OCTOBER 2, 2016 27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

215 THOMAS MORE DR. | ELGIN, IL 60123-5054 | (847) 888-1682

MISSION STATEMENT As Gospel stewards, grateful for

what God has given, St. Thomas

More Catholic Church

community commits itself to the

renewal of parish life through

evangelization, worship,

outreach to the poor, and

community living.

CONNECT WITH US St Thomas More Catholic Church

OUR WEBSITE www.stthomasmorechurch.org

ROSARY prayed before the 8:30 am Mass

MASS TIMES Saturday: 5:00 pm

Sunday: 8:00, 10:00 am & 12:00 pm

Weekday: Monday-Friday 8:30 am

CONFESSIONS Wednesday 9:00-10:00 am,

Saturday 3:30-4:30 pm or by

appointment

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Wednesday, 9:00 am

until Benediction, 4:00 pm

St. Thomas More Parish

IN SYMPATHY Emma Jean Smith (Mother of Barbara Sexton),

Dorothy Rios, Peggy Baumgartner

PARISH OFFICE STAFF

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SACRAMENTS Reconciliation: Wednesday 9:00-10:00 am,

Saturday 3:30-4:30 pm or by appointment.

Baptism: The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated on

the first and third weekends of the month at 1:00 pm

or during the 5:00 pm or 12:00 pm Masses. Parents

need to be registered members and should be

faithful in attending Mass. Participation in a

baptismal preparation class is required. Please call

Sharon Hall at the parish office to make an

appointment: 847.888.1682 extension 16.

Matrimony: Arrangements should be made at least

six months in advance. Couples must meet with a

priest to set a date and must participate in a

marriage preparation program.

Anointing of the Sick: By appointment.

SICK & HOMEBOUND If you are unable to come to church and would like

to receive Holy Communion, please call the parish

office: 847.888.1682.

2 | RESOURCES & INFORMATION

WELCOME TO ST. THOMAS MORE

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St. Vincent de Paul - In the name of Jesus,

Vincentians, strive to comfort, feed, clothe,

and assist those in need. We serve in person,

keeping all things confidential preserving

dignity. Call 847.628.5170 and leave a message on the

24 hour answering service.

Life Matters - Any woman who is pregnant and in need

can turn for help to the pro-life movement. Never feel

alone, call Project Rachel at 800.593.2273 the Life

Center at 847.622.1235 or Fox Valley Pregnancy at

847.697.0200.

KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS THOSE WHO ARE ILL… Mary Beth Alway, Christine Baczek, Fr. Bob Balog, Cathy Banker,

Gerard Barnicle, Virgil Beard, Margaret Brantley,

Gracie Canning, Leola Christopherson, Theresa Cortesi,

Edna Enriquez, Federico Enriquez, Enrico Espina, Ed Frederick,

James Frederick, Linda Girardi, Cathy Hanes, Michele Ingram,

Natalie Jorgensen, Michael Keafer, Mary Kennedy, Bev Kittler,

Dennis Kittler, Ken Kline, Karen Kurelo, Carol Legenza,

Reynaldo Mangila, Joanne Matzke, Mike McCall, Gloria Neitzel,

Bruce Newberg, Tho Nguyen, Marian Peterson, Hannah Perkins,

Chuck Pruter, Lutie Regan, Manzella Rocco, Patrice Romano,

Cindy Schoeps, Diane Schumacher, Frank Scislowski,

Tim Shelton, David Snelson, Larry Sorce,

Debra Hershey-Stammet, Judy VanHaxleden, Dan Weiler,

Carolyn Wisniewski

BAPTISM Riley Jean Barreto

TIME, TALENT, TREASURE & NEWS | 3

75TH ANNIVERSARY

St. Edward Central Catholic High

School of Elgin is pleased to

announce the celebration of our

75th anniversary!

Please join our school families, alumni,

and community members in a day

of events to celebrate 75 years of

devoted discipleship and excellence in education. The

celebration will be on:

Saturday, October 15th, 2016

Open House and School Tours

12pm, 1pm, and 2pm at St. Edward High School, Elgin

Mass with Bishop David J. Malloy

4pm at St. Laurence, Elgin

75th Anniversary Celebration

6:30pm at Moretti’s Ristorante and Pizzeria, Bartlett

With food, drink, music, and fun

Anyone with memorabilia to share for display that day,

please contact us at alumni@stedhs.org.

