December 22, 2019 www.stanpr.org Fourth Sunday of Advent
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS Roman Catholic Church 8320 Old C.R. #54 New Port Richey, FL 34653 Phone 727-372-8600 Web Page: www.stanpr.org Pastor: Rev. Eric Peters Associate Pastor: Rev. George P. Varkey Deacon: Rev. Mr. Melvin Dunphy STA Early Childhood Center: 376-2330; Bishop Larkin Catholic School (K-8): 862-6981 Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School: 857-2600 Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 22, 2019
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Mary had to face an enormous challenge to her faith and trust in God and to the faith of her family and Joseph, the man she chose to marry. She was asked to assume a burden of tremendous responsibility. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature. That required faith and trust in God and in his promises. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. Mary was only espoused to Joseph, and such an engagement had to last for a whole year. She was asked to assume a great risk. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. She nonetheless believed and trusted in God's promises.
Joseph, a just and God-fearing man, did not wish to embarrass or punish his espoused wife, Mary when he discovered that she was pregnant. To all appearances she had broken their solemn pledge to be faithful and chaste to one another. Joseph, no doubt took this troubling matter to God in prayer. He was not hasty to judge or to react with hurt and anger. God rewarded him not only with guidance and consolation, but with the divine assurance that he had indeed called Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to assume a mission that would require the utmost faith, confidence, and trust in Almighty God. Joseph believed in the divine message to take Mary as his wife and to accept the child in her womb as the promised Messiah. Excerpt from: Daily Scripture Readings & Meditations
Learning, Living and Sharing the Good News
December 22, 2019 www.stanpr.org Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings for the Week of December 22, 2019 Sunday: Is 7:10R14/ Ps 24:1R6/Rom 1:1R7/ Mt 1:18R24 Monday: Mal 3:1R4, 23R24/Ps 25:4bcR5ab, 8R10 and 14/Lk 1:57R66 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Is 9:1R6/Ps 96:1R3, 11R13/Ti 2:11R14/ The youth of the parish would like to thank all Lk 2:1R14 of our parishioners who donated, volunteered, Thursday: Acts 6:8R10; 7:54R59/Ps 31:3cdR4, 6 spread the word, bought tables as vendors, and 8ab, 16bc and 17/Mt 10:17R22 and/or prayed for our 4th Annual STA Garage Friday: 1 Jn 1:1R4/Ps 97:1R2, 5R6, 11R12/ Sale. It was a huge success (we raised over Jn 20:1a, 2R8 $2,000!) not only monetarily but it was also a Saturday: 1 Jn 1:5V2:2/Ps 124:2R5, 7cR8/ wonderful opportunity to witness the love of Mt 2:13R18 Christ which abounds in our community. Next Sunday: Sir 3:2R6, 12R14/ Ps 128:1R5/ One woman who shopped with us at the Col 3:12R21 or 3:12R17/Mt 2:13R15, 19R23 garage sale commented to the volunteers at the Weekend Readings are at (727) 372R8600 checkout desk - “I’ve been to many church garage sales but I’ve never felt the love of God present as much as it was here today!” God is good! All the time! Mass Intentions Due to popular demand, next year’s garage (for the week ahead) sale will be extended over 2 days to give everyone a chance to shop and experience the Monday 8:00 a.m. Alfred Bereche 5th Annual STA Garage Sale! Tuesday 4:00 p.m. Herbert Herm (Church) 4:00 p.m. Dianne Tosh (Hall) 6:00 p.m. Jayne Geise (Church) Mass and Devotions Schedule 11:00 p.m. The Family of Elizabeth Cane (Church) Saturday Vigil: 4:00 pm and 6 pm Wednesday 8:00 a.m. Members of the Bonanno, Sunday: 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:30 am (Contemporary), Bernardo and Capra and 5:00 pm (LifeTeen™) Families (Church) Daily Mass: 8:00 am Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. Members of the Argutto, Healing Mass: 7:00 pm - 2nd & 4th Monday of the Spameni and Salerno month (Resumes Sept. 9th until end of May 2020) Families (Church) Holy Rosary after 8:00 am Mass, Mon-Fri, Thursday 8:00 a.m. Christopher Krawiec in Blessed Sacrament Chapel Friday 8:00 a.m. Mary Joyce Hartwig Marian Novena after 8:00 am Mass on Tuesdays Saturday 4:00 p.m. Richard Besida Benediction & Adoration: 1st Fridays 8:30–10:00 6:00 p.m. Terrance McManus am (September – May); 1st and 3rd Thursdays 6- Sunday 7:00 a.m. Elfride Verdon 8:30 pm 8:30 a.m. Roland Laliberte Reconciliation: Saturday 2:30-3:30 pm or by appt. 10:30 a.m. Charles Hurney 5:00 p.m. Gino Matarazzo
