Saint Thomas the Apostle Church “Lord, You Have Come to the Seashore….”

Saint Thomas the Apostle Church “Lord, You have come to the Seashore….”

331 8th Street So. Brigantine, NJ 08203

May 24th, 2020 Ascension of Our Lord

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE! Help us reach our goal of 1000 subscribers to our YOUTUBE page. (Instructions on Page 4)

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC & PASTOR: Fr. Edward Maher LITURGY: Mary Jane Kelso, [email protected] PAROCHIAL VICAR: Fr. Jose Thomas FAITH FORMATION & MASS SCHEDULE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

PERMANENT DEACON: Deacon Len Long & Deb Widmann SUNDAY 9:30AM Deacon Len Long OFFICE MANAGER: LIVE STREAM ONLY Jane Staunton PARISH OFFICE HOURS [email protected] 609-266-2123, ext. 3 [email protected] BULLETIN & WEBSITE EDITOR: CONFESSION Barb Cawley Closed for onsite assistance. [email protected] Phone Ext. 102 All business is being DEADLINE- Monday 10:00AM By Appointment ONLY conducted by phone or ASSUMPTION REGIONAL email. CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Galloway, 609-652-7134 www.arcs.org Principal: Joan Dollinger

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WELCOME TO ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE PARISH Mass Intentions

To Schedule Baptisms & Weddings Ascension of Our Lord Please call the Parish Office. Saturday May 23

Religious Education 8:30AM Brother Mattis by Roy Sutton CCD Class is now in session. They meet every 4:00PM Jane Kozub by MaryJane & Joe Kelso Monday from 4:00pm - 5:15pm at BCS. Please Anna Kahmar by Dot & Tom Park register at the Parish Office. We also have special programs for children and adults who would like to Sunday May 24 (Ascension of Our Lord) become Catholic or complete their sacraments.

8:00AM Joseph & Florence Conti by Schailey Family Care of the Sick Thomas Milhous by Angie Cucinotta The Parish Office may be called any time for the 9:30AM Theresa DiOrio by Philomena Arena Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. A Priest or Maria Donatucci Marciano by Cindy & Joe Eucharistic Minister will administer the Eucharist to 11:00AM Maiorano those who are homebound, Our local hospitals also Fr. Bill Vandegrift by Sheila Daily (40th Anniversary have a catholic priest available. of Ordination)

Altar Flowers Alexander Chowanec by Lynne & Bob Flanagan This is a nice way to remember your loved ones. The Monday May 25 donation is $50. 8:30AM Albert Mostrangeli, Richard Miele and Donald Prayer Petition Book Browning by Richard & Theresa Coppola is located in the vestibule of the Church. The book will be carried up to the sanctuary during the Tuesday May 26 Offertory Procession on Sunday. If the Mass you are attending is being requested by you or a family 8:30AM Dominic Tallone by Family member, and you wish to participate in the Offertory Procession, please see the ushers before Mass Wednesday May 27 begins. 8:30AM Victor Kozub by Tom & Dot Park

Thursday May 28 8:30AM Frank & Catherine by Anne Grove Friday May 29 “Helping People Anonymously” This ministry is available to anyone in 8:30AM Barbara Keller by Roger & DoAnn Bernhammer Brigantine who feels overwhelmed by Saturday May 30 financial burdens and needs a helping 8:30AM Joseph Rauscher by Turzanski Family hand. If you are in need of assistance, an 4:00PM Anthony & Irene Masino by Joe Maiorano application from the Parish Office must be Virginia Moore by Betty Lloyd & Mary Bew completed first. The application is anonymous and if approved, short-term Sunday May 31(Pentecost Sunday) help will be provided. Please call the 8:00AM Therese Connell by Anthony & Deb Phillips Parish Office for more information. Thomas Milhous by George & Nancy Novasack 9:30AM Domenic & Lenora Maiorano by Joe Maiorano Edward Mowen by Kathy & Bill Bennett 11:00 AM Victor Kozub by Mary & Nick Dolores Stella by St. Thomas Music Ministry

In Memory of :

