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-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 23, 2018 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION As we read the Gospel today, we find Jesus teaching that receiving a child in His name is the same thing as receiving Him. Children of that time were without any power or status. So, Jesus is really teaching that when we serve the least among us we are serving Him. The second reading from James offers an equally important message. Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder. Where there is sincerity and gentleness, there is peace. These messages are so clear so simple. May our efforts bring the messages to life! This week, how will you be an instrument of service, of peace, of sincerity? Learning, Living and Sharing the Good News
Father Eric s follow-up to the Open Forum I would just like to thank all of you who attended the open forum on the current crisis in the Church, and your comments were very much appreciated! In answer to one person s question, I will offer you some talking points for you as a Catholic to respond to some of the more frequently-asked questions. While no child should ever be harmed, the following facts should be noted: In answer to the question, have there been any credible accusations against any priests in our own diocese since 2002 when the system was put into place (with finger-printing, SEP training, etc?), our bishop said, no. To the question, when there s an accusation, is it turned over to the civil authorities? our bishop said, yes, we are already doing this. In answer to the question, is the diocese required to have an investigation of all its clergy files? The bishop said, yes, we will be of assistance to those civil authorities who are charged with doing so. In the answer to the question, is the system that we have in place also in place in other dioceses around the world? the bishop said, the Dallas Charter of 2002 was mandated worldwide. (it should also be noted to our credit, that our diocese has had it in place since 1996, six years before it was mandated). The bishop also said that the 300 offenses reported by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury dealt were offenses going back 70 years and that 90% of those offenses occurred before 1990, which means that only 10% have occurred since 1990, bringing the number down from 300 offenses to 30 since 1990. Finally, the bishop wants you to know that you can find out more about this topic by going to his link entitled accountability on our diocesan website: http//www.dosp.org/accountability More to come! Readings for the Week of September 23, 2018 Sunday: Wis 2:12, 17-20/Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6-8/ James 3:16--4:3/Mk 9:30-37 Monday: Prv 3:27-34/Ps 15:2-5/Lk 8:16-18 Tuesday: Prv 21:1-6, 10-13/Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44/Lk 8:19-21 Wednesday: Prv 30:5-9/Ps 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163/Lk 9:1-6 Thursday: Eccl 1:2-11/Ps 90:3-6, 12-14 and 17/Lk 9:7-9 (Opt. 1 Cor 1:26-31/Ps 112:1/Mt 9:35-38) Friday: Eccl 3:1-11/Ps 144:1b and 2abc, 3-4/Lk 9:18-22 Saturday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12a/Ps 138:1-5/ Jn 1:47-51 Next Sunday: Nm 11:25-29/Ps 19:8, 10, 12-14/ James 5:1-6/Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Weekend Readings are at (727) 372-8600 Mass Intentions Monday 8:00 a.m. Bonnie and Richard Hartmann Tuesday 8:00 a.m. Bonnie and Richard Hartmann Wednesday 8:00 a.m. Vocations Thursday 8:00 a.m. Father Eric Friday 8:00 a.m. Father George Saturday 4:00 p.m. Parish Family 6:00 p.m. Bill Schmidt Sunday 7:00 a.m. Lelaine Tellecchia 8:30 a.m. Carmine Sirignano 10:30 a.m. Fausto Garcia 5:00 p.m. Trinidad Abainza Hispanic Mass in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira All are welcome to celebrate the annual diocesan Hispanic Mass in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira, patroness of Columbia, with Bishop Gregory L. Parkes on Saturday, October 13th at 10:00 am at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle.
Mon. 09/24 Tues. 09/25 Wed. 09/26 Parish Calendar 6PM Scouts; 7PM Prayer Group; 7PM Gospel Choir Rehearsal 8:45AM Word on Fire; 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. 09/27 4PM Girl Scouts; 6PM Girl Scouts; 7PM Bible Study Fri. 09/28 Sat. 09/29 Sun. 09/30 9AM FF Sunday Sessions; 5PM Mass Life Teen; 6PM Life Teen Offertory - September 15th and 16th $13,116.16 1,068.00-Online Giving $14,184.16-Total $3,479.96 St. Joseph Parish Missionary Cooperative There s Something for Everyone at the Free Family Faith Fest! The Family Faith Fest is a day of worshiping Jesus, praying, and making great memories. There will be lots of fun activities for people of all ages, including street performers, arts and crafts, the BayCare Health Village, inflatables, carnival games, great food (for purchase) and awesome music by contemporary Christian artists. The day will wrap up with Mass celebrated by Bishop Parkes at 4 pm. 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. 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 Fax: (727) 372-5712 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
We are in need of volunteers. If you can help, please go to: www.stafallfestival.com to register. Thank you! Action Alert! The Food and Drug Administration signed a new contract to acquire "fresh" aborted fetal organs for research creating so-called "humanized mice" with human immune systems. Pro-life groups have signed a letter to Secretary Alex Azar, head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, expressing shock and dismay that the FDA is "using federal tax dollars and fomenting demand for human body parts taken from babies who are aborted." Join the Rosary Coast to Coast Campaign, Sunday, October 7th at 4pm at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Americans across the country and around the world will pray the rosary at the same time for the intention of healing our country and restoring it to holiness. Visit RosaryCoastToCoast.com for more info. For more information or to send a message to Secretary Azar, visit www.votervoice.net/ USCCB/Campaigns.
