Deacon Tom's Homily for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

AS TODAY’S GOSPEL BEGINS, WE see Jesus getting into a boat about to address His followers who are lined-up along the shore. Up on the hillside to His right, Jesus notices a farmer scattering seeds all over his field. Jesus turns to the crowd and begins: “The Kingdom of God is like that sower over there [pointing to His right] who went out to sow seeds in his field.”

JESUS HIMSELF SOWED THE SEEDS of the Kingdom, especially during the three years of His public ministry. He told us that the Kingdom of God is like a treasure buried in the field; and like a pearl of great price. He taught us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us. The blind received their sight. The deaf heard again; lepers were cleansed, and the dead were raised to life.

JESUS IS STILL SOWING THE SEEDS of the Kingdom right here for us at this Mass today. Each one of us has the responsibility to make sure that the soil of our own heart is rich and ready to receive the seeds of the Kingdom as Jesus proclaims the Sacred Scriptures to us. Is our heart open to receive the Word of God today? Have we really been listening?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SEEDS that have touched our heart in particular in the past and are growing within us right now? Perhaps, that moment when the father of the prodigal son hugs his son tightly against his heart? And maybe one or more of the Psalms: for example, “The Lord’s voice flashes flames of fire; the Lord’s voice shaking the wilderness. And in His temple, they all cry ‘Glory.’”

LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ONE of the seeds that Jesus has planted in each of our hearts. The seed of His own Resurrection from the dead. In Jesus’ Resurrection, we get a glimpse of our own future destiny. We can picture our own face shining brighter than the sun, our garment whiter than snow. We know why we were born; we know what our goal in life is: union with Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit in an ecstasy of joy that will never diminish, that will never end.

MAY WE NOURISH THIS SEED OF the Resurrection within us always. May we allow it to ever grow and flourish in our soul. Jesus has already won the victory for us. The abundant harvest is assured. In Jesus’ day, the average harvest yielded seven times more than the amount of seed sown. Today, our Gospel assures us that our harvest will yield thirty times or sixty times or even one hundred times the seed sown. So, take the seeds of God’s love and make them grow!

TODAY, WE ARE FILLED WITH hope. We are filled with joy. And today, in this temple we all cry, “Glory.”

From the Pastoral Council: 2023 Listening Sessions Report

Dear Parishioners,

The 2023 Listening Session was the first initiative undertaken by our Pastoral Council. First and foremost, it was conducted in response to the invitation of Pope Francis to dioceses throughout the world to engage in a synodal process of listening to the Word of God and one another, encountering the person of Jesus Christ, and discerning God’s will for the Church. Simultaneously, it was a wonderful opportunity for us as Pastoral Council members to have the time and space to hear about the needs and concerns of STA parishioners directly.

As we were all new to our posts, the intention was to take stock of the current spiritual, social and organizational state of our parish. It was important to us that our way forward as a parish, our investment of our time, talent and treasure, the vision we have been tasked with executing be rooted in the guidance provided by the people of God that we have been called to serve.

Over the course of two days, we met with about 60 participants and pooled feedback by offering virtual and in-person opportunities. Parishioners were invited to attend the Listening Sessions on the evening of October 20th, 2022, as well as on Sunday October 23rd, after the 10 am Mass. A google form was made available through the church website with the same set of questions. The questions were 1. What do you like about our Parish? 2. How can our Parish improve? and 3. What do you want to see happen at STA in the future? Parishioners were able to submit their responses digitally throughout the month of November. We must express our gratitude to those who shared their thoughts with us in such an honest, thoughtful and caring manner. It was very encouraging to see all those who took part in prayer, listening and efforts to discern what the Holy Spirit is calling us to in the twenty-first century.

