St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church . Naperville IL . 630.355.8980 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 19, 2012

*indicates part-time staff

Nick Furibondo 898.5224 Richard Strassburger 499.5676

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville, IL 60563 e-mail: mainoffice@stapostle.org 630 355-8980 (Main Office) Visit us on the internet at www.stapostle.org 630 305-6318 (Religious Education) 630 355-0521 (Facsimilie)

Parish Staff Priests Rev. Don E. McLaughlin – Pastor, x102, dmclaughlin@stapostle.org Rev. Rodolphe Arty, C.S.C. – Parochial Vicar, x 103, rarty@stapostle.org Rev. Bob Colaresi, O. Carm. – Weekend Associate, robco@robco.org Permanent Deacons Rev. Mr. Michael (Kathryn) Barrett – x220, meabarrett@att.net Rev. Mr. Jim (Mary Jo) Breen – 630.357.4853, jimb4853@yahoo.com Rev. Mr. Larry (Susan) Kearney – x225, lrkearney@comcast.net Rev. Mr. Chuck (Sue) Lane – x220, chucklane2@juno.com Rev. Mr. Pat (Mary Jo) Lennon – x220, presence.now@gmail.com Liturgy Kate Cuddy – Director of Music and Liturgy, x112, kcuddy@stapostle.org Scott Knisley – Asst. Director of Music and Liturgy, x111, sknisley@stapostle.org Lori Culberson – Liturgy Coordinator, x120, lculberson@stapostle.org Theresa Sheliga* – Sacristan Coordinator, x116 Faith Formation Sandy Renehan – Principal at All Saints Catholic Academy 630.961.6125 Patti Dougherty – Director of Religious Education, x109, pdougherty@stapostle.org Brett Adams – Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, x117, badams@stapostle.org Peggy Goralski – Associate Partner of Youth Ministry, x123, pgoralski@stapostle.org Chari Rosales – Director of Adult Education & RCIA x138, crosales@stapostle.org Nancy Cirmo – Religious Education Assistant, x118, ncirmo@stapostle.org Outreach and Social Justice Michael Ryder – Director of Outreach & Social Justice, x121, mryder@stapostle.org Anne Schultz – OSJ Partner, x113, aschultz@stapostle.org Sally Meno* – OSJ Financial, x137, smeno@stapostle.org Pastoral Care Jan Olah – Director of Pastoral Care, x124 Felicia Lawlor*, M.S., R.N. – Faith Community Nurse, x104, flawlor@stapostle.org Rose Grumbine*, R.N., – Faith Community Nurse, x140, rgrumbine@stapostle.org Administration Janet Simmons – Finance/Business Officer, x106, jsimmons@stapostle.org Diane McQueen – Gen Office Administrative Asst, x101, dmcqueen@stapostle.org Kathy Ferguson – Gen Office Administrative Asst, x100, mainoffice@stapostle.org Elizabeth Fisher* – Evening/Saturday Receptionist Mary Wright* – Evening/Saturday Receptionist Marge Coronado – Administration and R.E. Asst, x219, mcoronado@stapostlr.org Marilyn DeMeo* – Database Coordinator (T/Th), x107, mdemeo@stapostle.org Angie Tuttle – Bulletin and Web Editor, Liturgy Asst, x110, atuttle@stapostle.org Bob Hartmann – Facility Manager, x133, facility@stapostle.org Pastoral Leadership Community Christine Berta 579.4294 Pam Foster 699.3044 Charles Haydon 369.2262

Commission Facilitators Worship Kate Cuddy 355.8980 Parish Life Faith Formation Chris Baker 548.1733 Administration Charles Haydon 369.2262 Service Carol Healy 961.0942

Liturgy Schedule Daily (Monday — Friday) Communion Service — 6:30 a.m. Rosary — 8:10 a.m. Mass — 8:30 a.m. (Saturday) Mass — 8:30 a.m.

Weekend Saturday Vigil — 4:30 p.m. Sunday — 8:00, 9:30, 11:15 a.m.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every first Friday, 9:00 — 9:30 a.m.

Sacrament of Reconciliation Reconciliation is available Saturday, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., in the Reconciliation Room of the Chapel. Fr. Don is available during the week by appointment. Communal Penance services are held occasionally during the year. Sick and 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 p.m. service. On selected dates, Baptisms are celebrated at weekend Masses. 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 630.305.6318 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 630.355.8980. Counseling Service Call Samaritan Interfaith 630.357.2456 or Jan Olah, Pastoral Care 630.355.8980 x 124. Sunday Nursery Nursery care is available for your child age one (walking) to four at the 9:30 a.m. Mass. For more information call the church office.