December 22, 2019 www.stanpr.org Fourth Sunday of Advent
Parish Calendar Parish Information Office hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday-Friday. Call for information. Mon. 12/23 8AM Morning Mass Phone: (727) 372-8600 Website: www.stanpr.org Tues. 12/24 Christmas Eve Masses Prayer Line: (727) 372-8600 4PM Masses in Church and Hall Emergency Number for Anointing of the Sick: 6PM Mass Nights and Weekends (727) 836-3211 11PM Mass Office Closed Administration Business Office Fax: (727) 376-7204 Wed. 12/25 Christmas Day Masses Pastoral Ministries Coordinator: Mary Miller Ext 111 8AM Parish Bookkeeper: Cherise Amundson Ext. 115 10AM Bulletin Editor: Kate Ext. 113 Office Closed Parish Ministry Faith Formation Asst. - Jessica McIlveen - Ext. 112 Thurs. 12/26 8AM Morning Mass Middle School (Edge) and Office Closed High School (Life Teen) - Beth DeBella and Cliff Stodden – Ext. 131 Fri. 12/27 8AM Morning Mass RCIA – Mary Miller - Ext. 111 Office Closed Music - Dan O’Hara Ext. 128 Parish Nurse, Ministry to the Sick & Homebound –
Betty West Ext. 116 Sat. 12/28 2:30PM Reconciliation; Sacristan - Elizabeth Sheridan Ext. 129 4PM and 6PM Masses Stewardship – Mary Ellen Taylor Ext. 144 St. Vincent de Paul Society Ext. 142 Sun. 12/29 7AM, 8:30AM, 10:30AM Masses 5PM Mass STA Early Childhood Center Alicia Mumma, Director – (727) 376-2330 Knight’s Korner www.staecc.org
Knights of Columbus Food Pantry: Monday and Thursday Council #11497 9:30am until 11:00am and 1:30pm until 3:30pm
Gift Store: Open before and after 8:30am, December 29th 5th Sunday Rosary following 10:30am and 5:00pm Sunday Masses when 10:30AM Mass volunteers are available. Let us know if you’d like to help before or after mass. January 9th January Business Meeting @7PM Parish Library: Open during office hours. (Adoration @6PM) Marriage Jubilee Mass January 18th KofC Basketball Freethrow The Marriage Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving Challenge with Bishop Gregory Parkes will take place at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle on Did you know that you can become a Knight’s of Columbus eMember right now by going to KofC.org Sunday, February 23rd at 3:00pm. This event and pressing Join Us? Be sure to select Council 11497 honors couples throughout the diocese who will and we do the rest! celebrate 25, 50 more more years of marriage during the 2020 calendar year. Further questions contact our Grand Knight Maurice Please RSVP to the parish office by Tuesday, A. Batista at (813) 493-4534. February 4th.
December 22, 2019 www.stanpr.org Fourth Sunday of Advent
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS WITH Calendar Dates BISHOP GREGORY PARKES TO BE Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24th LIVE VIDEO STREAMED FOR THE Masses HOMEBOUND The joyous celebration of the 4 pm in the Church Christmas Carols begin @ 3:30 Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord at Traditional Choir the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in 4 pm in the Parish Center St. Petersburg will be live-streamed 6pm in the Church starting at 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Christmas Carols begin @ 5:30 December 24, 2019. To view on your Contemporary Choir computer, mobile device or smart TV,
visit www.dosp.org/livestream. 11 pm in the Church Christmas Carols begin @ 10:30 Traditional Choir Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25th ******************* Masses 8:00 am and 10:00 am Follow Bishop Gregory Parkes Masses in the Church on Social Media Bishop Parkes is a regular on social Solemnity of Mary, media because he wants to share his The Mother of God Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 @ 4:00 pm ministry with you! By following Bishop Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 @ 9 am Parkes you can see photos of the Masses in the Church many parishes and schools he visits Holy Day of Obligation throughout the year. Plus, you can Parish Office Closed learn more about your faith and the Catholic Church in West Central Florida. Follow @BishopParkes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Catholic Relief Services awards grant to St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference 062! Our Conference has been awarded a Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl mini grant of $1,000! This grant helps support to PackRARSack Food 4 Kids through which we provide sacks of nutrious food to 40 students at Gulf Middle School over weekends and school breaks.
