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Parish
Update
April Highlights
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Following Jesus Christ in joy, gratitude, and service
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This month's e-newsletter presents a snapshot of parish life at St. Thomas during April. We will follow with a special edition Holy Week e-Newsletter next week, offering you more about what will be happening, from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. This update includes information about:
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Schedule for Holy Week
The Light is On for You
Lenten Soup Suppers
Blessing Bags
Food and Clothing Drive
Bereavement Support Ministry
Easter Egg Hunt
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Returning your Lentern Rice Bowl
Fr. Dave's monthly talk
Ladies Spring Tea
Vacation Bible Camp
Sunday and Holy Week readings
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Holy Week | Triduum
Look for next week's Holy Week e-newsletter for more details
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Palm Sunday | April 8/9 | Saturday, 5:15 pm, and Sunday, 9:00 & 11:00 am
We begin with a Procession with Palms into the church and listen to Matthew's Gospel account of Jesus' passion and death.
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Holy Thursday |
April 13 | 7:00 pm
We recall the First Eucharist when Jesus took bread and wine, transformed them into his Real Presence, and began a New Covenant that we continue in memory of his death and resurrection.
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Good Friday | April 14 | 7:00 pm
12 noon | Stations of the Cross
7:00 pm | Gospel account of Jesus' death; Veneration of the Cross, Communion.
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Easter Vigil | April 15 | 8:30 pm
We begin outside with a candlight procession into the church. We listen to Scriptural accounts of the story of Salvation and recall that, when baptized, we died and rose with Jesus.
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Easter Sunday | April 16 | 9:00 and 11:00 am
9:00 am Mass | Includes Children's Choir and Children's homily, followed by the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn and hospitality in the hall.
[Children's Choir practice | April 3 & 10, 5:30 - 6:30 pm]
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Wednesdays in Lent
April 5 & 12 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm
The Light is On for You
The church is open for private prayer, and Fr. Dave is available for confessions in the Reconciliation Room. Click on these links for reassuring messages about Confession:
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Fridays in Lent
March 31 | 6:00 pm Soup Supper, followed by
The War Room, Part 2, a movie about the power of prayer in everyday life.
April 7 | 6:00 pm Soup Supper, followed by discussion of parish social outreach ministries.
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Blessing Bags
Sunday | April 2 | after 9am Mass
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Join with others in filling bags with items needed by the homeless: toothpaste and a toothbrush, soap, shampoo, comb, a note with a kind word, and more. Filled bags are then put in baskets at the church's entrance area. Take what you need to give someone you see on the streets, near the store, where you walk, or where you live. For people in need, these bags are then a blessing. They are Blessing Bags.
Sunday, April 9, after 9am Mass: join others to bag single-servings of laundry soap, to be taken to a homeless agency where the homeless can wash their clothes..
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Food and Clothing Drive
Sunday | April 8-9
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Reschedule. Because Easter falls on the third Sunday this month, the drive is moved up one week. Bring nonperishable groceries and gently used clothes to Mass. When the offering is taken up, bring your items forward to place before the altar. After Mass, all items go to the sorting area in the hall for later distribution to local people in need, with clothing delivered to a homeless agency.
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Bereavement Support Ministry
Tuesday | April 11 | 7:00 pm
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The best way to deal with the emptiness of grief is to share it with others. Our bereavement support team meets in the quiet room at the back of the church. They are good listeners with large hearts. For more information, contact Linda Delescale, ixstitch@gmail.com.
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Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Sunday | April 16
Following the 9:00 am Mass
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Who has more fun at an Easter Egg Hunt: children or parents? We meet in Becket Hall right after Mass, but we won't wait long because children and parents find it difficult to wait. Each egg includes a wrapped candy.
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Returning Your Rice Bowl Box
Sunday | April 23
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You've been filling your Catholic Relif Service Rice Bowl with coins during Lent. Bring your Rice Bowl boxes to Mass, April 23, and put them in the special baskets in front of the altar. Be sure to write your name on the box so we can thank you. If you prefer, in place of the coins, put a check in the box, writing "CRS Rice Bowl" in the memo line. Your gift of money and prayers provide lifesaving aid around the world.
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Fr. Dave's Monthly Talk
Difficult Bible Passages
Thursday | April 27 | 7:00-8:30 pm
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Some Bible passages seem to conflict with our modern sensibilities. Is the God of the Old Testament warlike? Was Saint Paul anti-woman when writing that women should be silent? Fr. Dave will address how today's scholars understand such passages. Bring a friend.
If there's a passage that confuses your
sensibilities, email it to Fr. Dave for his consideration: frdave@stcsj.org.
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Ladies Spring Tea
Saturday | April 29 | 11:30am
Reservations taken after Masses on April 8-
9
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A parish tradition, the Spring Tea luncheon brings together parish women and friends for tea, scones, tea sandwiches, and even Devonshire cream. Hostesses will set the tables to this year's theme of Tea Around the World. Proceeds support parish ministries.
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Vacation Bible Camp
July 31 – August 4
Daily: 9:00 am – 12noon
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Registration is now open for the best week of summer. Join us in Rome with Saint Paul and the Underground Church. The week includes fun games and crafts, lively music, delicious snacks, and (best of all) learning about the early disciples.
Registration closes May 1, so tell your friends, and sign up today. We limit registration to 60 campers and 24 teen counselors. Cost: $75 per camper, $30 per teen counselor.
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Weekend Mass Times: Saturdays 5:15 pm; Sundays, 9:00 am & 11:00 am
Note: Sunday homilies (audio and text files) are now posted at our website | Click here
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Mass Readings in April
Click on the calendar to go to the American bishops' web page, then click on a date and see the readings for Mass.
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