Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Resurrection: The Longing of Every Heart Easter is the greatest feast of the Church. Easter is the definition of our faith. Easter is resurrection. We are Christians not because we believe in sin, but because we believe in forgiveness. We are Christians not because we believe in the law, but because we believe in freedom. We are Christians not because we believe in suffering and death, but because we believe in life, love, and joy. At least this is what we say; but sometimes we act as if we do not believe it at all. The difference between Jesus and us is this: when the rock was rolled away from the tomb, Jesus jumped for joy, leaped to a new life. But when the rock is rolled away from our tomb, we are inclined to blink once or twice at the bright light because we are a little afraid of all that brightness and the light of freedom. We do not really want a new life; we have not even figured out how to live the old one. And this is because we have not yet understood Easter. The new life of Jesus resurrection is completely unlike anything we could ever imagine. Faith in the Resurrection of Jesus says that there is a future for every human being; the cry for unending life which dwells deep within every human heart is answered. Pope Benedict XVI Let us acclaim Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, that we might rise with him. Alleluia!... Fr. Matt Stanley, Pastor Weekly Stewardship Report Thank you to everyone who supported the mission and ministries of our parish during the month of February ($11,645). Our average weekly collection for the first 8 months of this fiscal year was $11,739. Our budget for Jul-Feb was $374,000; our actual is $398,000 (+$24,000). We encourage Our Weekly Offering March 22 Actual: $ 11,400 Goal: $ 11,000 March 29 Actual $ TBD Goal: $11,000 Catholic Relief Services: $ 6,000 Z everyone to consider using the Sunday Offertory Envelopes or Online Giving as a way of giving to the Lord the first fruits of the "treasure" zwe have received. Please Pray For the Sick & Homebound Fr. Thierry Geris, Kathy Gibbs, Terry Flynn, Grace Lee, Gearailt Cummins, Bob Carlstead, Ann Masik, Agnes Tan, Msgr. Eugene Boyle, Azul Sophia Vavuris, Mary Jones, Isabella Silva, Flora Beaudoin, Tim Meyn For the Recently Deceased William McInerny, Bernice Ellis, Harvey Fanucci, Elaine Lomasney, Elsie Trojak, Robert Prestidge, Chuck Faltz, Zita Kudlacik, Andy LeBeau, Helen Wall, Ned Gallagher, Jr., Harry Browne, Jeffrey Abel, Christina Roche, Jaimee Short, Deacon Carl Bunje, Dolores Collinsworth, Joyce Braun, Irmy Buchholz Pray For Lists guidelines: Have permission from the person to be listed. Go through the Pastoral Home Ministry to list the names. Names will be on the list for 3 months and then be removed. Can request names to be continued after 3 months. Contact the Pastoral Home Ministry 650-494-2496 x22 or fongmt@hotmail.com Mass Intentions Sunday, April 5: Easter Sunday 8:45 am STA...Norman Swope 9:00 am SAG...Tsung Chai Koo 10:30 am STA...For All Parishioners Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23/Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8/Victimae paschali laudes(sequence)/john 20:1-9 or Luke 24, 13-35(afternoon or evening) Monday, April 6: Easter Monday 8:30 am OLR...John Martin 12:15 pm STA...Andrew & Frances....................Galea Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33/Psalm 16:1-2a, 5, 7-11/Matthew 28:8-15 Tuesday, April 7: Easter Tuesday 8:30 am OLR...Benito L. Viray....................Marcelina M. Viray Readings: Acts 2:36-41/Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22/John 20:11-18 Wednesday, April 8: Easter Wednesday 12:15 pm STA...Winnie Menezes Readings: Acts 3:1-10/Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9/ Luke 24:13-35 Thursday, April 9: Easter Thursday Readings: Acts 3:11-26/Psalm 8:2ab, 5-9/ Luke 24:35-48 Friday, April 10: Easter Friday 12:15 pm STA...Christina Roche Readings: Acts 4:1-12/Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27a/John 21:1-14 Saturday, April 11: Easter Saturday 5:00 pm SAG...John Griffin....................Evelyn Griffin Readings: Acts 4:13-21/118:1,14-15ab, 16-21/Mark 16:9-15 Presider Schedule Divine Mercy Sunday April 12, 2015 St. Albert the Great 1095 Channing Ave. Sat 5:00 pm... Fr. Stanley Sun 9:00 am... Fr. Luong Sun 11:00 am (Byzantine) Fr. Hernandez St. Thomas Aquinas 751 Waverley St. Sun 7:30 am... Fr. Hester Sun 8:45 am... Fr. Marini Sun 10:30 am........... Fr. Mikalonis Sun 12:00pm (Greg.).... TBD Our Lady of the Rosary 3233 Cowper St. Sun 9:00 am (Spanish)... Fr. Mikalonis Sun 10:30 am........... Fr. Stanley Sun 6:00 pm............ Fr. Luong
