Feb 19, 2012 - stmparadise.com

Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
February 19, 2012
Mass Times:
Saturday - 5:00pm Vigil
Sunday – 8:00am & 10:30am
Monday thru Friday - 8:30am
Holy days ~as announced
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday - 3:30 to 4:30pm or by appointment
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
767 Elliott Road, Paradise, CA 95969
Email: [email protected]
530.877.4501
Fax 530.877.5633
Website: www.stmparadise.org
FORGIVENESS OF SINS
Isaiah announced the word of the Lord: “See, I am doing something new!” (Isaiah 43:19). And what was this new
thing? A promise for a people who “did not call upon me” and “grew weary of
me” (43:22); a promise of forgiveness. “It is I, I, who wipe out . . . your offenses; /
your sins I remember no more” (43:25).
Paul told the Corinthians—and tells us—that Jesus is God’s “yes,” and that all
God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus. Does that include God’s promise to forgive
sins? Mark gives the answer when he relates how some people lowered a paralytic
through a hole in the roof, seeking a cure.
As far as we can tell, no one requested forgiving the man’s sins. But that’s what
Jesus did, exactly as Isaiah had announced. Then, lest anyone doubt his authority
on earth to forgive sins, Jesus said, “Pick up your mat, and go home” (Mark 2:11).
The man “rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away” (2:12).Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Readings for the Week
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Jas 3:13-18; Mk 9:14-29
Jas 4:1-10; Mk 9:30-37
Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51; 2 Cor 5:20 — 6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Dt 30:15-20; Lk 9:22-25
Is 58:1-9a; Mt 9:14-15
Is 58:9b-14; Lk 5:27-32
Gn 9:8-15; Ps 25; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15
Confirmation
Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation,
along with Baptism and Eucharist. Confirmation involves the "sealing"
and strengthening by the Holy Spirit, whose
gifts make us more like Christ.
Are you a Catholic adult who has never received
the Sacrament of Confirmation? It is not too late
to do so. Take advantage of our brief, but comprehensive, Adult Confirmation Program
Adult Confirmation is for Catholics over 18
years of age who have received the Sacrament
of Baptism and First Eucharist. This will prepare
participants to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Soto. We meet Wednesday evenings at 7pm in
the Old Rectory beginning February29th, 2012 you may contact the
Parish office and ask for Fr. Mitch, Greg Kidder or Colleen O’Dowd.
Missal Reading for February 19, 2012 is
located on page 68.
A Child is Born
One of the Outreach Programs of Mothers and Others is to provide
meals for the family when a
new mother arrives
home with her newborn baby. Mothers and Others
would like to announce and
welcome this new arrival by
placing a rose on the piano
for the congregation to see. If you are
expecting a child and would like us to
announce the arrival in this way, please
contact Norma Degmetich at 873-4913
Thank you to those who have already
pledged to the 2012 Annual Catholic
Appeal!
If you have not yet made a donation,
Appeal envelopes are available in the
pews, or contact the parish office. Your
gift truly makes a difference in the lives
of others.
Weekly Offering
Weekly Calendar
February 11-12, 2012
Sunday, February 19
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
8:00am RCIA Inquiry, church conf. room, by appointment, call
church office at 877.4501
Monday, February 20
President’s Day ~ Church Office Closed
12:00pm Methodist Church Hot lunch, Methodist
Church
1:00pm Breath of the Spirit, Holy Spirit House of Prayer
Regular Donation
Ash Wednesday
Table of Plenty
Youth Ministry
St. Vincent de Paul
Building Fund
$
Total
4,727.50
5.00
130.00
140.00
154.00
79.00
$
5,235.50
Thank you for your generosity!
Tuesday, February 21
St. Peter Damian
Mardi Gras
Table of Plenty
Wednesday, February 22
By Linda Boisse
Ash Wednesday; Fast & Abstinence;
Almsgiving
6:30am Prayer & Ashes
8:30am Mass & Ashes
9:30am Mothers and Others, garage
12:00pm Wednesday Hot Lunch Program, Methodist Church
1:00pm 50+ Singles Group, Methodist Church
6:30pm Mass & Ashes
7:00pm Joyful Noise Choir Practice, church conf. room
Thursday, February 23
St. Polycarp
7:00pm Adult Faith Formation, Achieve Multipurpose Room
Friday, February 24
Abstinence
9:15am Legion of Mary, church conf. room
10:30am Table of Plenty Food Distribution, garage
Saturday, February 25
3:30pm Confessions
5:00pm Vigil Mass, Rite of Sending
Sunday, February 26
First Sunday of Lent; Rite of Election Cathedral of
the Blessed Sacrament
8:00am RCIA Inquiry, church conf. room, by appointment, call
church office at 877.4501
This week’s highlighted bulletin sponsor is:
Sontag-Reeve Eye Center
899.2244
Please let the supporters of our bulletin know you appreciate them!
