SAINT THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC PARISH 1700 8th St. South, Brookings, SD  57006 Office: 692-4361 1st Sunday of Lent February 22, 2015 Mass Times: Saturday 5 PM Sunday 9 AM 11 AM Confessions: Tue & Wed 4:45 – 5:10 PM Saturday 3:45- 4:30 PM Fr. Rodney Farke, Pastor E-mail: [email protected] Sr. Elaine Garry, Pastoral Associate Laura Kondratuk, Pastoral Assistant Deb Gilk, Elementary DRE 692-6941 Rachel Mark, Youth Formation DRE 692-8309 Nancy Bechel, Youth Ministry Kathy Gilpin, Preschool RE Sara Olson, Music/Liturgy Meghan Kelly, Preschool 692-6796 Carol Covrig, Receptionist/Secretary Lisa Elsinger, Bookkeeper Jerry Nissen, Maintenance Web: www.stthomasbrookings.parishesonline.com SUNDAY’S SCRIPTURES (# 996 in the red Gather hymnal) Genesis 9:8-15 “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you.” Psalm 25: Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant. 1 Peter 3:18-22 “Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.” Mark 1:12-15 “The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days.” LENT IS HERE! Each year the church invites us out into the desert of Lent, to give God the opportunity to renew us, by setting aside some of the distractions and luxuries of our usual life, and undergoing the traditional ways of keeping Lent. Our fasting and self denial, our almsgiving and sharing with others, and our increased prayer, all help prepare our hearts for God’s healing touch. May we all have a great Lent! ATTENTION SECOND GRADE PARENTS: TODAY- Feb. 22nd: 1:15pm Parent Meeting in Social Hall for First Communion and Student Retreat in Room B (for First Reconciliation) 2:00pm Celebration of First Reconciliation (Parent and Child) PARISH MISSION Next weekend Glen Gauer, FOCCUS missioner, formerly at SDSU Newman Center, and now at DeSmet & Arlington parishes, will present a parish mission to us. He will present programs Sunday, Mar 1, Monday, Mar 2, & Tuesday, Mar 3, from 6:30—8:30 each evening. His teaching is most suitable for high schoolers through adults. We will provide babysitting for younger children. Please take advantage of this opportunity for spiritual growth and education in our faith! Lenten Regulations: ECUMENICAL LENTEN LUNCHES will be held on Wednesdays at noon at First Lutheran Church. A soup and sandwich luncheon, with serving beginning at 11:30 AM ($5), with proceeds going to the Ministerial Association’s assistance to the needy. This series of talks can be a meaningful contribution to your Lenten journey and is easily doable over your lunch hour. On February 25th the menu will be Creamy Tomato Soup, Ham Salad croissant, Cookie & Coffee and Fr. Rod will give the reflection. Help Needed We need some workers for the Lenten Luncheon at 1st Lutheran Church this Wed, February 25. Volunteers for the following roles:  3-4 volunteers for set-up & serving (starting at 10:30)  3-4 volunteers for clean-up (starting at 12:15) NOTE: We could have 4 volunteers total if they were willing to stick around for all of the tasks. Please let Sr. Elaine or Laura know if you can help, 692-4361. The Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast TODAY, Sunday, February 22. Enjoy pancakes, good company & donate to a worthy cause. • The Christian faithful are to do penance through prayer and fasting, abstinence and by exercising works of piety and charity. All Fridays through the year, especially during Lent, are penitential days. • Abstinence: All who have reached their 14th birthday are to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent. • Fasting: All those who are 18 or older, until their 59th birthday, are to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Only one full meal is allowed on days of fast. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s need; but together, they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids are allowed. Catholic’s DIVORCE HEALING Program – Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter. Perhaps you or someone you love is a Catholic who feels separated from the church due to divorce? St Thomas More Parish is offering a special Lenten program just for you called "The Catholic's Divorce Survival Guide." The program meets Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm for 6 weeks and is for people who are currently experiencing a divorce or were divorced years ago. You can leave your shame, fears, feelings of rejection at the door. This is program of hope and healing. Call Carol at 692-4361 or Margi Culhane, Catholic Family Services, 800-700-7867, [email protected]. Scholarships are available. Help with childcare is available upon request. Another Lenten opportunity: Besides daily Mass, we invite you to participate in Stations of the Cross, Fri., 6:30 pm. Scholarships Deadline is this week. Msgr. James Doyle Scholarship Deadline is March 1. St. Thomas More Scholarship Deadline is March 1. Fr. B. Alton Kelley Award. Deadline March 1. Bishop Lambert Hoch Scholarship Deadline March 15. STM Preschool is excited to announce that we are currently enrolling for the 2015-2016 school year. Sessions are filling up quickly. If you are interested in enrolling, forms can be picked up in the main office or outside the preschool classroom. For more information please contact Meghan at 692-6796 or [email protected]. Eucharistic Adoration Did you know our parish is blessed with Eucharistic Adoration from Thursday, 7:30 AM until Friday at 6:45 AM? If you‘d like to make a commitment for an hour per week, we have the following times available: 11pm-12am, 2–3 am, 34am, 5-6 am and additional people throughout the night are needed. You may also sign up at other times even if others are already filling those slots or get added to our sub list Sometimes the commitment is what we need. Stop in any time for a visit with Jesus. The benefits are life changing! All are welcome! Call the office for more information or to make a commitment. Catholic Family Sharing Appeal (CFSA) 2015 Our goal this year is $136,300. We have received pledges of $31,763. So far, 11% of our families have responded to the appeal with either a monetary donation or a commitment to pray for the success of our efforts. Thank you to all those that have returned their pledge cards and for those who haven’t, please prayerfully consider your pledge and return your form as soon as possible, even if you aren’t able to give a monetary donation. Lighthouse Catholic Media Please note the display of Catholic CD’s on a variety of topics regarding our faith. These are very instructional, and are very reasonable at a suggested donation of $3. Check them out!! Some great topics for your Lenten Journey!! In Sympathy we offer our prayers, love and support to Alan & Ann Hess at the loss of Ann’s brother, Dennis Charron. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. Baptismal Planning Class Parents who are anticipating the baptism of a child are reminded of the next meeting on Thurs., March 12, 7 PM, Room B. To pre-register, call 692-4361. THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM WE WELCOME: Brantley James Ahartz, son of Anthony Ahartz & McKenzie Vlaminck and David Lawrence Schmit, son of Chris & Kathryn. May Brantley & David grow with us in the love of God. Our faith community continues to grow! Rosary Makers Group Come join us on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month in Room C from 6:30-8:00 PM. Dates for March are the 10th & 24th. We have all the supplies and tools needed. Welcome to all our visitors! It is a joy to welcome you to St. Thomas More Parish. We hope that our prayer together has made a difference for you. Thank you for being with us today. Religious Education News PRESENTATION SISTERS LEADERSHIP CAMP JULY 13-17, 2015 Please check with Nancy Bechel for a registration form. Registration forms are also available for download at the Presentation Sister website – www.presentationsisters.org as of January 9, 2015. Please call Karen Harrington (605) 770-3671 for more