5 APRIL 2020

Saint Thomas More Parish

Rev. Father Nicholas Schumm, Pastor Rev. Father Eugene Casserly, Priest in residence Rev. Monsignor John Cassidy, Pastor emeritus Lois Hicks, Parish Assistant, Office Manager Robin Whipple, Receptionist James White, Part-time maintenance

Finance Council Jim Mathis, chairperson Anne Bode Joe Buehler Mort O’Sullivan

Parish Pastoral Council Molly Henley, chairperson Ann Bode, finance council representative Heidi Nees, secretary Karen Buelow Kathy Decker Bill Janis Patrick Kinnell Carl Smith Delia Stierwalt Other Parish Groups and Ministries Sacred Liturgy - Father Nicholas Schumm Ushers - Charlie Dickin Religious Education - Rita Tolbert Youth Group - Sarah Manning RCIA - Father Nicholas Schumm Ladies Altar Society, CCW - Heidi Nees Knights of Columbus - James Etheridge Bereavement - Charlene Grant Outreach - Lynn VanNatter HOPE Ministry - Nelson Ortiz Burse Club - Joyce Edgar Book Club - Mary Williams Prayer Chain - Walter Marsh

MASS INTENTIONS

SATURDAY – April 4th EUNICE GRIER †

Req. by: Joe Buehler

SUNDAY – April 5th SUSAN HENDERSON † Req. by: Alexa Swiniarski

SUNDAY — April 5th

PRO POPULO

MONDAY - April 6th JOHN D. BOWEN † Req. by: Jim Bowen

TUESDAY – April 7th JIM MCKENZIE † Req. by: Joe Buehler

WEDNESDAY - April 8th

EDWARD TOWNSELL † Req. by: Catherine Voisinet

HOLY THURSDAY– April 9th

ALL PRIESTS & SEMINARIANS

GOOD FRIDAY - April 10th NO MASS

HOLY SATURDAY – April 11th

HEALTH & SALVATION FOR ALL

EASTER SUNDAY—April 12th PRO POPULO

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

WE WELCOME YOU

New to the parish? There are Parish Registration forms in the

vestibule, please fill a form out and give it to an usher/greeter, place it in the offertory collection, or stop by the parish office.

God greatly exalted [Christ] and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.

— Philippians 2:9

EMERGENCY PHONE LINE

Attention parishioners of Saint Thomas More

Parish! Our priests have a new phone line for

Sacramental emergency only (850-266-5996)

April 2, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

At Saint Thomas More Parish our primary concern is the holiness, health and safety of our parishioners. We

are praying for all who have been impacted by the current health crisis, especially the sick and their care

givers. The spread of COVID-19 has truly impacted our parish, our community and our country. We will

continue to communicate with you about our parish events and activities as often as possible so that you

are aware of what is going on at Saint Thomas More Parish.

Our primary role is to provide for the spiritual and pastoral needs of the faithful. Additionally, as members

of the broader community, we are committed to participating in the larger response by our cities and state.

Bishop Wack’s decision to dispense from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, as well as the canceling or

curtailing of all other liturgical events and gatherings, was based on the CDC and state government guide-

lines. Local priests were to provide for the needs of their parishioners within these parameters.

We must continue to pray and support those most vulnerable – the poor, those with less stable employ-

ment, and parents who need to work and are unable to find childcare. In a special way, we want to support

the elderly, sick and homebound who may feel isolated and lonely. In the spirit of Lent, I ask all of us to

embrace the works of mercy with zeal and to practice a spirit of gratitude and generosity to others, wheth-

er it be using our time to pray, giving to our parish offertory, or donating to the Catholic Sharing Appeal.

Please know that we are committed to continuing the good work of our parish and the Church at this time.

We want to thank each of you for the many ways you support our mission, and ask that you please contin-

ue to support the work of our Church. Our parish is dependent upon your weekly financial gifts to continue

its ministries in this time of crisis when we are not able to go to Mass. Please use this time to transition to

online giving using this link. To do this, please visit our website at www.stthomasmore.ptdiocese.org for

our online giving link through VANCO, or mail your weekly offertory donations to the parish at 510

Bayshore Drive, Pensacola, FL 32507. We are grateful for your contributions and continued support.

