February 23, 2020

Welcome to our Parish: If you are a visitor to St. Thomas Aquinas, we want you to know how welcome you are. If you wish to become a member of our parish, please call the parish office. Parishioner Info: If you are moving, changing phone numbers or need to update family status, kindly notify the parish office.Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.): Anyone seeking information about the Catholic Faith should contact the parish office for more information. Sessions meet from September through Spring.Baptisms: Held on the first weekend of the month after the required Baptism Preparation Class. Parents are required to be practicing Catholics and attending Mass regularly. Call the parish office to register.Marriage: Individuals must be registered in the parish at least six months before scheduling a wedding. A wedding date can only be set after meeting with the parish priest.Care of the Sick / Pastoral Visits: Please notify the parish office when seriously ill at home, in the hospital or a nursing/assisted facility. Also, If you or a loved one has had a hospital stay and are recovering at a rehab facility or moving into an assisted living facility and wish a pastoral visit.

5376 State Street Saginaw, MI 48603989-799-2460 www.stasaginaw.org

Eucharistic LiturgiesSaturday 4:00 PM

Sunday 8:30 & 11:00 AM

Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 AMFirst Friday 8:30 AM

In the event of a funeral on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or First Friday,

morning Mass will be cancelled.

Sacrament of Reconciliation2nd & 4th Saturday

9:00-10:00 AM or by appointment

Parish StaffFr. Richard Bokinskie Pastor

rickb@stasaginaw.org

Sr. Ann deGuise, OSFPastoral Associate

annd@stasaginaw.org

Dawn Drago Parish Secretarydawnd@stasaginaw.org

Pat Messing Bookkeeperpatm@stasaginaw.org

Deborah KraklowDirector of Liturgy and Music

debk@stasaginaw.org

Karen Bartels RCIA Director

Baptism & Funeral Coordinator

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Page 2 February 23, 2020

Monday, February 24Jas 3:13-18; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15; Mk 9:14-29

Tuesday, February 25Jas 4:1-10; Ps 55:7-8, 9-10a, 10b-11a, 23; Mk 9:30-37

8:30 AM Mass7:00 PM RCIA Adult Meeting / CB

Wednesday, February 26Ash WednesdayJl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-188:30 AM Mass with NCCE Community

10:00 AM Bible Study & Sharing / POMR7:00 PM Mass

Thursday, February 27Dt 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Lk 9:22-258:30 AM Mass6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal / CH

Friday, February 28Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15

4:00 PM Mass

Saturday, February 29Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Lk 5:27-324:00 PM Mass with

RCIA Rite of Election & Dismissal

Sunday, March 1First Sunday of LentGn 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17; Rom 5:12-19 or Rom 5:12, 17-19; Mt 4:1-11

8:30 AM Mass11:00 AM Mass11:00 AM Liturgy of the Word for Children

Week Day Mass in the Church on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and First Friday 8:30 AM. The Rosary is prayed at 8:00 AM. In the event of a funeral, morning Mass will be cancelled on Tuesday, Wednesday and First Friday.

FA meets on Tuesday & Thursday at 6:30 PM and Saturday at 10:00 AM in the Parish Office Meeting Room.

Lunches for the needy are packed on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:00 AM in the Church lower level.

Please pray for all who have been commended to our prayer that they will respond to God’s healing will, especially:

Adam P.; Becky T.; Frankie; Glady; Martin; E.J.; Amy; Kelly; Eric; B.W.; G.B.; Janice T.; Alex Hilburn; Jerry B.; Joan B.; Darlene; Fred; Todd J.; Phyllis Epting; Rich & family; Lupe & Juanita Hernandez; Fred K.; Barbara Meyer; Mary Louise; Joyce; Marianne Sutter; Helen Reynolds; Kathy; Amy L.; David C.; Floyd; Toby; Larry; Harold; Wendy G.; Pat; Jim; Anne; Taylor G.; Jan Hoyer; Dolores; A.C.; V.C.; and those who are homebound and in assisted/nursing facilities.

