ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE

CATHOLIC CHURCH

4100 South Coulter Street Amarillo, TX 79109

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 13, 2020

Church Phone: (806) 358-2461

Rectory Phone: (806) 353-1016

Fax: (806) 358-2529

Website: https://amarillo.church

Office Hours: (M-F) 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Diocese of Amarillo

Mass Times Saturday: 5:00 PM (Sunday Vigil Mass) Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, and 11:15 AM

Monday & Tuesday: 6:00 PM

Wednesday thru Friday: 7:00 AM

Holy Days: (to be announced) Sacrament of Reconciliation Wednesday: 5:30-6:30 PM

Saturday: 3:30-4:30 PM

Other times by appointment

Sacrament of Baptism

Contact the Parish Office to schedule a date and

time. Parents and sponsors must attend a Baptism

class. One sponsor must be Catholic and at least

16 years of age.

Sacraments of 1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion

These sacraments combine into one sacramental

preparation program which takes two consecutive

years of religious education classes to complete.

Students must be at least in first grade to begin this

preparation.

Sacrament of Confirmation

This sacrament takes two consecutive years of faith

formation to complete. Students must be in at least

seventh grade before beginning this preparation.

Sacrament of Matrimony

Contact the Pastor at least six months before the

date of the wedding.

Sacrament of the Sick

Please notify the parish secretary of any sick or

elderly shut-ins and all those in the hospital.

The Rite of Christian Initiation

The program for adults (RCIA) is open to

non-Catholics who wish to learn more about the

Catholic faith and to Catholics who have not

celebrated the Sacraments. This process is offered

on an ongoing basis.

What right do we have to limit the amount and degree of forgiveness we show to others when we are so desperately in need of it ourselves? In not wanting someone who hurt us to downplay or forget the gravity of their wrong, we cling to anger, resentment, and wrath as a way of maintaining control. It is a way to acknowledge and express our deep hurt. We fail to realize that in doing so we hold ourselves hostage to these destructive feelings and actually become mired in the bondage of sin. All we gain is further alienation from ourselves, others, and especially God. We are no longer free but tethered to all of this unresolved negativity. Don’t we really want to let it go? The fact is that we need to. A good self-reflective posture will quickly show us that when the shoe is on the other foot and we are the ones in need of forgiveness, we desire it above anything else. This is especially true with our relationship with God. It is hypocritical to want one thing for ourselves and something else for another. Yet, many act in precisely this way. Perhaps we think that in offering forgiveness, even for the most grievous of wrongs, somehow excuses the person of their wrong and makes it almost acceptable. This is what makes revenge, retaliation, and punishment so attractive. We see forgiveness as being an eraser that easily wipes away the offense without consequence. Or, we may believe that in offering forgiveness I must somehow forget the wrong and open myself as a victim of even greater possible hurts in the future. In fact, forgiving my sister or brother of their wrongful actions or attitudes involves none of this. It does not erase anything or position me vulnerably as a doormat to be walked on. Forgiveness is an act of freedom that restores honest dialogue, shares true, and heartfelt feelings and acknowledges the consequences of an action. It admits that the wrong has caused a hurt that must be healed and squarely positions responsibility on the offender. The act of forgiveness recognizes our sinfulness and brokenness. It also admits that the most saintly among us is capable of doing very grave and deep harm to another person. It sees that we all can be victims of our passions and works in progress that deserve unlimited chances to get it right. With forgiveness, I release myself from the bonds of negativity and pursue a path of restoration, wholeness, and healing. I do not forget the wrong nor do I dismiss it. Sometimes, we have to stay far away from the one who hurt us. But we can still heal internally and be free. For the one who wants to be forgiven and the one who needs offer forgiveness, the journey can be an adventure in learning what brought us to this place and what is needed to move forward. This is exactly how God treats us. Why would we not want to do the same for others? ©LPi

Catholic Question

Cremation and The Church

Question: Can Catholics be cremated?

Answer: As the practice of cremation becomes more and more

common, it’s important to know what the Church asks of

families who have chosen this for a loved one who has died. As the US Bishops observe on their website, “Ideally, if a

family chooses cremation, the cremation would take place

some time after the Funeral Mass, so that there can be an

opportunity for the Vigil for the Deceased in the presence of

the body.” However, if cremation takes places before the

Funeral Mass, the cremated remains can be present at the

Funeral Mass and the appendix to the Order of Christian Fu-

nerals provides adaptations for the texts and rituals that are

part of the Funeral Mass and the Committal. The primary concern is that the cremated remains should be

treated with the same respect given to any human remains.

