St. Thomas More Catholic Parish Newsletter February 2019 more INFORMED The Path of Your Life interaction with holy people Lessons from Jesus’ Agony in the Garden inspiration from His example A Season of Hope enrich your Lenten journey Your Faith is More Than You Realize living as missionary disciples How Do We Go Out? 10 Things To Do in 2019 Gifts of Life ideas for sharing your faith guide loved ones back home a family’s pro-life journey with others to the Church filled with love and joy info content St. Thomas More Catholic Parish 8035 South Quebec Street Centennial, CO 80112 303.770.1155 stthomasmore.org editor: Carly McGillick contributing editors: Jerry Nix 19 24 director of communications: 3 The Path of Your Life 18 Praying Prodigal Hearts Irene Lindemer By Msgr. Tom Fryar Home photographers: Dave Rich 4 Parish Photo Album 19 Gifts of Life Nicole Turner By Jeff & Sonia McGarrity 5 A Season of Hope pastor: By Pope Francis (Lenten homily) Msgr. Thomas Fryar 21 Parish Staff Changes & Updates parochial vicars: 5 Enrich Your Lenten Rev. John Ludanha Journey 23 A Vital Role in the Faith Rev. Rohan Miranda, O.C.D. By Dominika Cicha By STM Religious Education Staff Rev. Ivan Monteiro, O.C.D. deacons: 7 Worship With Us This 24 News From Around Lent & Easter Deacon George Brown the School Deacon Bob Cropp By STM School’s Faculty & Staff Deacon Tim Kenny Deacon George Morin 8 Lessons From Jesus’ Deacon Alan Rastrelli, M.D. Agony in the Garden 25 Meet Our New Deacon Steve Stemper By Fr. Martin Pable Deacon Tim Walsh (retired) Preschool Director By Karen Churchill 11 Peace & Prayer MORE 25 Inspiring Curiosity INFORMED 12 Your Faith is More About the World Published by the St. Thomas More Office Than You Realize of Communications six times a year. By Jo Holt Its mission is three-fold: to proclaim 26 Sharing Joy With the Gospel, to build up community by keeping them informed, and to call the Children in Need 14 How Do We Go Out? By Greg Johnson community to worship and service. By Jim Broski Copyright 2019, St. Thomas More Parish 16 10 Things To Do in 2019 27 Fellowship On the By Chris Stewart Basketball Court deadline By Ella Burke February 15 for the April issue and April 15 for the June issue. Articles may be edited for clarity and space. 2 More Informed our pastor’s message The Path of Your Life interaction with holy people We all remember the Lord’s comforting words: “Where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Mt. 18:12) There is power in being with others who carry a similar love of and devotion to the Lord. We are reminded of that often in the lives of the saints. In this month of February, we are reminded of this in both family ties and the value of being around and growing from the interaction with other holy people. The feast we celebrate on Sunday, February 10 is for St. Scholastica, twin sister of St. Benedict. While many know him as the father of Western Monasticism, not as many are familiar with the fact that she herself founded a community of women living in a monastic style in a setting near where her brother carried out his work. She is said to have so enjoyed the spiritual conversations they had that on one occasion when he was visiting from his monastery and wanting to get back before nightfall, she prayed the Lord would keep her brother with her a little longer to continue the conversations. When a major storm arose and Benedict and his monks were prevented from leaving, he asked his sister what she had done. In reply she said, “I asked a favor of you and you refused. I asked it of God and He granted it.” As my sisters will Moravia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Bohemia, Southern Poland tell you, the moral of this story is you should never and beyond. In their effort to bring the Gospel and underestimate the effectiveness of your sister’s prayers! liturgy to the peoples of these lands, they even created a new alphabet that we now call the Cyrillic one, Also this month, on Thursday, February 14, we familiar to those who study Russian. They composed a celebrate two brothers on the same day, St. Cyril and Slavic language liturgy, highly irregular then. They were St. Methodius. Often called the apostles to the Slavic again a support for and encouragement to one another peoples, they spent their lives bringing the faith to and even after the death of Cyril, Methodius continued for over a decade to carry on the work they had begun. One other saint I would bring to your attention is celebrated on Saturday, February 23, St. Polycarp. He Who has the was a bishop in the first half of the second century. He had been taught and encouraged in the faith by none Lord brought less than the Apostle John. He was Bishop of Smyrna in what is now Turkey. Polycarp was visited by St. Ignatius into the path of Antioch on his journey to his martyrdom in Rome. Polycarp himself died in this region when he was burned of your life? in persecutions around 156 at the venerable age of 86. His life and care of his flock reflects the pattern of the “ February 2019 3 Good Shepherd, which he undoubtedly learned about a regular basis for prayer and support, and by family and from the beloved disciple. friends who keep me aware of the Lord’s call in my life. I share these portraits of holy men and women with you What about you? Who has the Lord brought into the to point to one thing. You will find that those who attain path of your life to help make Him a bigger part of who holiness never do it in isolation. Sometimes it is within you are? Who reveals to you the love of God in ways that the very family they belong to; think of St. Thérèse of encourage you on to greater faith and commitment? Lisieux and her parents Sts. Zelie & Louis Martin, St. Monica and her son St. Augustine, and St. Isidore and And most importantly, who is it you know who offers a his wife St. Maria Torribia. Sometimes it is the witness serious invitation by the Lord to help make Him present and invitation of the holy ones who share their journey, in your relationship with that person? Parents – what as with St. John, the beloved disciple, and his friend St. about your children? I am assuming you already know Polycarp. Sometimes it is in the groups that are gathered the responsibility you have to your spouse. Is it someone around and join in the faith journey, as in St. Francis of you see regularly at Mass and have over time built a Assisi and his companions. Whatever the case, it is always relationship with that is more than “Have a nice day” in best to find the Lord while in the company of good and its depth? And what about that individual who says that faith-filled companions. they will pray for you? Do you pray for them? I personally can say with great appreciation that my Where two or more are gathered in the name of the own faith journey has been challenged to greater grace Lord, there is tangible strength and power. Our Lord Jesus and discipleship by the parish communities I have been didn’t teach us to pray My Father. Be aware of those who fortunate to be assigned to, by the brother priests whom are part of your own expression of Our Father. u I gather with monthly, and have for over forty years, on – Msgr. Tom Parish Photo Album Our pastor Monsignor Tom says, “Come be part of our parish photo album. It won’t be complete without you!" Being part of this pictorial directory is an important part of being a member of St. Thomas More Parish. For those of us who participated in the 2015 parish directory, and for some of us who have been in more than a few directories, we know what a valuable resource it is to learn fellow parishioner’s names and just helping us to realize what a family we are to each other. Take advantage of the convenience of having your photograph taken at the parish library right off the Narthex from Saturday, March 2 through Saturday, March 23. If you prefer an indoor or outdoor studio, you can set your appointment with Bettinger Photography Studio in Denver. You will receive a free session, complimentary 5x7 printed portrait and the new photo directory for free. Despite the current digital age, a tangible directory will be what preserves the history, membership, tradition, memories and pride of our parish. Be part of it! u Make your appointment today! Call Bettinger Studio: 303.400.6023 Or schedule online: pictorialservices.net 4 More Informed A Season of Hope in Christ lenten encouragement from our pope By Pope Francis May our celebration of Lent renew our hope in Christ’s (from his past Ash Wednesday homily) promises and our commitment to follow Him ever more closely, so that at Easter, in union with Mary our Mother, On Ash Wednesday, we begin our Lenten journey toward we may rejoice in the gift of eternal life and the triumph Easter. Lent is demanding, because love is demanding. of God’s saving love.