St. Thomas Aquinas Parish 601 Bristol Pike Croydon, PA 19021

St.Thomas Aquinas Parish
601 Bristol Pike
Croydon, PA 19021
(215) 788-2989
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Established July 1, 2014
Joining The Parishes of
St. Thomas Aquinas (1922-2014)
& St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1976-2014)
ST. THOMAS
601 Bristol Pike
Croydon, PA 19021
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM
Sundays: 11:00 AM (St. Thomas)
and 9:00 AM (Seton)
Monday-Friday: 8:30 AM
(Chapel at 126 Walnut Ave.)
Holydays: 8:30 AM, 12 noon
AND 7:00 PM
(St. Thomas)
SETON
1200 Park Ave.
Bensalem, PA 19020
PARISH OFFICE
121 Belmont Ave.
Croydon, PA 19021
215-788-2989
Fax: 215-788-7626
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.staq.org
twitter@staq_church
CONFESSION
SCHEDULE
Saturday: 3:30-4:00 PM
(St. Thomas)
Served By:
Rev. David A. Fernandes, Pastor
Rev. Michael J. Lonergan, Pastor Emeritus, (Former St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)
Deacon John J. Gallagher
MARRIAGES
By Diocesan policy, a six month advance notice is required to allow sufficient time for the necessary marriage
paper work and preparation. Deacons are permitted to witness marriages which are not celebrated during Mass.
BAPTISMS
First and Third Sundays of the month after 11:00 AM Mass. Attendance at Pre-Jordan class, on the 3rd Tuesday
each month at 7:30PM, in the Cares Meeting Room (enter by rear door) at 121 Belmont Avenue, is a requirement.
You must pre-register by calling the Parish Office at (215)788-2989.
PARISH MEMBERSHIP
In order to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and Matrimony, and/or to receive a
Letter of Eligibility to be a Godparent or Sponsor it is necessary for you to be registered in our parish and practice
the Catholic Faith. Contact the Parish Office as soon as you move into our parish to schedule a registration
meeting. Please call the Parish Office if you move, or change your address or phone number.
PARISH DEVOTIONS
Miraculous Medal Novena: Saturdays after 9:00 AM Mass (Chapel)
Rosary: Weekdays before 8:30 AM Mass (Chapel) and Sundays before each Mass
Christian Prayer: Monday-Saturday before 8:30 AM Mass
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Mondays 9:00 AM -3:30PM with Benediction at 3:30 PM (Chapel)
December 13, 2015
4:30 PM
Monday
8:30 AM
December 14, 2015
Edward Morrissy req by Betty Wunsch
Tuesday
8:30 AM
December 15, 2015
Joseph Wunsch III req by Aunt Betty
December 20, 2015
9:00 AM
J Jackson & B Gutherman
11:00 AM
A Scheck & R Andrews
Wednesday
December 16, 2015
8:30 AM Jim Sibel req by Gert Kaelin
Extraordinary
Ministers
Thursday
December 17, 2015
8:30 AM Margaret Beck req by Betty & Kathleen
Friday
8:30 AM
December 18, 2015
George Redner III req by Lois & Edward
Copechal
Saturday
4:30 PM
December 19, 2015
Joseph John Schreiner Jr req by Joann & Fam
Sunday
9:00 AM
11:00 AM
December 20, 2015
Francis Hamilton req by Kathy & Al Belmondo
Joseph Fallon Sr req by The Family
Weekend Offerings
11/28
4:30 PM
11/29
9:00 AM
11/29
11:00 AM
Mail Ins
Debt Reduction
Other Collections (Parish)
Other Collections (Archdiocese)
Candles
Poor Box
December 19, 2015
K Shafer & R Fallon
$2,416.00
$1,851.00
$2,051.00
$ 450.00
$ 190.00
$ 50.00
$ 10.00
$ 50.00
$ 13.00
TOTAL for Parish for November 29, 2015 $7,071.00
TOTAL for Other Collections (Archdiocesan) $10.00
Thank you for your generosity.
May the Lord bless you.
4:30 PM
December 19, 2015
R Brown & E Brown
December 20, 2015
9:00 AM
B Daubert & J Shirley
11:00 AM
R Powers & M Kelly
4:30 PM
December 19, 2015
Erin Moyer, Kelly Moyer,
Bailey McCormick
11:00 PM
December 20, 2015
Lawrence Gabriel, Caleigh Brogan
Meghan Brogan
Sunday Scriptures December 20, 2015
Reading I: Micah 5:1-4a (12C)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Reading II: Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45
077—PAGE 1
December 13, 2015
Remember In Your Prayers
Our men and women in the military:
Many of our parishioners have family members serving in
dangerous assignments around the world. Please keep
them in your prayers.
Our Sick: Jack Gallagher, Georgetta Kelly, Eileen
Frommeyer, Tony DiTommaso, Helen Wolfgang, Agnes
Meek, Elizabeth & Bill Kane, Eileen Brown, Marcella Ghost,
Dan DiTommaso, Duncan Lewis, Robert Wyatt, Mark Buss,
John Tobar, Margaret McGrory, Gail Kotlarek, Leila Jensen,
John Gilbert, Joseph Clayton, Stephanie Burris, Noden
Masisak, Jean Hennessey, Lorraine Wojcilchowski, Rita
Patterson, Eleanor Winstanley and all their relatives and
friends.
Our Deceased: Florence Middleton, Brian McNamee,
Joseph Tadrzynski, Bernice St Peter and all the deceased
members of our parish and their relatives and friends.
During the Season of Advent
our Confession Schedule
will be as follows:
Saturdays, from 3:30—4:00 PM
and
Monday Evenings 7:00—7:30 PM
Our Christmas Mass Schedule
will be as follows:
Christmas Eve
4:30 PM (SETON)
7:00 PM (St. Thomas)
Christmas Day
10:00 AM (St. Thomas)
The 2016 Mass Book is open for
Masses as follows:
June to September 2016—Weekend Masses Only
October to December 2016—All Masses
Sacrament of Penance
Examination of Conscience
In the Sacrament of Penance the Faithful who confess their
sins to a Priest, are sorry for those sins and have a purpose
of amendment, receive from God, through the absolution
given by that Priest, forgiveness of sins they have committed
after Baptism, and at the same time they are reconciled with
the Church, which by sinning they wounded. (Canon 959)
Act of Contrition: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having
offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the
loss of Heaven and fear the pains of hell, but most of all,
because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and
worthy of all my love. I firmly intend with the help of Thy
grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my
life. AMEN
Examination of Conscience
5. Thou shalt not kill.
Did I consent, recommend, advise, approve, support or have
an abortion? Did I realize that there is an excommunication
for anyone who procures an abortion? Did I actively or
passively cooperate with an act of euthanasia whereby
ordinary means were stopped or means taken to directly
end the life of an elderly or sick person? Have I committed
an act of violence or abuse (physical, sexual, emotional or
verbal)? Have I endangered the lives of others by reckless
driving or by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
Do I show contempt for my body by neglecting to take care
of my own health? Have I been mean or unjust to anyone?
Have I held a grudge or sought revenge against someone
who wronged me? Do I point out others’ faults and mistakes
while ignoring my own? Do I complain more than I
compliment? Am I grateful for what other people do for me?
Do I tear people down rather encourage them? Am I
prejudiced against people because of their color, language
or ethnic-religious background?
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
Did I have any sex before or outside of marriage? Do I view
pornographic material (magazines, videos, internet, hotlines)? Have I gone to massage parlors or adult book
stores? Did I commit the sins of masturbation and/or
artificial contraception? Have I not avoided the occasions of
sin (persons or places) which would tempt me to be
unfaithful to my spouse or to my own chastity? Do I
encourage and entertain impure thoughts and desires? Do I
tell or listen to dirty jokes? Have I committed fornication or
adultery?
077—PAGE 2
December 13, 2015
Dear Parishioners,
I ask your prayers for myself as well as our Parish and Finance
Councils. In recent months, we have been considering what to do
with the new school (larger building) and the old school (now the
offices and Crehan Hall). Here is just a sample of how complicated
this issue is:

