January 5, 2020 • The Epiphany of the Lord

Pastoral Associate for

Elementary Catechetics

Tracey Hann

School Principal

Michael Petrillo

DIRECTOR OF LITURGICAL

MUSIC MINISTRIES

Dr. Patricio Molina

Assistant Liturgical

Music MinisterS

Kimberley Mesiti

Pastoral Associate for Family

& Adult Formation Ministries

Robert P. Miller

COORDINATOR OF YOUTH MINISTRYQuinn Furnald

TRUSTEESBernadette LipomaJames McKittrick

St. Thomas the ApostleSt. Thomas the ApostleRoman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church

Rectory/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: www.stachurchbloomfi eld.comFacebook: Saint Thomas the Apostle Church Twitter: @stachurchnj

Parish Center Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm. Friday 9am-1pm & 2pm-5pm, Saturday 9am-1pm

Eucharistic LiturgySaturday Eve: 5:00pm

Sundays: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30am & 12:00 Noon

Weekdays: 7:30, & 11:30am

Saturday Mornings: 8:30am Only

Holy Days:7:30, 11:30am & 7:30pm

Holidays: 8:30am Only

Sacrament of Reconciliation

(Penance/Confessions)Saturday: 11:00am

Marian Devotions

MondaysNovena Prayer 11:30am Mass

Liturgy of the Word

With ChildrenSundays: 10:30am Mass

September - June

Catholic Community

ServicesOffering Social

Service Assistance1(800) CCS-7413

Fax: 596-3735

Rev. Lawrence J. Fama, PastorRev. Charles J. Miller, Pastor Emeritus

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Antonio T. Sarento, M.Div. In Residence: Rev. John Gordon, V.F., Rev. Charles Pinyan

Weekend Assistant: Rev. Thomas CemborPERMANENT DEACONS

Deacon Thomas J. Coyle • Deacon Brian J. MurphyDeacon Dennis J. Besida, Retired • Deacon Albert H. Tizzano, Retired

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Epiphany of the Lord January 5, 2020

Masses for the Week

First Saturday, January 4 5:00 pm Helen Rohan – Family

Sunday, January 5 Epiphany of the Lord 7:30 am Loretta DiMichele – Bequest 9:00 am For the People 10:30 am Anthony Aversa – Friend 12:00 pm Joseph Marcheel – Sister

Monday, January 6 Christmas Weekday St. Andre Bessette, Religious 7:30 am Anthony Aversa – Family 11:30 am Patricia Antonicello – Family

Tuesday, January 7 Christmas Weekday St. Raymond of Penafort, Priest 7:30 am Thomas Portelli – Friend 11:30 am Harold Seide – Friend

Wednesday, January 8 Christmas Weekday 7:30 am Ann Riley – Bequest 11:30 am Joseph Marcheel – Sister

Thursday, January 9 Christmas Weekday 7:30 am Joseph Imfeld – Family 11:30 am Mary Margaret Tizzano – Bequest

First Friday, January 10 Christmas Weekday 7:30 am Fay DeLorenzo – Bequest 11:30 am Joseph Shelesky – Family

First Saturday, January 11 Christmas Weekday 8:30 am Wendy Sutton – Friend 5:00 pm Brendan Boyle – Bequest

Sunday, January 12 Baptism of the Lord 7:30 am Louis & Patricia Occhetti – Family 9:00 am For the People 10:30 am Barbara Ellmer – Husband 12:00 pm Ted Wohlbold – Family

PRAY FOR OUR SICK

Virginia Fallon, Phyllis Manion, John Rennie, Nancy Salerno, Lucinda (Lucy) Avalone

REST IN PEACE

Aurelia Stypulkoski

SANCTUARY CANDLE INTENTIONS

CHURCH: Peter Plaia RECTORY: Nick Mandato

Gospel Reading - Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi seek out Jesus and do him homage.