We are happy to list names of those who request prayers for one month. The list will be purged on February 29. Please remember to contact the office 799-2460 ext. 1 when a loved one’s name no longer needs inclusion on the prayer list.

4:00 PM 8:30 AM 11:00 AMCoordinator Sr. Ann Anne Elias Nancy Brasseur

Reader John Wright Pat Kosuth Mike Bator

Reader John Wright Anne Elias Kathy Hoekstra

Petitions John Wright Anne Elias Kathy Hoekstra

Altar Server Riley Mattheis Josh Koester Sydney Daenzer

Altar Server Jacob Mattheis Lily Koester Olivia Daenzer

Altar Server Leah Jaime SUB NEEDED Rheese Chacon

Sacristan Cornia Frederick & Paul Mixter Amy Koester Fran Swartzendruber

Altar Linens Rose Stimac

Liturgy of the Word Catechist Pari Sitarski

Week of February 29 / March 1, 2020

PARISH STEWARDSHIP

In today's first reading, the Israelites are urged to love their neighbors as themselves. In the Gospel, Jesus spells out how we are to do that and to give generously to those who ask of us and not to turn our backs on those who seek to borrow

Februar 16 2020

Envelopes: $ 13,792.00Loose: $ 1,389.00Electronic (ACH): $ 4,883.00Children’s: $ 46.25Total: $ 20,110.25

Money Counters for February 24, 2020:…………Team #3

Please remember St. Thomas Aquinas in your estate planning.

In Our Parish

If you or a loved one is in need of immediate prayer, please call the Parish Office 799-2460, ext.1

R. F. Koester Inc.Building Design

General Contractor

To view the full ad see the back of the bulletin. Be sure to patronize all of our businesses as their generosity allows us to provide the bulletin to you at no cost to the Parish.

March 8

Daylight Savings Time

St. Thomas Aquinas Church Page 3 Saginaw, Michigan

Readings for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 We area reading today from the third book of the Bible, Leviticus, which is a collection of Jewish laws. Today’s passage discusses how to treat your neighbor. For Old Testament people, a neighbor was a fellow Israelite. (When we listen to today’s Gospel, we will hear Jesus take this a step further.) Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 In this reading, Paul continues to address the problem of factions in Corinth. One group followed Apollos, an eloquent preacher who came there after Paul had left. Another group was loyal to Kephas (which is the Aramaic name for Peter). Paul uses an unusual image to explain why such factions don’t belong in a Christian community.

Wednesday, we begin the holy and joyful season of Lent. We will have Mass at 8:30 am with the NCCE School Community and again at 7:00 pm. The distribution of Ashes happens in the context of the Masses that day. If these times are not convenient, you can check out the diocesan website – www.saginaw.org – for the schedule at other parishes in our diocese. Also, we have the rules for Fasting and Abstinence for the season of Lent. Fasting is for those Catholics who have reached their 18th birthday and are younger than 60. On the days of fasting, one may not eat between meals and the two smaller meals cannot equal or be larger than the main meal that day. Abstinence is for all Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday. On the days of abstinence, one may not eat meat. All the Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence. Ash Wednesday is a Day of Fasting and a Day of Abstinence. Starting on Friday, March 6, we will have Stations of the Cross at 7:00 pm in the Church. As in the past, we will have different styles of stations, led by different people. Plan on joining us. Don’t forget to stop by the tables this weekend for the second part of our Ministry Fair. Also, you will be able to pick up the Little Black Books for Lent this weekend. Have a great week.

Father Rick’s Reflections . . . We continue where we left off last week from Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Matthew has Jesus’ own preaching on par with and fulfilling the Mosaic Law, which came from God. The passive voice, “it was said” refers to God’s word through the