2
Last Saturday, February 11th was the “A Simple Gesture”
green bag pickup. Table of Plenty received 312 bags of
food! There are a total of 1500 households or 1 in every
10 households on the ridge who donate to “A Simple
Gesture”. Think about it, Table of Plenty gave supplemental food to 380 people in December and 346 people
in January which means about 726 people receive supplemental food from the 312 green bags we receive every two months. There are four supplemental food programs; STM Table of Plenty, St. Nicholas, Ridge Presbyterian, and the Magalia Food Pantry as well as three
emergency pantries; Salvation Army, Help 4 People and
the Paradise 7th Day Adventists who receive food from
“A Simple Gesture”. This is amazing and this is God’s
work! We depend on the “Green Bags” as well as your
important cash donations which pay for the dairy and
protein products we buy. Thank you St. Thomas More
for participating in the “A Simple Gesture” program and
your donations! There are pamphlets in the vestibule if
you would like to sign up to donate to “A Simple Gesture”.
A special thank you to the teenagers from the St. Thomas
More Confirmation Class of 2013! Jesse, Michael B.,
Andrew, Becca, Daniel and their teachers Maggie and
Mary donated their time to help receive, sort and store
the food received. They were a big help to us!
Matthew 25:35, 40
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and
you gave me drink...
I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.”
FRIDAYS AT 5PM DURING LENT:
STATIONS — SUSTENANCE — SOUP
Bring your palms for
burning after the
morning mass on
Tuesday February 21st.
Ash Wednesday Schedule
22 February
6:30 am
8:30 am
4:00 pm
6:30 pm
Prayer and Ashes
Mass and Ashes
Mass and Ashes
Mass and Ashes
We are called during Lent to fast, pray, and give alms.
We are grateful for the continued availability of Stations of
the Cross through our ministries during the Season of Lent!
This year Stations will begin at 5pm in the Church and be
followed in Achieve Charter School’s Multipurpose Room
(please consider where you park) by a notable and brief
teaching and soup.
Those dates are:
Friday, 24 February
Friday, 2 March
Friday, 9 March
Friday, 16 March
Friday, 23 March
Friday, 30 March
*Please also consider attending our
Holy Week Adult Faith Formation
Session with Dr. Jim McManus on Tuesday, 3 April .
We’ll be looking at the art/literature of the True Cross (as
in the actual cross that Jesus was crucified upon).
Days of Fast (from food) and
Abstinence (from meat) occur
on Ash Wednesday (2/22) &
Good Friday (4/6)
Please make arrangements to include Stations, Sustenance,
and Soup as part of your Lenten Journey this season!
Days of Abstinence (from
meat) occur on Fridays in Lent
40 Days for Life
For Bishop Soto’s Diocesan
Regulations and Admonitions for Lent please see
www.diocese-sacramento.org
Lenten Challenge for all! Did you know that the little
“cup candles” we use at Easter Vigil are actually meant to
recall our own baptism — and thus symbolize our original
baptismal candle?! So really — if everyone had their
original baptismal candle — we wouldn’t need vigil candles! This is probably how vigil candles began — too
many of the faithful lost track of their original baptismal
candle — so — Fr. Mitch is issuing us a challenge! Call/
look around — and try to find your original baptismal candle! We want you to bring it to Easter Vigil this year! If
you cannot find it — Fr. Mitch will dedicate “new” candles for everyone this year! You may buy one on your
own — or we will have some options available for purchase! We will continue forming you so you can really
participate in this challenge! Let’s really do MORE and
be MORE this Lenten Season! More infor. next week!