Today is the fourth Sunday of our five week summer picnic with “the crowd” in chapter 6 of John’s gospel. Week one started out with the miracle of Jesus feeding the crowd with the five barley loaves and two fish. The second week saw the crowd looking for Jesus and following him to Caper-naum, wanting to be fed again. But this time Jesus wanted to feed, not their physical hunger, but to give them food that endures to eternal life. And, even though they ask him to give them this

bread always, they miss the point; they fail to understand that Jesus IS the bread that endures to eternal life. Week three, the crowd gets dis-tracted from the point by arguing that they know Jesus’ ancestry so he couldn’t have possibly come down from heaven. Today, we are told that the crowds quarreled among themselves say-ing “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” And that, precisely, is a question that remains in the minds of many today (some even Catholic) who do not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Logi-cally, we can sympathize with the crowd in today’s gospel….the mind simply cannot grasp it. Medieval theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas used the term tran-substantiation to explain that the transformation into the Body and Blood of Christ takes place “below the surface” in the “substance” of the bread and wine. What can be seen, tasted, touched and smelled is indeed the same as the bread and wine, but there has been a real change that requires faith to accept. In brief we Catholics believe that, at their deepest reality, but not in physical characteristics, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ when they are consecrated at Eucharist. After consecration, they are no longer bread and wine – they are the Body and Blood of Jesus and remain so as long as the appear-ances of bread and wine remain. That is why we reserve the Blessed Sacrament. Just as for the crowd 2,000 years ago it is for us… if we are to be-lieve, it is a matter of faith. And why believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Jesus tells us why… “Amen, amen I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” We can have our physical life, but we need soul food – the Body and Blood of Jesus – to sustain our spiritual life. Reminds me of a prayer that once was offered at a Eucharist I attended several years ago. At the General Intercessions people were invited (like at our weekday masses here at St. Thomas) to voice their individual prayers. One prayed…. “Let us pray for those who are dead and don’t yet know it”! Without the Eucharist are we really alive? I suppose it depends on how one defines being alive!

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 19, 2012 Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have live within you. — John 6:53

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! Would you like to become a Parishioner? Join us THIS WEEKEND, Sunday, August 19 in the Gathering Area any time between 9am and 11:15am.

From the Pastor’s Desk

August 19, 2012, Page 4

A Window Refresher

“Called to Teach” This window, located behind the choir loft, reminds us that we are called to pass on our faith to all people, so that everyone can experience God’s saving and redemptive love. We are God’s people who share our faith from generation to generation. Where faith, hope, and love are being lived out, there we experience the nearness of God.

Worship Commission—Liturgy & Music

Presider’s Schedule August 25/26

Saturday 4:30 pm, Fr. Bob Colaresi

Sunday 8:00 am, Fr. Don McLaughlin, Dn. Larry Kearney 9:30 am, Fr. Dof Arty, Dn. Jim Breen 11:15 am, Fr. Don McLaughlin

Schedule is subject to change.

Today’s Readings First Reading — Wisdom has built her house; she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table (Proverbs 9:1-6). Psalm — Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 34). Second Reading — Be filled with the Spirit, giving thanks always and for everything (Ephesians 5:15-20). Gospel — I am the living bread that came down from heaven (John 6:51-58). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

How has your wisdom and understanding about the Eucharist grown over the years?

Questions to Ponder:

Readings for the Week Mon: Ez 24:15-24; Mt 19:16-22 Tues: Ez 28:1-10; Mt 19:23-30 Wed: Ez 34:1-11; Mt 20:1-16 Thurs: Ez 36:23-28; Mt 22:1-14 Fri: Rv 21:9b-14; Jn 1:45-51 Sat: Ez 43:1-7b; Mt 23:1-12 Sun: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Ps 34; Eph 5:21-32 [2a, 25-32]; Jn 6:60-69

Many times music helps us to break open the Word more fully. Here is a suggestion of a song based on the psalm for this week.

Wisdom, My Road – Steve Warner

Al Partir el Pan – Mariano Fuertes

Sunday 6:00 PM Mass The Sunday Night 6:00 p.m. Mass will resume on September 9. This is a very upbeat, lively mass geared for youth and the young at heart. Ministers are needed: Lectors, Musicians, Choir Members, and Eu-charistic Ministers. If you are interested in being in-volved, call Lori Culberson 630.355.8980 x 120. Wedding Sacristans and Hostesses Sacristans and Hostesses for Friday and Saturday afternoon weddings are desperately needed. These volunteers are the first face of hospitality and wel-come for many families. Prayerfully consider this call. The Communion Song…Part 1 The ongoing proclamation of Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse is a fitting time to begin a reflection on the purpose of the Communion song. According to the GIRM (General Instruction on the Roman Missal), no 86, the Communion song has three purposes: 1) to express the communicants’ unity by means of the unity of their voices, 2) to give evidence of a joyful heart, and 3) to highlight more the common action of the Communion procession. This week’s reflection will address the first purpose. GIRM indicates that the Communion song is an outward expression of our inward unity in Christ. This means the song is itself sacramental. It both celebrates our communion and assists it to happen. It is never to be lightly omitted, either by the liturgy planners or by an individual member of the assembly who chooses not to sing. For the planners this means choosing Communion songs with the assembly’s ability to sing

(continued on page 13)

