Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish Rev. Mahew J. Alcombright, Sister Patricia A. Hon, Religious Educaon CoordinatorReligious Educaon SecretaryWelcome New Parishioners—Please Register at the Rectory Religious Educaon Office:www.shomaswestspringfield.org[email protected]Religious Educaon: [email protected][email protected]registraon is required at the parish office one month before the Bapsm. Parents must be registered and parcipang members of the All items must be presented in wring to the parish office by
All items must be presented in wri�ng to the parish office by
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ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24
4:00 PM 25th Anniversary for Barbara Miles requested by her Family
5:30 PM 5th Anniversary for Albert Santilli requested by his Wife, Carol, Mark, and Valerie
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25
8:00 AM Deceased Members of the Dillon Family requested by the Cullinan Family
9:30 AM Birthday Remembrance for J. Richard Mansfield requested by his Wife and Daughters
11:00 AM 7th Anniversary for Rosa Alfano requested by her Husband, Amedeo, and Family
12:15 PM 3rd Anniversary for Helen Slowick requested by her Husband and Family
MONDAY, JANUARY 26
8:00 AM Gilles Dutil requested by Guy and Theresa Roy TUESDAY, JANUARY 27
8:00 AM Health and Blessings for John Fanelli requested by his Mother, Theresa Fanelli
9:00 AM Opening Mass—Catholic Schools Week—For the Deceased Sisters of St. Joseph
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28
8:00 AM Rene LaMarche requested by the Nocturnal Adoration Society
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29
8:00 AM All St. Thomas Parishioners who have died during the month of January
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30
8:00 AM Monsignor Francesco Luzzi and Maria Stella Luzzi requested by Mr. and Mrs. Rettura
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
8:00 AM 3rd Anniversary for Tony Ramsey requested by his Wife
4:00 PM 6th Anniversary for Robert C. Oliver, Sr. requested by his Wife and Family
5:30 PM 7th Anniversary for Nicholas Faits requested by his Wife, Mary Faits
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1
8:00 AM 1st Anniversary for Barbara Conlin requested by the Naughton Family
9:30 AM Donald Gonski requested by Edwin and Christine Orwat and Family
11:00 AM 21st Anniversary and Birthday Remembrance for Stella Hart requested by her Husband, Robert Hart
12:15 PM 6th Anniversary and Birthday Remembrance for Dr. Stephen L. Daly requested by his Family
PRAYERS FOR DECEASED—Ruth Lynch, Robert Bonfitto, Helen Brooks, and Sr. Ann Keefe of the Sisters of St. Joseph. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Parish Offertory Gift—January 17 and 18 $10,752
Thank you for your support.
LET’S CELEBRATE MARDI GRAS! We will hold our annual pre-Lenten Mardi Gras dinner on Saturday, February 14, 6:30 p.m., St. Thomas Gym. Dinner will be baked ham with pineapple, roasted potatoes, vegetables, salad, rolls/butter, dessert and
coffee or tea. Wine/beer/soda available for an additional charge. Again this year, we will have our very successful monthly-themed basket raffle! COST - $12 adults, $5 children 4-12, under 4 are free. TICKETS will be available after all Masses the weekends of January 24/25, January 31/February 1, February 7 and 8, and at the parish office during regular office hours 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. through Wednesday, February 11. CHAIRPERSONS: Virginia Baclawski, 737-2166 and Matthew Bernard, 736-7348. Come and enjoy a fun-filled evening! WE NEED YOUR HELP—Would you be willing to donate filled, cellophane wrapped baskets for our Mardi Gras dinner? If so, please deliver the basket(s) to the parish office Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. If you should have any questions, please call Virginia, 737-2166, or Matt, 736-7348.
This weekend the flowers in front of the
altar are in loving memory of the Deceased
Members of the Dillon Family from the
Cullinan Family. PILGRIMAGE TO IRELAND—Catholic Communications, along with Fr. Gary Dailey and Fr. Matt Alcombright, invite you to Ireland. The Pilgrimage will take place from August 7-18, 2015. There will be an information evening on March 4, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Holy Spirit Chapel at St. Michael's Cathedral, 254 State St., Springfield, MA. For more information you can contact Fr. Matt here at St. Thomas, 739-4779, or Stacy Dibbern
at 413-452-0670.
