ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE

CATHOLIC CHURCH

4100 South Coulter Street Amarillo, TX 79109

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe November 26, 2017

Church Phone: (806) 358-2461

Rectory Phone: (806) 353-1016

Fax: (806) 358-2529

Website: www.stthomasamarillo.org

Office Hours: (M-F) 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Diocese of Amarillo

Mass Times Saturday: 5:00 PM (Sunday Vigil Mass)

Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, and 11:15 AM

Wednesday-Friday: 7:00 AM

Tuesday: 6:00 PM

Holy Days: (to be announced) Sacrament of Reconciliation Wednesday: 5:30-6:30 PM

Saturday: 3:30-4:30 PM

Other times by appointment

Sacrament of Baptism

Contact the Parish Office to schedule a date and

time. Parents and sponsors must attend a Baptism

class. One sponsor must be Catholic and at least

16 years of age.

Sacraments of 1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion

These sacraments combine into one sacramental

preparation program which takes two consecutive

years of religious education classes to complete.

Students must be at least in first grade to begin this

preparation.

Sacrament of Confirmation

This sacrament takes two consecutive years of faith

formation to complete. Students must be in at least

sixth grade before beginning this preparation.

Sacrament of Matrimony

Contact the Pastor at least six months before the

date of the wedding.

Sacrament of the Sick

Please notify the parish secretary of any sick or

elderly shut-ins and all those in the hospital.

The Rite of Christian Initiation

The program for adults (RCIA) is open to

non-Catholics who wish to learn more about the

Catholic faith and to Catholics who have not

celebrated the Sacraments. This process is offered

on an ongoing basis.

REFLECTION

"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least

brothers of mine, you did for me." Today we celebrate the

feast of an unusual kind of king. Our Lord Jesus Christ, King

of the Universe, does not run his kingdom in the standard

fashion. Instead of insisting upon the pomp and

circumstance that usually surrounds earthly royalty, Jesus

has a different focus. He thinks not of himself, but of those

he loves. And in today's Gospel, his interest is especially

focused on the poor and suffering in our midst.

Our King asks us to care for those in need--the hungry, the

homeless, the foreigner, the sick and suffering. But then, he

goes farther; he tells us that in caring for these least

brethren, we will be ministering to HIM! What an incredible

promise. Not only do we carry out the command to love our

neighbor when we protect those in need, but we also show

our love for Jesus in a direct and concrete way. This love for

Christ through others is so real that Jesus actually tells us that

our place on Judgment Day will depend on it: "'What you

did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for

me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment." On the

other hand, the "righteous" who ministered to the weak and

poor will enjoy eternal life. Our King has spoken loud and

clear. Now comes the question of whether or not we are

obeying his orders?

Each of us is called to examine how well we are caring for

the least among us. Sometimes, this means giving our time

and energy for special ministries or missions, but often it

means caring for those right in front of us--the sick or

suffering in our own homes, families, neighborhoods, or

parishes. Whatever our situation, may we have the eyes to

see Christ in our midst and serve him.

Parish News

Our Stewardship

PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN YOUR PRAYERS:

OUR SICK AND HOMEBOUND: Kate Schmidt, Ben Canales, Marilyn Brzostowski, Cleta

Bustos, Steve Chontos, Elizabeth Stone, Terry Moenter,

Lynn Gerken, Glenda Fassauer, Braxton Sandoval, Cheryle

Wayne, Jerry Stone, Jerry Terry, Esther York, Shanna

O’Gorman, Mike O’Neill, Angie Van Bakel, Mark Ortega,

Jeannette Kaminski, Mary Maalouf, Emile Jones, Nadine

Hadley, Brian Dolan, Robert Mitchell, Madeline Arrott, Lupita

Randon, Betty Cutting, Judy Allen, Roy Steele, Jordan

Barrientez, Gilbert Ybarra, Paul & Catherine Kiefer, Doug

Tyler, Nancy Kulman Family, JoAnn Mercer, Valerie Williams,

John (Jack) Hoben, LaRuth Haverfield, Betty Stevens,

Richard Herbsleb.

OUR SERVICE MEN & WOMEN:

Cruz Rey Esparza, Sheldon Fowler, Shelby Lopez, A. J.

Serafin, Lee Wingfield, Sean Callahan, Bryan Revell, John

Nussbaum, Rachel Nussbaum, Matt Nussbaum, Christopher

Schrock, David Oviedo Cantu, Jacob Bitonel, Jason Freeby,

Brandon Owens, Jacob Tumbelson, T. J. Pevehouse, Swasey

& Jena Brown, Cody Keesee, Justin Spencer.

