february 6 – february 7, 2021...2021/02/07 · first communion prep ~we have 32 children...
TRANSCRIPT
PARISH STAFF Rev. Rick Lesser, Pastor
Rev. Richard Leskovar, Weekend Assistant
Deacon Alfred Manzella
Patricia Holm, Pastoral Associate, Administration
Barbara Ruggirello, Bookkeeper
Paul Edmundson, Office Assistant
Peter Bukowski, Facilities Manager
Maura Barrett, LMSW, Pastoral Care Associate
Avery Tunningley, Parish Music Director
Nelly Brown Bunk, Choir Director
Konstantin Tsykun, Contemporary Music Director
FAITH FORMATION AND YOUTH MINISTRY Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Closed Friday.
Patti Staerker, Coordinator, Elementary School Program
Rose Ann Garry, Co-Coordinator, Middle/High School Program
Bridget Zigrosser, Co-Coordinator, Middle/High School Program
Mary Ann Hospodar, Coordinator, Youth Ministry Program
Colleen Harrigan, Secretary
PARISH TRUSTEES: Carmel Foltan and Adele Nucci
ST. THOMAS SCHOOL: 439-5573 Fax: 478-9773 www.stthomas-school.org [email protected] Ernie Casile, Interim School Principal [email protected] Jennifer Murphy, Associate for Enrollment and Development [email protected]
35 Adams Place, Delmar, New York 12054
Office Phone: (518) 439-4951 • Fax: (518) 439-0108
Office E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: Open By Appointment Only
Website: www.stthomas-church.org
WEEKEND MASS Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m., Sunday Mass: 10:00 a.m.
Holy Days As Announced WEEKDAY MASS
Mon and Thurs 7:30 a.m.; Tues and Fri 12:15 p.m. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
No Eucharistic Adoration currently scheduled
RECONCILIATION Tuesday: 11:30 a.m., Saturday: 4:00 p.m. or by appointment
BAPTISM Baptism of infants is usually celebrated on the 3rd and 4th Sundays of the
month. Contact the Parish Office for arrangements. Preparation sessions for parents presenting infants for Baptism are held monthly. RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Contact Paul Edmundson in the Parish Office for information. MATRIMONY
Arrangements for marriage should be made at least 6 to 8 months in advance and before scheduling a reception. Contact the Parish Office for information.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK by request.
CARE OF THE SICK The Pastoral Care Team responds to the needs of homebound or
hospitalized parishioners. Please call to make us aware of persons who would like a visit or home Communion. Contact: Maura Barrett.
NEW PARISHIONER Please register in the parish by calling the office weekdays to set up an
appointment . Please remember our parish in your will. We are: “St. Thomas’ Church of Delmar, N.Y.”
Download Our Parish App at Myparishapp.com!
PARISH MISSION STATEMENT
To proclaim and celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord in a community of faith, to respond to the Spirit by recog-nizing the gifts of each individual and by encouraging their use in Christian service to others and to spread the Word to others by the witness of our lives in order to encourage growth in our
relationships with God and with one another.
FEBRUARY 6 – FEBRUARY 7, 2021
Pastor’s Corner
elementary faith formation (grades 1-5) (Contact: Patti Staerker)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
elementary faith formation (grades 1-5) (Contact: Patti Staerker)
(Contact: Maura Barrett, LMSW)
Pastoral Care
Attending Mass ~ If you plan to attend, please be sure to review the letter which Father Berberian sent to all parishioners. It is also posted on our website, www.stthomas-church.org. This letter gives the spe-
cifics as to what you will need to do to attend. Please re-member to wear a mask (must cover both nose and mouth), bring your hand sanitizer. and remember to be here 30 minutes prior to the start of Mass. For those of you not yet able to attend, the dispensation from attending Mass continues, so you may always watch Masses "livestreamed" by going to the Diocesan web-site: www.rcda.org.
Volunteers for Mass URGENTLY Needed ~ We still need volunteers for Mass to serve as Greeters, Ushers and Cleaners. To continue to offer two Masses, we need more people to help
out, if they are able, to ensure the same people are not asked to serve too frequently. We also need additional Lectors and Eucharis-tic Ministers for each Mass If you think you would now be comfortable serving, please contact Pat Holm in the parish office. Thank you.
