REMINDERS: this week in our parish

[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.

1. TONIGHT: Monday, February 11: Peaceful Presence Multifaith Prayers for Peace

Monday, February 11, 7:00-7:30 p.m.

Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 3233 Cowper Street, Palo Alto

Let us come together for much needed time of healing, prayers, strength and gratitude. Peaceful Presence is a monthly gathering hosted by diverse faith communities for multifaith prayers for peace and strength for the journey.  See the flyer attached to today’s eBulletin.

2. 2019 Annual Diocesan Appeal

The 2019 Annual Diocesan Appeal is now underway. Pledge Sunday is today. Our total parish goal is $160,000. Anything beyond our goal comes back to the parish. Materials can be found in all churches and your pledge can be sent back to the office or placed in the regular Sunday collections baskets.

View the video here and consider online donation here.

-- Fr. Stasys 

3. Tuesday, February 12: Spirituality Tuesday Assembly: Providence and the Problem Of Evil

A Video Series  — hosted by  Susan Olsen  Bishop Robert Barron continues in Part 4 of our video series.

LESSON 4 – PROVIDENCE AND THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

Perhaps the most difficult question in theology is this: Why does God allow evil? If God is all-good and all-powerful, then why are our lives marked with pain and suffering? These are not abstract questions. They go right to the heart of our experience. We have each wrestled with misery, wondering when God would intervene. As with Job, God does not give us answers. He instead offers a person: the crucified Jesus, through whom God enters our suffering and makes it his own.

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center

4. Continuing February 13: Wednesdays at St. Thomas Aquinas Church: Adoration and Benediction

In support of offering more opportunities from personal prayer, our parish has been keeping St. Thomas Aquinas Church (451 Waverley Street, Palo Alto) open 

until 5:00 p.m.

In addition to that, each Wednesday, the parish is going to offer Adoration and Benediction from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., before closing the church for the night, continuing Wednesday, February 13.  You are encouraged to stop by and pray and adore Our Lord. 

5. Human Concerns: During February, HCC-Sponsored Soles4Souls Gently-Used Shoe Collection 

In response to inquiries, the Human Concerns Committee is going to collect used and new shoes you no longer need during the month of February 2019. 

You will find collection boxes placed for your convenience in the vestibules of our three churches.  Your shoes will be taken to DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) and shipped at their expense to Soles4Souls warehouses for distribution to men, women and children in need around the world.  

In 2012, our parish contributed 597 pairs of shoes.  As of today, over 100 pairs of shoes have been donated! Thank you for your generosity.  We encourage you to gather your unneeded gently-used shoes and watch for the donation boxes in the vestibules.

Human Concerns Committee 

6. Saturday, February 16: Parish Blood Drive

The parish has arranged with the Stanford Blood Center to come of our parish Saturday, February 16, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to Our Lady of the Rosary Hall (3233 Cowper Street, Palo Alto to accept blood donations.

NOTE: You do not need a physician consent to donate. If the nurse at the time determines there is a medical condition requiring consent then this is the only case in which one would be required. There is no upper age limit for donations.

Please hold the date. Contact Chris Lundin (clu...@stanford.edu) with questions.  For more information or eligibility requirements, call 650-723-7831 or visit bloodcenter.stanford.edu

See the attached PDF.  Reserve your time at http://sbcdonor.org and Donor Code: 2581

7. Saturday, February 16: Fred Dietrich Memorial Mass 

Fred Dietrich passed away January 1, 2019.  There is a memorial Mass celebrated on Saturday, February 16 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.  All are welcome.

8. Human Concerns: February 16-17: Have A Heart Weekend

HAVE A HEART ❤️ weekend will take place in our parish on February 16 and 17. This year, cash donations will be collected to provide for a variety of client needs that arise over the year at our local Opportunity Center, 33 Encina, north of Town and Country Shopping Center. NOTE: Collection boxes are also available in the vestibules if you prefer to shop yourself and donate underwear and socks.  

Thanks to your generous donations in prior years, our parish has been able to provide sleeping bags, rain ponchos, thermal blankets, winter hats, men's and ladies underwear, warm socks and other similar items as needed. This is in addition to the Soles4Souls effort (separate boxes in each vestibule).

Human Concern Committee representatives will be available after each mass that weekend to receive cash donations. Checks should be made out to STA Parish with HCC/Have A Heart on the memo line.   

Background: Years ago, members of various Palo Alto Churches including of the Palo Alto Catholic Churches encouraged the Palo Alto City Council to build the Opportunity Center.  This was successful. Later it was discovered an ongoing need of residents was, and is, underwear.

The various Palo Alto churches started "Undie Sunday" to ask parishioners for cash donations to buy underwear.  A couple of our Catholic parishioners were very bothered about putting Underwear and Sunday in the same phrase.  It was decided in our parish to call the Sunday Have a Heart Sunday.

This Sunday is held as close to Valentine's Day as possible, no collection is made. Parishioners, mostly from the Human Concerns Committee, stand at the vestibules of the churches asking people to donate to buy needed underwear and sanitary supplies for the Opportunity Center.

We look forward to seeing you,
The Human Concerns Committee

9. Monday, February 18: Pastoral Center Closed

Monday, February 18, is President's Day. The office will be closed, but the daily Mass times will not change.