Prayer Intentions

ST. THOMAS HOLIDAY MEAL is scheduled for Sat., Dec. 2, at 6:00 p.m., in the Msgr. Tash Hall. Table decorators are needed. Contact Julie Jones in the Parish Life office, 358-2461, Ext 123, if you are interested in volunteering to decorate a table. MSGR. TASH SUPER BOWL SALSA is returning soon! Do you have any jars to return for recycling? Please bring them to church and place on the table under the bulletin board. Thank you to all the parishioners who continue to make this endeavor successful and those who will support us in the future! CHRISTMAS GIFTS will be collected from the parish and given in charity to various agencies and communities again this holiday season. Parishioners who are interested in volunteering to help with this project are invited to contact Julie Jones in the parish life office for details at (806) 358-2461, Ext. 123. PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: At this time, an Adorer is needed for Wed., 5:00 p.m./Thurs., 3:00 a.m.,/Fri., 1:00 a.m. If you are interested in being a part of this worthwhile ministry, call Simon Wright at 806-570-9776. HOMEBOUND EUCHARISTIC MINISTRY: We would like to update our list of parishioners who are visited by a Communion minister on a weekly basis. Please contact Dayamin Winchester at dwinchester@stthomasamrillo.org or 358-2461, Ext. 123. Thank you for supporting this ministry. BAPTISM CLASS: If you are new parents and/or sponsors, you are required to attend a Baptism class before the reception of the sacrament. Please call the parish office, 358-2461, to register for the next scheduled class.

Budget Actual Variance Nov. 19, 2017 NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO PUBLICATION DATE “...whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did for me.” ~MATTHEW 25:40

Most of us are generous when it’s convenient for us. We are generous when we have the time or the money. But, generosity is the opposite of that. It means giving of one’s time, money, compassion, forgiveness or mercy when it’s not convenient; when it’s not on our schedule, but on the other person’s schedule. ~Office of Stewardship & Development & United Catholic Appeal

ST. THOMAS PRAYER CHAIN: Do you know

someone in need of special prayers? The Prayer

Chain is always taking requests. If you would be

interested in joining this worthwhile ministry or if

you have a prayer chain request, please contact

Debi Banach at 358-2461, Ext. 107.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,

KING OF THE UNIVERSE "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me." Jesus insists that in ministering to others' physical needs, we are truly serving him. "Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me," he tells us. And in a similar way, what we fail to do for them, we fail to do for Christ: "What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me." This means that we have been given both a gift and a task. The gift is the chance to encounter Christ in our brothers and sisters. The task is to be sure we don't neglect the encounter. The corporal works of mercy provide us with a kind of guide for how to live out this important mission from Christ. These works include feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and the imprisoned, and burying the dead. Based on the words of Jesus in today's Gospel, it's an important part of the Christian life to look for ways to engage in these kinds of bodily ministries. Traditionally, these "corporal" works are complemented by a set of "spiritual" works. The spiritual works of mercy ensure that we don't minister to the body at the expense of the soul. They include admonishing the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving all injuries, and praying for the living and the dead. By engaging in these diverse works of mercy, we serve others, love Jesus, and hope to "inherit the kingdom prepared for [us] from the foundation of the world." ©2014 Liturgical Publications Inc

More Parish News

ALTAR FLOWERS

The Altar Flowers this week

were donated by

Gary & Brenda Barrett

in memory of Julie Barrett-Weise

IN COMPLIANCE WITH IRS REGULATIONS All contributions are being recorded as of the date they are received by the Church. All contributions to be credited for this year, should be received no later than Dec. 31, 2017. Thank you.

Youth Schedule and Events

The Youth of St. Thomas enjoyed a great semester with 4 service projects! We will be celebrating Christmas with one another during our two meetings in December. Sign ups for our OKC and Steubenville trips are currently underway. God bless and Merry Christmas everyone!

For more information, contact Andrew Neighbors at aneighbors@stthomasamarillo.org

Around the Diocese

Holy Cross Corner Basketball season at Holy Cross Catholic Academy is well underway! Announcing the coaches: Middle School Boys and Girls – Chad Barnett Chad played collegiate basketball at Oklahoma

Christian University and is a returning coach for Holy Cross. High School Girls – Rebecca Vincent Rebecca has coached for 4 years at Holy Cross and has coached in Dumas. High School Boys – Matthew Rosas Matthew has coached for 3 years at Holy Cross. He graduated from HCCA in 2008. Please check the school website for the current game schedule.

Come out and support the Mustangs!

