Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - ADA Appeal Launch
January 23, 2021
Dear Faithful Parishioners of St. Thomas of Canterbury,
It is said that one of the worries that a pastor has is the ADA. As a new pastor, I have been feeling that lately, but hopefully it is not the case here at St. Thomas of Canterbury. I supposed as a parent, one of the worries may be the mortgage. This ADA has prompted some positive thinking for me. One may worry about the mortgage, but he or she is grateful to have a house and a home! I may worry about ADA, but I am grateful that I have a church and a church community.
First, I would like to take this moment to thank you for being an important part of this loving and generous community as you saw in the previous bulletins’ financial reports. Before coming here, especially during COVID time, I got to know you through prayers. Before knowing me as your pastor, you have already unknowingly helped me become a seminarian and eventually a priest. In long term, just like the mortgage, we see how our contributions come back to us. You have helped me long before you met me through your past ADA contributions starting in 2004, when I entered the seminary. Those contributions continue even until now through my service to your, and now also my, community. I am grateful to have finally met those who have helped me through the ADA.
Second, I would like to extend your generosity to those families in our community who are in need. Please let us know if you, or someone you know in our community, who, experiences financial difficulty, so we can be of help. I have learned in time of difficulties, family and friends stick with each other and help each other. I see that here. I feel that St. Thomas Church should likewise stick with and help those in need, as we have been doing so through our active and generous social outreach ministries.
Third, I would like to invite you to continue with your legacy of being generous, a characteristic of God. Please help our people of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Diocese of San Jose with this year’s ADA goal of $52,719. You could make the donation towards our parish’s goal here (please remember to select St. Thomas of Canterbury): dsj.org/ada
I bring this worry along with more important worries to God, such as the people with COVID and the spiritual well being of this parish family. May God bless all of us.
With gratitude and 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 hear 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. Especially our three new acolytes: Robert, Ryan and Duy
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 01/17/2021 $5,387
MTD OFFERINGS AS OF 01/17/2021
MTD budget: $ 13,500
MTD offerings: $ 17,913
MTD surplus: $ 4,413
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!
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.
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 - Follow-Up: COVID-19 and the economic downturn is affecting thousands of families. Join a follow-up workshop on Sunday, Jan. 31st from 6:30pm to 8:30pm to learn about the law’s implications moving forward and what our community members need now. How do we plan for the long-term? Members of the community, clergy, parish staff & leaders, and partner organizations register in advance for this meeting. Click here to register and learn more details. Additional resources available at #KeepingFamiliesHoused.
Save the Date, Documentary Film, ANGST, Virtual Screening on Feb. 8 at 5:30 pm. A documentary film on anxiety, the causes & effects, and speaks to what can be done to help. While there is a focus on teens, this film will speak to all of us in this time of pandemic. We are grateful to invite you to this virtual screening with Spanish subtitles. The film will be followed by a panel discussion that includes a panel of professionals in mental health including a clinical psychologist, therapist, a youth director and a deacon & school president.
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 Monday, January 28th, 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
Monday through Friday at 7pm via Zoom. Click on the link below to get the Zoom information.
Opening Mass for the 40th Anniversary of the Diocese of San José Jubilee Celebration: Please join us celebrate the 40th Anniversary Opening Mass on Saturday, January 30th at 11am via Diocese of San José Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DioceseSanJose/
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
Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass 2021: We are happy to announce a Save the Date for the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass. Mark your calendar for February 27th! This Mass will be available drive-in style and via livestream. Registration and additional details coming soon bit.ly/dsjwa21.