information. FOOD & FELLOWSHIP SUPPERS Food & Fellowship Supper is served from 5:15-6:45 PM in the Social Hall every Wednesday that RE classes are scheduled. The menu for March 4 will be Chicken Noodle Soup. Activity Center Schedule Activity Center Schedule The activity center is open 8:30 am-5 pm for adult walking or use of our exercise room. Other scheduled events: Low Impact Aerobics : Mon, Tues, Thurs: 5:30-6:30 pm Sat.: 10-11 am. Call Joan: 695–6994 Dance Aerobics: Tues & Thurs 6:30 to 7:30 pm and Sat. 9-10 am. Contact Leanne at 605-690-4420 Men’s Basketball - 7:30 PM Thursdays - STM Gym Everyone is welcome.*All activities are free and open to the public. Non-parishioners must sign waiver.* Wellsprings of the Deep Heart: A Lenten Retreat Enter into the desert of solitude and discover the wellsprings of grace that lie hidden there. This retreat will be held at the Benedictine Peace Center, Sacred Heart Monastery, Yankton on Saturday, February 28, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The suggested donation is $15. For more info or to register, go to www.yanktonbenedictines.org/center-events/, call 605-6686292, or e-mail [email protected]. Registration requested by Feb.24. If you are coming from further away, and would like to stay overnight Friday or Saturday call or go to the Personal Retreats page on our website. Day of Renewal February 28, 9 am-3pm, St. Lambert Parish, SF- ‘The Year of Unity’. Phil 2:1-11 encourages us to work together towards unity, not look to our own interests, but the interests of others. Dr. Chris Burgwald will share insights to this scripture and how it should impact our personal lives and the life of the church we share. Mavis Kemnitz will speak to the use of personal Charisms and how using them contributes to the building up of the body of Christ. Registration requested for planning purposes. Free will offering will be taken for the day and lunch served. For more info call/text 60594041-1, email [email protected] or go to www.ajoyfulshout.com. 40 Days for Life February 18th - March 29th there will be prayer vigils held outside the Planned Parenthood facility at 6511 W. 41st St. in Sioux Falls. This will be a peaceful time of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion and increased respect for human life from the time of conception. To sign up for prayer times please call/text Cathy Crisp (605) 940-4650, or email Cathy Crisp at [email protected] and she will get you signed up. Or go to www.40daysforlife.com to sign up to join in prayer from home. Word of Life “Our culture … has become hardened to many who cry out. We idolize the strong and beautiful and tend to disregard the weak and imperfect. In our own lives, have we been programed not to call for help ourselves or to look past those who do?” — Learning to Cry, Life Issues Forum, December 19, 2014, Tom Grenchik USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities STM CHOIRS All are welcome! Questions? Call Sara Olson our music liturgist at 692-4361 or 680-9853 STM Choir (High School and Adults) Wednesday rehearsals in the Sanctuary, 6-7 PM. STM Choir will sing Sundays at 9 AM and is directed by Dr. Laura Diddle-Hildebrant. Youth Choir (Grades 2-8) Wednesdays from 2:30-3:40 (snack time in Social Hall first). Youth Choir will sing once a month on Sunday morning and is directed by Sara Olson. Watch the Bulletin Board - Broom Tree Schedule See the bulletin board for more info. Ignatian Silent Retreat Schedule:  Women’s: Feb 19-22, Mar 5-8, May 14-17, June 18-21, Aug.13-16, Sept. 17-20, Oct. 22-25, Nov. 5-8;  Men’s: Feb 26-Mar 1, Mar 19-22, Aug. 20-23, Sept. 24-27, Nov. 19-22 GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A CHILD Six Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm March 3- April 7, 2015– Catholic Family Services, 523 N. Duluth, Sioux Falls. Directed by Dr. Marcie Moran. Call 988-3775 or 1-800-700-7867 to register, the program is non-denominational. Cost – Donation. This program is for adults who have lost a child and are trying to understand and reconcile their grief. The program is designed to be educational and will offer positive suggestions to help people to survive and learn to live fully again. GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE Weekend Non-Denominational Retreat for adults who have lost a loved one and are trying to understand and reconcile their grief. Starts Friday, March 20, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. and concludes Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. at Broom Tree Retreat Center, Irene, SD. Directed by Dr. Marcie Moran and guests. Call 988-3775 or 1-800-7007867 or email [email protected] for more information or to register. Registrations limited. Retrouvaille: Help for Troubled & Strained Marriages The next Retrouvaille weekend is scheduled for Feb. 2728, March 1, 2015. The weekend will take place at The Abbey of the Hills near Marvin, S.D. This is a confidential weekend that offers hope and help for couples to heal and renew their marriage relationship. To register and for general information visit: www.retrouvaille.org or call 605 -988-3755. READINGS: February 23– 28 Mon. Lev 19:1-2,11-18 Ps 19:8-10,15 Mt 25:31-46 Tues. Is 55:10-11 Ps 34:4-7,16-19 Mt 6:7-15 Wed. Jonah 3:1-10 Ps 51:34,12-13,18-19 Lk 11:29-32 Thurs. Ester C:12,14,23-25 Ps 138:1-3,7-8 Mt 7:7-12 Fri. Ez 18:21-28 Ps 130:1-8 Mt 5:20-26 Sat. Deut 26:16-19 Ps 119:1-2,4-5,7-8 Mt 5:43-48 Stations of the Cross February 27 Lector: Ana Braga-Henebry Servers: Regalado, Elizabeth, Regalado, Rachel, _____________ Counter Schedule March 1: Kathleen Fromelt, Barb Nelson, Phyllis Lauer MASS SCHEDULE/INTENTIONS (Feb. 21-March 1) 21 Sat. 22 22 Sun. Sun. 5:00 PM MASS George Roth † 9:00 AM MASS Loretta Quinn † 11:00 AM MASS For the Parish 23 Mon. 24 Tues. 25 Wed. 26 Thurs. No Mass at STM 5:15 PM Joe Hiess † 5:15 PM Janette Abbey † 7:00 AM Pam Kneip † 27 Fri. 7:00 AM Suzann Breen † 28 Sat. 1 1 Sun. Sun. Kondratuk & Deceased of Kondratuk/ 5:00 PM MASS Eric Nelson Families 9:00 AM MASS Intention of Marta Braga 11:00 AM MASS For the Parish Schedule at Pius XII Newman Center: Sunday - 10:30 AM & 6:30 PM MASS - Pius XII 8:30 AM – St. Paul’s, White ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK 22 Sun. 9:00 AM 22 Sun. 10:00 AM 22 Sun. 23 Mon. Tues. 24 Tues. Preschool/K Religious Education KC Pancake Breakfast 1st Communion Parent Meeting & 1:15pm First Reconciliation for 2nd Graders 6:30-8:30 PM Catholic Divorce Group - Room B 7:00 PM RCIA - Social Hall 6:30-8:00 PM Rosary Makers– Room C 25 Wed. All Evening Religious Education 26 Thurs. 9AM /7PM Bible Reflection with Sr. Elaine 26 Thurs. 6:30 PM 26/27 Th-Fri Seasons Of Hope - Room C 7:30pm-7 am Eucharistic Adoration - Chapel 27 Fri. 6:30 PM **Stations of the Cross 28 Sat. 9:00 AM Fr. Rod’s Bible study - Room C 1 Sun. 9:00 AM Preschool/K Religious Education 1 Sun. 10:00 AM Rolls, juice & coffee - St. Rachael’s 1 Sun. 6:30-8:30 PM Lenten Mission with Glen Gauer Serving the Assembly Weekend of February 28/March 1 Saturday 5 PM Keyboard/Cantor Sunday 9 AM Keyboard/Cantor Sunday 11 AM Keyboard/Cantor L Van Sambeek, Rick (1) Weninger, Dee (1) Braga-Henebry, Ana (2) Weninger, Ed (2) Kantack, Ronda (1) Holm, Jens (2) Even, Jack S Thompson, Libby Murphy, Sean Bachar, Danielle Bachar, Colton Bachar, Kasey Gatzke, August Hogan, Meredith _______________ Van Sambeek, Joan Austreim, Doug Gramm, Sally EM Purcell, Kris Ficek, Chris Streier, Margie Nelson, Brittany Struck, Don Parmely, Jan Martin, Judy Luze, Gail Schulte, Dan Ruane, John Ruane, Mary Wiemann, Shelly Wiemann, Brad Leiferman, Deborah Palmer, Tom Palmer, Kathy Jennings, Connie Berg, Ellen Girard, Dave U/G Vlaminck, Frank Hoff, Blaine Klug, Greg Parmely, Ron Maher, Ned Maher, Rylene Scholl, Joe Hogan, Tim Hogan, Joan Helsper, Mary Helsper, Rich Zink, Bill Skubic, Mary Ann Skubic, Lou Hansen, Dan Schmitt, Melissa Puetz, Julie Puetz, Curtis Munson, Lane Austreim, Cheryl Austreim, Doug O Foerster, Dave Heinemann, Larry