Saint Thomas the Apostle - jppc.net

1 April 2, 2023 Palm Sunday 1939-2023 God s Work, Our HandsPastoral Associate for Elementary CatecheticsTracey HannSchool PrincipalMichael PetrilloDIRECTOR OF LITURGICAL MUSIC MINISTRIESDr. Patricio MolinaAssistant Liturgical Music MinisterKimberley MesitiCOORDINATOR OF YOUTH MINISTRYF rancesca LeitePASTORIAL ASSOCIATEP atrice MaherTRUSTEESAnn Marie Rogalcheck-FrissellJames McKittrickGODLY GOODS PARISH GIFT SHOPS aturdays 4:30-6pm, Sundays 8:30am-1pm, First Fridays after 11:30am Massgiftshop@stachurchbloomfi Thomas the ApostleSt. Thomas the ApostleRoman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchRectory/Parish Center: (973) 338-9190 Fax: (973) 338-4224 Religious Education: (973) 338-7400 School: (973) 338-8505 Address: 60 Byrd Avenue, Bloomfi eld, NJ 07003 Website: Thomas the Apostle Church @stachurchbloomfi eld STA Bloomfi eldNJParish Center Hours: Mon.

2 , Tues., and Thurs. 9am-3pm Wednesday 10am-3pm Fri. 9am-2pm (July through Labor Day Fri. 9am-1pm) Saturday 9am-1pmEucharistic LiturgySaturday Eve: 5:00pmSunday: 8:00 and 10:00am, and 12:00 NoonWeekdays: Mon. through Fri. 11:30amHoly Days: 11:30am and 7pmSee the bulletin for updateHolidays: 9:00amSacrament of Reconciliation(Penance/Confessions)Satur day: 1:00pmor by appointmentMarian DevotionsRosary before daily MassAngelus after daily MassNovena Prayer at11:30am Mass on MondaysLiturgy of the Word With ChildrenSundays: 10:00am MassSeptember - JuneCatholic Community ServicesOffering Social Service Assistance1(800) CCS-7413 Fax: 596-3735 Rev.

3 Lawrence J. Fama, PastorRev. Charles J. Miller, Pastor EmeritusParochial Vicar: Rev. Lukasz Rokita In Residence: Rev. Charles PinyanPERMANENT DEACONSD eacon Thomas J. Coyle Deacon Brian J. Murphy Deacon Michael Pasquale PRAYY FORR OURR SICKK Carmella Burgers, Mario Di Masi,Joe Ellmer, Marie Fama, Evelyn Gasparini,Joe Meeker, Mary Murphy, Cristina Navarrete, Joan Nelson, Nancy Salerno, John Zoppi RESTT INN PEACEE Melissa MartinezSteven Sarno Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord April 2, 2023 Massess forr thee WeekSaturday,, Aprill 11 5:00 pm Richard Nuyoks, Jr. - FamilySunday,, Aprill 2 8:00 am For the People10:00 am Gennaro Gencarelli - Family12:00 pm Deceased Members of Aversa & Toscano Fam.

4 Monday,, Aprill 3 Monday of Holy Week11:30 am William Frunzi - WifeTuesday,, Aprill 44 Tuesday of Holy Week11:30 am Joyce Giorsos - Friend Wednesday,, Aprill 55 Wednesday of Holy Week11:30 am Stephen Ciccone - Mother Thursday,, Aprill 66 Holy Thursday - No Morning Mass 7:30 pm Dylan Anthony DuBois - Family Christine Hagan - FamilyFriday,, Aprill 77 Friday of the Passion of the Lord - Good Friday - No MassesSaturday,, Aprill 88 Holy Saturday - No Morning Masses 8:00 pm Stephen Ciccone - Mother Ross A, Dauphin - FriendSunday,, Aprill 9 Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord 8:00 am For the People10:00 am Beatrice Pasquale - Family12:00 pm Deceased Members of McNaughton & Mescall Families - Family SIGN UP FOR STA EMAILSM attheww 26:14 27:666 Throughout the Passion narrative, Matthew cites and al-ludes to Scripture to show that the events of Jesus Passion and death are in accordance with all that was foretold.

5 And if the events were foretold, then God is in control. In addi-tion, Matthew is particularly concerned that the reader does not miss the fact that Jesus is the Suffering Servant of the Old acts in obedience to the Father even in death, so that sins may be forgiven. Matthew makes this clear in the story of the Lord s Supper. As Jesus blesses the chalice, he says: .. for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28)While the Gospels of Matthew and Mark have many paral-lels in their narrative of the Passion, there are a few details worth noting that are unique to Matthew.

6 Only Matthew indi-cates the price paid to Judas for betraying Jesus. The story of Judas s death is also found only in Matthew, as is the de-tail that Pilate s wife received a warning in a dream and that Pilate washed his hands of Jesus death. Finally, Matthew s Gospel alone mentions the earthquakes and other phenom-ena that happened after Jesus places the responsibility for Jesus death on the Sanhedrin, the chief priests and elders who were responsi-ble for the Temple. However, the animosity that those Jew-ish leaders and the Jewish people demonstrate toward Je-sus is not to be interpreted in ways that blame the Jewish people for Jesus death.

7 Throughout Matthew s Gospel, the narrative reflects the tension that probably existed between the early Christian community and their Jewish contempo-raries. At the Second Vatican Council, the Council Fathers made clear that all sinners share responsibility for the suf-fering and death of Jesus and that it is wrong to place blame for Jesus Passion on the Jewish contemporaries of Jesus or on Jewish people are many vantage points from which to engage in Je-sus Passion. In the characters of Matthew s Gospel, we find reflections of ourselves and the many ways in which we sometimes respond to Jesus. Sometimes we are like Judas, who betrays Jesus and comes to regret it.

8 We are some-times like Peter, who denies him, or like the disciples, who fell asleep during Jesus darkest hour but then act rashly and violently at his arrest. Sometimes we are like Simon, who is pressed into service to help Jesus carry his cross. Sometimes we are like the leaders who fear Jesus or like Pontius Pilate, who washed his hands of the whole affair. Jesus dies so that our sins will be forgiven. Liturgyy off thee Wordd forr Childrenn att 10amm Masss eachh Sundayy Septemberr throughh April 2, 2023A Letter From Our PastorDear Parish Family, Today we begin Holy Week with shouts of Hosanna which commemorate Jesus entrance into Jerusalem.

9 As we journey this week with Our Lord we will hear those shouts change to Crucify Him to ultimately He is Risen! Holy Week is such an important part of our Church calendar and also our own spiritual journey. Unfortunately, many members of our parish family will only begin the journey on Palm Sunday and conclude on Easter Sunday without taking part in the celebration of Holy Thursday and the solemnness of Good Friday. It s like opening a book of suspense to the first chapter and then going immediately to the last chapter. While you may know how the story ends, you have failed to see how the plot unfolds and understand the journey of the main character.

10 I invite all of you to be part of the events that mark our church s liturgical calendar this week. For me the Triduum is my favorite part of the year. The Evening Mass of the Lord s Supper will begin on Holy Thursday, April 6th, at 7:30 pm. This beautiful liturgy celebrates the institution of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and the institution of the Eucharist. The washing of the feet will take place after the homily to recall Jesus washing His disciples feet at the Last Supper. Jesus said to them (and He says to us), What I have done for you, you also should do. The Holy Thursday liturgy concludes with the transfer of the Holy Eucharist, where all are invited and encouraged to pray before the Blessed Sacrament during the night.