News - April 2021 RSS Feed

This Tuesday’s Drive May 4, 3pm-4pm in the Church Parking Lot will be for potted flowering plants for Mothers Served at the South End Children’s Café. Our goal is 22 plants! Or you are welcome to donate needed food items: fresh or canned fruit, veggies, peanut butter, jelly, fruit, pasta and sauce. Thank you for making someone’s Mother’s Day that more special.

I am asking for your help. When the Diocesan Appeal was launched last July, our Churches were near empty because of the pandemic. As a result, the Appeal is lagging far behind our needs as we approach the June 30, 2021 end date. As it should, the question always comes up: What is the Appeal paying for? The Appeal funds the day to day operations of diocesan offices which we rely upon. Here are some of the offices that I call routinely for help as your pastor. For the rest of the update, including a donation form you can download, click on the title of this new item.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full.” Proverbs 19:17 Blessings to all who shared personal care products with our neighbors served at the Sister Maureen Joyce Food Pantry! The pantry’s coordinator Renee was so appreciative of the items!!! . She shared that the Regional Food Bank has been out of many of the items we collected for some time. Unfortunately personal care items are not covered under our Food Stamp Program. Thank you St. Thomas for your generosity! Wishing you an abundance of BLESSINGS! View the highlights on the Photo Album Page

As with everything else in 2020, the services provided to parishes and parishioners by departments of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany had to adjust when business as usual came to a halt. we are proud to share these glimpse of highlights of how these challenges have been met...and insight into some new ways to work. Diocesan Appeal gifts impact this and more! Click on the Title to view the full article.

Meet some of our talented Faith Formation students who created some of the masterpieces for the Many Blessings of Water Art Show! Special thanks to our Creation Care Team for hosting the events as well as our Parish School Art Dept., Faith Formation/Youth Ministry Programs and YOU are faithful parishioners! Together we are ST. Thomas STRONG! View the highlights on our Photo Album page.

“Together we are making Great Things Happen!” It’s not too late to view the beautiful works of art created by our young church under the direction of our Art Teacher Denise Chonski in our Gathering Hall this week! Come and be inspired by our young creative church! Consider making a donation for one of our lovely clay jugs or vases. All proceeds benefit WATER with Blessings! Thus far we have collected $875.00 which means we are able to purchase 11 Sawyer Point One Water Filters for those without clean water. Special shout out to our musicians Alex and Andrew for adding to our celebration of WATER and YOU St. Thomas for your continued generosity to our neighbors near and far! God Bless you!

Consider these "small steps" to care for creation during International Compost Awareness Week, May 2-8, 2021.

Personal Care Drive for our neighbors served at Sr. Maureen Joyce Center this Tuesday April 27, 3pm-4pm in the church parking lot. Our neighbors are most in need of: Shampoo, conditioner, razors, soap, deodorant, body lotion and body wash. Thank you for your generosity!

All are welcome to join Fr. Leskovar for a tour of our church next Saturday April 24, 11am-12 noon. Learn about the rich history and traditions of our parish & faith. Please RSVP via our FF/YM sign up genius https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E4EA8AD22A6F94-tour or Contact Colleen Harrigan at 518-439-4951 ext. 108 Mon.-Thurs. 9am-2pm or at [email protected]. Special thanks to Fr. Leskovar for sharing with us!

MANY BLESSINGS OF WATER ART SHOW Sunday April 25 11am -1pm MOVED to the FRONT OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CHURCH! Browse posters, for a donation take home a beautiful clay jug or painted vase created by our YOUNG CHURCH! Music! Free Gifts! And MORE! All donations benefit Water With Blessings. Checks can be made out to St. Thomas memo Water with Blessings. Meet Sr. Larranine Director of Water with Blessings who is continuing to work with our Navajo neighbors out west who do not have access to clean water! https://youtu.be/4FABJvwiqV0 Join us this Sunday as we Celebrate & Thank God for our precious gift WATER!

Celebrate Earth Day by committing to some “small steps” to Care for Creation within your own yard and neighborhood.

Pastoral Care Ministry Resumption ~ We have begun our ZOOM health and safety trainings for in-person ministry. If you have been vaccinated, or have dates for your vaccination, and are interested in resuming (or starting something new!) please let Maura know and she will be happy to have you on board!

Love the peace and beauty of the great outdoors? Consider joining fellow parishioners at St. Thomas’ Parish Camp Getaway at Beautiful Pyramid Lake, in Paradox NY! We are considering two possible options for families & adults EITHER July 2-4 or July 4-8. Costs per night include: Lodging, 3 meals, access to water front, canoeing, swimming, kayaking, hiking trails and more! Adults: $60 a night, 12 yrs. – 18 yrs. $35, 11 yrs. - 4 yrs. $15 and 3 & under free! Please contact Mary Ann at [email protected] if you are interested along with date preference by May 1st. Questions regarding Camp itself-please contact Brain Evers Camp Director at 518-585-7545.

TUESDAY FOOD DRIVE, April 13, 3-4 p.m. in the church parking lot is for the Veteran’s Miracle Center: Hand soap, bars of soap, 13 gallon trash bags, gallon zip lock bags, pasta, sauce, Complete Microwave Meals, Soup, Canned ravioli, fruit and veggies. Blessings to all who serve and have served our country!

St. Thomas’ Creation Care Team invites all parishioners to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 and Restore Our Earth With Small Steps.

HAPPY EASTER! Our drive on Tuesday April 6 3pm-4pm in the church parking lot is for our neighbors at St. Francis/St. James Food Pantry: Jelly, soup, juice, Newborn & Size ONE diapers , shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and soap. Thank you for your support!

Wow during our Tuesday Drive we collected $435 in gift cards for our Meal Ministry Program. Thank you all for sharing a little comfort with your neighbor in your pew! Special thanks to Patti Staerker and Vincent Blendell for supervising our drive! “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12 Wishing you all a prayerful Holy Week and a Joyous Easter! Photos in the Photo Album on Pastoral Care Page