The Order of Christian Funerals instructs, “This includes the

use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in

which they are carried, and the care and attention to

appropriate placement and transport, and the final

disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a

grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The

practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from

the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains on

the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the

reverent disposition that the Church requires” (no. 417). It is becoming more and more common for parishes or dio-

cese-sponsored cemeteries to include columbaria to house

cremated remains in a way that respects Church teaching,

allowing family and friends the opportunity to honor the re-

mains of the one they have lost with dignity, reverence, and

care. ©LPi

Budget Actual Variance September, 2020 NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME “For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” ~ROMANS 14:8 This is the essence of stewardship - everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God. We aren’t “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts that God has given us, especially our very own lives. Pray to God daily and ask Him how He is calling you to live the life that He intended for you. ~archstl.org

PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN YOUR PRAYERS:

OUR SICK AND HOMEBOUND:

Kate Schmidt, Ben Canales, Cleta Bustos, Steve Chontos,

Glenda Fassauer, Braxton Sandoval, Cheryle Wayne, Jerry

Stone, Jerry Terry, Esther York, Mike O’Neill, Emile Jones,

Madeline Arrott, Lupita Randon, Betty Cutting, Judy Allen,

Jordan Barrientez, Paul Kiefer, Doug Tyler, JoAnn Mercer,

John (Jack) Hoben, LaRuth Haverfield, Richard Herbsleb,

James Rhodes, Rod Lancour, Jack Turner, Ray Ramirez,

C. D. Williams, Kim Zinsmeyer, Margaret Herring, Carol Olivas,

Jac DeMont, Don Terrill, Marilyn Carr, Glenda Gerber,

Erminia Wiggs, Cecilia Gleason, Jeannine Bellinghausen,

Madeline Ryberg, Tom Leezer, Steven Torres , Marisa

Delgado, Rhonnie Kaplan, Gerald Lis, Alicia Gurney OUR SERVICE MEN & WOMEN:

Sheldon Fowler, A. J. Serafin, Lee Wingfield, Sean Callahan,

Bryan Revell, John Nussbaum, Rachel Nussbaum, Matt

Nussbaum, Christopher Schrock, David Oviedo Cantu,

Jacob Bitonel, Jason Freeby, Jacob Tumbelson, Swasey &

Jena Brown, Cody Keesee, Justin Spencer, Ryan Huseman,

Ethan Thomas Weaver, Toby Bitonel, Jeremiah Tumbleson,

Jarred Romero, William Weinheimer, Trevor Bunkers,

Chase Logan.

Sunday, September 13:

Sir 27-30—28:7/Rom 14:7-9/Mt 18:21-35 Monday, September 14:

Nm 21:4b-9/Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17 Tuesday, September 15:

1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a/Jn 19:25-27 Wednesday, September 16:

1 Cor 12:31—13:13/Lk 7:31-35 Thursday, September 17:

1 Cor 15:1-11/Lk 7:36-50 Friday, September 18:

1 cor 15:12-20/Lk 8:1-3 Saturday, September 19:

Is 55:6-9/Phil 1:20c-24, 27a/Mt 20:1-16a

Sunday, September 20:

Is 55:6-9/Phil 1:20c-24, 27a/Mt 20:1-16a

Daily Scripture Readings

A Loving Tribute

Your Monthly Stewardship

The fresh flowers this week were

donated by Shirley Kuriyama Family

in memory of Becky Teeter

If you would like to schedule Mass intentions, you do not

have to come in person to do so. Just call the office at

806-358-2461, between 8:30 a.m., & 4:30 p.m., Mon., through

Fri., to schedule a Mass or Masses. You can mail your Mass

stipend check to the Church at 4100 S. Coulter St., Amarillo,

TX, 79109. God bless.

Mass Intentions

A SECOND COLLECTION will be taken at all liturgies next weekend, Sept. 19/20, for Catholic Charities. You may either place it in the collection basket at the back of the church if you are attending Mass, mail it to the church or schedule it on line. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Second Collection

RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Life is not always easy on us and it can be hard to figure out

the next step to take in our journey. We can even become

immobilized by indecisiveness and fear about making the

wrong move or choosing the incorrect path. I think of the

song, Should I Stay, or Should I Go, as a mantra for many

times in my life. Should I stay in this house, this job, or this

car? Should I go here or there? When those times of decision

surface, I usually turn to my wife, my friends, or even my

children. Talking it out can help, and their perspectives give

me more data to consider. When I lean on others to help me

make a decision, it helps me become more confident in my

choices.

