ST. THOMAS MORE MISSION St. Thomas More Mission

SPECIAL HOLY DAY SCHEDULE

FEAST OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

Friday, December 31

-Vigil Mass, 4:30 pm (Holy Day)

Saturday, January 1

-Confessions, 9:30 am

-Feast Day Mass, 10:00am (Holy Day)

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY

*There is no 3:00 pm Mass on Saturday, January 1.

Saturday, January 1

-First Saturday Devotions, 3:00-4:15 pm

During Adoration we will pray the

First Saturday Devotions and Rosary

-3:15-4:00 pm Confessions

-4:00 Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament

-Epiphany Vigil Mass, 4:30 pm

Sunday, January 2

-Confessions, 9:30 am

-Epiphany Mass, 10:00 am

NORMAL LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Weekend

Saturday Vigil, 4:30 pm & Sunday, 10:00 am

Weekday

Monday-Friday, 12:00 pm & Saturday, 3:00 pm

Reconciliation

Saturday, 3:30-4:20 pm

Sunday, 9:30-9:50 am

Thursdays, 12:45-2:00 pm

Also, you may request an appointment for confession.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Thursdays, 12:30-2:00 pm

Devotions

First Friday, 12:00 pm Mass, followed by Adoration,

First Friday Prayers and the Rosary.

First Saturday, 3:00 pm Mass, followed by

Adoration, First Saturday Prayers and the Rosary

St. Thomas More

Mission

December 12, 2021

ST. THOMAS MORE MISSION

January 1-2, 2022

A MANIFESTATION

TO THE WORLD

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of

Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold,

magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

saying, “Where is the newborn king of the

Jews? We saw his star at its rising and

have come to do him homage.” Matthew

2:1–2

The Magi were most likely from Persia,

modern-day Iran. They were men who

regularly engaged in a study of the stars.

They were not Jewish but were most likely

aware of the popular belief of the Jewish

people that a king would be born who

would save them.

These Magi were called by God to encoun-

ter the Savior of the World. Interestingly,

God used something very familiar to them

as an instrument of their calling: the stars.

It was among their belief that when some-

one of great importance was born, this

birth was accompanied by a new star. So when they saw this new, bright and brilliant star, they were filled with curiosity and hope.

One of the most significant aspects of this story is that they responded. God called them through the use of a star, and they chose

to follow this sign, embarking on a long and arduous journey.

God often uses those things most familiar to us that are part of our daily life to send forth His calling. Recall, for example, that

many of the Apostles were fishermen, and Jesus used their occupation to call them, making them “fishers of men.” He especially

used the miraculous catch of fish to clearly indicate to them that they had a new calling.

In our own lives, God is constantly calling us to seek Him out and worship Him. He will often use some of the most ordinary parts

of our lives to send forth that calling. How is He calling you? In what way is He sending you a star to follow? Many times when

God speaks, we ignore His voice. We must learn from these Magi and diligently respond when He calls. We must not hesitate and

must seek to daily be attentive to the ways that God invites us to deeper trust, surrender and worship.

Reflect, today, upon God’s call in your life. Are you listening? Are you responding? Are you ready and willing to abandon all else in

life so as to serve His holy will? Seek Him, wait on Him and respond. Doing so will be the best decision you ever make.

Lord, I love You and pray that I will be open to Your guiding hand in my life. May I always be attentive to the countless ways

that You call to me each and every day. And may I always respond to You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.

PARISH INFORMATION

Parish Office

2825 West 81st St., Chicago, IL 60652

Phone 773-436-4444 - Fax 773-778-9087

Email address: [email protected]

Visit our official Facebook page at:

St. Thomas More Chicago

Website address:

http://stthomasmorecatholicchurch.org/

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Friday-Sunday - Closed

Rectory

Rev. Scott Haynes, Associate Pastor

Business Manager

Pat Lave

Coordinator of Religious Ed

Debbie Ksycki

Registration

New parishioners should register at the parish office.

Religious Goods Store

Open on the third weekend of the month.

