Week 2 | March 25, 2020
Faith Formation from Home
What's happening at St. Thomas Aquinas?
There are several ways to keep connected with your St. Thomas Aquinas family over the next few weeks. As always, check our website and Facebook group to keep up with the beautiful daily reflections Fr. Bill, Fr. Giombetti, and our seminarian David have been providing with the assistance of our pastoral associate Aaron Durocher.

If you are interested in new ways to draw closer to Jesus during this time, you might also consider signing up for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration at St. Thomas Aquinas or joining Cardinal Sean O'Malley's "virtual retreat" linked below.

May God bless you and keep you safe!
Happy Feast of the Annunciation!
Today, we remember Mary's courageous "YES!" when God asked her through the Angel Gabriel to be the mother of Jesus.

PRAYER: Mary, help us to be brave like you and to say "Yes" to what God wills for our lives!
"No matter what I have, Your grace is enough.
No matter where I am, I'm standing in Your love."
During this time, we might be asking "Where is God?" .

Tauren Wells' song "Hills and Valleys" beautifully reflects on how God is with us through every part of our lives- through the "hills and valleys". God will never abandon us. Feel encouraged that the Lord hears your prayers and is here with you through it all.

Click on the link and sing along!
Bible Basics
The word "Bible" comes from the Greek word "Biblios" which literally means "Books" ! Today we are going to learn a little about the categories found in the Bible.

The Bible is divided into
2 main sections:

Old Testament: shares the stories of the Hebrew (Israelite/Jewish) people and how they came to know God and understand sin and its consequences (46 books)

New Testament: reveals who Jesus is and his relationship with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit through the Gospel stories; it also reveals how the first disciples went about spreading the Word of God and forming the Church (27 books)
How many categories of books are in the Bible?

As seen in the diagram, the Old Testament is divided into 5 categories. The New Testament is divided into 6 categories.

The reason why this is important is that once you know what category of books you are reading from this will help you to better understand the purpose and context of the different stories.

For example, if you were in English class, you would not read and analyze poetry in the same way that you would read and analyze a historical text. We would not read an Edgar Allan Poe poem and say "This actually happened!". No, we know it is a poem filled with symbolism and used to artistically express a deeper message. So, while reading the poem we look at the word/line structure, the rhythm, the symbolism, and reflect on the deeper meaning the poet is trying to convey.
Likewise, we would not read Anne Frank's diary and say it is all "symbolic". We know that Anne Frank was a real person and her diary is her account of what she experienced during the Holocaust. While reading her diary, we would instead be taking into account her age, what her religious and cultural beliefs were, and what was happenng when she wrote her diary. We would read her diary from a literal (word-for-word) approach versus the more analytical approach that we would use with an Edgar Allan Poe poem.

Furthermore, the Bible stories are not more or less true based on what category of books they are in or based on their literary style. Everything in the Bible is true because it is the Word of God being passed on to us through human authors.

Catholics read the Bible from a "Contextualist Approach" (searching for deeper meaning by asking questions about the context) versus a "Fundamentalist Approach" (reading something "word for word", literally, without considering context). We ask questions such as "When was this text written?" , "What were the cultural beliefs and traditions of the people being written about?" , "Is this story meant to be read figuratively or literally?" , "What is the deeper meaning?" , etc. This is why different Christian denominations might have different interpretations of the Bible which might then affect how they celebrate and live their faith.

For example, the Amish (who are a denomination of Christianity with origins in Switzerland and Germany) have a "Fundamentalist Approach" to their faith. This is why for them when they read in the Bible that a woman should not wear gold jewelry (1 Peter 3:3) or not dress in men's clothing styles (Deuteronomy 22:5) they take this literally and as a command . Whereas, most Catholic women would not interpret these readings as forbidding them from wearing a gold necklace or wearing pants since we take into context the time these readings were written in and often the fear the Jewish people had of adopting any practices that were similar to their pagan enemies' traditions. Since Catholics depend on Scripture and Tradition (the "Deposit of Faith"), we often need to refer to how the magisterium (popes & bishops) have interrpreted these readings.

To learn more about the different categories of the Bible, click on the link above to access a PowerPoint by St. Mary's Press!

Click on the Fr. Mike video below to watch an excellent explanation about "Ways to Read the Bible"!
Bible Story of the Week
Genesis 2

In Genesis 1, we reflected on the beauty and complexity of the world. We were able to ponder the creativity of God and the special relationship God has with human beings ("made in the image & likeness of God").

In the second creation story (Genesis 2), the way creation comes about is described differently. This time there is a more geographical description given of the rivers around the "Garden of Eden" and the way man and woman are created is more descriptive than in Genesis 1. The rivers mentioned focus on an area in the Mesopotamia region known as the "Fertile Crescent". The author uses an actual place that his audience would know was perfect for crops and livestock to describe creation as it was meant to be, beautiful and flourishing!

Furthermore, the author focuses on human beings relationship to one another and to creation. After answering the question of "How did we get here?" in Genesis 1, the author now focuses on "What are we supposed to do?" and "Why do I have a longing to be in relationship with other humans?" .