If you would like to participate in the Mass choir, please

contact Chris Jones at cjones@stedhs.org.

Please visit our website www.stedhs.org for more information

and to reserve your spot at the dinner.

CATECHIST CORNER

Each year, the Catholic Church in

the United States designates the

third Sunday in September as

“Catechetical Sunday”— a day on

which to celebrate and pray for the

Church’s mission to teach the

Gospel to all people. This year’s

theme is “Prayer: The Faith Prayed.”

As a catechist, you are responding

to a call to share the gift of faith

with others, even as you deepen

your own faith. This call may have

reached you through your pastor,

the director of your parish’s religious

education program, or through your

role as a Catholic school teacher.

But know that this calling ultimately

comes from God whose Holy Spirit

inspires and guides you.

If you have felt this calling, this is the

time to respond. St. Thomas More

is in need of the following positions:

• 10:30am Sunday

- Grade 6 lead teacher

• 10:30am Sunday

- 7th grade co-teacher

St. Thomas More would like to

acknowledge outstanding

catechesis with the honor of the

Bishop O’Neil Award to the following

individuals:

• Nancy Weishaar-5th grade,

and 10 years of service

• Indira Merza-7th grade

• Melissa Klawinski-3rd grade

Long-Term certificates will be given

to the following catechist:

• 10 years: Lynn Harper,

Nancy Weishaar, Jennifer Garza,

Ernesto Mendoza

• 15 years: Sue Ward,

Emma Rafael, Chet Arciuch

Thank you for your service and

dedication to the young disciples

of St. Thomas More.

SPECIAL ADORATION EVENING!

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Mike Zak, Youth Minister from St. Patrick, will

facilitate a special adoration evening for the

families of St. Thomas More. Join us in the main church at

6pm for praise and worship and an interactive program.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2016-2017

STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS!

PRESIDENT: Nathan Mesina

VICE PRESIDENT: Connor Franzcak

SECRETARY: Luciano Rolando

TREASURER: Brandon Kloeckner

The apostles said to the Lord,

"Increase our faith." The Lord

replied, "If you have faith the size

of a mustard seed, you would say

to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted

and planted in the sea,' and it

would obey you." - Lk 17:5-6

SAINT OF THE WEEK

SCRIPTURE VERSE OF THE WEEK

4 | FOCUS ON THE WORD

READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 2, 2016

Sunday: Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4/Ps 95:1-2, 6-9/2 Tm 1:6-8,

13-14/Lk 17:5-10

Monday: Gal 1:6-12/Ps 111:1-2, 7-10/Lk 10:25-37

Tuesday: Gal 1:13-24/Ps 139:1-3, 13-15/

Lk 10:38-42

Wednesday: Gal 2:1-2, 7-14/Ps 117:1-2/Lk 11:1-4

Thursday: Gal 3:1-5/Lk 1:69-75/Lk 11:5-13

Friday: Gal 3:7-14/Ps 111:1-6/Lk 11:15-26

Saturday: Gal 3:22-29/Ps 105:2-7/Lk 11:27-28

Next Sunday: 2 Kgs 5:14-17/Ps 98:1-4/2 Tm 2:8-13/

Lk 17:11-19

27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME "When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable

servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'" What a humble attitude this would

be! Jesus challenges us today not to boast, not to seek special praise, not to consider

ourselves worthy of some great reward when we follow him. Rather, he honestly reminds

us that it is simply our duty to do all we "have been commanded."

God made us. Our lives are a result of his loving initiative. Giving ourselves back to him through "the obedience

of faith" (as the Second Vatican Council called it), is truly the only appropriate response. Of course we are free

NOT to practice this obedience. We are free to reject God, to ignore his commandments, even to make

ourselves his enemies. But nonetheless it remains true that what we ought to do is to love God and follow his

ways. And Jesus suggests today that this simple obedience should be a given in our lives. Following the

commandments is merely what we are obligated to do.