Private Prayer ~ If you are planning on visiting the church, you will notice that we have closed off the church during the week. The chapel continues to be availa-ble for private prayer on weekdays and weekends. Please remember to wear a
mask and maintain social distancing.
Parish Office ~ The office contin-ues to be open by appointment on-ly. Please contact any of us directly via email (see front page of the bulletin), by phone, 518-439-4951 or general
email, [email protected]. Requests for Mass cards and sacramental records (i.e. baptism, marriage, etc.) can all be filled out online, or by calling the office. Please don’t come to the office for Mass cards or sac-ramental records.
Prayer & Worship
Prayer Chain ~ Members respond to urgent prayer intentions. Calls are confidential. Contact Pam Seward at: 518-439-7845 for your intention to be added.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER Bernie McHugh and Marilyn Ira whose services were held at St. Thomas recently. May the Lord welcome them into Eternal Life.
"When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings from the mouth." – St. Bonaventure
Parish Pals Telephone Ministry ~ With the assist-ed living facilities on total quarantine of late, Maura is working with the staff to connect with the Catholic resi-dent by phone. Although we are apart, we can still stay connected. Please contact Maura if you are interested in serving in this ministry.
Meal Ministry ~ Our meal ministry is quite active. As you may already know, we have switched to providing gift cards to local restaurants that deliver, due to COVID19. Please let Maura know if you would like to donate to this ministry or if you know of someone who is going through a significant life event (i.e., illness, hos-pitalization, death, new baby, etc.). This is NOT a need-based ministry, but rather a way to provide tangible support to our fellow parishioners.
Call for Valentine Cards ~ Valentine’s Day will be upon us soon, and I would like to make sure our home-bound and long term care residents feel the love of the parish. Cards from young and old appreciated! Please sign with your name “a friend from St. Thomas Church.” Valentines may be left in the Gathering Hall to Maura’s attention until Feb.7. TODAY! THANK YOU!
First Communion Prep ~We have 32 children con-tinuing their preparation for the Sacrament of First Communion as our 4th graders are just beginning their study of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you have children currently preparing for the sacraments, stay tuned to the bulletin, the church website and your email for the latest information.
Prayers for our Elementary FF Children and Parents ~ We ask all of the parish to pray for our 1st through 5th graders and their parents who have had to take on the instruc-tion of their children's faith formation this year due to the pandemic. It continues to be chal-lenging, especially for sacramental prepara-tion. May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen
them in teaching the traditions, prayers and beliefs of our Catholic faith to their children.
Ash Wednesday (Feruary 17) Masses are scheduled
MIDDLE /HIGH SCHOOL FAITH FORMATION
(Contact: Rose Ann Garry or Bridget Zigrosser)
YOUTH MINISTRY (Contact: Mary Ann Hospodar)
School News
Visit us at www.stthomas-school.org or on Facebook at St. Thomas the Apostle School - Delmar
ALL Confirmation Candidates ~ retreat kits will be in the Gathering Hall until this Tues,, Feb. 9. if you weren’t able to pick your retreat kit yet! All the direc-tions are on the Confirmation page of our website.
Reminder! All Middle and High School students Faith Formation classes resume the week of Feb. 22. We will continue with virtual classes for this 5-week session.
Tues. Drive on Feb. 9 3-4 p.m. in church Parking Lot is for the Veterans Miracle Center: Our Veter-ans are most in need of : Microwave Complete Meals, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Sauce, Tuna,
Can Soup, Veggies, Tall Trash Bags, Gallon Zip Lock Bags, Windex and Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Thank you for honoring those who sacrificed much for our Country! God Bless you for your continued generosity!
Next YM VIRTUAL CORE TEAM Meeting is Sun-day Feb. Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. All 7 -12 Graders and parents are welcome to join us! Email Mary Ann for a Google invite! Planning for National Catholic Youth Confer-ence NCYC 2021 “Ablaze/Enciende El Fuego” Nov. 18-20 in Indianapolis, IN is underway. The emcees are Brian Greenfield and Sister Miriam Heidland and together they will dive into the Book of Acts and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Our diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator, Dave Stagli-ano, would like to get an idea on how many students grades 8-11
and adults may be interested in participat-
ing with our Diocesan Team by Feb. 10. Projected costs are $700 per person plus food and transportation. If you are interested or have questions, please email Mary Ann. Please keep NFCYM in your prayers as they plan for a safe NCYC 2021.
