Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 16, 2021
Dear Faithful Parishioners of St. Thomas of Canterbury,
Given with what is going on in the world and in our country, I continue to join you in praying for the end to the COVID Pandemic. In our Santa Clara County, we have the most cases of all the Bay Area counties. There have been more deaths as well as more hospital cases to the point that three of them are running out of spaces for their morgues. We desperately need and pray to Jesus, the Healer of Soul and Body, to help us, all involved and affected by it, more than ever.
We also continue to pray for peace for our beloved nation. We petition to Jesus, Our Universal King and Prince of Peace, to guide our country in the midst of turmoil. Please join our Bishop and me in praying for this intention at all our Masses this weekend:
O God, who show a father’s care for all,
grant, in your mercy,
that the members of the human race,
to whom you have given a single origin,
may form in peace a single family
and always be united by a fraternal spirit.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
On the brighter note, please join our youth and young adults as we congratulate and support them with our prayers and wishes and, if possible, with our presence next Sunday, 1/24/21, at 11:15am for a Graduation Mass. We are very proud and happy that some of them have graduated from college. Congratulations!
sign up: https://stthomasofcanterbury4.flocknote.com/signup/36066
Please be safe.
With prayers,
Fr. Andrew
Friendly Reminders:
Saturday (Sunday’s Vigil) Mass: 3:00pm
Sunday Mass: 10:00am
Daily Masses: Wednesdays – Thursdays – Fridays @8:30AM
*All Masses will be streamed online through YouTube and Facebook.
*All Weekend Masses will still be transmitted through Radio FM 87.9 and have Communion service to the cars.
*Those in-car do not have to sign-up.
To keep warm either in-car or in-person, a lap blanket is beneficial.
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Saturdays: 2:15pm to 2:45pm OR by appointment; outside, near the exit door next to the sacristy.
Our parish reconciliation service is available for viewing on youtube at:
https://youtu.be/4aWd445-xuM to help you prepare for the sacrament.
Visits from Fr. Andrew:
If you, or someone you know of, is in dire need of receiving the sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation or Anointing of the Sick, Fr. Andrew is available to visit you. Please call the parish office, and leave a message or contact Fr. Andrew: FrAndrew@StThomasSJ.org OR
(408) 766-3318 (emergency number)
Support our Youth who have graduated from college as they celebrate a Mass with Fr Andrew on Sunday, January 24, 2021 @ 11:15am.
Come here the youth band and cheer and congratulate those who have graduated from college!
Men's Virtual Discernment Weekend: January 29-31, 2021.
Is God calling you to the priesthood? In this retreat you will have the chance to explore the priesthood, listen to priest's vocation stories and learn about steps for discernment, values of priestly life and the structure of seminary formation during a weekend of prayer, discussions & fraternity. Click here for more information or contact vocations@dsj.org.
Women's Virtual Discernment Weekend: February 5-7, 2021.
What does it mean to have a vocation and discern it? How do you know when you are called to marriage or consecrated life? We know you have these questions and we want to help you find some answers! The Diocese of San Jose Vocations Office invites young adult women aged 18-40 to a free bilingual retreat weekend! Click link below for more information or contact vocations@dsj.org.
O Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom and divine love, impart Your knowledge, understanding, and counsel to youth that they may know the vocation wherein they can best serve God. Give them courage and strength to follow God's holy will. Guide their uncertain steps, strengthen their resolutions, shield their chastity, fashion their minds, conquer their hearts, and lead them to the vineyards where they will labor in God's holy service.
Amen.
Amen.
Please continue to remember our adopted seminarian, PJ Jimenez, and all seminarians in your prayers.
Lord Jesus Christ, we pray for these men whom You have called to discern priesthood. We beg Your continued blessings on our Diocese and families. Call forth even more men of generous spirit and fervent love whom You desire for this holy work. Amen.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Weekly Offering 01/10/2021 $6,166
MTD OFFERINGS AS OF 01/10/2021
MTD budget: $ 9,000
MTD offerings: $ 12,526
MTD surplus: $ 3,526
You can always drop off or mail your donations to the parish office.
On-line giving available at our website: www.StThomasSJ.org
Click: Give & Fundraising
or scan the QR Code to the left.
Thank you for your support and generosity!
ADULT FAITH FORMATION:
Becoming Catholic
Are you interested (or do you know someone who is) in learning more about the Catholic way of life? Are you interested in becoming Catholic? Have you been away from the faith? Are you are a baptized Catholic but still need to receive First Eucharist and Confirmation? Are you a Catholic and have questions about your faith? Are you seeking something more?
The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Team welcomes all! We are here to provide information and spiritual guidance for all those interested in becoming Catholic, those interested in completing the sacraments and those who have a desire to know God.
The RCIA itself is a process developed by the Catholic Church for unbaptized adults and adapted for children (ages 7 and above) guiding them through education, formation and ritualization of entrance into the Catholic community.
The process for the RCIA is always open and is year round since God’s time and plan is different for everyone.
Contact Vicki Schwoob for inquiries and sacraments; info@StThomasSJ.org
or (408) 378-1595.
Would your child benefit from a Catholic School Education? You are invited to the Queen of Apostles School Virtual Open House for PK- 8th grade prospective families, Sunday, January 31st from 10 am to 11:30 am. You will be able to meet our teachers and ask questions about our program by clicking on the Zoom link on our website, QofA.school, during that time . If you are interested in enrolling in Queen of Apostles School, then please visit our website at QofA.school and click on the Online Application button. Thank you.
PARISH WEBSITE:
We are still in the process of building our pages for our parish website; It is a work-in-progress so we ask you to please be patient.
