Parish eBulletin - Volume 13, No. 7, February 14, 2020

[Chris Lundin]

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish

The Catholic Community of Palo Alto, California

http://paloaltocatholic.net

St. Thomas Aquinas parish is a Roman Catholic community of disciples 

working together for the glory of God and our spiritual growth in Jesus, the Christ. 

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we live and share the Gospel

through worship, education and service.

Parish eBulletin - Volume 13, No. 7 -February 14, 2020

Wonderful New Parishioner-Led Volunteer Activity

Table of Contents:

1. Christianity As A Religion Of Freedom

2. Saturday, February 22:  The 22nd Annual Crab Dinner Dance Tickets Available Concluding THIS Weekend

3. Wanted: Artists

4. Tuesday. February 18:  Spirituality Tuesday Assembly: “The Letters of St. Paul” 

5. Sunday, February 16: STA High School Youth Ministry: No Session, But Bowling Next Week

6. Wednesday, February 19 Confirmation Class; SAVE March 14

7. Volunteer Opportunity: New Parishioner-Led Project: Take Them A Meal

8. Volunteer Opportunity: Pastoral Home Ministry

9. Volunteer Opportunity: Join The SAG Donuteers

10. Weekly Stewardship Report: Thank You For Sharing God’s Gifts!

11. Annual Diocesan Appeal 2020

12.  Want To Become A Catholic? 

13. Wednesday, February 19: S.O.U.P, OLR Hall, 5:45 P.M.

14. Saturday, February 22: Next Session Pastoral Garden Cleanup

15. Human Concerns: Saturday, February 22: Next Human Concerns Committee Meeting

16. Sunday, February 23: Prepare OLR Church for Lent

17. Wednesday, March 11: Peaceful Presence

18. Human Concerns: March 14-15 Parish Collection for Seton School 2nd Grade Summer Reading Growth

Outside The Parish:

19. Pilgrimage Opportunities in 2020-2021

20. Presider Schedules for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time And Sunday Mass Readings

Bonus Information:   Cartoon

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1. Christianity As A Religion Of Freedom

The readings for this sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time underline freedom. Some people wander why membership of Christianity is downhill. There are individualistic and communitarian dimensions of religion. The communitarian perspective of religion places emphasis on communal experiences, social, and group-based belief systems and rituals. From this standpoint, some religions leave no room for personal choice: the path for forestalling ostracization is following the faith tradition of one’s ancestors. Christianity is different from communitarian religions because it offers freedom of individuals in choosing to accept Jesus in a relationship as a personal savior. Christianity is a religion of freedom.

Jesus Christ freed us from the shackles of sin and death. He offers himself to his followers as a free gift to be accepted or rejected. It is a truism that freedom is not free. Jesus Christ paid dearly to win usfreedom. He freed us for himself; that we may enjoy the freedom of the sons and daughters of God. Christ said, “The truth will set you free” (Jn 8: 31).

Freedom always goes with choices and responsibilities. Seneca (4BC - 64AD) was a dramatist orator, and Stoic philosopher (He was a tutor of Emperor Nero of Rome). Seneca met a wise man in Rome and as both men walked along, the man stretched out his hand with his fist closed. The wise man said to Seneca, “I have a fly in my palm, tell me whether the fly is dead or alive.” Seneca replied, “The answer is in your hands.” That answer was very wise. If Seneca said “Alive,” the man could have squeezed the fly to death. If he said, “Dead,” the man could have allowed the fly to fly off. Indeed, the answer was in the man’s hands. Our choice of Jesus Christ is always in our hands. Jesus invites us to enjoy the freedom he won for humanity by choosing the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14: 6) he offers us. 

Bernhard Haering, the famous moral theologian, wrote a series of books entitled, “Free and faithful in Christ” in which he described Christian freedom and responsibilities for all categories of the Christian faithful. Haering underlined in his books that the truth sets us free. Jesus Christ the Way, Truth, and Life sets us free so that we may know, love, and serve Him.

Fr. Sev Kupo, Parochial Vicar

2. Saturday, February 22:  The 22nd Annual Crab Dinner Dance Tickets Available Concluding THIS Weekend

Tickets may be obtained from Knights of Columbus now or after Masses on Feb 1/2nd, Feb 8/9th and Feb 15/16th weekends.  Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets after this weekend may be purchased from Jerry or Charles of the Knights of Columbus, contact information below

The KofC Palo Alto Council of STA Parish is asking parishioners for donations of new or gently used items or services (carwashing,wine tasting party, babysitting
hours, progressive dinner,event tickets, etc) for the silent auction table at the Feb 22nd, 2020 Crab Dinner Dance.

