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JULY 17, 202216TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMEST. THOMAS MORE PARISH2101 Pottstown Pike, Pottstown, PA 19465610-469-9304www.StThomasMorePottstown.org"Now I rejoice in mysufferings for your sake,and in my flesh I amfilling up what islacking in theafflictions of Christ onbehalf of his body, whichis the church"Colossians 1:24Rev. Lawrence Kozak, PastorDeacon Timothy MurphyRev. Hugh J. Dougherty, Pastor EmeritusDaily Mass: Monday - Saturday 8:30 amSaturday Evening Mass: 4:30 pmSunday Mass: 8:00 am and 10:30 amEucharistic Adoration:Monday 11 am - 7 pm, Tuesday - Friday 9 am-7 pmAdoration for Vocations: Thursdays 3 pm - 4 pmConfession: Daily Before the 8:30 am Mass,Thursday 7:30 pm, Saturday 9 am & 3:00 pmFatima Rosary:Monday - Saturday after the 8:30 am MassFlame of Love Rosary:Monday - Friday 6:30 pmEvening of Reparation: Monthly 1st Friday 8 pmSave the Date!Parish PicnicSundaySeptember 18th11:30 amWarwick Park

Words from OurWords from Our PastorFather KozakFather KozakPraised be Jesus Christ!What an odd phrase used by St Paul in the second reading! “I make up in my own what islacking in the affliction of Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church.” What could be lacking toChrist’s sufferings? If there is something lacking, are we redeemed?! The answer ofcourse, is yes. There is nothing substantially lacking to Christ’s sacrifice. The answerthen, is that Christ is deliberately leaving a space for OUR sufferings. He wants us toparticipate in our redemption and in our salvation. Our sufferings now take on meaning.They are fruitful insofar as we unite them to Christ’s Cross. St. Augustine tells us that thewhole Christ is “not just the Head, but the Head AND members.” His suffering then iscomplete, but not yet finished. It is complete in Christ the Head, but not yet finished inthe Body.Suffering is a fact of life. It comes to us no matter how we try to avoid. Only the CatholicChurch has the answer to the problem of suffering. In Christ our sufferings havemeaning in the truest sense. We are to offer them to God for our salvation and thesalvation of others. The Mass is the place where this is done. This is why the priest says,“Pray brethren, that MY SACRIFICE AND YOURS ”.The sacrifice of the priest is theEucharist, and the Sacrifice of all of you is the sacrifice of your lives. All the trials andtravails of life find their proper meaning here. We all have suffering. Let’s not waste itbut let us instead give it the weight it deserves, the weight of eternity!May God reward you!Next Sunday'sScripture Readings17th Sunday in Ordinary TimeFirst ReadingGenesis 18:20-32Second ReadingColossians 2:12-14GospelLuke 11:1-13Daily Scripture Readingscan be found at:https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendarPrayer IntentionsPlease pray for the ill in our community, especially:Ed Hartman, Noreen Mumber,Imogene (Gene Rainey) Barbara Browski,Marie Zolot, Joe Lightman, Jim Lyons,Shirley Pastino, Shawn Mullen, Grayson Pickar,Michelle Trosper, Regina Powell,Pauline Ninneman, Mary Lou Tate, Charles GordonPlease pray for the recently deceased:Anthony Neve, Robert Zawacki

