TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 12, 2008
In Jesus’ parable in today’s gospel, the invitation issued is extraordinary: it comes from a king, it involves a lavish feast for the wedding of his son, it is issued several times. Who could refuse it? Yet, people foolishly do and with tragic consequences. “God’s Banquet” is mentioned in all the readings today, but under different circumstances. Re-read the Responsorial Psalm today. It is Psalm 23 and often gives comfort to those who seek God’s help.
ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH
5557 Daugherty Road, Long Beach, Mississippi
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 1529, Long Beach, MS 39560
Telephone: 228 863-1610; FAX: 228 868-6068
Email: StThomasChurch@cableone.net
Website: www.stthomaschurchlb.org
Pastor: Fr. Louis Lohan
Pastoral Associate: Sr. Teresa Baugh, PBVM
The LORD
will provide for all
peoples a feast of
rich food and
choice wines
and will wipe
away the tears from
every face.LAST WEEK’S OFFERINGS: Envelopes, $11,584.00; Loose monies, $793.00; Electronic Draft, $6,915.00. Thanks to all who share their gifts with a generous heart.
HOSPITAL PRIEST: Need a priest while you are in Memorial Hospital? Call 228-234-6005 .
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS—PRAY FOR PRIESTSMASS SCHEDULE
Tuesday—Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
Friday – 6:30 a.m.
Weekends: Sat. Vigil Mass, 5:15 p.m.
Sun: 7:30 & 9:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m.
(Life Teen is at 6:00 p.m. Mass)
Reconciliation on Sat., 4:30-5:00 p.m.
There is Mass at Holy Family Parish in Pass Christian
on Mondays at 8:00 a.m.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 a.m.--4:30 p.m.FALL FESTIVAL, OCT. 17, 18, 19, SPECIAL BULLETIN:
Look for it on the church tables or
check out the web site at www.stthomasfallfest.com
Fishing Booth: We are searching for the “Fishing Booth” for the Fall Festival. It is needed for the children’s games. It is 3 sheets of plywood, painted with fish. If you have information related to the booth, please call St. Vincent de Paul School at 863-6876 and leave a message for Nikki Verdigets.
ROSARY DURING OCTOBER: During the month of October we will say the Rosary before the Sat. 5:15 p.m. Mass. The Rosary will begin twenty minutes before Mass and will finish five minutes before Mass.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY : Ruby Allday is celebrating her 90th birthday on Oct. 11th and all of us here at St. Thomas want to wish her a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Ruby spent many years helping out at the parish office. God bless you and keep you, Ruby. You are a wonderful woman.
WOMEN’S ARISE, OCT. 17-19: This retreat weekend, sponsored by the Cursillo Movement of South MS, will be held at the Sacred Heart Parish in Dedeaux (Dedeaux Hilton). Led by a team of laypeople, the retreat is designed primarily for those taking instruction in the Catholic faith, non-Catholic spouses of practicing Catholics, those who have been away from the Church for a while and those who are searching for a new or more meaningful faith experience. There is no fee. Call 872-2819 or visit http://ariseofsouthmississippi.org
PRAY FOR THE SICK: Jean Knight, Cathy Warden, Lully Lobaton, Leslie Reynolds, Lela Hartley, Hal Cioffi, Daniel Atkins, Dawn Jacobs, Cecilia Burke, Mary Ann Becnel, Mary Goff, Helen Findlay, Tim Raborn, Richard Galloway, Maiken Killebrew, Hale Grayson Bowls, Drew Cherry, Sr. Grace Marie, Debbie Blackwell, Brittnay Strange, Ethel Violanti, Alice Dauro, Irma Reese, Mildred Reid, Wendy Hansen, Marty Hansen, Alyssa Gatian Acevedo, Frankie Necasie, Haley Samms, Luke Shaw, Howard Ladner, Nell Dauro, Jean Marie Shirk, Gregory Walker, Sidney Schepens, John Marshall Luther (Jack) Cameron, Leo Harshbarger, Jean Ellis, Peggy West, Faye Hertzog, Howard Saucier Speck Holland, Emily Galloway, Ray Lacy, Brian Monroe and all those in need of healing.
ALL SOULS DAY ENVELOPES are attached to your bulletin today. Please write on the back of the envelope all the names of the deceased you would like to remember in prayer. Also, include your name. Enclose your donation in the envelope, and place it in the collection plate, or bring it by the parish office. The deadline for returning them is Tues., Oct. 28. All the names will be placed on the altar all during the month of November and will be remembered especially during the Masses on All Souls Day, Nov. 2.
A PRAYER FOR OUR NATIONAL ELECTIONS O God, we acknowledge you today as Lord, not only of individuals, but of nations and governments. We thank you for the privilege of being able to organize ourselves politically, and of knowing that political loyalty does not have to mean disloyalty to you. We thank you for your law, which our Founding Fathers acknowledged and
recognized as higher than any human law.
