September 18, 2016 - St. Thomas Aquinas

September 18, 2016 www.stanpr.org
[email protected] Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Roman Catholic Church
8320 Old C.R. #54 New Port Richey, FL 34653 Phone 727727-372372-8600 Web Page: www.stanpr.org
Pastor: Rev. Michael Lydon 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
The Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – September 18, 2016
NEXT WEEKS GOSPEL LUKE 16:19-31
St. Teresa of Calcutta
On Sunday, September 4, 2016, Pope
Francis officially bestowed the title
of Saint to Mother Teresa at the
canonization ceremony at St Peter’s
Square in Vatican City.
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who
dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined
sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor
man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would
gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the
rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his
sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by
angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died
and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was
in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father
Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip
of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am
suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied,
‘My child, remember that you received what was good
during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received
what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas
you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a
great chasm is established to prevent anyone from
crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or
from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this
place of torment.' But Abraham replied, ‘They have
Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from
the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham
said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise
from the dead.’”
Learning, Living and Sharing the Good News
September 18, 2016 www.stanpr.org
[email protected] Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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
Emergency Number for Anointing of the Sick:
Nights & Weekends (727) 836-3211
Prayer Line—Marilyn Clausen (727) 376-1740
Administration
Business Office Fax: (727) 376-7204
Pastoral Ministries Coordinator: Mary Miller Ext 111
Temporal Services Coordinator: Deacon Mark Manko
Ext 133
Parish Bookkeeper: Cherise Amundson Ext. 115
Bulletin Editor: Katherine Moschitto Ext. 110
Parish Ministry
Faith Formation Team Leader – Sue Sferra Ext. 132
Faith Formation Assistant – Denise Santos Ext. 112
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 Council – Linda Meeker 372-8600
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 & Thursday
9:30-11:00am & 1:30-3:30pm
Gift Store: Open before/after weekend Masses
Parish Library: Open during office hours and during
“Coffee & Donuts” fellowship hours – Sept. - May
After 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Masses
Readings for the Week of Sept. 18, 2016
Sunday: Am 8:4-7/Ps 113:1-2, 4-8/1 Tm 2:1-8/Lk 16:1
-13 or 16:10-13
Monday: Prv 3:27-34/Ps 15:2-5/Lk 8:16-18
Tuesday: Wis 3:1-9 or Romans 8:31b-39/Ps 126:5/Lk
9:23-26
Wednesday: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13/Ps 19:2-5/Mt 9:9-13
Thursday: Eccl 1:2-11/Ps 90:1/Lk 9:7-9
Friday: Deut 10:8-9 (719-2)/Ps 16:5a (721-1)/
Matthew 9:35-38 (724-1)
Saturday: Eccl 11:9-12:8/Ps 90:1/Lk 9:43b-45
Next Sunday: Am 6:1a, 4-7/Ps 146:7-10/1 Tm 6:1116/Lk 16:19-31
Weekend Readings are at (727) 372-8600
Mass Intentions
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8:00 a.m. Rosalie Johnson
8:00 a.m. Rosa Varkey
8:00 a.m. Vocations
8:00 a.m. Maria Thom Trinh
8:00 a.m. Ron Andersson
4:00 p.m. Robert Maggiotto
6:00 p.m. Laurie Rock
7:00 a.m. Alyssa Mulroy
8:30 a.m. Marge Monticello
10:30 a.m. Parish Family
5:00 p.m. Christine Rubright
CALLING ALL NEEDLE-CRAFTERS!
Gulfside Hospice offers a Pet Peace of Mind
program to assist hospice patients with pet care—
transportation to veterinary appointments, grooming
care, pet food, cat litter, preventive medication, petsitting, etc.
Donated items need not be “petthemed”. For more info, contact Rabbi Aaron Lever
@ 727-845-5707 or [email protected].
FLU SHOTS
Get your flu shot here at St. Thomas in the
Parish Center on Sept. 19th from 9:30-11:00
and 1:30-3:00. If you have insurance, bring
your card with you.
September 18, 2016 www.stanpr.org
[email protected] Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Parish Calendar
Mon.9/19
Tues. 9/20
Wed. 9/21
Thurs. 9/22
Fri. 9/23
Sun. 9/25
9:30AM Walgreen’s Flu Shots; 1:30PM
Walgreen’s Flu Shots; 7:00PM Cub
Scouts; 7:00PM Prayer Grp.; 7:00PM
Venture Crew
9:00AM Ladies’ Guild Rosary Makers;
10:00AM Bereavement Grp; 11:00AM
Bereavement; 6:00PM Girl Scouts;
7:00PM Cont. Choir
8:00AM SVDP; 9:00AM Legion of
Mary; 2:00PM Women’s Bible Study;
4:45PM K-5; 6:15PM K-5/Edge;
7:00PM Choir
4:00PM Girl Scouts; 7:00PM Bible
Study;
8:00PM AA-Al-Anon
9:00AM K-5; 9:30AM Coffee &
Donuts after 8:30 & 10:30 Masses;
4:00PM LT
Offertory:
Last Weekend—$16,502.27
MASS COUNTS Sept. 10th & 11th
4 pm—340
6 pm— 178
7 am—166
8:30 am—241
10:30 am—497
5:00 pm—288
TOTAL 1,710
Year of Mercy Healing Service for the Divorced,
Separated and Remarried.
