Anniversary Celebration For Fr. Ejay!
Thursday September 8, on the Feast of The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Ejay Jarapa celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood. Fr. Ejay was ordained by Bishop Emilio S. Marquez at St. Ferdinand Cathedral in Lucena City, Philippines. He served as a priest in the Philippines until arriving in August 2021 to serve as parochial vicar of St. Thomas More parish in Elgin. The community of St. Thomas More spent the weekend thanking God and celebrating the gift of Fr. Ejay’s priesthood.
CONFIRMATION CLASS OF 2022
Congratulations! May the Gifts of the
Holy Spirit lead and guide you today and forever.
- Emilio Almanza
- Adam August
- Kayla Austin
- Gianna Balice
- Yaretzi Barroso
- Emily Bellock
- Lily Berberet
- Brian Bishop
- Colin Cohan
- Chiara D’Antonio
- Xavier De Leon
- Justin Defensor
- Ava Draftz
- William Dubanowski
- Nicholas Ewing
- Angelina Fredricks
- Gavin Fredricks
- Colin Fredricks
- Georgia Gawlik
- Lucas Gil
- Alexander Hernandez
- Melissa Johnson
- Juliana Kolzow
- John-Paul Lee
- Rose Lockard
Justin Love
- Logan Mallory
- Isaac Marquez
- Daniel Mason
- Mikella Mesina
- Ethan Messer
- Marina Metallo
- Hannah Montes
- Alyssa Morrelli
- Danica Morys
- JuliaElize Oabel
- Olivia Olander
- Gianna Radosta
- Colby Robbins
- Joseph Rodriguez
- Elijah Sala
- Francesca Selvaggio
- Thomas Talaga
- Colin Tamillo
- Megan Thaller
- Martha Holly Thomason
- Merissa Tosello
- Noah Ventura
- Nicholas Vitug
- Natalia Yanez
- Todd Zarebski
- Miles Zikos
Becoming Catholic!
Are you interested in receiving sacraments you have not yet received? (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation)
Do you feel you’ve forgotten what was taught to you as a child about the Catholic faith and wish to now know more?
Becoming Catholic is the group for you!! Deacon David Deitz and his wife Michelle are hosting weekly meetings following the 10:00AM Mass to learn about our Catholic faith. Join them and bring a friend or two!
Eight encounters with Jesus that will change your life!
A 9 week study that will be stretched over the course of six months.
Sessions 1-5: On Mondays September 26 - November 7
Sessions 6-9: On Mondays January 16 - February 6
Morning Sessions 9:00-10:30am
Evening Zoom Sessions 6:30-8:00pm
$20 registration fee for materials
Adoration Chapel
ADORATION TESTIMONIAL FROM A PARISHIONER
"Every week I go to Adoration and pray for an hour. Why? To borrow a phrase from Father Linster, going to church/Adoration is better than anything I do that day. The way I look at it is this. It is the most important appointment of my day. People are willing to pay therapists to help with personal problems. They are willing to hire a personal trainer to get into shape. Maybe a day at the spa to relax and forget about their troubles. Adoration is free! It is available to all, day or night. Our Lord is waiting to listen to me, to help me. When I am in Adoration I am face to face with our God. I leave with a unburdened feeling. I leave with an inner strength. I leave with Jesus in my heart. "
~ STM Adorer
What do you usually do during the late/early hours between midnight and 4:00am? Awake because of your work schedule? Awake because you sleep at other times or just have difficulty sleeping? We could use your help. We’ve had a hard time finding permanent Adoration Adorers for some of these wee hours. Would you consider “trying out” one of these times as a substitute? Follow the link below to receive messages for when a substitute is needed. Melissa Galla, our Adoration Coordinator, will help you with next steps for accessing the locked chapel during these hours. Once or twice a month substitutes are greatly appreciated too! https://adorationpro.org/thomasil
No appointment needed. Jesus is waiting for you 24/6 in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel
Adorers Urgently Needed! Please sign up with the button below if you are available to sit with Jesus for one hour on the days/times listed.
- Wednesday 12:00 AM
- Thursday 12:00 AM
- Thursday 2:00 AM
- Friday 11:00 AM
That Man Is You!
All men of the parish and their friends, sons, and brothers! We would like to invite you to join That Man Is You! They are a men's program focused on the development of authentic male leadership. They address the pressures and temptations that men of all ages face in our modern culture, especially those relating to their roles as husbands and fathers.
- What: That Man Is You! - 'All Things New' featuring prominent Catholic speakers Drs. Scott Hahn, Mark Miravalle and John Bergsma
- Who: All Catholic men in the Elgin community are welcome!
- When: Saturdays from 6:45-8:15 AM beginning September 17th
- Where: St. Thomas More - Chelsea Room
For more information or to register for the program, please contact Bob Nierzwicki at 773.633-7449 or bobnierz@sbcglobal.net
K of C Tootsie Roll Drive
The Knights of Columbus will be in the Gathering Space the weekend of September 17 & 18 for their annual Tootsie Roll Drive. The proceeds benefit local agencies that help the intellectually disabled. Please be generous, enjoy the candy, and most importantly, help someone in need.
Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe
The Little Flower Prayer Group of St. Thomas More Church invites you to a pilgrimage:
Where: The Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe
1600 W. Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048
When: September 24, 2022
Time: 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Place: St. Thomas More Church
Cost:$45.00 per person (includes tour, transportation and lunch)
Schedule:
8:45 – 9:00 Board the bus
9:00 – 10:00 Depart for the Shrine
10:00 – 2:25 Arrive at the Shrine and meet in Founders Hall
- St. Kolbe video, talk and tour of St. Kolbe Holocaust Exhibit
- Noon mass
- Buffet Lunch
- Rosary walk, outdoor shrines and gift shop
2:25 – 2:30 Group blessing outside Main Chapel with St. Kolbe relic
2:30 Depart for St Thomas More Church
Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. There will be 40 available seats for this pilgrimage. Payment is due by September 20. Please make checks payable to:
Jocelyn Bayona
1268 Jenna Drive #A
South Elgin, IL 60177
Fellowship Club For Seniors
Fellowship Club will meet on Tuesday, September 20th at 12:00 Noon in the Chelsea Room. Guest speaker Jerry Turnquist, Elgin Historian, will give a presentation, “Elgin in the 50’s”. The 1950s are often remembered as the "good old days" in Elgin. It was period of unprecedented growth and prosperity with a booming watch factory, “mom and pop” grocery stores and a vibrant downtown. But there were reasons the time was less idyllic too. Jerry Turnquist of the Elgin History Museum will use variety of pictures to take you back to learn more about this unique period in the city's history.
All adults over 55 are welcome and encouraged to come.
Hope to see you there.
St Thomas More Respect Life Ministry will be offering a special Rosary for all that have been affected by suicide. This Rosary will take place on Monday evening, September 26, 7pm, in the church. We will have candles available, for anyone to light, prior to the start of the Rosary, so that we can have a visual reminder of the prayers we are offering. Please join us, and invite anyone that is interested, to come as well. Rosaries will be available if needed.
Respect Life Sunday
Sunday, October 2 is Respect Life Sunday. We will join together on Highland Ave at Thomas More Dr. from 1:30-2:30pm to pray and witness to the sanctity and dignity of life. Signs will be provided. Bring strollers, blankets, and chairs.
Through Grief with Mother Mary
This support group is for those grieving the death of a loved one. This grief support group is different from other grief groups in that it honors Mother Mary. We discuss her experience with grief, her 7 Sorrows and ask for her intersession to Jesus for grief healing.
Those attending will:
Those attending will:
- Receive support from other grievers
- Participate in discussions on the process of grief
- Be given the tools necessary to let go of the pain of grief
- Learn how to move on to a new nonphysical relationship with the deceased
- Honor Mother Mary through discussion of the grief she suffered with the life and death of her son Jesus
Are you or do you know someone who may be stuck in the journey of grief? Maybe it has been weeks, months, years but you still can’t move forward, and it hurts. Learn to reduce the pain of grief while growing your relationship with Mother Mary “Through Grief with Mother Mary”.
St. Thomas More Church
Canterbury Room
Thursdays from 9:15AM - 10:45AM
October 6 through December 8, (no session November 24 Thanksgiving)
This group is open to men and women who are grieving the loss of a loved one. You need not be a parishioner of St. Thomas More to participate in this group.
Because of the sensitivity and personal information being shared the number of attendees is limited.
Any questions please contact:
Angelina Beaudion
Call or Text 708-732-9405
Email abeaudion@sbcglobal.net
Online giving at St. Thomas More is easy.
Use the buttons below for your online donations.
Effective August 10, we will be using Online Giving, from Our Sunday Visitor (OSV), as our electronic offertory vendor.
Click the "OSV Parish Giving" button below to start giving online today!
After creating your new OSV online giving account, please deactivate your WeShare online giving account by clicking the button below.
Thank you for your continued support.
Click the "OSV Parish Giving" button below to start giving online today!
After creating your new OSV online giving account, please deactivate your WeShare online giving account by clicking the button below.
Thank you for your continued support.
This week in the Gathering Space....
- Welcome Center - Questions? Ask Melissa
- K of C Tootsie Roll Drive
- SVDP Fall Fundraiser
Parish Happenings this week....
- SEP 17 - Confessions 9AM & 1PM
- SEP 19 - Respect Life Rosary 7PM
- SEP 20 - Confessions 5:30PM
- SEP 21 - Encountering Jesus with Fr. Browning 6PM
- SEP 22 - Confessions 9AM
- SEP 22 - Little Flower Prayer Group 9:15AM
New at STM....
- That Man Is You! - September 17
- K of C Tootsie Roll Drive - September 17 & 18
- SVDP Fall Fundraiser - September 17 through 27
- Fellowship Club for Seniors - September 20th @12 noon
- Encountering Jesus - September 21
- Little Flower Prayer Group Pilgrimage - September 24
- Encounter Weekend - September 25& 26
- The Gospel of John Book Study - September 26
- Respect Life Ministry Rosary for Suicide - September 26