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER: If you are planning a wedding you can attend the Engaged Encounter at the Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center as part of your Marriage preparation. To register contact: Molly at the Diocese of Amarillo (806) 383-2243 or by visiting www.amarillodiocese.org/engaged-encounter. Upcoming dates: Feb. 17-18, 2018, May 19-20, 2018, June 21-22, 2018. GETTING MARRIED? If you are getting married sometime this year, NFP is a mandatory requirement in the Diocese of Ama-rillo for couples seeking the sacrament of matrimony. For more information and class schedules near you, please visit the web-site, www.amarillodiocese.org/nfp. ACTS RETREATS: The next retreats are: Teen’s ACTS Retreat #22, Dec. 28-31; Men’s ACTS Retreat #79, Jan. 18-21, 2018. To register and for more information on ACTS go to ACTSamarillo.org. HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE: “Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus”- Walk where Jesus walked...Cruise the Sea of Galilee...Visit Nazareth...Climb the Mt. of Olives & view the Old City of Jerusalem...Walk the via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre..visit Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity. This pilgrimage will take place Jan. 15 through 24, 2018 (10 days) and is hosted by Msgr. Joe Bixenman. The cost is $2999 per person from Dallas (air/land tour is $2599 plus $400 government taxes/airline surcharges.) The tour price includes roundtrip air from Dallas, First Class hotels, Breakfast & Dinner daily, Comprehensive Sightseeing, Porterage, Entrance Fees and much more! For a detailed brochure, please contact Msgr. Bixenman at bixenmanjoe6@gmail.com or 806-681-1717. DON’T MISS THIS TRIP OF A LIFETIME!! CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE is seeking volunteers to serve as Adult ESL (English as a Second Language) instructors. Certification is not required and we will provide materials and mentoring. A commitment of one or more days per week and a minimum of six months is required. Instructors should also be proficient in computer skills and willing to provide support to staff in enabling individuals who are economically disadvantaged, dislocated, or have multiple employment barriers to find appropriate work. Formation and training meetings will begin in Nov. or Dec. For more information, contact Jeff Gulde at 806-376-4571 or jgulde@cctxp.org.

ST. THOMAS ROSARY GROUP: If you are interested in pray-ing the rosary with a group once a week, you are welcome to join the St. Thomas Rosary Group each Thurs. morning at 10:00 a.m., in the Chapel. Afterwards, they meet in the Parlor for some refreshments and fellowship. ATTENTION LECTORS! The new lector workbooks are now available in the Parish Office. If you currently serve as a Lector, there is NO CHARGE for these books; however, if you wish to make a donation, please feel free to do so. Thank You Lectors for your dedication to this ministry! Please come by and pick up your book between 8:30 a.m. & 4:30 p.m., Mon - Fri. PARISH MEMBERSHIP: We would like to welcome all of you who have come to worship with us today. If you are new to St. Thomas Parish and interested in becoming a registered member, please find registration forms in the slotted box next to the credenza by the bell tower, come by the parish office or visit www.stthomasamarillo.org. ST. THOMAS PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: The Shawl Ministry meets each Wed. evening in the Parlor from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. If you like to knit or crochet, you are welcome to join this very worthwhile ministry.

More Parish News

WELCOME ALL OF YOU! We are so glad you came to worship with us today. If you are new to St. Thomas and interested in becoming a registered member, please find registration forms on the credenza outside the bell tower visit our website, at www.stthomasamarillo.org.

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE PARISH STAFF Pastor ……………………………………………...….Rev. John Valdez

Deacon ………………………………………………. Blaine Westlake

Deacon ……………………………………………….….Phillip Whitson

Retired Deacon ……………………………………………...Jim Brown

Retired Deacon ……………………………………...Terry Pevehouse

Music Dir./Organist/Choir Master…………………...... Jim Gardner

Assistant Music Dir. ……………………………..........Nicole Koetting

Religious Ed & Adult Faith Formation Director…..……Kerry Acker

Youth Director……………………………………..Andrew Neighbors

Parish Secretary ………………………………………...….Rita Walker

Facility Administrator ………………………………….....Bryan Webb

Parish Bookkeeper …………………………..……..Virginia Christian

Religious Ed Secretary ………………………..………...Debi Banach

Parish Life Coordinator ………………………..……….....Julie Jones

Ministry Assistant ……………………………… Dayamin Winchester

Music Secretary ………………………………….....…...Judith Tucker

Music Assistant ………………………………..…Stephanie Gallegos

Facility Assistant ………………………………..…….....Glen Starcher

Young Adult Coordinator …………………………...Caleb Hubbard

Liturgical Environmentalist………………………………..Julie Pierce

Sunday, November 26 Ez 34:11-12, 15-17/1 Cor 15:20-26, 28/Mt 25:31-46

Monday, November 27:

Dn 1:1-6, 8-20/Lk 21:1-4

Tuesday, November 28:

Dn 2:31-45/Lk 21:5-11

Wednesday, November 29:

Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28/Lk 21:12-19

Thursday, November 30:

Rom 10:9-18/Mt 4:18-22

Friday, December 1:

Dn 7:2-14/Lk 21:29-33

Saturday, December 2:

Dn 7:15-27/Lk 21:34-36

Sunday, December 3:

Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7/1 Cor 1:3-9/Mk 13:33-37

Daily Scripture Readings

Liturgy Schedule and Special Mass Intentions:

Monday 11/27 NO MASS

Tuesday 11/28

6:00 PM

Spec. Int. of Deborah Stich

Pat Stich

Wednesday 11/29

7:00 AM

+Ralph & Jean McCaughey

Rob & Kris Michelotti

Thursday 11/30 7:00AM +Sammie Scott

Gary & Sharon Britten

Friday 12/1 7:00 AM

Spec. Int. of

Pete & Elsa Aboytes

Pat Wilcox

Saturday 12/2 5:00 PM

Spec. Int. of

Gary Rider Family

Jerry & Jan Lis

Sunday 12/3

7:30 AM MEMBERS OF PARISH FAMILY

9:00 AM +Darrell Goodin

Janice Goodin

11:15 AM

Spec. Int. of

Rev. John Valdez

Pat Wilcox

Week at a Glance

RE News

*Sacramental meeting for parents of students are as follows: --(Confirmation Year 2)

Nov. 28 from 7-8 p.m. (Location to be determined based on size of the group; will be notified through flocknote and during Fr.

John’s announcements) *NO classes this week due to our Thanksgiving holiday!

RCIA News +Seeking volunteers to help lead an Inquiry class once a month! Please contact Kerry if interested.

+Fall inquiry classes will be December 3 and December 17

from 10:05-11:05 in the library. Join us at any time!

+Contact Kerry Acker DRE at kacker@stthomasamarillo.org or 806.358.2461 for more info on RCIA or Religious Education!

Adult Faith Formation

Religious Education News MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27 6:30 p.m. - Cub Scouts Den Meetings - Education Wing TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 10:00 a.m. - The Bible & Mary (AFF) -Marian Room 2:00 p.m. - Divine Mercy Cenacle Group - Marian Room 7:00 p.m. - Boy Scout Troop 87 - Gym WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 7:30 a.m. - ACTS Small Group - Library 9:00 a.m. - Community Bible Study - Parlor 9:30 a.m. - Marianist Group - Marian Room 5:30 p.m. - No Confessions 6:00 p.m. - Prayer Shawl Group - Parlor 6:30 p.m. - RCIA Class - Upper Room 6:30 p.m. - Adult Handbells - Music Win 6:30 p.m. - K.I.D.S. Choirs - Music Wing 7:00 p.m. - High School STAY - The Dwelling/Gym THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 10:00 a.m. - Rosary Group - Chapel 6:30 p.m. - Deacon Prayer Group - Parlor FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 11:00 a.m. - Interfaith Hunger Project - Gym 6:30 p.m. - Rotary Christmas Party - Msgr. Tash Hall SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 6:00 a.m. - That Man Is You - Msgr. Tash Hall 9:00 a.m. - St. Nicholas Visit - Msgr. Tash Hall 3:00 p.m. - Why Catholic Group - Groom’s Room 3:30 p.m. - Confessions - Chapel 6:00 p.m. - Holiday Potluck Meal - Msgr. Tash Hall/Gym/Parlor SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 9:00 a.m. - Coffee & Fellowship - Parlor 9:00 p.m. - Youth Advent - Church 10:00 a.m. - Catechumenate Class - Groom’s Room 10:05 a.m. - Forgiven (AFF) -Upper Room 10:05 a.m. - RE Classes - Education Wing 10:05 a.m. - RCIA Inquiry Class - Library 10:05 a.m. - Where is that in the Bible? (AFF) -Marian Room 11:15 a.m. - Breaking Open the Word - Library 5:00 p.m. - Youth Orchestra - Music Wing 5:30 p.m. - Youth Bells - Music Wing 6:15 p.m. - Youth Choir - Music Wing

ADVENT REFLECTIONS

A faith-sharing experience grounded in the Sunday Gospel readings, provides an opportunity to look ahead to our

celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Join us on Wed., Dec., 6, 13, & 20, at 10:05 a.m., in the Upper Room

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FORGIVEN

FORGIVEN explores the grace and healing offered in Confession and shows how this sacrament of mercy

reveals the depth and bounty of God’s love. (FORGIVEN is a three-session series)

Join us on Sun., Dec., 3, 10, & 17, at 10:05, a.m., in the Upper Room

For more information contact Dayamín Winchester at dwinchester@stthomasamarillo.org or 358-2461, ext. 123