3
THIS LENT (2/22-4/6) Paradise/Chico will unite with
cities around the world for the largest pro-life effort in history: 40 Days for Life. Recognizing that “with God all
things are possible,” we will be praying & fasting for an
end to abortion, offering loving assistance to women who
are facing the challenges of an unexpected or unsupported pregnancy,
while also comforting everyone who
has been hurt by this very painful
“choice”. 40 Days for Life has, by
God’s grace, already saved more than
4,300 lives from abortion, led to the
conversion of 52 abortion workers,
and seen 14 abortion businesses close
completely! Please join in these powerful and prayerful efforts! More information next week — but don’t
wait! We peacefully pray outside
Planned Parenthood in Chico and this is for anyone! If you
can pray — you can do this! Get involved at 40daysforlife.org
Mass Intentions
February 18-26, 2012
Sat.
5:00pm
Sun.
8:00am
10:30am
Mon.
8:30am
Tues. 8:30am
Wed.
8:30am
Thur. 8:30am
Fri.
8:30am
Sat.
5:00pm
Sun.

8:00am
10:30am
Francis Dominguez 
Intentions of Ed & Ruth Rundle
People of STM
Ann Brazil
Intentions of Anita Glockson
for her mother Elvira Lewandowski 
Maria Souza 
Ricky Souza
Elisabeth Binstock 
Bob Nute 
Living & deceased members of
STM Ladies Guild
Open
Open
Mirna Munoz 
Intentions of Ed & Ruth Rundle
Doug & Frances Richardson
People of STM
Please pray for our Brothers & Sisters
in Christ:
Betty Bailey
Nancy Barnes
Patrick Benedict
Anthony Borg
David J. Brown
Nick Brown
Bev. Charpentier
Holly Anna Clark
Greg DeCristofaro
Michelle Degmetich
Irma Douglas
Margaret Estrada
Mark & Lillian Ferguson
Mark Finn
Caroline Haynes
Maurine Hohenthaner
Caroline Keyes
Bill Marchi
Doris Mc Manus
Rosella Mittag
Tycen Pacheco
Tony Pennisi
Donald Pergande
Frank Pugel
Jose Reyes
Amy Richardson
Lucy Sandoval
Gary Shipston
Dolores Wagner
TinaWalebrock Philbrook
Brooke Boisse Bridge & Baby
Names will remain on the prayer list for four weeks.
Denotes deceased
Nutritional Fasting & Abstinence During Lent
My somewhat large family and myself are all active in various ministries and facets of our St. Thomas More parish. I am also a certified personal trainer. Nutritional fasting and abstinence seems to be
an oxymoron, or at least a counter-intuitive term. I have discovered
that this is not the case. One could also surmise that I would have a
conflict between my personal Lenten fasting /abstinence obligation
and my professional adherence to nutritional principles that promote
health and fitness. Contrary to this natural assumption, I am now
actually advocating a remedy to anyone's hesitance to strictly observe our Lenten directive for public penance. A synopsis of what
the Church has to say about fasting and abstinence during Lent can
be found @ americancatholic.org as follows:
"Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years
old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.
Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means partaking of only
one full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on
when a person chooses to eat the main or full meal.
Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat."
I know, it sounds restrictive, even intrusive. However, my research
and personal experience has revealed a program that is simultaneously strictly adherent to canonical requirements while being convenient, inexpensive, nutritious and delicious. It addresses weight management, fitness and health issues while still providing an opportunity to more closely encounter the Holy Spirit through strict fasting
and abstinence. Father Mitch has decided to join me on this Lenten
challenge for spiritual growth and nutritional health. Please feel free
to contact me after Mass or call me for further information on this
nutrition program and a start on the road to your best Lent ever!
Marco Diaz-Infante Cell: (530) 520-2135
Question of the Week
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ February 19, 2012
First Reading: Isaiah 43: 18-19, 21-22, 24-25
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 1: 18-22
Gospel:
Mark 2: 1-12
Theme: Jesus forgives our sins.
Question for Children: How does the Church help us see
that Jesus forgives our sins?
Question for Youth: When have you experienced forgiveness
from God or others? What does forgiveness feel like to you?
Question for Adults: What powerful signs have you seen that
God forgives us and heals us?
