Parish News

Our Stewardship

ST. THOMAS PRAYER CHAIN

Do you know someone in need of special prayers? The Prayer Chain is always taking requests. Please contact

Eileen Dolan at 358-2461, Ext. 106.

PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE OUR SICK AND HOMEBOUND: Kate Schmidt, Ben Canales, Marilyn Brzostowski, Cleta Bustos, Steve Chontos, Elizabeth Stone, Terry Moenter, Carmen Oviedo, Lynn Gerken, Glenda Fassauer, Braxton Sandoval, Cheryle Wayne, Jerry Stone, Jerry Terry, Donna VonOsinski, Sue Bezner, Esther York, Shanna O’Gorman, Mike O’Neill, Angie Van Bakel, Eveline Rivers-McCoy, Mark Ortega, Bill & Marie Hughes, Ray Harmon, Jeannette Kaminski, Aggie Padilla, Mary Maalouf, Emile Jones, Tony Sisneros, Mary Britten, Frank Galitski, Ray Prien, Mike Hartman, Alice & Ollie Perry, Nancy Mason, Laura Walker, Aggie Padilla, John (Jack) Hoben, Nadine Hadley, Brian Dolan, Robert Mitchell, Charlie Hennessey, Madeline Arrott & LaRuth Haverfield. OUR SERVICE MEN & WOMEN: Cruz Rey Esparza, Sheldon Fowler, Shelby Lopez, A. J. Serafin, Lee Wingfield, Sean Callahan, Bryan Revell, John Nussbaum, Rachel Nussbaum, Matt Nussbaum, Christopher Schrock, David Oviedo Cantu, Jacob Bitonel, Jason Freeby, Brandon Owens, Jacob Tumbelson, T. J. Pevehouse & Swasey Brown.

Prayer Intentions UNITED CATHOLIC APPEAL: Thanks to all parishioners who have completed their UCA pledge cards. Currently,150 families (11%) have pledged $77,611 (48%) of our goal. If you have not already done so, please complete your pledge card at your earliest convenience. Thank you in advance for your participation and generosity. ST. THOMAS MEN’S CLUB will meet Mon., May 2, at 7:00 p.m. in Msgr. Tash Hall. All men of the parish are invited. Join us for food, fun, fellowship and service to the parish. All are welcome to pray the rosary with us beforehand at 6:30 p.m., in the chapel. ALL COUPLES IN THE PARISH WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 50 OR MORE YEARS, INCLUDING THOSE COUPLES WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, will be recognized at the 11:15 Mass on Sun., May 15. In addition, a sit-down luncheon with reserved seating will be held in your honor in the Msgr. Tash Hall immediately following the Mass. Please call Julie in the Parish Life Office, 358-2461, by Mon., May 2, if you will be able to attend. MEN’S CLUB GOLF TOURNAMENT: The 33rd Annual Jerry Harpole Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on May 21. If you would like to receive an entry form, send an e-mail to stthomasgolf@suddenlink.net. OUR LADY’S ROSARY MAKERS OF ST. THOMAS will be presenting newly Baptized babies or children with a blessed baby blue or light pink rosary. If you would like more information about this, please e-mail sisneros@att.net. PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: At this time, the hours needing to be filled are Sun., 12:00 a.m.; Thurs., 11:00 a.m., and Fri., 12:00 a.m., & 1:00 a.m. Thank you to all regular and substitute Adorers who have signed up. If you are interested in being a part of this worthwhile ministry, call Simon Wright, 806-570-9776. ST. THOMAS ROSARY GROUP: If you are interested in praying the rosary with a group once a week, you are welcome to join the St. Thomas Rosary Group each Thurs. morning at 10:00 a.m., in the Chapel. Afterwards, they meet in the Parlor for some refreshments and fellowship. STA PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: If you know someone in need of prayers, please let the Prayer Shawl Ministry reach out to you with a Prayer Shawl. You can pick up a shawl at the Religious Education Office Mon.-Thurs. between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monetary or yarn donations (three skeins of Lyon Brand Homespun) will be greatly appreciated. The Prayer Shawl group meets each Wed. evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Parlor.