To do nothing will put us at the mercy of the organization that
rents the new school. The rent could go up or down or
disappear altogether.

At $5,000 a month, it will take many years of rental income to
do the long term maintenance which the new school requires.

To do nothing, will require the least time and effort in the short
term.

To sell the new school will be expensive and possibly time
consuming but it shouldn’t cost more than the selling price
and it will put an end to all expenses associated solely with
that building.
Please join us on Sunday, December 13, 2015 for our
Church Breakfast in Father Crehan Hall from 8:00 to
11:30 AM. Cost is $5.00 per person.
On Monday, December 14, 2015 at 7:00 PM, Rich
Brown and his elves will begin to decorate the Church
for Christmas. Volunteers are needed and welcome.
For information, you may contact the Parish Office at
(215) 788-2989.
The next Pre-Jordan Class will be on Tuesday,
December 15, 2015 at 7:30 PM in the Parish Meeting
Room. Parents and Godparents must attend. For
questions or to confirm attendance, please contact the
Parish Office at (215) 788-2989.

There is no guarantee that the new school will sell.

To sell the new school entails the possible loss of some
parking space.
The STA Conference of St Vincent de Paul Society
will hold their general meeting on Wednesday,
December 16, 2015 at 7:00 PM in Father Crehan Hall.
New members are welcome! Please arrive at 6:30 PM
for a brief orientation. For information, contact the
Parish Office at (215) 788-2989.

To demolish the old school and renovate the new school and
create additional parking will be very expensive and leaves us
with no guarantee that significantly more people will come to
our parish church.
Separated/Divorced Support Group will meet on
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the
Parish Meeting Room. For information, contact Peg
Duffy at (215) 788-1947.

