Retreat: Encounter Christ in 20/20               

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord:

For the past two years, Bishop Louis has been leading us to Spiritual Formation/transformation to help us all reach our full potential as Christ’s Disciples. This first began with The Bishop and his Staff, then to all the Schools and Priests. Now it is time to extend into the parish so that, all of us, working together, can assist each other in understanding God’s place in our life and how each of us, from our unique understanding of Christ, can grow to become the Disciple he calls each of us to be.

Everyone would agree that we live in a world where God is unwelcomed and rejected. I have had countless conversations with many of you and one question seems to come up in all of them; “What are we going to do? Can it be reversed?” And the scariest comment: “I fear what my Children will have to deal with in the future”. The good news is that we have through the Holy Spirit the power to change it all and make our lives, our community and even our world a place where Christ is truly the center. The movement of the Holy Spirit is calling us to deepen our faith and to share it in the everyday events of our lives. It can only happen however, one heart at a time. Our retreat is going to present a way of life and provide insight into our spiritual journey by helping us to identify our relationship with Jesus Christ. Each of us must be able to see him working in our lives and where He might be leading us. We all have a story to tell. By getting in touch with God within we can come to know, and most importantly, to love him. You can only follow freely what you love sincerely.  

Please join us on Jan 25 as our specially formed retreat team of the Diocese of Biloxi will lead us on this exciting and rewarding journey, “ENCOUNTER CHRIST IN 20/20.”

Place: St. Vincent DePaul School. Day: Saturday, January 25, 2020.
Time: Coffee and Donuts beginning at 8:30, retreat at 9:00 till 2:00 PM.  

Lunch will be provided. This includes all people from ages infant to adult. We will have special activities, in the same theme for all children throughout the school, so babysitting is provided. 

I hope everyone will make every effort to attend, our lives and our world needs Christ at the center.  

Please RSVP by registering on our website: saintthomaslb.org/retreat-encounter-christ-in-2020, or by calling 596-8835.

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Cuddy O’Connell
 

---

Dear friends, 

How are you doing on your bucket list?  The list given to you by Jesus himself?  You know the list.  Feed the hungry.  Give drink to the thirsty.  Clothe the naked.  Shelter the homeless.  Care for the sick.  Visit the imprisoned.  Bury the dead.

In this age when human life seems to be treated as something which can be thrown away at a whim, how do e embrace the Catholic teachings on the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death?

Watch this beautiful 30-minute video from St Augustine institute and please share with your friends.

If you have not already opened your own account under the parish subscription, follow these steps:

1. Visit FORMED.org
2. Click Sign Up
3. Select "I Belong to a Parish or Organization"
4. (I've found that the easiest path is to use the 39560 zip code and the parish name will pop up).  Find St. Thomas the Apostle by parish name, address, or zip code
5. Enter your email - and you're in

Dave G
 

Tomorrow, January 22, is recognized by the Church as the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. In an age when life itself seems disposable, how can we follow God's call to protect and promote the dignity of the human person in all places and circumstances? This week's FORMED Feature is from the Augustine Institute Original Series, Symbolon: Living the Faith. To better understand the Church's teachings on human rights, join us in watching the episode Catholic Social Teaching - Protecting the Dignity of the Human Person. God bless, The FORMED Team

FROM FATHER JAMES

I wish to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation for the loving support of all at St Thomas parish.  It has been a joy serving you.  I pray for everyone’s health and success for this year and many years to come.  May God bless you.

I welcome you to stay in touch:
Office Phone: (601) 264-5192       Cell: (228) 235-2886
Email address: jsmith@biloxidiocese.org

Mailing Address: 3117 W. 4th Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401

PRAY WITH US

      St. Thomas has a very active prayer chain coordinated by Martha Johnson.  If you have a prayer intention, you may send an email to prayer@saintthomaslb.org.  Everyone on the email prayer chain will receive your request and join you in prayer for your intention. 
     We would like to welcome you to become a part of the email prayer chain. Please send your name and email address to prayer@saintthomaslb.org and you will receive notices of prayer intentions to include in your daily prayer routine. 

Prayer is powerful.
Please sign up to pray with us.

SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

         If you have not already registered your PreK to 5th-grade child/ren for SRE, do so now by accessing the Faith Formation link on the church website or come by or call the church office—863-1610.

