Saint Thomas More Parish & Academy
4275 Fourth Street, Southeast
Washington, D.C. 20032
Telephone: 202-562-0431 Fax: 202-563-7347
E-mail: Website: www.stthomasmoredc.org
School: 202-561-1189
April 16, 2017 ~EASTER SUNDAY!
Pastoral Staff:
Rev. Raymond Moore, Pastor, x12
Ms. Patricia Hamilton, Pastoral Administrator, x11
Mrs. Mary Waters, Office Assistant, x10
Ms. Bridget Coates, Academy Principal
Ms. Wanda Brooks, Coordinator of Religious Education, x31
Mr. Henry Herrera, Gospel Choir Director
Mrs. Charnetta Dobbins, Youth Choir Director
Mrs. Denese Clay, Glorify Praise Team Director
Mrs. Barbara Elliott, Parish Council Chair
Ms. Diana Brown, Finance Council Chair
Mass Schedule:
Saturday 5:00 pm (Rectory Chapel)
Sunday 8:45 am Youth Choir
11:30 am Gospel Choir
Weekdays 8:00 am (Rectory Chapel)
Bulletin Deadline: Items for Sunday’s Bulletin must be received via email by 12:00 pm Monday in order to have them included in Sunday’s publication. Thank you for honoring this important timeline.
Baptism: Please call the Parish Office to register for classes.
Confession: After Sunday Masses, by appointment, or on
Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm in the Rectory.
Marriage: Diocesan policy requires notification to the priest at least six months in advance. Attendance at pre-Cana classes is also required. Contact the Parish Office for more information.
Pastoral Care of the Sick: Please notify the Parish Office when a member of the parish is in the hospital, nursing home, or is otherwise unable to come to Mass and wishes to receive any of the sacraments.
Religious Education:
Interested in becoming a Catholic? Please contact Fr. Raymond Moore at the Rectory.
CCD Classes: Every Sunday at 10:30am
Bible Study: Every Tuesday at 7:30pm
EASTER SUNDAY!
Preparing to Hear God’s Word
Reading I: Acts 10:34a, 37-43~Peter preaches the Gospel to Jews in Jerusalem.
Responsorial: Ps 118: This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad.
Reading II: Col 3:1-4~ Those who live in Christ will be changed.
Gospel: John 20:1-9~Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb of Jesus.
Readings for Next Sunday
Acts 2:42-47 1 Pet 1:3-9 Jn 20:19-31
DAILY MASS READINGS
Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-23 Matt 23:8-15
Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41 John 20:11-18
Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10 Luke 24:13-35
Thursday: Acts 3:11-26 Luke 24:35-48
Friday: Acts 4:1-12 John 21:1-14
Saturday: Acts 4:13-21 Mark 16:9-15
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK:
Sunday 8:45am In memory of Pearl Curtis-Birthday
11:30am All Who Received Sacraments this Easter
Monday In loving memory of Aaron Otis-Coker
Tuesday Marion & Ruth Richardson
Wednesday Our Sick/Shut-in Parishioners/Loved Ones
Thursday In memory of Fr. John Kinter-Birthday
In memory of Leonard Singleton-5 years
Friday Deacon Candidate Ed Poindexter
Saturday Fr. Moore & Fr. Casmir
PLEASE KEEP THE SICK IN YOUR PRAYERS:
Veronica Apiafi, Monique Bailey, Vanessa Barnard, Viola Barnes, Betty Beatty, Marie Brown, Shirley Brown, Francillia Browne, Cynthia Bruce, Felicia V. Bush, John Bush, Mary Bush, Mary Agnes Bush, Herman Butler, Jane Cannon, Dixie Clark, Shertia Clark, Odessa Curtis, Francess Davies, Barbara Deale, Barbara DeJesus, Renee Feliu, Diane Finley, Eric Fuller, Craig Fulmer, Betty Furr, Tasha Gant, David Garner, Tyrone Garrison, Brenda Green, Emmanuel Greene, William Gunn, Earl Hamilton, Andre Harris, Margaret Harris, Vance Harris II, June Harrison, Shant’e Hawkins, James Hilton, Maximillon Holland, Darryl Jackson, Jimmie Jackson, Ivy John, Carolyn Johnson, Larry Johnson, Sarah Jones, Seymour & Patrick Jones, David Larison, Dennis Lucas, Gloria & William McCaskill, Emma McEntyre, Betty Moeller, Gloria Morgan, Dorothy Myrtle, Angela Neal, Tammy Peterson, Charles Queen, Marion Richardson, Arthur Robinson, Jean, Leroy & Robert Robinson, Thelma Sawyer, Robin Sescoe, Ciara Shields, Brenda Smith, Claudell St. Julien, Edsel Swann, Jane Thomas, Kristine Vivican, Kayla Warren, Paul Waters, Marilyn Denise Whetstone, Anita Williams, Bertha Williams, Kobe M. Williams, David Wilson, Jean Wright, Marianne Young, and all who are Sick/Shut-In.
