1.14.2022 St Thomas FYI

Greetings St Thomas Family!
“You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.”
                                                                                                           Max Lucado

God loves us so much that he lavished this kind of beauty on the world. Where do you see God's beauty in our community?

DON’T FORGET!
The Knights of Columbus are serving breakfast this Sunday!
Jan 16, 8am-11am in the Community Center! The price is only $8.
 
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY!
Oshner Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
USM Gulf Park OLLI presents: “The Catholic Next Door and the Bible”
One of 15 Mississippians is a Catholic, the least of any state in the nation. You may know one or you may be a Catholic faced with non-Catholic family or friends with questions. The seminar conducted by Dave Gauthier will explore a number of topics: how does the Catholic Bible differ from our protestant counterparts, what the Pope says about reading the Bible, what happens if the Pope and Bible disagree…, or can they disagree, and lots more…
Two-hour Seminar
Monday, January 24, 9:30am-11:30am
Attend in-person or Zoom
$10 for OLLI members
Learn more about OLLI and all the classes/seminars offered by following this link:
https://www.usm.edu/lifelong-learning/join-today.php
For more information, or to register, contact Maryann at 228-214-3277.

EVENTS CALENDAR SUMMARY!
Forming Now, Quads, see article below.
Jan 15, 6:30pm, Dancing with The Stars, at St Vincent School (CALB)
Jan 16, 8am-11am, Community Center, KOC BREAKFAST! (cost is $8.00)
Jan 22, 6pm, Jeep-A-Gras, at downtown Long Beach (CALB)
Jan 24, 9:30-11:30am, OLLI Seminar (USM Gulf Park or Zoom, cost $10)
Feb 1, Noon-5pm, Community Center, Blood Drive
Feb 5, 6pm, Drawdown, Long Beach Senior Center (CALB)
Feb 16, deadline to claim Lost & Found items (West Foyer, cabinet)
Feb 18, 7pm, Royal Ball, at St Vincent School (CALB)
Feb 19, 6pm, Parade, at downtown Long Beach (CALB)
Feb 19, Apologetics Workshop, St Thomas Community Center, 8am-Noon
     (The Apologetics Workshop will be rescheduled, more info soon!)
Feb 24, TBA, Presentation on the Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton, Community Center 
 
ARMS AT THE READY!

St Thomas will host a Blood Drive Tues, February 1, Noon – 5pm, in the Community Center. Appointments available now! Just follow the link https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html

LOST & FOUND
Have you lost or forgotten a personal item in church? We have a “Lost & Found” in the West Foyer! The cabinet is bursting with personal property that wants to return to your loving care. If you are missing something, please come take a look. Items unclaimed by February 16^th will be discarded or donated. Thank you! 

COMING IN FEBRUARY!

Who was the Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton

     On the evening of February 24th you are invited to hear a presentation on the heroic virtue of the Venerable Fr. Agustus Tolton. The story of this remarkable figure in American history will be presented by Dr. Tim Weldon of the University of St. Francis.

     Trailblazer and leader, the story of the Venerable Fr. Tolton serves as a heartfelt inspiration to all. Born into slavery, Fr. Tolton's early life was as traumatic as it was insufferable. He was baptized into the Catholic Church with the wife of the family's master serving as the attendant godmother. 

     The Tolton family won their freedom when, with the assistance of sympathetic Union soldiers and police, the Toltons crossed the Mississippi River into the free state of Illinois. While growing up in Illinois, Augustus met Fr. Peter McGirr, an immigrant priest from Northern Ireland....

     Want to know more? Keep your calendar open for the evening of February 24th to come and hear Dr. Weldon speak. The time and details of this offering will be announced soon.

FORMING NOW!

QUADS /kwäd/ plural noun  1. Small group. 2. Same gender. 3. learning together. 4. Growing in faith and fellowship.

STARTING IN MARCH

     St. Thomas will be launching the Steubenville Discipleship Quad process at the beginning of this coming Lent.  We urge everyone, of all ages, to enlist in this amazing, faith-building experience. 

     Currently, you can register yourself, or your already formed group of four via the form on the church website (follow this link: https://saintthomaslb.org/quad ) or by calling Natalie Auger at 601-255-7762

MAY GOD GRANT YOU PATIENCE, PEACE & PLENTY!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!