But, let's not forget that we are also free to do more. Because of the nature of love, we can never really exhaust

it. We can always love more, serve more devotedly, give more generously. Perhaps Jesus is calling us to focus

less on meeting the bare-bones requirements of Christianity, and instead to shift our efforts farther in the direction

of going above and beyond the call of duty. Instead of asking what is the least I HAVE to do, we would do well

to ask, what ELSE can I do? What else can I do to show my gratitude to God for all he has given me? What else

can I do to serve his people and nurture the world he has made? Let us aim to become truly profitable servants.

OUR LADY OF

THE ROSARY

The Battle of

Lepanto was a

five-hour naval

battle

between the

main fleet of

the Ottoman

Empire and the

fleet of the

Holy League,

a group of

maritime states of southern

European Catholic countries. It was

fought on October 7, 1571, in the

northern waters off the coast of

Greece. The Ottoman Empire fleet

was defeated by the Holy League.

Pope Pius V knew that the forces of

the Holy League were much smaller

than the fleet of the Ottoman

Empire. Consequently, the pope

called on all of Christian Europe to

pray the rosary for success against

the Ottomans. He led a rosary

procession in Rome for this success.

After the defeat of the Ottomans

at Lepanto on October 7, he called

for a feast day in honor of the

defeat and called the day Our

Lady of Victory. In 1573, Pope

Gregory XIII changed the title of

the feast to Our Lady of the Holy

Rosary. Then two centuries later

Pope Clement XI extended the

feast to all the Latin Rite, laid it in

the Roman Catholic Calendar of

Saints in 1716, and placed it on the

first Sunday in October.

When we celebrate Our Lady of

the Holy Rosary this fall, remember

all the fallen soldiers of all the wars.

Pray for peace and for the reign of

Christ to bring all people into right

relationships.

WORD OF LIFE FOR THE WEEK

That we renew our commitment this Respect Life

Month to protecting human life regardless of

capabilities or age; We pray to the Lord

PARISH & COMMUNITY EVENTS | 5

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE

ENCOUNTER

“We are unprofitable servants;

we have done what we were

obliged to do.” Are we doing all

that we can do to realize the

promise of our marriage? Explore

more by participating in one of

the next Worldwide Marriage

Encounter Weekends on:

• October 21-23 -Brookfield, WI

• November 18-20 -Rockford, IL

• January 20-22 -Brookfield, WI

Early registration is highly

recommended. For more

information visit our website at

alifetimeoflove.org or call

888-574-5653.

TLC PREGNANCY SERVICES

HOSTS “FUN-RAISER” WALK

FOR MOMS AND BABIES

TLC Pregnancy Services is

organizing their 13th Annual

“Walk for Moms & Babies”

fundraiser Saturday, October 8,

2016 from 9:00 am –12:00 pm

noon at Lord’s Park Pavilion in

Elgin. Registration is required.

Register online at

www.tlcpregnancyservices.com,

call Doria or Odette at

847-622-1235 or email

hope4lives@sbcglobal.net.

RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY

Northern Kane County

ANNUAL LIFE CHAIN

Sunday, October 2 , 2016

1:00 pm –2:00 pm

St. Catherine of Siena Church

at Routes 31/72

For more information or to

RSVP, contact Dan Biggins at

janddbiggins@sbcglobal.net

or 630-659-7679.

VOCATION CORNER:

RELIGIOUS LIFE

Just last week a young lady from

our diocese, whom I’ve been

blessed to know and to speak with

concerning her vocation, headed off to

New York to enter the convent. I have

to say that I am beyond proud of her

because she is whole-heartedly following

where she feels God is calling her. For all of

us, no matter where we are called we

have to be willing to follow and say yes to

God’s plan. It is an incredible thing to say

yes whether it is a call to enter the convent,

monastery, seminary, or to enter into a

relationship with someone who may one

day be your spouse. This incredible young

lady is saying YES to a call that many

young women won’t even give the time of

day to. Please pray for vocations in general

but today I ask in a special way to pray for

those young women who are discerning

religious life, that they can discern clearly

and go wherever God calls them to go!

