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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH

324 NE Oak Street, Camas, WA 98607

Telephone (360) 834-2126

Fax (360) 834-5106

www.stthomascamas.org

office@stthomascamas.org

MASS SCHEDULE

Sunday Masses Daily Masses

Saturday Vigil: 5:00pm Tuesday: 6:00pm

Sunday: 8:30am & 11:00am Wed-Sat: 8:30am

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Tuesday after the 6:00pm Mass and

Saturday after the 8:30am Mass

or by appointment with Fr. Jim

PRIVATE PRAYER

The church is open for private prayer

Monday through Friday: 9:00am - 4:30pm

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Tuesdays after 6pm Mass until 9:30pm

Actively expanding hours; contact office

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Walk-ins welcome

Mon-Thu: 9:00am-12:30pm, 1:00-5:00pm

By telephone on Fri: 9:00am - noon

Closed weekends and holidays

MISSION STATEMENT

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe

all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with

you always, to the close of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

HIGHLIGHTS:

�� Summer Wednesday night movies on the field continue this week on Aug 11. Gather at 7pm, movies start at dusk.

�� Online registration for fall Faith Formation is open. Please register via the links on the parish website and join us for

in-person classes on Sunday mornings beginning in September.

�� Brightly Hude art sale! Aug. 14 & 15. See flyer in this bulletin for more information.

�� Teen event to celebrate The Assumption of Mary! Aug. 15. See flyer in this bulletin for more information.

��Save the Date: Altar Server training, Aug. 16 & 17, 9am - 2pm and will include a fun field trip. Open to all boys and

girls of the parish who have received their First Holy Communion. Call the office to register for this event.

��Save the Date: Vox Clara (children’s choir) Workshop/Fun Day, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 9am - 3:45pm.

Follow us on Facebook: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

or on Instagram@stthomascamas

AUGUST 8, 2021

19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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From the desk of Lorrie Conway

Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

I have been reflecting on the Listening Sessions from this past week and

the ideas that have been submitted through the Idea Box as well as email

and mail. Many of the topics that were discussed and shared are areas

that we know as a parish community are pain-points, for example, not

having our own priest leadership. Please know that your concerns were

heard, and I will always do my best to be transparent about any issues

concerning the parish, even if I am not able to change it. I want you to

know that I am available and willing to answer any questions you might

have and am happy to do so.

The one thing that was very evident is that we have a variety of different

topics that we are passionate about, and we do not all agree on how that

should look for our parish—that is fine! We are not all going to agree,

and the important thing is that we care enough about our parish to voice

our preferences and work together to create a beautiful, joyful, and

welcoming community.

While I was thinking about the differing opinions that were shared at the

Listening Session, it made me think of a recent experience I had. One of

the things that Shaun and I create for our farm stand is ice cream made

from goats’ milk. I always enjoy creating new and different flavors

throughout the season and am constantly thinking about combinations

that would be interesting. We recently had a random package of 15

pounds of avocados show up in our mailbox. It was strange! It was our

address, but not our name, so we made several failed attempts to find the

real owner of said avocados, but as they were quickly rounding the bend

toward guacamole, we finally decided we better use them. In my zeal to

create unique ice creams, I figured when life gives you avocados, you

make avocado-lime ice cream. Shaun was skeptical; very skeptical. He

simply could not wrap his mind around how these two totally different

fruits with absolutely nothing in common in texture, flavor, or aroma could

possibly create anything edible let alone desirable, but I had a different

vision. The juxtaposition of their vastly different elements when used in

perfect balance created an interesting, unique, and delicious flavor. The

key was to combine the varying components in the correct amounts of

each--not too much of one or the other-- and to understand what each of

those ingredients provides to the product to create an irresistible

experience. It turned out delicious, Shaun was a converted believer in

celebrating differences, and the avocado lime ice cream was short-lived

in the farm stand!

I mention this experience in hopes that we all can appreciate the unique

differences that each of our opinions about our parish offer. It is

wonderful that we are all different and we have different tastes. There is

no single preference that is the right preference. When used in perfect

balance with one another, even when they have absolutely nothing in

common, they can create an absolutely irresistible experience and isn’t

that what we all want; a unique and special experience to encounter

Christ, become disciples and make disciples? Don’t we want our parish

to be so unique and irresistible that it draws people into a closer

relationship with Christ?