The Pastoral Council coordinated with our youth group leader, Francesca Leite, to hold a STAYG Listening Session. On the evening of December 4th, the members of our youth group relayed their faith formation experiences with openness, maturity and frankness, giving us a much-appreciated insight into what our high schoolers need from our church. We cannot thank all of the participants enough for your feedback. Your feedback was honest, heartfelt and thoughtful; the process of digesting the feedback was also thoughtful, methodical and took time throughout the Winter and Spring. Our members held five meetings throughout the Winter and Spring devoted to organizing and prioritizing the feedback. We used an application called Jamboard to create dozens of virtual color coded post-it notes and a priority matrix to evaluate the viability of the ideas in the coming year.

Four areas emerged that we will be attending to in the coming year. Your Listening Session input made it clear that people in our Parish want to connect with one another and each priority honors that fundamental desire.

• First, we will renew our efforts to create and support prayer groups and bible study groups at St. Thomas. These are wonderful opportunities to connect with fellow Parishioners around the word of God.

• Our second priority is to follow up with families and Parishioners after they have completed Sacraments to further connect with and welcome members of the Parish.

• Our third priority will be to bring back regular socials and dances. After the great success of our Parish Picnic last September it is clear that we are calling for more opportunities to gather together socially.

• Our last priority is to give ministry members the opportunity to promote and advertise their ministries from the pulpit. It is so powerful to hear from a member that you can connect a face and name to when their ministry is promoted and we will provide those opportunities.

Father Larry stands by our priorities, the Pastoral Council stands by our priorities, and we invite you to take part in carrying our priorities out.

The Pandemic made us aware of how valuable our time is, and the Listening Sessions were a tool to clarify how we can focus our time and efforts as a community. The feedback you provided has made it clear that STA is to be a place of encounter and connection. How blessed are we that, in a time when the perceived trend may be rancor, incivility and apathy, we are given people – in the pews and up on the altar – who are keenly aware that faith formation, development and maintenance is served best by an environment of warm welcome and earnest appreciation for the talents each of us brings as we continue to build the Kingdom of God in the here and now.

The Pastoral Council plans to meet with heads of our various ministries to discuss the realities of bringing this vision to life in each of their respective areas. We will also want to assess what kind of help they need to be able to successfully serve our parishioners. In the meantime, we ask for your continued participation in our parish life. You have shown us that you care deeply about STA, its present and its future. Please keep sharing your thoughts, your talents, and your time with us.

Thank you and God Bless!

Yours in service,

Saint Thomas the Apostle Pastoral Council

pastoralcouncil@stachurchbloomfield.org

Veterans' Benefit Concert: Highlights

The Music Ministry’s Benefit Event God, Country and the American Spirit: A ‘Thank You’ Concert for Veterans succeeded in raising $7,000 for Project K9 Beethoven, a nonprofit organization that provides rescued trained psychiatric service dogs for Veterans and others in need at no cost.

Special Thanks Include:

Kim Mesiti, Artistic Director

Patricio Molina, Music Director

Paul Alongi, Producer

Project K9 Beethoven

The Mayor’s Office and Councilpersons of the Town of Bloomfield

The Adult and Children’s Choirs

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE, MAN OF FAITH: A Special Tribute

Dear Parish Family and Visitors,

We celebrate the Feast Day of St. Thomas the Apostle, Patron Saint of our parish, on July 3rd each year.

In honor of this great disciple of Jesus, Frank Miller, RCIA Director, has collaborated with the Communications Committee to create this special post.

We hope it brings faith and inspiration to your life today.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Pray for Us!

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (Caravaggio)

July 3rd is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, friend of Jesus and our parish patron saint. We have great cause to honor this holy man and pray for his intercession. Yet, we have only a few lines of scripture that refer to St. Thomas and no well-defined description. In the three synoptic gospels, he is introduced to us as part of the group called by Jesus to be his apostles: “Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus” (Matt 10:3)*.In The Acts of the Apostles, he is listed again with the apostles who have returned to Jerusalem after the miraculous Ascension of the Lord at the Mount of Olives. “When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James” (Acts 1:13). St. Thomas is clearly and repeatedly accounted to be among the select twelve.