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish This Week s Highlights Sunday, April 5 2:00 pm...baptism (SAG) NO 6:00 PM MASS TODAY Monday, April 6 PASTORAL CENTER CLOSED Tuesday, April 7 Wednesday, April 8 7:00 pm...pastoral Stewardship (THB) Thursday, April 9 10:00 am...prayer Group (SAGH) 7:00 pm...1st Communion Catechesis.............. (PC 1st & 2nd) 7:30 pm...gregorian Choir (STA) Friday, April 10 6:00 pm...goretti Group (STA, THB) 7:00 pm...knights - SJ Chapter (THDin) 7:30 pm...hisp. Young Adults (OLRH-S) Saturday, April 11 8:30 am...environment (OLR) 8:30 am...liturgy Board Mtg (SAGH) 8:30 am...hispanic Youth Confirm............... Retreat (OLR, OLRH) 10:00 am...baptism (STA) 11:00 am...cantonese Scripture (PC2nd) 4:30 pm...wedding (STA) Women's Retreat St. Thomas Aquinas Women are invited to: CHRIST IN ME ARISE - A Women s Retreat sponsored by Holy Family Parish, April 17-19, 2015 at the Jesuit Retreat Center (El Retiro) in Los Altos. Sr. Marilyn Wilson, BVM, will help facilitate this retreat. The cost for the retreat is $280. A $50 deposit will hold a place for you. Scholarship funds are available for those who need assistance. If you have any questions, please contact Susan at suolsen@dsj.org or at the Pastoral Center (650-494-2496). Holiday Hours The Pastoral Center will be closed on Easter Monday, April 6. The regular Daily Mass Schedule remains unchanged. We will re-open on Tuesday, April 7. Easter Gratitude Our entire Parish Staff joins together in extending to you our best wishes and all of the joy of Easter. Since Easter is fifty days long, we will have many opportunities to greet you personally and to thank you for the life you bring to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. We extend a word of appreciation to all who made donations of or offerings toward our Easter flowers and plants, to all those involved in our Triduum Liturgies, as well as those who decorated our churches. Thanks to all who sacrificed to make our Holy Week as prayerful, enjoyable, and inviting as it has been. Those Who Received Sacraments at Easter Vigil Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist: Elijah Chandler, Joyce Fong, Thomas Fong, Paul Fong, Megan Quinlisk, Joseph Salceda, Paul Salceda, Titan Silva, Aidan Stull, Alana Stull, Alexis Stull, Austin Stull, David Weill, Iris Vasquez Garcia, Araceli Vivas Confirmation & 1st Eucharist: Lou Dinh, Christopher Martinez, Caitlin Halferty, Michael Leroux 1st Eucharist: Serafina Cortez, Alden Santoso Confirmation: Alejandra Menjivar, Humberto Chavez. Infant Baptism: Anna Fong, Ben Salceda. Called to Do God s Work Together in Christ ADA Goal: $ 128,000 Pledged: $ 144,630 Pledges: 269 Average Pledge: $538 % of Goal: 112% Get Ready for Divine Mercy Sunday On the day of the second anniversary of his pontificate, Pope Francis made the major announcement of a jubilee year dedicated to the theme of mercy, beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2015 and concluding on the feast of Christ the King, November 20, 2016. I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which all of us are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time, Pope Francis said. From this moment, we entrust this holy year to the Mother of Mercy, that she might turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey. We will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at the conclusion of the 10:30am Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary on April 12. Why I Don t Go to Mass: Mass Is Un-relatable To My Life Yeah. No it s not. Real Housewives of New Jersey is un-relatable to your life. Gossip magazines and Candy Crush are un-relatable to your life. Mass is about who we actually are. We are reminded that we are children of God, brothers and sisters, and how we should be in relationship with one another. It s belonging to a community that cares for one another, who share values. Mass the prayers we pray together, the readings from Scripture, the quiet time with Jesus puts us more in touch with who we are meant to be. We fail, we make mistakes, but Mass is where we are unconditionally loved by God, and invited into a deeper union with Him so that we can live more in a more fulfilled, loving way every day. (6 in a series)