As we move forward from the Listening Sessions, I want you to know that

the Parish Leadership received summaries of the meetings and will be

working with the Pastoral Planning workgroup on evaluating that

information and creating recommendations for the Pastoral Council and

parish leadership to use in implementing elements for our parish in living

out the Pastoral Plan.

Please continue to pray for our parish and those involved in learning from

the Listening Sessions.

In Christ+

Lorrie

E�������� O���� ��� �

Pastoral Assistant for Social Concerns Ministry

St. Joseph Parish, Vancouver is seeking a person to collaborate with

the pastor, the school principal and other pastoral staff to lead and

empower parishioners in direct service, advocacy, social justice

education and spirituality. The Pastoral Assistant is a resource to

consultative leadership, the pastoral staff, the school and wider church

communities to help raise awareness and act for justice, based on

respect for life, social justice and Catholic Social Teaching. The

Pastoral Assistant will serve as a liaison to social service agencies in

the community who serve the marginalized. This is a full-time position

with salary and benefits according to Archdiocesan guidelines.

Bachelor degree required and Master’s degree and experience in

social concerns ministry preferred.

Application materials are available at https://stjoevan.org/156.

Completed application materials may be mailed to St. Joseph Catholic

Church, Attn: Frances Farrell, 6600 Highland Drive, Vancouver WA

98661 or emailed to francesf@stjoevan.org.

PARISH OFFICE (360) 834-2126

PASTORAL COORDINATOR ..….….……..Lorrie Conway, ext. 208

PRIEST………………………..….Rev. Jim Mylet, MM, ext. 205

PASTORAL ASSOCIATE…………...………Ted Meany, ext. 215

PA FOR LITURGY & MUSIC……..Kristin Yoshimura, ext. 212

CHILDREN’S FAITH FORMATION......Denice Twyman, ext. 202

ADMIN ASSISTANT…………..…….... Terese Dayton, ext. 203

MAINTENANCE………………..…..……..Ryan LaFave, ext. 282

SECRETARY……….………………….Audrey Hockett, ext. 0

OFFICE SECRETARY EMAIL: office@stthomascamas.org

PARISH WEBSITE: www.stthomascamas.org

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

Aug 7&8: Parish Mission - Fr. Paul Weckert, OSB

Aug 11: Funeral Mass for Bernice Elenor Pluchos

Aug 11: Movie on the Field, 7pm

Aug 14&15 Brightly Hude Art sale, after the Masses

MASS INTENTIONS

Sun Aug 8 8:30am Pro Populo

11:00am

Mon Aug 9 No Mass

Tue Aug 10 6:00pm

Wed Aug 11 8:30am Susan Morehead †

Thu Aug 12 8:30am

Fri Aug 13 8:30am

Sat Aug 14 8:30am Alex Gehrmann

5:00pm Jacques Ourso †

Sun Aug 15 8:30am Pro Populo

11:00am

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MASSES AT ST. THOMAS

A general dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation

continues to remain in place due to the pandemic.

Washington State removed most of its Covid-19 restrictions on

Jun 30 and the Archdiocese has provided updated guidance.

Here is a summary of how this impacts Mass at St. Thomas:

General guidance:

�� Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

�� Please wash your hands frequently.

�� Please respect the section designated for those who wish to

remain socially distanced (in the middle of the right side).

�� Please know that masks are optional but the CDC

recommends masks for people who are not vaccinated.

Mass

�� The 8:30am Sunday Mass will continue to be live streamed for

those who cannot be with us in person (visit the parish

Facebook page (an account is not required; recordings

available on our Vimeo channel).

��Holy water is available.

��Continue to fill in all available pews from the front of the church

so later arrivals do not have to hunt for a space.

��Collection will be taken during Mass.

��Offertory procession will take place during Mass.

��Communion:

��Come forward in two simultaneous lines from each side

��Receive the Eucharist on the hand or on the tongue

��Precious Blood will not yet be distributed

��Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will be assisting

��Congregational singing is expected to be restored soon.