K of C “40 cans for Lent” Program
Dear fellow parishioners: The S.T.M Council of the Knights
of Columbus is inviting you to join us along with all the
Knights Councils in Ca. to participate in the “40 cans for
lent” program. All cans collected will go directly to our own
“Table of Plenty” food program. Many of you are participating in the “Simple Gesture”(green Bag) program and we want
you to continue. For those of you who are not participating
in the “Simple Gesture” program, here is an opportunity during lent to help our food program. If you feel you can participate in both during lent, your sacrifice will be received as a
blessing for those in need. Please drop your cans off in the
food baskets in the parish vestibule.
May God Bless you abundantly, Greg DeCristofaro
STM Countdown
To Sacraments:
Lent Begins = 5 Days!
VI!
Volume
ROCK At-A-Glance
THE YEAR OF MARRIAGE!
Check out these websites:
www.foryourmarriage.org
www.marriageuniqueforareason.org
Friday, 17 February
FAMILY POTLUCK &
FAITH FORMATION!!!
Don’t miss this!!!
LAST FRIDAY BEFORE LENT!
IT’S BURGER-NIGHT!!!
Saturday, 18 February
Mother-Daughter Program
Sunday, 19 February
7th Week of Ordinary Time
8 & 10:30am — Mass
Monday, 20 February
6:30-8:30pm THE ROCK
Youth Ministry Grades 7-12
Wednesday, 22 February
ASH WEDNESDAY
(Fast and Abstinence)
6:30am — Prayer & Ashes
8:30a/4p/6:30p — Mass/Ashes
FAMILY FAITH FORMATION
All parents are expected to
accompany their children to
Faith Formation and Mass!
3:00pm — Playground/Snack
3:30pm — Family Formation
3:50pm — Families dismissed to
Mass and Ashes in Church
4:00pm — Mass
4:45pm — Dismissal
6:30pm — FF Grades 6-9
Meet in Church for Mass and
Ashes — unless you have already gone with your family —
if so — then you are excused
for the evening!
Thursday, 23 February
7pm — Adult Faith Formation
Friday, 24 February
Abstinence (from meat)
5:00pm — Stations of/Cross
5:45pm — Brief Teaching from
Catholicism in ACS MPR
6:00pm — Soup in ACS MPR
2/25 — Happy B-Day Marissa!
OCCUPY ORDINARY TIME!!!
Hey Y’all! This is your LAST SUNDAY to sing the Gloria and the Alleluia!
We abstain from these glorious musical prayers during Lent as a form of
fasting and penance — a reminder that we are called to be mindful and purify ourselves as we walk those 40 Days in the desert with Jesus. SOOOO…
let’s REALLY hear you sing it out this week at those special prayers!
To All Catholic Peeps Big and Small — Don’t
forget! It’s SO VERY important to always
know an Act of Contrition so that:
1.) I can pray it before I go to bed each night so
that I learn to examine my conscience every
day. If I say my Act of Contrition with my
whole heart — it causes me to really look at my
actions, my thoughts, and my behavior towards
other people, myself, and God on a daily basis —
instead of trying to examine my conscience just
before going to confession.
2.) Knowing my sins makes going to confession
easier as well as truly an answer to a call from
God to be better...instead of something I
fear...or see as an obligation! Our sacrament of
confession is SUCH a gift of our Catholic
Church — and really from Jesus himself! NOBODY gets to do what we get to do or feel the
spirit of forgiveness in Reconciliation! How
much does it ROCK to be CATHOLIC!
Act of Contrition:
O God, I am sorry for anything I have done
to hurt you or any person.
I know I should show my love for You
in the way I treat the people and things
You have given me.
Help me to do penance and
avoid things that lead me to sin.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
who suffered for us all,
Have mercy on me. Amen.
FAITH FORMATION PARENTS:
Don’t forget — if you have not registered/
verified your email at flockNote.com — you are
not receiving our weekly information! Young people — help your parents out! Register them!
Thanks to all of our parents who made our Parent
Conferences/Parent Meetings a priority! We appreciate you! Also thanks to all of our FF Team
who worked very hard to get all those meetings
ready and working together to help our parents
feel ready to form their children and families! We
can always use additional help in Faith Formation as
well! One more set of thanks to Fr. Mitch & Greg
and Yvonne Kidder for their assistance in taking on
Faith Formation sessions when we needed help over
the last 2 weeks!
6
Issue 1
Rite of Sending = 7 Days!
Rite of Election = 8 Days!
Next Baptism = 47 Days!
YOUTH MINISTRY
PEEPS & PARENTS!
