St. Thomas the Apostle
Catholic Community

This week the Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday. I invite you to reconsider the WHY you may try to get to Mass/service that day to receive ashes on your forehead. Maybe it has just been habit. The cross of ashes is a reminder that at the center of Lent stands the cross. Meditating on the meaning of the Crucifixion means examining our own sinfulness and praying for the grace and courage to change our ways and walk more closely with Jesus. Throughout Lent we are called to

During most of my 10 years here at St. Thomas, I have helped prepare young children or adults in either the RCIA (for adults) or RCIC (for children) program in preparation for their receiving the sacraments on Holy Saturday. Some have been catechumens, celebrating all three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation; others have been candidates, preparing for one or the other in their faith life. Each of them were taught throughout the months of classes th

In Pope Francis’s latest exhortation on holiness, he reflects on the eight beatitudes and invites us as followers of Jesus to put into practice what they mean in today’s world. They are our Gospel message today. Let us look at a few of them in order to better live them. Blessed are the poor in spirit…He calls us to share in the life of those most in need and ultimately to form ourselves to Jesus who made himself poor by becoming human. Blessed are those who hunger for justice

Continuing the understanding about faith from last week, it is good for us to realize a little more that it IS NOT ABOUT US, NOR OUR BELIEFS; it is not our project, but instead, we are a part of God’s great design; God is in control. This week’s Gospel continues to emphasize this concept with the story of the great catch of fish for the first Apostles. Five of the twelve Apostles were known to be fishermen by trade before they answered Jesus’s invitation to follow him: Simon