The Holy RosaryI'M NewFatima RosaryMonday- Saturdayafter the 8:30 am MassWelcome to the St Thomas More ParishFamily! Please visit our website and fill outour REGISTRATION form, or stop in theparish office, so we can formally welcomeyou and connect you and your family to ourparish community.Flame of Love RosaryMonday-Friday 6:30 pmParish EventsJuly 17 - Altar Server Training at 9:15 amJuly 21 - Book Club after the 8:30 am MassJuly 28 - Book Club after the 8:30 am MassJuly 31 - Altar Server Training at 9:15 amAugust 5 - 1st Friday Evening Vigil of Reparation 8 pmAugust 6 - 1st Saturday Rosary before the 8:30 am MassSeptember 18 - Parish Picnic 11:30 am Warwick ParkCONNECT2101 Pottstown Pike Pottstown, PA sh@gmail.comWeekly:Choir Practice -Tuesdays 7 pm - 8:30 pmFatima Rosary - Monday - Saturday after the 8:30 am MassFlame of Love Rosary - Monday - Friday 6:30 pmHoly Hour for Vocations -Thursdays 3 - 4 pmManatawny Manor Communion Service - Tuesday 10 amMonthly:Ladies Auxiliary - 1st Monday 7:30 pm (virtual Zoom meeting)Ladies Auxiliary - 1st Saturday Rosary 8 amKnights of Columbus - 1st Monday 7:30 pmEvening of Reparation - 1st Friday 8 pmNight of Praise & Worship - Last Tuesday 7:15 pmChoirs:Guitar Group - Last Sunday of Month, June, July, AugustNo Adult Choir - July and AugustWEBStThomasMorePottstown.orgSUBSCRIBE TOFr. Kozak's weekly letter atstthomasmorepottstown.org/kozakletterSt Thomas Parish Email NewsletterText to the number 22828STTHOMASMOREGIVEbit.ly/ParishGivingPlease send your news and announcements toOffice.StThomasMoreParish@gmail.comSaint Thomas More Book ClubMeets Weekly on Thursdays after the 8:30 am MassCurrently Discussing"Strangers in a Strange Land"by Archbishop Charles Chaput(On July 14th continuing on Page 223Questions: Contact Carol Duffy or Susan Dutton

JULY OUTREACHPlease bring your donations by July 31stThank you for yourgenerosity!Cash & Check & Gift CardDonations may be made inthe envelope collection,online,or in the box by the OutreachTable.Checks should be madepayable to STM Outreach.If you know of anyone inneed, please contactFr. Kozak or Mary Jo WarnerThrough July 31, along with our Knights of Columbus, we will collect food &supplies for distribution to needy families through our localCoventry Pantry. They have immediate need forCanned Meals: Pastas, Beef Stew, Canned Chicken, Canned or Packets ofTuna, Canned Fruits (in Juice), Peanut Butter & Jelly, Spaghetti Sauce, Macand Cheese, Oatmeal (Low Salt, Low Sugar is healthiest!)Dish Soap, Laundry DetergentPlease bring your physical donations no later than July 31.Checks can be made to St. Thomas More Outreach.Giant Cards can be put in the Outreach box.*Please note: Food Pantry's cannot accept outdated food items.At all times you may leave on the Outreach table:Sleeping Bags, Blankets, Rain Ponchos, New Men's Sweatpants,Baby Supplies, Maternity Clothing, Travel-size toiletries, Individual Fruit Cups,Granola Bars, Shelf-Stable meals and empty containers that laundry pods come in.Please visit our Outreach website pageto learn more about our community partners.Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit:Mark Your Calendars!Saturday, October 1 toMonday, October 31, 20229:00 AM to 4:00 PMEucharistic Miracles help us to appreciate thecentral event of the Mass. View anextraordinary month-long exhibit of over 100photographic panels presenting EucharisticMiracles recognized by the Church. Thesemiracles have occurred throughout the worldover the centuries and were researched andpresented by Blessed Carlo Acutis in anExhibition of Eucharistic Miracles in 2005. Beinspired to draw closer to the Real Presenceof Jesus in the Eucharist, the source andsummit of the Christian life!Enjoy free admission and free parking.National Centre for Padre Pio111 Barto Road – Barto, PA610-845-3000www.padrepio.orgFirst Saturday Rosary - August 6th at 8 amAll are invited to pray the Rosary withthe Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights ofColumbus the First Saturday of eachmonth before the8:30 am Mass."To all those who, on the FirstSaturday of five consecutive months fulfill all the conditions requested,(Mass, Confession, meditate on the15 mysteries of the Rosary) I promiseto assist them at the hour of deathwith all the graces necessary for thesalvation of their soul."Promise from Our Lady of Fatima to Sr. Lucia

