One faith community, two worship sites

LOVE ONE ANOTHER 23 July 2021 Volume 82

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   We live in the age of information and the contribution of the computer. It has been a great gift, advancing human knowledge and the collection of data. It has cut the time of many projects (e.g., mapping the human genome DNA). However, a phrase that has been used to express one’s reliance on the processed data that emerges from a computer was GIGO — ­ garbage in, garbage out. It was a reminder that the information that’s received is only as reliable as the accuracy of the information that was “input”. It may seem like a simple statement, but during the age of information we rarely check to see if the response to our inquiries is based on factual or accurate information. In other words, we take for granted that the resources are reliable and truthful. Many individuals regularly check the presentation of their names and scrub the internet, checking for fake input that might demean their character. The person who is being mischaracterized may have no clue of a false misrepresentation, and unless it is challenged it remains and is believed. This was often the idea behind the printed news media assertion, “It must be true, it was in the news.” We are beginning to realize that just because it is reported, that does not mean it is reported with accuracy or truth. A number of lives have been ruined by misrepresentation and mischaracterization, and rarely if ever does a person regain their good name.   Just because we have access to a larger number of channels to watch does not mean that we have increased our entertainment interest. There was a cartoon published just after satellite dish receivers began to be promoted and sold. In it, a man was leaning over his fence talking to his neighbor under the shadow of his huge satellite dish. “Yeah, Fred,” he said, “750 channels and not a darn thing to watch.” (I cleaned up the darn.) Just because you have access to a larger number of viewing sites does not mean that they are of any more interest. When television channels started to multiply, that did not mean the quality of television had improved. There was just more opportunity to place “junk”. It was Newton Minnow, former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, who coined the phrase, “Television, the vast wasteland.” We do not all have to like the same thing, but quality is a factor that needs consideration, not just available space.   You reap what you sow. It is a good reminder of the necessity to make sure that the information we feed into our minds and souls is both truthful, and possesses quality. GIGO should give way to QIQO ­— quality in, quality out. In this way, we avoid falling prey to ideological arguments that contain presentation contrary to the truth that is revealed and taught by our faith.   What profits a person if they gain the whole world, but lose their soul. For some, this may seem extreme, but the most important responsibility we have is to seek our salvation. We do so by preserving the truth. Our salvation has been offered to us through the person of Jesus Christ. Following His word through the teachings of the Church, and the example of the saints, gives us the quality assurance of the truth that affirms the way, the truth and the life as experienced in the manner that we LOVE ONE ANOTHER.   Sincerely,     Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki Archbishop of Milwaukee

This Weekend's Mass Worship Aid

Click here for the July 24-25 Worship Aid

June Financial Results The June month-end financial results are outlined below. June also marks the end of our fiscal year for both parishes. Although 2020-21 was a challenging year, our parishes finished the fiscal year in a positive direction. Thank you to all our parishioners who generously support St. Clare, St Thomas and our numerous outreach programs. You are amazing!!! Thank you

Click here if you are able to donate a dessert for the STA celebration

Attention New Parish Members Due to the pandemic, we have not been able to properly welcome our new parish members over the last 18 months or so. We would like to change that now! On August 8 we are holding a Welcome Back celebration for all parish members at St. Thomas and would like to extend a special invitation to our new members. If you joined St. Thomas parish in the last 18 months or so, please consider attending the Welcome Back Celebration. We will have a VIP table set up for new members in the tent area so existing members can stop by and introduce themselves. A special gift bag will also be waiting for each new member family at the table. Come out and enjoy music, food and drinks. Reacquaint with old friends and meet new ones! There will be games for the young ones and more. See below for more details! See you there!!!!!

