My Brothers and Sisters, I know that you will be happy to know that, at the unanimous recommendation of the Principal Search Team, an extensive interview as well as a diligent follow-up with both personal and professional references, I have offered the opportunity to Mr. Patrick M. Reardon to serve as the next Principal of St. Theresa Catholic School. Mr. Reardon has accepted the offer, and looks forward to joining our team in the coming school year. When I shared this news with Mrs. Fyan (our current principal), she was pleased to hear that Mr. Reardon whom she knows will be her successor as Principal of our school. I anticipate that the end-of-year transition of leadership to be a smooth one. Patrick currently serves as Principal of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Litchfield Park, where he has been Principal for 4 years. He lives with his wife Cathy and family in Ahwatukee - which means that he currently commutes over an hour a day to and from work. This is one of the major reasons that he has decided to make a move to a school closer to home. The Pastor and staff at St. Thomas Aquinas are sorry that Pat is leaving them, as he has done a great deal for their school. Prior to his principalship at St. Thomas Aquinas, Pat served as Assistant Principal for four years at Seton Catholic High School (Fr. Will Schmid, whom many of you know from his time here at St. Theresa, gave Patrick an A+ reference, based on their time together on staff at Seton). Before entering school administration at Seton, Patrick taught and was Systems Administrator at Summit School (formerly part of the Tessaract system) in Ahwatukee for five years. Mr. Reardon began his career in teaching at Brophy College Prep, where he served as teacher and Department Chairperson for 12 years, from 1984-1996. Patrick holds a B.A. in Secondary Education from ASU and a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from NAU. Mr. Reardon asked that I convey the following message to the St. Theresa community: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To the parish community of St. Theresa, It is with great anticipation and high expectations that I look forward to being your principal beginning in the 2014-45 school year. St. Theresa has a great reputation as a parish and school, and as a long-time resident of the east valley, I am well aware of the exceptional role this parish has played over the years in the Diocese of Phoenix. It is the mission of Saint Theresa Catholic School to help prepare students spiritually, academically, and socially to assume responsible and productive roles in society while living out the values of the Gospel. Not coincidentally, The National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools call for excellence in every aspect of its programs, life and activities. As a Catholic school in a position of leadership in the Diocese we can do nothing less than excel, and as a faith-filled Catholic school we will show humility in our achievements by being grateful for the gifts God has given us. The success of your children will always be my top priority. It is my hope that we will meet soon so that I can begin the process of getting to know you and earning your trust. Sincerely, Patrick Reardon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank you for your ongoing prayers for Mrs. Fyan, as she moves toward the conclusion of her ministry as Principal at STCS and for Mr. Reardon, as he begins the transition from St. Thomas Aquinas to leading St. Theresa Catholic School forward into its 58 th year of serving our children. Lenten blessings and peace, Rev. Charles G. Kieffer, V.F. Pastor
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT Liturgy And Music Notes & Notices Choirs Sing At 9AM, 11AM & 6PM Masses Weekly All Groups Are Looking For Members Please consider joining this ministry which strives to call us to God and lead us in prayerful song. Rehearsal for 9AM & 11AM Sunday Mass is held on Wednesdays at 6PM; 6PM choir rehearses before the liturgy in the church at 4:30PM on Sundays. PARISH NEWS BIG STUFF! Are you wondering what's it all about? Are you finding yourself in "transition" - job, relationship, age, loss? Counseling can help. Call Duncan Macaulay @ 602-826-1982 or the Parish Office @ 602-840-0850. Appointments are available on Wednesdays. Spiritual Adoption Update: Your spiritually adopted baby in now in the seventh month. Beginning this month the baby uses all four senses. Eyelids open and close and the eyes look around. The baby can taste, touch, cough, yawn and hiccup. He or she now recognizes his or her mother s voice. His or her grip is even stronger now than it will be after birth. The hair on the head is growing longer and the downy covering on the rest of the body is disappearing. During this time the baby will receive antibodies from his or her mother providing immunity to a wide variety of diseases. See the bulletin boards in the Church Ramada or vestibules for a visual depiction of what your baby looks like. Fish & Faith St. Theresa Parish Lenten Fish Fry Fridays during Lent from 5:00-7:00PM in Feeney Hall April 4th & 11th $7 Adult Fish Dinner Includes: Baked Fish, Fried Fish, or Fish Tacos, French Fries, Onion Rings, Sweet Potato Fries, or Baked Potato, Coleslaw, Roll, Sherbet and Lemonade/Water $8 Adult Shrimp Dinner Includes: Fried Shrimp, French Fries, Onion Rings, Sweet Potato Fries, or Baked Potato, Coleslaw, Roll, Sherbet and Lemonade/Water $4 Children s Dinner (up to age 12) Includes: Personal Pan Cheese Pizza or Fish, French Fries, Sherbet and Lemonade/Water We are now able to accept credit cards! An Arts & Crafts Corner will be available for the kids! Stations of the Cross 7:00PM in the Church
