Document 6515821

ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH
HOUSTON, TEXAS
March 9, 2014
From Fr. T. J.
First of all, I’d like to thank all of your from the boom
of my heart for all that you have given and sacrificed to
finally help the parish of St. Thomas More be debt free! I
know that many of you that have thought that you might
not see the parish be debt free. Thanks to your generosity
and the sacrifice of so many parishioners over the last
several years, we are finally able to put the Jubilee Drive
to rest!!! We will have a parish debt-free party during the
Easter season, so we will have plenty of (me to celebrate. Thanks again to everyone who helped us reach our
goal!!!
This is the first Sunday of Lent and we know that
things are changing. Catholics mark this (me by giving
something up or making sacrifices. We need to remember that Lent is not the (me to go on a diet, but to turn
our hearts back to the Lord. This can be a frui+ul (me for
us as we reflect on our need for God in our lives. I would
hope that your Lenten Sacrifices are going well and that
through them, you are drawing closer to the Lord’s
love. Let us keep each other in prayer as we make this
journey together. We pray that God make strong the
hearts of the faithful of St. Thomas More, that we all grow
closer to the Lord during this Lenten season!
May God pour out His blessings upon you,
Fr. T.J.
Lord, Teach Me How to Pray
Parish Lenten Mission ~March, 31 to April 3
Given by the Priests and Deacons of STM
1. The Theology of Prayer
2. Menu of Prayer
3. Praying the Psalms
4. Reconcilation, a guided examination of conscience followed by individual confessions.
Eucharistic Adoration:
Stations of the Cross
Fridays During Lent
7:30 p.m. in the Church
Bilingual Service
“Warning! – STM’s upcoming Men’s Retreat may treat you to a
new way of living.” Men of the parish, make this your retreat on
the weekend of March 28-30, 2014 at the Holy Name Retreat
Center with 15-20 of your fellow parishioners. Retreatant’s comments include: “This was a wonderful experience for me and I
highly recommend it to everyone I meet.” Contact Hiett Ives at
832-372-6900 or HiettIves@ShowDynamics.com for registration
information or call the Retreat Center at 713-464-0211
http://www.passionist.org/holyname/weekendretreats
Women’s Silent Lenten Retreat
Just a reminder, the unfilled spaces will be released after
March 7, call to make sure you can get on the list. The retreat is 2 weeks away.
The retreat will be held on March 21-23, 2014.
Rev. Richard Buhler, S.J. will tell us “Why Jesus Christ Wants
To Be With Us!” For reservations, please call Dolores Bush,
713-729-4566 or 713-906-6376.
OVER THE TOP, STM!
WE DID IT...
THANK YOU!
DEBT FREE!!!
Financial Stewardship ( 02/23/14)
Weekend Collection
EFT
Online Giving
Total Collection
$ 34,077.17
$
00.00
$ 2,965.00
$ 37,042.17
Additional Collections:
Sunday, 12-1 a.m., 1-2 a.m.
Tuesday, 5-6 a.m. & 4-5 p.m.
Friday, 8-9 a.m.
Our chapel remains open 24 hours a day because
of the commitment made by those who take a weekly Holy
Hour. Please commit!!
Can you take one of these hours or any hour? Just call and volunteer! Call Suzie Hamilton 713-729-0221 or 713-557-3036
Children’s (SVdP)
God’s First
$
$
6.00
00.00
Building Fund
Building Fund-EFT
Building Fund-online
Total Building Fund
$
$
$
$
143.00
00.00
20.00
163.00
Thank you for your continued generosity!
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
Readings for the Week of March 9, 2014
First Sunday of Lent
Sunday
Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Ps 51; Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12,
17-19; Mt 4:1-11
Monday
Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Ps 19; Mt 25:31-46
Tuesday
Is 55:10-11; Ps 34; Mt 6:7-15
Wednesday Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51; Lk 11:29-32
Thursday
Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Ps 138; Mt 7:7-12
Friday
Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130; Mt 5:20-26
Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119; Mt 5:43-48
Saturday
Sunday
Second Sunday of Lent
Gn 12:1-4a; Ps 33; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 9...
