January 20, 2019 The Baptism of the Lord

Jan 27: 3rd Sunday in O.T.

Reading I: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE:

Average Weekly Regular Offertory Amount Needed

to Meet Our Annual Budget = $5,050

Offertory for Jan 13: $3631.00

“Give and it shall be given to you.” - Luke 6:38

Thank you for your generous contributions.

CHURCH OF SAINT THOMAS MORE A Community of Parish & University Ministry PO Box 620, Durham, NH 03824; 868-2666

The office open Tues & Thurs 9am - 3pm; Wed 9am - 1pm Closed Monday, Jan 21 for MLK Jr. Day

Communion Service: Tues at 12:10pm Mass: Wed at 12;10pm

No Mass or service Mon, Thurs or Fri

5pm Sunday Student Masses resume Jan 27, 2019

Food Pantry: Thursdays 4pm-6pm

Welcome Child of God!

No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church, No matter your personal history, age, income, background, gender, race, ethnicity or spirituality, or marital situation,

No matter your own self-image of holiness or virtue, You belong to Jesus Christ and you belong to us!

You are invited, accepted and respected here at the Parish of Saint Thomas More.

Take our hands, Lord Jesus, leading us in courage to confront with courage the forces which oppress and divide. Take our hearts, Lord Jesus, and open them to the truth which will set others free.

Accompany us on our way, Lord Jesus, as we seek to share our Roman Catholic faith and life in your Spirit.

For January 19th – 20th

Saturday, 5pm – Richard Ferrari Sunday, 9am – Michael Avery

Sunday, 11:15am – Most Reverend Robert E. Mulvee, D.D., J.C.D.

For January 26th – 27th

Saturday, 5pm – Andrew and Evelyn Cryans Sunday, 9am – Mass of Thanksgiving

Sunday, 11:15am – Evelyn Cryans

Second collection this weekend

Eric Ouellette, recent UNH graduate, is at St. Meinrad Seminary in first year theology. Please keep Eric and all who are discerning a religious/priestly vocation in your prayers.

This weekend’s Seminarian Fund supports Eric and

other seminarians as they discern and/or pursue their vocations.

One of the main themes voiced consistently throughout the word of the Second Vatican Council was a call to deeper appreciation and participation in the Sacraments. Regarding Baptism, in particular, our par-

ish has adopted policies and procedures that involve parents in a serious program of preparation. Although an infant is, of course, incapable of making a conscious profession of personal faith, the Catholic Church has always held that Baptism at an early age is an important step in the child’s upbringing. But Baptism, like all other Sacraments, cannot simply be a liturgical ritual performed by a priest before a passive spectators. To be effective, the Sacrament must be understood, as-sented to, and participated in, both by the family and the godparents and representatives of the community in which the child is raised. It is my sincere prayer that each new child’s reception into the Church may be an occasion for all the members of our parish family to participate in a joyous reaffirma-tion of the faith which makes us one. Yours in Christ, Fr. Andrew

Office closed on

Monday, January 21 for MLK Jr. Day

Faith Formation

Upcoming classes:

Jan 27, Feb 3 and Feb 10

No classes Jan 20 for MLK weekend.

Middle School Faith Formation

Next sessions are January 28, February 4 and February 18 from 6-7:30pm.

Confirmation Classes: Jan 28, Feb 4 & 18, Mar 4 & 18; 7:30 - 8:30pm.

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY

DTS: Sun, Jan 27 6-8:30 pm (meal) Retreat: Sun, Feb 3 9 am - 3 pm; Rivier University Life Teen: Sun, Feb 10 6-8:30 pm (snacks)

NEW YEAR ~ NEW BEGINNINGS

Have you ever thought about being more involved in the parish? Just moved to the area and looking for a way to meet other parishioners? Have some extra time to do for others? There are several ways you can help!

Do you know someone who is homebound who would like a visitor or to receive communion?

Do you enjoy visiting with elderly people? We have several care facilities and seniors in the area who are homebound ~ who would love to have a visit and/or receive communion weekly.

We cover Dover Rehab; Harmony Homes, Harmony by the Bay; Carriage Hill; Riverside, and Brookdale Spruce-wood (Brookdale is also seeking someone to lead the Rosary with residents once a week).

Our Good Sams outreach provides meals for parishioners who ask for help...new baby, accident, illness ~ would you like to bring a meal, or organize meals?

Want to join a UNH student supper team; coordinate a Bible Study or adult formation program? So much more!

Contact Roberta MacBride to get the conversation started at stmpastoralmin@comcast.net.

CARING & SHARING

For this week the Pantry needs are:

brown rice, applesauce, meal helpers, taco shells, beef stew, manwich, Kleenex.

Thank you!!

God of justice, you have revealed yourself as the One who brings about justice and unity through your Son Jesus Christ. As the Church experiences a lack of unity you call us by name to heal what divides us. Make us truly one in the pursuit of

justice. Eternal God, let us love one another in His name, One with You and the Holy Spirit, living and true, now and forever.

Amen.

- https://geii.org/week_of_prayer_for_christian_unity/ prayer_worship/prayer_cards.html

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Bishop Peter A. Libasci invites all couples

celebrating an anniversary in 2019 of 10, 15, 20, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 55+ years,

to attend the Spring Wedding Anniversary Mass.

This celebration will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.,

at St. Joseph Cathedral, Manchester.

