May 2, 2021 Page 1 May 2, 2021

Page 2 Fifth Sunday of Easter

Stewardship Thoughts A Note From Fifth Sunday of Easter

Today, in the Gospel from St. John the Evangelist, Jesus Our Pastor professes, I am the vine, you are the branches. In this beautiful imagery, Jesus represents the vine that produces FIRST COMMUNION the gift of life and salvation for His beloved disciples, the branches. In his First Letter, St. John urges us to follow On behalf of the entire STM family, I want to extend Christ’s directives and live in Him by loving one another. In SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to the boys and girls who the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul shows us that faithful received their First Holy Communion today, and to their disciples are not afraid to witness in the name of the Lord. parents who are seeing to their religious education! It is my Jesus invites us into a personal relationship with Him earnest prayer that they always find comfort and strength through the Eucharist. If we open our hearts to this whenever they approach the Lord’s table in the years invitation, our joy cannot be contained. In turn, we will ahead. We are very proud of them (and their parents, too). spread this joy by proclaiming Jesus to those we encounter, As we welcome them to God’s altar, let us pray that they planting seeds to bear “good fruit” for the Kingdom. Please will always have a deep reverence and love for Jesus in the remember to share your love of the Lord with those you Holy Eucharist. meet. The following is a beautiful prayer we can all say for the special boys and girls who today receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time.

“Lord Jesus, bless all those who are receiving you in Holy Communion for the first time. May each one of them know your love and mercy in a personal way. May all your people open their hearts to receive you and that they might be transformed by your love. Amen.”

Have a wonderful week and please find a place for me in your prayers.

Msgr. Tom Rice

Readings for the Week of May 2, 2021

Sunday Fifth Sunday of Easter Congratulations to Acts 9:26-31; Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32; Our First Communicants 1 Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8

May 2, 2021 Monday Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles 1 Cor 15:1-8; Ps 19:2-3, 4-5; Jn 14:6-14

Maggie Bastien Tuesday Acts 14:19-28; Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21; Jn 14:27-31a Lily Belanger Wednesday Acts 15:1-6; Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5; Andrew Borschke Jn 15:1-8

Jacob Darovitz Thursday Acts 15:7-21; Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10; Hannah Jackson Jn 15:9-11

Miyah Lin Friday Acts 15:22-31; Ps 57:8-9, 10 and 12; Jn 15:12-17 Mary Rose Macknis Saturday Acts 16:1-10; Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 5; Jn 15:18-21

Zuliette Marsh Sunday Sixth Sunday of Easter Maxwell Pollak Acts 10:25-26; 34-35, 44-48; Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4; 1 Jn 4:7-10; Jn 15:9-17 Parker Schick

May 2, 2021 Page 3 Prayers in our Parish

THIS WEEK’S EUCHARIST INTENTIONS THIS WEEK’S PRAYER INTENTIONS

Saturday May 1 PRAY FOR THE SICK

4:30p Abby Schorer—Special Intention Rosanne Bishop Nancy Heffernan Fina Schorer & Family—Special Intention

Maurine Brennan Brian Hennessy Sunday May 2 Bill Budowick Traci Johnson 8:30a Carl Cook—16th Anniversary Tom Cavanaugh Jonathan Medved

11:30a Amy Thomson Martha Demerly Kathy Mills

Matthew DeVos Simona Paul Haley Thomson

Peggy DeVos Nicholas Rinehart Msgr. Tom Rice—Special Intention

Shane DeVos Joe Sokolowski

Wednesday May 5 Shellysee Girouard Helen Walczak

9:00a Robert Bell Linda Gostomski Angela Yandura

Joseph Chick—29th Anniversary Darlene Haz

Veronica Chick—Birthday Remembrance

Donald & Dorothy Maladecki—60th PRAY FOR THE DECEASED Wedding Anniversary Our deepest sympathy and prayers to the family of: Saturday May 8 † Carol Black—friend of Martha Whiting 4:30p Sharon Rice—Special Intention Terry Statz—Special Intention † Dora Gaudino—mother of Gene Gaudino † William McPhail—husband of Charlotte McPhail, Sunday May 9 father of Carol Glowacki 8:30a Irene Bennick † Lillian Moran—mother of Karen Moran Marion Debolski Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; Let them rest Doris Zink from their labors for their good deeds go with them.” 11:30a Diane Chick Veronica Chick

Eileen Clements Lillian Frieda Moran Edna Crookston John M. Peteuil Died on April 19, 2021 Shirley Watson Buried from St. Thomas More Martha Wrobel On April 24, 2021