Please HOLD 9-10
March!!! Details next
week! Can you GUESS
WHY?! Hint: I’m sure you
can “NET” the answer!
And for the record — if you aren’t talking about the HHS Mandate
— you should be! These are not political issues — nor are they singularly Catholic. But if we believe what we profess in the Creed
each week and become what we receive each week in the Eucharist
— we should care BECAUSE we are Catholic. Our apostle, Bishop
Soto has spoken. Correct information has been placed on our website, has been sent via flockNote, and is in vestibule.
Good Friday Stations Rehearsals beginning soon!
Just an advance heads-up that Good Friday Stations Casting/
Rehearsals will take place on the following Lenten Mondays starting
in the church at 6:29pm and finishing at 8:30pm. This opportunity
is open to young people Grades 7-12 and recent grads. Committing
as a cast member means you are present and on time for all rehearsals and responsible to the Student Director. Mondays are:
2/27, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2. There is sometimes 1 additional
rehearsal called if necessary. Good Friday schedule (all but 1 of you
are out of school):
11:00am — Arrive to STM for Dress/Media Run-Thru
12:00pm — Good Friday meal (this is your 1 main meal)
1:00pm — Additional Prep Time/Rehearse for Liturgy
1:30pm — Prayer
2:00pm — Walking Stations of the Cross
3:00pm — Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
COUGH..COUGH..Confirmation Candidates...Team Community Service!
2012 STASZKOW LENTEN FAMILY CHALLENGE
We are called to fast, pray, and give alms during Lent.
Kevin Staszkow is the Director of Evangelization & Catechesis
AND Youth and Young Adult Ministry for our Diocese of Sacramento. Some of you know him as SuperKevin. His wife Paula is
a Parish Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry. Their
daughters are 5-year old twins Sarah and Rachel.
The Staszkow Family chooses 1 night per week during Lent
when the entire family makes a commitment to:
-fast from meetings or practices after school and work
-fast from electric appliances/computers/cell phones
-use one room’s worth of heat for the evening
-fast from extra food at dinner (simple soup supper)
-cook & eat that simple soup supper as a family
-do homework and other activities by candlelight
-pray/talk as a family (Question of Week) on that night
-plan and put into practice at least 1 project that serves/gives
dignity to the poor.
Team Staszkow is again challenging our STM families and
others to do the same for the 6 weeks of Lent! Talk as a
family and choose your day of the week! It’s Lent. Come ON.
It’s supposed to be a sacrifice! BE MORE! Good Luck!
PS — Congrats and thanks to Antoni, Shana, Gabby, Monica, and Angie for a GREAT job last week & this week!!!!
Got questions about Faith Formation or Youth Ministry at St. Thomas More? Call/text Colleen at 831-917-5731 OR email [email protected]
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
Contact Information
Office Hours: Monday-Friday from 11am-4pm
Father Mieczyslaw “ Mitch” Maleszyk
[email protected]
Parish Plant Manager: Greg Kidder Cell 228-6163
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry:
Colleen O’Dowd 514-3892 (call) OR 831-917-5731 (text/call)
www.icatholicyouth.com or www.yacatholic.org
Music Director: Zooba Zwicker Office - 877-4501
Vocation Committee: Lou Donnelly 872-1212
Catholics Come Home: Cathy Gunter 877-3919
Mothers and Others: Norma Degmetich 873-4913
RCIA: Parish Office 877-4501
Table of Plenty: Office 877-1485
Infant Baptism Coordinator (Pre-Kindergarten/younger):
Elaine Helmick 872-7341
St. Vincent de Paul Society: Office 872-4687
Knights of Columbus: Charles Thibault 873-1850
Ladies Guild: Pat Wallila Home 876-9185
Bulletin: Deadline-Tuesday, 4pm, e-mail: [email protected]
Bulletin Ads: Joe DiDuca - 877-6842
Master Calendar: [email protected]
Grief Support Ministry: Lois Gervais 872.0278
Funeral Planning: Barbara Wright 570.0449
Eucharistic Home Visits: Lani McManus 877.6997
Parish Registration forms are located in church vestibule.
Saint Thomas More Catholic Church in Paradise, California (on Facebook)
@stmparadise (on Twitter)
STM Paradise (register for updates and this bulletin for FREE on flockNote)
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