Mass IntentionsMonday, July 18Saint Camillus de Lellis8:30 am John WerkleyReq by: The Barger'sFriday, July 22Saint Mary Magadalene8:30 Ron DeStefanoReq by: John and Romana CocciaTuesday, July 198:30 am Michael YasinowskyReq by: Mr. and Mrs. CunninghamSaturday, July 23Saint Bridget8:30 am Cecelia FeraReq by: The O'Brien FamilyWednesday, July 20Saint Apollinaris8:30 am Peter PeaschekReq by: Harold and Joanne PickarThursday, July 21Saint Lawrence of Brindisi8:30 am Christopher LoomisReq by: His ParentsThank you for your stewardship!Give online at: bit.ly/ParishGivingMail Your Gift to:St Thomas More, 2101 Pottstown PikePottstown, PA 19465June Special Collection: Peter's PenceOffertory Update for July 10, 2022Weekend Collection 7,667Outreach 265Building Fund 204:30 pm Alice KouryReq by: The Koury FamilySunday, July 248:00 am People of the Parish10:30 am Jack WerkleyReq by: The Jeff Evans FamilyWeekly Altar FlowersSuggested Offering: 125 Blessed Mother 125 Saint Joseph 200 Tabernacle 200 Altar"In Memory of."

THE DEACON'S CORNERDeaconTMurphy@gmail.comThe 7 Deadly Sins: Greed and the Joy of GenerosityGreed is the disordered or insatiable love of “things”; to desire something more thanwe need to survive. Most think of money and riches, but it can be for anything –money, expensive toys, social status, political power. “Stuff” is morally neutral – that is,they are not good or bad in and of themselves (including money). It is the perverteddesire we feel or act on which is sinful – we may not even have “things” in orpossession. Like all sin, it undermines our joy; the joy God desires for us!Generosity is the remedy for greed. Give something away – time, talent, treasure –whatever it is we are trying to hoard. This conscious and willful act of resisting the pullof this world is a choice of delight in the next world with God. Choosing to give whenwe do not feel like giving, or when it is hard to give is a kind of sacrifice or sufferingGod recognizes and delights in, because it means we are moving closer to Him. Thereis power over sin in exercising that choice and it can spread joy in the world – for othersand for ourselves.God bless you all!Deacon MurphyAltar Server Training9 - 10 am SundayJuly 17th and 31stIf you have a green thumb andwould like to assist with our newParish Outdoor BeautificationMinistry, please contactRosemary Burgess at :theburgessfamily6@comcast.netMater Laetitiae Academy (located at St.Thomas More parish), is looking for Latin andmath teachers for the 2022-2023 school year.Classes are 45 min. to an hour on Mondays,Wednesdays, and Thursdays.To apply, please contact either Patty Reyher(preyher@materlaetitiae.com), or Mary Cromwell(mcromwell@materlaetitiae.com).

REGISTRATION OPEN for PREPParish Religious Education ProgramNew this Year!Online Registration and Credit Card Payments AcceptedThe Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) begins September 11th andends in May. Weekly sessions meet on Sundays 9:10 am - 10:15 am. Childrenin grades 1-7 are welcome to join us. Please register your child so we canorder textbooks and supplies in time for our first session.Online registration and credit card payments are accepted. Paper forms can bedownloaded from our website or found in the Narthex.We look forward to seeing you all in September!ONLINE REGISTRATIONWe Need Catechists and Aides for PREPCome share your faith with our parish children! Our classesare on Sunday at 9:10 am to 10:10 am from September 11 tothe first weekend in May. We have a great team but need acouple more Catechists, some Aides and some Substitutes.Come join us!Contact Nancy at prep.stthomasmoreparish@gmail.com orfill out the online form located on our websitehttps://stthomasmorepottstown.org/prep.