March 18, 2007
4th Sunday of Lent

Parish
Worship
Christian Formation
Campus Ministry
Justice & Peace
Community Meetings, Retreats, Etc.
Finances
Readings

Parish

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This past Sunday, I gave a “Theology and Donuts” talk, entitled “The Pope and I,” and about 60 parishioners showed up...a good turnout, showing that there’s interest to know more about our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and his theology and writings. So I want to draw your attention to a very important document that was just published this past Tuesday. It’s Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, or The Sacrament of Charity in English, which is the document coming out of Synod last year on the Holy Eucharist. If you want a good summary of Pope Benedict’s views on the Liturgy of the Church and the utmost importance of our Eucharistic celebration to the life of the Church, you couldn’t find a better place to start than this document. It’s available online, including on the official Vatican website, which is www.vatican.va. I really would urge you to check it out. Here’s just a sample:

“A contemplative gaze "upon him whom they have pierced" (Jn 19:37) leads us to reflect on the causal connection between Christ's sacrifice, the Eucharist and the Church. The Church "draws her life from the Eucharist". Since the Eucharist makes present Christ's redeeming sacrifice, we must start by acknowledging that "there is a causal influence of the Eucharist at the Church's very origins". The Eucharist is Christ who gives himself to us and continually builds us up as his body. Hence, in the striking interplay between the Eucharist which builds up the Church, and the Church herself which "makes" the Eucharist, the primary causality is expressed in the first formula: the Church is able to celebrate and adore the mystery of Christ present in the Eucharist precisely because Christ first gave himself to her in the sacrifice of the Cross. The Church's ability to "make" the Eucharist is completely rooted in Christ's self-gift to her. Here we can see more clearly the meaning of Saint John's words: "he first loved us" (1 Jn 4:19).”

One last thing: this Wednesday, March 21, about three dozen pilgrims, including myself, take off for Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina. If you have petitions you’d like me to carry for you, just drop them by the parish offices in a sealed envelope before Wednesday at noon.


fr Brian, OP

All of the names on our prayer list are now posted on the Milagros. If you would like to add or take off a name, please call the Parish Office.

Finances

Parish Center Debt Elimination Campaign

Parish Activities

Lenten Soup Supper - every Fri. during Lent the K of C will provide a light supper of soup, bread and water following the 5:15 Mass in St. Thomas Hall, followed by Stations of the Cross at 7:30 PM. Please join us.

Help is Needed: moving items to U Hall on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday mornings. More info and sign-up sheet in the link.

Habitat For Humanity: Our parish community is beginning a Habitat House this year. We are looking for volunteers who would be interested in
organizing the project. If interested, contact Mike at youth@cstone.net.

Think Spring & Mulch: Our annual Youth Ministry Mulch Sale is underway. Mulch will be delivered Sat, April 14. Order Forms are available in the Link under the Youth Ministry bulletin boards. Order EARLY to ensure you can get your mulch this year.

Hi! My name is Maria Villar: I sing in the LifeTeen band, I’m raising money to fund research for my little sister, Victoria’s disease. St. Thomas will have a concert with our LifeTeen Band and CHOOSE from UVa on March 24, 7-9 PM. Admission is free, but donations are more than welcome. For info contact Maria at 979-7197.

Are You in Need of a Babysitter? CSM will provide a responsible student. For info contact Katie Hildreth: kmh7f@virginia.edu. Families set the rates/hours.

All New Parish Members: please stop by the welcome table in the Link to pick up your new parishioner packet.

Worship

Contact Marta - 293-8081x18 marta@stauva.org
Brian Sousa - 293-8081x19 music@stauva.org

24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration: Come Let Us Adore Him! Every Wed/Thurs in Our Chapel. If you are able to commit to an hour before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, contact Lori Donlon (293-3873/lorianned@gmail.com).

9AM Sunday Choir: will rehearse on Saturdays,1PM in the Music Room. All Interested, are welcome to participate.

