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Click to open PDF bulletin |
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Bulletin of January 29, 2012
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| Diocesan Service Appeal 2012 |
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A Message from Pastor Julian P. Harris
What a joy it is for me to address you all as brothers and sisters in
Christ, for that is who we truly are by virtue of our common Baptism. Yes,
we share in the harvest of His justice, His merciful grace and His promise of everlasting life. We
also share in His labors of plowing and planting and sewing now so that others after us may also
experience the goodness of the Lord in the future. This is what it means to be STEWARDS OF HIS
GIFTS, the very theme Our Bishop of Palm Beach, the Most Reverend Gerald Barbarito, has chosen
for the 2012 Diocesan Services Appeal.
The 2012 Goal for St. Thomas More Parish is : $352,000.00
Our parish is blessed of God and great among His temples. And with this greatness comes
responsibility. We accept it in the Name of Jesus and with His inspiration we will do it for the sake
of His Catholic Church: If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap
material things from you? (1 Cor 9:11)
Stewardship is not ownership, but cultivation through generosity with a mature attitude
of hopefulness about the future. Our secular, Me-First Generation is driven by a false sense of
entitlement, plucking up everything, leaving nothing behind: It’s all falling apart anyway so why
not! With an attitude like that is it any wonder that 53% of Christians have not contributed to
their church (Catholic, Protestant or Jewish) in the last month. You can see how this is antithetical
to God and His Kingdom’s values of responsibility, sacrifice and willingness to bear the pain now
for the joy yet to come: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Cor 9:6)
We can all afford to give. We do not have to live pay check to pay check. We do not have to
withhold our tithe or offering from God’s Church in order to provide for our daily bread. We do not
have to choose between God’s House and our house or mortgage. When we give to God and to the
things of God, He gives back more. Jesus said: Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn
not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given
to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.
For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (Lk 6:37-39) I am convinced that
God has blessed our parish and our parishioners in accordance with His gracious will because we
have all given Him a priority in our lives including our finances: Seek first the kingdom of God and
His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matt 6:33)
Let us begin now to pray for the success of this appeal and to seek God’s Will for our
individual commitments. All registered parishioners will receive a personal appeal by mail from
Bishop Barbarito along with literature about the vital Catholic ministries and services funded by the
DSA 2012.
STEWARDS OF HIS GIFTS, Bishop Barbarito’s video-message, is presented at all Masses on
the weekend of January 28-29, 2012. Our Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers and Masters of Ceremony
will distribute pledge packets with the Parish Bulletin at the conclusion of all Masses. Pledge
Weekend is February 11-12, 2012. The Ushers will collect our completed pledges in a Second
Collection at all Masses. If you choose the option of mailing your pledges
directly to the Diocese of Palm Beach, please be sure to note ST. THOMAS
MORE CHURCH on your check or pledge form so that our parish receive
credit towards our goal.
Our St. Thomas More Parish Coordinators for the DSA2012 are Rose Bertolini, Ann Claps and
Vita Tocco. They are exemplary stewards of God’s gifts and have served the Church for many years
in the annual Bishop’s Appeal in addition to counting and accounting for the tithes and offerings of
our parishioners and visitors.
May Almighty God accept and increase our efforts to nurture and grow His Kingdom on
earth so that all might share in the saving work of His Son Our Lord Jesus Christ.
— Rev. Julian P. Harris, Pastor |
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| A Message from our Pastor |
STM FINANCE COMMITTEE
Quarterly Meeting January 23, 2012
St. Thomas More Parish Finance Committee
members Lerna Awit, Robert Beck, secretary, Rose
Bertolini, Peter Collins, Fr. Julian Harris, pastor, and
Mary Beth Kohn, excused absent, met to receive and
review end-of-year Statements of Financial Position as
of December 31, 2011 for STM Parish and Pre-School.
Committee members discussed the Diocesan
Services Appeal (DSA) 2012 goal of $352,500.
Members offered many excellent suggestions to
improve financial accountability and transparency
and will review all accounts directly with the STM
Bookkeeper.
The Committee expresses its own independent
views directly to the parishioners through the bulletin.
As pastor I am grateful for each member’s contribution
of talent, professional acumen and time away from
families to serve as good and vigilant Stewards of
the tithes and offerings of all who worship with us
at St. Thomas More Parish. Parishioners are always
welcomed to consult directly with any member of the
STM Finance Committee on an individual appointment
basis.
Tax-filing season has come and many are
requesting summaries of charitable giving from the
parish for use in preparing IRS tax returns. Committee
members would like to remind our parishioners that
contributions made to St. Thomas More using the
envelope system of offertory assures full accountability
for you and the parish and that pledges to the Annual
Bishop’s Appeal (DSA) receive tax-letters directly from
the Bishop’s office, not from the parish.
