Happy St. Patrick's Day and Second Sunday of Lent! We have several events this week and hope you can join us. As always, please reach out with any questions or ideas!

Looking for virtual ways to engage your faith during Lent? Check out this "40 Acts" challenge for daily emails and inspiration. Katie S. and several others are participating -- check in on our Facebook group to let us know how it's going! On Crossfire's Instagram account, we're participating in Busted Halo's 2019 InstaLent challenge. Please contact Anna to share a photo or anecdote to post.

Have a wonderful week!

Crossfire Leadership Team
(Amanda, Anna, Eric, Marie, Patrice, Patrick, and Rob)
THIS WEEK
Weekly Gospel Study
Tuesday, March 19, 7:30 p.m.
STA Rectory

This week, Stephanie G. will lead us through a discussion of next Sunday's gospel reading.

First timer? We meet in the rectory (brick building to the left of the Church). Ring the front doorbell and someone will greet you! Email us and we'll get your contact info and make sure someone meets you. You can park along Farmington Ave in front of the church or in the church parking lot.

Lenten Movie Night
Wednesday, March 20, 7 p.m.
RSVP for address

Join us for a viewing party of Robert Barron's series Catholicism! We'll gather throughout Lent for this small group series during which we will rotate hosts as we watch the DVDs and have discussions about what we are learning about our faith. Patrick is hosting this week. Please RSVP via email for more information. View the trailer here.

Thursday Night Dinner
Thursday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.
Avert Brasserie

This month's Thursday dinner will gather at Avert in West Hartford center. Check out the dinner menu to see the delicious line-up! Address is 35A La Salle Road, West Hartford, CT 06107. Please RSVP to Rob or on the Facebook event page to help us plan seating.
Sit with us at Mass!
There is an unofficial cohort of Crossfire members who typically (key word: typically) go to Sunday 5 p.m. mass at St. Thomas. We've been talking for a while about creating a designated spot to sit together so no one feels alone at Mass. We tend to sit at the left side toward the middle-front. Join us!

First timer and interested? Email us here and we'll set you up with someone.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Stations of the Cross
Fridays, March 22 and April 12
7:00 p.m.

Throughout Lent, we have town-wide Stations of the cross to unite across parishes as one family. STA is hosting the Stations on March 22 and April 12, and we need volunteers to help! Please email us if you are planning to attend and/or can help with the event.
Food Pantry Volunteering
Saturday, April 20, 9:00 a.m.
St. Justin-St. Michael

Help package, organize, and distribute food to those in need at St. Justin-St. Michael Food Pantry. Address is 230 Blue Hills Ave Hartford, CT. Please email Patrick if you plan to participate.

Future dates: May 11, June 18
Softball League
March-July 2019
various locations

Matt Reuter is coordinating a Crossfire softball team! We need 15-20 participants. A co-ed team (preferred) requires 6-8 women on the roster to ensure the minimum number are in the field. Please recruit friends, family and colleagues who are interested to join us. No affiliation with Crossfire or the Catholic Church is required. No prior softball experience required. Contact Matt for more information.
OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST
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Spring Greenhouse Show
March 15-March 22
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Elizabeth Park

Stop by the Elizabeth Park Conservancy for a glimpse of spring! Featuring a spectacular array of spring bulbs and plants. Included in the floral display are French hyacinths, muscari, tulips, daffodils, amaryllis, begonias, as well as any tropical plants. For more info, visit the Elizabeth Park Conservancy.
Praise & Worship Evening
Saturday, March 23, 7:00 p.m.
STA lower level

Do you like contemporary Christian music? Does it move your spirit to prayer and action? Check out St. Thomas the Apostle music ministry's presents an evening of soul-filled and inspiring music, intertwined with scripture readings and quiet moments of meditation.
Frassati on Tap
Sunday, March 24, 6:00 p.m.
Stony Creek Brewery

Join fellow young adults for a pint of locally brewed beer and to listen to a discussion about faith.. This month we welcome Fr. Matthew Dougherty, OP, a PhD student at Yale in ecology and evolutionary biology, to give a talk about evolution from both a scientific and faith perspective. For more information, check out the event page.
STA Crossfire | St. Thomas the Apostle | [email protected] | www.stawh.org