Our St. Vincent de Paul Food pantry needs your help so we may continue to provide the members of our community who are in need with some basic food and hygiene products. The generosity of our parish family has always supported our work to feed the hungry. Anything you can donate to our PANTRY FOOD box located in the Narthex of our church would be greatly appreciated. Plastic & Brown Paper Bags! Fruit (can) Veggie (can) Pork & Beans Pasta Sauce Tuna Mac & Cheese (box) Peanut Butter Jelly Jello Dry Pasta (box) Potatoes (instant) Cereal (box) Meal Maker (Helpers) HELP US, HELP THEM- Thank You!!
Faith Formation For All! Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me. From Mark 9 In this Gospel (Mark 9:30-37), Jesus teaches that receiving a child in His name is the same thing as receiving Him. Children of that time were without any power or status. So Jesus is really teaching that when we serve the least among us we are serving Him. AS A FAMILY, think about ways you might serve others. Who are the least among you - in your neighborhoods, schools, workplaces even in your own family? Pray together that your family life will really reflect your commitment to serve one another with love. Prayer for Generosity St. Ignatius of Loyola Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God, Teach me true generosity. Teach me to serve you as you deserve. To give without counting the cost, To fight heedless of wounds, To labor without seeking rest, To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward Save the knowledge that I have done your will. Amen. OUR NEXT BAPTISM PREPARATION SESSION (for parents, godparents and any adult in the faith life of an infant child you are preparing for baptism) will be WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10th 6:30PM. Please contact Sue to register. WEEKLY SESSIONS BEGAN LAST are in full swing! If you missed the start, you don t have to miss another day IT S NEVER TOO LATE! Join us this week during the session you d like to register for. We are here to serve you in faith! Sunday 9AM-10:15AM = K-6 Sunday 5PM following Life Teen Mass = High School YM Wednesday 5:15-6:30 = K-8 Serving the faith from the altar is a privileged and needed ministry. If your child is in 3rd grade or older and has received First Holy Communion, contact Jo Ann McVeigh for info! She will be conducting a training session OCTOBER 20th FROM 9AM-NOON for new servers. 727-372-8600 ext. 129 jmcveighsta@live.com
Word on Fire Join us as we examine six figures from the Bible who changed in response to God s call. Bishop Robert Barron s DVD explores conversion. By exploring these six stories, we will come to a deeper understanding of conversion in our own lives, how to discern God s call to us, how to overcome the obstacles we face in answering the call and the fruit of joy in saying yes to God. Sister Lila will facilitate these hour-long weekly sessions beginning Tuesday, September 25th at 8:45am and ending October 20th. Please bring your bible. No registration is required. Knight s Korner Knights of Columbus Council #11497 Dear Parishioners and Parish Staff, Please receive my special appreciation for your welcoming during my visit to St. Thomas Aquinas this past weekend as part of the Missionary Cooperation Plan of our Diocese to support St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tampa. I appreciate the kindness and generosity of your Parishioners. Thank you so much for your generous support. May God continue blessing you through the intercession of our Patron Saint, St. Joseph. Fr. Nelson Restrepo St. Joseph Catholic Church America Needs Fatima October 4 th - Business Meeting @7PM October 18 th - Monthly Social @7PM 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. ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL TEENS! Looking for a great way to grow closer to Christ? Meet other Catholic teens? Learn more about your faith? Become the best version of yourself that you can be? Enjoy Sunday nights filled with fellowship, fun and great food by coming to Sunday night 5pm Lifeteen Mass and then coming to the Lifenight that follows. In addition to all of this, through Lifeteen, you will have opportunities to serve others in the parish and the community, travel to other cities for retreats, trips, marches and be a part of something great. Dinner is included in the night. Feel free to bring a friend! For more info or questions, call Beth 727-809-2384. Please join the 2018 Public Square Rosary Crusade. Our nation is in great need of public prayer, repentance and conversion. We ask God to save America through the Rosary of His Most Holy Mother. Please join us in praying for our nation on October 13, 2018 at 12:00 noon. The local Public Square Rosary will take place in front of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, on the grounds of Via Dolorosa, 8320 Old County Road 54. For your comfort, if you feel you cannot stand for the rosary, feel free to bring a lawn chair. Please contact: Terri Connery at 727-376-8808 for more information.