To register, please contact your parish office by February 1, 2019. The parish office will gather

and submit all necessary information. Once registration has been completed by the

parish office, all registrants will receive an invitation to this special celebration. Couples

celebrating anniversaries of 5, 25, or 50 years will be asked to register later for a fall celebration.

To all other married couples, congratulations and we look forward to seeing

you at this spring’s Wedding Anniversary Mass!

"I am the Resurrection and the Life" We extend our deepest sympathy and continued prayers

or the family, friends and loved ones of:

Mary Coakley mother of Cathy Coakley

Gloria Hedberg mother of Ted and Pauline Hedberg

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the

faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Please continue to welcome Fr. Norman Simoneau

as he leads us in worship while Fr. Andy is away through Jan 19/20. We love having you with us. Thank you Fr. Norman!

200 Club

On Sunday, January 27, the 200 Club will celebrate its first anniversary.

Please join us after the 9:00 Mass to celebrate with cake and special drawings of $500, $300 and $100

in recognition of the Club's support to the parish over the past year. All the more reason to become a member

or renew your subscription!

If you are a charter member of the 200 Club who signed up in February of 2018, your subscription will expire in January

of 2019. If you wish to continue supporting the parish through the 200 Club, avoid the last minute rush by renewing your subscription now. Your renewal will commence at the

end of your current subscription.

Membership/renewal envelopes are available in the pamphlet rack at the main entrance to the church,

and on the table at the side entrance.

Additional Information is available on-line at stmdurham.org, on the Church Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/stmdurham, or contact Tom Dolan at 603-659-7162 or tomdolan84@hotmail.com

Thank you for your generous support of our Card Ministry. Do you know someone who would be lifted up by a greeting of prayers for hope, healing, consolation,

birthday, etc. from our parish community? Please contact Roberta at stmpastoralmin@comcast.net.

STM Card Ministry

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Allow God to strengthen, renew, rekindle and transform your marriage sacrament by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next Weekends are Mar 8-10, 2019 in Duxbury, MA and Apr 13-14, 2019 in Brewster, MA. For more information, call Stephen & Michelle O'Leary at 800-710-9963 or visit them at https://wwmema.org/.

Reflection & Prayer to End Human Trafficking January 11 – February 8, 2019

We pray for the courage and initiative to question corporations about who makes the clothes we wear.

For more, visit: http://csjorange.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2019-HT-Prayer-Calendar-and-Flyer.pdf

LOVE AND THE STAIRWAY OF FAITH Join us on Thurs from 6:45-9 pm at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Rochester for a 5-week spiritual growth and maturity series Jan 24 - Feb 25. Topics include: Saving Faith, Shield of Faith, Childlike Faith, and Expectant Faith. Evenings include the Rosary, lively praise and worship, a teaching presentation, an opportunity for discussion, and an offering for individual healing prayer ministry. FREE. For more infor-mation call Jackie Morganti, 332-3576. Sponsored by the Mercy of Jesus Prayer Group.

OUR LADY OF HOPE HOUSE OF PRAYER UPCOMING RETREATS Contemplative Weekends Jan 25-27 and Feb 15-17. Adoration available, Mass Saturday a.m. Cost: $150 (incl $40 registration). Tuning in to God, Feb 8-10 with Karen Conrow. Cost: $160 Iincludes $40 registration). In New Ipswich, NH. For more info or reservations, contact Sisters Rita Pay or Suzanne Rivard, p.m. at 878-2346 or olhope1@yahoo.com, or visit www.ourladyhope.org.

ST. ANDREW’S DINNER An invitation to young men, ages 14-18, who are considering a vocation to the priesthood or would simply like help hearing the Lord’s call for their life, to an evening of prayer, conversation with the Vocations Team, and dinner on February 8, 6-8 pm at the Joseph House (279 Cartier Street) in Manchester. RSVP to rvinson@rcbm.org or 663-0153 if you would like to attend.

Student Masses and Student suppers

resume on January 27.

Mass: 5pm Sun Supper: Immediately following Mass

UNH Campus Ministry Spring 2019

Assistance for Victims of Abuse

The Office for Healing and

Pastoral Care provides services

and support, promotes healing, and supports

the emotional and spiritual

well-being of survivors of sexual abuse

and misconduct in the Church.

The Office also seeks to be a source of

comfort and support for anyone who is

a survivor of sexual abuse in any walk of life.

If you are a victim of abuse or misconduct by

someone representing the Catholic Church,

we encourage you to contact the Director of

the Office for Healing and Pastoral Care at

jnaff@rcbm.org or (603) 663-0125. For more

resources to assist victims of abuse, visit

www.catholicnh.org/healing

Diocese of Manchester Safe Environment Announcements Keep Kids Safe- Background Checks

Did you know? The Diocese of Manchester requires all adults who regularly work with children and youth in our parishes, schools, and camps to complete background checks. Recently, we began renewing these background checks every 4 years. This is just one of the efforts undertaken by our diocese to protect children! For more information about child safety in the Diocese of Manchester, visit www.catholicnh.org/safety

THE TRANSITION: From inner centeredness to effective action

The words action and contemplation have become classic Christian terminology for the two dancing polarities of our lives. Thomas Aquinas and many others stated that the highest form of spiritual maturity is not action or contemplation, but the ability to integrate the two into one life stance - to be service-oriented contemplatives or contemplative activists. By temperament we all tend to come at it from one side or the other. … We need both inner communion and outer service to be “Jesus” in the world! The job of religion is to help people act effectively and compassionately form an inner centeredness and connection with God.

-This quote is from “Action and Contemplation,” Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, June 26, 2017