Page 5 — August 12, 2012

Pray For Our Parish

Mass Intentions Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:30 †Cornelio Estoesta, by Buddy & Melly Mallorca †Jerry Sheridan, by Lois Sheridan Thursday, August 23, 2012 8:30 †Frank Wittry, by Helen Wittry Friday, August 24, 2012 8:30 †McKinley Children, by Mom & Dad Saturday, August 25, 2012 4:30 †Hugh Armstrong, by Bob, Terri & Tony †Deceased Members of The Mazur Family, by Bruno & Loretto Rejman Sunday, August 26, 2012 8:00 For the People of St. Thomas 9:30 †Margaret Crishi, by Juan & Adrienne Alvarado †Tom Jakubowski, by Ray & Pat Kammer 11:15 †Frank Stout, by Host Greeters †Peter Lycette, by The May Family

Cpt. Matthew Haselhorst Sgt. William Stuart 1st Lt. Chris Turley

SR Joel Curry SR Jeffrey Bates

Please Pray for our Men and Women Serving in the Military Our parish community would like to recognize and remember the following individuals in prayer:

U.S. Air Force Lt. Joseph Zito Staff Sgt. Brooke Sica Airman Maxwell Dempsey

Air Force National Guard Senior Airman Jacob Brancaleon

U.S. Army Lt. Alanna Casey Sgt. Aaron Simms PFC Sean Wesley SPC Eric Servatius Warrant Officer Aviation Kyle Zimmerman

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Kevin Martin Corporal Aaron Murphy Lance Corporal Oliver Buckley Captain Brad Rothman Lt. Colin Miller-Ratcliffes Lance Corporal Tommy Balducci

U.S. Navy AT3 Amanda Schlarman Ensign Jason Coons

U.S. Coast Guard

Call the parish office 630.355.8980 to include someone you love in the Military prayer list.

For the sick… Ron Kennon, friend of Dean DeGeeter Sophia, friend of the Arce Family Don Steirman, brother of Lois Salmonson Bernard Plucinski, cousin of Felicia Lawlor For the deceased… John Mahoney, husband of Colette

A Prayer for the Victims, Families, and the Sikh Community: Almighty God, we ask you to be with us at this time of tragedy at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek. Our prayers go out to their congregation and to the entire Sikh community. Help bring an end to senseless violence in our community and in our world. May terrorism, bigotry, and racism cease to exist. Bring us hope for the future. May the American spirit of respect, tolerance, civility and unity be strengthened as we come together this day. We pray for those affected by this terrible event. We pray for those who have died. Bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones, family, and friends. Help all of us to unite in support for this community. Bring us light in what seems like a sad darkness that we live. Help us worship in peace and comfort.

Amen.

— Fr. Pilarz

August 19, 2012, Page 6

Faith and Formation Commission– Adult

This column has been offering ideas for ways to be-come better versions of ourselves – that is, the saintly and righteous people that God created us to be. Our goal as Christian disciples is always to grow in morality and holi-ness. It is also to mature in our faith and to be able to live our faith with conviction. But what exactly is our faith? As Catholic Christians, what do we believe? What do we stand for? We profess our foundational beliefs together every Sun-day and every time we gather to celebrate the Mass. We can find a summary of our essential beliefs in the Creed. Do you ever stop to think about what you are saying dur-ing the recitation of the Creed and whether or not you really believe the statements you are professing publicly? Ever since the wording changes were incorporated into our liturgy back in the beginning of Advent, our parish switched over from using the Nicene Creed to reciting the Apostles’ Creed. Over the next several weeks, this column will review and further explore the statements that make up our public profession of faith. Stay tuned to see if you are on board with all the basic faith statements included in the Apostles’ Creed.

C.A.R.E. CORNER

Catholicism Series coming to St. Thomas Fr. Robert Barron’s acclaimed video se-ries, “Catholicism” is coming to St. Thomas! In just 10 sessions, in the Lighthouse on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., travel through time and to more than 50 locations throughout the world as Fr. Barron presents what Brad Miner, Senior Editor of The Catholic Thing blog, calls, “simply the most vivid catechism ever created; a high-def, il-lustrated manuscript for the 21st century.” Discover the full meaning of the Faith in a visually compelling and engaging way! Learn what Catholics believe and why, while being immersed in the art, architecture, litera-ture, music, and all the global treasures of the Catholic tradition. To reserve your place, contact Chari Rosales in the Adult Faith Formation Office by September 3 at 630.355.8980 x138 or crosales@stapostle.org. Calling All Artists...

The Celebration of the Arts ministry of St. Thomas the Apostle invites artists to participate in the 15th Annual Fine Art and Craft Fair.

The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4 in the Ministry Center. The deadline for registration is September 30, however space is allocated on a “first come first serve” basis so don’t wait until the last minute to register. Call Don Castro at 630.717.9354 or Chari Rosales at 630.355.8980x138 for entry forms or more information.

Is it time to invest in your relationship?

