priest, Fr. C. John McCloskey, befriended him and then served as his spiritual advisor. Dr. Nathanson repented for his crimes against humanity and was baptized on December 8, 1996, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary at St. Patrick s Cathedral in New York City. All of his sins were completely forgiven and he felt reborn with a new inner freedom! And yet he knew there was more that he had to do. After he admitted to deceiving American judges, legislators, doctors, priests, media and the public-at-large with proabortion propaganda, Dr. Nathanson wanted to set things right and tell the truth of how he had exploited women and stripped the unborn child of all rights and protections. On December 1, 2009, Dr. Nathanson instructed Hosea Initiative s founder, Terry Beatley, to teach Americans how and why he deceived the people of our country and asked her to deliver this personal parting message: continue teaching the strategy of how I deceived America but also deliver this special message: Tell Americans that the cofounder of NARAL says to love one another; abortion is not love; stop the killing; the world needs more love. For more on this, grab a copy of her book, What If We ve Been Wrong: Keeping My Promise to America s Abortion King (www.guidinglightbooks.com), and for more on Hosea Initiative, go to: www.hosea4you.org). Readings for the Week of October 21, 2018 Sunday: Is 53:10-11/Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22/Heb 4:14-16/ Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45 Monday: Eph 2:1-10/Ps 100:2-5/Lk 12:13-21 (Opt. Is 52:7-10/Ps 96:3/Jn 21:15-17) Tuesday: Eph 2:12-22/Ps 85:9-14/Lk 12:35-38 (Opt. 2 Cor 5:14-20/Ps 16:5a/Luke 9:57-62) Wednesday: Eph 3:2-12/Is 12:2-6/Lk 12:39-48 (Opt. Is 52:7-10/Ps 96:3/Mark 1:14-20) Thursday: Eph 3:14-21/Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19/ Lk 12:49-53 Friday: Eph 4:1-6/Ps 24:1-6/Lk 12:54-59 Saturday: Eph 4:7-16/Ps 122:1-5/Lk 13:1-9 Next Sunday: Jer 31:7-9/Ps 126:1-6/Heb 5:1-6/ Mk 10:46-52 Weekend Readings are at (727) 372-8600 Mass Intentions Monday 8:00 a.m. William Dorkowski Tuesday 8:00 a.m. Andrew Joseph Vaccaro Wednesday 8:00 a.m. Vocations Thursday 8:00 a.m. Patricia Garton Friday 8:00 a.m. Patricia Garton Saturday 4:00 p.m. Percy LeVault 6:00 p.m. Blanche Patterson Sunday 7:00 a.m. Anthony Scibelli 8:30 a.m. Robert McGlynn 10:30 a.m. Parish Family 5:00 p.m. Fortunato Panella TABERNACLE LIGHT For the month of October 2018 In Memory of: Bill Foster From the Ciondella Family
Mon. 10/22 Tues. 10/23 Wed. 10/24 Parish Calendar 6PM Scouts; 7PM Gospel Choir Rehearsal; 7PM Prayer Group 9AM Rosary Makers; 10AM Bereavement; 6PM Girl Scouts; 6:30PM Boy Scouts; 7PM Contemporary Choir 9AM Legion of Mary; 2PM Women s Faith Discussion; 5:15PM FF K-8; 7PM Traditional Choir Thurs. 10/25 4PM Girl Scouts; 6PM Girl Scouts; 7PM Bible Study Fri. 10/26 Sat. 10/27 Sun. 10/28 9AM FF Sessions; 5PM Mass Life Teen; 6PM Life Teen 6PM Cub Scout Leader Meeting Offertory - October 13th and 14th $16,346.22 973.00-Online Giving $17,319.22-Total St. Thomas Fall Festival November 2nd, 3rd and 4th Help us advertise our event by sharing the flyers available in the narthex. Parishioners are respectfully asked to donate a case of canned soda or 2L bottles and a case of 16 oz. bottled water. Your donations can be dropped off at the church office or in the Narthex after masses on Saturday and Sunday, October 27th and 28th. Please donate: Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, Sprite, and 7-Up or store-bought cakes or cupcakes. Come and bring your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers! Help us make this a great success! Mass and Devotions Schedule Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. (Contemporary) and 5:00 p.m. (LifeTeen ) Daily Mass: 8:00 a.m. Monday-Friday Healing Mass: 7:00 p.m. Monday (September - June) Holy Rosary after 8:00 a.m. Mass, Mon-Fri, in Blessed Sacrament Chapel Marian Novena after 8:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesdays Benediction & Adoration: 1st Fridays 8:30 10:00 a.m. (September May) Reconciliation: Saturday 2:30-3:30 p.m. or by appt. Parish Information Office hours 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. Monday-Friday, Sunday mornings. Call for information. Phone: (727) 372-8600 Website: www.stanpr.org Prayer Line: (727) 372-8600 Emergency Number for Anointing of the Sick: Nights & Weekends (727) 836-3211 Administration Business Office Fax: (727) 376-7204 Pastoral Ministries Coordinator: Mary Miller Ext 111 Parish Bookkeeper: Cherise Amundson Ext. 115 Bulletin Editor: Kate Ext. 113 Parish Ministry Faith Formation Team Leader Sue Sferra Ext. 132 Middle School (Edge) Sue Sferra Ext. 132 High School (Life Teen) - Beth DeBella and Cliff Stodden Ext. 131 RCIA Sue Sferra Ext. 132 Music - Dan O Hara Ext. 128 Parish Nurse, Ministry to the Sick & Homebound Betty West Ext. 116 Sacristan - JoAnn McVeigh Ext. 129 Stewardship Mary Ellen Taylor Ext. 144 St. Vincent de Paul Society Ext. 142 STA Early Childhood Center Alicia Mumma, Director (727) 376-2330 www.staecc.org Food Pantry: Monday and Thursday 9:30am until 11:00am and 1:30pm until 3:30pm Gift Store: Open before/after 4pm Saturday and 10:30am Sunday Masses Parish Library: Open during office hours
Let s Meet Our Newly Canonized Saints! Blessed Pope Paul VI Born Giovanni Battista Montini in 1897 and ordained a priest in 1920, he did graduate studies in literature, philosophy, and canon law in Rome before beginning to work for the Vatican Secretariat of State. In 1954, he was named Archbishop of Milan, and in 1958 was made a Cardinal by Pope John XXIII. He helped to arrange the Second Vatican Council and chose to continue the council after he became Pope. Blessed Oscar Romero Born in 1917 in El Salvador, Romero was auxiliary bishop of San Salvador for four years before being elevated to Archbishop in 1977. He was an outspoken defender of the rights of the poor in El Salvador, who were being terrorized by military death squads mainly because of protests over the extreme economic inequality in the country in the 20th century. Blessed Vincent Romano Born in 1751 and ordained a priest in 1775, Romano had studied the writings of St. Alphonsus de Liguori and developed a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He spent his whole life as a priest in Torre del Greco and was known for his simple ways and his care for orphans. He worked to rebuild his parish, often with his bare hands, after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1794. Blessed Francesco Spinelli Born in Milan in 1853, Spinelli was ordained a priest in 1875. He began his apostolate educating the poor and also served as a seminary professor, spiritual director, and counselor for several women's religious communities. In 1882, Fr. Spinelli met Caterina Comensoli, with whom he would found the Institute of the Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament. The sisters dedicated themselves to Eucharistic adoration day and night, which inspired their service to the poor and suffering. Their ministries include caring for people with HIV, orphans, drug addicts, and prisoners. Blessed Nunzio Sulprizio Born in Pescosansonesco, Italy in 1817 - lost both of his parents at age six and was brought up by an uncle who exploited him for hard labor. Fatigued and often given dangerous assignments, he developed gangrene and eventually lost his leg. Despite his tremendous suffering, he reportedly made statements such as: Jesus suffered a lot for me. Why should I not suffer for Him? I would die in order to convert even one sinner. Sulprizio died of bone cancer in 1836, when he was only 19 years old. Blessed Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa Born in 1889 in Madrid, Spain - the fourth of 18 children. Growing up, her family was sometimes against her desire to enter religious life, but later she led several family members back to the Church. Her family moved to Mexico in 1904, where Nazarie met & joined the order of the Institute of Sisters of the Abandoned Elders. She was assigned to a hospice in Oruro, Bolivia for 12 years. She then felt a call to found a new order dedicated to missionary work. She founded the Pontifical Crusade, later renamed the Congregation of the Missionary Crusaders of the Church, with the mission to catechize children and adults, & support the work of priests. Blessed Maria Katharina Kasper Born in Dembach, Germany in 1820 as Catherine Kasper, although she suffered poor health - she helped the poor, the abandoned, and the sick from a young age. Her mother taught her household chores & how to spin and weave fabric. Her father died when she was 21 she worked the land as a farm hand. Her helpfulness toward others attracted others to her, and she felt a call to religious life. In 1851 she and four other women formed the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. Catherine, known in the religious community as Mother Mary, served five consecutive terms as superior of the house and continued to work with novices and to open houses for their order all over the world.