~ PRAYER REQUESTS ~
We ask your prayers for the health and well-being of:
Mary Bush, Marion & Ruth Richardson, Robert Robinson, all of our members who are on the road to recovery, sick, shut-in or grieving;
Bishop-Elect Roy Campbell; and
Pope Francis, Fr. Moore, Fr. Casmir & Ed Poindexter.
STEWARDSHIP REPORT
EFFECTIVE SUPPORT OF YOUR CHURCH
IS WISE STEWARDSHIP
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessing.” (Rev 5:11-12)
Today, dear Lord, we have received the assurances of abundant life. We are so grateful for your many gifts that we just say “Thank you, Lord! Receive our offerings of love and use them to the glory of Christ, your Son and our Lord. Amen.
Stewardship Thought: We make a living by what we get out of life but we make a life by what we give.
Tithes and offerings for April 9, 2017: $9,292.02.00.
Maintenance-$585.00, Youth-$5.00
Attendance 5:00pm 14
8:45am 134
11:30am 218
366
Thanks to all who have so well supported our Growing One Step stewardship program. Because of the strong commitment of many of us, we are blessed with good success thus far. May we be blessed as we bless our ministry and commitment to the Lord!
Your on-going contributions are most appreciated!
FAITH DIRECT 2017: The Lord is risen! As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to go forth and spread the good news of the Resurrection. Our church ministries are examples of how many of you answer that call. Our ministries require not only gifts of time and talent, but also financial help. Please prayerfully consider supporting St. Thomas More with electronic donations through Faith Direct. If you would like to sign up please go to www.faithdirect. Our church code is DC773. Thank you for your loving and generous support of St. Thomas More.
PASTOR’S BIBLE STUDY: The Bible Study group meets at 7:30pm in the rectory living room. All are welcome to join in our lively discussions aimed at making meaningful connections from the Bible to our daily lives.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN: A gentle reminder to all families in our Religious Formation Program~ There are three critical elements to the formation of young disciples: Participation in weekly classes; Worshipping at Sunday Mass, ideally as a family; PRAYER EACH DAY AT HOME, ideally as a family. Thanks to those families who participate on a WEEKLY basis.
2016-2017 ADULT FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM:
Adults looking for a closer walk with Jesus are invited to our Faith Formation Program for adults. We meet on Sundays at 10:30am in the Red Room. If you have questions that need to be answered and/or would like to become a Catholic, please join us.
2017 CARDINAL’S APPEAL: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” (Matt 6:11). Many of you received a mailing from Cardinal Wuerl in early January. He has asked you to make a pledge to the 2017 Cardinal’s Appeal. The Cardinal’s Appeal not only funds the operations of the Archdiocese, it also funds services that of great help to the ministries in our parish and community. For example, our Food Pantry and Tenant Empowerment programs are partially supported by the appeal. As in the past years the theme of the appeal is, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” In our “Seeking first the kingdom” we have the capability of helping it to be present in our lives and in the lives of those around us through our works of mercy and charity. Contributions to the Cardinal’s Appeal offer each of us the opportunity to respond to the needs others by enabling these ministries and services to touch thousands of lives.
EASTER SUNDAY
OF THE LORD’S
RESURRECTION!
Here is the mystery of Easter. We want to see and believe, but since resurrection is so out of human experience we just can’t understand. Faith came gradually to those first witnesses, and then only when they had a personal encounter with Jesus. Some of the disciples “ate and drank with him.” Our own belief in the risen Jesus gradually grows throughout our lives as we continually encounter him in our own eating and drinking with him. We encounter the risen Jesus in the Eucharist when we eat his body and drink with him—when Jesus’ very Body and Blood become our food. We also encounter the risen Jesus in each other when we witness by the goodness of our lives to Gospel values. We encounter the risen Jesus in the sure joy that comes from reconciled relationships with each other that witness to our reconciled relationship with God. We encounter the risen Jesus when we “clear out the old yeast” and “receive forgiveness of sins.” All this assures us that we are a new creation formed in this resurrection life.