In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Jesus says to all, “Come to me, all
who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This
is especially the case for those who may have experienced the
pain of a divorce or separation. Join Catholic speaker Rose
Sweet as we seek God’s mercy, healing, and hope on Sunday,
Sept 18th at 3pm at the Cathedral of St. Jude in St. Petersburg.
Free childcare available.
SEPT 29-OCT 1, 2016 |
VETERANS MEMORIAL
PARK
We are in need of volunteers,
especially in the shower area.
To volunteer, visit www.ocnstanddown.org
HELPING VETERANS TRANSITION HOME
ONE COMMUNITY NOW STAND DOWN |
www.ocnstanddown.org
Associate Pastor’s Letter
My Dear Parishioners,
Today’s Gospel story
tells us about the
crooked
but
resourceful manager and challenges us to
use our blessings – time, talent, health and
wealth – wisely and justly so that they will
serve for our good in eternity. We use our
earthly wealth wisely when we spend it for
our own needs in moderation and when we
love and help the needy around us, for those
are the purposes for which he has entrusted
all these things to us.
The manager in Jesus’ story used all his
resources to secure his future. We must be
no less resourceful. We are so blessed that
we have at our disposal the Holy Mass and
Sacraments as sources of Divine Grace, the
Holy Bible as the Word of God for daily
meditation and practice, and the teaching
authority of the Spirit-guided Church to
direct us in our Christian life. We need to
use these resources in such a way that it will
be said of us, “and the Master commended
them because they acted so prudently”.
We insure our homes against fire, storms,
flood and thieves and insure our lives by
taking life insurance and car insurance. In
the same way, let us insure ourselves for the
one thing that most certainly will happen;
namely, our meeting God to give Him an
account of our lives. Let us all remember
the blessings God has given and share our
blessings with others with joyful hearts.
Let us pray for our Pastor Fr. Mike Lydon,
who is on his annual vacation that he has a
relaxing and enjoyable time and come back
to us with good health and a refreshed mind.
God bless you,
Father George
September 18, 2016 www.stanpr.org
[email protected] Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
THE FAITH FORMATION
MINISTRY NEEDS YOU!!! God
does not call the qualified …
He qualifies the called!!!
Catechists / Volunteers
WE STILL NEED WILLING HEARTS
TO SERVE IN THIS IMPORTANT
MINISTRY!!! Contact the Faith
Formation Office for more info!
THIS Sunday (9/18) is
Catechetical Sunday.
The theme this year is
"Prayer: The Faith Prayed"
A special blessing will be offered to our faith
formation catechists during all Masses.
Remember, when we choose to love our faith,
share our faith and inspire our faith … WE
ARE ALL CATECHISTS!!!
Saint Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic
Church welcomes all families to participate
in ongoing, lifelong faith formation!
The Formation Staff of St. Thomas Aquinas is
privileged to serve with and for you.
 727-372-8600 
Weekly Sessions begin LAST week Sunday
9/11 9:00-10:15AM
CHILDREN’S LITURGY is offered during 10:30 Mass
Wednesday 9/14 4:45-6:00PM
Wednesday 9/14 6:15-7:30PM
HIGH SCHOOL LIFE TEEN
SESSIONS BEGIN
THIS SUNDAY 9/18
following 5:00PM Mass.
THIS WEEK IN FAITH
FORMATION … our
Sunday morning and
Wednesday sessions
INCLUDE an adult
formation session for
parents,
grandparents, guardians
… all adults.
Once your child is signed
in to class, please join
Sue in the chapel section
of the parish
hall.
Altar Server Training
October 8th, 2016 9am-12noon
Packets available in Faith Formation Office registration for training required.
September 18, 2016 www.stanpr.org
[email protected] Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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.
Brown Paper Bags!
Fruit (can)
Veggie (can)
Pork & Beans
Pasta Sauce
Diced Tomatoes
Tuna
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Mac & Cheese (box)
Pancake Mix (w/water)
Pancake Syrup
Jello
Dry Pasta (box)
Potatoes (instant)
Saltines (sleeved)
Rice or Rice Mix
Cereal (box)
Meal Makers (helpers)
Toothpaste
Soap (bar)
Toilet Paper
HELP US HELP THEM
THANK YOU!!
