BULLETIN
July 19th/20th, 2008

The 16th Sunday
in Ordinary Time

“....then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
'First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

 

 

125th ANNIVERSARY OF
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
CHURCH

This celebration will be one year long from November 2008 to November 2009 with our Anniversary Mass. At our first meeting in October we came up with many exciting ideas, but we would like to include your input too! Please help us in making this a memorable celebration!
PLEASE HELP US MAKE THIS A MEMORABLE CELEBRATION!

 

 

BIBLE STUDY GROUPS

To help fulfill our parish pastoral planning goals, two English Bible study groups have formed. One group, led by Edith Newman, will meet in the Rectory each Monday at 7:30 p.m. The next meeting of this group will take place on Monday, July 21st, 2008,

The other group, led by Deacon John, will meet in the Rectory each Tuesday at 11 a.m. The next meeting of this group will take place on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008.

Please bring your Bible!

 

 

WE'VE HEARD FROM
FATHER EXPEDIT!

Dear Friends,
Greetings to you all! It has been awhile since I sent you a message but you are in my prayers. Congratulations to all those who have been blessed in one way or another and condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

Thank you for your letters, cards and e-mails to me and special thanks for the donations in support of the work we do here in Uganda. Allow me to send special thanks to the young people of St. Thomas Aquinas Rising Teens (S.T.A.R.T.) and their animator, MaryAnne for the donation of $770. This donation enabled one of our high schools to buy a public address system which we use in our liturgical functions. I also thank the other group led by Mrs. Carmen de Jesús and all the individual donors who have supported me with their gifts. Thank you for all your sacrifices.

With regard to the health clinic project, we have decided to change the project into an elementary school. We have reached this decision with my community and my Bishop after realizing that our government is choosing a location that takes this project from my community for which it was granted in the first place. The clinic has to be approved by the government because in the long run we would need their support to get the medications for the clinic. In our case, the government would not approve us unless we agreed with their location, which would be out of my community!

We have therefore decided to use your donations to build an elementary school, which is also one of the needs of my community. This does not require the approval of the government.

Because of the limited funds we have in our account at the present time, ($16,000), we have decided to begin with the construction of three classrooms and an office. We will extend the building as more funds become available. The entire school of seven classrooms and an office would require $40,000. I will keep you updated as we go along.

God bless you!
Fr. Expedit

 

 

 

You are invited to be part of an English speaking Charismatic Prayer Group that meets every Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Rectory. For info call Roxanna Rodriguez at 718-499-1356.

 

 

 

FR. EXPEDIT

St. Thomas Aquinas Church cantor Lainie Diamond's new CD "Hail Divine" consisting of arias and songs recorded on the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Thomas Aquinas Church is now available for purchase. The CD features sacred songs and arias including "Ave Maria", "O Holy Night" and arias by Bach & Handel. The CD is $11 and may be purchased by signing up on the list in the church vestibule. You may pick up the CD from Lainie in the back of the church after the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday or the 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday Masses. $1 from the sale of each CD goes to St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
This CD is now available online at CDBaby.com. Please visit www.cdbaby.com/cdlainied

 

 

 

TELEVISION MASS
FOR THE HOMEBOUND

Each week through television, Passionist Communications brings the Sunday Mass to the sick and homebound. It can be seen in the NY area: Brooklyn Prayer Channel - Time Warner Channel 70 at 8 p.m. on Saturday, 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday and on Cabevision - Channel 30 Time 8 p.m. on Saturday, 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 5 p.m. on Sunday.

R.C.I.A. prepares both non-Catholic and those Catholics who have not received the Sacraments for full participation in the life of the Church. Candidates for R.C.I.A. are :
Those who are not baptized
Those baptized in another Christian denomination who wish to become Catholic.
Those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church but who have not yet received the Sacraments of Communion and Confirmation.
If you are someone you know is interested in knowing more about R.C.I.A., please call the Rectory and leave your name and telephone number. A group will be forming in September.

 

 

R.I.C.A.
El Rito de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos

 

 

 

MINISTRIES

Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are greatly needed. If you feel called to either one of these ministries, please call the Rectory and speak to Fr. Jesús or Fr. Ngozi. A basic training course is required by the Diocese. We are also in need of Altar Servers. Boys & girls who come regularly to Sunday Mass and have received First Communion are invited to be Altar Servers.

 

 

 

PLEASE

 

Por favor apague su teléfono cellular. Para hablar con Dios no lo necesita, y a la comunidad le estorbará mientras oran. Gracias por su amable colaboración.

 

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

Exciting opportunity for Public School Students who wish to attend Catholic Elementary and High School! There are scholarships available! Visit the web site: www.scholarshipfund.org or call 718-965-7340. These scholarships are for Brooklyn and Queens schools only. PLEASE GIVE IT A TRY!

 

 

HOLY FAMILY &
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
~ CCD ~

All Catholic children in Grades 1 through 8 who attend Public School should come to Religious Education Classes. All students must present their original Baptismal Certificate (and proof of previous Religious Education enrollment along with any other sacraments received in the case of transfer students) at the time of registration. Each year parents/guardians must re-register their children.

FEES:
One child ~ $45 for the year
Two children ~ $75 for the year
Three children ~ $100 for the year.

As always you are cordially invited to join us! We need a few adults to teach in the Children's Program. We definitely would appreciate some assistance with general office chores such as record-keeping, mailings, copying, etc. Please consider helping. You may contact Sister Doryne in the Rectory for more information or more ideas on how you can help.

