PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
The Advent season is a time of preparation for our hearts and minds for the anniversary of the Lord's birth on Christmas.

Connect! Sunday Reflection
For Sunday, November 27, 2022
1st Sunday of Advent
A World Whose Time Has Come
written by Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman

During Advent, I think I ask myself, “Am I ready?” about 400 times, but it’s rarely in reference to anything that really matters. I’m worried about the gifts, the food for the family party, and the delayed shipping of the Christmas cards. For what am I preparing here?
READ FULL REFLECTION


The Long Beach Food Pantry is in need of food. We are collecting non-perishable groceries this weekend December 3 & 4.  As always thank you for your generosity.
“for when I was hungry you gave me to eat, when I was thirsty, you gave me to drink,”   ~Matthew 25:35



Thank You, Parishioners!
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is grateful to you, our fellow parishioners. Without your help, we would not be able to offer Thanksgiving Baskets. The food that you donate is also used throughout the year to help those in our local community. We wish you love and peace during this holiday season. You are indeed a blessing to our ministry.
God Bless,
SVdP Members



Good Shepherd will be open December 3rd & 4th just in time for Christmas gifts.  We will also have several mark-down items.   Please stop by before and after all masses. 


Friday, December 2^nd, 7:30 pm - Gulf Coast “Messiah Chorus”
Saturday, December 3^rd, 3:00 pm - Nativity BVM Cathedral's Annual “Reflections on Advent” Concert Service
Saturday, December 10^th, 1:00 pm - Gulf Coast Wind Ensemble
Sunday, December 18^th, 3:00 pm - Nativity BVM Cathedral's Annual “Christmas Concert”
Thursday, December 22^nd, 6:00 pm - “Caroling in Cathedral Square”


 

The St. Thomas Music Ministry is participating in the 2022 iGiveCatholic Fundraiser! The fundraiser is
scheduled for November 29 (Giving Tuesday), but early donations are accepted starting November 14. In-person donations are also accepted. For more information or to donate, please visit https://biloxi.igivecatholic.org/organizations/st-thomas-the-apostle-music-ministry

Join us this year in participating in #givingtuesday on November 29th by supporting the teens of our parish! This year our igivecatholic fundraiser will be to help with the cost of summer camp for Camp Covecrest! This camp is an amazing opportunity for our teens to encounter our Lord. Covecrest costs $30,000 so our goal is to cover the bus costs and to help sponsor teens in need of financial assistance. Every penny helps!! Thank you so much for supporting our teens! You can follow the link to donate today, especially this year on #givingtuesday! https://biloxi.igivecatholic.org/organizations/sthomaslifeteen

The KC Ladies Auxiliary is sponsoring the Angel Tree and the Senior Tree to be located in the east foyer along with a “sign up” book. When you choose an ornament, please enter your name and a contact phone number next to the number found on the ornament in the book, in case there are questions or the ornament is misplaced. Help make Christmas special for children in need and elderly residents in nursing homes. You can pick up ornaments starting November 19^th.  Please place unwrapped gifts in a bag and return the ornament with the gift to the church no later than December 11^th. Thank you for your generosity. 
For more information, questions, or if the ornament is misplaced, please contact Liz Ruth at 228-343-8487 or lizruth73@gmail.com

Both Middle and High School Students gather after the 5:30 p.m. Life Teen Mass. The sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m. Attendance will be taken each Sunday evening! Dinner is provided at the end of our nights in the community center.
November 27^th – Signs of Life - This Life Night aims to introduce teens to the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit and build faith in God’s miraculous power.
December 4^th - XLT Parent Night
December 10^th - Snowed in Lock in (Life Teen)
                        Christmas event (Edge) Details to come.
December 11^th - End of the Semester Gingerbread
                        Competition
 

SAVE THE DATE!
November 27^th - November 29^th, 6 pm
St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Pascagoula.
"Prayer is the gate through which all the graces of God come to us."  ~Saint Teresa of Avila
Let us pray for the success of this parish mission.

ADORATION is moving from Fridays to Wednesdays beginning in December. It will be held in the church from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm. Please come and worship the Lord in this beautiful tradition. You can sign up for whichever hour you prefer at Adoration. We need at least two adorers for each hour.
For more information or questions contact:
Sue Hoffman 228-864-5868 (home)
                         228-313-0157 (cell)
                         psuehoffman@gmail.com

O Christ, let my greatest delight be to see You loved and Your praise and glory proclaimed, especially the honor of Your mercy. O Christ, let me glorify Your goodness and mercy to the last moment of my life, with every drop of my blood and every beat of my heart. Would that I be transformed into a hymn of adoration of You. When I find myself on my deathbed, may the last beat of my heart be a loving hymn glorifying Your unfathomable mercy. Amen.
~St. Faustina



Make a Gift for the Christ Child
Children are invited to bring gifts to the Christ Child during the 4 pm Mass on Christmas Eve.  Come early to the community center where children will make and wrap gifts to bring up to the Baby Jesus during the offertory procession.  All ages are welcome.
What:  Gifts for the Christ Child
When: December 24^th, 3:00 pm (Prior to 4:00 pm Mass.)
Where:  Parish Community Center
Contact:  Dave Gauthier; 228-596-8835, religiouseducation@saintthomaslb.org

We will start in Nazareth with the Annunciation to Mary, and then accompany her to greet Elizabeth in the Judean hill country.   We will travel with her and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and then with the Holy Family to Egypt and return to their home in Nazareth.
Open to children ages five through eleven.
What:  Journey with the Holy Family
When:  Friday, December 30^th, Feast of the Holy Family
Times: 8 am until 12 noon.
Where:  Grounds of St Thomas Parish, Long Beach.
Cost: $10/child or $15/family.
To register, or for more information, contact
Dave Gauthier at religiouseducation@saintthomaslb.org.
 

We are so excited to announce our Life Teen parish retreat, "Graves into Gardens", this year will be in Fairhope, AL January 13-15! Make sure to get your high school teen signed up for this great weekend on Mobile Bay by emailing Kaitlynn at youthministry@sainthomaslb.org. 

+ David Duggins
+J. Hurd Gaddy

November 27th - November 29th, 6 pm - Advent Revival at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Pascagoula.
Monday, November 28th - Office closed for Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 29th - Giving Tuesday
Wednesday, December 7th, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm - Adoration in the Church
December 11th - Angel Tree and Senior Tree return ornament with the gift to the church
December 24th, 3:00 pm - Make a Gift for the Christ Child in the Community Center