Be on the lookout for upcoming Par-
ish Lenten Opportunities in next
week’s bulletin and website! Together
let us make this LENT “MORE ABOUT
JESUS and less about me!”
“For GOD so loved the world that HE gave his
only SON, so that everyone who believe in HIM
may not perish but may have eternal life.”
John3:16.
COVID Bridge Fund ~ This school year, St. Thom-
as the Apostle School has faced the challenges of
bringing students back to the classroom in a way that
best protects them and our faculty and staff. This in-
volved hiring additional staff and making significant
changes to the physical space to accommodate social
distancing and cleaning requirements. The expense is
significant, more than six figures. Please consider
making a one-time donation to help St. Thomas
the Apostle School bridge the gap at this chal-
lenging time by visiting https://www.stthomas-
school.org/giving/Covid-Bridge-Fund/.
Now is the time to get your 2021-2022 ap-
plications in! ~ Spaces are filling up quickly!
Pre-K3, Part-Day & Full-Day Pre-K4 as well as
Grades K-8. It's never too early or too late to find
the better match for your child. Whether you're
looking for a preschool, kindergarten or a middle
grade transfer, St. Thomas the Apostle School offers
the comforts of home while at school. We want the
same things for your children that you want, the best
academic preparation for high school and beyond in
an environment that is Christ-centered. At St. Thom-
as the Apostle School, we are a family. We know
every child by name and work in cooperation with par-
ents to ensure that the needs of every child are met
both academically and spiritually. For more infor-
mation, contact Jennifer Murphy at 518-439-5573 or
Community
Attention Active Older Adults ~ We are
going to start up our senior luncheons again
as a take home lunch. Our first luncheon will
be on Friday, February, 12. Our meal will be
chicken stir fry with rice and vegetables, egg
drop soup, and a spring roll prepared by the Asian Tea
House in Delmar. The meal will be packaged in a bag
for you to pick up. If you are attending the 12:15 Mass,
you may pick up your meal after Mass in the Gathering
Hall. If you are not attending Mass, you may pick up your
meal at 1 o'clock in the Gathering Hall. Each registered
attendee must be in compliance with the St. Thomas
covid-19 safety regulations (mask, hand sanitizing, and
social distancing) . For reservations or cancellations,
For 12:15 and 5:30 PM. Ashes Distribution will be during Mass.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE PARISH
“Advertiser of the Week" ~ This weekend we highlight one of the valued companies advertising in our bulletin:
Applebee Funeral Home Please see their ad in the current bulletin.
Be sure to patronize their business!
OFFERTORY RECEIVED FROM WEEKLY COLLECTION
$8,333.00
OFFERTORY RECEIVED VIA E-GIVING (VANCO)
$1,515.35
TOTAL OFFERTORY RECEIVED $9,848.35
WEEKLY BUDGET AMOUNT NEEDED TO MEET EXPENSES
$14,500.00
TITHE (5% OF TOTAL OFFERTORY) $492.42
TOTAL NUMBER OF GIFTS 144
** INCLUDES LOOSE CASH GIFTS $127.00
STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE – FOR JANUARY 30-31, 2021
Calendar
Tue 2/9 3 PM Weekly Food Dive PL
Fri 2/12 noon Senior Luncheon GH
PLACE: CH – Church; GH – Gathering Hall; LC – Lady Chapel; MC – Media Center; PO – Parish Offices, PP - Peace Pole, Café-Cafeteria, LCR1 or LCR2-Large Conference Rooms Rec Dining room, CHP-Chapel SCH-School, PL-Church Parking Lot
please contact Steve or Christine Corson at 518-439-
3286. Please leave your name, phone number and
email address, if you have one. Reservations must be
placed by Monday, February 8. We look forward to
when we can gather together as a community.
(Contact: Pat Holm)
Administration
Creation Care Team
(Contact: Marie Myer: [email protected].)