Monday, March 10
6:30 a.m. †Angie Toth
5:30 p.m. †Souls in Purgatory / Thnks.
Tuesday, March 11
6:30 a.m. Michele Yap Thanksgiving
5:30 p.m. Eduardo Ferris / Lottie Hines
Wednesday, March 12
6:30 a.m. †Richard Kane
5:30 p.m. Freddy Perez
Thursday, March 13
6:30 a.m. †Horatio Farach
8:15 a.m. Eileen Kelly
5:30 p.m †Lucille Trappey
Friday, March 14
6:30 a.m. Patrick Carson
5:30 p.m. Ana Abaya Birthday
Saturday, March 15
9:00 a.m. †Donald B. Hanks
5:00 p.m. Mildred & Leroy Lilie Thnks.
Sunday, March 16
7:30 a.m. Fr. Bill Oliver
9:00 a.m. Thanksgiving for Baby Noah
11:00 a.m. †James & †Bernadetta Costa
1:00 p.m. Rosario Sanchez
5:00 p.m. Sr. Marietta Hajdik, IWBS
7:00 p.m. For the Parish
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
ST. THOMAS MORE SOUTHWEST COUNCIL 3910
Award Winning Fish Dinners are on
Fridays of Lent...March 7th. Serving
time is 5:00—8:00 p.m. (or until the
food is gone!)
in Prinster Hall...delicious fish, fried or
Baked, plus your choice of sides.
ADULTS $8
CHILDREN $4
THIS WEEK AROUND STM…
Sunday, March 9
9:00 a.m. CCE Students & Parents, School & PPC
9:30 a.m. RCIA, Adult Ed Bldg.
10:00 a.m. Sacrament of the Sick, Church
11:00 a.m. CCE Students & Parents, School & PPC
6:15 p.m. Sp. Choir, AE-St. Mary
6:30 p.m. Sr. High Youth, Youth Center
Monday, March 10
6:30 p.m. Sp. Legion of Mary, Room F
7:00 p.m. Sp. Lenten Mission, Church
New Evangelization, Servant Hall
ACTS Discernment, Prinster Hall
7:30 p.m. Apostleship of the Cross (Sp.), AE-St. Paul
Tuesday, March 11
9:30 a.m. Sr. Citizen Bingo, Scout House
11:30 a.m. Centering Prayer, AE-St. Paul
7:00 p.m. Sp. Lenten Mission, Church
High School Girls Group, Youth Center
ESL, School
Wednesday, March 12
8:30 a.m. Familia Book Study, AE-St. Paul
10:00 a.m. New Evangelization, Servant Hall
6:15 p.m. Confession, Church
7:00 p.m. Sp. Lenten Mission, Church
Confirmation Class, School
OMOPH Prayer Group, Chapel
8:00 p.m. K of C Council 3910, Prinster Hall
Thursday, March 13
6:15 p.m. Sp. Choir, AE-St. Mary
7:00 p.m. New Evangelization, Servant Hall
ESL, School
High School Guys Group, Youth Center
7:30 p.m. Apostleship of the Cross, AE-St. Paul
Combined Choir, Church
Word of Truth Bible Study, AE-St. Peter
Friday, March 14
9:00 a.m. Altar Society, Church
5:00 p.m. K of C Fish Dinner, Prinster Hall
7:00 p.m. Jr. High Youth, Youth Center
Saturday, March 15
7:00 a.m. ACTS/Craft Guild Garage Sale, Rehkopf Gym
9:00 a.m. English Baptism Class, AE-St. Peter
10:00 a.m. Spanish Baptism Class, Prinster Hall
11:00 a.m. Spanish Baptisms, Church
3:30 p.m. Confession, Church
6:15 p.m. Confession, Church
Sunday, March 16-NO CCE CLASSES
9:30 a.m. RCIA, Adult Ed Bldg.
