Third Sunday of Lent - March 8, 2015 - Naperville, IL

1 St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church . Naperville IL . All Saints Catholic Academy . Naperville IL . Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet-in-Illinois Most Rev. R. Daniel Conlon, Bishop . Most Rev. Joseph Siegel, Auxiliary Bishop . Most Rev. Joseph L. Imesch, Bishop Emeritus Third Sunday of lent - March 8, 2015 *indicates part-time staff Aileen Rominger Matt Smilak St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville, IL 60563 e-mail: 630 355-8980 (Main Office) Visit us on the internet at 630 305-6318 (Religious Education) 630 355-0521 (Facsimilie) Parish Staff Priests in Residence Rev. Don E. McLaughlin Pastor, x102, Rev. Rodolphe Arty, Parochial Vicar, x 103, Priests Assisting on Weekends Rev. Bob Colaresi, O. Carm. Weekend Associate, Rev. Lawrence Jagdfeld, Rev. Matthew Lorenz Permanent Deacons Michael (Kathryn) Barrett x220, Jim (Mary Jo) Breen (vm225), Larry (Susan) Kearney x225, Chuck (Sue) Lane x220, Pat (Mary Jo)

2 Lennon , Liturgy Scott Knisley Director of Liturgy and Music Ministries, x111, Lori Culberson Liturgy Coordinator, x120, Faith Formation Sandy Renehan Principal at All Saints Catholic Academy Patti Dougherty Director of Religious Education, x109, Brett Adams Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, x117, Peggy Goralski Director of Middle School Faith Formation, x123, Chari Rosales Director of Adult Education & RCIA x138, Marge Coronado Religious Education Assistant, x118, Outreach and Social Justice Michael Ryder Director of Outreach & Social Justice, x121, Anne Schultz OSJ Partner, x113, Claire Kryczka* OSJ Financial, x137, Pastoral Care Jan Olah Director of Pastoral Care, x124 Felicia Lawlor*, , Faith Community Nurse, x104, Administration Janet Simmons Finance/Business Officer, x106, Diane McQueen Gen Office Administrative Asst, x101, Kathy Ferguson Gen Office Administrative Asst, x100, Angie Tuttle Bulletin and Web Editor, Liturgy Asst, x110, Elizabeth Fisher* Evening/Saturday Receptionist Mary Wright* Evening/Saturday Receptionist Mary Derwinski* Administration Asst, x143, Marilyn DeMeo* Database Coordinator (T/Th), x107, Bob Hartmann* Facility Manager, x133, Pastoral Leadership Community (Parish Pastoral Council) Ron Davis Mike Murray Commission Representatives Gail Jindrich Worship and Liturgy Chris Baker Faith and Spiritual Formation Joanne Bordage Service and Outreach Jeff Berta Stewardship Mike Myers Finance Council/Administration Ex-Officio Fr.

3 Dof Arty Parochial Vicar Fr. Don McLaughlin Pastor Liturgy Schedule Daily (Monday Friday) Communion Service 6:30 Rosary 8:10 Mass 8:30 (Saturday) Mass 8:30 Weekend Saturday Vigil 4:30 Sunday 8:00, 9:30, and 11:15 and 6:00 and 6:00 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every first Friday, 9:00 5:00 Sacrament of Reconciliation Reconciliation is available Saturday, 3:30 to 4:15 , in the Reconciliation Room of the Chapel. Our priests are available during the week by appointment. Commu-nal Penance services are held occasionally during the year. In the Hospital or Home Bound Call the Church Office to receive prayer/Eucharist from a priest, deacon or Minister of Care. Baptism Baptisms are usually celebrated 2-3 Sundays each month at a 12:30 service. On selected dates, Baptisms are celebrated at weekend Masses.

4 Parents are required to attend an awareness and renewal evening prior to the Baptism. Call the Church Office a few months in advance to make arrangements. Matrimony A couple planning on being married at St. Thomas should contact the church six months in advance. One year is preferred. Either the bride or groom, or their parents, must be a registered parishioner for at least three months prior to calling to set a date. Religious Education Call the to register. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Any person wanting to learn more about the Catholic Faith, or to join our Catholic community should call the church at Counseling Service Call Samaritan Interfaith or Jan Olah, Pastoral Care x 124. Sunday Nursery Nursery care is available for your child age one (walking) to four at the 9:30 Mass. For more information call the church office.