SACRAMENTS

Visitations

Hospital or Homebound; Please contact the Parish Office

at 773-436-4444 as soon as possible for Communion, Con-

fession or Anointing of the Sick.

Marriage

Registered and supporting members should call the parish

office. A date should not be set until consulting with the

Pastor.

Baptism

Registered parishioners should contact the parish office.

Funeral

Registered parishioners should contact the parish office.

Bulletin

Please submit all requests for bulletin announcement on

Mondays by 10:00 am.

• DePaul Center for Marriage/Family Counseling

Fr. Bob Rohrich, 212 E. Custer St., Lemont, IL

630-257-9235

• Catholic Charities:

General Number 312-655-7000

Counseling Center: 312-655-7725

• Catholictherapists.com

• http://www.purityispossible.com/

• Project Rachel (post-abortion healing): 888-456-4673

• Suicide Prevention: 800-273-8255

SATURDAY, January 1

The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord;

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

10:00 am John Concannon (Family)

Bill & Sue Ascroft (Burke Family)

4:30 pm For the Priests & Parishioners

SUNDAY, January 2

Epiphany of the Lord

10:00 am Bob Dapkus (Dan Dapkus)

Joseph Sulka (Angela Sulka)

MONDAY, January 3

Holy Name of Jesus

12:00 pm José Luis Martinez (Carmen Viramontes)

Health & Blessings for Virginia & Dominic Molinari

(Family)

TUESDAY, January 4

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

12:00 pm Jeff Anderzunas (Angela Sulka)

Special Intention (Parishioner)

WEDNESDAY, January 5

St. John Neumann, Bishop

12:00 pm Betrothal of James & Maddie (Ron & Luann Bloom

& Lucille Jaskolski)

Special Intention (Parishioner)

THURSDAY, January 6

St. André Bessette, Religious

12:00 pm Birthday Blessings for Beth & Larry Roland

(Ron & Luann Bloom & Lucille Jaskolski)

Joseph Jonikas (Stace Mikelevicius)

FRIDAY, January 7

St. Raymond of Peñafort, Priest

12:00 pm Bob Dapkus (Dan Dapkus)

Robert L. Markham (Family)

SATURDAY, January 8

3:00 pm For all Venerables, Servants of God, Blesseds &

Martyrs in North America (Ron & Luann Bloom &

Lucille Jaskolski)

Mike, Anne & Marty Dwyer (Peggy Dwyer)

(Vigil Mass)

4:30 pm For the Parishioners

COLLECTIONS

12/5/21 $3,860.10

12/12/21 $4,846.75

Debt Reduction $1,252.08

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

OUR FINANCES ~ Your Gifts Matter

Janet Abramic Daniel Jiminez Dolores Pogor

Sandy Badke Maria Jiminez Tricia Quasthoff

Crispin Bofinger Rebecca Jiminez Walter Quasthoff

Joseph Carrabotta John Kniecik Len Reilly

Sarah Dalton Cathy Lahart Pat Sheehy

Elaine Eberhardt Mike Lave Phyllis Spizzirri

Diane & Jim Flaherty Kenneth Novickis Mary Tadda

Sandra Halper Celeste Phifer Ken Watterson

William & Theresa Jendzio Louis & Jeanine Sr. Maria-Paulina

THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM!

PFC Michael Chesna, Marines

MSG Kevin Daley

Cpl. Brian Husum

AZ2 Marcellus J. Lane - R.I.P.

PVT. Andy Oziemkiewicz

PFC. Luis Rosales

LCPL. Xavier Rosales

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL FOR THE SICK

FOR ALL WHO SERVE IN THE MILITARY INCLUDING:

Omnipotent and eternal God, the everlasting Salvation of those who believe,

hear us on behalf of Thy sick.