Easter Flowers April 5, 2015 Green Corner Encyclical Preview From Cardinal Turkson On March 5, Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and head of the committee helping draft Pope Francis s encyclical on ecology, gave a lecture that many see as a possible preview of the encyclical. Cardinal Turkson noted that the encyclical release date (June or July) is in part an attempt by Pope Francis to shape the deliberations leading up to the UN s global climate treaty negotiations in December. Brian Roewe of the National Catholic Reporter explains that Cardinal Turkson outlined four themes of the pope s teachings on integral ecology: + The call to be protectors is integral and all-embracing + Care for creation and humanity are virtues in their own right + We will--we must--care for what we cherish and revere + A need for dialogue and a new global solidarity, where all have a part to play Source: Catholic Climate Covenant Marriage Encounter Don't you and your spouse deserve a beautiful, romantic weekend away together? Attend a Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next Marriage Encounter is: May 29-31 in Mountain View. Early registration is highly recommended. For more info, visit our website at: sanjosewwme.org or contact Ken & Claranne at applications@ sanjosewwme.org or 408-782-1413. Remembering a loved one during Easter is always foremost in our minds. So why not express that love by making a donation toward the Easter flowers as special intention or in memory of a deceased family member or friend? Special Easter Flower envelopes can be found in the back of church. Vocations to Religious Life Single Catholic women ages 18-40 are invited to a Religious Vocation Discernment Retreat with the Daughters of Charity, April 10-12, Los Altos Hills. For more info, contact Sister Lisa Laguna, D.C. at 650/949-8890, 213-210-9903, or email us at SrLisaDC @aol.com. Find us on Facebook at Daughters of Charity Vocations U.S., follow us at Twitter.com/DofCharity or read about us on DaughtersOfCharity.com
Welcome new parishioners to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish! We encourage you to register as members of our growing family. Please email your name, address, and phone to admin@paloaltocatholic.org. Current members please contact the Pastoral Center to update your information. KEY REFERENCES DC... Dermody Center DCCh Dermody Center Chapel OLR.. Our Lady of the Rosary Church OLRH OLR Church Hall KC... OLR Kerry s Corner PC... Pastoral Center SAG.. St. Albert the Great Church SAGH SAG Hospitality Ctr. HOLY SACRAMENTS Please contact the Pastoral Center at 650-494-2496 for more information. Anointing of the Sick: By request or every first Monday of the month after the 7:15 am Mass. Every first Friday at the 8:30 am and 12:15pm Mass. Christian Initiation: Become a Catholic or renew your Catholic faith (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) as an adult, youth or child. Funeral: Arrange for a Funeral, Memorial Mass or graveside service for a loved one. Infant Baptism: Preparation may begin before or after the birth of your child. Marriage: Arrangements need to be made at least six months prior to the proposed marriage date. ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE STAFF, & COMMITTEES Main Phone: (650) 494-2496 Business & Operations Manager: Chuck Tully ext. 20 ctully@dsj.org Admin Assts: Cathy Miller ext. 24, camiller@dsj.org; Ron Aranha, raranha@dsj.org Pastoral Stewardship Council: (every 2nd Wed. 7:00 pm THB) Chair: Florence de Bretagne (flodebretagne@ gmail.com); Vice-Chair: Mary Fong (fongmt@hotmail.com); Secretary: Jerry Lucha (gerald. lucha@sri.com) SESS.. St. Elizabeth Seton School SESA. SES Auditorium STA... St. Thomas Aquinas Church THB.. STA - Thomas House Basement THD.. STA - Thomas House Dining Room THL.. STA - Thomas House Library Community Life: Anne Morrison (650) 493-2998 Green Committee: Katia Reeves (katia.reeves@sbcglobal.net) Human Concerns Committee: Chair: Paul Chestnut (650) 493-8237 St. Vincent de Paul Society: (650) 424-8155 For truck donation pickup (650) 871-6844 Parish Site Committees: STA: Kay Williams 650-270-4188; OLR: Chris Lundin clundin@stanford.edu; SAG: Pat Briggs (650) 856-0460; Kathleen Hart (650) 321-8399; St. Elizabeth Seton School (Daughters of Charity): 1095 Channing Avenue (650) 326-9004 Principal: Evelyn Rosa Advancement Director: Danielle Ambler (650) 326-1258 STA Photography: (650) 493-2128, photography@ paloaltocatholic.org http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/ PALOALTOPHOTOG/SpecialR1 Stanford Hospital Chaplaincy: Catholic Chaplain: Fr. Robert McKay (650) 723-5101 rmckay@ stanfordhealthcare.org Lucile Packard Children s Hospital Chaplaincy: Rev. Carolyn Glauz-Todrank (650) 497-8538 Widows/Widowers Group: Lorraine Dabney (650) 494-6488