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. Amen

PRAY FOR THE MILITARY

Major Matthew Altomari M1st Class Megan Jamison SSgt. Cory Borders ENS Julia Jermstad Lt. Andrew Boschert Lt. Christopher Mitek Major Phil Brule OS2 Emily Muhlenbeck Sgt. Maj. Patrick Corcoran Airman 1st Class Calen Nido 24 Hour Prayer Line Capt. Joel Cortright Senior Airman Grant Pensa ENS Michael Dwyer LTjg. Bradley Pienta The Nuns of the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament have initiated a 24 Hour Prayer Line. 1st Lt. Michael Ehlen Capt. Nick Pollock Major Charles Evans Spc. Jack Steinhauer The Sisters are attentive to begin the Spc. Evan K. Fowler Sgt. Kyle Stout requested prayers promptly—248-626-8253 2nd Lt. Theresa Corsentino Capt. Ben VanHorrick SSgt. Daniel F. Jamison Lt. Adam Weisgerber or email [email protected]

Page 4 Fifth Sunday of Easter In our Parish

Online Giving

THANK YOU! Please visit the St. Thomas More website

(https://stthomasmoretroy.org) and look for

the “Donate” logo to give online. You may Our annual baby shower for LifeSpan (April 17 & 18) was give one-time or set up a recurring donation to the parish the most successful of all! and our STM St. Vincent de Paul.

Thank you to all parishioners who gave gifts and money so Thank you for your continued generosity and support! generously to our Right-to-Life, Lifespan Baby Shower. The outfits, clothes, blankets, baby items, equipment, and money were so very appreciated by Wee Care, Crossroads Care Center, and Crossroads of Michigan.

Many thanks, also, to Elaine Kruse, Besty Loock, Chris Reynaert, and Martha Whiting who helped sort and pack

the items for distribution to the agencies. Special thanks to “our” Lois who made the banner and set up the display, Jail Outreach Ministry

and Kathy, who did all the bulletin articles and flyers. A big “thank you” to all who contributed to JOM’s Easter

From LifeSpan: We Love Life! PPE collection! We delivered several boxes of hand sanitizer, masks, antiseptic wipes, and gloves to JOM for Anne Byrne, distribution to their clients. STM LifeSpan Rep In May, JOM is coordinating cleaning supplies to distribute

to their clients in need. These supplies will be given to

former jail inmates living in temporary apartments or

rooms. These are people who are trying to get re-

established in society. Many are starting with nothing after

being released from jail. The parish directories will be on the counter again in the Gathering Area next weekend, May 8 & 9. Directories are Our “ask” for the month of May is plastic pails, heavy duty labeled with your name and are in alphabetical order. If scrub sponges, Ty D Bowl toilet bowl cleaner, and there is not a directory with your name on it – it means you Awesome laundry detergent. These are all items that can did not complete the Parish Information Form or let us be purchased at the Dollar Tree store.

know if you want to be in the directory - but you can A bin will be in the Gathering Area for donations. As always, receive one by contacting the parish office. Thank you. thank you all, for your ongoing support of this ministry!

MINISTERS FOR MASS—SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER—MAY 8 & 9, 2021 MASS TIME 4:30 PM Saturday 8:30 AM Sunday 11:30 AM Sunday CELEBRANT Msgr. Tom Rice Fr. Peter Ryan Msgr. Tom Rice DEACON Don Baross Michael Stach Don Baross READER Phil Kotwick Joe Widina Chuck Moss SERVERS Marcus Lee Randy Skala Riley Logan USHERS Cary Sheremet John Gielniak Zack Azzam Ernesto Tuazon Gerry Gostomski George Halter Jim Ward Dan Hayden Marvin Olane Mike Morrison Mark Parent Frank Sikorski Mike Tauscher MASS COORD. Cary Sheremet Larry Jeziorski Zack Azzam

May 2, 2021 Page 5 Unleash the Gospel Stewardship EVANGELIZATION TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE

Finding Peace in Jesus in the Acts of the Apostles Stewardship Reflections by John Hannigan Fifth Sunday of Easter