HEALING POWER OF THE HOLY NAME

A most toxic plague broke out in Lisbon in 1432. Many people ran out of the city into the far

reaches of the country, in the hope of out-running the contagious disease, but they only

served to transmit the lethal bacteria to every part of Portugal. Thousands upon thousands

of men, women and children were infected. So deadly was the epidemic that people were

stricken and fell down dead in public. A common sight was dead bodies littering the streets,

the churches and the marketplaces. Cadavers were left to rot on the pavements, and the

dumb beasts fed on their putrescent flesh, only to become so infected that they spread it

further.

There was, however, Bishop Andre Dias, who burned with love for the Holy Name. He lived at

the monastery of St Dominic, and could see that despite the people's best efforts to curtail

the lethal disease, Lisbon was becoming a morgue. Bishop Dias was inspired to venture to

where the disease raged the worst and to preach to the people that they were to repeat

reverently as a prayer, "Jesus, Jesus". His self-sacrifice was such that in going among the sick-

est he risked his own life. On his journeys around the city, he exhorted every person and every crowd he encountered

to make holy cards with the Name Jesus, "Write It on cards and keep those cards on your persons, place them at night

under your pillows, place them on your doors, but above all, constantly invoke with your lips and in your hearts this most

powerful Name." The victims of the disease were given a new confidence, and a strength in offering the Holy Name.

The disease had spread from any item of clothing that a diseased person had worn, and as an antidote, the people

wore their holy cards on their breasts and in their pockets. Bishop Dias called them to come to his monastery and there

he preached once more the amazing efficacy of the Holy Name, and he blessed water in the Name of Jesus and in-

structed the people to douse themselves, and to sprinkle it on the sick and dying. The Holy Name was the panacea for

the people. Miracles abounded, the sick suddenly recovered, life was restored to the dying, and in only a matter of

days the city was delivered from disease. Word spread to the rest of Portugal and the faithful called upon the Holy

Name and were healed. As we fight the corona virus now plaguing us, let us have confidence in the power of the Holy

Name of Jesus!

Exodus 90 for Men Ask Yourself: Who or What takes

first place in my life? Do I Desire to be free? The fight

for freedom is a life-long battle of detaching our-

selves from worldly things and drawing closer to

God.

Exodus works as a ninety-day spiritual exercise. It is

Christ's own roadmap to freedom: prayer, asceti-

cism and fraternity. Please consider joining us for Ex-

odus 90 starting on January 17th (and ending on

Easter Sunday April 17th). For further information

contact:

John Waite [email protected]

Jose Rosales [email protected]

Mike Burke [email protected]

Mike Streigel [email protected]

Tim Abramic [email protected]

Webpage https://exodus90.com/

DEVOTION TO THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS

Fr Scott Haynes

“As the name of each individual person embraces the

totality of the person, the most Holy Name of Jesus also em-

braces the totality of the divinity. When we think of a person,

we remember the name, and we visualize their image. Equal-

ly, when we think of Jesus, we remember His-name and we

visualize the image of God in Jesus. ‘For in Jesus the whole full-

ness of deity dwelled bodily’ (Col 1:19, 2:9).”

Richard Rolle, a mystic of fourteenth century England,

taught about the Name of Jesus: “If you will be well with God,

and have grace to rule your life, and come to the joy of love:

this name Jesus, fasten it so fast in your heart that it come nev-

er out of your thought. And when you speak to him, and

through custom say, ‘Jesus,’ it shall be in your ear, joy; in your

mouth; honey; and in your heart, melody: for men shall think

joy to hear that name be named, sweetness to speak it, mirth

and song to think it. If you think the name ‘Jesus’ continually,

and hold it firmly, it purges your sin, and kindles your heart; it

clarifies your soul, it removes anger and does away slowness. It

wounds in love and fulfills charity. It chases the devil, and puts

out dread. It opens heaven, and makes a contemplative

man. Have Jesus in mind, for that puts all vices and phantoms

out from the lover.”