Easter Flower Memorials Our Annual Easter Flower Memorial is a wonderful way to celebrate the memory of your loved one(s). Your donations for Easter Flowers allow us to beautify the church for the Easter season and through out the year. To make your gift, please use your Easter Flower offering envelope included with your weekly envelopes or place a separate envelope with your donation marked "Easter Flowers" and legibly print the name of your loved one(s). All Easter Flower Memorials need to be turned in by Friday, April 11th to be included in a special Easter insert. For questions, call Carrie Vinesky in the Parish Office @ 602-840-0850. Holy Bonfire Wednesday of Holy Week, April 16th, the Boy Scouts and Life Teen, supported by the Phoenix Fire Department, will host a bonfire to burn sacramentals and flags. If you have blessed palms, old bibles not usable by others, holy cards, Mass books, worn out flags, etc., please put them aside for this proper disposal opportunity. If you have any questions, please ask a priest, deacon, or catechist. You can drop off your items to the Pastoral Care Office or call 602-952-1297 if you need your items picked up. Monsters Are People, Too! Come learn how they love and serve Jesus during Vacation Bible School s Monsters Inc.-themed program, June 23rd-27th, 9AM to Noon. SAVE THE DATE. Registration flyers are available on the parish website at www.sttheresaphx.org, in the church or in the Parish Office. STP Pastoral Council Corner Father Chuck and the members of your Parish Council are seeking your comments on how we may improve the spiritual life of all parishioners, improve the physical plant, and reach out to our neighbors as Pope Francis directs us to do. All comments, suggestions, recommendations, and criticisms are important and need to be heard and addressed. Upon receiving your email a member of the council will reply to you and submit the feedback/ question for investigation. You re encouraged to send your question or comment via e-mail to: pastoralcouncil@sttheresaphx.org. We hope this interaction will improve the parish life for all as we live out our Parish Mission statement: Growing in Faith, Serving with Hope, Christ-centered in Love, We are the Roman Catholic Community of St. Theresa. Pray For Those Who Have Died: Fr. John Hanley Who Are Sick: Mary Ann Gray, Jean Roberts & Pauline Welsh Our Next 5th Sunday Collection will take place THIS weekend, March 29th & 30th. Members of the St. Theresa Parish St. Vincent de Paul will be at the church exits after all these masses to accept your donations. Helping Handbags Are Back! They will be available this weekend. These bags contain community information that is helpful for people looking for contacts for food, shelter, or other types of assistance. These bags contain a bottle of water, a package of crackers or cookies and a bus pass. These bags are for those people you may encounter on your travels throughout the day who are looking for help or approach you and ask for help. United Blood Services Blood Drive The next blood drive is Sunday, April 27th from 8:30AM 1PM. The bloodmobile will be at the South end of the parking lot behind the McMahon Center Gym. Parishioners can sign up by visiting www.bloodhero.com (sponsor code: St. Theresa) or contact Katherine Herrick at KatHerrickMommy@gmail.com with your preferred time. PASTORAL CARE Adoration Every Thursday 9AM to 9PM In The Convent Chapel Prayer and meditation before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament are great ways to spend some special time with Him. He hears your prayers for yourself and your loved ones. The hour from 6-7PM is spent in prayers for our country. Please join us! For more information please contact Mary Ann Gray @ 480-994-5579. Homebound Who Would Like To Go To Confession Before Easter can contact the Pastoral Care Office @ 602-586-7429. We will schedule a time to have Fr. Bing come to your home or care facility to hear your confession. Also, contact us if you would like to be Anointed or receive Communion.
For Our Next Senior Center-Stage Luncheon... Wednesday, April 2nd Registration will begin at 11:30AM in Feeney Hall $8.00 per person RSVP to Margie Hubbard @ 602-840-2715 No reservations will be taken after Sunday, March 30th, so call TODAY! Wear your Easter Bonnet or Top Hat and receive a special gift when you register! Laughter, delicious food & door prizes will outline Easter Festivities. Please Place Your Prayer Request in our Prayer Table located in the church by the St. Theresa Statue. Parishioners who have joined the Pastoral Care Prayer Ministry are honored to include your request. For more information call 602-586-7429. SCHOOL NEWS The Tax Credit Benefits You! You are still able to claim the State of Arizona Tax Credit for the 2013 (or 2014, if desired) year. You will have Federal tax deduction for 2014. You can wait until actually calculating your tax bill, then make a tax-redirect contribution in lieu of paying taxes up until April 15th. It's quick! E- filers can