St. Thomas The Apostle Parish

"Dominus meus et Deus meus"




Weekly Bulletin

ALL PARISHIONERS SHOULD BE REGISTERED and are asked to support the parish and the needs of the Church by using Sunday Offertory Envelopes and for making up for an absence during vacation. New parishioners are asked to register in the parish office.

THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS WILL BE SELLING THE ANNUAL ARTHRITIS SOCIETY CARE RAFFLE TICKETS from now until mid May (excluding Easter weekend). Be sure to get your tickets for a chance to win.

SHARELIFE SUNDAY is next weekend followed by two other collections (April 25 and May 30). Please use the envelopes in your box of Sunday Offertory envelopes. Our Parish goal this year is set at $78,500.00 Let us pray for the Catholic agencies of ShareLife which serve the whole community throughout the year. Thanks to all the faithful who are committed to this Lenten offering.

SHARELIFE CHALLENGE MATCHING PROGRAM initiated by a generous donor promises to match donations from new donors to ShareLife and increased donations from last year’s donors up to $500,000.00 total.

EASTER EGGS ON SALE NEXT WEEKEND to raise funds for the Marguerite Bourgeoys Family Centre (teaching the Creighton Model of fertility care and assisting healthy choices regarding family planning). Chocolate eggs are $3 or two for $5.

LIFT JESUS HIGHER RALLY 2010 will be at the Metro Convention Centre north building at 255 Front St. Toronto on Saturday, April 24 from 8:00 – 6:30. This is a day filled with God’s grace offering Confessions, Mass, Devotions and several speakers, including Archbishop Collins, Marcus Grodi and Teresa Tomeo (EWTN), Fr. Ralph Martin, Sr. Ann Shields and Peter Herback. For tickets or more info contact (905)270-2510 or www.lift-jesus-higher-rally.org

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011 will be in Madrid Spain from August 15 – 21. For ongoing updates www.ocytoronto.org

COMING CHANGES IN THE ENGLISH LITURGICAL LANGUAGE based on the translations of the third edition of the Roman Missal. For more information www.usccb.org/romanmissal

INFORMATION SESSION ON THE CREIGHTON MODEL OF FERTILITY CARE SYSTEM on March 24 from 6:15 – 9:00 at the Marguerite Bourgeoys Family Centre, 688 Coxwell Ave., Suite 100. For more information and to register contact (416)465-2868.

ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY MASS at St. Michael’s Cathedral on Wednesday, March 17 at 10:00 a.m. with Bishop William McGrattan. For more information contact Michael Doyle (416)259-1676

CARDINAL AMBROZIC LECTURE IN BIOETHICS March 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Carr Hall at St. Michael’s College is on “Science and Religion in Conversation,” presented by Rev. Robert Allore, S.J., a research scientist working on questions pertaining to the genetic regulation of the development of the nervous system. Contact (416)926-2335.

NEW ORGAN FOR THE PARISH has been ordered and may be installed after Easter. We have been asked by the Archdiocese to raise additional funds outside regular parish funds or building fund collection for this project. Special donation envelopes are available.

EVANGELIZATION IN THE MEDIA at St. Michael’s College (Fr. Madden Hall) on March 26 from 10:00 – 3:30. Speakers include Archbishop Collins, Fr. John Bartunek and Mr. Michael Coren. To register contact compass.toronto@gmail.com.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR YORK CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD may be done at the schools or at the Catholic education centre. We look forward to welcoming your child into our Catholic schools where we emphasize academic success and spiritual growth. See our parish bulletin board or the Board website www.cydsb.ca

IN MEMORIAL GIVING is a new program in the Archdiocese that help Catholics to request that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made towards their parish or favorite charity in the Archdiocese such as ShareLife. Memorial cards for the In Memorial Program for the Archdiocese of Toronto are available at funeral homes and in our Catholic Cemeteries Kiosk.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND April 16 for couples to celebrate being together, to rediscover each other and focus on ways to make your relationship even better. Contact Cora and Mike Bryce (905)896-2958 or cora-mikebryce@sympatico.ca

PROVIDE A MEAL is a monthly opportunity for the people of St. Thomas the Apostle to bring a frozen shepherd’s pie which will be picked up by the Good Shepherd Centre and provide a meal there for those in need. The empty containers are available for pick-up the first weekend every month and the donated pies are collected in our freezer the second weekend every month. Thanks to the many parishioners who have been participating for years to help meet the needs of the homeless and disadvantaged who live in the city. For more information contact Rosemarie Ling (416)495-1067.

CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S AID FOSTER HOME CAMPAIGN – is an annual appeal through parishes to “let a Child Have Faith in You.” There are hundreds of children each year in the Catholic Community who need to leave their family home and be placed in foster care because of illness, abandonment, neglect or abuse. The Society is looking for loving foster families to provide safe and nurturing homes for those who are vulnerable. For more information about fostering a child contact the Catholic Children’s Aid Society (416)395-1590 or www.ccas.toronto.on.ca
 

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS - Dear Lord, we pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry. We pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, "Do whatever He tells you". (John 2:5) May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary's most chaste spouse. May the Blessed Mother's own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross. May your priests be holy, filled with the fire of your love seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls. St. John Vianney - pray for us.

NEXT CONFIRMATION CLASS is next Saturday, February 6th, 2010 from 10:00 - 12:00.

TWO NEW AUXILIARY BISHOPS FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO are their Excellencies, Vincent Nguyen and William McGrattan. Bishop McGrattan will be ordained in London on January 12, and Bishop Nguyen at St. Michael’s Cathedral on January 13 at 3:00 p.m. For information www.archtoronto.org.  Let us pray in thanksgiving and for their fruitful ministry.

COME AND SEE WEEKEND at St. Augustine’s Seminary for young men 18 years or older who may be interested in answering a vocation to the Priesthood. The weekend of prayer, reflection and information is February 5-7 at the Seminary. Contact Fr. Hansoo Park (416)968-0997.

LET US PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE PART OF OUR R.C.I.A. GROUP - those finding out more about the Catholic faith and for the team of parishioners guiding them.  

LET US PRAY FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE.  Is God leading you or someone you know to discern a religious vocation?  Contact Fr. Hansoo Park, Vocations Director - vocations@vocations.ca or (416)968-0997 or check out www.vocationstoronto.ca  

NEW ORGAN FOR THE PARISH has been ordered and may be installed in time for Easter Liturgies. There have been considerable repairs needed on the present organ and we have been informed that additional service would be required if it were even possible to make repairs. It has served us well up to now. The new digital organ ordered for $97,823.00 is the Allen Renaissance Quantum Q285D, two manual, 45 stops, drawnob oak/walnut console with 12 speakers. Down payment for 1/3 the cost has been made after consultation with the Parish Finance Council and the Archdiocese. We have been asked by the Archdiocese to raise additional funds outside regular parish funds or building fund collection for this project. Special donation envelopes will be available soon.

ALL PARISHIONERS SHOULD BE REGISTERED and are asked to support the parish and the needs of the Church by using Sunday Offertory Envelopes and for making up for an absence during vacation.  New parishioners are asked to register in the parish office.

SUPPORT FOR RECENTLY SEPARATED OR DIVORCED CATHOLICS is available from Catholic Family Services. Two ten week long group sessions are planned for Tuesday evenings (6:30 – 8:30 ) beginning February 16, or Tuesday mornings (10:00 – 12:00 Noon) beginning February 23. Contact Mario Esposito (416)222-0048.

MASS FOR SCOUTS at St. Michael’s Cathedral on February 28 at 2:30 (assemble at 2:00) followed by a reception. Contact John Plumadore (416)490-6364 ext. 234

CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S AID FOSTER HOME CAMPAIGN - is an annual appeal through parishes to "Let a Child Have Faith in You."  There are hundreds of children each year in the Catholic Community who need to leave their family home and be placed in foster care because of illness, abandonment, neglect or abuse.  The Society is looking for loving foster families to provide safe and nurturing homes for those who are vulnerable.  For more information about fostering a child contact the Catholic Children?s Aid Society (416)395-1590 or www.ccas.toronto.on.ca

IN MEMORIAL GIVING is a new program in the Archdiocese that help Catholics to request that in Lieu of flowers, donations may be made towards their parish or favorite charity in the Archdiocese such as ShareLife.  Memorial cards for the In Memorial Program for the Archdiocese of Toronto are available at funeral homes and in our Catholic Cemeteries Kiosk.

PROVIDE A MEAL is a monthly opportunity for the people of St. Thomas the Apostle to bring a frozen shepherd's pie which will be picked up by the Good Shepherd Centre and provide a meal there for those in need.  The empty containers are available for pick-up the first weekend every month and the donated pies are collected in our freezer the second weekend every month.  Thanks to the many parishioners who have been participating for years to help meet the needs of the homeless and disadvantaged who live in the city.  For more information contact Rosemarie Ling (416)495-1067