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St.
Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish
602 Everglade Drive |
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Stewardship:
An Invitation Our Way of Life | How Can I Serve? |
Parish Worship | Parish Outreach
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Our Way of Life The life of a Christian is one of discipleship. As followers of Jesus, we recognize the blessings we have received through Him and are moved to live a life modeled on Jesus' own life of service to the Reign of God. Like Jesus, we cherish all that the Father does for us. We acknowledge that the blessings in our lives are not our own, but are the Father's. The blessings of our very life, our individual talents and our financial security are gifts entrusted to us for the benefit of the entire world. Like Jesus we are called to be faithful stewards - to share our blessings by sharing our time, talent and treasure. As Jesus' disciples we are called to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God by the way we live our lives. To be a disciple of Jesus is to welcome the gift of faith: to
believe that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is the pattern
of our own existence. To be a disciple of Christ is to gather
with the Christian community in prayer: to give praise and glory to
God in the celebration of the sacraments, especially the
Eucharist. To be a disciple of Christ is to live the commands of
the gospel: to minister to one another in community, to be a force for
establishing a more just society, to give witness to the saving
presence of God in family, the neighborhood, the workplace, indeed
throughout the whole world. Saint Thomas Aquinas parish is a community which seeks to live a Stewardship Way of Life. We accept the challenge to live as modern disciples of Jesus. We gather to celebrate and praise God for our abundant blessings. Nourished by God's Word and the Blessed Sacrament, we are sent into the world to share our time, our talents and the treasure entrusted to us. Jesus himself has gathered us together. As a community we pray as One Body; we grow in our faith and understanding; and we serve each other and the world through our Christian service. As a community we help each other discover our strengths and challenge each other to live a life of Christian Stewardship. |
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How Can I Serve? The Lord Jesus himself calls us to share our time and our talents as faithful stewards. At Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish each of us is challenged to offer ourselves according to our particular gifts. As a community we live out stewardship in the areas of parish worship, lifelong learning and in outreach to others. Following are opportunities for you to live the Stewardship Way of Life with the parish. How will you respond to the call? |
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Parish Worship There are many roles that need to be filled when the community gathers to pray and celebrate the sacraments; especially our Sunday celebration of Eucharist. Before we come together, those with a good eye for design, or talents for sewing and decorating, prepare our Environment. Those with time at home, see to the care of the altar linens and robes. The Porters and Sacristans unlock the doors and set up for Mass or prayer services. Our Ministers of Hospitality greet our families and guests and assist us throughout the Liturgy. Child Care during Mass is offered for families with young children. Our music ministries are central to our celebration and praise. Instrumentalist, Cantors and Youth and Adult Choir Members support the assembly and draw us into one voice of prayer. At prayer Lectors proclaim the Word of God. During Advent and Lent, Liturgy of the Word Leaders for Children enliven the scripture readings while adults remain in church. Gift Bearers present the gifts of Bread and Wine on our behalf and young Servers assist our pastor. Finally, Eucharistic Ministers for Bread and Cup of the Lord offer the Body and Blood of Jesus to the gathered assembly. Our Communion also extends to those who are unable to join us at the parish. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist bring the Blessed Sacrament to residents at Oakwood Nursing home every Sunday morning and occasionally to the homebound when a parish staff member is unavailable for a home or hospital visit. Family members may also bring the Blessed Sacrament to an infirmed family member or neighbor. Each week parish members pray with Oakwood Nursing Home residents. Thus, many people are needed to assist at the nursing home Mass and to lead bi-weekly Rosary Devotions. We also need leaders to assist at Wynnwood Assisted Care Facility for monthly Word and Communion. As we celebrate the bonds of love of our parishioners, we need FOCCUS Couples and Wedding Coordinators to journey with a couple toward Holy Matrimony. When we welcome new Catholics into our assembly through the RCIA process, we walk with them as Community Sponsors and Scripture Study Leaders before their initiation at the Easter Vigil. |
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Parish Outreach Having gathered as one family, we are sent into the world to continue Jesus' own work as servants. We direct our service efforts toward each other in Parish Life and beyond our assembly to the world through our outreach. Parish Life ministries build up the community at Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish. The Parish Life Commission identifies the various needs of our community and envisions ways for us to best serve each other. The Welcoming Committee greets and acquaints new parish members. Our Singles Group, Seniors' Club and the Card Party are opportunities to gather with friends new and old. Other social events which require only short-term service commitments include: Aquinas Week Planning; Christmas Open House & Volunteer Appreciation; Sunday Coffee & Doughnut Socials; Receptions for the Bishop or other guests; and other occasional Parish Social Events. We also commit ourselves to journey with each other during family grief or illness. If a parishioner is ill or homebound, parish Nurses and Visitors assist our pastoral care staff. We are often called to assist by offering Transportation, Meal Preparation and Housekeeping or Yard Work. In a time of loss, Funeral Dinners for families are organized by Chairs, Salad & Dessert Makers, Callers and Servers to ease a family's burden. On a practical level, parish volunteers carry out many administrative tasks. Contribution Stewards count and record our weekend collections each Monday. Parish Office Volunteers help out with occasional receptionist work and large mailings. Finally, our Newsletter Committee and Web Page Editors keep us all informed of parish news and events. |
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Outreach to the Community Service to God's world is the central vocation of all lay people. As disciples we are called to do Jesus' own work of proclaiming God's love through concrete actions. The Human Concerns Council, which reports to the Parish Pastoral Council, coordinates the Saint Thomas Aquinas outreach efforts to the world. The Human Concerns Council gathers parish leaders and workers who are interested in a variety of social justice issues. Current activities include the: Middleton Outreach Ministry to the poor, homeless, and those in crisis; our monthly Saint Paul Meal Program and Food Drives for local pantries; the annual Collection and Packing for the Waspam Nicaraguan Mission support drive; our "One-A-Week" Club Blood Drive with the Red Cross; and our annual Christmas Food Baskets and Gift Giving for area families in need. With new energies we can increase our parish ministries to include support for the Luke House Meal Program; St. Vincent de Paul's homeless shelters ( the Port St. Vincent and Elizabeth Seton House); and the Diocese of Madison's new Multicultural Center's Programs. The opportunities are limited only by our parish family's willingness to serve the world as Jesus calls us. |
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Parish Education A living faith is a searching faith -- it 'seeks
understanding'. Adults need to question, probe, and critically
reflect on the meaning of God's revelation in their unique lives in order
to grow closer to God. A searching faith leads to deepening
conversion. The goal of all our parish education ministries is to companion each of us toward adult discipleship. We have a mandate to "go and teach all nations". To do this we need many leaders and assistants. Our parish education ministries commence in early childhood and continue throughout adulthood. The Parish Education Council creates stratagems for us to reach our goals. Catechists (religion teachers) and Aids plan weekly classroom sessions for our children from pre-school through high-school graduation. We often need Substitutes to fill in throughout the year. Both adults and teens, where appropriate, hold these ministries. Weekly children and youth education sessions require the assistance of Hall Monitors, Phone Callers and Office Assistants to manage the flow of people, projects and activities. Community building, service projects and worship experiences compliment the traditional classroom learning. Overnight retreats and days of reflection, outings and service projects all require Adult Chaperones. Facilitators guide Teen Scripture Study groups and aid the Education Newsletter and Web Page production. |
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Parish Leadership Pastoral Council Chair: Dick Ihlenfeld Human Concerns Council Chair: Elly Chybowski Education Council Chair: Mark Guthier Parish Trustees: Dick Ihlenfeld Finance Council Chair: Jim Rose |