Sue Lenahan by Linda

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A Letter from Fr. Ed

Dear Parishioners, I frequently run into people and they tell me they really miss church. They ask “when are we going to reopen fully”? Governor Murphy has the State of Emergency up until at least June 6th. We are hoping it will be shortly after that, but we don’t know. We are working on plans as to how we will reopen when we get the go ahead. There WILL BE many changes that will take place. It does not look like we will be able to use the North School for Mass this summer. To make up for that, we will have another Mass in church, if not two. We will keep you updated on all of our plans. We will be needing a lot of Liturgical ministers and other volunteers. With God’s help it will work out. On May 24th, Father Bill would have celebrated his 40th Anniversary of his priesthood, so let us remember this special man. In many ways he was a gem! It was not easy for him entering the seminary when he was older. He had to study 8 years before becoming a priest. I didn’t see Fr. Bill as a book person, that made it even harder. However, I always thought he had a street knowledge and a good understanding of human nature. He used that well. I mentioned many times how valuable Fr. Bill was for me before I entered the seminary and during the time I spent with him at St. Mary’s in Kentucky. In a similar way, he was helpful for me right before I came here and for a few months when he was still alive. He was so happy that I would be the new pastor. Fr. Bill did such a good job here, especially with all the renovations. We have all benefited from that work. He had a good sense of humor, he was certainly a fun person. It’s not easy replacing a good pastor, but it has not been a problem here. The main reason is because of your acceptance and support of me. I am so grateful for that. I often think of Fr. Bill and frequently thank him in my prayers. We were blessed. We have now begun our 2020 House of Charity Appeal. Some may feel it is not a good time to ask for money, but the needs are even greater now due to COVID-19. If you are unable to give, I certainly understand! Our assigned goal is $101,264. We will not be having the in pew donations for a while. I am hoping we will be half way to our goal by then. The theme of this year’s appeal is “Who Is My Neighbor?” As a pastor, I have been directly involved with the House of Charity in three different parishes. I found last year’s campaign to be one of the most uplifting of them all. It was a total team effort. So many people wanted us to succeed and did something about it. As a result, we made our goal and helped so many of our neighbors. We made their lives less sad! Let’s strive to make the goal again.

God Bless, Fr. Ed

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Food Bank at Presbyterian Church The food bank at the Presbyterian Church is Open. Pick up is Wednesdays, 9:00am, as

long as you register Monday or Tuesday by On line giving is simple, secure and convenient. 12noon by calling 609-266-7942 Log on to St. Thomas the Apostle website: www.stthomasbrigantine.org and click on the Parish Giving logo. Follow the easy registration instructions.

May 17th Offertory…..$ 3,873.00 E-Giving………...……..$1,355.00 Food Bank We appreciate any financial support you can give Call to reserve pickup time: during these precedent times, and understand if 609-345-3448 you can not. Donations can be made by mail or online giving. Thank you for your support.  Distributions include non-perishables

 Please call us as early as possible before the distribution date so that we can make arrange- ments for the number of boxes we’ll prepare

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK  Please wear a mask

Sally Alaburda Denise Kolenovic  Drive-through style pick up. Please stay in your Maryann Atack Madeline Harvey James Cappiello Davin McCloskey car. Staff will place food box(es) in your trunk. Louis Cassano Juliette McNamee (baby) Derek Caster Sandra Ruth Montemarano When: 2nd & 4th Fridays (6/12, 6/26) Louis Constantino Carole Mooney Time: 1:30pm - 3:30pm Jim Covert George Munger James Daly Harry Nugent Where: 9 N. Georgia Ave. Atlantic City, NJ Patrice Daniels Caleb O’Brien (baby) Domenic Delia Ellen O’Brien Joan DiBona Francesca Orlando Adele Dwyer Kim Price David Emmons Donna Rogers Pat Foidl Chris Smith CORONA VIRUS DIRECTIVES Dolly Frederico Loretta Smtih Robert Gentile Lori Taranto, OSF All Masses, “weekend and daily” are temporarily sus- MacLan Golden (baby) Carol Terranova pended. Fr. Ed and Fr. Jose will be celebrating private Jodi Haiduc Leonard Thress masses and will take care of the Mass Intentions. Jack Imfeld Michael Thress Joe Kelso Kim Urban For more information please visit the parish website at: Cheryl Kenney Joseph Vassalluzzo www.stthomasbrigantine.org or for information regarding live streamed Masses in the area Please Remember All The Military or by Bishop Sullivan please visit the diocese in Your Prayers website at www.camdendiocese.org 2nd Lt. Robert Glanville, USMC Keep praying and looking after one another. Sgt. Taylor DeMers, Maj. Jeffrey Moon, USAF, Lt. Connor F. Burbridge, US Army WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS Capt. Matt Valnoski, US Army, Cpl. Ronald DeWaal, USMC, Cpl. Tristen T. Barry, USMC Sgt. Matt Krimm, US Army

