congratulations confirmands - St. Thomas More Catholic Church

November 4, 2012 Page 3 Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
FEATURE STORY
Mass of Thanksgiving honoring all military is Nov. 11
St. Thomas More Parish will honor and remember veterans and active military personnel at the 10 a.m. Mass Sunday,
Nov. 11, Veterans Day. Fellowship Sunday hosted by the STM Parish Décor Committee and Sacristans will follow in the
activity center.
This special Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated in memory of those who gave their lives in active duty, in honor of
those who served and are no longer with us, in appreciation of veterans who are still living, and in recognition of the
men and women who serve in today’s United States Armed Forces.
All veterans, retired military and active service men and women will be invited to the sanctuary steps by branch of
service for a special blessing at the end of Mass and will exit the church in the recessional procession. Participants are
encouraged to wear something symbolic of their service.
Boy Scout Troop 229 Service Project / Fundraiser
Submitted by Chris Alumbaugh, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Boy Scout Troop 229
In celebration of Veterans Day, Boy Scout Troop 229 will
conduct a service project of collecting worn or weathered flags
for proper retirement. In accordance with the United States
Flag Code, American flags should be retired “when it is in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display.” All
flags collected will be respectfully retired at a future Boy Scout
ceremony. Keeping with tradition, the grommets of each
retired flag will be given to military personnel in honor of their service to our
country. In conjunction with this service project, the Scouts will have a
fundraiser by offering new flags for purchase. New 3’ x 5’ embroidered flags
will be available for $15. Scouts will be present at the Saturday evening and all
Sunday Masses, Nov.10-11, to collect old flags and to sell replacement flags.
Flags will be available before the Veterans Day weekend in the parish office
(payable by check to BSA Troop 229) if you would like to get yours early.
Year of Faith – Our Capacity for God
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 27 – 49)
The desire for God is written in the
human heart, because man is created by
God and for God; and God never ceases
to draw man to himself. Only in God
will he find the truth and happiness he
never stops searching for. (CCC 27) St.
Augustine explains, “You are great, O
Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is
your power and your wisdom is without
measure. And man, so small a part of your creation, wants to praise you: this
man, though clothed with mortality and bearing the evidence of sin and the
proof that you withstand the proud. Despite everything, man, though but a
small a part of your creation, wants to praise you. You yourself encourage
him to delight in your praise, for you have made us for yourself, and our
heart is restless until it rests in you.” Created in God's image and called to
know and love him, the person who seeks God discovers certain ways of
coming to know him.
We can rest in God by coming to know Him through creation, other people,
Sacred Scripture, liturgical worship and private prayer. These are just a few
of the endless ways Catholics can grow in their relationship with God and
“rest” in Him. It would be easy to hear God in the obvious, but as we learn
from 1 Kings 19:11-12, “Then the LORD said [to Elijah]: Go out and stand on
the mountain before the LORD; and the LORD will pass by. There was a
strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the
LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the
LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound.” May we stay
still long enough to hear God in the silence of our hearts.
SAVE THE DATE
“Tax Smart Stewardship Tips”
Presented by Ralph Stephens, JD, CPA
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
6:30 p.m. Activity Center
STM youth chorus
It’s not too late to join the new
youth chorus which meets on
Wednesdays after school until
4:15 p.m. The chorus will sing at
the Sunday noon Mass on the
4th Sunday of the month.
ELECTION VIGIL –Nov. 5
Deacon Pete Walsh will lead
a prayer service at Saint Patrick
Church from 6:30—7:30 p.m.,
Monday, Nov. 5, in preparation
for Election Day. The service
will include rosary, novena to
Our Lady of Perpetual Help and
Benediction.
Silver Fellowship
The Silver Fellowship Mass & Lunch
is Thursday, Nov. 8 at 10:30 a.m.
If you need a ride, please call Sandy
or Al Diehl at 275-7262.
Prison Ministry Christmas
card program
The Catholic community at
Louisiana State Penitentiary and
Elayn Hunt Chaplain’s Department
are inviting parishes to participate in
a Christmas card program. The goal
is to provide each inmate with
5 cards and envelopes. Anyone
interested in donating new religious
Christmas cards should drop them
off at the church office by Nov. 8.