Schedule for Holy Week

Mon-Thu, Apr 15-19     5:30-5:45 pm, Prayer/Liturgy
Mon, Apr 15     8:30 & 12 noon, Masses
Tues, Apr 16    No Masses in Church                                                                                  10:30 am, BVM Cathedral, Biloxi, Chrism Mass
Wed, Apr 17    11 am, Anointing  Mass,
                         Lunchkins to follow
                         7 pm, Penance Service, Church
Thurs, Apr 18   7 pm, Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass, 
                         8:30 pm-12 midnight, Adoration, CC
                        11:50 pm, Repositioning of the Host
Fri, Apr 19       3 pm, Stations of the Cross
                        7 pm, The Passion of the Lord
Sat, Apr 20      7 pm, Easter Vigil
Sun, Apr 21     7:30, 9, &11:30 am, Easter Sunday,
                                    Resurrection of the Lord Masses
                         NO EVENING MASS
 

MAY IS MARY’S MONTH

 
      The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary-Mother of God.  In keeping with the tradition here at St. Thomas, the recitation of the rosary will take place before all Masses.  It is very important and sacred that silence be observed by all entering the Church so that solemnity of the prayer be maintained. 

Thank you,
Fr. Cuddy
 

Lenten Daily Masses:
Mon-Thurs—8:30 am and noon
Fri—6:30 am and noon

ENCOUNTER LENT

             Jesus called us to love our neighbor.  But, like the scholar in the scripture passage, we may also find ourselves asking, “Who is my neighbor?”  This Lent, the U.S. Bishops’ Catholic Relief Services—CRS Rice Bowl program will help us answer that question.           
             CRS Rice Bowl is not just about collecting money in a cardboard box.  It is literally and symbolically a box full of stories of hope, prayers, and opportunities to help put our faith into action and share our Lenten journey with our neighbor in need, transforming all our lives.
Rice Bowls are available in the basket at the rear of the church.  CRS Rice Bowl provides resources to bring a Lenten spirituality of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to life for families, parish and school communities.  It connects Catholics in our diocese with our brothers and sisters in need around the world.
 

LENTEN PRAYER SERVICES

             As we make commitments to prayer, fasting, and abstinence this Lent, please consider enriching your prayer life by joining in communal Evening Prayer here in the church at 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. This short prayer service lasts only 15 minutes. It begins with a sacred song and follows with psalms, a reading from scripture and prayers. 
         Liturgy of the Hours takes place at or near the setting of the sun.  Evening Prayer is the part of the daily prayer of the Church which marks and sanctifies the day.  We give thanks to God and love him in prayer, primarily through the psalms, which Christ, himself prayed. 
       You are most welcome and encouraged to join in this daily prayer service.

LENTEN REGULATIONS

Good Fridays are days of fasting (small meals)  and abstinence (no meat) for all Catholics.  In addition, Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat.
Fasting rules apply to Catholics from ages 18-59.  When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.
The rules for abstinence from meat apply to Catholics from age 14 onwards.
 
 

Celebrating Children at
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church

Relax! God put the wiggle in children; don’t feel you have to suppress it in God’s House. Sit toward the front where it’s easier to see and hear.  Quietly explain the parts of the Mass.  Sing the songs, pray and say the responses.  Children learn liturgical behavior by copying you. 

Feel free to leave Mass with your child if you need to, but please come back!  The way we welcome children in church directly affects the way they respond to the church, to God, and to Jesus.  Let them know they are at home in this liturgical gathering.
To the members of the parish…

A smile of encouragement and a kind word are always 

Is God Calling You?

 
   The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is special in the lives of Roman Catholics.  There may be moments when you think you’d like to do more as a participant, such as serve as a Lector (Reader of the Word) or Commentator (Welcome the Congregation) or assist the priest as an EM (Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist).  “Am I worthy?” you ask.  For all of us, becoming or being worthy is a “work in progress”.  Even our Saints worked at it on a daily basis.  God welcomes you and your desire to be a more active member of your Church.
 