Discerning the will of God is not easy either. Rarely do we

understand God’s calling clearly at first. God’s calling is

always more easily discerned within a community of faithful

disciples. Our stewardship way of life can suffer greatly if we

refuse to allow others to assist us in the process of

discernment. What gifts or talents are needed for the task

at hand? Where do I fit best into God’s plan? Where is God

leading me? No one should have to decide the answers to

these questions alone. We need to always lean on the Body

of Christ to help us see the path that God has laid before us.

Without a little help along the journey, over time we might

find ourselves stuck in the same place where we started. – Tracy Earl Welliver ©LPi

GETTING MARRIED? If you are getting married sometime this year, NFP is a mandatory requirement in the Diocese of Amarillo for couples seeking the sacrament of matrimony. For more information and class schedules near you, please visit the website, www.amarillodiocese.org/nfp.

Holy Cross Catholic Academy Sacrament Information

If you are new parents and/or first- time sponsors, you are required to attend a Baptism class before the reception of the sacrament. Please call the parish office, 358-2461, to register for the next scheduled class.

THE DIOCESE OF AMARILLO is accepting applications for the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The CFO is responsible for providing, developing and maintaining financial accountability standards and ethics for all diocesan matters. The CFO directs, manages and supervises the financial operations of the Pastoral Center in conjunction with the Bishop. The CFO manages the diocesan assets and advises management in financial operations. Applicant must be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant or have compatible experience. Familiarity with diocesan financial operations is preferred, but other accounting experience will be considered. Experience as a chief finance officer or other high-level accounting or finance position is a plus. The position requires excellent communication and organizational skills. Applicants should have proficiency with information technology, including knowledge of spreadsheet, database, and accounting computer applications. For a full job description, please visit our the diocese website at www.amarillodiocese.org/finance. Resumes will be accepted until August 31, 2020 and should be sent to: Dcn. Phil Whitson Diocese of Amarillo P. O. Box 5644 Amarillo, TX 79117 or pwhitson@dioama.org.

Employment Opportunity

Around the Diocese

RESPECT LIFE BANQUET: Please save Sun., Sept. 27, on your calendar and join the Family Life Office for the 23rd Annual Respect Life Banquet at the Amarillo Civic Center. Social Hour begins at 4:30 p.m., with a Prime Rib Dinner served at 5:30 p.m. The keynote speaker is Kathryn Whitaker, a native of Dumas and mother of six, who is an author, blogger, speaker and freelance graphic designer. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the Family Life Office at 806-414-1059.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE is hosting a Virtual Monte Carlo Night, Sept. 19, 2020. See Broadway and Internationally renowned vocal and stage star of Phantom of the Opera, David Gaschen, perform; participate in a live, virtual auction of unique items and opportunities, and play, or learn to play familiar casino games without losing a penny. Make your reservations today for this event at www.cctxp.org/Monte Carlo.

Holy Cross Catholic Academy announces: National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society Inductions on September 15th at 7pm in the Holy Cross Event Center.

Congratulations to these hard working students!

Everyday Stewardship

“Mary, who is the Virgin Most Pure, is also

the Refuge of Sinners. She knows what sin is, not by the experience of its fall, not by tasting its

bitter regrets, but by seeing what it did to her Divine Son.”

~Venerable Fulton Sheen

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE PARISH STAFF

Pastor ……………………………………………..…..Rev. John Valdez

Assistant Pastor…………………………...Rev. Victor Hugo Andrade

Deacon ………………………………….…….……….Blaine Westlake

Deacon …………………………………………….……..Phillip Whitson

Deacon…………………………………………………….....Mark White

Deacon …………………………………………….…...…..Darryl Dixon

Retired Deacon ……………………………….……..Terry Pevehouse

Retired Deacon………………………………………..……..Jim Brown

Music Director/Organist/Choir Master……...….……..Jim Gardner

Children/Youth Choir Director………………….….Mykel Byersmith

Religious Ed & Adult Faith Formation Director…...……Kerry Acker

Youth Director……………………………………...Andrew Neighbors

Parish Secretary ……………………………………….…....Rita Walker

Facility Administrator ……………………………….…….Bryan Webb

Parish Bookkeeper …………………………..…..….Virginia Christian

Parish Life Coordinator ………………………..….……….Julie Jones

Ministry Assistant ……………………..…….… .Dayamin Winchester

Music Secretary ………………………..….…….....……Judith Tucker

Music/RE Assistant ..……………………..…..…..….Stephanie Kelley

Facility Assistant …………………………..…..….…......Glen Starcher

Custodian ……………………………………….…….Mark Ebenkamp

Custodian ………………………………………….……....Curtis Zeissel

Liturgical Environmentalist………………………….……..Julie Pierce

Mass Intentions

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

9:00 AM

+Pete Aboytes TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

9:00 AM

Int. of Rev. Victor Hugo Andrade by Randy & Diane May

Int. of Ron & Mary Zinn by Bill & Pat Murray

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

9:00 AM

+Jan McCoy-Lis by Gerald Lis

In Thanksgiving for Gerald & Truetta Brandt THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

