As you will see below, we are currently looking for an office operations assistant. While we are working to fill that position, our Flocknotes will be simpler and maybe a little sporadic. We will continue to do our best to keep you informed and provide quality resources for your household of discipleship. If you know a strong missionary disciple who might want to work with our parish team, encourage them to apply.
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
Surrendering to Jesus
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.”
Jn. 10:27
Jn. 10:27
“… united with Jesus and with the power of his Holy Spirit, we can surrender our will to him and decide to choose what his Son has always chosen: to do what is pleasing to the Father.”
CCC 2825 (emphasis added)
CCC 2825 (emphasis added)
Reading through the Acts of the Apostles can be intimidating. We hear about powerful examples of faith in the face of opposition. It can seem impossible to live up to the example of these heroes of our faith. Yet, we have been given everything they had. In our baptism, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. These apostolic deeds of courage and faith started in the same way our faith lives start: with a simple act of surrender to Jesus.
What do we mean when we talk about “surrendering to Jesus?”
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 is the strangest dream you have ever had?
Sure, talking about dreams can be dull, but who knows, if you are talking about the strangest dream they’ve EVER had, it might be pretty interesting. Or not. Let’s see!
And for that "faith talk"...
based on this weekend's readings
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
- Who are the sheep in today's gospel?
- What is Jesus trying to teach us in this story?
- Share a time when you've heard Jesus' voice.
... or you can just use these questions at a meal or any time for a "faith walk"!
Adult Question: Whom do you try to protect as Christ protects you?
Child Question: Who helps you feel safe and protected? Whom can you take care of and help feel safe?
Child Question: Who helps you feel safe and protected? Whom can you take care of and help feel safe?
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.
