STA

The Roman Catholic Community of Saint Thomas Aquinas & Holy Family. Two churches - Joining as ONE Family - Together in Love. www.stthomasaquinaschurch.org

Sunday, November 27, 2005

1st Sunday of Advent Introit

The Introit for the First Sunday of Advent ~
Ad te levávi ánimam méam: Déus méus in te confído, non erubéscam: neque irrídeant me inimíci méi: étenim univérsi qui te exspéctant, non confundéntur. Psalm ~ Vias tuas, Dómine, demónstra mihi: et sémitas túas édoce me.
To You I lift up my soul: in You, O my God, I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. No one who waits for You shall be put to shame. (Psalm 24:1-3) Psalm ~ Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me Your paths. (Psalm 24: 4)
Let us imagine a companion this Sunday at Mass, a fellow parishioner. Man or woman, whatever you prefer (I will use the masculine pronoun as I learned my grammar many years ago) young or old. He is certainly not the greatest of sinners but far from being a saint. He tries and sometimes succeeds in being both a good person and a good Catholic. In short, he is a person very much like you and me. What thoughts do these Sundays in Advent provoke in him?
“I had completely forgotten that today is the beginning of Advent. Funny how the Church is beginning a new year while the rest of the world hurtles madly towards the end of the old one. How out of step the Church is. I already feel the year end and holiday stress. I’ll never get it all done and I can’t afford the half of it anyway.”
“Yet the Church tells me that Advent is a quiet meditative season, a time of gentle patience and expectation. This Introit they are singing, why do they sing that instead of a hymn? Anyway, the music is in turn both dramatic and plaintive. What does it say? It is both a plea and a promise. Ah, I certainly could stand to be rid of a few enemies!”
“What if it is real and what I left outside is false? God was certainly no abstraction to King David. He was a very real and present and personal God! Hum, maybe this Advent season will lead me somewhere.”
Come Lord Jesus!! Enter our hearts this Advent!

Sunday, November 20, 2005

We give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We give thanks to God for His many blessings!! For the food we eat and the family & friends that love us! For the fact that we are alive and well and living in Brooklyn!!

Next Wednesday evening the parish community of St. Thomas Aquinas will gather together for our family Thanksgiving celebration!!! Please bring a donation for our Food Pantry. As is appropriate the little children will lead us, so we invite all young people to arrive at 7:15 p.m. dressed as either a Pilgrim or an Indian. Our Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. and be followed by a reception in the church auditorium. Tea, coffee and apple cider will be served and we invite people to participate in our sharing table. Please Join Us!

May your Thanksgiving Day be filled with good fellowship and yummy food! GOBBLE !! GOBBLE!!

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

It's Autumn in Beautiful Brooklyn

There was a S.T.A.R.T. outing to Prospect Park last Saturday and the trees are just starting to come ablaze with color!!! By next weekend the park should be radiant with the splendor of God's beautiful creation!! Autumn is a spectacular season -- Don't forget to experience it in the park and while you are there to thank God for his many gifts!!




An Autumn Prayer
By Heather McLees

Lord, as we go forth into this season of falling leaves,
Of Lengthening nights and cooling days,
We listen for the surety of your footfalls
On the rocky path before us,
And watch for the tenderness of your smile
As you look back to beckon us forward,
Onward , in our journey after you.