The fruits of charity

are joy, peace,

and mercy; charity

demands goodwill

and fraternal

correction; it is a

heart of kindness

and benevolence

toward others; it

fosters reciprocity

and remains

disinterested and generous;

it is friendship and communion

(see CCC 1829).

My homily this weekend is on the

theological virtue of Charity. One

of the fruits of charity is joy, which

is a focus of Mass readings and

prayers. "The fruits of the Spirit

are perfections that the Holy

Spirit forms in us as the first fruits

of eternal glory" (CCC 1832).

Here's the deal. As we actively

cooperate with God's grace by

living the theological and moral

virtues in our daily lives, the fruits

of the Holy Spirit grow. We are the

tree, the theological virtues are

the root system, and the moral

virtues are the many branches of

the tree, and God's sacramental

grace is the nourishment. When

we cooperate by striving for

holiness and responding to

grace, the Holy Spirit produces

the fruit in us. The most significant

fruit is joy. This joy is a foretaste of

the heavenly joy that awaits us.

If we want the fruit of heavenly

joy, let us strive for holiness, be

open to the Lord's Word, close

to His Sacraments, persevering

in prayer, and actively living

a life of virtue with the help

of His grace.

In the Joy of the Lord,

Fr. Browning

FATHER BROWNING... THOUGHTS, SCRIPTURE, AND MORE.

DECEMBER 13 , 2020 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

www.stthomasmorechurch.org

Inside Baptism p3

Prayer

Requests

p2 Homily

Series

p4 Advent

Contest

p5

St. Vincent de Paul Are you in need?

In the name of Jesus, we strive to comfort, feed, clothe,

and assist those in need. We serve in person, keeping all

things confidential and preserving dignity.

Please call our answering machine

at 847.628.5170.

Do you feel called to serve?

We meet the second and fourth Tuesday

of each month at 7pm alternating

between St. Laurence and St. Thomas

respectively. For more information,

please contact conference president

Doug at StThomasMoreElginSVDP@gmail.com.

To donate, visit https://www.kindest.com/donate/society-of-saint-vincent-depaul

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SVDPSTM

Prayer Requests Join us in praying for members of our community who are sick or

ailing. To add or remove a name on our prayer list, please call

the parish office 847.888.1682. To keep our prayer list current,

names will remain on the list for 3 months. After that time, please

contact the parish office to renew names.

All Souls in Purgatory

All affected by COVID-19

Brad Abell

Jessica Abell

Marge Banker

Chuck Benson

Patty Brillo

Lauren Calo

Gracie Canning

Arie Connell

Jay Connell

Kristine Cusack

Dianna Giardino

Dominick Girardi

Karen Hoffmann

Lois Homyak

Charles Joseph

Jessie Keller

Sheryl Keller

Joan Knott

Maggie Knott

Amy Lara

Annetta Lewis

Dennis Lisiecki Jr

Jennie Lisiecki

Julie Longo

Robert Matejka

Gina McCartney

Fran Meek

Jesse Meek

Belinda Mockler

Gloria Neitzel

Sylvia Nickerson-McAlliste

Patty Niemaszyk

Fe Ocampo

Bob Olson

Delphine Ornelas

Marian Peterson

Deacon Bob Plazewski

Trini Prieto

Charles Pruter

Lutie Regan

Diane Schumacher

James Shumaker

John Schwartz

Sonja Smith

Rosemary Sobota

Helen Stasukaitis

Kyle Stasukaitis

Susan Stein

Mary Ann Vandervalk

Isaiah Vergara

Carol White

David White

Arlene Williams

Louise Wolff

Maria Ybarra

Joseph Zarcone

Marjorie Zlotnicki

2 | FOLLOW US ON ACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM

Reconciliation: Confessions are heard every Tuesday 5:30pm until all heard, and Saturday 1:00pm until all heard.

Baptism: Children of all ages and adults are welcome to the sacrament of Baptism. Baptism for children is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of each month at 1:00pm. Parents need to be registered members and should be faithful in attending Mass. Participation in a baptismal preparation class is required. Please call Sharon Hall at the parish office to make arrangements. Adults seeking Baptism should contact Linda McEwan at lmcewan@stthomasmorechurch.org.

