From Baptism to Pentecost
“We must obey God rather than men.”
St. Peter to the Sanhedrin
Acts 5:29
“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.”
CCC 1213
Easter is the season of baptism. Every Easter we renew and revisit the meaning of our baptism. But Easter also drives us forward. We don’t simply look back at the beginning of our life as a Christian. We look forward to where our baptism calls us. Baptism is the gateway to life in the Spirit and, like any gateway, it takes us to a new place. It is a door that opens up a new way of life.
The tragedy is that many of us renew our baptism year after year, but our lives don’t change. We seem stuck and mired in unhealthy, broken, and sinful habits. Our lives don’t resemble the lives of the apostles we hear about in the Easter readings. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see a different kind of life being lived. We hear about heroic men and women who confront the evil and brokenness within and around them with joy and power. They look like they have stepped through the doorway of baptism and entered another kind of life. This new life isn’t always as dramatic as the life of the early apostles, but it is real and is filled with...
Our parish library is filled with many wonderful reads, and thanks to Carol DeJardin, and Bev Hoffman you can access it online! Click here to browse through our inventory now.
Each month we will be featuring a new book. This month we're featuring:
Dark Night of the Soul: A Masterpiece in the Literature of Mysticism
by St. John of the Cross
Edited, translated and an introduction by
E. Allison Peers
This new edition of the Image classic, with more than 100,000 copies sold, brings E. Allison Peers' magnificent translation of St. John of the Cross's masterpiece Dark Night of the Soul to a new generation of readers and will renew the interest of those already familiar with its soaring poetry and timeless truths. The sixteenth-century Carmelite monk St. John of the Cross stands alongside St. Teresa of Avila as the West's best known and most beloved Christian mystic. As Peers writes in the Introduction to his definitive translation of Dark Night of the Soul, "The most sublime of all Spanish mystics, he soars aloft on the wings of Divine love to heights known hardly to any of them... True to the character of his thought, his style is always forceful and energetic. "Dark Night of the Soul follows the soul's journey from a state of abandonment and darkness to a loving union with God. In a voice at once grandiose and melodious, and a style that combines the systematic theology of St. Thomas Aquinas with rapturous poetry, St. John describes the process of moving away from routine religious rituals and embracing a Being who can be known only through love. His words, Peers writes, "are a wonderful illustration of the theological truth that grace, far from destroying nature, ennobles and dignifies it, and of the agreement always found between the natural and the supernatural -- between the principles of sound reason and the sublime manifestations of Divine grace." One of the greatest contributions to the literature of mysticism, Dark Night of the Soul offers support and encouragement to all who seek oneness with God.
Mealtime Moments...
Remember, a weekly meaningful meal is a key discipleship skill. You can even make them more meaningful by having a "faith talk" around the table. Here is a gentle starter question to get the ball rolling:
What trends did you follow when you were younger?
Each generation has its trends. And if you are of a similar age, there is a good chance that you both share some similar trends that you followed.
And for that "faith talk"...
based on this weekend's readings
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
- It took a little while for the apostles to realize Jesus was with them. Share a time when you realized that Jesus was near to you.
- If you had breakfast with Jesus, what would you talk about?
- How would you respond to Jesus if he asked you, "Do you love me?"
... or you can just use these questions at a meal or any time for a "faith walk"!
Adult Question: In what ways are you answering Jesus' command to Peter to "feed my sheep"?
Child Question: What do you do to take care of others as Jesus asked Peter to do?
Child Question: What do you do to take care of others as Jesus asked Peter to do?
Actively Accepting Applications
We are seeking a full-time Parish Office Operations Assistant. This person will work closely with the Parish Operations Administrator & provide administrative support for parish staff. Primary areas of responsibility include: providing a welcoming presence, communications (e.g. bulletin, website, & social media), record keeping, calendar management, light bookkeeping & sacramental records. The ideal candidate is a missionary disciple who is collaborative, humble, organized, & hard-working. Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience preferred. Please submit you resume, letter of introduction, & references to:
Deacon Lincoln Wood
St Thomas More Parish
1810B N McDonald St
Appleton, WI 54911
lincoln@stmcath.org
Exploring His Kingdom Podcast
You can also find all the previous episodes at stmcath.org or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.
Ongoing COVID guidelines
To see the list of guidelines regarding COVID protocols please see the attached PDF below.
To see the list of guidelines regarding COVID protocols please see the attached PDF below.