The Committee joins me in thanking all of our
parishioners and guests for their generous and loyal
spiritual, financial and volunteer support and in asking
God to bless all of you with joy, prosperity and good
health.
Rev. Julian P. Harris, Pastor |
| Blessing Of Throats February 3rd - Feast Of Saint Blase |
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Parishioners: individual throat blessings will be
offered after each Mass on
This Friday:
This year we will use candles from the Cathedral of St. Blaise in
Dubrovnik.
Provided by Father Vargas and his pilgrams of the Italy group. |
| Lent Season Begins on February 22nd. Don't Forget these important dates! |
| Stations of the
Cross |
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Divine Mercy
and Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament |
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Classical Devotion the Fridays of
Lent at Saint Thomas More
Parish Church at 6:15 pm.
Prayer prepares the
heart for Easter.
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Come and join us in the
extremely spiritually
fulfilling opportunity and
experience of
reciting the Divine Mercy
Chaplet during the Exposition
of the Blessed
Sacrament on Wednesday
evenings during Lent after
the 5:30 pm Mass. |
| Saint Joseph's Feast |
Saturdaym March 17, 2012
St. Thomas More Catholic Church is
celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph on
March 17, 2012 at 11:00 am.
There will be a Solemn Mass followed
by a procession and a fair in the
preschool/faith formation courtyard.
More information coming soon.... |
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| Fish Fry 2012 |
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| Sanctuary Lamp |
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+DEE CHOP+
as we mark her birthday on
February 23rd
by her sister
Virginia and Bernie Laut.
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| Ash Wednesday |
February 22, 2012
Masses will be celebrated at 6:30 am,
8:30 am, 10:30 am, as well as 12:00
noon, 5:30 and 8:00 PM (Spanish Mass).
Ashes will be distributed after each Mass. |
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| Prayer Requests |
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We at St. Thomas More believe in the extraordinary power that prayers be grant to the
followers of our Glorious Lord. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulty in life,
bring it before our most Holy Savior in prayer and petition. Please fill out this slip and
return it to the Parish Office so that we can aid you in your most difficult trials
and bringing your requests before our Savior.
 Click here to download form
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| Major Excepts from.... |
"MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI"
FOR THE CELEBRAT ION OF THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE —1 JANUARY 2012
EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE IN JUSTICE AND PEACE |
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The beginning of a new year, God’s gift to humanity, prompts me to extend to all, with great
confidence and affection, my heartfelt good wishes that this time now before us may be marked
concretely by justice and peace...
I would like therefore to devote this message for the XLV World Day of Peace to the theme
of education: Educating Young People in Justice and Peace, in the conviction that the young,
with their enthusiasm and idealism, can offer new hope to the world. My Message is also
addressed to parents, families and all those involved in the area of education and formation, as
well as to leaders in the various spheres of religious, social, political, economic and cultural life and
in the media. Attentiveness to young people and their concerns, the ability to listen to them and
appreciate them, is not merely something expedient; it represents a primary duty for society as a
whole, for the sake of building a future of justice and peace.
It is a matter of communicating to young people an appreciation for the positive value of
life and of awakening in them a desire to spend their lives in the service of the Good. This is a task
which engages each of us personally.
The concerns expressed in recent times by many young people around the world
demonstrate that they desire to look to the future with solid hope. At the present time, they are
experiencing apprehension about many things: they want to receive an education which prepares
them more fully to deal with the real world, they see how difficult it is to form a family and to find
stable employment; they wonder if they can really contribute to political, cultural and economic
life in order to build a society with a more human and fraternal face.
It is important that this unease and its underlying idealism receive due attention at every
level of society. The Church looks to young people with hope and confidence; she encourages them
to seek truth, to defend the common good, to be open to the world around them and willing to see
new things (Is 42:9; 48:6)...
Where does true education in peace and justice take place? First of all, in the family, since
parents are the first educators. The family is the primary cell of society; it is in the family that
children learn the human and Christian values which enable them to have a constructive and
peaceful coexistence. It is in the family that they learn solidarity between the generations, respect
for rules, forgiveness and how to welcome others. The family is the first school in which we are
trained in justice and peace.
We are living in a world where families, and life itself, are constantly threatened and
not infrequently fragmented. Working conditions which are often incompatible with family
responsibilities, worries about the future, the frenetic pace of life, the need to move frequently
to ensure an adequate livelihood, to say nothing of mere survival – all this makes it hard to
ensure that children receive one of the most precious of treasures: the presence of their parents.
