Pastor's Memo
Dear Friends in Christ,
This weekend is 4th of July weekend... unofficially marking the halfway point of the summer! I hope that you have been able to enjoy the change of pace... or at the very least, that you've been able to relax a little bit.
On the day we celebrate American Independence Day, we celebrate freedom. True freedom is not simply the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want. True freedom is something more nuanced than that. The Catholic Church has much to say about freedom, and I leave you with a couple of lines from the Catechism to think about over the weekend:
"By free will one shapes one's own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude."
"The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to 'the slavery of sin.'"
I hope you have a blessed holiday weekend!
God bless,
Fr. Clark
Parish Events This Week
Coffee & Donuts this Sunday after all Masses!
Join us in Servant Hall after each Mass this Sunday for Coffee and Donuts. See you there!
Parish Office Closed for 4th of July Holiday
Our offices will be closed on Monday, July 5th in observance of the 4th of July. Have a safe and blessed Independence Day weekend!
Women's ACTS Retreat
Become Part of the 2022 Women's ACTS Team! Calling all women interested in teaming up for the upcoming 2022 STM Women’s ACTS Retreat. Enjoy fellowship with your STM ACTS Sisters from past retreats and become a part of the 2022 Woman’s ACTS Team! The Retreat will be held October 6 - 9, 2022 at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3417 West Little York. Team meetings will begin towards the end of July 2022. Join us!
For more information, please contact Youseffi Crick at Irahec@hotmail.com, 281-467-6286 and Marlene Wark marlene.wark@gmail.com, 713-271-0750. We look forward to sharing the good news of our 2022 Retreat
YOUTH MINISTRY HAPPENINGS!
AYC - Archdiocesan Youth Conference July 29, 2022 - July 31, 2022 ***Registration closes July 1st, 2022.***
When: July 29th-31st, 2022
Where: Hilton of the Americas, Houston, TX
Register HERE: AYC - Archdiocesan Youth ConferenceJuly 29, 2022 - July 31, 2022 | St. Thomas More | Houston, TX (stmhouston.org)
When: July 29th-31st, 2022
Where: Hilton of the Americas, Houston, TX
Register HERE: AYC - Archdiocesan Youth ConferenceJuly 29, 2022 - July 31, 2022 | St. Thomas More | Houston, TX (stmhouston.org)
Middle School Youth Group Summer Nights
Register Here for your rising 6th - 8th Graders to join us Thursday evenings this Summer from 4pm-6pm in the Youth Room on the 2nd Floor of the RE Building. We'll play games, have snack, watch movies, play sports and have fun together.
*Free, but you must register your Middle Schooler in advance: Middle School Summer Activities | St. Thomas More | Houston, TX (stmhouston.org)
High School Youth Group Summer Nights
Open to rising 9th - 12th Graders - Join us this summer on Wednesday evenings from 4pm - 7pm, where we will eat snacks, play games, watch movies, play sports, and more! Participation is free but your parents MUST pre-register: High School Summer Activities | St. Thomas More | Houston, TX (stmhouston.org)
**NOTE: Youth Groups will not be meeting the last week of June as some of us will be away at our summer camp!***
Parents of Young Children
Nursery Now Open Sunday for 9am Mass!
Drop-off begins at 8:45am at the main entrance to our Preschool Building on Wigton Dr. No prior registration - all children, Infants - 3 years old - are welcomed on a First Come, First Served basis. Find more information here: Nursery Ministry
Playdate Tuesdays!
Moms of babies and young children, let’s get together this summer for playdates on Tuesday mornings from 8-10am. Signup to receive updates & connect with other Playdate Parents here: https://StThomasMoreCatholicChu6.flocknote.com/TuesdayPlaydates
Moms of babies and young children, let’s get together this summer for playdates on Tuesday mornings from 8-10am. Signup to receive updates & connect with other Playdate Parents here: https://StThomasMoreCatholicChu6.flocknote.com/TuesdayPlaydates
***We will not have a playdate on Tuesday, July 12th due to VBS***
Park in the Rectory parking lot near the parish office or on Wigton St. The entrance to the playground is located under the brown driveway covering between the Old Gym & the Preschool. The playground is completely shaded! Be sure to bring water and a snack. We can’t wait to meet you!
Mother's Day Out Returns to St. Thomas More Catholic Church!
St. Thomas More Parish School
Accepting Applications
Fr. Clark and Mrs. Bowman are working hard to ensure that our parish school provides a rigorous education, but more importantly, an education that is rooted in a strong Catholic identity.