CRS allocates 25% of donaons from its Lenten Rice Bowl Campaign to local organizaons that serve the poor. The other 75% of donaons aid people in need throughout the world without regard to race, religion or naonality. Catholic Relief Services is the official internaonal humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community.
December 22, 2019 www.stanpr.org Fourth Sunday of Advent
Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle, Inc. Rev. Fr. Antony Thundathil Director, MST in USA & CANADA November 14, 2019 Rev. Fr. Eric Peters 8320 Old C. R. 54 New Port Richey, FL 34653 Dear Rev. Frs. Eric, George and the Parishioners, This is to acknowledge with gratude the contribuon of $11,393.00 from your parish raised through the Mission Preaching. The amount collected speaks loud about your interest and effort in supporng our missionary work. MST is so grateful to the Diocese, to you and to the generous minds of St. Aquinas parishioners. Let the parishioners know that their contribuon will brighten the lives of numerous children of God under the care of MST, feed the hungry, and get medical help for those in need. Thank you very much for your hard work and iniave, wishing you all A Happy Thanks Giving. With prayers, Fr. Antony Thundathil MST Director, MST in USA
What is The Lazarus Group? Are you familiar with The Lazarus Group? Do you know why it was formed and now exists in our parish? These are the many members of our parish who have joined in a common commitment to attend the funeral mass service of parishioners. There are many parishioners who have no family in the area at the time of their passing. Members of The Lazarus Group are notified and they attend in support of the deceased parishioner. There are times when the only ones present at some funerals are Lazarus members. Lazarus members also support family members at these times. The way it works is that members are advised of funeral mass dates and times and they simply turn up. If you would like to know more about this ministry and to consider becoming a part of this support system, please call the church office at 727-372-8600 and leave your name and phone number and we will get back with you. Thanks for your interest.
December 22, 2019 www.stanpr.org Fourth Sunday of Advent
Faith Formation For All!
Saint Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church welcomes all families to participate in ongoing, lifelong faith formation! THE FAITH FORMATION YEAR IS 2019-2020 Formation Sessions are held from August – May HERE!!! Religious Education / Formation Sessions: Weekly Sunday sessions: classroom sessions are offered from August through May for 9amV10:15am. grades preK V 12 and adult formation sessions as Wednesday sessions: scheduled: 5:15pm (pizza concession at 5:00) Weekly Kindergarten Grade 6 sessions are available on Sunday mornings 9:00AM 10:15AM (allowing families to participate in 10:30AM Mass). Weekly KV5 and Middle School grades 6V8 Edge Youth Ministry sessions are available Wednesdays from 5:15PM 6:30 PM (Pizza/Concession at 5:00PM) Weekly High School Youth Ministry grades 9V12 sessions (Life Teen model) are available Sundays from Wednesday at 5:15pm 5:00PM Mass (6:30PM fellowship start) Life Teen is (pizza concession at 5:00) part of the ConLirmation preparation and curriculum RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and RCIA adapted for youth sessions are available weekly, with Breaking Open the Word and Catechetical gatherings. Baptism Preparation for parents / godparents of infant & toddler children is available monthly as scheduled Sunday Parent / Adult Faith Formation enrichment sessions following 5pm mass. are held on a regular basis along with scheduled whole family sessions for all and those in preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and ConLirmation Children’s Liturgy of the Word, weekly September May. (during 10:30AM Mass). NO REGISTRATION NEEDED. Open to children ages 4V7.
December 22, 2019 www.stanpr.org Fourth Sunday of Advent
VOLUNTEER TAX PREPARATION United Way of Pasco County, the IRS and AARP sponsor free income tax assistance for elderly and low/moderate income taxpayers from midRJanuary to April 15 each year. Tax law and computer training is provided in early January for volunteers who prepare basic tax returns. Volunteers should have good computer skills. For more informaon, or to volunteer, call Bill Humphrey at 727R808R4483 or send an email to [email protected]
For an appointment to have your taxes prepared, call the Pasco County Informaon and Referral Line by dialing 211, a er January 15, 2020.