The Easter mystery is something we accept by faith. The Gospel tells us that Jesus raised people from the dead, for example, the son of the widow at Nain, and his own good friend, Lazarus. But they were only resuscitated and would face death again. Jesus is not merely resuscitated; he is raised up from the grave to new life, never to die again. This is why we can say that Jesus conquered death. When we die, we will live forever. Our belief enables us to share the same risen life. Yes, our mortal bodies will die like Jesus’ and Lazarus’s. But this risen life is already with us through baptism and is forever. We believe it! We live it! We embrace it. This is the mystery: We share eternal life.
This risen life is not empty and it is not for one’s own sake. It was very “early in the morning” that Mary and Peter and “the disciple whom Jesus loved” went to the tomb. Risen Life dispels darkness and brings light and understanding to who Jesus is. He is savior—the one who sacrificed his all out of sheer divine love for each one of us. Risen Life cannot be separated from the light and love it brings. Eternity is eternal light; eternity is everlasting love; eternity is Risen Life unceasing. Jesus had to rise from the dead so that we might come to believe that our human existence is not all there is. Our everyday Gospel living leads us on a path toward the light of wisdom, the steadfastness of love and the eternity of life that awaits those who accept Jesus’ call to discipleship—those who see and believe. The Church now blesses us with fifty more days of celebration of Easter and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!
APRIL ANNIVERSARIES!
Couples observing a Wedding Anniversary this month are asked to notify Mary Waters in the Church Office by Tuesday, April 18, if you would like to be
recognized at Mass on Sunday, April 23, 2017!
WELCOME VISITORS!
We warmly welcome our visitors to
St. Thomas More Church.
Please sign our Visitors’ Book!
We invite all who are seeking a church home to join our church family.
Please encourage visitors to
sign our Guest Book.
CONGRATULATIONS
AND BLESSINGS!
These Precious Children of God
Were Baptized at the Easter Vigil!
Isaiah Brooks
TeRyah Gordon
Sydney Weber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These Beloved Ones of God
Were Received into the Church!
Marquis Brown
Solmon V. Patrick
Please hold our Newly Baptized and Newly Received members in your prayers as we continue to rejoice and give thanks to God for this very special occasion in their lives.
We pray also for all who have been involved in their preparation, and will accompany them on their faith journey.
STM ALUMNI CELEBRATION!
Date: April 29, 2017
Time: 9:00pm-1:00am Location: STM Cedar Room
\
~GOAL~
To Raise Funds for an STM Memorial Scholarship
Contact: Augustine Sahr: 301-502-8986
GRADUATE RECOGNITION SUNDAY!
We will honor our graduates on
Sunday, June 4, 2017!
Please sign up on the sheets provided in the church.
2017 ANNUAL JUBILARIAN MASS!
Cardinal Donald Wuerl will celebrate the annual Jubilarian Mass honoring couples married 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 51+ years on Sunday, June 25, 2017 at 2:00pm. Mass will be held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Please contact Pattie Hamilton in the Church Office by Wednesday, April 19, so that she may register you on-line per the Archdiocesan registration procedure.
SIXTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE
NOW FORMING!!
In September 2017 STM Church will mark 65 years of being of service to the community here on4th Street, Southeast, while our STM Catholic Academy will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary.
We, the STM Parish Action Committee, would like to begin to plan for this wonderful year of service. In order to do so, we need each of you to help plan and execute a fantastic celebration.
We are putting together a Steering Committee, which all are welcome to sit on. We are seeking at least two representatives from each organization to be on this committee. Please add your name to the sign-up sheet posted in the church.
For more info/questions, please feel free to contact Liz Berry: 240-351-8869, or via email
ST. THOMAS MORE
CATHOLIC ACADEMY!
Serving Grades Pre-K3-8!
Catholic Environment ~ Academically Excellent
Before and After School Care Provided!
Tuition Assistance is Available!
FOR MORE INFO PLEASE CALL: 202-561-1189
STM FOOD PANTRY
DONATIONS APPRECIATED!
PLEASE HELP US DO OUR BEST TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR OURCHILDREN & FAMILIES!
PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN
TO HELP KEEP OUR PANTRY STOCKED.
REQUESTS FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE
ARE STEADILY INCREASING!!
We are seeking the following items:
DRY GOODS: Rice/Pasta/Beans/Hot & Cold Cereal
CANNED GOODS: Meat/Tuna/Soup/Fruit/Vegetables