 

 

CLASES DE INSTRUCCIÓN RELIGIOSA ~ CCD

Registración para la Comunión y Confirmación se llevarán en Septiembre. Requisitos:
1- Nuevos estudiantes deben traer el Certificado de Bautismo.
2- La donación es de $45 para libros y otra materiales.
3- Los padres deben asistir a misa con sus hijos los domingos.
Los padres deben ser miembros registrados en la parroquia de San Tomás.

 

 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
It's not just for kids anymore!

The Pastoral Institute offers many interesting and informative programs for adults of all ages. We encourage all adults in Holy Family ~ St. Thomas Aquinas Parish to recognize the importance of ongoing religious formation. Call the Pastoral Institute at (718) 229-8001 for a brochure.

 

 

 

CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP

 

 

JORNADISTA

¿Tienes mas de 15 anos? ¿Quieres aprender sobre su religion pero tambien se quiere divertir? ¿Se quiere juntar el los paseos, y otros eventos? Entonces unase con nosotros el Grupo de Jornadistas. Todos los domingo de 2 a 4 p.m. en la auditorio. ¡Esperamos en contar con su presencia!

Are you 15 or older? Want to learn about the Church but still have fun? Want to join us on trips or other events? Then join our Jornadista Group. We meet every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the auditorium. We hope to see you there!

 

 

 

THIRD ORDER CARMELITES

A Third Order Chapter of Lay Carmelites meets once every month in Our Lady of Angels Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. This is a Secular Community devoted to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Her Divine Son under the direction of the Carmelite Fathers of the Ancient Observance. Members study the Rule of Carmel, which is prayer and contemplation in action. If you are interested in knowing more about the Third Order, please call the Director, Alice Gould at: 718 788-5290.

 

 

~PURGATORIAL MASS SOCIETY~

Once a person is enrolled in the Purgatorial Mass Society, he or she will be remembered in prayer every Friday at the 7 a.m. mass for a period of one year. A Remembrance Book will include the names of all those enrolled. The Remembrance Book can be found in the Church. It will be updated each month to include the latest enrollments in the St. Thomas Aquinas Church Purgatorial Mass Society. A one year enrollment in the St. Thomas Aquinas Church Purgatorial Mass Society is ten dollars.
The Purgatorial Mass Society folders measure 6" x 8". For your convenience, they are available in English or Spanish. Those of you who are in the practice of bringing a Mass Card to a wake may now obtain a Purgatorial Mass Society Enrollment Card simply by coming to the Rectory.
Our prayers are often the only way we can offer comfort to a grieving friend or loved one at a time of loss. An enrollment in the Purgatorial Mass Society will certainly bring at least a small measure of comfort to you, the giver, and the assurance of continued prayers for the deceased.

 

 

 

GREGORIAN CHOIR

Music in your soul?? Looking for a way to more fully participate in the liturgy?? We have formed a Vocal Group under the direction of Edith Newman to sing at the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass. The group will perform unaccompanied music with an emphasis on Gregorian Chant. A love of music, commitment and a willingness to work hard are the only requirements. Practices are held on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. in the Rectory and on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. in the chapel.

 

 

 

AN INVITATION TO
CATHOLIC YOUNG ADULTS
Ages 20 to 30

Attention all 20 and 30 somethings! Come meet more young adults in your community at our picnics in Prospect Park, movies under the stars, or kayaking on the Hudson River.
We're meet for monthly Tuesday Night Faith Sharing. So if you're new to the "hood or just curious to check us out, now's the time to get to know us. Come check us out our website or give us a call at 718-783-3132 extension 36. We look forward to meeting you!

 

 

 

A MESSAGE FROM
FR. JESÚS.....

Let me take this opportunity to say "thank you" to those of you who make a point of keeping up your weekly financial commitment to our Church. I am especially grateful when you go to the trouble of sending us the contributions you missed because of vacations or holidays. By doing this, you surely give witness to the seriousness of your own faith and the importance of Good Stewardship.

TIME ~ TALENT ~ TREASURE

Each Sunday, we take up two collections. The first collection is for the support of our Church. It is meant to be used to meet our everyday operating expenses such as electricity, fuel, salaries, telephone bills, etc. Since we receive no outside financial support, we rely entirely on your generosity in the first collection to meet these regular operating expenses.
The second collection is taken to support special diocesan collections such as Retired Religious, diocesan programs and services, etc. and for the extraordinary expenses that arise from maintaining a one hundred twenty year old church. Your offering of as little as one hour's wage or income each week will help us meet our needs. Please be as generous as your means allow.

 

 

 

CHILDREN'S LITURGY
OF THE WORD

At the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses each Sunday, we offer the opportunity for our children to participate in a special celebration of a Children's Liturgy of the Word consisting of song, reading, instruction and fun. For additional information contact MaryAnne Walsh.

 

 

 

LITURGIA DE LA
PALABRA PARA NIÑOS

Jesus dijo "Dejad que los niños vengan a Mi." Durante la misa de las 9 a.m. y 11 a.m. ofrecemos a nuestros niños la oportunidad a participar de una celebración especial Liturgia de la Palabra para Niños consistiendo de canciones, lecturas, instrucción y diversión.

 

 

 

HOSPITAL VISITS

If you or a relative will be in the hospital, please notify the Rectory so that a visit can be arranged. We do need to know that you want a visit! The hospital does not provide us with this information. We do not know the need is there unless you call! The usual day for hospital visits is Thursday.