A strong, loving and lifelong relationship doesn’t happen by chance. We can all learn how to make even the happiest marriage better. Once a month on Friday evening from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., come to the Lighthouse for dinner, a video and private couple conversation on topics vital to everyday concerns such as the art of communication, resolving conflict, the impact of family, and love in action. Dates for 2012-13 are Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9, Dec. 7, Jan. 18, Feb. 15, Mar. 8 and Apr. 19. Tables for two, candlelight and a relaxed atmosphere await you with your hosts, Rose and Steven Grumbine. So that all conversations remain private – there is no group sharing – registrations are available only to the first 12 couples who apply. The cost is just $70 per couple to cover meals and materials. Pick up a flier/registration form in the Gathering Area or register with Chari Rosales in the Adult Faith For-mation Office at 630.355.8980 x138 or crosales@stapostle.org. Sign up now – good things await you!

Page 7 — August 12, 2012

Parish Picnic Needs: Aug 26, Noon – 3

Bingo Prizes: Consider donating new or gently used items such as: games, books, picture frames, photo albums, candles, etc. Bring to St. Thomas, into the Gathering Area, marked Bingo Prizes, any time after August 6 until August 20. Please remember that the church building is closed during the summer between 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Cakes and Desserts: At least 12 attractively decorated cakes are needed for the ever-popular cake walk! In addition, cakes, sweet breads, cookies, cookie bars, and brownies are needed to be sold as fundraising items. The cake walk and dessert sales will be located in the St. Thomas Lighthouse, so bakers needn’t worry about melting frosting and fillings. Let your creativity flow! Call Micki Casey as soon as possible to help 630.416.7407.

Go Out in the World: Acts of the Apostles, the se-quel to the Gospel of Luke, will be the focus of the Thursday Adult Bible Studies. - Connect with Jesus’ first followers - Explore how apostles formed disciples and how disciples formed communities -Reflect on the meaning and practice of the Church in our day and time

Interactive sessions of prayer, study and discussion begin September 6 and continue thru May 2013. Choose the time most convenient for you: 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., OR 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Child care is available mornings. Make a year’s commitment, or drop in when you can. Bring a friend or come to be welcomed by new ones. To be a part of this adventure, contact Chari Rosales in the Adult Faith Formation Office at 630.355.8980 x138 or crosales@stapostle.org.

Walking Humbly with God

- Poor exploited by wealthy - Infidelity and adultery rampant - Cheating scandals and political upheavals

Headlines from the Chicago Tribune? No, excerpts from Old Testament prophets Amos, Hosea and Mi-cah, pioneers in the transmission of God’s insistence on social justice – the focus of the upcoming Friday Bible Study. What God values and what we do are often at odds. How can we align the two? Fr. Richard Rohr, noted Franciscan teacher and author writes, “If you understand Hebrew Scripture, you can truly un-derstand Jesus.” Start with these three prophets and see how and why Jesus in his ministry was indeed the word of God in the flesh. Grow your understanding of Amos, Hosea and Mi-cah through the Friday Morning Bible Study, which meets 9:15 to 11:00 a.m. from September 14, 2012 thru May 2013. An orientation for new participants with facilitator Audrey Easton will be held at 9:15 a.m. on September 7. To register, or for more informa-tion, contact Chari Rosales in the Adult Faith Forma-tion Office at 630.355.8980 x138 or crosales@stapostle.org. All are welcome!

“Chalk Rock” at the Parish Picnic! Chalk Rock is a fast-paced presentation set to high energy music designed to take your audience on an emotional roller-coaster of thrills! Come see Shaun Hays perform and create one of his sketches. To see Shaun’s work, visit: www.shaunhays.com/chalkrock

Spread the Word Scripture Study at St. Thomas

August 19, 2012, Page 8

? Families: Take some time to discuss and reflect on the readings.

Question of the Week...

What am I most thankful for at Eucharist?

Faith and Formation Commission– Youth

Did you know St. Thomas has a nursery?

See page 13 for details!

Middle School — Important Dates

Sunday, Aug, 26, Noon-3, Parish Picnic, a chance to meet your catechist and to support middle school missions by purchasing a snow cone! Monday, Aug 27, 7 pm, All Catechists Meeting Tuesday, Sept 4, 7 pm, Middle School Catechists Meeting Monday, Sept 10, Middle School Monday RE classes begin at All Saints Saturday, Sept 15, Middle School Saturday RE classes begin at All Saints

Orientation for New Families to St. Thomas’ Religious Education Program (Pre-K – 8) Come to one of the following brief orientations in the St. Thomas Gathering Area:

Tues, Aug 28: 10:30 – 11:00 am or 5:30 – 6:00 pm Wed, Sept 5: 9:30 – 10:00 am or 2:00 – 2:30 pm

Learn: • How to get the most out of the Religious

Education program • Directions to school, parking procedures and

which doors to use • How to use the calendar • About special events

RSVP helpful: Patti Dougherty 630.355.8980 ext. 109 or pdougherty@stapostle.org Children are welcome. Check out the St. Thomas website for more information www.stapostle.org

