1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

LASER-COM COVER SHEET
CHURCH NAME:
St. Thomas the Apostle
Riverside
BULLETIN #:
513571
PHONE #:
951-689-1131
CONTACT PERSON: Arcelia (RC) Lopez
COMMENTS:
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
3774 Jackson Street • Riverside, CA 92503-4359
Phone: (951) 689-1131 • F AX : (951) 354-7402
Visit our website at: www.st-thomas-riverside.com
[email protected] (Check out our website for the staff e-mail directory.)
St. Thomas the Apostle ~ Mission Statement
OVER 100 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH
We, the parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church,
witnesses in faith to the risen Christ, commit ourselves to His Gospel
and empowered by the Holy Spirit, strive to share the Good News.
Pastor
Fr. Frank T. Dicristina
Deacon Couples
Deacon Mike and Pat Cruz
Deacon Paul and Elsie Ann Myers
Parish Staff
689-1131
Maureen Schultz
Administrator
Pat Sutay
Parish Liturgist
Brenda Diaz
Director of Catechesis
Arcelia Maldonado-López
Parish Secretary
Maria Cordeiro
Receptionist
Karen Morehead
Wedding Coordinator
Gary Owens
Music Director
Catechesis Staff (Faith Formation)
Dana Robles
Child Catechesis
Virginia Espinoza
Teen Catechesis
Kindergarten through 6th grade,
Confirmation and Middle School Catechesis
Marisol Aceves
Bobbie Kobus
Spanish Ministry &
Catechesis Coordinator
Youth Ministry &
Young Adult Ministry
St. Thomas the Apostle School
9136 Magnolia Avenue
689-1981
stasriverside.com
wwwfacebook.com/stthomastheapostleschool
Cathy Thompson
Principal
Martha Ochoa
Secretary
Schedule of Masses
Saturday:
Vigil:
Sunday:
Weekday:
Devotion:
8 am
5 pm, 6:30 pm Spanish
7, 9, 11 am, 5 pm
8 am
Novena to St. Anthony, Tuesday after Mass
Parish Office Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
(Closed for lunch from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm)
Friday: 7:30 am to 3:00 pm
(Closed for lunch from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm)
Baptisms
Families and Sponsors must be registered, active and contributing
parishioners for 90 days prior to Baptism registration.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
On the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Saturday of the month
at 8:30 am until all are heard.
First Communion and Confirmation
Youth: Please contact the Religious Education Office.
Adults: Please contact the Parish Office, or R.C.I.A. Coordinator.
Weddings
At least a full six months advance notice is required.
Please call the Parish Office for an appointment.
Anointing of the Sick
Second Saturday of the month at 4 pm. Patients in hospitals and
nursing homes call the Parish Office at the time of admittance.
PAGE 2
ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
The Joy of Advent and Christmas!
In the previous missal the priest would pray that we; “Wait in Joyful
Hope for the Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” These words set the
tone for this holy time of the year. We wait joyfully for the Lord’s return in glory and majesty, and we wait to be filled with the joy of the celebration of His
birth.
This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday which translates from the Latin as ‘Joy Sunday’. This special “pink” Sunday was to remind the Church that this season is a joyful time. The reason they needed to be reminded
was because Advent had become another season to prepare catechumens for Baptism, so it took on a very
heavy, somber penitential tone. With Vatican Council II and the renewal of the Liturgical year, Advent once
again became focused on its original joyful atmosphere. In some parishes you will only see purple candles
for all 4 weeks because of this renewal. The whole season is to be joyful.
As the Church waits in joyful hope we also realize that the seasons of Advent and Christmas can be difficult
for those who are ill, dying or in mourning. Those who are without work or home trying to obtain the sustenance and security of their family. We can be beacons of hope for them by helping them see the Lord’s
presence in their life. Hope isn’t a childish wishful thinking but a response of faith in the Lord who promised
to be with us always. He has proven over and over again that even in the most difficult situations we can
experience that he is with us to give us the strength to get through it. He never leaves us disappointed or
discouraged if we have hope in Him. He will bring us peace of mind and heart, even if the pain of suffering
or mourning doesn’t go away. He will remind us of the eternal life we were all promised in Baptism, even as
we miss the love of one who now lives with the Lord. He will help
those who are struggling to find work, to find a home, and to find
2013 Christmas
love for even after the darkness of the cross there is the brilliant
Mass Schedule
light of resurrection.
It is JOYFUL HOPE that will set us free, save us, from the darkness that we are experiencing if we rely upon God’s love of God
for us and place our trust in His promises. May you find the Joyful Hope in your life and bring it to those who need it most during
these holy seasons.
Christmas Eve Masses
Tuesday, December 24
5:00 p.m. - English
7:00 p.m.- English
9:00 p.m. - English
There will be no Midnight Mass.
Christmas Day Masses
Wednesday, December 25
Fr. Frank
Pastor
7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. - English
1:00 p.m. - Spanish
Third Sunday of Advent
December 15, 2013
Those whom the LORD has ransomed
will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
— Isaiah 35:10a
Tuesday, December 31
8:00 a.m. - Mass
5:00 p.m. - Mass
(New Year’s Eve Mass)
New Year’s Day Mass
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
9:00 a.m. Mass
DECEMBER 15, 2013
Calling all Children!
