1st Sunday of Lent • March 10, 2019

2160 North Edward Decatur, IL 62526 (217) 877-4146 StThomasDecatur@gmail.com

PRAYERS FOR YOUR INTENTIONS Mass Intentions: If you would like to have a Mass offered for a deceased loved one or friend, or for another intention, please call the parish office: 877-4146. Visit StThomasDecatur.com to see available Mass dates in the coming months. Select “Mass Intentions” under the “Pray with Us” menu. The parish petition book is located on a stand in the chapel under the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. If you would like the parish to pray for your intention, please write the intention in the book.

HYMNS FOR THIS MASS

Gathering Hymn Enter the Journey 657

Presentation of Gifts Remember Your Love 662

Communion In Every Age 782

Closing Hymn We Belong to You 643

LITURGY SCHEDULE

Weekends Saturday 4 pm Sunday 10 am

Weekdays Monday-Thursday 8:30 am

Reconciliation Saturday, 11 am at OLOL

Saturday, 3 pm at St. Thomas

Eucharistic Adoration First Saturday at 8:30 am

Decatur Catholic Radio WDCR 88.9/96.5

INTENTION FOR MARCH

That in these days of such

great cold that we think of all the people living on the streets, affected by the cold and by the indifference of others. We pray

for them and ask the Lord to warm the hearts of others

to help them.

https://stthomasdecatur.com/pray-with-us/prayer-intentions/

FIRST WEEK OF LENT

We are now starting the first full week of Lent. What decisions have we made that we will be doing during the Lenten season? What is something that I must sacrifice in order to get closer to God and rise to new life? Lent can be a very healthy season for us if we use it properly. Get rid of the old problems and fill your life with God’s love, peace and joy.

ADULT SCRIPTURE CLASS Next week we will have the adult Scripture class ‘A Biblical Walk through Christ’s Passion. The series finally arrived!!! Tuesday night at 6:30 and Wednesday morning at 10:00 the class will be held. Please join us for this opportunity to learn and understand more about the Lenten season.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday in the parishes. St. Thomas the Apostle—3:00 Our Lady of Lourdes—5:30.

ANNUAL CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL

We still have 4 months to offer our contribution to the Annual Catholic Services Appeal. Please help in any way you can. Every dollar you send to the Annual Catholic Services Appeal saves the parish that amount of money. This is a bill that we have to pay. Please help.

Thanks and God bless —Fr. Rick

First Sunday of Lent

Facing Temptation

Temptation gets right in our face. It also hides around the corner. From Eden, down to today. Each of us and all of us deal with this allurement – even Jesus, who is like us in all things but sin. We can resist it all, as Jesus did, by faithful adherence to God who is always faithful.

What will I do to resist the coaxing allurement of what is tempting me?

How can I pray for help this Lent?

How will I confess faith in God, and not the evil one, today?

Pick Up Your Rice Bowl Today

Rice Bowls are available in the back of church to help support the mission of Catholic Relief Services.

Did you know: every year Catholics in the U.S. assist nearly 100 Million of the world’s poorest people through CRS, and the Rice Bowl is a way for Catholics in the United States to live out Pope Francis’ call to end world hunger.

The St. Thomas Lunch Bunch will meet at the Wagon Restaurant, 3190 N. Woodford St. (the former Moose Lodge), Decatur, on Tues, March 11 at 11:15 a.m. Join us for food and conversation.

Are You Fasting This Lent? In the Words of Pope Francis

Fast from hurting words … and say kind words

Fast from sadness … and be filled with gratitude

Fast from anger … and be filled with patience

Fast from pessimism … and be filled with hope

Fast from worries … and have trust in God

Fast from complaints … and contemplate simplicity

Fast from pressures … and be prayerful

Fast from bitterness … and fill your hearts with joy

Fast from selfishness … and be compassionate

Fast from grudges … and be reconciled

Fast from words … and be silent so you can listen

St. Thomas the Apostle │ 3

Saturday, March 9, 2019 4:00 pm – Helen Moran

Sunday, March 10, 2019 10:00 am – Louis Vighi

Monday, March 11, 2019 8:30 am – Elmer and Alice Rosentretter

Tuesday, March 12, 2019 8:30 am – Jim Martin

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 8:30 am – Mary Dorothy Epping and