Kick Off Mass for St. Thomas Faith Formation On Sunday, August 26, the new faith formation year will kick off with the 11:15 mass. Parents should plan to arrive a few minutes early to check in the Gathering Area for the name of their child’s catechist, then sit together as a family in church. Listen for Religious Education announcements before mass. Immediately after mass, families can meet the catechists (those able to attend) before going outside to enjoy the St. Thomas Parish Picnic. In the event of rain, the picnic will be held in the gym. A highlight of the picnic this year is The Chalk Man, Shaun Hayes, who is scheduled from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. See you then! St. Thomas RE Receives Grant The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) has awarded a grant in the amount of $524 for Catechist Formation using the Echoes of Faith Plus program. Echoes of Faith Plus is the most widely used catechist/teacher formation program in North America and in-cludes 13 videos that demonstrate effective catechetical approaches, methodology, and theology. This grant will allow St. Thomas to purchase this program. The faith formation staff is grateful to the many donors who supported the CEF Annual Campaign and who have made this grant possible.

Upcoming Events—All Saints Catholic Academy (ASCA) will host its 6th annual golf outing on Friday, September 28 at Seven Bridges Golf Club. Proceeds will benefit ASCA need-based scholarships and the Endow-ment Fund. See details at www.ascacademy.org or con-tact Andy Van Eekeren andrewvanee@vaneefoods.com or Meg Olsen molsen@ascacademy.org. 2012-2013 Registration—Limited openings are still available in the three and four year old preschool. The three year old class is Tuesday/Thursday that runs from 8:10 until 11:15 a.m. Students need to be three on or be-fore September 1. The four year old program is Monday/Wednesday/Friday and runs from 8:10 to 11:15. Students need to be four on or before September 1. Information and registration forms can be found at www.ascacademy.org. Contact Patty Bajek with ques-tions 630.961.6125.

News From All Saints Catholic Academy

Page 9 — August 12, 2012

High School Religious Education Registration Packets High School religious education registration packets are now available. You can access the packet information at www.discoveryouthministry.com, click on the Parents tab, and then Registration) or pick up a packet in the Gathering Area. Packets are also available outside of Brett’s office. Registration deadline is August 17.

Middle school catechists are needed for 6th and 7th grades. For information or to volunteer, contact Peggy Goralski at pgoralski@stapostle.org or 630.355.8980, x123.

Small Group Leaders Needed Adult small group leaders are needed for high school faith sharing groups. The first meeting for high school faith sharing groups is scheduled for Sunday, September 30. The groups meet 4-5 times through the course of the year. If you are interested in ministering in this way, contact Brett Adams at badams@stapostle.org or 630.355.8980, x117.

Youth Ministry Corner Marianne Williamson, a speaker and author once wrote, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inade-quate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful be-yond measure. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make mani-fest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other peo-ple permission to do the same.” There are many brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabu-lous, sensitive, caring, encouraging, faithful, faith-filled, prayerful, compassionate, courageous, beauti-ful people in our faith community…thanks for letting your light shine. You brighten my life!

Blessings,

Peggy

Need Metea Valley Student Volunteer Metea Valley High School has offered to help the St. Thomas Haiti Twinning/Education cause. To make this happen, St. Thomas needs a Metea Valley student who will act as a “go between” for the St. Thomas and the high school. This student volun-teer will earn community outreach hours. If you a Metea Valley High School student and are interested in serving in this role or would like more information, contact Julie Murphy at julieomur-phy@comcast.net or by calling 630.851.3479. Check Out Youth on Mission! In the hallway by the Religious Education offices, the Divin’ Into Mission bulletin board shows the names of all of the St. Thomas Mission trip partici-pants. These young people were the hands and feet of Christ this summer as they ministered in Aurora, Ap-pleton, Washington DC, and Nicaragua. Take some time to check it out and to praise God for servant hearts and safe travels. Thanks to Marge Coronado for her hard work and creativity in design-ing the display.

August 19, 2012, Page 10

Service Commission—Outreach & Social Justice

Behind on Mortgage Payments? Struggling to hold on to your home? Nearing foreclosure? The Mortgage Relief Project, which is part of the Illinois Foreclosure Prevention Network can help you take advantage of programs to help you lower your mortgage, avoid foreclosure, and keep your home.

Saturday, August 25 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (registration until noon) DuPage County Government Center (Auditorium) 421 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton

Free housing counseling is available. You will also learn how to recognize the tell-tale signs of mortgage fraud. Please see the St. Thomas website or pick up a flier in the Gathering Area for a list of documents to bring to your meeting. To register for the event or for more Mortgage Relief Project information, call toll free at 1.800.532.8785 or visit www.idfpr.com.

Bread of Life Funds Distribution Report - Fiscal Year July, 2012 to June 2013 Each year St. Thomas tithes a percentage of the Sunday collections to the Bread of Life (BOL) Committee for distribution through four channels: 1. St. Thomas Outreach and Social Justice Ministries 2. Local (Chicagoland) Organizations 3. National Organizations 4. International Organizations

The tithing percentage is based on the parish budget reality. This fiscal year (July 2012 – June 2013) the St. Thomas Finance Committee allocated $80,000 (4% tithing) to the Bread of Life Committee, the same amount as last year. This was done after consultation with the Outreach and Social Justice (OSJ) Office. The Bread of Life Committee made the decision to apply the entire amount to our St. Thomas internal minis-tries in order to continue the same level of outreach and social justice work. Each ministry provided input on 1) how the funds were used last year, and 2) what their funding request was for this year. The Bread of Life Committee reviewed the information and made the following allocations.