Join me in prayer for the repose of those who have died, for the recovery of those who are sick, for the

strength of healthcare workers and caregivers, and for an end to this health crisis. Please be assured of my

prayers for all of you, our Saint Thomas More parishioners, and know that we are here for you.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Nicholas Schumm

Pastor

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES

Sunday: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Monday: Monday of Holy Week

Tuesday: Tuesday of Holy Week

Wednesday: Wednesday of Holy Week; Passover begins

Thursday: Holy Thursday; The Sacred Paschal Triduum

Friday: Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday); Fast and Abstinence

Saturday: The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night; Holy Saturday

Please, pray for our sick parishioners:

Richard Beecher

Rusty Bizzell

Dottie Bosso

Needa Brazwell

Rusty Budde

Carolyn Sue Cadora

Jan Marie Caruso

Anna Christco

Beth Gutermuth

Richard Hahner

Regina Kaufman

Genny Manwaring

Geny Manwaring

Nelson Ortiz

Dan Owczarczak

Jane Pearson

Damion Rampersaud

Babe Rohan

Bob Russo

Mary Teschel

Terry Teschel

Shelba Westmoreland

Jinann Wey

Robin Whipple

Dorothy Wilkerson

If someone needs the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

please call the Parish Office at 850-456-2543. If there is no answer, please leave a message with

name and phone number and the priest will call you back.

DIOCESAN SECOND COLLECTIONS

April 9—Seminarian Collection (Education of Future Priests) April 10—Shrines of the Holy Land Collection April 25 & 26—Catholic Home Missions Appeal

CATHOLIC SHARING APPEAL 2020 Total Pledge Goal: $35,689.89

Number of Families Pledged: 97**

Number of Parish Families: 295

**To be considered an active parishioner one must be registered, participate regularly in Mass,

give to offertory and participate in Catholic Sharing Appeal.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3, 13-14; Jn 12:1-11

Tuesday: Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-6, 15, 17; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

Wednesday: Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34;

Mt 26:14-25

Thursday: Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9;

Ps 89:21-22, 25, 27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21

Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:23- 26; Jn 13:1-15

Friday: Is 52:13 — 53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25 Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1 — 19:42

Saturday: a) Gn 1:1 — 2:2 [1:1, 26-31a]; Ps 104:1-2, 5 -6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35; or Ps 33:4-7, 12 -13, 20-22 b) Gn 22:1-18 [1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15- 18]; Ps 16: 5, 8-11; c) Ex 14:15 — 15:1; Ex 15:1-6, 17-18; d) Is 54:5-14; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13;e) Is 55:1-11; Is 12:2-6; f) Bar 3:9- 15, 32 — 4:4; Ps 19:8-11; g) Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28; Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3-4 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 or Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; h) Rom 6:3-11; i) Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Mt 28:1-10

Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22- 23; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or Mt 28:1-10 or (at an afternoon or evening Mass) Lk 24:13-35

THE CROSS

We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered.

CURRENTLY ALL MASSES AND GATHERINGS ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

ONLINE GIVING AVAILABLE

For your convenience we offer online giving at Saint Thomas More Parish. You can set up your profile to automatically give weekly, monthly or however you wish and choose the account you wish to give to, whether offertory, maintenance, etc. This is also traceable offertory for tax state-ments and parishioner guidelines.

If you are interested in participating, go to www.Vancopayments.com or you can go to our website www.stthomasmore.ptdiocese.org and click on e-giving. Get started today.

Saint Thomas More Parish News & Noteworthy Items

RICE BOWL COLLECTION Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl project continues to connect Catholics in our diocese with our brothers and sisters in need around the world. Pick up your rice bowl today in the Narthex. At this time there is a box behind the back pew in the church, We will also collect Rice Bowl’s once Mass-es resume.

CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES

Follow directions of State and Local Authorities If you feel sick, stay at home. Do not go in public. Elders who have a serious underlying health condition should stay at home and away from other people. If someone in your household has tested positive for the Coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. Work or study from home whenever possible. Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people. Avoid eating or drinking at bars and restaurants. Use pickup or delivery options. Avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips, and social visits. Do not visit nursing homes or retirement or long term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance. Always practice good hygiene. Wash your hands, especially after touching any frequently used item or surface. Avoid touching your face. Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow. Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible. PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE IS AT RISK NO MATTER AGE OR HEALTH AND YOUR ACTIVITIES CAN INCREASE THE RISK FOR OTHERS. PLEASE DO YOUR PART TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.