St. thomaS moreCatholiC ChurCh | SaraSota

DeCember 20, 2015Fourth SunDay oF aDvent

We are a welcoming Catholic community devoted to living out and celebrating

God’s Word and Sacraments by connecting people to Christ through faith, love and ministry.

2506 Gulf Gate Dr. Sarasota, FL 34231941-923-1691 | stthomasmoresrq.org

Advent - A Time

of Prayer and

Waiting

Christmas Mass ScheduleDecember 243:00 pm Mass

5:00 pm Children’s Mass

9:30 pm Christmas Carols10:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass

December 25(There is NO 8:00 am Mass)

9:45 am Mass

11:30 am Mass

Father Joe Clifford, Father Michal Szyszka, Deacon Bob Gaitens, Deacon Kevin Monahan, Sister Judy Baldino and the entire Staff

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 - 7:00 PM

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 3:00 pm Christmas Eve Liturgy

5:00 pm Children’s Christmas Liturgy 9:30 pm Christmas Carols

10:00 pm Christmas Eve Liturgy with STM Choir

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25 There will be NO 8:00 am Liturgy

9:45 am with Traditional Choir - 11:30 am with Contemporary Choir

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 8:00 am Daily Mass

4:00 pm New Year’s Eve Vigil FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

There will be NO 8:00 am Liturgy 9:45 am New Year’s Day Liturgy

11:30 am New Year’s Day Liturgy

SAINT THOMAS MORE CHURCH - 2506 GULF GATE DR., SARASOTA, FL 34231 - 941-923-1691

Wishing you the Blessedness and Peacefulness of

Christmas

From: Father Joe Clifford, Father Michal Szyszka, Deacon Bob Gaitens, Deacon Kevin Monahan, Sister Judy Baldino and the entire staff

Fr. Michal SzySzka Parochial Vicar

CHURCH STAFF

Sr. Judy BaldinoPastoral Associate

rev. Mr. BoB GaitenSDeacon

rev. Mr. kevin MonahanDeacon

alex dilanOrganist & Music Director

chuck lynchSacristan

leiland theriotInterim Director of Youth Ministry

carolann loveJoy-JeSSupExecutive Assistant

david FelicianoParish Accountant

Mary MaxwellParish Secretary

SuSan JacoBSFront Office Coordinator

Joanne tararaChelsea Coordinator

raMon alveroMaintenance/Set up

John driScollMaintenance/Set up

Fr. Joe cliFFordPastor

Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved.

Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.

Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.

You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may it bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen.

Jubilee: The Year of MercyPrayer by Pope Francis

The Men of St. Thomas MoreDecember Dinner Meeting -- Learning about TanzaniaGet involved: join the Men of St. Thomas More! You may register on the church website: www.stthomasmoresrq.org. Click on the “groups”drop-down menu, then print the registration form.

The Parish Office is located in the Chelsea Center: 2506 Gulf Gate Drive Sarasota, FL 34231

Office Hours 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday-Friday

Contact us 941-923-1691 or info@stthomasmoresrq.org

Website stthomasmoresrq.org

Confessions 3:00pm (Saturday, in the Chapel)

Saturday 8:00am & 4:00pm Masses

Sunday 8:00am Mass 9:45am Mass (Traditional choir) 11:30am Mass (Contemporary choir)

Weekdays 8:00am Mass

T’was the night before Christmas And all through the town, The Crafty Ladies were stirring Couldn’t put their work down.

The crochet hooks were flying The knitting needles too.In hope that they’d finish The work that was due.

There were blankets and sweaters, There were booties and hatsThere were scarves of all colorsThere was no time for chats!

Go Mary, go Blanche, Go Alicia and Margo.On Cathy and Patty, Gloria,Nell and Jo.

The yarn was all tangled.We’re dropping our stitches!But still we keep smilingLike Santa’s good witches.

So my Crafty Lady friends I wish you a season of joy and light.Merry Christmas to allAnd to all a good night!!

The Crafty Ladies meet every Thursday at 9:30 am in the Spirit Center, bring a craft to work on and join the fun!

The Crafty Ladies - a talented bunch!

Youth Ministry SOLD OUT the "Naughty Red Fox"

We have amazing parishioners: from the author (Tom Hosted) who donated the books to the folks in the pews who bought them (or just left donations!). We definitely felt the love from our parish. Thank you all for supporting our youth!! No Youth Group Meetings until January. See you then!!

Children’s Christmas Pageant

ALL children welcome to participate!