see their refunds in 4-5 days. The National Bank of Arizona will match your contribution. Our students get the benefit of more money for scholarships. FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT The 2014 Charity And Development Appeal (CDA) Is Underway! Thank you to everyone who has made their pledge to the 2014 CDA. Each and every gift is important, no matter how big or small. Our parish goal is 100% participation and $170,000 in support. We currently have donations of approximately $117,344 towards our goal! Join us in supporting the vital programs and services throughout the Diocese of Phoenix. These programs and services reach beyond the boundaries of any one parish to all of our Phoenix-area community. Make your gift today either online at www.diocesephoenix.org/cda or by completing a pledge card. Thank you for your support of the Charity and Development Appeal. STCS School Auction What a great time was had at the school s annual auction last Saturday! Many, many thanks to co-chairs Christine Martin and Julie Dailey and the various committee chairs who made this happen. Congratulations also go to Carson Herding, a third grader, who sold the most raffle tickets in the school. In addition to receiving Scrip, Carson s name was entered into a raffle with all the highest sellers. Guess what happened! Carson s name was pulled and he received a monetary prize. Way to go, Carson! As we enter the final few weeks of Lent, our school children will be participating in class retreats to prepare for the feast of Easter. Also, our STCS 7 th Graders will lead Stations of the Cross for the parish on Friday, April 11th @ 7PM. Honeybaked Hams Are Back Just In Time For Easter! Beginning Monday, March 24th through April 10th, we will once again be taking orders for the world renowned Honeybaked Hams! Let us save you a trip to the store and avoid those really long lines. You can complete an order form and send back to the School Office, along with your check, and we will do the rest. New this year, you can order online at: www.honeybakedfundraiser.com/f- 572-St--Theresa-Catholic-School.aspx. All orders, whether via check or online, will be available for pick up after school on April 15thin the Pope John Paul Room. It's that simple and our school gets 15%. Don t need a ham for Easter? DONATE ONE. Please consider ordering an Easter ham for a needy family. We will once again be delivering any donation orders to Saint Vincent de Paul. Order forms will be available in the Parish Office starting Monday, March 24th. Pancake Breakfast Next Sunday, April 6th ~ Hosted by the STCS Dad s Club Following 7:30 & 9AM Masses Best Pancakes in Town!!! Can t Stay? Try Our New To Go Option!
Mass Intentions & Celebrants (MARCH 31ST-APRIL 6TH) MONDAY, MARCH 31ST 6:30AM +GRACE FOX-FR. BING TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST 6:30AM JEAN ROBERTS, SPECIAL INT.-FR. BING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND 6:30AM +DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE FRANK G. PATCHETT FAMILY-FR. CHUCK 8:30AM +GRETCHEN BOYER-FR. BING THURSDAY, APRIL 3RD 6:30AM +MARIA G. PATCHETT-FR. BING FRIDAY, APRIL 4TH 6:30AM +JOSEPH M. KRIMPLE-FR. BING SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH 8:00AM MARY ANN GRAY, SPECIAL INT.-FR. BING 5:00PM FOR THE PARISHIONERS-FR. BING SUNDAY, APRIL 6TH 7:30AM +HILDEGARDE BROWN-FR. BING 9:00AM +MARGARET COSTELLO-FR. LOU BISHOP, SJ 11:00AM +MARIE & ALBERT FLEMING-FR. BING 6:00PM +CARMEN FIGUERA MATUSKEY-FR. FRANK The Priest scheduled to celebrate the Mass IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ~ Readings ~ Week of March 30, 2014 Sunday 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23; Eph 5:8-14, Jn 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 Monday Is 65:17-21; Ps 30; Jn 4:43-54 Tuesday Ez 47:1-9, 12; Ps 46; Jn 5:1-16 Wednesday Is 49:8-15; Ps 145; Jn 5:17-30 Thursday Ex 32:7-14; Ps 106; Jn 5:31-47 Friday Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Ps 34; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Saturday Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7; Jn 7:40-53 Sunday Ez 37:12-14; Ps 130; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) In addition to the regular Saturday afternoon time (3:30-4:30PM), confessors will be available in the church on Wednesdays of Lent from 5:00 until 6:00PM. Alternate times for Confession are always available as well just call the Parish Office @ 602-840-0850 to schedule an appointment with a priest! Sunday 9:00AM RCIA (Convent Upper Rm) 10:15AM RCIC (Club Rm) 10:30AM RE Classes (School Classrooms) 7:00PM Life Teen (Life Room) Monday 6:00PM Boy Scout Mtg. (PJP Rm) Tuesday 6:00PM Cub Scout Pack#147 Planning Mtg. (PJP Rm) 6:30PM SVDP Mtg. (Convent Conference Rm) 7:00PM Quick Journey Thru Bible (Convent Upper Rm) 7:30PM Adult Basketball (McMahon Gym) Wednesday 9:30AM Centering Prayer (Convent Chapel) 11:30AM Senior Luncheon (Feeney Hall) 3:00PM Children s Choir Practice (Parish Conference Rm) 5:00PM Lenten Reconciliation (Church) 6:00PM Choir Rehearsal (Church) 6:30PM Rosary (Convent Chapel) Thursday 9:00AM Adoration (Convent Chapel) Friday 5:00PM Lenten Fish Fry (Feeney Hall) 7:00PM Stations Of The Cross (Church) Saturday 8:00AM 4th-12th Grade Sacramental Retreat (Feeney Hall) 3:30PM Confessions (Church) 8:30PM Al Anon (Classroom 16) Alcoholics Anonymous (Classroom 17)