OUR BULLETIN IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE—Find the bulletin anytime, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, always in the same place. Parishioners can go to SeekAndFind.com anytime to find an updated copy of the bulletin.
Dear St. Thomas Parishioners:
The West Springfield Park & Recreation Department, in cooperation with The Operation Santa Committee and the Open Pantry of West Springfield, would like to thank you all for your generous donations of toys/gift cards to the “Operation Santa-
2014” program.
Each year, the Operation Santa Committee and many community volunteers donate their time to food shop, sort and organize toys received, and fill food boxes and toy bags to distribute to needy families living in West Springfield before Christmas. This year, we served 187 families with food baskets and 378 children with toys/gift cards.
Your outpouring of love and generosity to the Operation Santa program certainly brightened the holiday season for many families in town who are in need and may be struggling with additional finances such as heating bills or loss of employment.
Many thanks for your continued support and may God bless all of you!! Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.
West Springfield Park & Recreation Department—Operation
Santa Committee—Open Pantry of West Springfield
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR SAINT THOMAS
THE APOSTLE SCHOOL —We are happy to announce our annual open house and registration for prospective families interested in our 2015-2016 preschool and kindergarten program. The staff and faculty of St. Thomas look forward to meeting your family on Sunday, February 8, 1-2:30 p.m. If you wish to register your child you must provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate and baptismal certificate (if your child was baptized). A non-refundable $100 registration fee is required at this time which will be applied to your child’s tuition. Children must be 2.9 years of age by September 1 for the three year old program, 4 years of age by September 1 for the four year old program and 5 years of age by September 1 for the kindergarten program. New families with children in all other grades are also welcome to come for a tour and register at this time. Please bring a copy of your child’s latest report card, Standardized Test scores or MCAS scores, to be retained by the school. After School Extended Care for preschool thru grade 8 is available throughout the school year. You may also make arrangements to register by calling the school office at 739-4131 or you may email the school office – [email protected].
CATHOLIC SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP—St. Thomas parishioners, who have students in our parish school and/or at one of our area Catholic high schools, can have St. Thomas sponsor the student. Sponsorship is determined by participating in weekly Mass along with an annual envelope contribution of $750, the prior calendar year. THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY—Mary C. Banda, MD and Ms. Monica Kapinos will be presenting, “The Corporal Works of Mercy—Local laity respond to needs in Tanzania”, on Saturday, February 7 at the Parish Center, St. Mary Parish, Longmeadow, Mass., 11:00 a.m. This “Topics of Faith” presentation will be followed by a light lunch and fellowship. A ten dollar donation will be appreciated from those who can afford it. St. Mary Parish is located at 519 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, Mass. In 1998, Dr. Banda founded the nonprofit humanitarian organization, Jambo Tanzania, “to serve as a lightening rod for critically needed health care and education initiatives in the village of Bukoba and the Kagera region of Tanzania”. Since then, Dr. Banda and innumerable volunteers have continued to provide health care to those in need and to inspire others to do the same. PARISHIONERS, ST. THOMAS SCHOOL ALUMNI, AND
FRIENDS—PLEASE NOTE January is the renewal month for the 500 Club. You should have received the information in the mail. The last drawing for 2014 is January 25 and the first drawing for 2015 is February 22. The profits realized, shared equally by the school and parish, will be used to help pay for both the heating costs and the cost of electricity for the school and the parish. BINGO MONDAY EVENINGS at St. Peter and St. Casimir Parish Center, 34 State Street in Westfield. Calling begins at 6:45 through 10:00 p.m. Players begin to arrive at 5:30 p.m. for seating and to purchase refreshments. The upper and lower halls of the Parish Center are used for this event. Our progressive game is always growing! Come and join in the fun!