        God could be calling You and You and You and awaits your answers. If you are interested in serving in one of these ministries and would like more information and training, please take that “leap of Faith” and contact Beverly Leslie at 863-1610 or
bookkeeper@saintthomaslb.org
 
 

PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY

Lord, hold our troops in your hands. 
Protect them as they protect us. 
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. 
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
 

Weekly Calendar

Sun, Apr 21       7:30 am, 9 pm & 11:30 am
                          Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
                          No RCIC
                          No RCIT
Mon, Apr 22      PARISH OFFICE CLOSED
                          No RCIA Session                  
Mon&Thurs, Apr 22&25 9-12:15 pm, SVdP Society, SRE Bldg
Tues, Apr 23     9 am-1 pm, Quilters, Rm 222
Thurs, Apr 25    9 am, Centering Prayer & Scripture,
                             Church, C. McCummins
                         No New Wine
Fri, Apr 26        8 am to 4 pm, Adoration, Chapel
Sat, Apr 27       9:30 am, Baptism Seminar, Rm 222
Sat&Sun, Apr 27&28 Following all Masses,
                         Vacation Bible School Registration, East Foyer

RECURRING AROUND THE PARISH…

Adoration in the Chapel….8 am-4 pm, Fri

Baptism Classes….9:30 am, Last Sat of every month, Rm 222; contact person is Sue Hoffman at 228-864-5868

Choir....All interested singers and skilled instrumentalists are welcome.
             Ensemble….10:30 am, Sun Church/Mass
             Life Teen.......4pm, Sun, Church
             Liturgical…....8 am, Sun, Rehearsal Rm
                                    7 pm, Wed, Church/Rehearsal Rm
             Testify…........4:15 pm, Sun, Rehearsal Rm/Mass

Knights of Columbus, Council #4898….7 pm, every 1st & 3rd Thurs of the month (4th Degree mtg follows the 1st mtg of the month)

Ladies Aux of the KofC #4898….7 pm, every 3rd Thurs of the month, Rm 115 (Office conference room)

Lunchkins….11:30 am, Second Wed of the month, CC

St. Joseph’s Helping Hands….Workday is the first Sat of each month starting Jan; meeting every 4th Thurs, 6 pm

St. Vincent de Paul Society….9:30 am-12:15 pm, Mon & Thurs, open to help

Youth Gift Cards (SCRIP) sales…After all Masses & during office hours, 9 am-4:30 pm weekdays
 
 

PETITIONS OF PRAYER

Barbara McGoey, Berna Cousins, Bernadette Levens Tolson, Blakeley Quinn Hammons, David LaRochelle, Evan Jones, Faith Tejera, Harold Cioffi, Joyce Stinziano, Keith Dedeaux, Louis Helwick, Louise Hoselle, Moreen Baker, Martin Collins, Peggy Bass, Ron Mauffray, Ruby Daniels, Shirley Dubuisson, Susan Wright, Syler & Hartley Garriga, …..and all others in our parish and community who are in need of healing, physical or spiritual.

Names appearing on Petitions of Prayer come from hospital visitation lists, and from telephone calls made to the Parish Office.

All of the requests for prayers remain on our list for four weeks.  If notified, we will extend the time frame.
 
Anyone needing to add someone to the electronic prayer group e-mail, send the information electronically to prayer@saintthomaslb.org  or call the parish office at 863-1610.

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

   When you are admitted to the hospital please be sure that you are listed as a Catholic and a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.  If possible please have someone call the Parish office 863-1610 to let us know you have been admitted.  

MARCH SACRAMENTS
 
BAPTISM
 

Aurelie Ona
Marcukaitis

 
MARRIAGE
 

    Jonathan  Bass
and
Jenna Leigh Weatherford

GONE HOME TO GOD 

Please pray for the repose of the souls of our dearly departed
and for their families who grieve their loss.

†Austin Woodward
 

STLongBeach
Events
Scrip Support
Life Teen
             Knights of Columbus
             Society of St. Vincent de Paul