Mosaic Law. Jesus, then, uses the active voice, first-person singular in claiming his own teaching authority. To the listener, this would have been shocking. The words we have reflect not only Jesus’ teaching but also Matthew’s reckoning that the authority of Jesus is paramount. Today, Jesus goes beyond the “law of retaliation.” The law of retaliation represented a development in its time by limiting retaliation to one for one rather than five for one. Yet, even this is superseded by Jesus’ injunction to “offer no resistance to one who is evil.” The way of discipleship goes beyond strict just, beyond “legitimate” retaliation and represents a significant development. Something similar is at work in the next injunction – pray for one’s persecutors rather than hate them. All too often feelings of exclusion and division can rise up in the face of persecution. Striking back in the face of persecution is a natural human response. But the way of Jesus calls for the disciples to the lofty goal of praying for those persecutors. Few people have lived up to this idea, but those who have are known for it – e.g., Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama. If we treat with kindness only those who treat us with kindness, we are merely living the values of the world. Jesus demands that we are “perfect” meaning pure in our devotion to God. To live the values expressed in the Sermon on the Mount continues to be a great challenge for us. But that’s what Jesus expects of his disciples.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Sunday, February 23 3:00-5:00 PM

Eucharistic adoration may be done both when the Eucharist is exposed, Exposition for viewing and when it is not, Adoration.

It may take place in the context of the liturgical rite of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament or an informal "visit" to pray before the tabernacle.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament the Eucharist is not exposed. The red candle, sanctuary light, shows the Presence in the tabernacle.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Page 4 February 23, 2020

FINDING JESUS…Can you find Jesus

hidden in our bulletin?

Jesus was in the Prayer Line Clipart.

Strong in faith True to our mission

Alive!

Parent Baptism Preparation Class

The preparation class will be Monday, April 6 at 7:00 PM in the Church. Please contact the Parish Office to register. Parents are required to attend the preparation session and should be registered St. Thomas Aquinas parishioners attending Mass regularly.

Baptisms are held on the first weekend of the month: No Baptisms during Lent. The next weekend will be May 2/3

Mass 8:30 AM

withNCCE School Community

Mass7:00 PM

With these ashes,We know your love, O Lord

With these ashes,We turn our hearts to you.

Little Black Books are available in the narthex of the church. Remember to take one home to follow along with the 6 minute daily Lenten meditations.

Also available on:

The FOOD COLLECTION for the weekend of February 29/March 1 will be for

the BROWN BAG BUNCH. Please take time to help with any of the following needed items: juice drink boxes/bags, packaged cookies, strawberry and grape jelly/jam peanut butter, mayonnaise, lunchmeat, sandwich and snack size zip-top bags, snacks, pretzels, and snack cakes. Monetary donations are gladly accepted. Please drop in the collection marked ‘Brown Bag’.

March 7/8: SS Peter & Paul Food Pantry

BROWN BAG CHALLENGERound three

The first two challenges were a great success. The Brown Bag Bunch has

empty spaces for the store bought packaged cookies ie: sandwich

type, chocolate chip, oatmeal etc. Please keep the BBB on your shopping list and pick up a package or two.

Remember that we pack 40 sack lunches three times a week, for a total of 120 lunches.

In Remembrance

Family & Friends of:

Amelia ‘Millie” EhrhardtSister of:

Pete & Rosemary Alfano

Lord, we remember in our prayers Millie whom you have called to be with you. May the calming peace of your love be with her family. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon her. Amen.

KC #4232 Morning Parish Breakfast,

March 1 from 8:45 AM-12:00 PM. Includes

scrambled eggs, pancakes, hash browns, bacon, sausage, coffee, juice and milk. Adults $8.00; ages 6-12, $4.00 & Under 5 Free.

All proceeds go to ST. THOMAS AQUINAS Parish

Good Deeds Done by Our Children

(as written by the kids)Your child can enter a time, talent or treasure on the envelope and watch for the GOOD DEED in the bulletin. Envelopes can be found in the lobby of the church.

Maggie ~ Elise ~ Alex~Andre ~ Benjamin

Peter & Daniel & Luke prayed the rosary

Kids Bulletins Bulletins are be available in the narthex. Pick one up to share the Gospel with your children. Puzzles and games each week for ages 3-6 and 7-12.