10:00 a.m. Sacrament of the Sick, Church
6:15 p.m. Sp. Choir, AE-St. Mary
6:30 p.m. Sr. High Youth, Youth Center
GARAGE SALE in the Old Gym, March 15, 7a.m. until
12 noon! Please drop off your donations on Friday,
March 14 from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the Old
Gym. Thank you for your continued generosity. Proceeds go to the Women’s ACTS Team & the Sewing
Guild. Contact: Margaret Schueler 713-666-1311,
schueler@bigplanet.com or Isabel Lay 713-729-0221,
isabel@stmhouston.org, or Lillie Vega 713-271-0750
or lill53@aol.com
ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH
HOUSTON, TEXAS
March 9, 2014
CCE INFORMATION
IMPORTANT DATES:
March 9, CCE class
March 23, NO Classes
March 16, NO Classes Spring Break
Spring Break
Home Based CatechesisCatechesis- Children s Interviews at Religious Education Office from 10:45 am to 12:30 pm.
March 9, 2014
April 13, 2014
FIRST EUCHARIST – IMPORTANT DATES
• English First Eucharist – Saturday, May 3th – 10:30am.
Rehearsal, Thursday, May 1st at 6:30pm.—church
Child MUST attend the rehearsal
• Spanish First Eucharist – Saturday, May 10th –
10:30am – Rehearsal, Thursday, May 8th at 6:30pm. - church
Child MUST attend the rehearsal.
TUITION UPDATE
Thank you to all the families who have paid their tuition for the
2013-2014 CCE year. However, we still have a fair amount of tuition that is outstanding. We are dedicated to providing the best
possible religious education program at St. Thomas More; however,
this can only be done with your support. If at all possible, please
pay your outstanding balance at your earliest convenience, payment
plans are available. Thank you for your co-operation.
Program for Parents Sunday Mornings
Join us each week as we learn more about our Catholic Faith .9:00
9:00
am to 10:30 am in Prinster Hall
CONFIRMATION HIGH SCHOOL
March 5, NO Classes –Ash Wednesday
March 19, NO Classes – Spring Break
March 12, Classes
Adult Confirmation, 18 years of age or older.
For registration please contact Ana Luisa
Garcia: analuisa@stmhouston.org
Office Phone: 713-729-3435
CLASSES WILL BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 12,
2014, TIME: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
The purpose of our fasting during Lent is to lead
us, like Jesus, to hunger only for God and to choose to serve only God.
The Parish Vocation Committee
STreaMliners (Adults over 50 only)- MARCH, 2014
IT’S RODEO TIME!
$15 pp dues for the year—Adults over 50 only.
**************************************************************************
Wednesday, Mar. 13-County Bus Trip, Hill Country Tour I,
lunch on your own, call Myrleen, 832-465-7297
Thursday, Mar. 20-Coushatta Casino Day Trip, $15pp, coffee,
donuts, hot kolaches at 6:30, bus leaves at 7:00 a.m.
All trips leave from the back parking area near Prinster Hall.
Please leave at least 5 spaces open around the dumpsters
and recycle bins. STreaMliner trips are open to all STM families and friends! For info, call Ed’s Tours 713-723-2035.
ACTS RETREAT….SAVE THE DATE! We have set the date
for our 4th Women's ACTS retreat: July 24-27, 2014. Women
of the parish are encouraged to prayerfully consider joining
us for this weekend of spiritual growth and immersion in the
Catholic faith.
April 26, 2014, we will have our Second Annual Pig Roast
dinner. Our first one was wonderful. We hope the next one
will be bigger and better!
We have ACTS information on the parish website! Log onto
stmhouston.org and look under the Spirituality tab, then
Retreats/Mission. Check it out!