~Fr. Keith Romke

WEIGH YOUR CONSCIENCE

BEFORE CASTING YOUR BALLOT

The general election on November 8 offers Illinois residents the opportunity to vote for candidates for

U.S. president, Congress, and the state legislature. The Catholic

Church is nonpartisan, and does not endorse candidates nor tell

parishioners which candidates they should elect. The Church does

offer guidance for discernment as parishioners make their decisions

on how to vote with a properly formed conscience. The U.S.

Conference of Catholic Bishops has updated its document, Forming

Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, which may be found at

www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/index.cfm.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois encourages you to carefully

review the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching as you

consider candidates. More information may be found at

www.ilcatholic.org. Please visit our website

www.stthomasmorechurch.org for more Catholic resources.

PARISH CALENDAR

6 | CALENDARS & SCHEDULES

LITURGICAL ROLES –WEEKEND OCTOBER 8/9

Presiders

5:00 pm Father Rich

8:00 am Father Rich

10:00 am Msgr. Linster

12:00 pm Father Rich

Altar Servers

5:00 pm C Kriens, KA Tiu, J Von Rohr

8:00 am M Calero, A Calero, G Sajdak

10:00 am R Coyle, D Empleo, M Tendy

12:00 pm M Astudillo, R Bodio, C Costales

Lectors

5:00 pm O Tiu

8:00 am L Carlsen, E Weber

10:00 am L Whitworth, B Brown

12:00 pm L Runyan

Musicians

5:00 pm P Sajdak, S Ward, G Andorka, H Relihan

8:00 am J Tendy, S Bestler, JA Aukofer

10:00 am Adult Choir

12:00 pm Servant Choir

Eucharistic Ministers

5:00 pm E Thompson, V Sloan, M Suire,

J McCreight, C Voris, G Stevens, D Schramm

8:00 am C Holze, L Holze, D Velten, C Hopkins

M Beyer, G Stevens, S Beyer

10:00 am S Hall, A Hall, B Pruter, MJ Battaglia, A Battaglia,

MP Berens, R Calara, B Newton, I Janczak

12:00 pm A Sanchez, AJ Sanchez, J Gutierrez

DATE TIME EVENT

Monday

October 3

9:00 am

4:30 pm

6:30 pm

7:00 pm

Bible Study

–Westminster Room

Youth Choir

–Lancaster Room

Eucharistic Ministers –Church

Bible Study

–Westminster Room

Tuesday

October 4

6:00 pm

Bell Choir –Church

Wednesday

October 5

9:00 am

4:00 pm

6:00 pm

6:00 pm

7:00 pm

Eucharistic Adoration

–Chapel

Benediction –Chapel

High School Choir

–Lancaster Room

RCIA –Chelsea Room

Adult Choir

–Lancaster Room

Thursday

October 6

9:00 am

6:30 pm

6:30 pm

Intercessory Prayer Group

–Tudor Room

Spred –Cambridge,

Canterbury, Westminster

Servant Choir

–Lancaster Room

Friday

October 7

9:15 am

6:00 pm

Women’s Prayer Group

-Canterbury Room

Pastor -Chelsea Room

Saturday

October 8

7:00 am

5:00 pm

Men’s Fellowship

–Tudor Room

Servant Choir

–Lancaster Room

After Masses

Next Week

♦ Great Lakes Men’s

Conference

♦ School Reps

–Turkey Raffle Tickets

27TH Sunday in Ordinary Time

If you would like to have a Mass said for someone, call the parish office to schedule. The contribution for reserving the intention of a Mass is $10.00

Monday, October 3

8:30 am Fred Taeyaerts, Robert Chapski

Tuesday, October 4

8:30 am Harold & Sylvia Bauman

Wednesday, October 5

8:30 am Jerry Kinsella, Ray Van Poucke

Thursday, October 6

8:30 am Wilfred & Loretta Liebert

Friday, October 7

8:30 am All Souls, Carl J Amador and Family

(Special Intention)

Saturday, October 8

5:00 pm People of STM, Mary Romano

Sunday, October 9

8:00 am Frank Ybarra, Theresa Pilch

10:00 am Viateur & Emilie Saindon, Nicholas Webber

12:00 pm Diane Nierzwicki, Carlos (Special Intention)