Please help us spread the word!

THE POPE'S PRAYER INTENTIONS for August

Intention for Evangelization - The Church:

Let us pray for the Church, that She may receive from the Holy

Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the

Gospel.

We are so grateful for those who advertise in our bulletin and make

this publication possible. Please give them your support and business!

This week we want to highlight:

Simms Electric

Thank you for helping support our parish communications!

AQUINAS GUILD

The Aquinas Guild meets the first Wednesday of each month

September thru May. Our next meeting is scheduled for September 1,

2021 at 9:30am in the Parish Hall. Please post your calendars! We

are so looking forward to seeing you again in person. We will meet the

new officers and catch up on all our projects. The Aquinas Guild is all

the women of St. Thomas Aquinas parish. We are a voluntary

association for religious, social and benevolent purposes to serve our

church and our community. No dues are collected.

S����� P��� N����

Good news from Uganda! The most recent lockdown was lifted!

Travel between districts has opened up, however schools and

churches remain closed. Nyamwegabira Parish continues to give

food to the elderly and vulnerable in the parish, especially those

who are unable to farm. If you would like to contribute to relief

efforts, donations can be sent to the office. Please note that it is

for the Sister Parish.

Upcoming events: August 22 is sister parish Sunday! We will

have a second collection for relief aid, and will be available after

Mass to share more about our sister parish.

Our next sister parish meeting will be in the parish hall August

25th at 11:30am. All are welcome.

August 28

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at 8:00pm, we are hosting a vigil in solidarity with

our sister parish to pray for vulnerable communities around the

world. We hope you will join us in the field for this hour of prayer.

Please contact the office if you have any questions.

Can you help provide meals?�

�

The Outsider’s Inn Meal Train program has

helped St. Paul Lutheran Men’s Shelter to offer

year�round lodging.� The program is a life�saver

for those now able to stay off the streets

throughout the hot summer months.� It provides

security and an opportunity to save and secure

permanent housing.�

��

Here is the sign�up link to bring meals for the

months ahead beginning August 1st:��https://

www.mealtrain.com/trains/04435v/updates/. ��

Thank you for your continued care and concern,

and for sustaining this vital program!��

Coffee Hour snacks, donations welcome!�

We welcome donations of individually wrapped

items (with a reasonable shelf life) for our coffee

hour; granola bars, fruit snacks, juice boxes, small

bags of chips, etc…. Questions, please contact the

parish office. Thank you!�

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AbookdiscussionwithFr.Jim�

StartingonAugust25at9:30am&27at7:00pm

(twooptionsperweek)�

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In reading through Vesper Time (Evening Prayer), we will use

the book as a springboard to help us to listen to what our lives

have to tell us, sifting out the chaff, watching for the quick glint

of flames, and clinging to what has nurtured our growth. The

spiritual practice of growing older involves examining our lives

and embarking on a journey inward. Aging is about living into

our memories, about seeking their meaning, and about accept-

ing and being kind to them. Spirituality is seen as encountering

the signs of God’s presence among us. Prayer along these lines

is the openness to God’s presence in everything we do. The

work we do is to be simply our love for Jesus put into action.

So in our time together, we will share our own life stories while

reflecting on the book and see how God lurks in these stories.

Hopefully through our individual reflections, we will find an in-

sight into self that connects the events, dreams, and relation-

ships that make up our existence. Life must be lived forward but

can only be understood backwards, and this is truly our experi-

ence of faith. (Descriptive excerpts taken from book review by

Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat)

Sign up so we can have a book ready for you! Call the parish

office or sign up online via our website: https://

stthomascamas.org/122�

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Once a year, as part of the Missionary

Cooperative Plan throughout the United States,

each parish in the diocese welcomes a member or

an associate of a religious community involved in

missionary work. �

Fr. Paul Weckert, O.S.B., is a priest of the

Benedictine Order at St. Martin’s Abbey in Lacey,

WA and is this year’s representative who will share

with you some of the work of AIM USA. They have

formed an alliance between 140 US and Canadian

monasteries with over 400 Benedictine and

Cistercian monasteries in Africa, Asia, the

Caribbean and Latin America. These Benedictine

and Cistercian women and men form centers of

prayer, education, health and agriculture in some

of the poorest regions of the world. Please

respond to this appeal with openness and

generosity. �

Fr. Paul came to the monastic life at St. Martin’s Abbey

at age 41 in the fall of 1988. Becoming a monk, Fr.