The visit of the Magi occurs directly before the story of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. Matthew’s Gospel tells a version of Jesus’ birth that is different than the one in Luke. Of the actual birth of Jesus, Matthew tells us little more than, “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod . . . ” The story of the census is found only in Luke’s Gospel, but we hear about the visit of the Magi only in Matthew’s Gospel. We know little about the Magi. They come from the East and journey to Bethlehem, following an astrological sign, so we believe them to be astrologers. We assume that there were three Magi based upon the naming of their three gifts. The Gospel does not say how many Magi paid homage to Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, they represent the Gentiles’ search for a savior. Because the Magi represent the entire world, they also represent our search for Jesus. We have come to consider the gifts they bring as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ role in salvation. We believe the meaning of the gifts to be Christological. Gold is presented as representative of Jesus’ kingship. Frankincense is a symbol of his divinity because priests burned the substance in the Temple. Myrrh, which was used to prepare the dead for burial, is offered in anticipation of Jesus’ death. The word Epiphany means “manifestation” or “showing forth.” Historically several moments in Christ’s early life and ministry have been celebrated as “epiphanies,” including his birth in Bethlehem, the visit of the Magi, his baptism by John, and his first miracle at Cana.

View this bulletin online at: http://stachurchbloomfield.com/bulletin

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STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE The Main source of operating funds for St. Thomas is our weekly / holyday offertory collections. The information below will show where the Parish is as of December 22nd compared to the budget amount for the year. The break-even date is June 30, 2020. The amount needed each week is $17,496 and the amount collected last weekend was $16,820.

Budget Amount Year to Date Remaining Amount $892,300 $417,414 $474,886

The year to date amount is negative by $19,986 as of week number 25 in our current budget year.

HELP NEEDED We are looking to create a "Parish Center Guild" whose

members would fill in at the reception desk to answer the phones and door when staff members are sick. Please call Mary at the Parish Center and leave your name and phone

number if you are interested in this ministry. THANK YOU

This week at STA stachurchbloomfield.com

Location key: (CH) Church (PC) Parish Center (G) Gym (HH) Herron Hall

Day Date Time Event and location (refer to key) Su 1/5 10:00a

10:30a 1:00p 1:00p

RCIA (PC) Mass – Children’s Liturgy (PC) Baptism Preparation (PC) Pageant (CH)

M 1/6 11:30a 3:40p 6:00p 7:00p

September Clup (PC) CCD (HH) Cub Scouts (HH) Rosary (CH)

T 1/7 3:40p 6:00p 7:00p

CCD (HH) Girl Scouts (HH) Boy Scouts (G)

W 1/8 4:00p 7:00p

Chime (PC) Small Christian Community (PC)

Th 1/9 6:00p 7:30p

Cub Scouts (HH) Choir Adult (PC)

F 1/10 7:30p Small Christian Community (PC) Sa 1/11 11:00a Confession (CH) Su 1/12 10:00a

10:30a 1:30p

RCIA (PC) Mass – Children’s Liturgy (PC) Baptism Sacrament (CH)

Christmas Season at

St. Thomas the Apostle Church

SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY (Annual “Bell Sunday”)

Saturday, January 4th - 5:00pm Vigil Mass Sunday, January 5th - 7:30, 9:00, &10:30am

12 noon with Bell Choir (Children’s Epiphany Pageant following 12 noon Mass)

STA School invites parishioners to submit

Box Tops for Education throughout the year in the

collection box located in the vestibule. Please check for expiration dates and visit

www.btfe.com for a list of participating products. Each Box Tops coupon is worth 10 cents for our

school!

When they saw that the star had stopped, They were overwhelmed with joy. Matthew 2:10

Behold the awe and wonder of this glorious season.

Happy Epiphany!

The Students, Faculty & Staff Saint Thomas the Apostle

School

Join us as we celebrate CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

Opening Liturgy: January 26th, 9:00 a.m. Open House: January 26th, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

New Family Registration begins January 27th

www.staschoolnj.org

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Parish Stewardship Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

My parish is composed of people like me; I help make it what it is.

