No Doubt May 2012 ~ Volume 1 ~ Issue 1 NEWSLETTER OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH From Father Jim Fr. Jim Kuczynski has been referred to as the “Doubting thinking that you would like to be a part Thomas.” It was not that he did not of this project by sharing something have faith in the Risen Jesus, it was more about your experience of parish life Welcome to the first a desire on his part to have “no doubt” at St. Thomas, or about sharing in edition of our St. Thomas the Apostle as he put his hands into the wounds of the many ministries and activities of Newsletter! I am very pleased you are the crucified and risen Lord. He had a our St. Thomas Community. You taking the time to learn more about the personal encounter with the Lord and can reach out to any member of the people, the groups, and the activities he believed. newsletter staff to help work on future that constitute our parish life here at In each edition you can expect newsletters. St. Thomas. to find: The number one goal for the ~Updates on our efforts to build a new “NO DOUBT” is one of the newsletter is to improve communication church means that can help us to become throughout our faith community. As your ~What’s happening in our multitude better engaged with each other and in pastor, one of the most regular refrains of ministries the mission of our parish community. I hear from parishioners is, “I didn’t ~Photos of events and parishioners “NO DOUBT” = Conviction. May know that!” “NO DOUBT” can be ~Meet a Family Feature this new instrument of communication one step toward addressing this. ~Learn more about our priests help us to share the convictions of You may wonder why we have ~Inspirational Articles and more. our faith, and the convictions of our titled this “NO DOUBT” --- Our I’m hopeful that once you have discipleship and service among this patron, St. Thomas the Apostle, often enjoyed this first edition you may be faith community we know and love. Archbishop seals teens with Holy Spirit’s gifts Photo courtesy of St. Thomas Flickr Archbishop Wilton Gregory con- firmed 49 teens at St. Thomas on March 18. Please pray for the newly confirmed, that they daily stir up the gifts of the Holy Spirit within them. In this issue To view the newsletter online go to: www.stthomastheapostle.org/communications/newsletter CHURCH PROGRESS MINISTRIES GETTING TO KNOW Moving Forward in Hope -2 SVdP -4 Russells & Lovellos -7 SPIRITUAL LIFE Feeding the Hungry -5 Our Priests -8 Reality of Eucharist -3 Marriage Encounter -6 CHURCH PROGRESS 2 Building Our New Church MFIH Capital Campaign might continue to move on the brick sales are being forward with this vital considered at this time Newsletter staff Committee campaign to build a new In the near future church. The committee a letter from our pastor As of this week, discussed a program to will be sent out to those Fr. Jim Kuczynski the pledges made to our help parishioners develop who have not yet pledged, Gus Scannapieco “Moving Forward In a deeper relationship appealing to their sacrificial Hope” campaign stand with the Lord: through giving possibilities to further Yeyme Reyes at $3,162,000; a total that Evangelization Retreats, help the campaign. We Andrew McGovern continues to fluctuate follow-up efforts based need everyone who can slightly with pledges upon the results of our to participate in this most being added and some Gallup survey and related important endeavor of our Jerry Sweeney pledges being reduced by stewardship efforts to name parish. Jose Ocana parishioners who move out a few options. We feel the In addition, there of the parish. These updates more faithful we are, the has been continued activity Sue Bunda are posted weekly in the more we will be willing to to acquire the home adjacent Jim Hagan parish bulletin. Of the total support God’s work in our to the church. We have amount pledged, we have parish community, including presented an offer that to Lauren Russell thus far received payments the need for more space date has not been accepted. Maxine Thurman of $937,000. With our goal which would be substantially Also, we are in the process for our building campaign at addressed with the building of acquiring additional land Copy Editor $5,000,000, it is important of a new church. adjacent to the rear parking to point out that in order to In May 2012, we lot for more parking which Yolanda Rodriguez commence construction of plan to reintroduce the is needed at some weekend Layout a new church, we must have sale of Memorial Garden masses. Patricia VanBuren collected at least one half of bricks. Each brick sells for If you have any Kristina McGovern the stated goal, an amount $200. With 9,832 bricks still questions, please contact of $2,500,000. remaining to be purchased, Gus Scannapieco, our Recently, the MFIH there is a potential for Parish Administrator, at committee met to discuss $1,960,000 toward the 404-234-0034(direct line.) where we are and how we campaign. Various programs SPIRITUAL LIFE 3 The True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist Andrew McGovern can say that we are searching for truth? and my blood is true drink.” (Jn.. 6:55) Youth Minister We are always on a quest to find what Now we take this discourse in is true and right for our lives, much like John’s Gospel and we relate it to the As Catholics, we believe that the people who heard Christ. Last supper narrative in the Synoptic the bread and the wine that we see at Christ’s answer to these people Gospels and we see the Eucharistic Mass are transformed into the Body proclaims, “I am the bread of life.” (Jn. Tradition in all of its beauty. “And He and Blood of Jesus Christ. If we stop 6:35) The people are asking and Jesus took bread, and when He had given to think about it, how can this happen? is telling them that what they are asking thanks He broke it and gave it to them Many Protestant Churches for is right in front of them. Jesus is saying ‘This is my body which is given have a more symbolic understanding using the words “I AM” He is telling for you.” (Lk.. 21:19) of the Eucharist as a remembrance of these people that He is what they are Christ is saying that it IS His Christ rather than the Real Presence looking for. He is not saying “I have body given for us. When I introduce of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is the bread” or “I can get you the bread” my wife to people, I say “this IS my true that the Eucharist is a memorial He is saying that “I am the bread.” wife, Kristina.” When I say this, I’m of Christ’s suffering and death and A little further down in the not saying this is kind of like my wife ultimately His glorious resurrection. text in verse 51 Christ tells the people, or she represents my wife. I’m saying But it is so much more than a memorial. “I am the LIVING bread… and the that she IS my wife. This is the same It is the BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, and bread which I shall give for the life for Jesus. This IS His body, not a DIVINITY of Jesus Christ. Some of the world is my flesh.” (Jn. 6:51) symbol or a representation. Recent polls taken in the United States Christ takes the bread statement a step Christ has given His apostles tell us that only 30% or 3 out of 10 further. He is saying that the bread that the power to change the bread and Catholic Americans believe in the Real He is, isn’t just regular bread, it is Living wine into His Body and Blood. This Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Bread and that it is truly His flesh. Eucharistic action occurs at every Mass This is a very sad statistic. Now at this, the people went through the power of the Holy Spirit, To find the truth of the into a rage. To eat the flesh of a man the bread and the wine, become the Eucharist, we need to open to the was detestable a punishable by death Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Gospel of John, Chapter 6, verses according to the Law. Christ had every When we are in communion 22-59. I encourage you to read the chance to clarify and tell them, “Don’t with Christ and each other in the whole text, but in this article we will worry, it’s only a sign.” Instead He Eucharist, do we appreciate the concentrate on certain verses. said, “Truly, truly, I say to you unless gift given to us? Do we stay after Let’s look at verse 35 to begin. you eat the flesh of the Son of Man Communion to give thanks to Jesus The people that Christ is talking to and drink His blood, you have no life for the gift He just gave us? We have to are asking for the bread of life. They within you.” (Jn. 6:53) Christ takes it a remember that Judas left the Mass early are searching for eternal life, they are step further and tells them exactly what too, after taking the Body and Blood searching for truth.