Matrimony: Baptized Catholics are called to be married in the Catholic Church. Arrangements should be made at least six months in advance.

If you were married outside of the Catholic Church and would like to have your marriage blessed, we would be happy to guide you in that process.

Call the parish office to make an appointment with a priest to begin all marriage preparation.

Anointing of the Sick: The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and physical strength during an illness, for those having surgery, and for those near death. Call the parish office to make arrangements to receive this sacrament.

SACRAMENTS For a more in-depth look at the sacraments,

please visit our parish website

www.stthomasmorechurch.org.

Pastor Reverend Ryan Browning rbrowning@stthomasmorechurch.org www.fatherbrowning.com

Deacons Jack Roder David Deitz

Parish Office - 847.888.1682 Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm

School Office - 847.742.3959 www.stmcentral.org

Religious Ed. Office - 847.888.4887

Parish Staff Visit our website for a staff listing www.stthomasmorechurch.org/staff

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.STTHOMASMORECHURCH.ORG | 3

Bereavement Ministry Trained volunteers are available to provide spiritual support and comfort to all parishioners mourning a death loss. Please call the parish office at 847.888.1682.

Life Matters Any woman who is pregnant and in need can turn for

help to the pro-life movement. Never feel alone, call

Project Rachel at 800.593.2273 The Life Center at

847.622.1235 or Corbella Clinic at 847.697.0200.

Sunday Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 51-54 [Is 61:10b] /1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, 19-28 Monday Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a/Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 [4] /Mt 21:23-27 Tuesday Zep 3:1-2, 9-13/Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23 [7a] /Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21c-25/Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14 [Is 45:8]/Lk 7:18b-23 Thursday Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:1-17 Friday Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:18-25 Saturday Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 [cf. 8] /Lk 1:5-25 Next Sunday 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 [2a] /Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38

The questions about Mass attendance and the reception of Holy

Communion are clearly outlined in what are traditionally called

the “Precepts” of the Church. These specific

teachings are intended to stand alongside the

Ten Commandments as fundamental practices

for Catholics and are outlined in the Code of

Canon Law. The obligations related to Mass

attendance and receiving Communion are outlined in the first

and third precepts, which we find quoted in the Catechism of the

Catholic Church (no. 2042):

The first precept ("You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and

rest from servile labor") requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the

Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed

Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the

Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such

a sanctification of these days.

The third precept ("You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season")

guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord's Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal

feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.

Rather than seeing these as obligations that are simply to be fulfilled out of a sense of duty, Pope Saint John

Paul II reminds us of the grace that is made available to us when we gather for Sunday celebrations of the

Eucharist: “Sunday is the day which is at the very heart of the Christian life… Time given to Christ is never time

lost, but is rather time gained, so that our relationships and

indeed our whole life may become more profoundly

human” (Dies Domini, no. 7). ©LPi

Q ARE CATHOLICS OBLIGATED TO ATTEND

MASS EACH SUNDAY, OR RECEIVE

COMMUNION EACH SUNDAY?

A:

FRANCHESKA NINA KHO

MAVERICK RICHARD SANDERS

MYLES JOSEPH SANDERS

4 | VISIT WWW.FLOCKNOTE.COM/STTHOMASMORE37 OR TEXT “STMELGIN” TO 84576

First Reading: I rejoice heartily in the LORD,

in my God is the joy of my soul. (Is 61:10a)

Psalm: My soul rejoices in my God. (Is 61:10b)

Second Reading: May the God of peace make

you perfectly holy

and may you entirely, spirit, soul,

and body,

be preserved blameless for the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thes 5:23)

Gospel: “I am the voice of one crying out

in the desert,

‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”

(Jn 1:23)

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.

The English translation of Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass

© 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy

Corporation. All rights reserved. ©LPi

FR. BROWNING’S HOMILY SERIES

Faith, Hope & Charity This 3-week series goes through Advent.

Check it out live at the 5pm Saturday

Masses through December 19th or visit

our You-Tube channel to catch

up on past talks.

Perpetual Adoration Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

will be temporarily suspended during Christmas.