Please call Jerry Lucha  (650)424-9660 or Charles Guenzer (650)387-4268 to coordinate drop off of your donations.

3. Wanted: Artists

"Are you an artist?  If you would like to hang your work for a month in the St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center, please contact Ted Baer at tab...@sbcglobal.net.

4. Tuesday. February 18:  Spirituality Tuesday Assembly: “The Letters of St. Paul” 

with our presenter Fr. Maurice Igboerika, Parochial Vicar.

St. Paul is arguably the most important figure of the New Testament, rivaled only by His master, Jesus Christ, whose Gospel St. Paul served and proclaimed.

In this session, we shall focus on the person of St. Paul and some theologies and messages of his writings. 

7:00 - 8:30 pm at the Hospitality Center at St. Albert the Great Church. 

5. Sunday, February 16: STA High School Youth Ministry: No Session, But Bowling Next Week

This Sunday the High School Youth Ministry will NOT be meeting. However, NEXT Sunday, February 23, we will be going to ‘Homestead Bowl’ in Cupertino from 4:00-6:00PM. All Middle and High School teens are welcome!

If you need a ride, a carpool will leave from OLR at 3:30PM and return at 6:30PM. Light snacks will be provided, but please bring $15 for the bowling/shoe fee. RSVP by Thursday February 20th to pierina....@dsj.org

 6. Wednesday, February 19 Confirmation Class; SAVE March 14

Confirmation Class will meet on Wednesday, February 19, this week. 

SAVE The DATE: Inviting ALL 2020 Confirmation Candidates to an Inspiring And Meaningful 1/2 day Retreat:  “Confirmation: It's Just the Beginning" on Saturday, March 14th, 8:30AM-1:30PM at the Thomas House (next door to St. Thomas Aquinas Church.) 

Contact Carmel Caligaris questions at ccali...@setonpaloalto.org 

7. Volunteer Opportunity: New Parishioner-Led Project: Take Them A Meal

Please join a new parishioner lead project, which will provide Sunday dinner to our priests. Named, Take Our Priests A Meal, the meal project is an outreach program that lets the parish priests know they are appreciated. To participate, parishioners cook and deliver a meal on the busiest day of the week for the priests, Sunday. If you chose to join, you will pick a date that is convenient for your schedule and prepare a meal for three; Fr. Stasys, Fr. Sev, and Fr. Maurice. There are no food allergies, although dietary stipulations include low salt and mild to medium spice. Also, if beef is served, please include an alternative dish such as chicken, pork, or seafood for one.

Delivery is set on Sunday between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM to the Saint Albert the Great rectory. Located in the rectory carport is a blue Igloo cooler where prepared food will be placed inside. Our priests are not always home for dinner at 5 PM, but they are happy to reheat the meal when arriving back in the evening.

If you have further questions or you are ready to sign-up, please reach out to Julie Sanford at julsan@umich. edu or by phone, 408-829-8717. For Spanish speakers, please contact Raquel Fleischmann at rqbe...@gmail.com or by telephone @ 650-739-5830

8. Volunteer Opportunity: Pastoral Home Ministry

I am looking for more volunteers to assist in our Pastoral Home Ministry. If you are interested in bringing Communion to those homebound or in assisted living faculties and nursing homes, contact me at fon...@hotmail.com.

Mary Fong, Pastoral Home Ministry 

9. Volunteer Opportunity: Join The SAG Donuteers

 
Happy New Year!  The current donut schedule goes through the end of January and we just lost a long time volunteer, so we really need new volunteers.  We have five, but ideally would have eight or nine.  we really are in desperate need of a few families to help out.  If we don't get more families, we might need to switch to offering donuts just twice a month.