Sr. Mary Alicia Sours

Thursday, March 14, 2019 8:30 am – Ireland and Foster Families

Friday, March 15, 2019 NO MASS

Saturday, March 16, 2019 4:00 pm – Dee Mennel

Sunday, March 17, 2019 10:00 am – David Mooney

Please Remember in your Prayers All who are Ill at Home or in the Hospital

and their Families and Caregivers

Irene Crotser, Rita Faith,

Pat Feriozzi, Neil Ganley, Kay Henry,

Helen Holden,

Sawyer Dale Hunter, Kathleen Krahn,

Dr. Philip Lynch, Lucia Molloy,

Kelly McLean, Bob Murphy, Robert Murray,

Priests of Our Diocese,

David Rohman, Patty Rohman,

Roger Sexton, Mary Shimp, Braden Sorrell,

Lori Sullivan, Reynaldo Tapia Jr.,

Mary Jo Valkamp, Madonna Wingert,

Tami Wittenauer,

Rev. David Zimmerman

Pastor: Rev. Richard Weltin Deacon Kevin Richardson Plant Manager: Vern Wilson (volunteer) Director of Music: Billie Shay

2160 N. Edward Street, Decatur, IL 62526

(217) 877-4146

Web site: StThomasDecatur.com

StThomasDecatur@gmail.com

Office Hours: 9am-noon, Monday-Thursday

Parish Office

Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Springfield Diocese is Pat Kornfeld. She can be contacted at (217) 321-1155 or pkornfeld@dio.org.

Collected Budgeted

March 2/3 $5,634. $4,500.

_________________________________________________________

Year-to-Date Total: $174,818. $164,000.

Other Envelope Collections

Sister Parish Donations $327. Repair/Maint. Church Donations $225. Easter Flowers $400. Catholic Times $20. Catholic Charities $75. Central/Eastern Europe $95. Catholic Relief Services $65. Assistance for the Needy (February) $182.

https://stthomasdecatur.com

St. Thomas the Apostle │ 4a 4b │ St. Thomas the Apostle

Weekly Tip: Walking around with ashes on our heads

reminds us of our mortality and our need for God’s forgiveness. Don’t lose an opportunity

to strengthen your marriage or seek reconciliation with a loved one.

Please pray for those in our Sister Parish, Immaculate Conception, in Comapa, Guatemala, as they pray for us.

G U A T E M A L A

Lenten Fish Fry Our Lady of Lourdes school gym — March 15, 22, and 29, from 4:30-7pm. Carry-out orders available. Call 877-4408 to place your order beginning at 4 pm. Catfish, Baked Cod, Walleye $8, Shrimp $8.50. Dinner includes: French fries or baked potato, coleslaw, bread and soft drink. Children’s meals: walleye or hot dog, fries, and soft drink, $4.

55 Plus Gathering ~ March. 20

The next 55+ Community

Gathering will be

Wednesday, Mar. 20 with Mass in St. Anne’s Chapel at

11:30 a.m., noon potluck (entrée, beverage, and table

setting provided; please bring a dish to share), and program after lunch.

Guest speaker Karen Fulte will provide

updates on the canonization process for Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. All fifty-five and over

are welcome – bring a friend!

Please RSVP to Gigi Langhauser,

875-2683, by Friday, March 15th.

Stations of the Cross

Pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent. Please join us for these reflections on the last hours of Christ’s life.

Fri. 3 p.m. — ST. THOMAS

Fri. 5:30 p.m. — OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Mon. 6:30 p.m. — HOLY FAMILY

Thu. 12:10 p.m. — ST. PATRICK

Thu. 5:30 p.m. — Holy Hour at OUR LADY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Thu. 6:30 p.m. — OUR LADY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Fri. 2:30 p.m. — HOLY FAMILY (April 5 and 12 will be at 10:30 a.m.)

Join us as we welcome Chuck Neff, Host of The Inner Life, as the keynote speaker for WDCR’s 8th Annual Dinner on Thursday, April 11th at the Mt Zion Convention Center. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Dinner served 6:15 p.m. Reservations are $50 per person or $500 table of ten. Please call 464-1099. Download Flyer at wdcrradio.com

Lenten Enrichment Opportunity

Ss. James and Patrick Parish is hosting a parish mission March 24-27, 2019 from 7-8:15 pm at St. Patrick Church. Monsignor Daniel Deutsch, pastor of St. Bridget Parish near Rockford, will be speaking on the History of Salvation. Come and discover the connection between the Old and New Testament and how the seven covenants reflect family and liturgy. Please come and join us for part of all of the mission.