With your family, read Genesis 2 and talk about the following questions.
Reflection Questions:
  1. In this creation account, God makes man out of dust and blew into his nostrils the "breath of life". What does this tell us about God's abilities, God's power?
  2. The author uses the "Fertile Crescent" to create an image of the perfect paradise for his audience. Name a place in nature that to you is your "Garden of Eden". What is beautiful about this place? How does it make you feel more calm and closer to God when you go there?
  3. This story emphasizes how human beings were placed on this earth to "cultivate and care for it". What are some things you can do to be a good steward (guardian) of creation?
  4. When God is creating the animals, the man has the important role of naming them. Parents, why did you give your child their name? Tell your child the history behind why you chose their name. Kids, did you ever get to name a pet? Why did you choose the name you did for this pet?
  5. The man in Genesis 2 feels alone and incomplete until the woman is made. Who is someone in your life who completes you? How does this person make you happy and help you to be a better person?
Saints and Sacraments
Saint Padre Pio
Life: May 25, 1887 - September 23, 1968

Feast Day: September 23rd

Patron Saint of... civil defense volunteers, adolescents, Petrielcini, stress relief, & January blues!


The life of Saint Padre Pio is one marked by both suffering and miracles. Son of peasant farmers, it is said that he decided to dedicate his life to God at the age of 5. By age 10, he said he could see his guardian angel, and spoke to Jesus and Mary; something that he had assumed everyone could do.

At age 15, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin friars choosing the name "Pio".

On September 20th, 1916, Padre Pio first experienced the "stigmata". The stigmata is a medical phenomenon where a person receives the "wounds of Christ". It is very painful since the person's hands and feet bleed. Interestingly, Padre Pio's wounds were said to have smelled of roses, were free of infections, and were surprisingly round in shape which surprised doctors.

In addition, Padre Pio was said to have been able to levitate, bi-locate, and had prophetic abilities.

Click the links provided to learn more about St. Padre Pio!
Saint Oscar Romero
Life: August 15, 1917 - March 24, 1980

Feast Day: March 24

Patron Saint of... Christian communicators, El Salvador, The Americas, persecuted Christians, the poor


A quiet and aloof man, Archbishop Oscar Romero became the unlikely champion for the poor and persecuted Christians during a time of government corruption in El Salvador in the 1970s-1980s. Ironically, Romero was elected to the position of Archbishop since the Vatican did not think he would speak out or cause any problems in El Salvador during this time of unrest. How wrong they were! Once Romero realized the suffering of the people and experienced the tragic loss of his friend Fr. Rutilio Grande, he could not remain silent! He became a fearless voice for change, calling out government corruption and the inhumane treatment of innocent people.

On March 24th, 1980, Fr. Romero was shot and killed while celebrating Mass, dying a martyr for his faith.

The film "Romero" is a powerful and shocking retelling of Saint Oscar Romero's life. It is available on Amazon Prime ( "Romero Collector's Edition" 2018).

VIEWER DISCRECTION: The film is rated PG-13 and includes scenes of violence that would not be appropriate for young children. Please view it first or watch it with your teen since some scenes are very shocking.
Saint Craft Activities
"Look to Him and Be Radiant"
"Look to Him and Be Radiant" is a wonderful blog created by a teacher and DRE named Katie who provides dozens of links to craft activities, coloring pages, memory tools, book recommendations, and more.

Beside each link, Katie states what ages and grades the activity is best suited for. Many of her activities are meant for Grades K-6!
March: Saint Feast Days
Do you want to learn more about other saints with March feast days?

Click the link below and explore the hundreds of saints' stories!

This is a fun activity if you have children with March birthdays who might be curious what saint has their birthday as a feast day!
"If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy!"
Saint John Vianney
With the current suspension of Mass for the next few weeks, many of us might be thinking about how much we miss the sense of community and the joy of being with Jesus at weekly Mass. If it has been a while since you have been to Mass, this might be a good time to learn more about the Mass so that you feel comfortable the next time you go.

There is so much that we can learn about the symbolism, words, and traditions that make the Catholic Mass a truly miraculous experience!

Explore the links below with your family to learn more!
TV Shows, Movie, & Book Recommendations
Conversion Stories for Teens
"All or Nothing: Sr. Clare Crockett"
Age Group: Teens & Adults
(especially girls 7th-12th grade)

Often we might wonder "Why would someone chose to enter religious life?" . When you hear the story of Sister Clare, you might be surprised by how normal and even "worldly" she was! As a teen, Clare dreamed of being famous and pursuing stardom! However, after a life-changing retreat, Clare's path took a new direction.
This documentary is sure to inspire you to think about what you want most out of life and whether our worldly pursuits are worth it in comparison to the total joy and peace Jesus wants to give us!
"Mom [Mary], today everything. Today you can ask me for everything."
Sr. Clare Crockett
"No Turning Back"
Fr. Donald Calloway
Age Group: Teens & Adults
(especially boys 9th-12th grade)

How does someone go from a life of crime and worldly pleasure to totally surrendering to Jesus?

The story of Fr. Donald Calloway might strike some as a modern St. Augustine tale! From getting involved in the Japanese mafia as a teen to picking up a book on Mary that radically changed his life, his story is one that will remind you that God loves all of us. No matter how far we have strayed from God's love, He is always calling us back to Him and showing us mercy.

Fr. Calloway has many interviews and presentations about his conversion on YouTube. His first book (which is also available as a DVD documentary) "No Turning Back" focuses on his conversion story.

VIEWER DISCRETION: Fr. Calloway does make references to drugs, promiscuous behavior, and criminal activity that occurred during his teens and young adult life in "No Turning Back" and his conversion story interview. However, he does not go into explicit detail about these past choices. He is very honest and real about his life before he came to know Jesus which might be a comfort to someone who has also struggled with serious sin and is unsure of how to come back to Jesus.
"There is an ocean of mercy waiting for us."
Fr. Donald Calloway