Practice: Tuesday, December 22 6:00 pm in the church

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Sunday Fr. Michal 8:00am +Edward Radeke +Paul Geiger

Fr. Joe 9:45am +Margaret Ambrose +Rita Plankey Lemole

Fr. Joe 11:30am +Salvatore D’Angelis +Robert J. Benson

Monday Fr. Michal 8:00am +Marie Grace Faga +Guiomazia Dias Coutinho +Inacio John Coutinho

Tuesday Fr. Michal 8:00am +Ray Belanger +GeneHoeffler

Wednesday Fr. Joe 8:00am House & Hanna families, living & deceased +James Walsh

Thursday Fr. Michal 8:00am +Marie Grace Faga Portulano & Masiello families, living & deceased

Fr. Michal 3:00pm +Robert Lutfy +Roberto Valenzuela

Fr. Joe 5:00pm +Marion Murphy +Mary Taff

Fr. Joe 10:00pm +George Andrade

Friday Fr. Joe 9:45am STM Parishioners, living & deceased

Fr. Michal 11:30am STM Parishioners, living & deceased

Saturday Fr. Dave 8:00am STM Clergy & Staff

Fr. Joe 4:00pm +Ronald St. George +Dianne Hughes +Denise Blazejewski +Bob Haas

Sunday Fr. Joe 8:00am +Charles Turiano

Fr. Michal 9:45am +Audrey Prather +Claire Ballschmieder

Fr. Michal 11:30am +Alfred Nardi, Sr. +Gabriella Totti

PRAYER INTENTIONS: Dec. 20-27

Centering Contemplative Prayer Thursdays,10:30 am in the Bavaria Room

Spirit of Love Prayer Group 2nd Monday, 2:00 pm in the chapel

Rosary Weekdays, 7:30 am in the Church

Women at the Well & Micah’s Men 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 6:30 pm in the Chelsea Garden Room

Join us for Prayer

Sanctuary Candle Lighted in loving memory of Linda Corrado

- Neil Corrado

The Advent CandleLighted by Elizabeth Radeke and family

Sanctuary Flowers Given in loving memory of Sandy Krieg,

remembering our 65th wedding anniversary - Arlene Krieg & Debbie and Frank Lopler

this week’s calendarSunday, December 208:00am, 9:45am, 11:30 am Masses - Church8:00pm N.A. Meeting - Spirit Center8:00pm Nar-Anon Meeting - Spirit Center

Monday, December 217:30am Pray the Rosary - Church8:00am Mass - Chapel10:00am Quilters of St. Thomas More - Spirit Charity Rm. Bonnie Lagner 941-921-12615:30pm AA - Chelsea Bavaria Rm.6:00pm Cub/Boy Scouts - Spirit Center Michelle Dunn 941-806-8133; Javier Aristimuño 941-232-80737:00pm Al-Anon - Chelsea Bavaria Rm.

Tuesday, December 227:30am Pray the Rosary - Church 8:00am Mass - Chapel6:00pm Children’s Christmas Pagent Practice - Church7:00pm Contemporary Choir Rehearsal - Church Alex Dilan 941-923-1691

Wednesday, December 23 7:30am Pray the Rosary - Church8:00am Mass - Chapel9:30am Mothers’ Circle - Spirit Center Natalie Lelyo 215-620-1184

6:00pm AA - Chelsea Bavaria Rm.7:00pm Traditional Choir Rehearsal - Church Alex Dilan 941-923-1691

Thursday, December 24 - Parish Offices Close @ Noon8:00am Mass - Chapel3:00pm Christmas Eve Mass - Church5:00pm Christmas Eve Children’s Mass - Church9:30pm Christmas Carols - Church10:00pm Christmas Eve Mass - Church

Friday, December 25 - Parish Offices Closed9:45am Christmas Day Mass - Church11:30am Christmas Day Mass - Church6:00pm AA Meeting - Chelsea Bavaria Rm.

Saturday, December 267:30am Pray the Rosary - Church 8:00am Mass - Chapel12:00pm Outside Group Event4:00pm Mass - Church

Sunday, December 27Bloodmobile on campus after all Masses8:00am, 9:45am, 11:30 am Masses - Church8:00pm N.A. Meeting - Spirit Center8:00pm Nar-Anon Meeting - Spirit Center

OffertoryDec. 12/13, 2015 $27,211.45(includes ParishPay weekly donations)

St. Vincent de Paul Society $ 607.00

Catholic Faith AppealGoal $345,000.00

Pledged Dec. 12/13, 2015 $331,259.40

Received $325,509.53

Bradenton (Brighthouse Network) Channel 4

Northport (Comcast Northport) Channel 9

Sarasota (Comcast Cable) Channel 9

Venice (Comcast Cable) Channel 9

DirecTV Channel 44

Dish Network Channel 44

Not able to get to church for Mass during the Christmas holiday? You may enjoy a televised Mass on Sunday, from the Diocese of Venice @ 9:30 am on the CW Network.

The Women’s Club launches the New Year with a luncheon at 11:30 am on Tuesday, January 19. We’ll be dining at the Casey Key Fish House. Mary Hills will be our hostess for the luncheon.

Casey Key Fish House is located at 801 Blackburn Point Rd., Osprey (just over the bridge to Casey Key on the left). We will be seated in the private dining room which overlooks the water. Reservations must be made no later than January 11.

RSVP: Mary Hills: 941-343-3806 or bob-hills@hotmail.comPat Bucci: 908-392-0727 or patbucci@gmail.com or

St. Thomas More Women’s Club Luncheon