Come be a member of
the Children’s Choir
at the 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Mass
Tuesday, December 24th.
Practice will be held on Sunday,
December 15th and 22nd
1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
For more information, please see Gary Owens.
St. Thomas Filipino Ministry’s
SimBang Gabi
Next Friday, December 20th
2013
Advent Communal Penance
and Reconciliation Services
(Riverside Vicariate)
Monday, December 16th - 7:00 p.m.
St. Edwards
Friday, December 20th - 7:00 p.m.
St. Mel
Monday, December 23rd - 7:00 p.m.
St. Francis de Sales
Did you know?...
The Sunday Readings are now on our
website. Please visit us at:
www.st-thomas-riverside.com
7:00 p.m. Mass
Reception following in the hall.
And remember to like us on Facebook!
A Treasured Filipino Tradition!
St. Thomas would like to thank the
La Sierra High School
Baseball team for
collecting two car loads of food for
our Parish Food Drive.
Great Job!
Important Reminder!
With the weather getting colder,
some may choose to keep their
gloves on during Mass,
however, if you are receiving Communion in
your hand you must remove your gloves
before receiving the Body of Christ.
Thank you and God bless!
To the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle,
Thank you so much for all you did for dad.
He truly loved this Church and all the members. He talked about you all the time.
He will be missed here on earth.
John Thomas Grodesky Jr.
P.S. I would love to hear a story or two about
my father.
Do you have a fun story to share with John Jr.?
If you do please bring it to the parish office. A parishioner has volunteered to put a scrapbook together for him. Thank you! We all miss John.
Join Us At
Our Christmas Tree Sale!
through
Saturday, December 21st
Lot Hours: Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
and Weekends: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
We are located at 7907 Magnolia Ave.
(Corner of Jefferson and Magnolia, across
from Ramona High.)
Flocking and glitter will be available.
Receive 10% OFF
any Christmas Tree on our lot.
Limit one coupon per purchase.
Must present coupon at time of purchase.
Page 4
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Saturday, December 21th
Adopt a St. Thomas Family
for Christmas!
The program is going great!
It’s still not to late to drop off your
gift cards from: Target, Big Lots,
Walmart, Stater Bros., The Galleria, AMC Movie
Theater, Fast Food, Amusement Parks, etc. Last
year we were able to make the holidays very special for 41 families from our parish with your generous response. Every child deserves to open
a gift on Christmas morning.
The deadline to drop off your gift card donations is tomorrow, Monday December 16th.
Clearly mark your envelope “Adopt a
Family”. If you write a check, please
make it out to St. Thomas and in the
memo section please write “Adopt a
Family”. Thank you!
THE LOOK OF LOVE
What does love look like?
It has feet to go to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see misery and want.
It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of others.
—St. AugusƟne
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is in need
of ministers!
Training starts in January 2014.
If interested please call the parish office.
wwwstephenminister.org
Who can be anointed? Anyone who
is seriously ill; the elderly, even if no
illness is present; those waiting for
surgery when a serious condition is
the reason for the operation; sick
children who have sufficient use of
reason to be helped by the celebration; and those who are unconscious or who have
lost the use of reason, provided that they probably would have asked for the sacrament had they
maintained the use of their faculties.
Here at St. Thomas, we celebrate the
Sacrament of the Sick on the second
Saturday of each month at 4:00 p.m.
in the church.
Wednesday Night Bible Study
Topic: St. Peter
Wednesday, December 18th our adult
faith study group will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Our focus this fall is on Fr. Robert Barron’s series “Catholicism”, a great chance to reflect on
our faith tradition if you missed it last spring. We
will also spend time reviewing the Scripture from
the weekday liturgies. All are welcome!
Call Bob Davis for meeting location, 359-8436.
PERSPECTIVE
A mountain shames a molehill unƟl they both are
humbled by the stars.
—Old adage
Thursday Morning
Liturgy Based Bible Study
Join us every Thursday, immediately following
the 8:00 a.m. Communion Service.
Join us for great fellowship and treats. We will
begin our regular study at 9:00 a.m. and end at
around 10:00 a.m.
We meet at the KDC. Call Kathy Varga at 789-8743.
Heart of the Nation
Sunday Catholic TV Mass for the Homebound
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. KDOC Ch. 56
or Charter 9:00 a.m. Ch.10
DECEMBER 15, 2013
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA
Monday:
Lunes:
Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Ps/Sal 25:4-5ab, 6,
7bc-9; Mt 21:23-27
Tuesday:
Martes:
Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps/Sal 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17;
Mt 1:1-17
Wednesday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19;
Miercoles: Mt 1:18-25
Thursday:
Jueves:
Jgs/Jue 13:2-7, 24-25a;
Ps/Sal 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk/Lc 1:5-25
Friday:
Viernes:
Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6;
Lk/Lc 1:26-38
Saturday:
Sabado:
Sg/Cant 2:8-14 or Zep/Sof 3:14-18a;
Ps/Sal 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk/Lc 1:39-45
Sunday:
Domingo:
Is 7:10-14; Ps/Sal 24:1-6; Rom 1:1-7;
Mt 1:18-24
Seniors’
Christmas
Pot-Luck Luncheon
This Wednesday, December 18th
11:30 a.m. in the hall.