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4-26-2020 With a message of hope on the Third Sunday of Easter, Father Ed Maher launches a new parish YouTube Channel to bring Mass to the Masses virtually. The new channel will have all the live streamed Masses uploaded for parishioners to view. St. Thomas the Apostle Church would like to reach 1000 subscribers to be able to stream live to the channel. Please go HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel and share the good news with your friends and neighbors. Please check our Parish Website frequently for updates. (During these uncertain times, we can continue to stay connected to our faith through the many technologies available to us. Many of our Brigantine residents may not have access to Facebook but may have a smart TV with internet access which would allow you to watch Mass on YouTube though the TV. ) YouTube Channel: St. Thomas the Apostle Church of Brigantine, NJ Follow these simple steps to Subscribe to our Parish YouTube channel 1. Open the YouTube app or go to m.youtube.com. 2. Sign in to YouTube. 3. If you're on the Home tab: Below the video whose channel you want to subscribe to, tap the channel icon. Tap Subscribe. 4. If you're watching a video whose channel you want to subscribe to: Below the video, tap Subscribe

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2020 APPEAL: “WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?”

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And, the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” These words of Jesus remind us to love and support our neighbors in their time of need. Now more than ever our neighbors need our love and support! Due to COVID-19 the number of those in need is rapidly increasing and it is critical that the House of Charity has the ability to support them. Some may wonder how we can ask for funds at this time, and yet we realize that we must ask, as the ministries below and many more need our help! For those that are capable, we ask that you consider supporting the House of Charity – Bishop’s Annual Appeal, together we can con- tinue to help our neighbors.

SOCIAL, COMMUNITY AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Your generosity provides services through Catholic Charities offices in each county of South Jersey. In addition, the Hospital Chaplaincy Program of VITALity Healthcare Services provides spiritual and emotional support to hospital- ized patients, their families and the staff of the hospitals served in South Jersey. There are many more that have found themselves so suddenly in need that can use our help.

EVANGELIZATION AND FAITH FORMATION

Lay leadership training, intercultural ministries, ministry with the deaf and persons with disabilities, marriage enrich- ment, adult faith formation, liturgical catechesis and other evangelization efforts, along with your gifts, kindle the fire of faith into a bright beacon for all to see. This is critical because mankind is thirstier for spiritual guidance in these trying times.

YOUTH, YOUNG ADULT AND CAMPUS MINISTRIES

Your donation enables programs like Summer in the City, Catholic Scouting, Theology on Tap, college campus min- istries and Newman Centers, and support for a growing number of parish-based Youth Ministry programs and many more activities to build community and prepare our youth and young adults for the mission that God has chosen for them. It is important that our youth and young adults are able to continue to grow in their faith in these trying times.

VOCATIONS, SEMINARIAN & PERMANENT DIACONATE FORMATION, CARE OF PRIESTS

Your support ensures that pastors and clergy continue to bring the light of Jesus into the world. Through prayers and support, we currently have 16 seminarians studying for the priesthood in the Diocese of Camden.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION – “FORMING MINDS AND HEARTS IN GRACE”

Catholic schools are an integral part of the teaching mission of the Church. Catholic schools build faith, develop leadership ability and provide academic excellence in a safe environment. Your gift will help provide children with an education that supports Catholic values, develops character and provides academic excellence.

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