Social Concerns

Budget Actual Variance April 24, 2016 $ 26,831.00 $ 25,132.83 ($1,698.17) Month-to-Date $107,324.00 $109,881.43 $2,557.34 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” ~Matthew 5:13-15

"Prejudice has deeper effects, in addition to simply causing people to exclude others . . .there will be prejudice until you and I deal with our prejudice. There will be sexism until we rip up its roots in our own hearts. Until we take people of other races into our hearts we will not recognize 'them' as real human beings. Until we have loved a gay person we will fear a gay person. Until we get to know someone who practices a religion different than our own, our differences will divide us. The walls only come down when the labels are changed into human faces." Fr. Daniel Homan, O.S.B and Lonnie Collins Pratt Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love

ST. THOMAS JOB OPPORTUNITY: St. Thomas the Apostle Church is seeking a Director of Religious Education. The DRE will oversee the entire faith formation process for members of all ages, including RCIA, Sacrament Preparation, Adult Faith Formation, VBS and Religious Education for school children. This full-time, salary compensated position requires night and weekend work. Candidates must be faithful, energetic Catholics in good standing with the Church. For further details, candidates may contact the Parish Office at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 358-2461. Resumes should be mailed to the church at 4100 S. Coulter, Amarillo, TX, 79109.

Youth Schedule and Events ST. JOSEPH'S ALTAR SOCIETY has scheduled its annual Spring plant sale for Sat., May 7, from 10:00 a.m., to 6:00 p.m., in our church gathering area at 4122 South Bonham, Amarillo. We will have available to purchase a variety of gerani-ums, ivy geraniums, purslane, hanging baskets, bedding plants and 12" color bowls planted with annuals. Part of the proceeds from our fundraiser will be used to provide scholarships to our elementary school children and also a graduating senior. For more information or to place advance orders, contact Gerry Ault at 676-8266 or Denice Haley at 681-4161. ENGAGED ENCOUNTER: Looking to Marriage? This is designed to give couples and opportunity to talk deeply about their future life together, self-identity; role expectations, money, sex, children and family. Call Molly at 806-383-2243 ext 116 for more information and to register. The next weekend is May 21/22. ACTS AMARILLO invites YOU to join them for a faith-filled week-end this summer that will give you a generous dose of God's grace. Times are as follows: Women's Retreat, June 9-12; Teen Retreat, June 23-26; Men's Retreat Aug. 11-14. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience! It makes a GREAT Mother's Day or Father's Day gift! Register today at www.actsamarillo.org.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP): Learn at home and at your own pace with the Home Study Course from NFP Interna-tional, www.nfpandmore.org. Includes Ecological Breastfeeding (it really can space babies,) a double-check system of fertility awareness, and Catholic teaching that’s easy to understand. Work with a live instructor by e-mail. Completion certificate, $70.00 We are listed at the U.S. Bishops’ website under NFP long distance learning: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/nfp-distance-learning.cfm.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Montessori Lead Teacher for Montessori/Preschool (ages 3 through 5): St. Mary’s Cathedral School in Amarillo is currently taking applica-tions for this position for the 2016-2017 school year. Please contact the school for a list of Texas Catholic Conference Education Department Accreditation Requirements for this position. Interested persons for this position may pick up an application at the school and/or email the following documents Cover Letter, Current Resume, and List of References to Principal, Linda Aranda at aranda@stmarysamarillo.com, or mail to 1200 S. Washington, Amarillo, TX 79102. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Holy Cross Catholic Academy, the Diocese of Amarillo’s middle school and high school (grades 6-12), is seeking a new principal, beginning in the summer of 2016. The successful candidate will be a practicing Catholic who is a collaborative and visionary leader, willing and able to continue to uphold and strengthen the school’s commitment to fostering spiritual growth, academic excellence, and a life of service. Applicants must hold a master’s degree, with a minimum of 18 graduate credits in educational administration. Experience teaching in a Catholic school is desirable, as is the ability to communicate well in both English and Spanish. Please send a resume, including contact information for at least 3 professional references to Fr. Robert A. Busch, Superintendent of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Amarillo, at rbusch@dioama.org. Review of applications will begin immediately.