It is in the Gospel of St. John that we hear more of our patron and the role he played with this group assembled by Christ. The first occasion John refers to Thomas is at the news that Lazarus of Bethany, a dear friend of Jesus, is gravely ill. Jesus and his disciples had fled to the far side of the Jordan River in the country of Perea, shortly before this news, “He [Jesus] went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained” (John 10:40). The company had left Jerusalem after a near violent altercation following Jesus’ discourse when he identified himself by saying, “The Father and I are one.” (John 10: 30). At this revelation, those listening threatened to stone Jesus. However, his persecutors were able to neither carry out their threats nor arrest him. These persecutors were on the verge of committing overt murderous actions. It must have been terrifying for the disciples. We can safely assume that the disciples were fearful for their lives. They may have thought, “How much more does Jesus need to endure before he summons the powers of heaven and overthrows the powers of evil now ruling over Israel and persecuting us?” We may guess that they were relieved at Jesus’s decision to leave Jerusalem for distant Perea across the Jordan River.

It is in the country of Perea near where John first baptized that the message comes to them about Lazarus’ illness. We are told that Jesus loved Lazarus and Martha his sister. He assured his listeners that Lazarus will not die. Two days later Jesus announced their return to Bethany in the country of Judea. The company heard they are to return to the land where so recently they were assaulted by men with murderous intent. It does not take much imagination to put ourselves in their shoes. Jesus’ decision to return now may have been accompanied by along and angst filled silence. “If Lazarus is dead, are we to die too, now?”, may have been in their thoughts. It was Thomas, called Didymus meaning twin, that broke the silence. “Let us also go to die with him” (John 11: 16). He spoke what was on their minds. By saying it aloud we see it ended any hesitancy and galvanized the disciples. We hear no more about the fear of returning to Judea. St. Thomas, who would later be dubbed ‘Doubting Thomas’, displayed faith in Jesus and fortitude in the face of unknown danger and potentially murderous threats. Qualities that will serve him very well when evangelizing the Good News. Qualities we are called to emulate.

We next hear about Thomas in John’s Gospel chapter 14. This time during the ‘Last Supper Discourse’. After dismissing Judas Iscariot, Jesus informed them he is leaving them, and he assures them that he is preparing a place for them and that he will return to take them there. He told them that they knew the way. This is all very challenging to the apostles. They wish never to be separated from Jesus, yet now his message is about leaving them. Here again it is Thomas that spoke what is on their minds.

Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? (John 14:5)

The way is not some secret path or arcane method; the Way is speaking to them right now.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6-7)

Thomas had the courage to speak up which allows Jesus to utter this self-defining revelation. Thomas was led by his faith in Jesus and blessed with fortitude, the courage of his convictions. His faith, like ours, seeks understanding and he pursued this desire courageously. St. Thomas like the others was faced with words that left him upset and confused. He alone did not remain silent. He brought them to the Lord. Thomas set the example for the faithful who are in doubt.

The final time we hear of Thomas in the Gospel of St. John is following Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples after his resurrection. The instance when Thomas was not among them. What followed may shake our confidence in Thomas. On two previous occasions, he did not give into fear but acted in faith and courage. At this moment in the upper room, we would expect Thomas to act the same way, with faith and courage. Yet on first reading his words startle us.

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ (John 20: 24-25)

Can this be the same Thomas who so recently displayed faith and courage? His words are clear. His declaration ends, “οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω” (Gr: ou me psiteuso), “No, I will not believe”. There is no ambiguity. Are these the words of the apostle who has already displayed acts of faith and courage. Are these words of someone who has lost faith? Lacks fortitude? I do not think so.