Recover Values; Envision A Hope-Filled Future This is a time to recover values, in the proper sense of the word: to return to what is authentically worthwhile. The values of life, of nature, of the dignity of the per-son, of work, of relationship – all these are values key to human life, which cannot be traded away or sacri-ficed.” (Pope Francis)
You’re invited to a free screen-ing of the documentary, “2040”. This hope-filled documentary offers a vision of the future, a
return to key values of human life, using technology we already have to address global issues harming Creation. Topics examined in the film include: empow-erment of women and girls, marine regeneration, re-generative agriculture, renewable energy and circular economy. The screening, sponsored by The Climate Reality Project, Capital Region, will be available from Feb. 8 -23. Use this link to register https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-climate-reality-project-capital-region-ny-2040-screening-event-tickets-135951110431
Public Policy Report
New Legislation in NYS
Jonah Bichotte Cowan Law ~ Establishes require-ments for treatment when an expectant mother pre-sents at a general hospital with concerns about being in pre-term labor. The law is named in memory of Jo-nah Bichotte Cowan, son of Assembly member Rod-neyse Bichotte. Gov. Cuomo said...”disparities exist within the health care system...NY is taking real, mean-ingful steps toward making it more fair, supportive and equitable.”
Child Parents Security Act which goes into effect on February 15. 2021 - Gives intended parents of chil-dren born through “third party reproduction” meth-ods, like sperm or egg donation, embryos or surroga-cy, full parental rights and obligations including ability to make medical decisions for child(ren).
Protect Our Courts Act ~ Ensures New Yorkers can freely access the justice system without fear of being targeted by Federal immigration authorities when traveling to and from state court proceedings. (Signed into law on January 14, 2021).
As of January 2021 New Yorkers can begin using new paid sick leave ben-
efits under the State’s nation-leading paid sick leave law. This secures paid sick leave for workers at medi-um and large businesses and paid or unpaid leave for those at small businesses, depending on employer’s net income. Employees started accruing sick days in September 2020 at a rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Unused sick leave has to be carried over to the following year.
Out of pocket costs for insulin cannot exceed $100 for a 30-day supply for patients with health insurance.
Driver’s License cannot be lost if the driver is unable to pay a parking ticket.
Minimum Wage is $12.50/hr. from $11.80/hr., except in LI and Westchester where it is $14.00/hr.; NYC is al-ready at $15/hr.
Weekday Mass Intentions For the Week of February 8-February 12, 2021
Mon. 7:30 am Henry Spina
Bernadette and Veronica DeMarco
Tue. 12:15 pm Virginia Acquario
Klein Family
Thu. 7:30 am Gus Franze
Marcia Wendth
Jennie Castaneda
Castaneda Family
Teresa Viglucci
Viglucci Family
Fri. 12:15 pm Intentions of the Celebrant
Sat. 5:00 pm Al Kottage, 7th Anniv.
Pat Kottage
Gus Franze
Bethlehem Central Tennis Program
Ginny Acquario
Steve and Christine Corson
Sun. 10:00 am Pjeter Gjonaj
Leka Gjonaj
Helen M. Dwyer
Robert and Patricia Ricchiuti
Mary Ryan
Catherine Daley
Scripture Readings: Week of February 7, 2021
PARISHES OF OUR LOCAL CATHOLIC COMMUNITY WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULES
Westmere Christ the King Church: 456-1644, Sat: 4 pm / Sun:8:30, 10:30 am
Altamont St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Church: 861-8770, Sun: 9:30 am
Voorheesville St. Matthew’s Church: 765-2805, Sat: 5 pm / Sun: 9:30 am
Next Weekend, February 13 – February 14, 2021
Sunday Jb 7:1-4, 6-7 / 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 /
Mk 1:29-39
Monday Gn 1:1-19 / Mk 6:53-56
Tuesday Gn 1:2--Gn 2:4a / Mk 7:1-13
Wednesday Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17 / Mk 7:14-23
Thursday Gn 2:18-25 / Mk 7:24-30
Friday Gn 3:1:8 / Mk 7:31-37
Saturday Gn 3:9-24 / Mk 8:1-10
Sunday Lv 13:1-2, 44-46 / 1 Cor 10:31-11:1 /
Mk 1:40-45