Music Notes Sun., May 1 5:30 p.m. - Hors d’oeuvres, followed by 6:00 p.m. Youth Musical Performance-St. Thomas, Msgr. Tash Hall Wed., May 4 6:30 p.m. - St. Ann’s Canyon Youth Musical Performance No Adult Choir Rehearsals; they will resume in the Fall Sun., May 8 10:15 a.m. - Adult choir warm-up for 11:15 a.m., Mass (to continue through the summer) No Youth Music groups

Congratulations to the middle school track team of Holy Cross Catholic Academy! Results of the middle school district WTCAA (West Texas Christian Athletic Association) track meet are in – the girls placed 7th and the boys placed 5th overall.

Boys 4x400 relay placed 5th and 4x100 relay placed 1st: Carson Eyer, Pierce Seidenberger, Kaden Hutton and

Aaron Vincent. Kaden Hutton placed 1st in the 100, 2nd in the 200, and

3rd in the long jump. Carson Eyer placed 2nd in the 400. Aaron Vincent placed 7th in the 400. Deng Atak placed 4th in the discus. Daniel Fernandez placed 7th in the 2400. John Reeves placed 8th in the 2400. Karina Ronquillo placed 3rd in the shot put.

Go Mustangs!

This Wed., May 4, will be our LAST high school STAY of the school year! All St. Thomas high schoolers are invited to come down to The Dwelling from 7:00-9:00 p.m., for pizza, ice cream

and a wrap-up to another great year of STAY. Hope to see everyone there!

We will be taking a group to the Night of Worship with the Disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ this coming Fri., May 6, at

St. Joseph’s. We’ll meet at St. Thomas at 6:30 p.m., carpool over together and be back around 9:15 p.m. It’s a great night of praise and worship before the sacrament to receive those extra graces

to get through the school year!

Sign-ups for our summer trip are going on now! We’ll be attending the Steubenville Mid-America conference in Springfield, Missouri and spending a day at the Boathouse District in Oklahoma City. The trip will be Jul. 15-18, and the cost is $300. Contact Greg

Nagel at nagel.gregory@gmail.com for more information. There will be an informational meeting this coming Thurs., May 5,

from 7:00-8:00 p.m., in the Marian Room. Parents are youth who are interested in the trip are encouraged to come! 

We will also be using Flocknote this year as an additional form of

communication for youth news and activities, so please subscribe to the Flocknote group for which your youth will be in!

We have a separate list serve for F.A.S.T. (4th& 5th grade), Middle School S.T.A.Y. (6th – 8th grade) and High School S.T.A.Y. (9th – 12th grade). If you are already subscribed to the St. Thomas

Flocknote group, search for the appropriate group under the Youth Ministry tab and click to subscribe!

Around the Diocese

Holy Cross Corner

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE PARISH STAFF Pastor ………………………………………………………..Rev. John Valdez Deacon ……………………………………………………….Blaine Westlake Deacon ……………………………………………………....... Phillip Whitson Retired Deacon ……………………………………………...….... Jim Brown Retired Deacon …………………………………………….Terry Pevehouse Music Dir./Organist/Choir Master………………………….... Jim Gardner RE/Social Concerns/AFF Dir. ………………….…..................Eileen Dolan Assistant Music Dir. ……………………………...................Nicole Koetting Youth Director …………………………………………………….Greg Nagel Parish Secretary …………………………………………………..Rita Walker Facility Administrator …………………………………………...Bryan Webb Parish Bookkeeper ………………………………………..Virginia Christian Religious Ed Secretary ………………………………………...Debi Banach Parish Life Coordinator ……………………………………….....Julie Jones Ministry Assistant …………………………………...…Dayamin Winchester Music Secretary ………………………………………………...Judith Tucker Music Assistant …………………………………………Stephanie Gallegos Facility Assistant …………………………………………….....Glen Starcher Facility Assistant ……………………………………………….....Tony Derda Liturgical Environmentalist ……………………………………...Julie Pierce

Liturgy Schedule and Special Mass Intentions:

Monday 5/2 NO MASS

Tuesday 5/3 7:00 AM +Mario Plata Ruben Mendoza & Family

Wednesday 5/4

7:00 AM

+Dennis Sweeney Bunnie Brooks

Thursday 5/5 7:00 AM +Ella Mae Sweeney Pat Stich

Friday 5/6 7:00 AM Spec. int. of Rev. Al McMenamy Eileen Dolan

Saturday 5/7 5:00 PM Spec. Int. of Don & Nila Burgin Their Family

Sunday 5/8

7:30 AM MEMBERS OF PARISH FAMILY

9:00 AM +Sue Lis Jan McCoy

11:15 AM +Nick Di Diano Lucille Quinto

Daily Scripture Readings Sunday, May 1: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29/Rv 21:10-14, 22-23/Jn 14:23-29 Monday, May 2: Acts 16:11-15/n 15:26—16:4a Tuesday, May 3: 1 Cor 15:1-8/Jn 14:6-14 Wednesday, May 4: Acts 17:15, 22—18:1/Jn 16:12-15 Thursday, May 5: Acts 1:1-11/Eph 1:17-23/Lk 24:46-53 Friday, May 6: Acts 18:9-18/Jn 16:20-23 Saturday, May 7: Acts 18:23-28/Jn 16:23b-28 Sunday, May 8: Acts 7:55-60/Rv 22:12-14, 16-17, 20/Jn 17:20-26

Week at a Glance

ATTENTION CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES AND PARENTS: The Confirmation liturgy will take place at St. Mary's Cathedral on Sat, May 7, at 10:30 A.M. Please be there by 9:30 a.m. Look for the St. Thomas section and be seated there with your Sponsor. Today is the last day of classes for the 2015-2016 Religious Education year. Your RE staff wishes you a happy, fun and safe summer.

Adult Faith Formation

THE GIFT OF PEACE We are offered another vision in today’s second reading, a vision of the New Jerusalem, “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10). Read between the lines describing the radiant city, and we find that the greatest beauty revealed is the beauty of perfect symmetry and order, a city founded on the faith of the twelve tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles, lit only by the glory of God. The first reading and the Gospel are linked to this idealized description of the New Jerusalem. In both we read of distress and disturbance countered by the gift of peace. “[M]y peace I give to you,” Je-sus assures his disciples at the Last Supper (John 14:27). In keeping with that gift, the apostles and elders, in the reading from Acts, decide not to dis-turb the peace of new Gentile believers. The undue burden of circumcision will not be imposed on them. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Religious Education News Monday, May 2 12:00 p.m. - Contemplative Power Hour - Chapel 6:30 p.m. - STMC - Chapel/Msgr. Tash Hall 6:30 p.m. - Cub Scout Leader Meeting - Education Wing Tuesday, May 3 2:00 p.m. - Divine Mercy Cenacle - Marian Room 7:00 p.m. - Boy Scouts - Gym Wednesday, May 4 7:30 a.m. - ACTS Small Group - Library 9:00 a.m. - Community Scripture Study - Parlor 11:00 a.m. - Lunch Bunch - The Dwelling 5:00 p.m. - All Music Picnic - John Stiff Park -Gym (back-up) 5:30 p.m. - Confessions - Chapel 6:00 p.m. - Prayer Shawl Ministry - Parlor 6:30 p.m. - AFF Class V - Catholic Faith - Marian Room 6:30 p.m. - Adult Handbells - Music Wing 6:30 p.m. - High School STAY - The Dwelling/Gyml Thursday, May 5 10:00 a.m. - Rosary Group - Chapel 2:00 p.m. - Our Lady’s Rosary Makers - Marian Room 7:00 p.m. - Boy Scouts Roundtable Meeting - Msgr. Tash Hall Friday, May 6 NO EVENTS SCHEDULED Saturday, May 7 10:30 a.m. - Confirmation for the Diocese - St. Mary’s Cathedral 3:30 p.m. - Confessions - Chapel 4:00 p.m. - Cantor’s Rehearsal - Music Wing Sunday, May 8 MOTHER’S DAY 10:00 a.m. - May Crowning - Msgr. Tash Hall 12:30 p.m. - Depression Group - Bride’s Room 4:15 p.m. - Youth Orchestra - Music Wing 5:00 p.m. - Youth Bells - Music Wing 5:45 p.m. - Youth Choir - Music Wing

Need more information about St. Thomas? GO to the website: stthomasamarillo.org. Do you know someone homebound, sick & can’t make Mass? GO to the website and check out Mass every weekend streamed LIVE at 11:15 a.m., on Sunday mornings! (Broadcast begins at 11:00 a.m.)