RCIA Blog: Eve of the New Year

/

Sunday, November 27, 2022 is the first Sunday in the new Church year and the First Sunday of Advent. A time of anticipation and hope while we live the shortening of days, and greater dependence on electric lights to see our way around.

Stumbling around in the dark is at best unpleasant and at worst dangerous to body and soul. Darkness as in a dark room, affects every bit of how we maneuver. If we can, we will illuminate with lamps, candles, flashlights, and cell phones. Getting the better of darkened rooms and other areas we need to pass, makes us creative. We inherently need to overcome darkness and are better for it.

The analogy of a world in darkness waiting for the Light of Christ is a cornerstone Christmas message. We all happily add to additional lighted decorations as a sign of the holidays. It is part of Christmas time for all, Christian or not. Christ is the Light of the World and we gratefully participate in lighting up the longer nights.

Shortly after the listing of the Beatitudes, Jesus declares his disciples to be lights of the world.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:14-16).

Do what is good, do it in the light, do it so that others may see its goodness and seek to reproduce it. St. Paul further encourages us:

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:8-9 ).

It seems our natural desire to avoid darkness and seek the light is an echo of the Natural Law written in our hearts by the Hand of God: “Do what is good and avoid what is evil”. It too is universal to human beings. Our desire to see the light and shun darkness is also an innate desire to seek Jesus Christ where he may be found, in the light.

In doing so, we produce what is good and avoid every evil thing. This is our annual resolution in the Church’s New Year.

- Frank Miller

Mass Schedule for Advent and Christmas Season 2022

/

Reconciliation (Confession) Schedule:

  • Advent Reconciliation Service will be held Monday, December 5th at 7pm at Sacred Heart Church.

  • Confession at STA church will be held Saturdays December 3rd, 10th, and 17th at 1pm as well as Monday, December 19th at 7pm.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

  • Thursday, December 8th at 9:00am, 11:30am, 7:00pm

Christmas Mass Schedule:

  • Saturday, December 24th Christmas Eve: 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 10:00pm (Music Prelude included at 10:00pm). Adult Choir will sing at 10:00pm, Youth Choir will sing at 4:00pm.

  • Sunday, December 25th Christmas Day: 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm. All masses celebrated with traditional Christmas carols.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God:

  • Saturday, December 31st 5:00pm, Sunday, January 1st 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm

Solemnity of the Epiphany (Annual “Bell Sunday”):

  • Saturday, January 7th at 5:00pm, Sunday, January 8th 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm

Parishioner Brandon C. Reflects on the 2022 Word on Fire Good News Conference

/

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Good News Conference run by the Word on Fire Institute in Phoenix. It was a three day conference, where the overarching theme was “beauty”.

The first day the main presenter was Bishop Robert Barron. He had a meet and greet session, and celebrated mass. After mass he gave a wonderful keynote speech on the beauty of the tradition of the church.

The main point of his talk was when you’re evangelizing, it can be beneficial to lead with the beauty of the church, and then moving to the good, and finally the truth of the faith. He presented an interesting perspective, saying that true beauty is undeniable. Presenting someone with the beauty of the Sistine Chapel, or traditional music, or even beautiful works is undeniably attractive. And then once showing someone the beauty of the catholic tradition, you can present the good and the truth of the faith.

“True beauty is undeniable.”
— Bishop Robert Barron

The second day the main presenter was Father Mike Schmitz. Once again there was a meet and greet, he celebrated mass and then gave a keynote speech.

The mass was for All Saints Day, and he gave a wonderful homily. He had two main focus points, the first being: all it takes to become a saint is to never stop saying yes to God. If you are able to completely surrender yourself to Gods will (a second running theme of the weekend), you will be able to say yes to Him at every turn of life. And this is what makes the saints who they are. The second point of his homily was the importance of growing as a community. He said how it can be difficult if not impossible to do truly amazing acts on your own. But if we can come together as a community of faith, sainthood is possible for each and every one of us.

“All it takes to become a saint is to never stop saying yes to God.”
— Fr. Mike Schmitz

That evening he gave a wonderful keynote speech on the beauty of hope. The talk revolved around keeping hope through struggle. He started with the story of Genesis and continued with a few present day examples. He talked about how especially in times of struggle its important to keep your faith strong, and to surrender yourself to God.

The final day there were a couple other keynote speakers. The one who stood out the most was a women named Britt Fisk, whose talk was on the beauty in losing control. Britt came out and said how she felt out of place talking on the same stage as some of the giants of the modern day Catholic church. She then proceeded to give the most moving talk of the entire weekend.

Britt said how like most of us, she lived her entire life trying to be in control of everything, and one day it all started to fall apart. She told her story of having a disabled child, and then being diagnosed with cancer in the middle of the pandemic. She talked about how in these moments, where life seems to be spiraling out of control, those are the most important moments to turn everything over to God. She talked of how her faith was what got her through those challenging times. She ended her talk with a video of her daughter walking (which doctors had said would never be possible for her), and left the stage to the loudest and longest ovation of the weekend.