St. Clare and St. Thomas Welcome Back Celebration Just 2 weeks away! Our "Welcome Back" weekend celebration is two weeks away and we look forward to seeing everyone. Guaranteed fun for the entire family so come out and join your fellow parishioners. Attend one or both days! There will be a celebration at St. Clare after the 4:00pm Mass on August 7 and at St. Thomas after the 11:15am Mass on August 8. Everyone attending will be given 2 drink tickets to be used for beer, soda or water. Additional drinks will be available via cash only. St. Clare will be providing burgers, brats, wieners, baked beans and chips for everyone to enjoy. St Thomas will begin with 150 of the famous Lion's Club grilled chicken dinners including, baked potato and coleslaw. (Burgers, brats and wieners will be available if the chicken dinners run out so come early if chicken is your preference!) Desserts will also be available at both events! All food is being provided at no cost but there will be a donation jar for those who wish to do so. Tables and chairs will be available outside under the tent along with music and other fun activities for the entire family. You may even find a few games for the kids with prizes. Come enjoy the weather and the company of your fellow parishioners!!! We need a few volunteers at St. Thomas to help make our Welcome Back celebration a success! Please see the link below and consider donating a little time that weekend. We need bartenders, set up crews, clean up crews and food servers. Please click the link below and sign up today!

Sign up to volunteer for our Welcome Back Celebration

Holy Cow! We need a few more players for Cow Pie Just like last year, we are selling two sets of 200 Tickets for Cow Pie Bingo. The first 200 tickets (orange board) are sold out!! If you bought a ticket(s) on the St. Thomas website or through a St. Thomas parishioner, you are entered on the orange cow pie bingo board. If you bought a ticket(s) on the St. Clare website, or via St Clare check, you are entered into the purple board. There are 136 left on this board and we need to sell out in the next two weeks! We must sell all tickets to complete both bingo boards! Why not buy one on each board and have twice the chance of winning????? Please consider buying a ticket or two from either the St. Thomas or St. Clare website soon. Yes, you can buy from either website with ease!!!! All tickets sold from this point forward are for the purple board. Get in the game(s) NOW! You could win $250 or even $1000. The winners will be decided on August 8. Go to the donate page and select the Cow Pie option. If you are not comfortable using technology to purchase tickets, send an email to: Bbeaulier@saintthomaswaterford.org or Julieboulware.stclare@gmail.com Tickets are $25 If the cow pies directly on your square, you win $1000. The four touching squares win $250 each. (We will have two sets of winners so don't miss out.)

Who wants to win 1/2 Pig (fully processed) John Henrichs, the Henrichs Family and Henrichs Quality Meats & Show Pigs have generously donated a pig to raffle off. The Knights of Columbus have also stepped in and will cover the processing costs.   Thank you!!!!!   Tickets are $5 a piece or 5 for $20 for a chance at 1/2 pig, fully processed. We will raffle off two winners. Please go to the St. Thomas or St. Clare website and click on the donate page. You will be able to electronically enter the raffle by selecting the "Pig Raffle" button. Just enter a few pieces of information if you are not registered and provide a credit/debit card or account number. It's that simple and completely safe. The system will let us know your name, the number of tickets you purchased and track your payment. We will write your name on the number of tickets you purchase and put them in the raffle bin. If you wish to enter the raffle but really don't feel comfortable using technology, send an email to bbeaulier@saintthomaswaterford.org or Julieboulware.stclare@gmail.com   Drawing will be held on August 7 for the first 1/2 and August 8 for the second 1/2.

St. Clare Buildings & Grounds Update: Things are looking brighter!   You may have noticed a few lights out in the ceiling of the church over the past months. This week, our maintenance crew, Jim and Don, worked with an electrician to change all the ceiling lights to energy efficient lamps. (The chandeliers had been changed a couple of years ago.) This is not a simple task as you can imagine what it takes to get to the lights in the ceiling. Most of these were the original lights installed when the church was built in 2005. This update will help us save on energy costs and time/materials as these lamps have a long lifespan. Thank you Jim and Don!

SENIOR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM PICKLEBALL

We had a wonderful turnout for the start of the Senior Pickleball Program on July 12. There were thirteen seniors from beginners to experts who came out to play pickleball in the Uhen Center. We have two courts, paddles and wonderful instructors available. Pickleball will be offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 12 - 2pm.   The Senior Fellowship Program is open to all Seniors (60+) and their guests of our parish and community. You do not have to be a member of St. Thomas Parish to participate. Ask a friend or neighbor to join you!

Click here to register for the golf outing

The Archdiocese released a new COVID Comeback matrix on July 1. This is expected to be the last update.

Click here for the full Comeback Matrix details

We would like to highlight and thank a few of our loyal sponsors in each email. St. Thomas and St Clare thanks you very much! A complete list of all our sponsors can be found on our website. Please support them whenever possible

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St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Clare of Assisi parishes Waterford and Wind Lake, WI.