DuPage United $8,500 – Same as last year. Maintains the ratio of outreach to social justice funding. Habitat Ministry $2,000 – Reduction of $2,000. Each Habitat week requires $2,000. Participation was lower last year. If participation increases warranting two weeks, the additional $2,000 will be allocated. Haiti Twinning $22,000 – Reduction of $1,300. There is less shipping expected. Lakota Relationship $2,000 - This is a start-up request from the Lakota Relationship Ministry, primarily to

transport Lakota people from the Pine Ridge Reservation to St. Thomas to witness to the parish. Saint Vincent de Paul $31,000 – Same as last year. Though emergency rent and utility needs are up, increased

SVDP store sales have resulted in additional monies coming to the St. Thomas SVDP ministry. Transitional Housing $12,500 – Reduction of $700. Going to three families would require a large increase in

funds. With this allocation plus carryover funds, St. Thomas can continue to support two families. Bread of Life $2,000 – The Bread of Life retained $2,000 for later distribution. It will go to the Habitat Ministry

if a second week is scheduled.

Bread of Life Committee Members (Ed Agustin, Robin Franczyk, Binoy Joese, Eileen Lane, Gail Micheau, Mike Ryder, Dwin Tongo)

Rachel Vineyard Weekend Retreat Post abortive women and men are encouraged to at-tend the Rachel Vineyard Weekend Retreats held twice yearly at the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center. The next scheduled retreat is being held, Fri-day, September 7 - Sunday, September 9, 2012, be-ginning Friday evening at 6:00 PM and continuing through Sunday early afternoon. Contact Kay at 1-866-99-4-GIVE (4483) for additional informa-tion. Registration brochures are available at http://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/life/documents/RachelVineyardBrochure.pdf

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“Peacemaking is not an optional commitment. It is a requirement of our faith.” -- The Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise and Our Response, U. S. Catholic Bishops, 1983.

New Pax Christi Facilitator The St. Thomas Pax Christi Ministry has a new facilitator. Nancy Oetter is a St. Thomas parishioner who is very active in Pax Christi Illinois (Region Co-Coordinator), as well as Pax Christi Servants (a local area Pax Christi group). Her leadership role is much appreciated. The next Pax Christi Servants meeting is Sunday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at Nancy’s home (3831 Relstar Ct., Naperville). Please contact Nancy if you plan to attend (630.904.3859, nloetter@comcast.net). Pax Christi USA is a national Catholic peace and justice movement reaching over one half-million U.S. Catholics. Pax Christi USA strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christian nonviolence. Further information can be gotten at the PC USA website: www.paxchristiusa.org. Green Homes Program in Aurora The Green Homes program is a partnership be-tween the City of Aurora and Rebuilding Together Aurora to provide any homeowner in the city with the tools and training needed to make their homes more energy efficient. Green Homes will host their last two hour training on Saturday, September 8 to teach par-ticipants the basics of building science (how heat and energy move through their home), big and small things they can do themselves to reduce energy con-sumption, and specifically how to install a kit of ma-terials Green Homes will provide ($120+ worth of DIY materials like caulk, weather stripping, thermo-stat, etc). Volunteer Opportunity: Additionally, Green Homes coordinates small teams of volunteers to assist elderly and disabled homeowners; these volunteer teams of 2-4 people are given a shortened version of the train-ing and then sent out to 1 or 2 homes. Previous Green Home events proved to be an excellent opportunity for families to volunteer together. Green Homes is very much in need of both volun-teers to participate on the event day (roughly 9 am -1 pm) and homeowners to attend the training (they must own their home in the city of Aurora).

Lakota Relationship Mission Trip Report Meeting Vacation Bible School on the Reservation Wed, Aug 29, 7—9 pm, St. Thomas Lighthouse Four St. Thomas parishioners recently traveled to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to participate in Vacation Bible School at St. Agnes, the St. Thomas sister parish. It was a moving experience for the team; they interacted with the children, met many people, and marveled at the beauty of the peo-ple and the natural setting. Join the team on Wednesday, August 29 for a slide presentation and commentary. The team was the sec-ond group from St. Thomas to visit the reservation. They were warmly welcomed and it was evident the relationship is deepening with the people of St. Agnes and the surrounding community.

