CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES FOR ST. THOMAS MORE PARISHIONERS March 20

How are we doing, folks? Lent's 3rd Sunday looms large, a good time to take stock of our resolutions, to see if we need to adjust, tighten things up, get back on track, or just keep marching on! If you’ve kept your resolutions well , great! Give thanks to God and pray for the grace of perseverance as we continue into the next week and beyond. If you haven’t done as well as you hoped, don’t lose your resolve! We’ve got plenty of Lent left, and there’s a great deal of humility to be gained in dusting ourselves off and starting again. For encouragement and help... The Sign of Contradiction is available for the first time to everyone on WILDGOOSE.TV with a free account. A beautiful film and great way to dig deeper during Lent, walking us through St. Francis of Assisi's life.  Click below to watch: SIGN OF CONTRADICTION

STATIONS OF THE CROSS From Christianity's earliest days, pilgrims journeyed to Jerusalem to walk in the footsteps once taken by Jesus Christ on the road to Calvary.  Indeed, it was pilgrims who originally performed the stations (although it wasn’t called that back then) when they visited Jerusalem and the sites of Jesus’ Passion. It took centuries to evolve into today's devotion called the Way of the Cross or Stations of the Cross, that commemorates the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. In the 16th century, Jesus' path forced by the Roman soldiers on the way to his crucifixion, was officially titled the Via Dolorosa (Sorrowful Way). Click below to see the route believed by many to be the path that Jesus walked, carrying his cross, on the way to His crucifixion: THE PATH JESUS WALKED ON THE WAY TO HIS CRUCIFIXION

SPIRITUAL READING Saint Augustine says that "he who wishes often to be with God ought to pray frequently and read pious books." All spiritual writers after him, without exception, insisted on the necessity of spiritual reading for all those who wish to lead a really interior and supernatural life. Holiness is the fruit of prayer, and mental prayer is extremely difficult without reading spiritual books. In addition to our Lenten sacrifices, the Church also encourages us to do more spiritual reading during this holy season. Looking for good lists? Click below: GOOD LIST OF SPIRITUAL BOOKS FOR LENT AND... MORE LENTEN SPIRITUAL READING

Struggling To Fast?    Fasting is a powerful and beautiful way of living out  penance and self-denial, both important in the Christian life. Scripture affirms the importance of this form of sacrifice and prayer, “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (Joel 2:12) But, it can be difficult. The resources at the link below give the insight, guidance, and motivation you need to continue to fast. Click the link below: FASTING RESOURCES

40 LENTEN LESSONS ON THE MASS NEW VIDEO SERIES FROM PREPARATION FOR MASS TO THE FINAL BLESSING This Lent, don't just give up a treat - do something more! In this new PREMIUM EDITION video series, Rev. Francis Hoffman (a.k.a. Father Rocky) walks you through the whole Mass, bringing more meaning to our weekly (or more!) worship. Don't feel that you "get" anything out Mass? Then this could change your life! Register for this new and exclusive video content in your inbox every day! Click below to learn more and sign up: 40 LENTEN LESSONS ON THE MASS

LENTEN CHALLENGE FOR 2022 THE 7 LAST WORDS OF CHRIST He hung there. On the cross, tortured. Dying. The hard metal of the nails fastening his legs and feet in place.  As he struggled for air and was barely able to breathe, Jesus didn’t hang in silence. He spoke to those around him, to complete strangers and to his family and friends.  Jesus was speaking to us in his final hours.  In his Seven Last Words, Jesus shows us how he has fulfilled his saving mission and sends us forth to follow in his footsteps. Coming together to lead you deeper into this journey are: Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in the “The Chosen” and Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ.” The duo will lead us through powerful daily prayers and meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ through the #1 Catholic App: Hallow. Click below to watch a trailer video that introduces this most moving, impactful, life-changing Lenten Challenge! 40 Day Lenten Challenge Trailer As a parish let's join together and follow these two men as they lead us in powerful prayers and meditations for 40 days. Use the QR Code below (or click link to access it) for FREE access for STM parishioners over the next 3 months, including this 40 day Lenten Prayer challenge and so much more! Link to get QR Code to access Hallow free

AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T USE QR CODES Click below for the link to join Hallow to participate for free in this Lenten Challenge (without the QR code): GET HALLOW WITHOUT QR CODE

NEW!!! PRAY40 COMPANION JOURNAL BOOK FREE! 50 PAGES! Click below to download this awesome prayer journal companion booklet to accompany your journey through the 40 days of Lent with Hallow! 40 DAY PRAYER COMPANION JOURNAL

April 10th The next - 6th - Chosen Watch Party PARISH DINING HALL - after 10:00 Mass FREE DONUTS and COFFEE! * Feel free to bring a soft cushion to sit on * Other Options: In-person and online Watch Parties April 13

If you haven't yet registered for a Watch Party Click the link below: THE CHOSEN WATCH PARTIES

QUIZ! FOR THE WEEK WHY IS LENT 40 DAYS LONG? Scroll down to find the answer!