The chapel will close with Benediction

at 6:00pm on Wednesday, December 23rd,

and re-open at 1:00pm on Sunday,

December 27th.

CALL OUR PARISH OFFICE ANYTIME AT 847.888.1682 | 5

Christmas Season Schedule Tickets are required for all Masses.

Christmas Mass tickets will be available December 16 at 6PM.

RECONCILIATION

Tuesday, December 15

5:30PM

Thursday, December 17

9AM

Tuesday, December 22

5:30PM

SIMBANG GABI

Tuesday, December 15

7PM

CHRISTMAS MASSES

Thursday, December 24

3PM, 5PM, 7PM, 10PM

& 12 MIDNIGHT

Friday, December 25

8AM, 10AM & 12PM

NEW YEAR’S MASSES

Thursday, December 31

5PM

Friday, January 1, 2021

10AM

Do you want to be entered in to

win a full pew for you and your

family for a Christmas Mass?

Then enter now!

Share with us how you celebrate

Advent! We want to celebrate your

traditions and share with others!

To enter, post on our Facebook page,

or the @home page or send

a photo or video to

mtack@stthomasmorechurch.org

and your name will go into a raffle.

Deadline for entry is December 15th!

Fr. Browning will draw the winning name

on December 16th!

A CONSTANT COMPANION As Christians, we are called to a life of prayer. This is not just during seasons like Advent, but all year long. When we talk about being prayerful everyday stewards, we are speaking about cultivating an awareness of God being with us at all times. Each day we begin by offering God the entirety of our day. Each night we rest in Him and hope that the hours that passed gave Him glory.

During this busy time of Advent, it is

hard to cultivate this life of prayer, but without it we can too easily lose sight of the reason for the season. It is during this time of year we need to heed the words of St. Paul more than ever when he wrote to the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” This is how we will be able to avoid the pitfalls of consumerism and secularism and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Bring Jesus with you into the office Christmas party. Take him with you shopping for gifts in the department

store. Be aware of him when you sit down to watch television specials you have seen every year of your life. Give him all your time and let his presence fill your every moment. By striving to be connecting with Jesus at all times, you will bear greater fruit and the joy you experience will be much greater than you could imagine. You might even spend a few less dollars and spend more time with those you love, particularly the one who loves you the most, the Incarnation himself. — Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS ©LPi

Everyday Stewardship — R E C O G N I Z E GO D I N Y O UR O R D I N A R Y M O M E N T S

6 | CALENDARS & SCHEDULES

Mass Intentions for the Week If you would like to have a Mass said for someone, call the parish office

to schedule. The contribution for reserving the intention of a Mass is $10.00.

monday DEC

8:30 am Arsenia Rafael, James Putz

tuesday DEC

8:30 am Cliff Fredericks, Robert Real

wednesday DEC

8:30 am Bruce Ostdick, Lionel Smith

thursday DEC

8:30 am Bonnie Parkhouse, Richard Gofron

friday DEC

8:30 am Pat Harder, Patricia Laird

saturday DEC

5:00 pm Tony Roman, Trini Prieto

sunday DEC

8:00 am People of STM, Anna Saverino

10:00 am Karen Brummel, Bil Caughlin

12:00 pm Rev. Francis McDonnell, Earl Foster

Weekend for Dec 19th & 20th.

PRESIDERS 5:00 pm Fr. Browning 8:00 am Fr. Linster

10:00 am Fr. Browning 12:00 pm Fr. Twenty

Presiders

DEC 13 - DEC 19 ANGEL STUART (SP. INT.)

DEC 20 - DEC 26 AMANDA AUGUSTINE (SP. INT.)

JAN 3RD BULLETIN JAN 10TH BULLETIN

Materials Due:

December 14, 2020

Materials Due:

December 28, 2020

Bulletin Deadlines

The parish office is open by appointment only, please contact us.

Masses are limited to 120 people.

Confessions are Tuesday at 5:30 pm

and Saturday at 1:00 pm in the church.

FLOCKNOTE

Let’s keep in touch!

Text “stmelgin” to 84576 or visit flocknote.com/stthomasmore37

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connected to our community! facebook.com/St Thomas More

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