Continuing to reflect on the Acts of the Apostles, we hear Our readings today teach us what it means to bear fruit as today “The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and disciples of Christ. We hear in each of our readings that it is Samaria was at peace” (Acts 9:31). That sounds great! But from the Lord that good effects will be produced in our how can that inspire us as joyful missionary disciples today lives. when we see division among Christians, unfaithfulness, In our first reading, we hear about squabbling among bishops, and complaining and open disciples that were preaching the Good defiance of the Church? News and defending the faith. The work The fact is, beyond antagonism of non-believers, the they were doing was “with the early Church in Acts had the same internal conflicts and consolation of the Holy Spirit.” It was failings as today. “There arose no little dissension and not their work alone, but the work of debate” (15:2), complaining (6:1), and “sharp God. disagreement” (15:39) among disciples. There was fear (5:11), deception (5:1-9), desertion (15:38), factionalism We must ask ourselves, ‘how is God among ethnic groups (6:1), and even attempted murder bearing fruit in my life?’ and ‘have I invited the Holy Spirit (9:29). Apostles argued whether Gentiles could follow Jesus to work in me?’ The more we try to produce good effects in (11:2-3), and if so, whether they must be circumcised and our lives, the more we will become disappointed if all we follow dietary laws (10:45; 15:5; 21:21). Amidst all this, are relying on is our own efforts. It is only by inviting the where, then, did the disciples find a church “at peace”? Holy Spirit into our everyday moments that we will see goodness poured out. Answer: in Jesus. In the one who said “Peace be with you” at their reunion after the Resurrection. This peace was Jesus clearly tells us how to do this in our Gospel. He says, found in Christ to whom the disciples dedicated their lives “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in (e.g., 15:26). Peter “proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, me and I in him will bear much fruit.” We can remain in who is Lord of all” (10:36). Disciples “believe that we are Christ by staying faithful to His commandments and saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus” (15:11). When frequently receiving the sacraments. And our day to day they learned that Gentiles“ came to believe in the Lord moments should be a reflection of those commitments.

Jesus Christ … they stopped objecting” to them (11:17-18). That could mean opening our day with a prayer of In Unleash the Gospel, Archbishop Vigneron recognizes thanksgiving, smiling at those we see on the street, asking that among our “bad habits” today are complaining, and God for help as we begin our workday, praising God in fear … of change, of failure, and of going beyond our moments of trial, taking time to listen to our spouse after a comfort zone (§3.4). Yet just like the early Church, we find long day. To remain in Christ means, in all that we do, we peace by keeping our Eyes Fixed on Jesus, returning to him, do it with the Lord. and letting our “hearts be captured by him” (Guidepost 2). When we live a life like that — as a branch never separated We may be disheartened by discord and disappointed in from its vine — God will produce bountiful fruit in our our Church, but “whenever we feel spiritually fatigued, lives. arid, or battle-worn, it is this return to our first love” to Jesus Christ, “...that lifts us up again and revives our hearts” (Marker 2.1). Like the first disciples, we are at peace in meeting Jesus in his Word, in fellowship, and especially in the breaking of bread “with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:42-45). Let us be at peace together before the Eucharist, before what Pope Benedict called the source and summit of the Church’s life and mission.

Comments/Questions? [email protected]

St. Thomas More Parish Directory 4580 Adams Rd., Troy, MI 48098

PARISH OFFICES: 248-647-2222 FAX: 248-647-8192 FAITH FORMATION: 248-647-4680

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Closed for lunch 12:30 to 1:00 pm

[email protected] www.stthomasmoretroy.org

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday, 4:30 pm Sunday, 8:30 am and 11:30 am Wednesday, 9:00 am Holy Days: 9:00 am and 7:00 pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday at 3:00 pm

PASTORAL STAFF FAITH FORMATION Monsignor Thomas G. Rice, Pastor Josylin Mateus, Director 248-647-2222 x. 1111 248-647-4680 x.5533 [email protected] Weekend Mass Assistance Fr. Robert Spezia Ella Prendi, Secretary 248-647-4680 x.5544 Deacon Don Baross [email protected] 248-647-2222 x. 8888 [email protected] SOCIAL MEDIA Debbie Knauss, Website and Facebook WORSHIP and CHRISTIAN SERVICE [email protected] Deacon Michael Stach, Pastoral Associate 248-647-2222 x. 5555 MAINTENANCE [email protected] Ben Olar Pete Whiting MUSIC MINISTRY 248 -647-2222 x. 4422 Brian Foos, Director 248 -647-2222 x. 4444 [email protected]

PARISH OFFICE Lois Sokolowski, Business Manager 248-647-2222 x. 7777 [email protected]

Kathy Strong, Parish Secretary/Bulletin 248-647-2222 x. 3311 [email protected]