In every generation the Holy Spirit has whispered the

adorable Name of Jesus to the Churches, inspiring new ex-

pressions of what remains unchanged from age to age, the

confession of Saint Peter in the Acts of the Apostles: “There is

salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under

heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts

4:12). The Holy Name of Jesus is, first of all, an all-powerful

prayer. Our Lord Himself solemnly promises that whatever we

ask the Father in His Name we shall receive. God never fails to

keep His word. When, therefore, we say, "Jesus," let us ask God

for all we need with absolute confidence of being heard. For

this reason, the Church ends her prayer with the words,

"through Jesus Christ," which gives the prayer a new and Di-

vine efficacy. But the Holy Name is something still greater.

Each time we say, Jesus, we give God infinite joy and

glory, for we offer Him all the infinite merits of the Passion and

Death of Jesus Christ. St. Paul tells us that Jesus merited the

Name Jesus by His Passion and Death. Each time we say Jesus,

let us clearly wish to offer God all the Masses being said all

over the world for all our intentions. We thus share in these

thousands of Masses. Each time we say Jesus, we gain indul-

gences for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, thus relieving and liber-

ating very many of these holy souls from their awful pains. Thus

they may be our best friends and pray for us; they cannot pray

for themselves, however. Each time we say Jesus, it is an act of

perfect love, for we offer to God the infinite love of Jesus.

Note: IHS This monogram of the Holy Name,

common among Western Christians, comes

from the first three letters in the Greek spelling

of Jesus' name. Those letters are iota (I), eta

(H) and sigma (here rendered as its Roman

equivalent (S).

“ .”

�

Boys 9 and up are invited to join our team �

of Altar Boys. Learn more about your�

faith, honor God and make new friends. �

Contact Fr. Sco" Haynes at the church office.�

ST. ELIZABETH ANN SEATON

Feast Day—January 4th

Fr. Scott Haynes

St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton is one of the keystones

of the Catholic Church in America. She found-

ed the 1st American religious community for

women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the

first American parish school and established

the first American Catholic orphanage. All this

she did in the span of 46 years while raising her

five children. Born August 28, 1774, just two

years before the Declaration of Independ-

ence, Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a true

daughter of the American Revolution. By birth

and marriage, she was linked to the first fami-

lies of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high

society.

Raised as a staunch Episcopalian by her moth-

er and stepmother, she learned the value of

prayer, of reading Sacred Scripture and a

nightly examination of conscience. Her father,

Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use for

church, Catholic or Protestant, but was a great

humanitarian, and so he taught her to serve

others. The early deaths of her mother in 1777

and her baby sister in 1778 set her mind on

eternity. Far from being sullen, she faced each

new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hope.

At 19, Elizabeth married a wealthy business-

man, William Magee Seton. They had 5 chil-

dren before his business failed. Shortly thereaf-

ter he became terribly sick and died of tuber-

culosis. At the young age of 30, Elizabeth was

widowed. She was penniless and yet, had five

small children to support. Shortly after the

death of her husband, Elizabeth Ann Seton sought a moment of comfort in her local church. She was, at this time, an

Episcopalian. So she walked in her church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in New York City, and took a seat and began to

pray.

She later wrote to a friend: “I got in a side pew in which I was positioned in such a way that I was facing St. Peter’s Ro-

man Catholic Church in the next street. And I found myself speaking to the Most Blessed Sacrament in the Catholic

Church [next door], instead of looking at the naked altar where I was.” You see, long before Elizabeth Ann Seton be-

came a canonized saint of the Catholic Church, she already had an instinct for the Real Presence of Christ in the Eu-

charist. She knew that the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ is there burning with love for sinners.

Many of her family and friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in 1805. She had no financial support be-

cause her family had largely abandoned her and since the family savings had been exhausted to pay for her hus-

band’s medical care. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton had no extraordinary gifts. She was not a mystic or stigmatic. She did not

prophesy or speak in tongues. But the letters of Mother Seton reveal her transformation from ordinary goodness to hero-

ic sanctity. She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of her husband and two young daughters,

and the heartache of a wayward son.

She died on this day, January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then

canonized (1975). She is buried at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Let us take courage from the

example of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton for she had great devotion and ardent love for the Blessed Sacrament.

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