Catholic Days at the Capitol In the Wildflowers Retreat Make the Trip and Make a Difference! January 28-29, 2020, In the Wildflowers Retreat for women who returning January 30th. have suffered childhood sexual abuse. This 11- This two-day event provides the week private retreat will be held in Tampa on opportunity to put into action our faith’s Saturdays beginning on January 25, 2020. If call to political responsibility and allows interested in participating in this Retreat please us to strengthen the presence of our contact Cathy at 813-843-8969 or Email us at Catholic values in the public square. We [email protected] or will also be joined by Bishop Parkes! visit: www.wildflowersretreat.org Legislative briefing, office visits with elected officials, Red Mass and more. Visit https://www.dosp.org/life/ SAVE THE DATE: Emmaus Women’s Retreat March for Life Sponsored by Espiritu Santo St. Augustine Bus Trip & St. Catherine of Siena Saturday, January 18, 2020 February 28 – March 1, 2020 Join people of different faiths, backgrounds and ages from around the The Emmaus Retreat is based on the Gospel of state. One-mile march through beautiful Luke 24:13-35. This retreat is led by laywomen downtown St. Augustine ends with the like you who have struggled with all those keynote speaker in the cathedral same questions about life and God. This retreat square. The Diocese will be offering a offers an opportunity to encounter or rediscover bus trip for the cost of $40/adults and Jesus in our lives. You can’t really describe the $20/children (includes boxed lunch). Bus Emmaus experience; you must simply will pick up at St. Catherine of Siena experience it yourself! Parish in Clearwater and at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Seffner. For more For more information contact Shirl Mederlet information contact the Office of Life, at (727)-831-1451 – [email protected] Justice and Advocacy, 727-344- or Kathy Wood at (813) 600-8611 – 1611; [email protected]. Registration and [email protected] itinerary available at: https:// www.dosp.org/life/.
W Estate Planning Power of Attorney, Wills, Trusts Wollinka, Wollinka Trinity Office: 727-937-4177 W Elder Law Medicaid, Probate, Guardianship & Doddridge, P.L. Palm Harbor Office: 727-781-5444 & Real Estate Law Contracts, Closings, Title Ins. D Before you decide to hire the lawyer to whom you are referred, ask that lawyer for written information about that lawyer’s qualifications and experience. Attorneys at Law • Est. 1971 www.wollinka.com Specializing in hearing, dizziness, and balance disorders. Steve Ward Let us help you hear at Church with the hearing loop through your t-coil! (727) 372-1130 For all your insurance needs, Kelly Hansen, Au.D. you are in good hands with Allstate. www.trinityhearingandbalance.com 2439 Country Pl Blvd Ste 103 • Trinity, FL 34655 Doctor of Audiology 8605 Easthaven Ct #101, New Port Richey, FL 34655 727-862-6609
5228 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, FL 34652 (727) 845-1957 www.michels-lundquist.com
MORGANFuneral Home Since The Beginning Years Of St. Thomas When Morning Mass Was Held At Our Funeral Home We Have Been Honored To Serve Parish Families David T. Wenk, MD ABIM Board Certified: George B. Morgan The Kaduk Family 847-3999 Chris Kaduk Founder & Parishioner 6025 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey FL 34653 Owner/Funeral Director Medical Oncology • Hematology • Internal Medicine Pedro J. Martinez, D.M.D. 8763 River Crossing Boulevard, New Port Richey, FL 34655 (727) 842.8411 • fax: (727) 847.2923 John Klawikofsky, Esq. 8532 Old County Rd. 54 Parishioner Greenbrook Plaza FLCancer.com/Wenk FREE CONSULTATION Ask for John K New Port Richey, FL 34653 727-372-9669 • www.PedroMartinezDMD.com $100 off your first dental treatment For Auto Codes: 105, 210, 1110. Adult Cash Patients Only. Life Care Center of New Port Richey Excellence in Rehab! Post-Acute Skilled Nursing | Short-Term Rehabilitation 7400 Trouble Creek Road • New Port Richey, FL 34653 • Physical Therapy • Speech Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Nursing Care • State of the Art Equipment Phone: (727) 375-2999 • www.lifecarecenterofnewportrichey.com Since 1983
LET US PLACE YOUR 8526 Old Country Rd. 54 AD HERE. 727-376-4800 |Carmelitas.net Parishioners $5 OFF Any Purchase $30 or more Present ad for validation. Exp. 3-31-20 Foot & Ankle Medical Center STACEY’S HAIR CO. 727-389-0921 David M. Allen, D.P.M. 9822 US Hwy 19N • Pt Richey, FL 34668 Podiatric Medicine & Surgery Wig & Hair Replacement Specialist 5141 Deer Park Dr. Ste 1-C • New Port Richey, FL 34653 Experienced in All Phases of Styling & Coloring THIS SPACE IS (727) 847-2406 ANN BAKE - Parishioner law offices of James J. Altman, sr. Robert Nicholas Altman & Thomas Patrick Altman Specializing In Estate Planning & Real Estate $10.00 Off Synthetic Oil Change 5614 Grand Boulevard, New Port Richey (727) 848-8435 www.manciniauto.com | 727-376-5944 For ad info. call 1-866-651-2111 • www.4lpi.com 16-0034