This presence makes it possible to share more deeply in the journey of life and thus to pass on
experiences and convictions gained with the passing of the years, experiences and convictions
can only be communicated by spending time together. I would urge parents
not to grow disheartened! May they encourage children by the example of their
lives to put their hope before all else in God, the one source of authentic
justice and peace...
May young people be taught to savour the joy which comes from the daily exercise of
charity and compassion towards others and from taking an active part in the building of a more
humane and fraternal society...
Young people too need to have the courage to live by the same high standards that they set
for others. Theirs is a great responsibility: may they find the strength to make good and wise use
of their freedom. They too are responsible for their education, including their education in justice
and peace...
Freedom is a precious value, but a fragile one; it can be misunderstood and misused. Today,
a particularly insidious obstacle to the task of educating is the massive presence in our society and
culture of that relativism which, recognizing nothing as definitive, leaves as the ultimate criterion
only the self with its desires. And under the semblance of freedom it becomes a prison for each
one, for it separates people from one another, locking each person into his or her own self. With
such a relativistic horizon, therefore, real education is not possible without the light of the truth;
sooner or later, every person is in fact condemned to doubting the goodness of his or her own life
and the relationships of which it consists, the validity of his or her commitment to build with others
something in common...
The right use of freedom, then, is central to the promotion of justice and peace, which
require respect for oneself and others, including those whose way of being and living differs
greatly from one’s own. This attitude engenders the elements without which peace and justice
remain merely words without content: mutual trust, the capacity to hold constructive dialogue,
the possibility of forgiveness, which one constantly wishes to receive but finds hard to bestow,
mutual charity, compassion towards the weakest, as well as readiness to make sacrifices…
Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of
powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods
of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and
the assiduous practice of fraternity. We Christians believe that Christ is our true peace: in him,
by his Cross, God has reconciled the world to himself and has broken down the walls of division
that separated us from one another (cf. Eph 2:14-18); in him, there is but one family, reconciled in
love...
Dear young people, you are a precious gift for society. Do not yield to discouragement in the
face of difficulties and do not abandon yourselves to false solutions which often seem the easiest
way to overcome problems. Do not be afraid to make a commitment, to face hard work and
sacrifice, to choose the paths that demand fidelity and constancy, humility and
dedication. Be confident in your youth and its profound desires for happiness,
truth, beauty and genuine love! Live fully this time in your life so rich and so full of
enthusiasm.
Realize that you yourselves are an example and an inspiration to adults, even more so to the
extent that you seek to overcome injustice and corruption and strive to build a better future. Be
aware of your potential; never become self-centred but work for a brighter future for all. You are
never alone. The Church has confidence in you, follows you, encourages you and wishes to offer
you the most precious gift she has: the opportunity to raise your eyes to God, to encounter Jesus
Christ, who is himself justice and peace... |
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St. Thomas More Catholic Church
in you last will & testament. |
| Sunday morning breakfast |
Chancellors of St. Thomas More Host our
Sunday morning breakfast on Feb. 5th! Stop
by and enjoy a delicious meal in the wonderful
company of our Parish Community!
After the 8:30 am, 10:30 am, and 12:15 mass!
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| Sanctuary Flowers |
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Offered in Honor
+THOMAS RYAN+
By his loving wife Jane and the entire family. God blesses the man who efars The
Lord and walks in His ways with a true helpmate. The Book of SIRACH says: Blessed
is the husband of a really good wife; the number of his days will be doubled. How
accurate is the Word of God in Thomas and Jane! |
| Car Raffle Winner |
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February 4th & 5th |
Ushers & Lay Cistercian |
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February 11th & 12th |
Widows & Widowers & Al-Anon |
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February 18th |
St. Vincent de Paul Society & Preschool |
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| Your Contributions And Tax Returns For 2011 |
"Registered Parishioners at St. Thomas More may request in writing and receive by mail a
STATEMENT of your annual contributions for use in preparing your Tax Returns.
[You will receive a separate Statement directly from the Bishop’s Office for your
contributions/pledges to the Annual Appeal (DSA 2011)]
Please complete the request form below and place it in the Offertory at Mass or drop it by
the Parish Office by mail or in person. To maintain the confidentiality of your financial
information, your requests must be received in writing and returned to you by mail."
Click here for download the form |
| Living Stations of The Cross |
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You have seen and prayed the STM Living Stations of the Cross.
Now you can participate in this emotional & spiritual
aspect of Holy Week.
Performance Dates will be as follows:
March 28th, March 30th, & April 6th at 6:00 pm
First Rehearsal meeting on Tuesday January 31st at the STM Center. Come sign up and give of your efforts, time & talents to this years Living Stations of the Cross ministry. |
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