All Seniors 55+ are invited.
!
Please bring a dish to share with 8 people.
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is
Stay for all the fun. Remember to bring
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an unwrapped gift for the raffle.
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er
Have questions?
M
Call Lorraine Cardin at: 687-3619.
PERSPECTIVA
La montaña avergüenza a una madriguera hasta que
ambas son humilladas por las estrellas.
—AnƟguo adagio
The Hadden family would like to give thanks.
Their prayer has been answered.
God is good all the time!
Rest In Peace
† Luis Negrete
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 t h .
8:00 a.m.
†Johnny and †Linda Huerta
10:30 a.m.
Advent Reconciliation Services
5:00 p.m.
†Deceased of Korson Eisenbart Family
6:30 p.m.
†Eliseo and †Margarita Blanco
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 t h .
7:00 a.m.
Ints. Families, Friends and
Benefactors of the Parish
9:00 a.m.
† Ed Moran
11:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ints. Sergio & Rosa Ochoa
40th Wedding Anniversary
Ints. Doreen McDade
MONDAY, DECEMBER 16 t h .
8:00 a.m.
† Ruperto and Melida Blanco
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17 t h .
8:00 a.m.
† Rory B. Aguilera
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18 th.
8:00 a.m.
† Nick Budicin
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 t h .
8:00 a.m.
† Walter and Thomas Greule
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 t h .
8:00 a.m.
† Julie Archibald
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21 s t .
8:00 a.m.
† Joe Santangelo
8:30 a.m.
No Confessions
4:00 p.m.
Anointing of the Sick
5:00 p.m.
† Al Fernandes
6:30 p.m.
Ints. Thomas and Mayra
LaPolice
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22 n d .
7:00 a.m.
† Roseann Sutay
9:00 a.m.
† Marilyn Campbell
11:00 a.m.
† Katharine Steele
5:00 p.m.
Ints. George Coleman
Sanctuary Candle
†Ints. Jean Puma
Page 6
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Come to a Christmas Party! ¡Ven a la Posada!
Saturday, December 21st at 7:30 p.m. in the hall.
Come to a fun event with Christmas caroling, piñatas, raffles,
delicious tamale dinner and treats for all the children.
Venga con toda la familia a celebrar las posada navidena de la iglesia de Sto. Tomas.
Tendremos piñatas. Villancicos, aguinaldos para los ninos, deliciosos tamales y mucha divircion.
¡Los esperamos!
We hope to see you!
Save the Date!
Late Nite Catechism - Friday, February 28, 2014
Sister’s Easter Catechism:
Will My Bunny Go to Heaven?
Mark your calendar!
We will start the Easter season with Sister as she answers
the time worn questions of the season like;
“Why isn’t Easter the same day every year like Christmas?” and “Will my bunny go to heaven?”
This show is part pageant and part Holy hysterical.
So join us for another Late Nite Catechsm show, dinner and silent auction.
Tickets are on sale now at St. Thomas School office. Watch the bulletin for more information.
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
We make transitions along life’s journey, and search for meaning. Watch an infant take those first wobbly
steps. Inevitably they are toward the arms of a dear one, and the gleeful smile and wordless laughter let us
know that the baby understands that the whole world is renewed in an instant. Parents may see that wideeyed smile again some years later as they flip car keys in the teenager’s direction, and by God’s grace at in
-between moments of forgiveness and affirmation. Sacraments open a window to the blessings of everyday
life and help us claim their deep meaning. A voice from a fiery bush warned Moses to take off his shoes because he stood on “holy ground.” Your first steps, your first word, taking your place at the family table, stirring to new love, forgiving and being forgiven: all of this is holy, laden with meaning, full of possibilities. Sacraments are not escape pods from the realities of the everyday; rather they invest us ever more deeply in
life and recruit us for the kingdom inaugurated by Jesus. We take baby steps all our life long. In the world of
sacrament, they are always directed toward the arms of a loving God, and always on the common holy
ground of a community’s life.
—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
St. Thomas Church will host FREE Citizenship Classes for Catholic Charities
If you want to become a U.S. Citizen, these classes will help to improve your language skills and to prepare
you for the USCIS test and interview. Classes will fill up fast so register NOW!
Si quiere convertirse en ciudadano estadounidense, estas clases le ayudaran a mejorar sus abilidades de
lenguaje y prepararle para su Examen de entrevista. Las clases se llenan pronto favor de registrarse
AHORA!
To register please call
Para registrarse favor de llamar al (909) 388-1239
Classes will be 5 consecutive Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the KDC.
January 15, 22 and 29, February 5 and 12, 2014.