March 25, 2007
5th Sunday of Lent

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

Parish

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

(A couple of “Thank you notes” to the parish community)

“Dear Parishioners and Friends, March 4, 2007 will always be an unforgettable day in our lives! Marleen and I are grateful to Cardinal O’Malley, the Dominican Fathers, the visiting priests, Father Hamlet and Msgr Michael, Deacons Chris and Bernie, the altar servers, the 11:30 music ensemble, Brian Sousa, and all of you who by your presence and prayers helped to make the Holy Mass and our renewal of vows an unforgettable day.
“It was overwhelming to see so many of our friends gathered to join us in giving thanks to God for this milestone in our lives. Our God is indeed a good God! Many of you were able to come to St Thomas Hall and enjoyed the fine refreshments provided by the parish. Our thanks to all who prepared the food and made it possible. A special thanks to my brother Knights of Columbus who generously came out to help.
“Finally to the many parishioners who extended their best wishes either in person or by sending us Mass cards and greeting cards, as well as gifts. Let us all support one another in good times and in bad. Especially, let us be an example of practicing our Catholic faith in our community. Thank you all for your generosity!” –
Marleen & Frank Veraart

“To All the Parishioners of St Thomas Aquinas, It is said that God loves a cheerful giver. It turns out that Dominicans love cheerful givers too! I want personally to thank you all for your hospitality, your friendly handshakes, and your encouraging words. It was quite a blessing to be with you all.
“On behalf of myself and all the student brothers both here at the Dominican House of Studies and those in our Eastern African Mission, I especially want to thank you for your generous contributions in supporting the Dominican Poor Boys Priesthood Association. There is no better way of supporting us priests-in-training than with the staff of your generosity. We are praying that God may bless you always; please remember us in your prayers.”

Br. Ezra Sullivan, OP

Mass Schedule for Holy Week and Easter:

Monday of Holy Week- 8AM and 7:30PM
Tuesday of Holy Week- 8AM and 7:30PM with Anointing of the Sick
Wednesday of Holy Week- 8AM and 7:30PM
Holy Thursday-7:30PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed
by Adoration until Midnight
Good Friday- 7:30PM Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
Easter Vigil-8:30PM
Easter Sunrise Mass-6:30AM in UVA Amphitheatre
Easter Mass- 10:00AM in U Hall

No Masses are held at St. Thomas on Easter Sunday

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

We welcome Finnegan James Driscoll who through Baptism was received into our faith community.

Parish Activities

Rice bowl: envelopes are due back, Palm Sunday. Please convert your coin into a check form. Thank you.

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.

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.

Worship

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

Liturgical Ministers Schedule: for April is now available. Please see our website or pick up a copy in the Coordinators’ Room.

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: Class March 25. No class April 1 & 8.

Summer Trips - SIGN UP NOW! LIFE TEEN Camp (Covecrest): June 25-30, Service trip to Cincinnati, Ohio: July 7-14, Steubenville Atlanta: July 19-22. Vacation Bible School & Middle School Camp - July 30-Aug. 3

Monday Night Live: March 26, April 9: Take a "Wii" break and hang out in the Youth Room. 7-9 PM. April 2: We'll be hanging out at Cville Coffee (close to McIntire Rd/Rt 250 intersection) for some tasty treats and yummy coffee! 7-9 PM.(Bring $)

Bowling: No EDGE or LifeTeen Sun, April 1, but meet us for bowling at Keglers from 7-9pm. ($10)

Open Gym: Sat, April 7, at CCS, 7-10 PM for basketball, volleyball, games, mafia, the Wii, and MORE!! FREE, bring friends!

Salvation Army: We need families to sign up to cook and serve dinner from 4-6 PM on the following dates: April 8 (Easter), April 29, May 13 & June 10. If interested in helping contact Patty Wilson at Pwilson@aol.com.

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

ADULT EDUCATION

Theology & Donuts: 10:20-11:10AM, in St. Thomas Hall. 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.

RCIA: Wed, Mar 28, 7:30-9 PM. topic: Faith, Hope & Love.

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

Haiti Challenge: As Fr. Brian announced on his return from Haiti, St. Michel's school needs a bit over $32,000 to complete the project. A generous donor will contribute $16,000 if we will match it. We are about half-way there. Mark your contributions: "Haiti Challenge". Thank you very much for your love and generosity.

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

IMPACT Potluck: Thurs, April 19, 6:30PM at Incarnation. Join other Catholics in C’ville to reflect on our experience at the March 15 meeting, learn about IMPACT's annual cycle, and what our Catholic tradition teaches us about community organizing and the common good, and the CCHD which helps to fund IMPACT.

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.

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/.

CSM Prayer Progressive! We’re half-way through Lent, what better time to rejuvenate your prayer life? Like a progressive dinner, our Prayer Progressive will give you the chance to sample different forms of prayer offered by our own community members. Get a taste of meditation, Liturgy of the Hours, journal writing, even praying with your iPod, and more! Come on out this Mon., Mar. 26 @ 8PM in the Student Center, and enjoy the feast! (Free food to follow). Contact Catherine with any questions: cam9s@yahoo.com.

Tuesday Supper: Come join our free weekly dinner at 6:00 PM in St. Thomas Hall, whether you have ever been before or not! This is a great first time activity. Please e-mail Lauren at Laurenwalter@virginia.edu with any questions.

Fireside: Every week, we have a small student Mass in the Student Center on the first floor at St. Thomas. Please join us for a relaxed atmosphere for a personalized Mass at 9:00 PM on Thursday night.

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

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

Attention grad students and young adults: if you are interested in being more involved with YAM or added to the email list, please contact Rhoda.

Bible Study: Join us as we continue to study about the Acts of the Apostles on Thurs, March 29, from 6-7:30PM in the Community Room.

First-Sunday Lunch Out: After the 11:30AM Mass on Sun, Apr 1, we'll meet by the sacristy and head out to lunch at a nearby restaurant. Come on out and meet some folks in YAM!

Saturday Mass & Breakfast: On Sat, April 7, join us for Mass at 8:30 AM, followed by breakfast! We'll meet in the link after Mass.

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.

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: Holy Comforter has an opening beginning July 1. The position requires coordination of adult, youth and children’s catechetical programs. Qualifications include a Bachelors Degree in Theology or a related field and experience in catechesis. Send resume to Bernadette: 208 E Jefferson St, C’ville, 22902, fax: 295-7001 or email: 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.

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 25, 2007