The Lenten Cookbook by Scott Hahn, David Geisser From breads to stews to omelets and desserts, award-winning chef and former Vatican Swiss Guard David Geisser returns with 75 new international recipes that were specially conceived for the penitential season of Lent. From delicious soups and salads to zesty curries and classic Lenten staples, Chef Geisser offers here a uniquely Catholic way to celebrate the Lenten season in your home each year. Much more than a cookbook, this first-ever guidebook for mealtimes in Lent features essays from acclaimed biblical scholar Scott Hahn, who reflects on the history of fasting and its integral role in our personal spiritual growth. Hahn guides you on how to practice a holy Lent that will enable you to return your focus to Christ, and how to carry the unique and extraordinary joys of Lent forward into the rest of the year. Click below to learn more about this special Lenten cookbook: THE LENTEN COOKBOOK

GOSPEL READING REFLECTION For March 20, 2022 3rd Sunday of Lent Year C Lk 13:1-9 ****************************************************************************** REPENTANCE "But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” We live in a world in which God permits both moral and physical evil. Anyone can be harmed by a bad man (like Pilate) or by accidents and natural forces (like the falling tower). We cannot know when we will die but we can know that we will die. We know by faith that when we die we will be judged by Christ. Therefore, it is vital that we be ready at every moment to give an account of our lives. Twice Our Lord says to his audience and each one of us, If you do not repent you will perish! The tree that does not bear fruit is like the person who is in the state of mortal sin. The first good fruit he should bear is repentance. After that can come many other good works. Perhaps God gave Pilate more time so he could amend his life—and maybe he did. We can imagine those who died in the tower accident wishing they’d had more time.  All of us listening to the Gospel have some time because we are still alive. Let’s repent and bear some good fruit!

ANSWER TO QUIZ Lent is 40 days long because Jesus fasted in the wilderness 40 days and 40 nights before embarking on His public ministry. But Jesus did not select the length of His fast at random. Throughout the Old Testament, a stretch of 40 days (or years) carried a deep meaning often related to punishment, penance, or preparation. For example: During Noah’s time, God sent rain for 40 days and forty nights to punish the earth with flood In consequence of their lack of faith, the Israelites wandered in the desert 40 years before reaching the Promised Land The people of Nineveh fasted and repented to avert God's wrath after the prophet Jonah's prediction of what was coming upon them in 40 days Both Moses and Elijah fasted 40 days before or during important conversations with God When the time came for Jesus to begin His public mission, He used this tradition. His mission was of an all-encompassing nature that taps into—and fulfills—all the biblical reasons for forty day events. As the God-Man, Jesus was embarking on His mission to be our Mediator—to converse with God on our behalf, as did Moses and Elijah in a prefigurative way. As the one Man Who came to bear the punishment due to all men, He evokes the repentance of Nineveh that averted the punishment of God. His time in the desert—reminiscent of the Israelites’ 40 year sojourn—proffers the idea that He deliberately took on the punishment due from our faithlessness, which would otherwise keep us from the Promised Land of Heaven. The season of Lent is our great opportunity to enter into the desert with Christ.

DOES THIS ALL SOUND SO GREAT YOU WISH THERE WAS MORE? THERE IS!  Click the link below to find more: FAITH FORMATION ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOR EVERY MONTH AND SEASON

“The Virgin of Pochaiv" The "Lourdes" of Ukraine

PRAYER FOR PEACE BY POPE FRANCIS Lord Jesus, we adore your cross which frees us from sin, the origin of every division and evil; we proclaim your resurrection, which ransoms man from the slavery of failure and death; we await your coming in glory, which will bring to fulfillment your kingdom of justice, joy and peace. Lord Jesus, by your glorious passion, conquer the hardness of our hearts, imprisoned by hatred and selfishness; by the power of your resurrection, save the victims of injustice and maltreatment from their suffering; by the fidelity of your coming, confound the culture of death and make the triumph of life shine forth. Lord Jesus, unite to your cross the sufferings of the many innocent victims: the children, the elderly, and the persecuted Christians; envelop in paschal light those who are deeply wounded: abused persons, deprived of freedom and dignity; let those who live in uncertainty experience the enduring constancy of your kingdom: the exiles, refugees, and those who have lost the joy of living. Lord Jesus, cast forth the shadow of your cross over peoples at war; may they learn the way of reconciliation, dialogue and forgiveness; let the peoples so wearied by bombing experience the joy of your resurrection: raise up Iraq and Syria from devastation; reunite your dispersed children under your gentle kingship: sustain Christians in the Diaspora and grant them the unity of faith and love. O Virgin Mary, Queen of peace, you who stood at the foot of the cross, obtain from your Son pardon for our sins; you who never doubted the victory of his resurrection, sustain our faith and our hope; you who are enthroned as Queen in glory, teach us the royal road of service and the glory of love. Amen.

APPARITIONS OF OUR LADY IN UKRAINE Did you know Our Lady allegedly appeared in Ukraine? In 1914 and again in 1987, Our Lady allegedly appeared in the village of Hrushiv, Ukrine. Because the 1914 prophesy was fulfilled, Canadian priest Fr. Mark Goring explained  that the Catholic Church takes the alleged 1987 apparitions seriously. Click below to read about the apparitions: APPARITIONS OF OUR LADY IN UKRAINE

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF UKRAINE HISTORY Click below for a brief historical timeline of Ukraine, including important dates and events from Ukraine’s past. BRIEF TIMELINE OF UKRAINE HISTORY