2013 Tax Statements have been mailed out.
donated $650 or more you will receive a statement in
the mail. If you donated under $650 and would like a
statement please call the parish office and we will be
happy to mail or email you a copy.
C ENTERING P RAYER G ROUP
T UESDAYS AT 11:30 AM
A DULT E DUCATION B UILDING
S T . P AUL R OOM
G UESTS
OPERATION RICE BOWL.” Operation Rice Bowl is Catholic
Relief Services program for Lent. Operation Rice Bowl calls Catholics in the United States to promote human dignity and maintain
solidarity with the poor around the world through prayer, fasting
and alms education during the Lenten season. CCE students will
bring home a box from Operation Rice Bowl. You as parents can
teach them the value of almsgiving by asking them to put money in
these boxes as a sacrifice made for our poorer brethren around the
world, then they will return them at the end of Lent.
If you
ARE
W ELCOME
Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate the
development of Contemplative Prayer by preparing our
faculties to receive this gift.
Centering Prayer is not
meant to replace other kinds of prayer; rather, it casts a
new light and depth of meaning on them. It is at the same
time a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that
relationship. This method of prayer is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.
For information call: Magda Garcia at 281-793-2510
No experience necessary
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
STM YOUTH GROUP
Youth Office:713-729-2111 For more info: stmhouston.org
STM high school girls, the next installment of Girls Group is
coming up on March 11th! Come join Emily Blasdell from 78:30pm in the youth room for cookies, girl talk, and saints!
Steubenville is right around the corner! All graduating 8th
graders and graduating seniors are able to attend. If you are
interested please contact Matthew Hughey at 713-729-2111
or at matthew@stmhouston.org for details. Also go the STM
website and look under the “YOUTH” section for the link to
the Steubenville website.
For more information on any events
thew@stmhouston.org or call 713-729-2111.
please
email
mat-
The Choirs of STM would like to thank everyone that came out
and attended Gala VII. The show was a great success and many,
many volunteers made it happen this year. We would especially
like to thank the Knights of Columbus for the wonderful food
they prepared for us. The choirs would also like to thank all the
parish staff, clergy, parish family members, choir family members and all volunteers for all of their help this year. God Bless!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO TEACH ESL CLASSES
(REGULAR AND SUBSTITUTE )
Our parish provides ESL (English as a Second Language) classes to the community on Tuesday &
Thursday evenings, 7-9 pm.
If you can Volunteer at least one evening a week to
this worthwhile endeavor, or be a Substitute, please
contact Norman Palms at 713-726-0513 or
normpalms@aol.com. You do not need to speak
Spanish! A training session will be provided for new
teachers at no cost.
The food drive is this weekend. We are willing to accept
donations from the list provided or if you prefer to offer
monetary assistance, envelopes are available stapled to
the bag. The St. Vincent DePaul food pantry was able to
offer blankets to everyone who received food in January
due to generous parishioners. Our organization cares for
our clients needs and are offering food and utility/rental
assistance to many parishioners and members of our
served zip codes.
We Need Your Help!
A new coordinator or co-coordinator of the Altar Society is being sought. Duties will vary depending on if
you want to take over the group leadership or assist
the current leader. Help to keep our church a beautiful,
clean place to worship. If interested, please call Jana
Livermore ~ 713-728-8686.
Alice Fahy, longtime parishioner of STM, is currently
in Kindred Hospital in the Medical Center, 6441 Main
St. She would love to see you if you have the time.
Houston’s best kept secret…
CHARITY GUILD OF CATHOLIC WOMEN
RESALE & CONSIGNMENT SHOP
Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.to 3 p.m.
1203 Lovett Blvd. 713-529-0995
Charityguildshop.org
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference
Quarterly Donor and Parishioner Appreciation Report
Fourth Quarter (October, November, December)
2013
Your monetary contributions and donations of goods to our
St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference
continue to touch the lives of so many families in our community
During our final quarter of 2013 you helped us accomplished the
following goals:
•
Helped feed 727 families (2,667 family
members) through our pantry
•
Made 56 home visits (helping 280 family
members)
Flocknote is a way for the parish to communicate with you!