We thank you for the opportunity that this election year puts before us, to exercise our solemn duty not only to vote, but to influence countless others to vote, and to vote correctly. Lord, we pray that your people may be awakened. Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation, their response to you requires that they be politically active.
Awaken your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world, but rather a community of faith renewing the world. Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to you in prayer, Are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth; That the same eyes that read your Word, Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot, And that they do not cease to be Christians
when they enter the voting booth.
Awaken your people to a commitment to justice, To the sanctity of marriage and the family, To the dignity of each individual human life, And to the truth that human rights begin when human lives begin, And not one moment later. Lord, we rejoice today that we are citizens of your kingdom. May that make us all the more committed to being faithful citizens on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The link for this prayer is www.prayercampaign.org
Ministries
Annulment: Sr. Carmelita, 388-3576
Baptism: Sue Hoffman, 864-5868, jerryatlsu@cableone.net
Condolence: Linda Mignor, 868-2649,
Home and Hospital Visitors: David
LaRochelle, 255-6156, dlaroch@bellsouth.net
Life Teen: Ray Lacy, 669-5258,
Lacy4936@bellsouth.net
Liturgy: Paula Spears, 697-7814,
Music: Lauren Hymel, 865-3972,
Religious Education Coordinators :
Pre-K thru 6th grade: Eloise Carrubba,
863-4919, busymomx4@cableone.net
7th thru 12th grade: Lisa Starita, 586-5475,
lstarita@cableone.net
RCIA: Jane Thames, 234-8633,
For ministries not listed, please call the
Parish Office, 863-1610
Administrative
Bookkeeper, Paula Verhovshek,
Building Committee: Jerry Levens, CPA,
CFE, 863-0411, jlevens@avlcpa.com
Bulletin: Eleanor Commiskey, 539-4134,
eleanorc@cableone.net
Finance: Bob Peno, 868-6806
Pastoral Council : Jerry Levens, CPA,
CFE, 863-0411, jlevens@avlcpa.com
Secretary : Patsy Bishop, 863-1610
Elementary School
St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School
4321 Espy Ave., Long Beach, MS 39560
39560, Mrs. Elizabeth Fortenberry, Principal,
emfortenberry@biloxidiocese.org
Telephone (228) 863-6876
Web: www.svdpcatholicschool.org
High School
St. Patrick High School , Bobby Trosclair, Principal, 702-0500
SACRAMENTS: Call the Parish Office for information, 863-1610.
MASS INTENTIONS
Tues., 8:30 a.m. +Inez Greene
+Paula Carson
Wed., 8:30 a.m. +Peter O’Byrne
+Jo Annice Allday
Thurs., 8:30 a.m. +David Baldwin
Fri., 6:30 a.m. James J. Furlong, Jr.
Sat., 5:15 p.m. +Carl Shelton
+Richard M. Bard Jr.
+Randall P. Bard
Sun., 7:30 a.m. +Dr. Roy Knowles
+Lester McNair
Sun., 9:00 a.m. St. Thomas Parish
Sun., 6:00 p.m. +Derek Gentile
ANNULMENTS: Sr. Carmelita is available in the parish office part time to help with annulment of marriages through the church. To make an appointment, call 228-388-3576.
THANK YOU: A big thank you to all the St. Thomas parishioners who helped make our wedding such a memorable and wonderful day for us. Special thanks to the Knights of Columbus; your presence was just so special. Dottie and Andy Kovaks
ADDICTIONS INFORMATION: On Thurs., Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the church, there will be an educational/informational presentation for adults on addiction in the family. This program is sponsored by St. Thomas and the Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force.
FESTIVAL OF FAITH THROUGH ART AND MUSIC: Oct 24-26 includes Sacred Music Concert, Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m., Nativity BVM Cathedral. Also Visual Arts Exhibit. Sat., Oct. 25, Festival—9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Nativity Sacred Heart Parish Life Center. Arts and crafts, Ethnic & spec. food vendors, much more.
GRACE’S EXTRAVAGANZA: Sat., Oct. 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 19221 Pineville Rd., Long Beach, Local Crafter, Baked Goods, Yard Sale. If you are interested in providing a booth or would like more info, call 864-4248.
OUR LADY OF FATIMA SCHOOL-- Oct. 25, CHILI COOKOFF & Halloween Carnival. Call Brandi Clarke, 669-8876, for more info, or if you want to sponsor a team.
RESPECT LIFE MONTH
Our Lady Academy Campus Ministry will be collecting items for the Morning Star Clinic throughout the month of October. There will be a box in the back of church marked “Morning Star Clinic.” Anything you can donate will be greatly appreciated. Some items needed include baby clothes, & socks up to age 3, wipes, powder, lotion, etc.