Deacon Tom's Homily For Sunday, September 11, 2022

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ON DECEMBER 7th 1988, A devastating earthquake, registering 6.9 on the Richter scale, leveled northern Armenia, killing 45,000 people in just four minutes and leaving half-a-million people homeless.

A FATHER LEFT HIS WIFE securely at home, and quickly ran to his son’s school, which had totally collapsed.

THE FATHER RUSHED TO THE right rear of the school building where his son’s classroom was located and began to clear away rubble and debris.

OTHER PARENTS TRIED TO pull him away, “Let them be…” “They’re all dead. . .” “There’s nothing you can do. . .” but the father continued to dig.

THE FIRECHIEF TRIED TO GET him to leave, “There’s danger of an explosion. You’ve got to get out of here.” But the father persisted.

10 HOURS, 24 HOURS, 36 hours, he kept clearing rocks and debris. Finally, in the 38th hour, as he pulled back a huge boulder, the father heard his son’s voice faintly calling: “Popa, Popa, is that you? I knew you’d come, I knew you’d come!”

IMAGINE THIS FATHER’S tremendous joy at, against all odds, finding his child and thirteen of his classmates . . . alive!

IN OUR GOSPEL TODAY, Jesus shows us how important each one of us is to Our Heavenly Father.

WITH TODAY’S THREE parables, Jesus shows the Pharisees, the Scribes, and us what it means to be a child of God. Jesus describes for us the extravagant, fatherly love of God.

THE NEXT TIME WE’RE feeling lost in the midst of an illness or depression or we’re feeling helpless in the grip of sin, may we take heart and know that, even before we can say, “God, help me,” or whisper, “Father,” may we know that our Loving Father is already searching for us.

TODAY, MAY WE REALIZE, IN the depths of our heart, what it means to be Our Heavenly Father’s child!

AND MAY WE REALIZE NOW in the depths of our heart that at the hour of our death, our Loving Father will be standing right there next to us clearing away all the debris. “Abba, is that you?” we’ll whisper. “I knew You’d come. I knew You’d come!” as He hugs us tightly to Himself and welcomes us home!

Upcoming Listening Sessions: Come and Be Heard

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The newly commissioned STA Pastoral Council invites all parishioners to a Listening Session. Attendance is highly encouraged. Each attendee will be given the opportunity to share any comments or suggestions related to the parish before the Pastoral Council.

There are two sessions available for your convenience: Thursday, October 20th at 7pm and Sunday, October 23rd at 11am. Both will be held in the parish center.

Any questions related to the sessions can be emailed to pastoralcouncil@stachurchbloomfield.org.

See you there!

The STA Youth Choir is back! New members welcome!

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St. Thomas the Apostle Youth Choir is back! We are looking for new young singers to join between the ages of five and twelve. Rehearsals are Sunday mornings from 11:15-11:45am. We perform at the 12pm mass every other week and select holiday masses. We also perform the yearly Epiphany pageant, and at biannual concerts. Contact Music Director Dr. Patricio Molina if you would like to join at patricio.molina@stachurchbloomfield.org. We hope to see you there!

Beyond Cornerstone: St. Augustine's Soup Kitchen Planning Meeting 9/29

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St. Augustine's Soup Kitchen Planning Meeting will be held Thursday, September 29th at 7PM at the Parish Center. Everyone is welcome, so please consider attending.

The Beyond Cornerstone Service Ministry supports the needs of the Missionary Sisters of St. Theresa at the St. Augustine's soup kitchen in their efforts to provide meals to those in need.

Each month we provide a hearty meal for about 150 people, including adults and children. For many clients, this is the only meal they will have all day. Volunteers are needed to plan, shop, and deliver these meals.

We ask for donations of cases of water and, if you are able, help with the bimonthly delivery.

We also provide specific supplies when asked by the nuns.

We need the financial support from our parishioners to meet our mission

Please consider placing a check, made out to St. Thomas Parish, for any amount in the collection basket or in the lock box at the parish center. In the memo line designate the donation is for the soup kitchen.

If you are unable to attend the meeting but wish to participate in this ministry, please contact Alicia at Aliciiavons@gmail.com or 973-715-5770.