If you don’t have time to read the bulletin but want to know
what’s going on, sign up for this new service. There are 2
easy ways to register for Flocknote (pick one):
Visit our network at
flocknote.com/stmhouston
or
Text “Hillcroft” to 84576
Paid $8,898.00 in rental assistance and $400.42 in
utility payments
We especially want to thank the organizations that
continuously support our efforts:
Troop 99 Boy Scouts of America, especially
Eagle Scout Sam Rabalais
Your selfless giving helps us continue to
do God’s work serving our community…
Thank You!
ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH
HOUSTON, TEXAS
From Fr. T. J.
Primero que nada, me gustaría agradecerles a todos
ustedes desde el fondo de mi corazón por todo lo que han
donado y sacrificado para finalmente ayudar a la Iglesia
de San Tomas More estar libre de deudas! Se que muchos de ustedes han pensado que nunca verían a la Parroquia libre de deudas. Gracias por su generosidad y al sacrificio de muchos feligreses en los úl(mos años , que
finalmente podremos poner a la campaña del jubileo a
descansar!!! Tendremos una fiesta para celebrar que estamos libres de deudas durante la temporada de pascua ,
para tener (empo suficiente para celebrar . Muchas gracias nuevamente a todos aquellos que ayudaron a alcanzar nuestra meta!!!
Este es el primer domingo de cuaresma y sabemos que
las cosas están cambiado. Los católicos marcan esta época para dejar de hacer algo o para hacer sacrificios. Necesitamos recordar que la cuaresma no es el (empo para
ponerse a dieta , pero para conver(r nuestros corazones
nuevamente a Dios. Este puede ser un (empo fructuoso
para nosotros al reflexionar en nuestras necesidades de
Dios en nuestras vidas. Espero que sus sacrificios de cuaresma vayan bien y que a través de ellos, se acerquen
mas al amor de Dios. Mantengámonos mutuamente en
oración al hacer esta jornada juntos. Oremos para que
Dios haga fuerte los corazones de los fieles de San Tomas
More, para que nos acerquemos mas al Señor en este
(empo de cuaresma!
Que el Señor derrame sus bendiciones sobre ustedes,
Fr. T.J.
APARTEN LAS FECHAS PARA LAS CHARLAS ESPIRITUALES CUARESMALES
Lunes 10 de marzo 2014- Juan 1,38-39 “¿Qué buscan?... ¿dónde te
quedas? Jesús les dijo: Vengan y lo verán.”
Martes 11 de marzo 2014- Juan 15,13 “No hay amor más grande que
dar la vida por sus amigos”
Miércoles 12 de marzo 2014- Juan 6,68 “Señor, ¿a quién iríamos? Tú
tienes palabra de vida eterna”
Ven a rezar el viacrucis
los Viernes durante la cuaresma
Marzo 7, 14, 21, 28
Abril 4 & 11
7:30 p.m. en la Iglesia
Servicio Bilingüe
March 9, 2014
El propósito de nuestro ayuno durante la cuaresma es para llevarnos, como Jesús, a tener hambre
solamente de Dios y escoger servirlo solo a El.
El Comité de Vocaciones de la Parroquia
2013-2014 CCE YEAR
FECHAS IMPORTANTES DE CCE
16 De Marzo NO hay Clases - Vacaciones de Primavera
23 De Marzo NO hay Clases - Vacaciones de Primavera
Catequesis en el Hogar:
Hogar entrevistas en la Oficina de
educación religiosa de 10:45 am a 12:30 pm. Días de
Reunión Domingos
Abril 13, 2014
PRIMERA COMUNIÓN
-Primera Comunión (Inglés) – sábado, 3 de mayo –
10:30am – Ensayo, el jueves, 1 de mayo a las 6:30pm.