Paul professed simple vows in 1990 and solemn

(perpetual) vows in 1993. He received BA degree in

Religious Studies in ’93 from St. Martin’s College (now

University). He began his theology studies at Mt. Angel

Seminary, St. Benedict, OR in 1993 where he received

a MA in Theology in ’96 and an MDiv. in ’97. During the

1998/99 school year he did post�graduate studies in

Monastic Studies (Spirituality) a St. Vincent Seminary in

Latrobe, PA. In 1998 Fr. Paul was ordained a deacon

and on June 5, 1999 he was ordained a priest by

Archbishop Alexander Brunett in the church at St.

Martin’s Abbey. From May 1999 to the following year

he was Vocation Director and Novice Master for his

monastery in Lacey. Beginning in 2000, and for three

years, he was a Parochial Vicar at St. Michael Parish,

Olympia. From 2003 to 2005 he was pastor of St.

James Parish in Vancouver, WA where he also

ministered to the Vietnamese community of south west

Washington. In 2005 he was called home to his

monastery to be Vocation Director. After a few years,

he returned to parish work spending one year in both

Sacred Heart Parish in Battle Ground and St. Michael’s

Parish in Olympia, finally three years at St. Columban in

Yelm. He is now in residence at St. Martin’s Abbey and

once again Vocation Director.�

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JV EnCorps Recruitment Postings: 2021�22�

Looking for Ways to Serve Our Community?

Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps, a program of JVC Northwest, facilitates fulfilling opportunities for service,

community, and spiritual formation for adults 50+ who are committed to social and ecological justice. In

addition to part-time volunteer service, members meet monthly online or in-person, creating spiritual

community through shared reflection. Our values are rooted in the Catholic Ignatian tradition, and JV

EnCorps is an inclusive and welcoming community of folks from all faith perspectives.

Already engaged in service through your parish ministry or a local nonprofit organization? JV EnCorps

could be the perfect way for you to add additional support, reflection, and personal growth to your current

volunteer service.

Learn more about what JV EnCorps service is like:

JV EnCorps Spotlight: Patty Christopher (Bend, OR)

JV EnCorps Letter: Jay Lyman (Portland, OR)

Program begins in September. Applications accepted throughout the year. For more info and to apply,

visit www.jvencorps.org.

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Sunday, Aug 08, 2021

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Let living water flow

Jesus said, "Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to

one of these little ones to drink" will be rewarded (Matt.

10:42). How much more so if we champion clean water rights for all.

Have you ever tried to run a bath, only to have sludge emerge from the

pipes? Have you visited a familiar lake and found its normally clear

water unfit for swimming? Have you gotten sick from drinking from a

contaminated spring, or developed a rash from washing in your own

sink? Folks around the world and in parts of our own country have had

this experience often. Take time to learn what you can do locally and

globally to ensure access to what Pope Francis calls a “basic and

universal human right"—safe drinking water.

TODAY'S READINGS: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:30—5:2;

John 6:41-51 (116). “Elijah looked and there at his head was a

hearth cake and a jug of water.”

Monday, Aug 09, 2021

MEMORIAL OF TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS,

VIRGIN, MARTYR

Pick up a page-turner of faith

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was born Edith Stein in 1891 and

was killed at Auschwitz in 1942. She was a German Jewish

philosopher who had been an atheist, although she had admired

Christians she knew. She shocked everyone by becoming Catholic

and, 11 years later, a Carmelite nun. Her conversion was prompted by

an all-night reading of the autobiography of Saint Teresa of Ávila, a

16th-century Carmelite also of Jewish origins. Pick up a copy of the

autobiographies of both these riveting saints—and see how they

contribute to your own ongoing conversion.

TODAY'S READINGS: Deuteronomy 10:12-22; Matthew 17:22-

27 (413). “And they were overwhelmed with grief.”

Tuesday, Aug 10, 2021

FEAST OF LAWRENCE, DEACON, MARTYR

Find your way to serve

Lawrence was one of seven deacons martyred in Rome under

Emperor Valerian in 258. The word deacon—from the Greek word for

service—describes the work of these early ministers: beginning with

the first seven deacons mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles,

appointed to serve the everyday needs of the flock while the apostles

busied themselves with evangelization. Today’s Catholic deacons are

ordained; permanent deacons can preach at Mass and preside over

weddings, Baptisms, and funerals—while transitional deacons later

become priests. Learn more at .org.

TODAY'S READINGS: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26

(618). "Where I am, there also will my servant be."

Wednesday, Aug 11, 2021

MEMORIAL OF CLARE, VIRGIN

Hope lights the way

Saint Clare, founder of the Poor Clare order of nuns, is part of a long

line of women and men who gave up everything for the sake of

following Christ, and, in turn, inspired others to join them on their holy

journey. Often meeting significant resistance, these brave souls

persevered, driven by a passion to bring God’s Good News to the

world. “Like a shooting star against the dark sky of injustice and

ignorance, founders of religious communities lit up the landscape with

a burst of hope,” says Precious Blood Father Joe Nassal. Saint

Gaspar, the founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, like

Saint Clare hoped to free people from the chains of societal conformity.

Clare chose to do it within the confines of a cloister; Gaspar, as an

itinerant preacher. Both were being true to themselves and the gospel.

Follow your own path toward hope.

TODAY'S READINGS: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Matthew 18:15-20

(415). “His eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated.”

Thursday, Aug 12, 2021

MEMORIAL OF JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL, RELIGIOUS

Love lifted her higher

Jane Frances de Chantal, a French widow who founded the Visitation

Nuns in 1610, was a well-off, educated woman with administrative talent

and deep faith who was widowed at age 28. Obliged to live with a cruel

father-in-law, she coped by pouring herself into charity work and spiritual

development, eventually teaming up with Saint Francis de Sales to found

a religious community. Have you ever coped with difficulties by trying to

become a better person? What trial in your life could nudge you toward

greater goodness?

TODAY'S READINGS: Joshua 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17; Matthew

18:21—19:1 (416). “Moved with compassion the master of that

servant let him go and forgave him the loan.”

Friday, Aug 13, 2021

MEMORIAL OF PONTIAN, POPE, AND HIPPOLYTUS,

PRIEST, MARTYRS

What unites is greater than what divides

Pope Pontian and Hippolytus were both imprisoned in Sardinia during

Roman persecutions. Before their deaths in 235, Pontian and Hippolytus

reconciled, because for a time the two were archenemies. Indeed,

Hippolytus had been elected antipope by his followers who were in stark

opposition to Pontian’s tolerant stance on reconciling returning Christians

to the church. In the end, Pontian and Hippolytus realized that their

shared love of Christ far surpassed any differences. Finding one common

element with an enemy is the first step toward reconciliation. Perhaps we

can start with our shared humanity and work our way from there.

TODAY'S READINGS: Joshua 24:1-13; Matthew 19:3-12 (417). “I

gave you a land that you had not tilled and cities that you had not

built, to dwell in.”

Saturday, Aug 14, 2021

MEMORIAL OF MAXIMILIAN KOLBE, PRIEST, MARTYR

Give a piece of your heart

Maximilian Kolbe shook up the rules for saint-making. At Kolbe’s 1982

canonization, Pope John Paul II named him a “martyr of charity.” No

longer could one become a martyr only by being killed because of

“hatred for the faith.” Now one killed because of charitable work, as

Maximilian was, could also be a martyr. This opened the door to

sainthood for others who were murdered for their good work, like Notre

Dame Sister Dorothy Stang of Brazil, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ

sisters of Liberia, or the Maryknoll sisters of El Salvador. We are all

called in some way to be martyrs, even if we give away only a part of our

lives. Give away a piece of your life today.

TODAY'S READINGS: Joshua 24:14-29; Matthew 19:13-15 (418).

“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the

Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

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TakeFiveForFaith.com. Scripture citations from the New American Bible

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