It will be friendly, if I am.

Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.

It will do great work, if I work.

It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.

It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them.

It will be a parish of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a parish with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things.

Therefore, with Your help, O God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all things that I want my parish to be.

Reprinted from the September 2019 issue of One Family in Mission newsletter, courtesy of the Office of Parish Stewardship, Diocese of Rockville Centre.

NEW HOLY WATER DISPENSER

Thanks to the generosity of Angelique and Roland Sharps we have a brand new holy water dispenser. It is located in the niche on the north side of the church near the Reconciliation Room.

You are welcome to bring in bottles to take some of the water home to use to bless your homes and your family.

Pre-Cana Informational Meeting If you’re looking for a great way to spend some quality time with your spouse why not join our Pre Cana team? We are looking for table leaders, administrative helpers, speakers, etc. No experience necessary! If interested please come to our Informational meeting in the Parish Center on Saturday, January 11th at 9:00am. See you there!

SPECIAL INTENTIONS

Our 2020 Mass book is almost filled. When it is filled there will be no more Masses available until we open the 2021 Mass book in early 2020. We will give you a 3-week notice in the bulletin.

There are other ways to remember your loved ones here at St. Thomas. We have Memorial candles, including the Sanctuary Lamps in the church and in the Rectory chapel.

If you would like to have a Mass said for your loved one quickly, we offer “off-site” Masses which will be said at the Archdiocesan Center by Fr. John Gordon, by the prison ministry, and at St. John Vianney in Rutherford by one of our retired priests.

Spotlight On Religious Education

The St. Thomas Religious Education program currently enrolls nearly 500 students between two programs. Our Summer CCD program runs for two weeks in July for four hours each day and the children are in grade 1 and grades 3-8. The children are able to go to mass each day and participate in various community service projects in addition to religious instruction because of the extended day. Students that attend Summer CCD must also attend workshops in Advent and Lent. Signups for Summer CCD take place in February.

Our Fall CCD program runs from September to May – grades 3 to 8 go on Mondays and grades 1 and 2 go on Tuesdays. Classes run from 3:40-5:00. Signups for Fall CCD take place in April. All Religious Education registrations are done online at stachurchbloomfield.com

Currently, our Fall students are participating in Pennies for Babies. The kids have to fill baby bottles with coins they have earned doing odd jobs around the house. All money collected will go to Several Sources Shelter, a home for unwed mothers.

Our second graders are preparing for First Penance in February and First Communion in April. Our eighth graders are starting to do their community service hours for Confirmation, which takes place in the fall.

We are blessed to have many incredible volunteers who come back each year and share their faith with the children of our parish, planting seeds of faith for years to come! Currently we have five volunteers with over 25 years of service to Religious Education: Rich Bevere, Gail DeFalcon, Kim Freda, Kathy McKittrick, and Eileen O’Grady. Frank Candido has volunteered for more than 20 years. Diane O’Connell has taught our Special Needs classes for 14 years and Mary Pat Bogart has volunteered in our office for almost ten years. Additionally, we are currenty thrilled to have two alumni of our program teaching in grade one – Mary Nucci and Mia McLaughlin! Lucia Avallone and Phyllis Scimone are valuable helpers in grade 2 – preparing the kids for their sacraments. Thank you to ALL of our incredible teachers and volunteers!

We are always in need of teachers for our program. No experience is necessary! If interested call Tracey Hann at 973-338-7400 or email at rclan1@verizon.net.

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NEW TO OUR PARISH? WELCOME!! PARISH MEMBERSHIP; New Parishioners are request to register in the Parish as soon as possible. Please notify the Parish Office of any changes in address or phone number.

Name_________________________________________

Address_______________________________________

Town_________________________________________

Phone________________________________________

Email_________________________________________

____ I wish to receive a registration form

____ I have an address change

____ I am moving out of the Parish

Please cut out and return to Parish office or drop in the collection basket.