Charter for Compassion – 425 Signatures to Date Last weekend 425 St. Thomas parishioners signed the Charter for Compassion. Have you read the char-ter? It can be found in the Gathering Area and on the website. Commitment cards are still being collected in the Gathering Area. The Charter for Compassion is a worldwide effort initiated in 2009 by religious historian Dr. Karen Armstrong. St. Thomas is a member of ‘One Naper-ville,” a local interfaith alliance that has as its goal 10,000 new signatures to the Charter. Our Adult Faith Formation and Outreach and Social Justice Offices are co-sponsoring the campaign at St. Thomas. Compassion, that is – empathy for the suffering of others and the desire to lessen it, lies at the heart of the ministry of Jesus. It is now our ministry as His followers. The Charter for Compassion calls us to be people who treat people – ALL people – with dignity and respect. All are welcome. More than just passive tol-erance, our faith and the Charter call us to actively treat ALL others as we wish to be treated. Consider reading the charter and taking the oppor-tunity to make the commitment, understanding that it is an action commitment, not just a feel-good com-mitment. Commitment cards can be found in the Gathering Area and on the St. Thomas website (www.stapostle.org).

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Pastoral Care Parish Nurse Note: As reported recently in the news there have been outbreaks of Pertussis “whooping cough” in the United States this year, with as many as 3,000 more cases ex-pected by the end of 2012. Below is a brief description of the disease and its symptom. For more information go to www.cdc.gov/percussis. Pertussis is a common disease in the United States, with frequent outbreaks and periodic epidemics every three to five years. It is also called whooping cough because of the “whooping” sound people often make while gasping for air after a coughing fit. Found only in humans, this highly contagious bac-terial disease is spread from person to person, usually by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others. In rare cases, pertussis can be fatal. Before routine child vaccination became widespread in the 1940’s, pertussis caused thousands of fatalities each year in the U.S. It starts off with cold-like symptoms, including: • Runny nose • Low-grade fever • Mild, occasional cough

As the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis appear, including: • Fits of many rapid coughs followed by a high-

pitched “whoop” • Vomiting • Exhaustion following coughing fits.

In infants, the cough can be minimal or not even there. Infants may have another symptom known as apnea- a pause in the child’s breathing pattern. Pertus-sis is most dangerous for babies, and more than half of infants younger than one who get the disease must be hospitalized. An adult booster shot for pertussis – called Tdap for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis-has been available since 2005. Fewer than one in 10 adults have received the shot; most don’t even know they need it, learning about the booster only when they see a doctor for a tetanus shot. In 2010 California had a pertussis epidemic with more than 9,000 cases, including 10 deaths. Washing-ton State just declared an epidemic in April, with the worst outbreak seen there in decades. State officials are seeking help from federal disease experts and are urg-ing residents to get vaccinated amid worry that cases of the highly contagious disease are likely to spike much higher. Outbreaks are also being monitored in counties in California, Florida, Iowa, Montana, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

EIGHTY Pints Collected Towards 240 Pint Goal A big THANK YOU to every person who participated in the August 7 blood drive. The drive netted 80 pints to the 240 pint challenge! A faithful St. Thomas blood drive volunteer was unable to help on August 7 because her mother needed a transfusion. In her words, “how ironic”. Just think, if it were your loved one that needed that blood, wouldn’t you be the first in line to donate? Now that you know 80 pints can be achieved, mark your calendars to try is again at the next St. Thomas blood drive on November 6! Parish Nurse Note: Blood Screenings Scheduled Health Ministry Blood Pressure Screenings will again return to St. Thomas. They will be held in the Deacon’s Office (West Wing of the Church) after all the Masses. The screening opportunities are for the benefit of all parishioners and visitors to St. Thomas. Many individuals are aware of their Hypertension but a staggering number of younger and older adults are among the uninformed. Since Hypertension pro-duces no symptoms of its own, it has been called the “silent killer”. Get informed and stay informed. Please stop by the Deacon’s office to see a nurse on the following dates this season:

September 8-9 October 13-14 November 10-11 December 8-9 January 5-6 February 9-10 March 9-10 April 6-7 May 4-5

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Mass, Christian Concert, Soccer Game Saturday, September 15 Fr. Burke Masters, Vocation Director at the Diocese of Joliet, invites you a special event at Toyota Park, home of the Chicago Fire, professional soccer team. For only $20 (normal game ticket is $40), you can attend Mass, a con-cert and game!

4:30pm Bilingual Mass / Misa Biling celebrated by Fr. Burke Masters.

6:00pm Christian Concert / Concierto Cristiano by the Sidewalk Prophets (http://www.sidewalkprophets.com/)

7:30pm Chicago Fire vs. Montreal Impact

Bring your family, friends, or youth group for this prayerful and fun event! For tickets, send checks payable to “Diocese of Joliet” to Fr. Burke Masters, Diocese of Joliet, 101 W. Airport Road, Joliet, IL 60453 or contact Nora at 815.834.4004 Men’s Discernment Group All men age 17 and older are welcome to Diocesan Men’s Discernment Group. They will be use the book “To Save A Thousand Souls” by Fr. Brett Brannen to discuss relevant topics to discern a priestly vocation. Books will be provided for those who do not already have one. The meetings will take place at the John Paul II House, 430 N. Center St., Joliet, IL 60435. Sunday, August 19, 2012, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. What do Priests do? (Chapter One)

RSVP helpful to Fr. Burke at vocations@dioceseofjoliet.org or 815.834.4004

Stewardship Commission Last Weekend’s stewardship of financial gifts...

