News - Middle & High School Discipleship Formation RSS Feed

"We cannot all do great things, but we can ALL do little things with GREAT LOVE." St. Mother Teresa Recently our Middle School and High Discipleship Formation Program and Parish were recipients of a Kindness Award at the ninth annual Recipe for Success Event at South End Children's Café! Since 2016 we have been members of the café's family hosting drives for needed items, volunteering to create Valentine Boxes and cards, and providing birthday supplies, goodies and gifts for the 40 children involved in the program. It was a wonderful event highlighting your kindness and your great love! Fr. Matt and our Discipleship Coordinators Jen Curry, and Rose Ann Garry attended, Mary Ann Hospodar Youth Minister & Outreach Coordinator accepted our award. Thank you, St. Thomas, for sharing His light and His love! Together we are doing things with great love!

Thank you, Fr. Matt, and all those who joined us for an evening of prayer, fun and ice cream at our Essentials of Discipleship! Check out pictures of our unique constructs that display what our young church believe are essentials of discipleship: building the kingdom of God: care for each other, Praise God, read scripture, be responsible, feed the hungry, donate to food pantries, participate in Mass, Love, help serve at Mass, don't give up, be courageous, donate clothes, patience, care for environment, be healthy, make sacrifices to help others, use time wisely, communicate politely with teammates, stay true to your word, empty the dishwasher, help around the house, read the about the life of saints, be respectful, don't judge people, say “I’m sorry”, receive the sacrament of Reconciliation ... What does your Kingdom of God look like? Let’s keep the conversations alive! Middle School/High School Discipleship Families are invited to join us Monday Sept. 16, at 6:30-7:30pm in the chapel for Discipleship Conversations and Ice Cream Sandwiches! Bring your parents or an adult! HOPE hour!

"We are overwhelmed by the generous response of your parishioners and the boxes and boxes of goods they donated. You have helped us fill a great need. "THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" wrote Anne Marie Couser, of Catholic Charities Community Maternity Services. Special shout out to our young church and Carola for greeting and sorting! And YOU St. Thomas! See you next Tuesday!

Special thanks to all of you who joined Sarah and Fr. Sean for jeopardy and conversation at the March Agape Latte.

Faith and Fun March Madness Game Plan on being a Disciple: A follower of Jesus 1. Gotta Believe in God and the truths in the Apostles Creed 2. Gotta keep Growing: that relationship with Jesus, Prayer, Mass, FF Classes, HOPE, read Scripture. 3. Gotta Gather: Can't be a team on your own! Be in communion with one another, celebrate the Sacraments, Mass, Eucharist, Reconciliation, join in Faith and Fun Nights. 4. Gotta LOVE! God, Others and SELF 5. LEAD! Gotta get out there and be the hands and feet of Christ. Special thanks to all you March Madness Players the Apostles & Saints for a fun night! Special shout out to Gigi, CORE Team, CORE parents: Cat Adlerman and Cathy Teplitzky, Team HOPE players: Catechist Jim Blendell, Gatekeeper Andrew Matthews, Referees Justin & James Angermeier. Team HOPE looks forward to a rematch.

Thank you to Julie Buhr, our December Agape Latte presenter and host Sarah Bernasconi. Click here for pictures

AWESOME TEAMWORK! At our Middle School Faith Formation/Youth Ministry Lenten Retreat we packed 100 environmentally friendly lunches complete with a ham sandwich, cookies, and trail mix all packaged in a cheery decorated lunch bag! We thank all who made this day special including our parents who joined Fr. Dan for our reflection and our AMAZING YOUNG CHURCH! Thank you all for being a member of God’s H.O.P.E team! Blessings!

“WOW! You work fast!” exclaimed Catholic Charities Maternity Services when Ted pulled up with our truck load of baby wipes and diapers! St. James/St. Francis Food Pantry was hit twice by our parish this past week! “WE couldn’t do what we do without your support! St. Thomas is always generous!” THANK YOU ST. THOMAS FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT OF OUR PARISH & NEIGHBORS! YOU my FAMILY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! “Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with you!” Yes Mary, the Lord is with US!! God Bless YOU!

Join us in the Gathering Hall after mass on Oct. 26 & Oct. 27 for a "Sweet Treat" or two:) Proceeds will assist us in purchasing Teddy Bears for residents of St. Catherine's Center for Children, and gifts of warmth for those in need this Christmas! Thank you for making a SWEET Difference!

Creation Care Team invites you to come and listen to Pope Frances as he answers today's global questions about death, social justice, immigration, ecology, wealth inequality, materialism and role of the family. Free popcorn, treats and pizza will be sold for $1.00 a slice. Please join us! (rated PG thematic material includes images of suffering). HOPE Hour

All are welcome to join us in solidarity with our Sister Parish in Yucatan Mexico as we remember our faithful departed with the Bilingual Rosary Saturday Nov. 2, at 6pm in the church. Bring a photo of a loved one for our Altar of the Dead. Light Mexican refreshments will be served in Gathering Hall as we continue to celebrate Dia de Muertos Day of the Dead! Sponsored by our Pueblo to People Ministry & Youth Ministry. HOPE Hour

CONGRATUALTIONS TO OUR NEWLY CONFIRMED! BLESSINGS TO YOU & YOUR FAMILY!

Spring Fling Bake Sale! Pies, cakes, breads, cookies and more!!  After all masses weekend of March 23 in the Gathering Hall! All proceeds benefit the 2019 NCYC Team!  Thank you for your support!

NCYC Spring Fling Breakfast March 24 8:30am-noon in the school! Eggs, sausage, pancakes, juice, tea & coffee. Tickets: donation of $7 for 1 ticket or 4 tickets for $25. Tickets will be sold after all masses weekend of March 9 and March 16 or can be purchased in our Faith Formation Office 9am-2pm Mon.-Thurs. All proceeds to benefit our 2019 NCYC.  Thank you for your support!

Consider donating a NEW Hat, Underwear or fleece throw, Gloves, Socks for our homeless neighbors in our area. A collection bin is the Gathering Hall, sponsored by Youth Ministry & Faith Formation Programs. We are hosting a pot luck on Saturday Nov. 17 at 6pm where we will learn more about HUGS USA program and assist in creating gift bags for our neighbors. Please sign up in the Gathering Hall. Thank you for your generosity & HUGS!

Adoration Sunday Feb. 25, 6:30-7:30 pm in the Chapel. Come and spend some time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

Our Spooktacular Pancake Breakfast Oct. 29 & Bake Sale is this weekend Tickets are $6 or 4 or $20. All proceeds will benefit our students attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in November! Breakfast will feature pancakes, sausage, and eggs! Please consider joining us for fellowship and a delicious breakfast! Tickets are available in our Faith Formation Office and will be sold the day of the breakfast! This weekend we honor and give thanks to all of our Faith Formation Volunteers for Echoing God’s word and living a life of discipleship! Volunteers will receive a special blessing at all masses this weekend!

Long Walk for Water October 15 - You and your family are invited to join our Creation Care Team on A Long Walk for Water, Sunday October 15, 1 pm-2:30pm in our church. Join us in prayer and solidarity with our neighbors in Kenya! Sign up in the Gathering Hall and a pledge to walk one, two or three miles round trip on the Rail Trail. If you are unable to join us for the walk consider sponsoring a family who is walking! Please remember to do your part to conserve our precious gift...Water! All donations and pledges will be used for our second water project in the African Sand Dam Foundation. Refreshments will be served following the walk. Together we can make a difference! Questions please contact Rose Ann Garry: [email protected] or Mary Ann: [email protected]