Thomas rose to two previous challenges and put into words what was on his fellow disciples’ minds and in their hearts. Let us consider that St. Thomas did the same thing here. Thomas was not with the gathered disciples when Jesus first appeared among them. We are not given a reason. Thomas returned to the assembled company and found them quite changed. They are not the same disheartened and fearful group who hid in the upper room after the crucifixion. They are profoundly different. They are not ready to burst from the upper room as they will do on Pentecost, but their fear has left them. Their faith in Jesus was fulfilled. They informed Thomas that they have seen the Lord, touched him, heard his words, and ate with him. We may even surmise that Thomas’ return was in part motivated by what the disciples experienced. No one would be able to contain themselves after that miraculous experience. Perhaps word traveled outside the upper room. In a similar same way, Cleopas and his friend left Jerusalem for Emmaus** even after having heard of the news Mary Magdalene reported at the tomb. They heard that the tomb was empty and the report that Jesus had risen. They were still faithful but what they believed in was severely challenged to the point that they left for home. They left the company in doubt and confusion. They return to the company with their hearts burning inside them after their experience of the Holy Eucharist.

We do not know why Thomas was absent on the first Sunday. On his return, we know that he is met with an excited outpouring of miraculous events. We can imagine the wide-eyed enthusiasm with which the others report Jesus’s appearance. Thomas could not have been unmoved. I imagine he was greatly moved by their excitement, their sincerity, and that they stayed together when all seemed lost. Thomas’ third defining moment will be when he articulates his doubt motivated by his faith that brought him back to the disciples. Thomas does not lack faith; he wants his belief to be reassured. We know that our faith in Jesus is accompanied by doubt. They are not opposites instead, they are complementary. Faith leads us to truth; doubt protects us from lies and deception. Both are gifts and we need both. Their battleground is belief. What do we believe in? What do we believe to be true? We are gifted faith in God and still have doubts about all we are asked to believe. St. Thomas rose to this occasion for all those people of faith who wish to have their belief strengthened and to alleviate their doubts. Thomas could have put aside his doubts and took comfort in his comrades’ experiences and words. However, he does not do the expected thing. He voiced the doubt shared by many.

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’ (John 20:26-27)

Jesus said this to Thomas, and it is recorded as a revelation for us all. Jesus told us to trust our faith in him and extinguish our doubt.

Thomas answered in the most definitive way, “ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου” (Gr: ‘O kyrios mou kai ‘o theos mou) “ “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). He is the first to acknowledge Jesus with these two powerful titles together. “My lord” is reserved for those in secular power, Tiberius Caesar, and his appointees and all those with power and wealth who had command of life and death over others. It is the word Greek speaking Jews would reserve for the Lord God, JHWH. Thomas also addresses Jesus as “my God”. This is a profound recognition of Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, he is God himself. In this short statement of faith, Thomas’ words articulate what is in the hearts and minds of his fellow disciples. His faith led him to this moment. His doubt is satisfied, his belief is re-enforced. Thomas’ actions and words then prompt the great gift of grace in Jesus’ words of blessing and encouragement:

Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

This blessing comes down to all who were not in the upper room. This blessing is for all the faithful who strive to overcome doubts. Faith in God and in Jesus Christ brings with it the struggle with belief. Jesus blessed us and encouraged us to persevere under doubt and have confidence in our faith. St Thomas named the Doubter may be better named ‘the Faithful’. He remained faithful to Jesus and overcame fear and doubts. He returned to the upper room after an unexplained absence. He returned without knowing what his brothers and sisters in faith had witnessed. Even in doubt, Thomas remained faithful. He stayed with the company until the following Sunday. He witnessed the risen Christ. He is the one who articulates the full nature of Jesus as Lord and God. We have great cause to honor this holy man and pray for his intercession. His courageous actions in faith overcame doubt and inspires us all.

Frank Miller

RCIA Director, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

*Cf. Mark 3:18 and Luke 8:15.

**Cf. Luke 24: 13-35

September Club 2023 Trip Schedule - Sign Up Now!