FIRST RESPONDERS PRESENTATION
AND LUNCHEON—Sept. 29, 2016
Each year, Sept. 29th holds a special
significance for first responders throughout
the country, a day of reflection for our law
enforcement and firefighters whose lives have
been lost while performing their duty as First
Responder. This day we honor our heroes
with a service & luncheon on the feast day for
St. Michael the Archangel, Patron Saint of
First Responders. St. Michael is recognized
as an archangel by the Christian, Jewish and
Islamic faiths. This free event is at The
Franciscan Center in Tampa and is open to the
public to join. Please RSVP by Sept. 24th.
Donation welcome. Please call 813-2292695.
Life Planning Seminar
Sunday, October 9th
at 12:00 Noon
in the Parish Center
The Catholic Foundation along with Father
Mike, Dobie’s Funeral Home and Eugene
Beil; Attorney at Law will be here to outline
some important issues we will face like;
durable Power of Attorney, Living Wills,
Living Trusts, planning for your own funeral
and the Church’s teachings on End of Life
issues. There will be snacks and refreshments
provided by Thomas Dobies. The seminar
will be short and informative! Please join us!
September 18, 2016 www.stanpr.org
[email protected] Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (adapted for youth)
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE who may be hearing the whisper of God’s
call to Catholicism? The RCIA is a beautiful process … and a journey
worth taking! Don’t get caught up in the terminology, but share this
explanation of the process with anyone who may be interested … have
them reach out to us … with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we will do the rest!
RCI(A) – and adapted for Youth:
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is for unbaptized adults, adults baptized another
Christian faith (or those baptized Catholic, with no subsequent catechesis or sacraments) AND adapted for youth older than 7 who are not baptized and/or older Catholic children who
are baptized, but have not been catechized (instructed) or received First Eucharist.
Catechumens (those not yet baptized) are sent forth from the Mass following Gospel / Homily
for a celebration of weekend readings, breaking open the Word of God. Sponsors / Parents /
Spouses remain in full Mass participation.
Separate weekly catechetical (instructional) sessions are offered (age appropriate classroom
break outs). Sponsor / Parent / Family participation is vital to this process - and will be highly
encouraged (along with family mentors from within the parish community). Contact the parish
office for more information.
ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN RCIA ARE ASKED TO MEET IN THE PARISH HALL
FOLLOWING 8:30AM MASS THIS SUNDAY 9/18.
FREE
CLASSES IN ENGLISH
And AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
Tuesday 7:00-8:30 p.m.
In the Classrooms of:
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church
5340 High St., New Port Richey
For more info, call: 727-849-7521
$5.00-Registration
Classes begin: October 11, 2016
Ministers of Hospitality
We are in need of volunteers for the 4pm, 6pm,
and 7am weekend Masses.
Main ingredients for becoming an usher: a
welcoming smile, kindness to all—young and
elderly, respectful to each other and be willing
to give one hour of your time.
If you can say yes to any of the above
ingredients, we would love to have to come
onboard and join us. Thank you and God bless
you. Please call Mary Miller 727-372-8600 @
ext. 111.
September 18, 2016 www.stanpr.org
[email protected] Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Faith Formation For All!
Twenty-fifth
Sunday in Ordinary
Time
WEEKLY CLASSROOM
SESSIONS BEGAN LAST
WEEK (WEEK OF
SEPTEMBER 11th)
“Praise the Lord who lifts
Faith
Formation is for
up the poor.”
From Psalm 113
ALL … please register
your family and join
us!!!
Today’s Gospel (Luke 16: 1-13) reminds us how important it is to
care for others. Saint Teresa of Kolkata (aka Calcutta) was a living
reminder of that. Mother Teresa was canonized a saint Sunday,
September 4th. Todays’ message was her message. Using the Works
of Mercy as our guide, may it be OUR message as well! How will
your family apply these “works” in the week ahead?
High School Life Nights
begin THIS Sunday
SEPTEMBER 18th
following 5:00PM Mass
Works of Mercy
Get your Pampered Chef
today … proceeds to
The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are actions we can
benefit our Life Teen
perform that extend God’s compassion and mercy to those in need.
efforts! Order online at
www.pamperedchef.com
Corporal Works of Mercy
and follow these easy
The Corporal Works of Mercy are these kind acts by which we help
instructions: upper right
our neighbors with their material and physical needs.
corner,
find a show - type
feed the hungry
“St. Thomas Aquinas” - the
shelter the homeless
page will open to view
clothe the naked
catalogue & place order!
visit the sick and imprisoned
20-25% of total sales will
bury the dead
be donated back to St.
give alms to the poor
Thomas Life Teen.
Catalogues are also
available
at the parish
Spiritual Works of Mercy
office front desk . Event
The Spiritual Works of Mercy are acts of compassion, as listed below,
runs through 9/23.
by which we help our neighbors with their emotional and spiritual
Contact Mary Anne
needs.
Richard with any
instruct
questions (727)364-6311
advise
console
comfort
forgive
bear wrongs patiently
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT!