SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 — TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville, IL 60563 | 630.355.8980 (Main Office) | 630.305.6318 (Religious Education) | 630.355.0521 (Fax) Office Hours: 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, Monday–Thursday; 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Friday email to [email protected] or visit us at www.stapostle.org Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet-in-Illinois • Most. Rev. Richard E. Pates, Apostolic Administrator Parish Staff Priests in Residence Sacrament of Reconciliation: Reconciliation is Rev. Philip Danaher, Pastor, x102, [email protected] available Saturday, 3:30 to 4:15 pm, in the Reconciliation Rev. Joseph Kappilumakkal, CMI, Parochial Vicar, x103, [email protected] Room of the Chapel. Our priests are available during the Priests Assisting on Weekends week by appointment. Communal Penance services are Rev. Bob Colaresi, O. Carm., Weekend Associate, [email protected] held occasionally during the year. Rev. Matt Lorenz, Senior Vicar, Archdiocese of Chicago In the Hospital or Home Bound: Call the Church Office Permanent Deacons to receive prayer/Eucharist from a priest, deacon or Michael (Kathryn) Barrett — 630.355.8980, x145, [email protected] Minister of Care. Jim (Mary Jo) Breen — 630.486.3133, [email protected] Joe (Carolyn) Cuzzone — 630.355.8980, x224, [email protected] Baptism: Baptisms are usually celebrated two to three Larry (Susan) Kearney — 630.355.8980, x225, [email protected] Sundays each month at a 12:45 pm service. On selected Chuck (Sue) Lane — 630.355.8980, x223, [email protected] dates, baptisms are celebrated during weekend Mass. Patrick (Mary Jo) Lennon — 630.901.3223, [email protected] Parents are required to attend a Baptismal awareness and Liturgy and Music renewal session prior to the Baptism. Call Kathy Ferguson Jim Clauer, Director of Liturgy and Music, x111, [email protected] in the Church Office a few months in advance to make Samantha Delke, Associate Director of Liturgy and Music, x120, [email protected] arrangements. Faith Formation Margie Marshall, Principal at All Saints Catholic Academy, 630.961.6125 Matrimony: A couple planning on being married at Lorraine Katz, Director of Religious Education, x109, [email protected] St. Thomas should contact the church six months in Peggy Goralski, Director of Middle School Faith Formation, x123, [email protected] advance. One year is preferred. Either the bride or groom, Dorothy Grantham, Director of Youth/Young Adult Ministry, x117, [email protected] or their parents, must be a registered parishioner at least Chari Rosales, Director of Adult Education and RCIA, x138, [email protected] three months before setting a date. Call Diane McQueen Marge Coronado, Faith Formation Administrative Assistant, x118, [email protected] to schedule. Outreach and Social Justice Religious Education: Call 630.305.6318 to register. Michael Ryder, Director of Outreach and Social Justice, x121, [email protected] Anne Schultz, OSJ Partner, x113, [email protected] RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults): Sally Meno, OSJ Associate, x137, [email protected] Any person wanting to learn more about the Catholic Pastoral Care Faith, or to join our Catholic community should call the Jan Olah, Director of Pastoral Care, x124 church at 630.355.8980. Felicia Lawlor,* Faith Community Nurse, x104, [email protected] Administration Counseling Service: Contact Jan Olah, Pastoral Care Janet Simmons, Finance/Business Officer, x106, [email protected] 630.355.8980, x124. Diane McQueen, Gen Office Administrative Asst., x101, [email protected] Kathy Ferguson, Gen Office Administrative Asst., x100, [email protected] Sunday Nursery: Nursery care is available for your Casey Braun,* Communications Coordinator, x110, [email protected] child age one (walking) to four at the 9:30 and 11:15 am Elizabeth Fisher,* Evening/Saturday Receptionist Masses. For more information call the church office. Mary Wright,* Evening/Saturday Receptionist Mary Derwinski,* Administration Asst., x143, [email protected] Our Outreach Twinning Parishes: Sue Sportiello,* Financial Asst., x143, [email protected] St. Thomas the Apostle has an ongoing twinning Marilyn DeMeo,* Database Coordinator (T/Th), x107, [email protected] relationship with the following parishes: Bob Hartmann,* Facility Manager, x133, [email protected] St. Marie Madeleine in Duchity, Haiti Parish Pastoral Council St. Agnes on the Lakota Indian Reservation, Barbara Mambu, Chair Alison Ohl Manderson, South Dakota Todd Galer Anne Scanlan St. Nicholas in Aurora, Illinois David Johanneson Commission Representatives Our Parish School: Linda Bailey, Service Deb Scheckel, Parish Life All Saints Catholic Academy Jeff Balsewicz, Worship Susan Wood O’Leary, Stewardship 1155 Aurora Ave Mary Beth Nagai, Faith Formation Naperville, IL 60540 630.961.6125 Ex-Officio Fr. Philip Danaher, Pastor Rev. Joseph Kappilumakkal, Parochial Vicar *indicates part-time staff 2 | September 20, 2020 St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church with fr danaher Dear Parish Family, Today’s first reading from Isaiah is one of the choices for a scripture reading during Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time a Penance Service. “Turn to the Lord for September 20, 2020 mercy; to our God, who is generous in Turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving. forgiving. For my thoughts are not your — Isaiah 55:7b thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” Liturgy Schedule Matthew’s gospel often contains the words, “This was to fulfill what was Daily said through the prophet…” when describing Jesus’ ministry. Certainly Mass: 8:30 am, Monday – Friday when the Son of God lived with us, He fulfilled the words from Isaiah; In addition, the St. Thomas Deacons record a Daily Prayer Service that Jesus’ thoughts and ways were not the same as the people with that is available to watch on demand at www.stapostle.org whom He lived, especially when it came to teaching about God’s mercy Weekend — Must sign up online to attend and forgiveness. In fact, we could say that Jesus’ teachings about mercy Saturday Mass of Anticipation: 4:30 pm and forgiveness made no sense at all, at least in our eyes. Sunday: 9:30 am For example, what kind of responsible shepherd would abandon 99 Both weekend Masses will also be livestreamed and available to sheep to look for one stray sheep? Yet, that’s the example Jesus used in watch on demand at www.stapostle.org His story of the Good Shepherd; that God will do His best to encourage Reconciliation one stray sinner to repent, and that there will be more rejoicing in St. Thomas offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who have no need of Saturday 4:30 pm Mass. Reconciliation will be from 3:30–4:15 repentance. pm in the Galilee Room. Please check the website for full details. Father Andrew Greeley once said that he would be very reluctant to place limits on God’s mercy. Those are the thoughts and ways of our God, One who refuses to place limits on His mercy, One who will always rejoice when we come back to Him when we ask for His pardon and peace. Welcome Guests and Visitors! We’re so glad you’re here and invite you to walk the path of faith with On Friday, September 18, we said good-bye to Marge Coronado who has us. St. Thomas strives to provide a spiritual home where all are welcome, been part of the staff of St. Thomas the Apostle for 20 years. Marge has where the healing, reconciling, liberating love of God is shared by all. been the support person of faith formation by taking care of all the youth Join us! through adult registrations, along with care of all the administrative requirements for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Would you like to become a parishioner? Confirmation. Marge was the welcoming face to all new parishioners in Call Kathy Ferguson in the General Office at 630.355.8980, x100 faith formation. Marge will now fulfill that same role at St. Raphael’s. Thank you, Marge, for your ministry to God’s holy people at St. Thomas. While we will miss you, we wish you nothing but the best in your new ministry. In the Word, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church September 20, 2020 | 3 Worship Commission — Liturgy and Music Reflection on the Readings Today’s readings remind us that with God, we are wise to expect the unexpected. Life is full of surprises, and sometimes, reversals. We may suffer injustice; things may seem unfair or out of balance; bad things happen when we least expect them. But, whatever happens to us, we can be confident that God is with us. Even more, a loving, generous God is actually pursuing us. God’s love and compassion are always here … though, sometimes just outside our line of vision. Realizing that can help us to see everything — and everyone — differently. Nothing is as it seems. Readings for Today Presider Schedule September 26–27 First Reading —Turn to the LORD who is generous in forgiving Haiti Weekend (Isaiah 55:6-9). Saturday, September 26 Psalm — The Lord is near to all who call upon him (Psalm 145). 4:30 pm – Fr. Joseph Kappilumakkal with Deacon Joe Cuzzone Second Reading — Live your lives in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a). Sunday, September 27 Gospel — The last will be first, and the first will be last 9:30 am – Fr. Philip Danaher (Matthew 20:1-16a). Presider schedule is subject to change. The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation.