St. Thomas More Church Brooklyn, OH 44144

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29 – VIGIL

4:30PM - Father’s Day Enrollment

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30 – THE HOLY

FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH

9:00AM - People of the Parish

+*11:00AM - John Polander

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 – ST. SYLVESTER I

7:00AM - William Rice

4:30PM - Helen Krakovsky

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1 – SOLEMNITY OF

MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

9:00AM - Mother’s Day Enrollment

11:00AM - Rev. John Juhas

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 – SS. BASIL THE

GREAT & GREGORY NAZIANZEN

7:00AM - Deacon Martin Thiel

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3 – THE MOST HOLY

NAME OF JESUS

7:00AM - Lorraine Hangauer

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4 – ST. ELIZABETH ANN

SETON

7:00AM - Helen M. Malames

8:15AM - Memorial Garden

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5– ST. NEUMANN

8:15AM - Deceased Members of the DiFrancesco

Family

1:00PM - Cappetto/Kelly Wedding

+*4:30PM - Katherine Prystasz

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 – THE EPIPHANY OF

THE LORD

9:00AM - People of the Parish

+*11:00AM - Michael Misch

+Cup Mass

*Mass of Remembrance

FIRST FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC DEVOTION

Every First Friday of the month we have exposition of

the Eucharist from 2-7pm ending with Benediction.

Call the rectory if you are able to commit to one half

hour on January 4th.

Monday, December 31

Rectory Open from 9am-1pm

Tuesday, January 1 Rectory Closed

Wednesday, January 2 Rectory Closed

5:00 PM Bingo - Gym & Utopia Hall

Thursday, January 3

4:00 PM - 9:00 PM Basketball Practice - Gym

7:00 PM Cub Scouts - Utopia Hall

7:00 PM Lectio Divina - Rectory

Friday, January 4

2:00 PM - 7:00 PM Eucharistic Devotions - Church

4:00 PM - 9:00 PM Basketball Practice - Gym

7:00 PM Benediction - Church

Saturday, January 5

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CYO Basketball - Gym

Sunday, January 6

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Men’s Basketball - Gym

1:00 PM - 8:00 PM CYO Basketball - Gym

The financial information for December 23rd and

Christmas will be in next week’s bulletin due to the

early submittal.

Thank you and God bless you for your generosity.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

CHAIRPERSON: Angela LoBue

SECRETARY: Dawn Thomas

REGISTRATION

Persons who live within parish boundaries should be

properly registered. This includes all students in

high school and college. Register with the priest af-

ter Mass. If you move out of the parish, please noti-

fy the rectory.

BAPTISMS

Sunday: 12:30 PM or during any weekend liturgy.

Prior to baptism of their first child, parents are re-

quired to attend a Pre-Baptism class. Please call the

rectory at 216-749-0414 to schedule an interview.

MARRIAGES

Should be arranged with a priest by calling the rec-

tory 6 months prior to the wedding date. Individual

conferences, plus attendance at a pre-marriage pro-

gram, are required for proper preparation.

SAINT THOMAS MORE

Extreme justice is an extreme injury: for

we ought not to approve of those terrible

laws that make the smallest offences capi-

tal, nor of that opinion of the Stoics that

makes all crimes equal; as if there were no

difference to be made between the killing a

man and the taking his purse, between

which, if we examine things impartially,

there is no likeness nor proportion.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph December 30, 2018

FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR

Jesus, Mary and Joseph! When we are taken back by

something we may blurt out their names or when praying

for help in our prayers we may call on them for interces-

sion. These names are sacred because Jesus, Mary and

Joseph make up the Holy Family. This is the celebration

that we celebrate today, the feast of the Holy Family.

Families come in all different shapes and sizes. Most

of us never really consider that our Church is a family.

Well not in the traditional sense do we look like a family,

but we are a family. A family is made up of people who

care for each other. We may not always agree with each

other, but we have each other’s back when push comes

to shove. A family worries about each other, shares in

the celebrations and the sorrows. A family loves one an-

other, no matter what. The love of a family should be

unconditional.

Jesus teaches us to love everyone. We are called to

love each person. We may not always like or agree with

what they do but love holds us together. As Jesus taught

us, love the sinner hate the sin! Please never confuse the

sin with the person. Every person is a child of God who

is created in the image and likeness of God.

When we see each other as children of God and see

Christ in each person, then love begins. It will be this

love that will unite us as one and there a family begins.

Isn’t this what church is all about? We come together

under one purpose, to love and worship God. It is funny

how once we come together, we begin to change and see

the need to reach out to the sick and home bound. We

want to support those who are struggling financially and

make sure our children are raised in the Church and get

to know God. In other words, we start to care!

Let me give you an example. Last year I asked every-

one to do a novena to Blessed Solanus Casey for Deacon

Chuck and Marian’s grandson Vinny who was extremely

sick and not sure if he would survive. The outpouring of

love and commitment that took place was remarkable.

People taking the prayer home and doing it, those com-

mitted to staying after Mass and praying it together was

amazing. People would come up to me and ask how Vin-

ny is doing and telling me how they still say the prayer at

home. This is Church, this is family!

As we come to the end of the year, it will be one

whole year that we have been doing the novena and that

was the commitment. So with that in mind, we will not

be saying the novena publicly but I encourage everyone

to keep praying because although Vinny has come a long

way he still needs our prayers.

This is just one example of how Church is family.

Here at St. Thomas More there are so many different

ways I have seen this community not be just a communi-

ty of people, but a true family that loves and supports

each other. St. Thomas More is a family of believers that

are united by the love of the Heavenly Father, the

“Never can a child know what a mother suffers… Our

God alone knows a mother’s heart and

He will pity us.”

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

SOLEMNITY OF MARY MASS SCHEDULE

Monday, December 31- New Year’s Eve

4:30 PM Vigil Mass

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 – New Year’s Day

Feast of Mary, Mother of God

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

CHRISTMAS RECTORY HOURS

Please note the rectory hours during the holidays:

1/1/19- Closed 1/2/19- Closed

support of our Brother (Jesus) and the courage of the Spirit

(the Holy Spirit).

God Bless and may your New Year be filled with much

happiness, great peace and good health!

Peace and Goodness,

Fr. Bill

St. Thomas More Church Brooklyn, OH 44144

Readings for the Week of December 30, 2018:

Sunday: 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28/Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-

10 [cf. 5a]/1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24/Lk 2:41-

52�

Monday: 1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96: 1-2, 11-12, 13 [

11a]/Jn 1:1-18

Tuesday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 [2a]/Gal

4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21

Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

[3cd]/Jn 1:19-28

Thursday: 1 Jn 2:29—3:6/Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6

[3cd]/Jn 1:29-34

Friday: 1 Jn 3:7-10/Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9 [3cd]/Jn

1:35-42

Saturday: 1 Jn 3:11-21/Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 [2a]/

Jn 1:43-51

Next Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

[cf. 11]/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12

©LPi

Antonio Musto, Florence Zunt, Ethel Whipkey,

Nickola Badza, Carol Loy, Vinny Mercurio,

George & Martha Kysil, Raymond Kuhar,

Jessica Kuhar, Stephen Kuhar III, Alexis

Simecek, Gregory Simecek, Heather Hudak,

Mary Misch, John Misch, Grayson Wilmot,

John Szill, Melissa Korhely, Sean Szill, Joel

Gorski, Nancy Butler, Gail Michal, Ashley

Meadows, Alice Gruden, Dave Meredith,

James Malames, Greg Jakupcik, Bob Smith,

Donald Marks, Mary Ellen Popovich, Melissa

Horvath, Juliana Turner, Meg Zalar, Stephanie

Ziolkowski, Jean Palumbo, Marlene Sutowski,

Ida Jean Hopkins, Joy Turner, Jeremy

Cheetham, Pam Turner, Ben Purcell, Margaret

Babik, Jean Sunyak, Laura Sampson, Mario

Mastroianni, Jr. and Christina E. Janus. Please

call the rectory by noon on Monday to add a

name to the list. Names will remain on the list

for the month.

MARY QUEEN OF PEACE: 216-749-2323

Bingo - Join us for Bingo on Friday evenings begin-

ning at 6pm in the Parish Center. Doors open at 4:30.

ST. CHARLES BORROMEO: 440-884-3030

Save the Date - Join us on Saturday, January 19th at

6pm in Corrigan Gym for the St. Charles Sports

Boosters A Night at the Races. Ticket information to

come. Various levels of sponsorship are available,

please email Linda Boots @Boots@mgfl-law.com.

ST. LEO THE GREAT: 216-661-1006

Bus Trip - Join us for a trip to Scioto Downs on

Wednesday, January 16th. Cost is $32/person. Casino

bonus: $20 free slot play & 1/2 off at the buffet.

Please call Joanne Todd at 440-526-3505 for more

information or to book your trip.

Please remember Lucy Tankersley,

Florence Kozuch and Aldo Zappa

in your prayers.

God grant them eternal rest.

MUSIC MINISTRY

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET - In the arms of Your

Mercy, we find rest. Please join us on Thursday, Janu-

ary 10th at 7pm in the church for our next Divine

Mercy Chaplet.

ANNUAL MEMORIAL CANDLES

In the month of November, we remembered our be-

loved dead. Why not remember them the whole year

round? Memorial Candles for 2019 are now available.

The cost is $200 for the year, $190 if you return your

November candle or $100 for six months. Forms are

available at the rectory.

III - Anne Marie Cappetto (St. Thomas More ) &

Daniel Kelly

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph December 30, 2018

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY

As we approach the new year, why not make Youth

Ministry part of your routine? Do you know a high

schooler in your family who would enjoy hanging out

with other high schoolers? Encourage them to attend

our events in the coming year. They can get reminders

on their phone by texting the word STMOREYM to

84576. Plans for the new year include more trips, pray-

er opportunities and our annual retreat (in April). May

God bless you in the new year!

TRAVELING MADONNA

This week the statue is at the home of Tom

Wenderoth. Please continue to pray for our host fami-

lies as they share their home with our Traveling Ma-

donna. Remember to send in any pictures that you take

to the rectory.

Please call the rectory to sign-up to host the Traveling

Madonna in 2019.

THE PERFECT FAMILY DAY

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, plan to

join us for the perfect family day this summer - The

FEST. Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 4,

2019 for our 19th annual Catholic family FESTival.

Looking to do something extraordinary this summer?

The FEST is looking for interns to join the team that

puts together this great event. For more information or

to apply, please send your resume to Cait-

lin@theFEST.us by January 10th!

ST. THOMAS MORE SCHOOL

A NEW YEAR’S PRAYER

Lord, You make all things new

You bring hope alive in our hearts

And cause our Spirits to be born again.

Thank you for this new year

For all the potential it holds.

Come and kindle in us a mighty flame

So that in our time, many will see the wonders of

God and live forever to praise Your glorious

name. Amen.

Happy New Year from the faculty, staff and

students of St. Thomas More School!

PARISH PRAYER

O God, the Creator and giver of all things, bless this

parish. Strengthen our faith; grant us the spirit of sacri-

fice and service so that, with Your grace, we may pro-

vide for the needs of our members, glorify You and

sanctify ourselves. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

PRAYER OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love

commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light

and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

EPIPHANYBLESSINGOFAHOME�

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ALL:MaketheSignoftheCross.�

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HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD: Peace be to this

houseandtoallwhodwellhere, inthename

oftheLord.�

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ALL:BlessedbeGodforever.�

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READER:InthebeginningwastheWordand

the Word was with God, and the Word was

God. Hewas in the beginningwithGod. All

things come to be through Him, andwithout

Him nothing came to be...And the Word be-

came $lesh and dwelt amongus, andwe saw

hisglory,thegloryasoftheFather’sonlySon,

fullofgraceandtruth.(John1:1�3,14)�

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Usingchalk,writethe $irsthalfof thecurrent

year(20),initialsofthe3Magi(C+M+B)fol-

lowed by the other half of the year (19)

(20+C+M+B+19). Eachcouldbewrittenbya

differentmemberofthehousehold.Placethis

abovethemainentrancetoyourhome.�

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ALL: Lord God of heaven and earth, you re-

vealedyouronlybegottenSontoeverynation

bytheguidanceofastar.Blessthishouseand

all who inhabit it. May we be blessed with

health, goodnessof heart, gentleness and the

keepingof your law. Fill uswith the light of

Christ,thatourloveforeachothermaygoout

toall.WeaskthisthroughChristourLord.�

AMEN.�

St. Thomas More Church Brooklyn, OH 44144