9:00 AM

+Stew Bryant by Rudy & Pat Wilcox FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

9:00 AM

+JoAnn Jesko by Tom & Sandy Riney

In Thanksgiving for Mike & Zeba Schouten SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

5:00 PM +Rev. Robert Busch by Rudy & Vickey Velez SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

7:00 AM

MEMBERS OF THE PARISH FAMILY

9:00 AM

+Paschal Bottoms by Pat Wilcox

11:15 AM

+Warren J. Slaton by His Family

Religious Education & RCIA

RE NEWS Religious Education registration closes on September 20, 2020 for the 1st week of classes. This will enable the RE office to prepare all the take-home and in-person materials for our Oct. 4 start date. *Enroll for RE and pay online!! Returning RE families, use this web address:

https://amarillo.church/re-returning-family

New RE families, use this web address:

https://amarillo.church/re-new-family

*Our 1st Sunday of classes will be October 4, 2020. In-person Sunday classes are only open to sacramental-aged kids at this time. Please read about what all we are offering by checking out this link: https://amarillo.church/child-faith-formation

*Looking for adults to be virtual or in-person catechists for this RE year! High school students can also be assistants for sacramental classes! Please contact Kerry!

*Time is growing short for the 2019-2020 Confirmation I students to complete their saint projects and other lessons at home prior to enroll for the 2020-2021 year! The videos needed for this assignment are now only available directly from Kerry.

RCIA NEWS

**Interested in becoming Catholic? Now is the time to get started! Please contact Kerry Acker for more information!

Contact Kerry Acker DRE at kacker@stthomasamarillo.org or 806.358.2461, Ext. 106, for more info on RCIA or Religious Education.

Daily Prayer This Week This is a good week to imagine how much we are like Je-sus' disciples. We clearly want to be his follower, and we do follow him. The humbling reality is that we are incon-sistent. At the very time that Jesus is telling us that he wants us to find ourselves by losing ourselves, we are too often being competitive and trying to be on top somehow. Fortunately, he keeps telling us about the real meaning of discipleship. Paul lays it all out in this week's first readings. The parable of the sower is quite helpful this week. We can imagine ourselves as each one of the soils Jesus describes.

Each morning, as soon as we can after waking up, perhaps associated with some automatic behavior like putting on slippers or a robe or getting a cup of coffee, we begin the day in the presence of our Lord. We can get into the habit of greeting our Lord, "Good morning, Lord. Thank you for this day." Even if we didn't have a good night's sleep and we are waking up fairly tired, this habit can part of our rou-tine. Naming our desire for the day can become the way we begin our day with the Lord. Repeating it, with more de-tails, as we encounter the people and responsibilities of our day, will deepen our relationship with the Lord. Brief con-versations (what we normally call "prayers") sustain the connection all day.

http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html Used with permission

Adult Faith Formation

St. Thomas the Apostle Youth

Keep up with what is going on at St. Thomas by signing

up for Flocknote at www.amarillo.church and like us and follow our latest news and updates on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/amarillo.church

Staying Informed

S.T.A.Y. gatherings will resume in October! There will be new procedures and protocols for youth and parents to follow in order to keep everyone safe. Join Remind to keep up to date on S.T.A.Y.

High school youth and parents can join by texting to 81010, then type the message, @catholic77. Fourth through Eighth Grade youth and parents can join by texting to 81010, then type the message: @fastms.

Resource for Healing

ADULT FAITH FORMATION VIRTUAL STUDIES STARTING IN OCTOBER

More information coming soon…

“Our God is a powerful, awesome God,” she said. “If we have a contrite heart, there’s nothing Jesus won’t forgive us for. And once you’re forgiven, you’re always forgiven.”

~catholicdigest.com/wellness

https://amarillo.church/re-returning-familyhttps://amarillo.church/re-new-familyhttps://amarillo.church/child-faith-formation

Inside and Flap Sept. 13, 2020Flyer September 13, 2020