El niño debe asistir al ensayo
-Primera Comunión (Español) – sábado, 10 de mayo –
10:30am – Ensayo, jueves, 8 de mayo a las 6:30pm. El niño debe
asistir al ensayo. – en la Iglesia
Actualización de MatriculaMatricula- ¡Gracias a todas las familias que
han pagado su cuota para el año de la doctrina 2013-2014. Aun
tenemos un gran numero de familias con la matrícula todavía
pendiente. Estamos dedicados a proveer el programa de educación religiosa lo mejor posible en Santo Tomas More, sin embargo, esto sólo se puede hacer con su apoyo. Por favor pague
el saldo pendiente lo antes posible, tenemos planes de pago
disponibles. Gracias por su cooperación.
CONFIRMACION PREPARATORIANOS
12 De marzo Clases
19 De marzo NO hay Clases - Vacaciones de
Primavera
Confirmación Para Adultos (mayores de18 años)
Para inscribirse para la preparación llame a Ana Luisa al 713-729
-3435 o analuisa@stmhouston.org
INICIO DE LAS CLASES MIERCOLES 12 DE MARZO
DEL 2014 HORARIO: 7:00PM a 9:00PM
CONVALIDACIÓN DE MATRIMONIOS.
Las parejas que deseen convalidar su
matrimonio, es decir que están casadas
civilmente, o en unión libre, y quieren
casarse por la Iglesia, por favor llame a
713729Ana Luisa al 713
-729
-3435. Las Clases
darán comienzo el martes 18 de marzo a las 7:00pm en el
Prinster Hall. La Ceremonia en grupo será el 5 de julio o el 6
de diciembre del 2014.
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK / ORACION POR LOS ENFERMOS
John Amato, Pedro Apigo, Bobby Baker, Elisa Baker, Lisa Bivins,
Julia Brown, Bernice Condon, Ellen Cooper, Alice Fahy, Daniel
Garcia, John Gorman, Barbara Graham, David Graham, Rose
Kimball, Bob Lee, Margaret Martin, Mary Marshall, Joyce Mercurio, Mary Jane Morgan, Margaret Morris, Fr. Bill Oliver, Freddie
Perez, Clyde Perrere, Madelyn Ressman, Carmen Robichaux, Al
Suhor, Beverly Thomas, Patricia Trejo, Rich Vachris, Celina Wager
We have removed all the names from the Prayers for the Sick list,
except for those names which were added in the last 2 months. If
you wish to have someone’s name added to the list, please contact the office. We are happy to add back the name(s) of your
loved one, even if we just removed their name. Some of the
names had been on our list for over 2 years, so this is a fresh
start!
PRAY FOR ALL SERVING IN THE MILITARY, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN OUR PARISH FAMILY
SFC Paul Bergman, Col. David Eskelund, Megan Godsey,
Traci Godsey, Sgt. Billy Janca, SSgt Bradley Louis, Mike
McIntosh, Ebenezer E. Ohaegbulem, Charles U. Oparnozie, LCDR Russell Thiem, PFC Cristina Teresa Villegas
Ausn Benne Tice is a home schooled, Eagle Scout, Naonal Merit
Finalist, graduate of Georgetown University, former Captain in the
United States Marine Corps and recipient of the 2012 George Polk
Award for War Reporng. He is the eldest of seven children, and
was born and raised in Texas.
In May of 2012, the summer before his final year at Georgetown
Law School, he chose to go to Syria as a Freelance Journalist to
report on the conflict there. Two days a5er his 31st birthday, on
August 13, 2012, his editors, family and friends lost contact with
Ausn, as he was preparing to travel from Daraya, near Damascus,
to Beirut, Lebanon.
Please connue to pray for the safe return of Ausn to his family.
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provided at no cost to the parish. Thank you!