Holy Week Choir Rehearsals: We still need more singers so please join us if you can. Easter Vigil Choir will rehearse on Thurs at 7PM and Easter Day Choir will rehearse on Sat at 10AM in the music room.

Music Lessons: Anyone interested in taking piano, organ, or voice lessons is encouraged to contact Brian Sousa for more details.

Positions Available: in the Music Promotional Affairs Committee! This group is responsible for promoting a music concert series at St. Thomas. Officers and members can join in the following areas: art, receptions, advertising / communications, finances, and secretary. If interested, please contact Pat Cuadros, pac2g@virginia.edu

Religious Education/Youth Ministry/Lifeteen

RE Contact Trish Madden – 293-8081 reled@stauva.org
YM Contact Mike School 293 8081x16 youth@stauva.org

www.st-thomas-aquinas.org/Youth..htm

Children’s Liturgy of the Word: for grades K-3 at 9 AM Sunday Mass.

1st Communion Parents: Pick-up “My Mass Book” & “First Communion Memory Book” from RE table. All notes from the Feb. 11th parent meeting available on St. Thomas Website. If you did not receive an email from Trish Feb. 18th, contact her ASAP. Correction from parent handout: Rehearsal for 1st Communion Liturgy will be Wed, May 2.

EE/EDGE/LT: For Lenten Almsgiving, we are in collecting items from children in grades K-11 for our deployed troops.

Lenten Bible Study (T3): Take a Lenten journey through the Bible. Learn about the history, characters, and lessons from each book of the Bible. A great addition to your Lenten sacrifice this year. Thurs, 7-8PM, Youth Ministry Room. Middle & High Schoolers and Parents welcome!

Confirmation Interviews: Each candidate must sign up for a 15-minute time slot for interviews with a parish priest. The available times are Sun, Mar. 11 & 18, from 4-5 & 6:30-8PM. Sign-ups available in the Youth Ministry Room on the white board. Sign up ASAP!

Have You Missed A Confirmation Session? If so, you are required to attend a make-up afternoon session on Sun, Mar 18 from 1-4PM. You will receive info in the mail about it.

EE/ EDGE/LT: Class March 18, 25. No class April 1 & 8.

Monday Night Live: Mar. 19 Youth Room 7-9PM. Mar. 19 Christian's Pizza 7-9pPM (Cash needed)

Broomball: Fri. Mar. 23 at C’ville Ice Park 9-11PM (FREE) Bring Friends!

Lock-In: 8pm Fri. Mar. 23rd to 9am Sat. Mar. 24th at St. Thomas (Broomball Included)

Charity Concert: for Children with Gaucher's Disease Sat. Mar. 24th at St. Thomas 7-9PM.

Relay for Life: High School & Middle School youth are invited to join the St. Thomas team, May 12-13. Contact Nate: ngsmit@gmail.com.

Summer Trips: LIFE TEEN Camp (Covecrest): June 25-30. Service trip to Cincinnati, Ohio: July 8-14. Steubenville Atlanta: July 20-22. Vacation Bible School & Middle School Camp - July 30-Aug. 3

ADULT EDUCATION

Theology & Donuts: “Before One Has a Near-Death Experience,” a talk to be given by Father Dominic, on March 18th 10:20-11:10AM, in St. Thomas Hall. This lecture will inaugurate a new Theology and Donuts series on death and dying. In this first talk, Father Dominic will speak about how a person should prepare concretely for death while (hopefully) still far away from death. Among other things, this includes discussion of the aging process and the making of last wills and testaments. On March 25: “Last Rites”, this lecture continues the series. Fr Dominic will speak about the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, requesting a priest’s assistance when someone is dying, and ethical issues surrounding palliative care and ‘pulling the plug.’

Interested in becoming Catholic? Know a non-Catholic who would be interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith? Contact Fr. Dominic (frdominic@stauva.org) for further information.

Adult Confirmation: Are you baptized Catholic but never received the Sacrament of Confirmation? Contact Fr. Dominic (frdominic@stauva.org) for info. about confirmation for adults.

Catholicism 101: A study group on our Catechism with video presentations by Fr John Corapi, meets selected Saturdays at 10 AM in the Community Room. Next sessions will be "The Eucharist: Source and Summit" on 21 April and "The Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist" on 5 May. For info contact sackandpam@comcast.net.

Catherine of Siena Lecture: Wed, April 18, 7:30 PM, in the Church to be given by Fr. Thomas McDermott, O.P., on St. Catherine.

Sr. Helen Prejean: will be speaking on the death penalty, at St. Thomas, in the church Thurs, April 26, 7:30 PM. Sr. Helen will be available after her talk to for a book signing.

Women's Little Rock Scripture Study combines personal study, group discussion and prayer to facilitate growth in the Spirit. Join us this winter studying the Book of Isaiah, on Tues, 9-11AM in the Community Room at St. Thomas. Childcare can be made available for a fee. Call Patty Gazewood 973-6802 or gazewood@earthlink.net with any questions.

Justice & Peace
Contact Mary Kirwan-295-1885 W, 295-7950 H kirwanm@adelphia.net
Bridget Davis-964-1127 bnfdavis@cstone.net

Bi-Parish Haiti Committee: will meet at St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday, March 18th at 1:30. All welcome.

Haiti Gathering: March 31, at Church of the Incarnation, 8:30AM - 4:00PM, $20.00 including lunch. Registration forms on the Haiti Table.

Food Collection: During Lent we are collecting for the Emergency Food Bank. Needed: juice concentrate, cereal, rice, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, canned vegetables, soups, beans, fruit, chicken & tuna.

Climate Change: Our Faith Response: a program dealing with the morality of global warming, invites resource people & participants to discuss climate change in light of Catholic teachings. Using teleconferencing, this program will link four sites in four states (Richmond, KY, Institute, WV, Abingdon, VA & Asheville, NC) on Sat, April 28. To pre-register Virginia participants may contact: AOJP Office 276-762-5050 Jhanrahan@richmonddiocese.org; ntaylor@richmonddiocese.org

PACEM: Women are being hosted by St Mark Lutheran Mar 24-31. St Thomas will help by providing a meal (serving & clean-up) Wed, Mar 28. Also volunteers are needed for overnights 3/25, 3/27 & 3/28. If interested in helping contact Bridget Davis at bnfdavis@cstone.net/964-1127.

Books for Prisoners: We continue to collect magazines, dictionaries, religious material & good fiction books for local & state prisons. Collection boxes are located in the Catholic Student Ministry Room. Thank you!

Blind Parishioner Needs a Ride to Sunday Mass: Please call the parish office if you can help.

PRO-LIFE

Pray to End Abortion: in front of Planned Parenthood on Hydraulic Rd, Wed.-Sat., the days when abortions take place. Contact Nicole: nicole@verners.com or Scarlett at 296-8070.

10th Annual Respect Life Ministry Dinner Event: Tues., Mar 20, dinner at 6:45 PM, Speaker Dr John Seeds, 7:30-9PM, at Church of the Epiphany, Smoketree Dr off of Courthouse Rd., Richmond. Cost $3 - Reservations Requires. Call 804-794-0222.

Post-Abortion Ministry: Do you suffer from guilt from a past abortion? Come be set free! Are you hesitant to talk about it? You are not alone. Be free of the stress and the pain. Healing comes through this very private, confidential Bible study. Sessions are FREE, schedule is flexible. A few benefits of this counseling include renewed joy, release from guilt and sadness, and deeper intimacy with family and friends. Please call Ruth at (434) 973-0680 to sign up.

Campus Ministry

UNDERGRADUATES(CSM)

Kevin Simowitz: kjs5e@virginia.edu
Fr. Luke Clark: lukeop2828@hotmail.com

See our website! For a calendar of all our upcoming events and info to contact Team members:, http://www.student.virginia.edu/~catholic/.

Encounter with Christ Retreat, March 22-25 Take a break to refocus your relationship with God, and get to know other Catholic college students in Virginia. Interested? Email beckah@virginia.edu

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

A ministry for young professionals & graduate students ages 21-35 Contact: Rhoda Hernandez - rhodahernandez@gmail.com

Bible Study: We are continuing our study of the Acts of the Apostles. We'll meet on Thurs, Mar 22 from 6-7:30pm in the Community Room.

Salvation Army Food Bank: Needs help organizing its food bank. Our group will go on Sat mornings,10:30-12:30; other times are also available. Contact Beth at eab7f@virginia.edu.

Charlottesville Catholic School

Phone: 964-0400. Web site at www.cvillecatholic.com

Community Meetings, Retreats, Etc.

Attn: All Scouts and Scouters: A Scout is Reverent! The 7th Annual Scout Celebration and Recognition Ceremony will be held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Sat, Mar 24, 11:30 AM. Scouts receiving medals are asked to be at the Cathedral at 10AM. All are welcome. If you have not received an invitation from our committee, contact Nancy Fonseca: 804 338-9029 or email: nfons@comcast.net

Separated & Divorced Catholics: A tri-parish support group meets the 1st & 3rd Mon. each month, 7PM in room 9 at Incarnation. For info.contact Lauryn: 973-4381 ext. 112 or lauryn@incarnationparish.org

Coordinator of Christian Formation Position Available at Holy Comforter: has an opening for a Coordinator of Christian Formation. The position would require the coordination of the adult, youth and children’s catechetical programs. Qualifications include a Bachelors Degree in Theology or a related field and experience in cathechetics. Please send your resume to Bernadette Hibbs at 208 E Jefferson St, Charlottesville, VA 22902, fax your resume to 434-295-7001, or email your resume to office@holycomforterparish.org.

Coordinator of Christian Formation: Incarnation, seeks a full-time Minister of Christian Formation for children’s faith formation Pre-K–10th Grade, including Adult Education & oversight of the Nursery/Childcare. Requires weekend and evening hours; B.A. in Theology or related field, or equivalency in class work, and 3+ years experience as a catechist or teacher. Familiarity with Whole Community Catechesis and a willingness to explore its implementation is required. Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred but not required. Submit resume & references to 1465 Incarnation Drive, C”ville, 22901 Attn: Search Committee/Christian Formation, by April 16. Salary & benefits in accord w/Diocesan pay scale.

St. Anselm Institute for Catholic Thought presents: His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago “Catholicism in Post-Protestant America” Thurs., Mar 22, 5PM, Minor Hall 125.

22nd Annual Irish Festival: at St. Patrick’s Church 213 North 25th Street, Richmond. Join us Mar. 24/25 in historic Church Hill. For info, check our website at www.saintpatrickchurchhill.org. $2 donation at the door. Free parking and shuttle at 18th and East Broad by McDonald’s. Contacts: Stokes McCune, 804-356-1093 Marion Kelly, 804-737-8974.

Infant Memorial Mass: for anyone who has lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death will be held on Wed, Mar 28, 7:30pm in the Daily Mass Chapel at Incarnation. Each baby will be remembered by name and families will have the opportunity to light a candle in memory of each child. RSVP to Kathleen Olowin above.

Centennial Celebration: the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart will host a special Mass on April 21, 5:15 PM for all married couples & especially couples that were married at the Cathedral. The liturgy will include a special renewal of vows and blessing. A reception will follow.

Pilgrimage to Italy: Sept 19-29, 2007. Visit Siena, Florence and Rome with Fr. Brian and fellow parishioners. $300.00 deposit due by June 15th. Detailed flyer in link. For info. or to register, contact Marta Brannon 293-8081x18 or marta@stauva.org

Readings for the Week of March 18, 2007