 
Saint Albert the Great Church is looking for volunteers to help with donuts after the 9am Sunday mass.  Commitment is 6-8 Sundays a year. Responsibilities include:

1) purchasing donuts, milk, orange juice and bringing these to the hospitality center 
2) preparing coffee
3) supervising donut and coffee gathering after 9 am mass
4) light clean up

For more information (or to volunteer): contact Brigid Farrell at Farrell...@hotmail.com

10. Weekly Stewardship Report: Thank You For Sharing God’s Gifts!

Our Weekly Offering:

   February 9 actual: $  8,972

           Weekly Goal: $12,000

 

11. Annual Diocesan Appeal 2020

ADA - Our Annual Diocesan Appeal began last weekend. Fr. Stasys hopes that each family discern what kind of a pledge they can offer. Our parish goal is $144, 750. This is doable with all parishioners pledging according to their means. Thank you for sharing God's gifts! 

12.  Want To Become A Catholic?

Are you an adult who has been Baptized and received Eucharist but missed the Sacrament of Confirmation? WE WANT YOU!! NOW IS THE TIME!!

It’s time to step forward and complete your initiation into the Catholic Church. We will begin a series of preparation sessions for Confirmation for adults (post-high school and up) on Saturday, March 7 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon in the Dermody Center. If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact Susan in the Faith Formation Office or at susanle...@dsj.org. Hoping to see many people step forward to receive this important sacrament that seals our commitment to the Church, completes our Baptismal Grace, and strengthens us with the Holy Spirit. 

13. Wednesday, February 19: S.O.U.P, OLR Hall, 5:45 P.M.

We will have S.O.U.P. (Sharing Ourselves with Undernourished People) at 5:45 p.m. in the OLR Hall. 

14. Saturday, February 22: Next Session Pastoral Garden Cleanup

Our next work day is planned for the 4th Saturday in February, the 22nd, from 9 to 11:00am (or however much time you can spare).  We’re skipped December due to the holidays and January 2020 due to staffing.

Thanks to those who came on Saturday, November 23.  Much good work was done.

Please join us for donuts and goodies and whatever good work you will do. This is just behind the Pastoral Center at 3290 Middlefield Road. Easy parking; easy working.

15. Human Concerns: Saturday, February 22: Next Human Concerns Committee Meeting

We will again gather at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 22 in the OLR Hall to work on various human concerns initiatives.  The January 25 was canceled to allow HCC members of attend Anne Ackerman’s funeral Mass. All are welcome.

16. Sunday, February 23: Prepare OLR Church for Lent

Wednesday,  February 26 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. We shall gather after the 10:30 a.m. OLR Mass on 

Sunday, February 23 to prepare the church for Lent. Please join us.

17. Wednesday, March 11: Peaceful Presence

Peaceful Presence: Multifaith Prayers for Peace & Justice (of which our parish is a member)
Wednesday, March 11, 7-7:30pm
 First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, 1985 Louis Road, Palo Alto 94303

18. Human Concerns: March 14-15 Parish Collection for Seton School 2nd Grade Summer Reading Growth

Our parish collection for new books for Seton 2nd grade students books will be held on the weekend of March 14-15.   Your generosity in past years has provided a package of 5-7 books for each 2nd grade student to read at homeduring the long summer weeks.  These emerging readers benefit from this educational opportunity inspiring them to read, learn and share these books with others while maintaining skills during their school break.  

Last year, each 2nd grader received 4 favorite individual choices which was a real winner!  Recent feedback from those students was very positive!  

Any cash donations may be given to a Human Concerns rep after each mass that weekend.  We are happy to shop for you!  You will see lots of smiling faces in photos of the handing-out event come June.  

The Human Concerns Committee

Outside The Parish

19. Pilgrimage Opportunities in 2020-2021

Come join our former pastor, Fr. George Aranha, who will be hosting three upcoming Pilgrimages for 2020 and 2021 which will be of interest to you!

(1) Eleven-day Pilgrimage to the Marian Shrines & Barcelona including Fatima, Avila, Loyola and Lourdes - October 5-15, 2020

(2) Twelve-day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Rome including a Papal audience February 1-12, 2021

(3) Twelve-day Pilgrimage to Eastern Europe, including Krakow, Prague, Vienna and Budapest September 13-24, 2021

For general information and photographs, please visit https://nativitypilgrimage.com and info@nativity pilgrimage.com
For brochures and registration forms, please visit: www.SantaTeresaChurch.com/pilgrimage
For more information and to register, please contact: Jen Vazquez: J...@SantaTeresaChurch.com
or call Jen at: 1-408-629-7777

20. Presider Schedules for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time And Sunday Mass Readings

Sunday Mass readings (English): http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021620.cfm