Visit our website to sign up for Mass, see our Mass schedule, get information for our live-stream Mass, to volunteer and to send in your prayer requests.
If you cannot come to in-person Mass, celebrate with us and watch on our YouTube or Facebook channel. The links for our channels are provided below.
GIVING AT ST. THOMAS: Time, Talent and Treasure
Your continued support greatly helps us to live out the mission of the parish and of the Church, especially during these difficult times.
- TREASURE: Thank you for your on-going financial support! There are many ways to give: Offering envelopes, On-line recurring giving, and also through Benevity! If you work at Apple, you can give through the Benevity platform and Apple matches your donation to the parish. Let us know if your company has a giving/matching benefit. To access all our giving platforms, visit our parish website or click below.
- TIME and TALENT: Volunteers are needed to help with our outdoor Mass celebrations. There are many tasks; set up before Mass (Altar, equipment, chairs, camera, sound system), check-in of mass attendees, check-in of "in-car" attendees, seating and sanitizing. Would you like to serve as a Lector, Eucharistic minister or Sacristan (prepare the Altar) or Usher? Prayerfully discern how you can serve. Training will be provided in all areas.
The Holy Father's Universal Prayer Intention for JANUARY:
Human Fraternity
May the Lord give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions, praying for one another, open to all.
May the Lord give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions, praying for one another, open to all.
Racial Healing Ministry
Starting Saturday January 30:
Faith and Racial Healing, a ground-breaking series from Just Faith Ministries, addresses the situation in which we find ourselves in need of healing and conversion. The Catholic Community Foundation of Santa Clara County has provided a generous leadership training grant to fund this opportunity.
The series begins with a 3-hour introductory retreat from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday, January 30 and continues with 8 consecutive 2.5-hour study and discussion classes from 11:30 am-2 pm every Saturday from February 6, through March 27.
In this moment of national division, people of faith are called to step forward, to heal and to lead. To heal the brokenhearted, to lead our nation in healing and reconciliation.
For more information or to register and receive the zoom link, contact Kathy Mattingly, kat@kajon.com.
Keeping Families Housed - Workshop 2: An additional workshop will be held on Jan. 31st from 6:30pm to 8:30pm assisting families being effected with the threat of eviction. Thousands of families throughout our community are unable to pay rent. How can parishes help and understand how to respond to this crisis? Learn about the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020 and inform your community. Click here to for registration details for this important workshop.
FORMED.org - A Gift for You
Introducing FORMED - The Catholic Faith. On Demand.
Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet connected device.
Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries and studies... there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.
Create Your Account:
The parish has paid for your free subscription and it's easy to sign up!
- Visit FORMED.org
- Click the Sign Up button
- Select "Sign up as a parishioner"
- Find your parish by name or zip
- Enter your email and you are in!
Once you have your FORMED Account:
- Visit FORMED.org
- Click the Sign In
- Enter your email
- Click the link in the email sent to you
- You're in! No more passwords!
Your parish leaders received a grant for this for a one year subscription. Let's use and if you feel you love it, let us know if are willing to underwrite all or part of it for next year.
Brought to you by our budding Mental Health Ministry in our parish.
NAMI FaithNet is a network of members, friends, clergy and congregations who encourage faith communities to be welcoming and supportive of people living with mental illness.
You are invited to NAMI's FaithNet Luncheon on 1/28, 11:00am - 1:00pm. The event is a zoom workshop in which NAMI will go over some of the nuances of mental health within the faith community. Register at: http://bit.ly/3qcHe96
The Gospel of St. Mark is featured prominently in this year's Scripture readings for Cycle B.
Are you curious about Mark's message and how it can help us grow closer to Jesus?
Gospel of Mark Bible Study
Please come and join us; scripture sharing is for EVERYONE!
Come, join the journey; come share in the conversation.
DATES: TUESDAYS 02/16, 02/23, 03/02, 03/09, 03/16 and 03/23
TIME: 5:00pm - 6:30pm
DURATION: 6 weeks
Come, join the journey; come share in the conversation.
DATES: TUESDAYS 02/16, 02/23, 03/02, 03/09, 03/16 and 03/23
TIME: 5:00pm - 6:30pm
DURATION: 6 weeks
Please bring the New American Bible to these sessions.
This presentation is via ZOOM. Register to get the ZOOM meeting info: https://www.stthomassj.org/rcia-events-1
This presentation is via ZOOM. Register to get the ZOOM meeting info: https://www.stthomassj.org/rcia-events-1
Governor Releases Initial Budget On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom released his record-breaking $227 billion budget proposal for the 2021 - 2022 fiscal year.
While other states are dealing with billion-dollar budget deficits, California is benefitting from massive stock market and income gains and may be constitutionally forced to put billions in rainy-day reserve accounts.
The California Budget and Policy Center has released an initial overview of the Governor's proposals, seen here. The budget makes accommodations for several areas of interest to the California Catholic Conference, including new financial commitments for housing and homelessness, and immigration services.
Continue Reading
While other states are dealing with billion-dollar budget deficits, California is benefitting from massive stock market and income gains and may be constitutionally forced to put billions in rainy-day reserve accounts.
The California Budget and Policy Center has released an initial overview of the Governor's proposals, seen here. The budget makes accommodations for several areas of interest to the California Catholic Conference, including new financial commitments for housing and homelessness, and immigration services.
Continue Reading
Opening Mass for the 40th Anniversary of the Diocese of San José Jubilee Celebration: Please join us celebrate the 40th Anniversary Opening Mass on January 30 at 11am via Diocese of San José Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DioceseSanJose/