5 As we journey through lent let us continue to keep the focus on baptism. In the 4th and 5th centuries a detailed process for becoming a Christian was developed. When an adult person en-tering the Church came toward the end of this process called the Catechu-menate, there was a 40 day retreat dur-ing which the catechumens prepared to be fully initiated into the community through their Baptism, Confirmation and admission to the Eucharist during the Easter Vigil. This final period of preparation for Baptism became what we now call lent . For those already baptized, it was a time to encourage the candidates for Baptism and to pray with them. Moreover, it was a time for those already baptized to renew their own baptismal promises. In later centuries, the focus of Baptism shifted from adults to infants, and the focus of lent shifted from Baptism preparation to penance and mortifi-cation.

6 The latter is where most of us are still stuck! So, let s step out of the box and journey with the seven adults that will be baptized at St. Thomas during the Easter Vigil this year. On the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of lent those preparing for baptism will experience the ritual of the scruti-nies. (I spoke of the purpose of the scrutinies in my article last week). The first scrutiny is celebrated today at the 4:30 Mass. The second scrutiny next Sunday will be celebrated at the 8:00 Mass. The Third and final scrutiny will be cele-brated at the 9:30 Mass. At these Masses, the A cycle readings are used. On this Third Sunday of lent , we journey then with those preparing for baptism back to the story of the woman at the well. It seemed just like any other day. She was coming to the well on her own instead of with the women of the town, proba-bly because she may have felt excluded due to her sinful past.

7 There she met Jesus and he knew everything about her, about her past and her marriages. But Jesus had a plan for her, and that plan was to lead her to him. Instead of the water of her plans Jesus offered himself as the water to sustain. Jesus uncov-ered her past so that what was sinful could be healed (which is the purpose of the scrutinies). She came to the well bringing a water jar but she found much more than water, so she left her jar by the well and hurried back to the townspeople whom she had been avoiding to tell them that she may have found the Messiah. By sheer grace, like the woman at the well, we have heard Jesus offer us living water. Jesus knows all about us, even what we do not want to face. But Jesus wants to give us a new identity in himself, to transform us. This happens in baptism. Get ready to be transformed again this Easter when baptismal water is splashed upon you!

8 Welcome Guests and Visitors! We re so glad you re here and invite you to walk the path of faith with us. St. Thomas strives to provide a spiritual home where all are welcome, where the healing, reconciling, liberating love of God is shared by all. We believe the church is the sacrament of God s saving presence in the world, join us! From the Pastor s Third Sunday in lent March 8, 2015 I, the LORD, am your God .. You shall not have other gods besides me. Exodus 20:2a, 3 Would you like to become a parishioner? Join us TODAY, March 8 in the gym, with donuts anytime between 9:00 and 9:30 or 10:30 to 11:15 Page 4 March 8, 2015, Stations of the Cross Stations of the Cross will be held each Friday of lent at 7:30 in the Church. Prayer, response, song, move-ment, and art will be used to help us reflect on Jesus greatest act of love for us. Having a simple meal (observing Friday as a day of fasting) and attending this service yourself or with family/friends can be a wonder-ful Lenten practice.

9 Lenten Regulations 1. Everyone 14 years of age or over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of lent . 2. Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. 3. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted on these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. Worship Commission Liturgy & Music Presider s Schedule March 7/8 Schedule is subject to change. Changes are posted to the St. Thomas website March 14/15, 2015 4:30 pm Fr. Bob Colaresi, Deacon Pat Lennon 8:00 am Fr.

10 Bob Colaresi 9:30 am Fr. Dof Arty 11:15 am Fr. Don McLaughlin, Deacon Larry Kearney 6:00 pm Fr. Don McLaughlin A Prayer for Our Parish God of serenity, Often we cannot seem to clear our heads, for there are distractions all around. There is constant noise, and we feel preoccupied with things beyond ourselves. We have so many worries and stresses, and there is just too much to do. Help us to accept and tolerate these distractions and to remember that we are human. Help us be gentle with ourselves and let the distractions fall away, and then, hopefully, we will see only you. Help guide our paths to be free of anxiety and our attitudes to be more peaceful. lent Reconciliation St. Thomas will have a Lenten Communal Reconciliation Service on Monday, March 16 at 7:30 A communal word service will be followed by the opportunity for individual confession with a priest.