Today is Catholic Daughters Sunday! It is a day in which we honor all of our members throughout the world. We are a lay organization founded in New York in 1903, striving to embrace through the principals of our faith by working through love in the promotion of justice, equality and the advancement of human rights, and bring dignity to all. Whether you are looking to renew your association with us or would like to learn more about us, please join the Court of St. Vincent de Paul which meets the second Thursday of each month in the Community Room at St. Thomas at 1:00 p.m. Effective January 8, 2019, we will be meeting at 6:30 p.m., the second Tuesday evening in the Community Room. For further information, contact Linda Bergeron at 727-203-3498. We look forward to seeing you! WORLD MISSION SUNDAY Be A Mission Voice! Today, with Catholics of the world, we are called to offer, at this Eucharistic celebration, our prayers and our generous financial support, through The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, to continue the mission of Jesus. Today we speak up through our prayers and personal sacrifices for our brothers and sisters in the Missions. As little as > $25 helps support a catechist for a month in Latin America > $75 provides for the work of religious Sisters in Africa > $100 assists children in schools in Asia As always, your prayers are your most treasured gift to the Missions. Your prayers and financial help, offered today, WORLD MISSION SUNDAY, support mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay catechists who are Christ s witnesses to a world so in need of His healing love and peace. Come See Us Saturday, Nov. 3rd at the St. Thomas Aquinas Fall Festival Bring 3 or more non-perishable food items and receive a discount coupon to our SVdP Thrift Store Tuna, mac & cheese, canned fruit, cereal, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, instant potatoes, pasta sauce, pork & beans
Faith Formation For All! Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. From Mark 10 Today s Gospel speaks to us about service. The final verse says it all For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. Our faith is meant to lead us closer to Christ to be more Christ-like. If that is the goal, then we must follow Him in ways of service. ASK YOURSELF: Where do I have the power and opportunity to be a leader? (parent, oldest child in a family, captain of a team, coach, teacher, supervisor at work, officer on a volunteer committee, etc.) How do I use my power and opportunity? (I listen, I have empathy, I show humility, I am respectful, I am a helper, I use my power to lead with a loving heart, etc.) Sometimes we struggle to see our power or authority as an opportunity to help others rather we look at it as an opportunity to advance ourselves or our needs. Challenge for the week ahead: Find ONE WAY to use your positions of power or leadership to be a helper, to serve. Write it down - put it in the offertory basket during Mass. What a gift you will have given to God! The Adult RCIA meets weekly, Wednesdays at 6:30PM. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is a process for the unbaptized (catechumen) and those baptized in another Christian faith, or the Catholic faith (candidates) who are seeking full communion in the Catholic Church. For more information, or to consider serving in this ministry, join us Wednesday in the parish hall. Faith Formation Ahead: Sunday sessions ARE ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK. Sunday 10/21: Grades K 6 FAMILY CATECHETICAL SESSION II, from 9-10:15AM High School LIFETEEN from 5:00PM Mass (youth gather in parish hall at 6PM - food, fellowship and life night until 8:30PM) Wednesday 10/24: FAMILY CATECHETICAL SESSION II, from 5:15-6:30PM This still includes 5PM pizza concession
Knight s Korner Knights of Columbus Council #11497 October 21 st Pancake Breakfast following morning masses November 1 st Business Meeting @7PM (Adoration before @6PM) November 4 th Deceased Member s Wives Memorial Mass @8:30AM November 10 th Old CR54 Road Cleanup Did you know that you can become a Knight s of Columbus emember right now by going to KofC.org and pressing Join Us? Be sure to select Council 11497 and we do the rest! Further questions contact our Grand Knight Maurice A. Batista at (813) 493-4534. Family Faith Fest Brings Together One Family The Family Faith Fest is a one-of-a-kind experience for families and adults of all ages that will bring together thousands of people from across Tampa Bay and West Central Florida. We hope you will join us on Saturday, October 27 from 10 am to 6 pm for live music, food (for purchase) exhibits, activities for children and teens, the celebration of Mass, shopping, health displays and much more. By joining together as one Body of Christ One Family, we can all grow in faith and grow in unity! Bishop Gregory Parkes invites you to the Family Faith Fest, the Diocese of St. Petersburg s 50th Anniversary celebration, Saturday, October 27 from 10 am to 6 pm at Al Lopez Park in Tampa. Visit www.familyfaithfest.org for more information. THE SIGN of PEACE The sign of peace at mass can take many forms. It can be a handshake, a hug or a simple bow of the head. The bow of the head may be the preferred sign of peace for those who have a weak immune system and for whom a simple handshake can be a dangerous prospect. I think of Monsignor George Cummings, a great priest of our diocese (who, incidentally, just turned 100!). For many years now, Monsignor has had a very weak immune system, and when you and I might get a cold, he would get bronchitis or pneumonia! So he simply could not afford to shake hands with people at mass or anywhere else for that matter. It was too dangerous! So, instead of a handshake at the sign of peace, Monsignor might turn to you politely and bow his head. This has worked very well for him over the years, and it might work very well for you too (and if you are a person who has offered your hand to someone at mass and they did not accept it, please don t be offended by it because they probably have a weak immune system). So, if you have a weak immune system, you might try a bow of the head at mass. It has certainly worked for Monsignor. After all, he just turned 100! In His love, Father Eric