St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church Rectory/Parish Center: (973) 338-9190 . Fax: (973) 338-4224 . Religious Education: (973) 338-7400 School: (973) 338-8505 . Convent: (973) 338-9118 Address: 60 Byrd Avenue, Bloomfi eld, NJ 07003 . Website: www.stthomas-bloomfi eldnj.com
Rev. Charles J. Miller, M. Div., Pastor Eucharistic Liturgy Rev. Peter K. Funesti, M. Div., Parochial Vicar Rev. Philip A. Sanders, S.T.B., Parochial Vicar Saturday Eve: 5:00pm Rev. Thomas F. Blind, M. Div., In Residence Permanent Deacons: Sundays: 7:30, 9:00, Deacon Albert H. Tizzano 10:30am & 12:15pm Deacon Dennis J. Besida (12 Noon during summer months) Deacon Thomas J. Coyle Pastoral Associate for Weekdays: 7:30, & 11:30am Elementary Catechetics: Tracey Rennie Saturday Mornings: 8:30am Only Pastoral Associate for Parish Ministry: Sister Arleen Crimmins, O.P. Holy Days: 7:30, 11:30am & 7:00pm School Principal: Ms. Joan Ferraer Holidays: 8:30am Only DIRECTOR OF LITURGICAL MUSIC MINISTRIES: Nancy A. Cardone Assistant Liturgical Interpreted Mass Liturgy of Music MinisterS: for the deaf the Word Paul DiBianca Fourth Sunday With Children: Kimberley Mesiti Sundays: 10:30am Mass of Each Month Pastoral Associate for Family 12:15pm September - June & Adult Formation Ministries: Sacrament of Robert P. Miller Reconciliation: Coordinator of Youth Ministry: (Penance/Confessions) Catholic Mr. Timothy Dennin Saturday: 11:00am Community Services Pastoral Council: Marian Devotions: Offering Social Tom Rossano, Chairperson Mondays Service Assistance Orly Trias, Vice Chairperson Novena Prayer 1(800) CCS-7413 Michele Sweetman, Secretary Fax: 596-3735 11:30am Mass FINANCE CHAIRMEN: Peter Maulbeck, Finance Council Patrick DeCotiis, Finance Committee
January 6, 2008 . Epiphany of the Lord Epiphany of the Lord January 6, 2008 Today we remember the three wise Masses for the Week men from the law and become sons Sunday, January 6 and daughters of God. New Year’s Day provides a perfect opportunity to Saturday, January 5 ask ourselves the question: Does my 5:00 pm Mr. & Mrs. Louis Scaglione - Family life reflect my gratitude for all that my loving Father has given me? Sunday, January 6 7:30 am For the People of the Parish
9:00 am Dennis W. McDonald - Friends Pray For Vocations 10:30 am Patrick J. Longo - Friends
12:15 pm Nick Spooner - Friends Today the Church Universal celebrates the Three Monday, January 7 Kings. These three wise men from the East, led 7:30 am Joseph Marcheel - Sister by a star, represent the universality of Christ’s kingdom,
11:30 am Concetta & Rocco Donatiello - Family bringing Him gifts on behalf of themselves and their people. This privilege also extends to us. Our homage Tuesday, January 8 and gift is more precious than the gold, frankincense and 7:30 am Ann Riley - Bequest myrrh, our gift to the newborn King can be our very 11:30 am Bob Arms - Wife selves. As a priest, religious or deacon, one makes the Wednesday, January 9 greatest gift possible to Christ by serving and honoring 7:30 am Tina Gorry - Family Him and His Church with our lives. Are you willing to 11:30 am Emma Marie Vogel - Friend present the gift of yourself to Christ as a priest, deacon Thursday, January 10 or religious? If so, contact to Office of Vocations at
7:30 am Joseph Shelesky - Daughter 973.497.4365 or email [email protected]. th 11:30 am Rose Sharpe (6 Anniv.) - Friend
Friday, January 11 Right to Life 7:30 am Richard F. Curcio - Wife For parents awaiting the birth of their first 11:30 am Florence & Nicholas Sottolano - Daughter child: that the gift of life might fill them Saturday, January 12 with joy; 8:30 am Anna Spatola – Brother & Sister-in-law We pray to the Lord
Sunday, January 13
Saturday, January 12 BAPTISM SCHEDULE 5:00 pm Barbara Ellmer - Husband Sunday, January 13 Preparation sessions: Jan. 7, Mar. 25, Apr. 27, 1:30 pm in the Parish Center 7:30 am John J. Hughes - Friend 9:00 am For the People of the Parish Baptism Celebrations for 2006 10:30 am Dominga Chuakay Go - Family Jan 28, Feb. 11, Apr. 14 & 15, 1:45 p.m. in Church 12:15 pm Ted Wohlbold - Wife
Session Dates for Baptism for 2008 PRAY FOR OUR SICK: CATECHESIS PREPARATION
Luke Schwenderman, Harry Shaw, Dorothy Drexler, In the St. James Room in the Parish Center Joanne Stile, Nina Vetere, January 27 1:30pm
REST IN PEACE: March 9 1:30pm
Elena Crescenzi, Estrellita Sturn, May 25 1:30pm July 6 1:30pm Rev. Eugene P. Heyndricks Sept 7 1:30pm
CANDLE INTENTIONS: BAPTISM CELEBRATIONS FOR 2008 Church: Angelo Melia January 13 1:45pm
February 3 1:45pm
Next Sunday’s Readings: March 29 5:00pm March 30 1:45pm
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 April 20 1:45pm Acts 10:34-38 May 18 1:45pm June 8 12:15pm Matthew 3:13-17 June 29 1:45pm
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Religious Education News Epiphany of the Lord Summer CCD Update: A quick
reminder to all those hoping to attend
summer CCD in 2008. Registration
packages are NOT sent home, even if
your child attended summer CCD last
year. A notice will be placed in the
bulletin around the middle of January
announcing that the packages are ready.