It was a wonderful weekend to hear from some great men and women of the church. It was a nice reminder to see the beauty in everything, and to surrender yourself to Gods will.

Update from Fr. Jonathan

/

Fr. Jonathan sends his greetings and prayers from Nigeria to all of us at STA church!

It’s been over a month since he left, and he looks forward to returning to us at some point next year. Please keep him in your prayers.

Deacon Tom's Homily for Christ the King

/

TODAY IS THE LAST SUNDAY OF our Liturgical Year. The last Sunday that we hear the Gospel according to Luke.  Luke’s Gospel is called “the Gospel of God’s compassion” and St. Luke himself is referred to as “the scribe of the gentleness of Christ.” 

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST year, we have heard the parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, and we’ve seen the healing of the ten lepers, all of which are found only in Luke’s Gospel, as is today’s exchange between Jesus and the Good Thief.

BUT IS TODAY’S GOSPEL PASSAGE really the appropriate Gospel for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe?

MISSING IS THE GOLDEN THRONE with it’s scarlet backing and plush cushions; missing is the bejeweled crown of gold and the throngs of followers shouting “Hosanna.”  Instead, we have a cross, a crown of thorns, and the jeers and insults of politicians, soldiers, and a common criminal.

BUT NOTICE, EVERYTHING they say is the truth!  From their mouths, today’s Gospel shouts out to us: “Yes, Jesus did indeed save others”; “Yes, Jesus is the Chosen One, the Christ of God”; and “Yes, He is the King of the Jews.”

BUT, JESUS IS A KING LIKE NO other!  Most kings make sure that everyone in their kingdom pays their share and more.  This King paid for everyone else!

LIKE HIS ANCESTOR, KING DAVID, who once shepherded the people of Israel, Our Shepherd-King, despite the extreme agony of the cross, reaches out one last time to save a lost sheep, carrying him home in His arms across the threshold into Paradise which has been locked to all since the fall of Adam and Eve.

BY FORGIVING THIS REPENTANT thief and guaranteeing him eternal bliss, Jesus reveals to us that He is indeed God.  And we all know that the cross is not the end.  In three days, Jesus will rise from the dead offering us all eternal bliss!

AND SO, TODAY, IT IS UP TO EACH one of us to do as the hymn tells us: “In your hearts enthrone Him.”  His Kingdom is the human heart! 

AND, IN THE DEPTHS OF OUR heart, we each long to hear spoken to us one day, these final words of Luke’s Gospel this year, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

2022 Advent Giving Tree

/

The Saint Thomas the Apostle Rosary Confraternity is sponsoring the Annual Advent Giving Tree.

It’s that time of year for our Annual Giving Tree Project. The gift selections will be split between the trees in the Church and digitally on our ministry page (follow button below).

Kindly note the following guidelines:

  • Gift Tags will be available the weekend of November 26th/27th.

  • All gifts must be returned no later than the weekend of December 10th/11th.

  • Please do not wrap gifts – place items in gift bags or plastic bags.

  • Original gift tags must be attached to the bags.

  • Gift cards (with the gift tag and $ value attached) should be placed in the collection basket or dropped off at the Parish Center.

We appreciate your spirit of generosity and look forward to another successful year!

RCIA: Why do you believe in Jesus Christ?

/

On November 6, 2022, Irene will be accepted as a Catechumen. Returning baptized Christian candidates, Jennifer, Brianna, Maureen, and Alissa will be formally welcomed by our parish. Please keep them in your prayers. They walk their own Road to Emmaus toward Easter and Pentecost.

For the next 20 Sundays, we will pursue formation in the faith in Jesus Christ.

When someone asks, “why do you believe in Jesus Christ?” the answer may be a little longer and not be as definitive as, “do you believe in Jesus Christ?” This question gets a clear and resounding “Yes!”. The former question may not have one all-inclusive answer. It may be several reasons or several dozen reasons.

St. John Henry Newman compared our faith to the strength of a good rope. A rope of good quality and strength is made of many small threads or twine. Each small thread is wound with other small threads to form a strand. In turn, the strands are wound together to form a rope.

Like rope, our reason for belief is not dependent on one thread and not made of all equally strong threads. Some break in normal use and wear and tear. Some give way in shock or in great hardship. But a strong rope has many threads making many strong strands. Rope is flexible. It can be tied in a knot! But can also be untied and return to its normal shape. We know that life will test our faith, every fiber of it (or every thread).

Life tests our faith, like a good rope. We must strengthen each strand. Prayer, corporal works of mercy, and seeking understanding, all build strong threads. Our catechumen and candidates are building strong ropes. Pray for them.