Is a perceived lack of parking the real reason why the vast
majority of people from the former Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
haven’t joined the newly formed St. Thomas Aquinas Parish?
Is parking the real reason why 85% of Catholics from Croydon
don’t attend Mass on Sunday? Where do the people who fill
our church on every Christmas Eve at 7 PM currently park?

St. Anselm Parish has a very large parking lot and a school
but the same percentage of their parishioners attends Sunday
Mass.
Women’s Book & Bible Study. It is always exciting to
share good news. All women are invited to come and
see. We meet every other Thursday at 7:00 PM in the
Parish Meeting Room. The scheduled meetings for
December are December 17th and December 31st.
You are welcome to join the study at any time. Contact
Nancy Adams at (267) 987-4534 or Jaime Roth at
(215) 817-2821 for more information

Will we even need a larger parking lot in the years to come?
Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us! St. Thomas Aquinas, pray
for us! St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us! Happy Advent!
God Bless
Father David
The Christmas Trolley will be visiting our homebound
on Sunday, December 20th at 2 PM. We have a few
seats available for anyone who would like to join us.
For additional information, please contact Michael
Winstanley at (215) 785-2138
077—PAGE 3
December 13, 2015
The Sunday Social will be held on Sunday, December
20, 2015 at 12 Noon in the Church Hall. If you would
like to donate baked goods, please contact Connie Lombardo at (215) 781-2318.
The Seton Hall Seniors will be sponsoring the following
trip: Sight & Sound (Samson) May 2016
For further information, please contact Jack Kelly at
(215) 639-8708 or Joyce Lenahan (215) 826-9126.
The Knights of Columbus Council 4765 will be hosting
a Rosary Prayer Time on January 31, 2016 and
May 29, 2016 after the 11:00 AM Mass. For additional
information, you may contact Wayne Freer at
(215) 266-6423.
Calendar Lottery
Knights of Columbus
St. Raphael Assembly
Lower Bucks County, PA
St. Raphael Assembly is holding a calendar lottery for 2016.
Tickets with a 3 digit number are being sold for $25.00 each
and are good for all 366 days of 2016 (1/1/16 through
12/31/16). Each night the PA Daily Lottery drawing will be
used to determine the winner for that day. Payout is as
follows:
1. Each time your number is drawn you will
receive $25.00 (there is no limit to the number of times that
you can win).
2. If your number is drawn on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday or Independence Day, you will receive $50.00.
3. If your number is drawn on Thanksgiving Day,
you will receive $150.00.
4. If your number is drawn on Christmas Day, you
will receive $300.00.
Numbers are completely random, meaning that you cannot
chose your number. These are great inexpensive gifts,
stocking stuffers, Pollyanna gifts, etc. Checks to the winners
will be mailed every Friday. Proceeds will go to the St.
Raphael Assembly Color Corps for uniforms and the start of
the St. Raphael Assembly Scholarship Fund. For tickets or
additional information, please call Jim Berna at
(215) 788-7004.
Congratulations to the following parish high school
students who received honors for the First Quarter Report:
Archbishop Ryan:
First Honors: Sarah Mooney and Alexa Knellinger
Second Honors: Sarah Hynd
Roman Catholic:
First Honors: Joseph Pizzo
Second Honors: Nicholas Pizzo
As we prepare this Advent Season for the celebration of the
birth of the Christ Child on Christmas Day, we invite you to
attend two “Empty Manger” Christmas Caroling days at local
Planned Parenthood facilities in Southeast Pennsylvania
sponsored by the Bucks County Pro-Life Coalition. The
purpose of these events is to bring the joy and hope of
Christmas to these places of misery and despair. Children
have been saved from abortion when their mothers heard
the carols and reconsidered their choice for abortion in light
of the Christmas story. The first will take place on
Wednesday, December 16th from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at
Planned Parenthood, 610 Louis Drive, Warminister, PA.
The second will be on Saturday, December 19th from
9:30 to 10:30 AM at Planned Parenthood, Comly Road and
Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia.
The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and the National
Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel invites you to the Opening of
the Holy Doors and Solemn Mass for the Jubilee Year of Mercy on Friday, December 18, 2015 at 11:00 AM. For
additional information, call (215) 244-9900 Ext 402.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Charismatic Renewal
presents “The Growth in the Spirit Series”. The Growth in the
Spirit course is a series of eight talks designed to help
individuals grow in Christian maturity. This series of teaching
is specific and practical. It begins on Tuesday, January 12,
2016 at 7:30 to 9:00 PM and continues every Tuesday
through March 1, 2016. Sessions are held at Holy Trinity
School Hall (cafeteria), Osbourne and Stockham Avenues,
Morrisville, PA 19067. Cost is Free. To register, contact
Marie Guaragno at (215) 295-6283 or (215) 295-6900.
All are invited. Please come and bring a friend.
077—PAGE 4
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