Once the notice has appeared in the bulletin you may call
the Religious Education Office and request that a Today is the traditional day of Epiphany – the “Twelfth registration package be mailed to you or you may Day of Christmas.” On this day we mark the apex, as it download it from the STA website. Dates for summer were, of the Christmas season. The season has been CCD 2008 are July 7th through July 18th from 9:00 – 12:30 moving steadily toward this moment of great revelation each day. Children in grades 3 through 8 only may attend and epiphany. Today we acknowledge and celebrate summer CCD. Last year summer CCD closed out in two that the child born in a lowly manger in the darkness of weeks and names were taken for a waiting list, so please night is revealed as the manifestation of God (the literal note that this program is first come, first served. Please do meaning of Epiphany). Throughout the liturgies of the NOT call the Religious Education Office until the season, Christ has been revealed in many ways: as announcement appears in the bulletin. Teachers and aides Lord; King; the one in whom God is present and acts. All manifestations of God are “lights” that shine through are needed for each grade. If you are interested please call Tracey Rennie at 973-338-7400. Christ, illuminating and revealing a deeper understanding of his identity. Vacation Bible School 2008: Mark your calendar for an Traditionally, three events in the life of Christ are exciting faith adventure for children ages 4 through 12. remembered as manifestations of God’s presence and Our annual Vacation Bible School program will be held action through Christ: June 23rd through June 27th. Each day will be packed with • The Visit of the Magi: Matthew 2:1-12 crafts, songs, activities, and games. Children do not need to • The Wedding Feast of Cana: John 2:1-11 be parishioners to attend. We will also need lots of • The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River: Matthew volunteers, especially Confirmation Candidates. Watch the bulletin for further information. 3:13 – 17; Mark 1:9 – 11; Luke 3:21 – 22 Today is also the traditional day for blessing homes and other buildings by marking the lintels of doorways with chalk. The markings commemorate the three Magi The Prayer Shawl Ministry
traditionally known by the names Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. The markings for 2008 are 20 + C + M + B + “And he was wrapped in swaddling…” 08. These letters represent the three initials of the Let us continue to pray for those Magi’s names written between the numbers of the year, making shawls and those who separated by four crosses. receive them.
************************ th th LECTIONARY Our next meetings are Sundays Jan. 20 , Feb. 17 , and nd March 2 at 1:30 p.m. Please check with the parish The readings reveal a different manifestation of Christ center as meetings may be cancelled due to bad weather. for those who believe. If you have any questions, call Eileen (973) 661-9699; The First Reading from Isaiah proclaims that our light has come – it shines upon us as a beacon for all nations. Debbie (973) 771-1952 or Bernadette (973) 893-0114. Psalm 72 sings of God’s king who governs with If you need a shawl please call Sister Arleen (973) 338- justice, who rules from sea to sea and rescues the poor. 9190 or Alicia (973) 473-6633. St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians speaks of Christ gathering all as one body to share in the same promise “T H I S W E E K” and inheritance of God. The Gospel according to Matthew recounts the Monday – 1/7 wonderful story of the Magi, who recognize this newborn September Club – 11:30 a.m. in St. Peter King and come to worship him. The symbolism cannot Men’s prayer and Bible Study – 7:30 p.m. in St. Matthew be missed: the whole world (represented by the Magi from far-off lands) is called to recognize Christ and honor Thursday – 1/10 him as Savior. Remembers, the Magi were Gentiles SCC Thursday – 7:00 p.m. in St. Matthew (non Jews) – and yet they are the first to recognize and
Friday – 1/11 honor Christ. This illustrates that the manifestation of God through Christ reaches to the ends of the earth. SCC Friday – 7:00 p.m. in St. Peter
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Men’s Cornerstone Retreat LEARNING TO LIVE
(March 7th – March 8th) WITH YOUR LOSS
All St. Thomas Men are Invited th
Sunday, January 6 , 1:30-3:00 p.m.
in the Parish Center What is Cornerstone?
Cornerstone is a 26-hour retreat which provides you Our theme will be: with the opportunity to reflect renew and strengthen your We Are Precious Gifts faith while meeting other men in our Parish community. The retreat is hosted here at St. Thomas by a group of
men from our parish who have experienced last year’s Cornerstone. PRAY This retreat is simply a gathering of Ordinary Men THE ROSARY sharing stories and life’s experiences. You may share in the discussion as much or as little as you choose. This FOR PEACE
is an outstanding opportunity to: