St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church

Is God calling you to be more active in the church? Do you enjoy spending time with children? We have several opportunities available for you to make a difference in the lives of our children. We are looking for Catechists (Religious Education/CCD/Sunday School Teachers) for this coming school year.) Classes are from 9:05am-10:20am on Sundays from September through May. Email Jen Horoky jhoroky@stselkhart or call the Rectory if you have questions. Please prayerfully consider this amazing opportunity!

June 6th Bulletin Deadline - if you have news or announcements to print in the June 6th bulletin, please have it submitted by this Wednesday, May 26th at noon. The June 6th bulletin will be going to print early because of vacation.

UPDATED COVID LITURGICAL DIRECTIVES The diocese has updated its Covid liturgical directives.  The changes are made possible because of several factors: 1.) Indiana adults have had the opportunity to get full vaccinated since the end of March; 2.) although children cannot yet be vaccinated against COVID-19, the evidence shows that the health risk to children is quite small, and that the transmission rate among children is substantially less than among the rest of the population; 3.) overall cases and hospitalizations have remained low in recent months. - Masks and face coverings are now optional at all public liturgies. Health authorities recommend that unvaccinated individuals still wear masks. - Part of the church will still be set aside with socially distanced seating at Masses for those who would be more comfortable with that arrangement.  Mass goers may also be encouraged to leave some open space within pews between households and individuals, as a courtesy. - Hand sanitizer will continue to be optional and will remain available in the Communion line.  - The Mass celebrant may begin inviting Mass goers to offer each other the sign of peace, but exchanging the sign of peace is to remain a nonphysical contact.  DISPENSATION The Bishops of the five dioceses in Indiana have decided that we are now able to safely accommodate more parishioners for Masses. Therefore, effective June 11, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass is hereby lifted.  Those who are otherwise healthy are obliged to return to Sunday Mass the weekend of June 12-13, 2021. FRIDAY LIVE STREAM MASSES The last Friday live stream of the morning Mass will be Friday, June 4th.  The Sunday 10:30am Mass will continue to be live streamed.

SATURDAY LIFE CHAIN Keeping the message of the value of life in the public eye so we do not forget the littlest ones. Love and Mercy for all who turn to our Best Friend, Jesus. Please join us! The first Saturday of each month.

This Mother’s Day, we give thanks for all women and the many unique ways that they live out the gift of motherhood. Let us remember with gratitude and joy our own mothers, grandmothers, and those women who have been spiritual mothers to us. We pray for hope and healing for mothers who have lost children, for those struggling to become mothers, and those whose hearts long for the gift of children. We ask God to make his presence known to these women through their longing. We pray for mothers who battle feelings of inadequacy, that they may recognize the gift that they are to the world. Open the eyes of all women to see that they are enough and they are deeply loved. We remember and pray for our mothers who have passed into eternity. We pray for healing for those who have strained relationships with their mothers or mothers that have strained relationships with their children. We ask for an increase of all women to recognize and answer the call to live out the gift of spiritual motherhood in our world today. We entrust all of these women to the hands of Mary, Blessed Virgin, and ask God’s blessings upon them this day and always. Amen.

COMMUNION OUTSIDE - As more people are returning to in person Mass, the number of people coming for Communion outside after the 10:30 Mass has been dwindling. Because of this, Father Jason has decided to discontinue distribution of Communion outside. If you are concerned about exposure and attending in person Mass because of crowd size, we encourage you to attend our 6:00pm Sunday Mass which has a lower level of attendance allowing for more social distancing.

As we approach Divine Mercy Sunday, this really interesting read outlines one of Christ’s most well known examples of mercy...the granting of his mercy to our own parish patron, St. Thomas the Apostle. Let us ask for this humbled saint’s intercession, so that we will turn our doubts and fears into offerings to the Merciful Heart of God. St. Thomas, Apostle of Divine Mercy, pray for us! https://www.catholiccompany.com/magazine/redeeming-doubting-thomas-the-apostle-of-divine-mercy-6206?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=redeemingdoubtingthomastheapostleofdivinemercy&fbclid=IwAR2oeZXzi5Su1BQDZ-9DVf2LCeVOeqJWJC_V7doSMCcma3aFaNQtkjRMTaE

Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated annually on the first Sunday after Easter. In 2021, this falls on April 11. On this day, a plenary indulgence is available. This indulgence removes all temporal punishment due to forgiven sin and can be applied to one’s self or to anyone who is deceased. Learn more about the Divine Mercy Sunday plenary indulgence at diocesefwsb.org/divine-mercy-sunday 8.5x11 FLIER

Strengthen your marriage from the comfort of your own home with The Marriage Course Online! Based on a film series featuring “regular” couples and relationship experts from around the world, this free eight-week program will take place online over Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 8 to 10 p.m. from April 13 through June 1. There is no group discussion, but rather, time built right into each session for you and your spouse to discuss the topic in the privacy of your own home using prompts from The Marriage Course journal. For more information and to register, visit diocesefwsb.org/marriage-course.

Father Jason invites you to remember last spring when he invited everyone to say the rosary together virtually. Use the link to say the Sorrowful Mysteries today https://youtu.be/Dod6DaGUb7o

REMINDER - There will be NO Eucharistic Adoration today or on Thursday at the normal 6:00-8:00pm time. Instead, there will be Eucharistic Adoration AFTER Holy Thursday Mass - so from approximately 8:00pm to 10:00pm on Thursday, April 1st.

Holy Week Schedule

NO CONFESSIONS MONDAY - The bulletin states that Father will be hearing confessions tomorrow (Monday) morning. After the bulletin went to print, a funeral was scheduled for a retired priest. Father will be attending that funeral, so confessions are cancelled. Father will be hearing confessions Saturday morning from 9am to 10am.

NO Stations of the Cross Friday, March 19th.

In this Year of St. Joseph, join Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades for a prayer service on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19, at 1 p.m. The prayer service will be livestreamed from the Chapel of St. Joseph at Saint Joseph High School. To participate, visit the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend YouTube or Facebook pages by searching “@diocesefwsb.” This event will be also be made available in Spanish through the Hispanic Ministry on Facebook @MinisterioHispanoFWSB.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available today from 4:00pm to 5:00pm and again Saturday from 9:00am to 10:00am

SEATING RESERVATIONS We will no longer be using our seating reservation system. Those attending Mass are still expected to maintain social distancing in the pews. Every other pew remains blocked off, and we ask that when choosing seats in the pews you leave 6 foot distance between others. Ushers will be available to assist, but we know we can count on all of you to mange socially distanced seating as well. We are so grateful to Aidan Kaczanowski who created this program for us to ensure socially distanced seating these last 10 months. It has helped us to establish an effective seating system that has contributed greatly to keeping us safe and healthy.

OLIVE WOOD PRODUCTS - Support the Shepherds of Bethlehem. Shop https://www.shepherds-bethlehem.com/. The Shepherds of Bethlehem have brought their beautiful hand crafted olive wood products to St. Thomas Church the last few years. We hope they will be back later this year, but in the mean time, consider shopping their online store for any of your Lenten or Sacramental gift needs.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Thursday, March 4th from 4pm to 5pm, Saturday, March 6th from 9am to 10am and Tuesday, March 9th from 6pm to 8pm.

Heat has been restored!! All Masses will resume in the church. Thank you all for your patience!