Giving Tree Program Once again, the people of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish have done an amazing job participating in the Annual Advent Giving Tree Program.

Your generosity and continued support has not only made this program successful, but has brightened the Christmas season for many. We collected over $4,500 in ShopRite, Stop&Shop, Target & Kohl’s gift cards for our parish. There were 79 very large bags of gifts and various gift cards for the organizations listed below.

1. Interfaith Hospitality for the Homeless of Essex County - Montclair, NJ

2. Dr. Lena Edwards Charter School - Jersey City, NJ 3. Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Center for

Hemophilia – Newark NJ 4. St Rose of Lima Parish – Newark NJ 5. Alaris Health - St. Mary’s Life Center, Orange NJ 6. St. Joseph’s Social Service Center, Elizabeth NJ

Special thanks to everyone who assisted in: Creating the tags, adding the ribbon and attaching

the labels The setting up & taking down the Giving Trees Bringing the gifts down to the Parish Center Sorting & bagging the gifts

The Organizations are very thankful to the St Thomas Community for their spirit of giving.

Living the 3 T’s By sharing your Time, Talent, & Treasure

“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret...” (Mt 6:3-4)

For Jesus’ greater honor and glory now that Christmas is “over,” let’s commit to playing the role of “Secret Santa” throughout the new year, gifting others with spiritual and material gifts—anonymously--wanting nothing in return, “except” God’s nod of approval—knowing that on top of that, as Jesus promises when we give alms secretly: “…[our] Father who sees in secret will repay [us].” (Mt 6:4)

Happy New Year from St. Thomas Youth Ministry! UPCOMING! TNL ON 1/12 at 7pm in St. Peter Room For All Teens in Grades 9-12

Save the date for our next BOLD MIDDLE EVENT!

For all middle school students! Theme January 10th, 2020! More details coming soon!

“GLOW” Already interested? Let us know at StThomas@boldym.com

Questions, please contact us at StThomas@boldym.com

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St. Thomas the Apostle Calendar Raffle

THERE’S STILL TIME!!! $$$ $$$ $$$ $$$ $$$ $$$

It's that time of year! The STA Home & School Association is holding its annual Calendar Raffle. The proceeds will directly support the education programs at St. Thomas the Apostle School.

We ask for a $10.00 donation for each raffle ticket. The raffle will begin February 3, 2020 and run through April 30, 2020. Prizes range from $100 to $1,000.

You can pick up raffle tickets at the STA School Office, the STA Parish Center, or you can order them from Michele Gilfillan at mggilfillan@yahoo.com or at (646) 584 8187. Checks or money orders can be made out to STA Home & School Association. Deadline for purchasing tickets is January 31, 2020.

The raffle tickets make a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for college students, grandparents, and friends!

January 19, 2020 Sunday 8am to 12 noon

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

STA PARISH CENTER.

SOMETHING NEW

We have added a "Petition Book" to our church near the Reconciliation Room. Here you may list any special intentions that you have and we will pray for them at our weekend Masses.

Family Connection for January 5th

The Epiphany of Our Lord

The tradition of giving gifts at Christmas is thought by some to be rooted in the gift giving of the Magi. In many cultures, gifts are not exchanged at Christmas, but rather on the feast of the Epiphany. Whenever you exchange your Christmas gifts, take some time to reflect on this tradition of gift giving at Christmas. Think of the best gift you have received. What was it? What made it special? Was it the gift itself, the thought that went into it, or the person who gave it to you?

Read today’s Gospel, Matthew 2:1-12. The gifts of the Magi—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—have come to be understood as symbols of Christ’s royalty, divinity, and eventual suffering and death. They are special because in giving them, the Magi acknowledge who Jesus was to be: our Savior. We pray that we will acknowledge Jesus as Savior in all that we do and say. Conclude by singing together “We Three Kings.”

https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/epiphany-of-the-lord-sunday-connection

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