Weekly Sunday Offertory August 12, 2012 Sunday Collection Offering Automatic Direct Debit Mailed in & stock donations Total for week *Based on Collection Counters Reports

Fiscal Year (7/1 to 6/30) to date: Weekly Average 7/1/10 to date: Offertory Goal Year to Date Over/short of goal to date: Goal for Fiscal Year 7/1 to 6/30 Remaining for Fiscal Year goal

$20,784 $18,643 $2,141

$25,110

$233,619 $33,374

$256,746 ($23,127)

$1,904,992 $1,671,373

(continued from page 4) them well and easily in mind. For the individual assembly member this means choosing to enter into the communal singing even when the hymn is somewhat unfamiliar, or not to one’s liking, or a distraction from private prayer. It means enter-ing in with full heart and letting the community’s common voice carry one’s singular struggling voice. It means entering in with full heart and letting the text of the hymn transform one’s pri-vate prayer into the shared prayer of the Body of Christ.

Did you know St. Thomas has a Sunday Nursery? Please come and check out St. Thomas’ Sunday Nursery held during the 9:30 and 11:15 masses. The nursery is located off the hall by Ministry Center Entrance and we wel-come children of walking age through the age of three. At age four, children may be-gin attending the Liturgy of the Word ses-sions offered during these two mass times. Parents are encouraged to be a part of our nursery schedule but need to complete Di-ocesan requirements before helping. Teen volunteers are welcomed as well. Information of these requirements as well as registration forms, are available on the nurs-ery door. There is also the option of paying a fee of $3.00 per child per Sunday. The nursery is open after Labor Day until Me-morial Day and is closed on some holy days. For more information, please contact Nursery Facilitator, Ombretta Schutz, 630.375.0516, brettaschutz@yahoo.com or call the Faith Formation Office at church 630.305.6318.

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Summer Office Hours St. Thomas offices close at Noon on Fridays during the summer. (Memorial Day through Labor Day).

Administration Commission St. Thomas the Apostle JOBS MINISTRY

AUGUST KEYNOTE SPEAKER Wednesday, August 22, at 7:00 pm:

"LinkedIn Light" This is an explanation of LinkedIn and how it works, what you could do as well as what you should do. We cover how to use LinkedIn and some of the "gotchas" associated to Social networking. The LinkedIn topic is displayed and explained during a two hour session, including demonstrations and examples utilizing live LinkedIn sessions projected on the screen. We provide a Question and Answer opportu-nity for all. Larry New - Larry is a Senior Network Engineer for TCS Education System who has worked for major corporations in the area, including Amoco, BP, MCI, WorldCom, Armour-Eckrich Meats, INEOS, Chicago Bridge and Iron, McDonalds and The Chicago School of Professional Psy-chology. Larry's expertise spreads across a broad range of networking and telecommunications systems and technolo-gies, including LAN, WAN, video, audio and TCP/IP net-working. Unlike many technology professionals, Larry brings the ability to convey technical topics in the manner that anyone can understand and comprehend difficult subject matters. David Rahn - David, the Director of Information Technol-ogy at the Chicago Campus, has an extensive career of in-formation technology management positions in a wide vari-ety of industries that include Capital Goods Manufacturing, Money Center Banking, Process Manufacturing, Systems Integration & Consulting, Legal Services, Government Ser-vices and Higher Education. He has expertise in focusing technology teams in resolving business issues and imple-menting cost-effective, technology-based solutions for com-panies in a wide variety of industries. Over the past several years, Dave and Larry have explored, investigated and used LinkedIn. They are pleased to share their experiences and knowledge with other interested indi-viduals.

THE WEEK AHEAD... Monday, Aug. 20 7:00—9:00 p.m. Eucharistic Minister Training, Church 7:00—9:30 p.m. Coed Volleyball, Gym 7:00—8:30 p.m. NAMI, Youth Center 7:30—8:30 p.m. Contempletive Prayer Group, Rectory Basement Tuesday, Aug. 21 7:00—9:00 p.m. Charismatic Prayer Group, Lounge 7:00—9:00 p.m. Adult Basketball, Gym Wednesday, Aug. 22 7:00—9:00 p.m. Jobs Ministry, Gym 7:00—9:00 p.m. Baptism Class, Senior Center 7:00—8:30 p.m. Transitions and Connections, Youth Center Thursday, Aug. 23 5:30—8:30 pm Retreat Team Leaders, Youth Center 7:30—9:30 p.m. Genesis Rehearsal, Church Friday, Aug. 24 Saturday, Aug. 25 9:00—10:30 a.m. Eucharistic Minister Training, Church 9:00—10:30 a.m. Men’s Saturday Sharing, Deacon’s Office Sunday, Aug. 26 11:15am R. E. Education Kick-off Mass, Church 12:00—3:00 p.m. Parish Picnic, Outside

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