MEALS FOR HOMEBOUND ELDERLY—Do you know someone who is homebound, can’t prepare nutritious meals, and has no one to help with cooking? They may be eligible to receive well-balanced lunchtime meals. Home meal services are provided by the West Springfield Council on Aging, which is funded in part by Greater Springfield Senior Services, Inc. A donation of $2.50 per meal is suggested. For more information, contact the West Springfield COA (413) 263-3264 or (413) 495-1802. INFORMATION ON RESOURCES FOR OLDER ADULTS - Greater Springfield Senior Services Information and referral staff can assist anyone, young or old, seeking services or information and advice on a wide variety of aging, disability and caregiving issues. These information experts guide individuals and families through the sometimes-confusing maze of service options, eligibility requirements and payment sources. This free service is available Monday through Friday by calling 413-781-8800 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CALLING ALL GRANDPARENTS—The Gathering Grandparents Prayer Group will meet on Tuesday, February 3, at 11 a.m. during Eucharistic Adoration at St. Peter & St. Casimir Church, 22 State Street in Westfield to pray in community for the protection of our grandchildren in the face of present dangers. A Novena of prayer is said to two very powerful prayer intercessors, Sts. Anne and Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus. All are invited to come and join us in praying for our loved ones. Community prayer has great power with Our Lord. IRELAND TOUR—John Boyle O’Reilly Club is offering a special autumn 2015 West Cost of Ireland Tour (October 3-13) with 3 nights-Galway, 4 nights-Dingle, 2 nights-Killarney and many highlights. Cost: $2,625 pp for doubles and all gratuities included. For more information and bookings, call Joyce Bosworth at 413-330-6363. Visit www.jbo-club.com for our full itinerary. Book early!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO CLEAN THE
CHURCH—The church cleaning group is in desperate need of 8-10 new cleaners. Most of the groups clean after the 8 a.m. Mass on Monday or Friday. With a
full group, it takes about one hour and each group cleans every 6 weeks. If you are able to help your parish, please call Mary Flaherty at 734-6785. Thank you. ANSWERING COMMON OBJECTIONS—Timothy O’Keefe of the Fullness of Truth Apostolate is offering a course entitled, Answering Common Objections, that will provide responses to some of the many objections made against Catholic Teaching. The course is held in the Holy Trinity Parish basement cafeteria in Westfield on the first and third Thursday of every month from 7 to 8:30 in the evening. The classes will continue through May.
OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION—CCD
classes will be held on Sunday, January 25, 9:30—10:30 a.m. for grades K-6 and Monday, January 26, 3:30—4:30 p.m. for grades 1-6 and 6:30—7:30
p.m. for grades 8 and 10 only. All classes are held in the Parish Center.
JANUARY 25, 2015
SECOND COLLETION—LATIN AMERICA—The family around the world today faces tremendous challenges. In Latin America, where Christian values remain important, many families are wounded by hostility from the surrounding environment and by broken relationships within the family. Yet throughout the hemisphere, the Church continues to point the way to Christ as the source of hope and healing within the family and in society. Many family and catechetical ministry projects funded by the Collection for the Church in Latin America offer families and communities a way to strengthen, affirm, and celebrate their life together in faith, offering a different and hopeful vision of relationships with one another and with God. Please be generous in this collection this weekend, January 24 and 25, and take this opportunity to share your faith with families in Latin America and the Caribbean. Your support will truly make a difference.
OUR PARISH IS NOW ON TWITTER—If you want to keep up on the latest information for St. Thomas Parish, School, and CCD, please follow us @StThomasWS1. If you do have Twitter, you can follow our feed at www.stthomaswestspringfield.org.
THE SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS would like to thank the parishioners of St. Thomas for their very generous support of their appeal. They raised $3,413.00 and the Sisters accept this gift with grateful hearts realizing that every donation means a
sacrifice on the part of the donor. They are very grateful to you for your generosity and you will be remembered in the monthly Mass celebrated at their convent in Rye. It is one way they can thank those who make it possible for them to continue their work with the poor in mission lands. ROSARY ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON—The rosary will be
prayed every Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. in the Parish Center chapel.