Mass & Service Times for

Ash Wednesday

www.saginaw.org

St. Thomas Aquinas Church Page 5 Saginaw, Michigan

Pray for Peace

Administrative Offices989-399-2222

High School989-791-4330

Elementary989-792-2361

Nouvel Catholic Central Schoolswww.NouvelCatholic.org

When there is inclement weather and

NOUVEL CATHOLIC CENTRAL SCHOOLS CLOSED

there will be NO morning Mass or church related events.

All evening church meetings/events will also be cancelled.

The parish office will be closed as well as

All of us wish to avoid spreading viruses to others. As a result, some of you may wish to refrain from shaking hands at the greeting of peace. You may

simply wish to offer a verbal greeting instead. In addition, we ask that anyone having a cold or flu like

symptoms please refrain from receiving Communion from the cup. Thank you!

Without BeFrienders it would be more difficult for us as a parish community to show our generous spirit of hospitality to those who are struggling with life experiences. Someday, we might need a pastoral care listener in our life. Consider being a part of this ministry. Please call if you have any questions or referrals contact Carole Watters 989-274-3384.

The Saginaw Catholic Men’s Conference will take place on Saturday March 28th, 2020 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The conference will feature talks given by Bishop Gruss, Al Kresta, Peter Herbeck, and Pete Burak. Purchase early bird tickets for $25 before March 17th at www.eventbrite.com.Walk-up registration starts at 7:15am, admission is $30 paid at the door. Premier Event Sponsor: Jolt Credit Union.

More details at www.thecatholicmen.com or email us thecatholicmensaginaw@gmail.com

Inner Healing Stations of the Cross

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

St. Thomas Aquinas Church

5380 State St., Saginaw

7:00 p.m.

Reconciliation will be availablePresented by

Saginaw DioceseCursillos in Christianity Movement

Everyone is welcome

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy CommunionFormation Session

(New Ministers)

SaturdayMARCH 7

1:00 – 2:30 PM

St. John Vianney Parish6400 Shattuck Road, Saginaw

Next session: June 13

THE CATHEDRAL OF MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION will begin a weekly 5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass on March 7

th. This will provide an opportunity for people to

attend a later Saturday Vigil Mass in the Tri-City area when this option is needed. The Sunday Cathedral Masses: 10:00 a.m. & 5:30 p.m., will remain in place.

© 2020 Diocesan

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St. Thomas Aquinas First Friday MemorialIn Loving Memory of Robert ChaklosEdward & Virginia Hoewe FamilyL&D L. Wizner & Skimbraukas FamiliesIn Memory of Leonard LeFevreL&D Ayotte & Reynolds FamiliesRoss & Cindy Thompson FamilyChuck & Gerry Flattery and FamilyPriests of the Saginaw DioceseL&D Pesta & Bruzewski FamiliesWilliam & Lucille Doyle FamilyL&D Gilles & Murphy Families

Jose & Asuncion Ledesma & FamiliesRoger & Helen Dubay & FamiliesLearman & Kuratich FamiliesM. James Robinson FamilyJerry & Gloria Groll FamiliesEderer & Chronowski Families Gerald R. Maczik FamilyDale A. Krueger & FamilyL&D Stan Dorywalski

L&D Leonard LiberdaEd Meyer FamilyTom Stankiewicz FamilyGarske & Riha FamiliesFinan-Lupcke FamiliesHenry Meyer FamilyAl Luplow FamilyWebster FamilyBob & Vi Bloniarczyk

Marian BirchmeierTim Janetsky FamilyFloyd Maday FamilyLaVern Fox & FamilyKlonowski FamilyL&D Skimson FamilyRose KlimkewiczSophie KlimkewiczCesario Hernandez

Melvin VanOchtenBetty Lou OkulyEigner FamilyWilliam SchaferNorbert BerentEdward StanulisTheresa StanulisBlair R. LoesselCarolyn M. Snyder

F.G. Snyder Family

Lois ZehnderFred ManaloAdams FamilyHill FamilyMiller Family Bill JonesPhilip Couillard

Betty BrinRenee HallerEm SullivanNorbert P. GillesThomas OttDoyle FamilyLemmer FamilyMidcalf FamilyTom & Beth

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