Jan 19 ….SRE Class…..10:10 am-11:20 am, SRE bldg.
Jan 26 ….SRE Class…..10:10 am-11:20 am, SRE bldg.
Feb 2   ….SRE Class…..10:10 am-11:20 am, SRE bldg.
Feb 8 …………. Discipleship Opportunity – Valentine Day Cards for
                            Women at Harrison County  Correctional Facility
Feb 9….……....SRE Class – Parent Meeting
Feb 16……….. SRE Class First Reconciliation Class Parent Meeting
Feb 23………..  No SRE Class – Mardi Gras
Feb 26…..SRE Class…..10:10 am-11:20 am, SRE bldg.
 
 

UPCOMING DEW-GLENN TEAM EVENTS

$5,000 DRAWDOWN & SILENT AUCTION

Saturday, January 25
7 pm
Long Beach Senior Center
Tickets: $50 (admits two adults)
For tickets contact:
Heather LaVergne  228-343-6533
 
Accepting Silent Auction Items!
Please contact:
Lisa Hamel  228-239-8022
Or email:  mrslionfish@hotmail.com

ADORATION OF THE
BLESSED SACRAMENT
 

       Here at St. Thomas the Apostle, we have Adoration each Friday from 8 am until 4 pm.  If you can commit to spending an hour in the Chapel (upstairs in the Office Complex) in the quietness and peacefulness of Adoration, please contact Nellie Johnson, 864-6098 or Lydia Trisotto, 863-0127.  If you cannot commit to an hour time slot, please feel free to drop in at any time.

       “Look upon the hour of adoration as an hour in paradise…Jesus has invited you; He is waiting for you; He is longing for you.”

Weekly Calendar

Mon, Jan 20      9:30 am-12:15 pm, SVdP Soc, SRE Bldg
                          7 pm, RCIA w/sponsor, 222
 Tue, Jan 21      9:30 am, Quilters, 222
 Wed, Jan 22– Sun 26       MARCH FOR LIFE
Thurs, Jan 23   9 am, Centering Prayer, Cry Room
                         9:30 am-12:15 pm, SVdP Soc, SRE Bldg
                         No New Wine
 Fri, Jan 24        8 am-4 pm, Adoration
 Sat, Jan 25       9:30 am, Baptism Seminar, 222
 

RECURRING AROUND THE PARISH…

Adoration              8 am-4 pm, Fri, 2nd Floor Chapel

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.
  Children          1st & 3rd Sun evenings, 6:45-7:45pm
  Ensemble        10:30 am, Sun, Church/Mass
  Life Teen          4 pm, Sun, Church/Mass
  Liturgical          8 am, Sun, Rehearsal Rm
                            6:30 pm, Wed, Church/Rehearsal Rm
  Testify               4:15 pm, Sun, Rehearsal Rm/Mass

Edge/Life Teen   6:30-8 pm, Sun, 222

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, every 2nd Wed, CC

St. Joseph’s Helping Hands….Our first meeting will be on January 23rd at 6 pm.  The first workday of the New Year will be February 1, 2020.

St. Vincent de Paul Society….9:30 am-12:30 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

Fr. Mike Austin
Sr Consilio Buckley
George Bass
Diane Calmes
Catherine “Sissy” Cooper
Ruby Daniels
Jocelyn D’Aquin
Dave Duggins
Joann Duvic
Mike Evans
John French
Dottie Goad
Leo Hamel
Blakely Quinn Hammons
Paul Harris
Jimmy Hillman
Eddie Hormsby
Louise Hoselle
Amy Johnson
Bette Johnson
Conrad Johnson
Michael Kurowski
Francis Carrubba LeBlanc
Paul (Chad) Leslie
Mary Anna Loftus
June Mathieu
Elmer Mullins
Baby Henry Northcutt IV
Kathleen O’Connell
Sonjia Patton
Lexie  & Jesse Phillips & children
Baby John Porter Phillips
Martita Pierce
Mary Ann Podlin
William Riggs Jr    
Wilfredo Sandoval
Jeff Scafide
Baby Austin Schneider
Samantha Davis Seares     
Martin Selenski
Capt Harvey Shows
Joyce Tuminello Smith
Marcia Smith & Family
Ernest Vancourt Sr
Marilynn VanCourt
Shirley Vancourt
Tony Vancourt
Libby Wagner
Joe Weems
Shirley Wilson
 
 …..and all others in our parish and community who are in need of healing, physical or spiritual.
 
Names appearing on the Prayer list come from hospital visitation lists; also, from telephone calls made to the Parish Office.  We are aware that there are many others in the parish and community who are suffering and, therefore, we ask those who are praying to include “and all in our parish and community who are in need of healing, physical or spiritual”.  We regret that space does not allow us to list the names of each and everyone in the bulletin each week.
 
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.  

IN MEMORIAM

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