St. Thomas More Parish School is now accepting applications into our wonderful school community. We offer PreK - 8th Grade Catholic education with small class sizes, dedicated staff, competitive athletics, and a robust curriculum designed to develop successful students and fearless Catholic young men and women. Call 713-729-3434 to schedule a private tour. https://www.stthomasmore-school.org/
STM SOCCER CAMP! Rising 3rd - 5th Graders
Register now for any or all of our three sessions being offered beginning NEXT WEEK! This evening soccer camp is ideal for taking advantage of the cooler evening weather, refining your kiddos' skills and wearing them out before bed! Contact Coach Michael Bingham directly to register today! msbingham@hotmail.com
Parish Sports (Faith and Fitness!)
We have opportunities for you to come together with other Adult parishioners for fun & casual sports - hope to see you there!
Mens' Pickup Basketball: Wednesday evenings 8pm in the gym
Vespers & Soccer: Thursday evenings at 7:15pm on the STM sports field
Softball: Upcoming dates - Sat. 7/9 and Sat. 7/23 at 9am on the STM sports field
Pietra Fitness: Thursday mornings, 9am in Rehkopf Hall (Old Gym) Music Room
Experience Pietra Fitness®... A fitness class that stretches, strengthens and tones the body while refreshing the soul with prayer. In only one hour you will feel calmer, stronger, refreshed and renewed! A summer long Beginner Class for Women will be offered at St. Thomas More on Thursdays at 9:00 – 10:00 AM. Contact Ashley Kovacs, Certified Pietra Fitness Instructor, at ashley.kovacs@yahoo.com for more information.
Mark Your Calendars for These Future Events
Annual Black Bag Collection - July 9th & 10th
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be holding their Annual Black Bag Collection the weekend of July 9th & 10th, 2022. Our parish needs your help in supporting one of the oldest Catholic organizations serving the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The Society provides food, clothing, furniture, and financial assistance to the struggling working-poor in our area. Learn more here: Black Bag Collection for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (svdphouston.org)
Vacation Bible School - July 11-15
Mark your calendars for a MONUMENTAL VBS this Summer! We are so excited to announce that we have officially launched VBS registrations! VBS week will be July 11th - 15th from 9am-12pm. Register quick as space is limited!
Click here to register ----> https://stmhouston.org/vacation-bible-school
ESL is Returning to STM - Volunteers Needed!
Join us in this most rewarding volunteer opportunity! We need adult volunteers to teach English as a Second language to adults on Tuesday & Thursday nights this Fall & next Spring. No knowledge of another language and no prior teaching experience is required - we will train you & pair you with a more experienced teacher.
Please contact Jeanne Chucle at drchucle@live.com for more information.
Summer Choir Camp
For Youth Singers, entering 4th – 8th grade
August 8-12 from 9am-Noon* AND Sunday, August 14, 9am Mass*
Snack & Camp T-shirt included in your registration!
REGISTER HERE TODAY! Annual Choir Camp | St. Thomas More | Houston, TX (stmhouston.org)
OKTOBERFEST is Sunday, October 16th!
Save the Date for our next big party! Oktoberfest is our annual Parish-wide festival, featuring amazing food, games, inflatables, music, bingo, entertainment & more. We can't wait to celebrate with you! Are you or your company interested in sponsoring a booth or underwriting Oktoberfest? Please contact Kathy Prado at kprado@stmorenews.com or 713-729-3434.
Liturgy Notes
Readings For Sunday Mass
Music at Mass During Ordinary Time
Pentecost marked the end of the Easter season. We are now in Ordinary Time and the music will change at Mass. We will be using the English chants from the Roman Missal, which were put together by ICEL (The International Commission on English in the Liturgy). Please look over them if you would like to practice!
Gloria (English)
You may have noticed that we sing the antiphons at Mass - at the Entrance and at Communion. "Antiphon" comes from the Greek word, antiphonos, which means, "responsive, sounding in answer." Antiphons are meant to be sung by the people (they are very similar to the responsorial psalm). The antiphons are "propers," liturgical texts provided by the Church that vary from day to day according to the Liturgical calendar.
Funeral Notifications
At St. Thomas More, we are a "Family of Families", and just as in our own families, we grieve when we lose one of our members. If you would like to be notified when a Funeral Mass will be celebrated for one of our parishioners, please use the link below to sign up for notifications.
Perpetual Adoration
Adoration Chapel
In order to have continual exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we always need new people to volunteer to take a weekly Holy Hour. Please consider volunteering for one of the hours listed below. You can sign up at stmhouston.weadorehim.com