The St. Thomas the Apostle September Club still has spots available for the following upcoming trips! We welcome non-members to join us. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to have a fun time.

Note: Because the COVID Virus is still with us, we ask that all travelers, both members and non-members, have proof of vaccination to travel with us this season. Masks are highly recommended on the bus and inside theater venues.

• Gaming at Wind Creek Casino, Bethlehem, PA August 2 (Wednesday) $35 per person includes bus transportation, driver tip, & $25 Slot Play. Will spend 5 hours at the casino. (Note: This trip is waitlisted.)

• Carmine’s & the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine August 30 (Wednesday) $105 per person includes a 60-90 minute tour of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine followed by a family-style lunch at Carmine’s Uptown, bus transportation, & all gratuities.

• Lake George & Saratoga Springs 4 Days/3 Nights, Sept 26 thru Sept 29 (Tues-Fri) Enjoy guided tours of Lake George, Saratoga Springs and Lake Placid, including the Olympic Village and “Miracle on Ice” rink; cruise Lake George, visit Saratoga Casino, the Saratoga National Historic Park, and more; $670 per person based on double occupancy includes fees for all activities, 3 nights lodging, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners including gratuities, bus transportation & driver tip. (This trip is filling up quickly!)

• Brunch at The Brookdale, 1099 Broad St., Bloomfield, NJ November 5 (Sunday) $55 per person includes family-style brunch & gratuity. No bus, travel on your own. Join us to wrap up our travel year.

Please note, some trips have limited capacity. If you’re interested please contact us at Septemberclub4@gmail.com or call Renee Miscione at 347-675-3581 for individual trip information sheets. These have a short form at the bottom that must be returned with your deposit to reserve your spot.

New Principal Appointment at St. Thomas the Apostle School

June 19, 2023

Dear Members of the St. Thomas the Apostle School Community,

I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Ellen Naughton has been named principal of St. Thomas the

Apostle School.

Mrs. Naughton holds a Master of Arts in Education degree from Seton Hall University and has

been an educator for over two decades, working with students at various grade levels and with

diverse learning needs. She has extensive experience as a principal within the Archdiocese of

Newark and is well-versed in Catholic school administration. Her ability to collaborate with

parents, teachers, pastoral staff, and administrators is well demonstrated.

In addition to her educational experience within the Newark Archdiocese, Mrs. Naughton is very

familiar with the St. Thomas the Apostle school community, having taught at the school for over

ten years before becoming a principal. Her children have also attended the school, and she most

recently had a brief assignment at St. Thomas the Apostle as an educational specialist on behalf

of the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission. Mrs. Naughton looks forward to her

return to St. Thomas the Apostle School as leader of the mission of Catholic education here.

Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Naughton to St. Thomas the Apostle School. She looks

forward to the opportunity to join the school community in this new role.

I would like to thank you for your continued support of and care for St. Thomas the Apostle

School. It is an integral part of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, and we are grateful for the strong

collaboration, shared vision, and faith community here.

Sincerely,

Mary McManus McElroy, JD, MA

Assistant Superintendent

Volunteers Needed: Parish Picnic 2023

Our 2nd Annual Parish Family Picnic is being held on September 24, 2023 [rain date 10/1]. We are in need of volunteers to help set up, serve food, runners, clean up, etc.

You will have a lot of fun and make some new friends! We will have a meeting for all volunteers on June 22nd at 7pm in the St. Peter room of the parish center.

Anyone who would like to help us please call Mary Ann Messina at (973) 634-3342 or email at mare34247@gmail.com.

National Eucharistic Revival!

Our Catholic Bishops have called for a revival of dedication to the Eucharist.

The initiative began last year on a diocesan level with the bishops and clergy. It continues this year at the parish level, and culminates in a National Eucharistic Congress in July of 2024.

You can read more about this very important undertaking by going to one of the 2 websites linked below.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

— John 6:51