Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Community Mission Statement: Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Community, through our cultural diversity, united in our expressions of faith, lives the Gospel message in our neighborhood through worship, education, service, and advocacy.
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - DECEMBER 17, 2017 Celebration of the Eucharist and Special Devotions Saturday Vigil: 4:00PM (English) 5:30PM (Spanish) Sunday: 7:30AM (English) 8:30AM (Vietnamese) 10:00AM (English) 11:30AM (Indonesian) Holydays: 8:30AM and 7:00PM (Multicultural) Weekday: 8:30AM (Chapel) Wednesday Evenings: 7:00PM (chapel) Our Mother of Perpetual Help Novena
First Wednesday of the Month: 6:30PM Exposition (Chapel)
Eucharistic Adoration Chapel Weekday: 10:00AM to 3:00PM Saturday: 9:00AM to 12:00 Noon Sundays: 9:00AM to 12:00 Noon
Saint Thomas Aquinas 1719 Morris St. Philadelphia, 19145 www.staquinas.com Rectory: (215) 334-2312 staquinasparish@gmail.com Fax: 215-755.9369 Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30—4:30 PM Sat: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Sun: Closed - Parish Registration: If you are a new resident of our neighborhood, you are invited to join the parish by stopping by the rectory (Morris St.) Aquinas Center: (267) 702-3454 bwelch@staquinas.com School: (215) 334-0878 info@stthomasphila.org
Thoughts from Our Pastor On this weekend of the Third Sunday of Advent, the scriptures seem to carry a different, more vibrant, excited tonality. In Isaiah, in the Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians and in John’s Gospel there appears a shift from remote preparation to more immediate preparation for the coming of the Messiah. The words of Isaiah are filled with hope, healing and promise. Paul tells the Thessalonians to “Rejoice always” and be confident that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) is faithful to His promises. John gives the powerful figure of John the Baptist, who assures his listeners that he and his message is little in comparison to the One who is coming (Jesus). John attempts to clarify that he is not the longawaited-one, but that “there is one among you whom you do not recognize”. AND THAT PERSON IS JESUS CHRIST! So, indeed, there is reason to “rejoice” for God’s plan of salvation is at hand. There is in the readings of today, this Sunday of Advent called “Gaudete” (meaning “Rejoice!”) a sense of impending fulfillment as well as the importance of “testifying” to this hope-filled message. Isaiah, Paul and John .......all bore witness to this longawaited message of salvation through the testifying to it via their lives. As we enter into this 3rd week of Advent, we are invited to reflect on how well we are “testifying” to this truth of Christ’s Coming. Many of us are probably caught up in “preparations” for Christmas. One of the “questions” for each of us might be “Just how clear is it to those around me “what” or “Who” I am preparing for?” Are we being overwhelmed by “preparations”, “expectations”, “unrealistic priorities” to the detriment of the true meaning of this Season? Amidst all the movement and activities in this Holy Season may bringing "glad tidings to the poor”, “healing the broken-hearted”, “liberty to captives”, “release to the prisoners”, sharing the “God of peace” be evident in our choices, attitudes and actions. How are you and I doing in this mission of REJOICING?
HAPPY GAUDETE SUNDAY!
Father Shields