Sunday Mass readings (Spanish): http://www.usccb.org/bible/lecturas/021620.cfm

5:00 p.m. Saturday: St. Albert the Great: Fr. Stasys (Music: Chris Lundin)

7:30 a.m. St. Thomas Aquinas:  Fr. Stasys (Music: sing along with recorded music)

8:45 a.m. St. Thomas Aquinas: Fr. Jose Rubio ( Music: singing with a live music group)

9:00 a.m. St. Albert the Great: Fr. Maurice (Music: Chris Lundin and SAG Choir) 

9:00 a.m. Our Lady of the Rosary: Fr. Stasys (Music: José Perez and Hispanic Coro)

10:30 a.m. Our Lady of the Rosary: Fr. Sev (Music: Chris Lundin and OLR Choir) 

10:30 a.m. St. Thomas Aquinas: Fr. Maurice (Music: Instrumental Ensemble and Women's Choir directed by Paul Prochaska)

Noon: St. Thomas Aquinas: Fr. TBD (Music: Gregorian chant and Renaissance motets with St. Ann Choir)

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The eBulletin is an initiative of our parish Communications Board, whose ministry it is to improve communications in our parish.

As of today, our parish eBulletin is sent to 425 parish families! (closed (bouncing) accounts recently removed). Pass the word! Who will be Family No. 426? If you are interested in receiving the eBulletin on a weekly basis, send an email request to clu...@stanford.edu.  You will be added to "PaloAltoCatho...@googlegroups.com" which is used to send out the eBulletin each Friday morning.

Always Useful Information:
Parish Online Giving: https://www.myowngiving.com/Default.aspx?cid=357
Parish Elder Care Resources: Call/leave a message at the Pastoral Home Ministry (494-2496, ext. 22) Call a priest at the rectory at 327-8222
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Online Calendar*: http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=L6M7J4G1J4H2O9L6I3
Steeple Talk Newsletter: http://www.paloaltocatholic.net/index.cfm?load=page&page=202 (see left sidebar)
Diocese of San Jose: http://www.dsj.org/
The Valley Catholic (Diocesan newspaper: http://tvc.dsj.org
Diocese of San Jose EthicsPoint Hotline (1-888-325-7863) - to report financial misconduct
Diocese of San Jose Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults:  (408) 983-0113 or protection@dsj.org
Vatican YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/vatican
H20 Catholic News Service: http://www.h2onews.org/english.html
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: http://www.usccb.org/
Daily Scripture reflections: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/
Mass Times While Traveling: http://www.masstimes.org/txt/
Courage (same-sex attraction support group): 650-450-2286 or email grc...@sbcglobal.net 
Salt + Light Blog: http://www.saltandlighttv.org/blog
St. Vincent de Paul Auto Donation Phone number: 1-800-322-8284
Trafficking: National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 (toll-free hotline 24 hours/day)
Trafficking: California Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking at 888-KEY-2FREEDOM. Texts can also be sent to “BE FREE,” or 233733.  (toll-free hotline 24 hours/day)
Catholic Charities (Diocese of San Jose): Elder Care Line and Homecare: (408) 831-0441
Catholic Charities (Diocese of San Jose): Senior Activity Centers, in San Jose and Sunnyvale (408) 270-4900
Catholic Charities (Diocese of San Jose): Behavior Health Clinic in downtown San Jose (408)-899-7160

LifeSite News: https://www.lifesitenews.com/catholic

Patch Palo Alto Calendar: https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar

Each Thursday: Mothers’ Prayers After 8:30 A.M. OLR Daily Mass Mothers Prayers is our name.  Mothers Prayers was started in England in November 1995 and has spread rapidly throughout the world with contacts in over 100 countries and has the approval, support and blessing of Christian leaders of all denominations. There are now thousands of groups around the world and we are one of them.  In a 20 minute prayer, we bring all the pain and the worries we have for our children to the Lord and we trust in His words 'Ask and you will receive'. Through this promise, the Lord is just waiting to take away pain and to bless and heal us and our children when we come to Him in Faith.

It takes place every Thursday morning right after 8:30am Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, in Kerry’s Corner, and you are very welcome to join us. Questions? Call Justine Franklin at (650) 387-1653 or justine_...@yahoo.com

* If you know of events or recurring meetings which should be added to the calendar, please send them to clu...@stanford.edu, and we will work to get the calendar updated. 

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