The three mysteries will be prayed – but come for one, two or all
three. All are welcome!
DONATE YOUR CAR – HELP THE NEEDY – RECEIVE TAX DEDUCTION OF $500+ —It’s fast, it’s easy, and it requires only one short phone call or website visit. Cars For Help, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, is using vehicle donations to support Christian churches and parishes across the USA in an effort to help people who are suffering through difficult times. If you would like to donate a vehicle in any condition, receive a tax deduction, and help your church do its great mission work, please visit www.CarsForHelp.com or call directly to (630) 595-9272. Together we can make a difference! With mention of this
bulletin, 50% of your vehicle donation proceeds will go directly
to St. Thomas. Don’t delay….donate today!!!
WORLD YOUTH DAY—KRAKOW, POLAND 2016—Join Bishop
Mitchell Rozanski and Fr. Piotr Calik on a pilgrimage to World
Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland July 22—August 3, 2016. This
tour will include visits to Czestochowa, Auschwitz and Zakopane—
several sites that were important in the life of Pope Saint John Paul
II. An information session will be held on Wednesday, February 11,
2015 at the Bishop Marshall Center at St. Michael’s Cathedral
beginning at 6:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Stacy
CATHOLIC CRUISE TO BERMUDA—Come and sail away on a 7-night Catholic Bermuda Cruise with Father Richard Curran June 6—June 13, 2015 on Holland America Veendam out of Boston, Mass. Ports of Call: Hamilton, Bermuda; Boston, Massachusetts. Prices begin at $2,434 for two passengers, which includes all port fees and taxes. Daily Mass offered. Deposits of only $200 per person will reserve your cabin. Space is limited. For further information or to register, contact Doug or Eileen at 860-399-1785/[email protected].
WINTER PICNIC—Father Thomas Shea Council Knights of Columbus 11178 will sponsor a Winter Picnic in Fr. Shea Hall at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 224 Sheep Pasture Road, Southwick, Mass. on Saturday, February 7, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, potato salad, baked beans, chips, beverage, and dessert. Age 13—adult, $8; age 5-12—$5, under age 5, free. SUNDAY BINGO—Holyoke Catholic High School is pleased to announce our weekly Sunday Bingo has relocated to our new handicap accessible location, Pope John Paul II Social Center, 67 St. Kolbe Drive (off Maple Street) in Holyoke. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and Bingo begins at 1:00 p.m. The entrance cost is $20.00 for all paper bingo. There is also a concession stand which offers sandwiches and desserts for sale. Come join the fun!
DOMINICAN SISTERS OF WEST HARTFORD, CT will be selling bread, brownies, apple and blueberry pies, all baked according to the Dominican community recipes
next weekend, January 31 and February 1, in the Club Room. The proceeds will be used to buy medical supplies for their mission to support the lepers. They would greatly appreciate your support to their ministry. ST. ANN SOCIETY still has 2015 Taste of the Valley coupon
books available. Just call Nancy (737-8641) or Donna (732-6520)
and they will get them to you.
Dear Parishioners and Friends, Recently you received a letter regarding the St. Thomas the Apostle School Annual Fund. As a school and parish community here at St. Thomas the Apostle, we feel we are blessed to be surrounded by very dedicated, caring, and passionate individuals. We have worked as a community to ensure the current stability as well as the long term viability of St. Thomas the Apostle School. A major component of our long-term success is the St. Thomas the Apostle Annual Fund. The St. Thomas the Apostle Annual Fund was created to help bridge the gap between the revenues of the school and the costs associated with its operation. We are fortunate to have a strong parish here at St. Thomas that provides support of our school. We are thankful to the parishioners, who through a portion of their giving, support Catholic education. After a successful
inaugural year, our goal for this year’s Annual Fund is
$65,000!!! If you have not made your commitment, we ask that you prayerfully consider joining with so many others in our school and church community to ensure we are able to provide the blessing of Catholic education for generations to come. If you have already made a contribution, I extend a heartfelt thank you. May God continue to bless you and your family.
Fr. Ken
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