Repentance and God’s Forgiveness
Today is the first Sunday of Lent and in today’s Gospel we heard that the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness where He remained for 40 days and was tempted by the devil. He was with the wild beasts and the angels looked after Him.
During those 40 days in the desert wilderness, Jesus faced two dangers. One was the temptations of the devil which challenged Him in the spiritual realm, to test whether He will stand firm on God’s side or not. The other danger was in the physical realm. With the wild beasts roaming around, would He succumb to fear and run off to safety and give up His mission?
The temptations from the devil were subtle. In the other Gospels, we hear of those temptations: to turn stones to bread, to jump off the parapet of the Temple, to bow down to Satan. The depth of the Heart of Jesus was tested to see where He stood and who He was. But while the temptations of the devil were subtle, the danger from the wild animals was real, because they could cause harm and injury.
The reason Jesus went into the wilderness was to restore the brokenness and to reconcile man with God and man with nature. He fought off the devil’s temptations. He faced the wild animals, not to fight them but to tame them.
We are in the season of Lent now and during these 40 days we will practice the spiritual exercises of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Our goal for doing this is to repent of our sinfulness and put our hope in God’s forgiveness. God will send His angels to help us just as the angels looked after Jesus in the desert wilderness.
Therefore, let us go with Jesus into the spiritual wilderness and be trained by Him with prayer, fasting and almsgiving to fight temptation and to bring peace to a wild world.
Fr. Aegidius Warsito, SCJ
Parish Lenten Retreat
Walking With Jesus Through The Desert
Our annual Parish Lenten Retreat Day will be held on Sat., Feb. 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided but please bring your own lunch.
Coffee Sunday
Sunday, February 25 after all morning Masses
Come and enjoy a beverage and treats (hosted by our Serviam Group) on Sun., Feb. 25th after all morning Masses while you meet other parishioners and meet members of some of our groups in the parish! We would love to see you!
Pope Francis’s Advice for Lent
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen
Lenten Schedule for Fridays
The schedule on Fridays during the season of Lent will be as follows:
- 6:00 p.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- 6:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross
- 7:00 p.m. Mass
60th ANNIVERSARY OF ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH
As part of our year-long 60th anniversary celebrations, parishioners are invited to design and submit a logo and/or a slogan commemorating 60 years of the founding of St. Thomas More Parish. The rules and more details of the contest are available at the parish office and on our parish website. The deadline for submission is Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing the creative talents at St. Thomas More Parish.
Prayers Needed for the Sick
We are praying for the sick of our parish: Gustavo Caceres, Andrea E. Bernabey, Anne Evola, Thatcher Willifon, Gloria Paraan, Victor Lim and Tina Lopes. May they be supported by our prayers and pastoral ministry and by the grace of God.
Lenten reflections “Sin and Redemption”.
We would like to invite all Young Adults between the ages of 19-35 to come and join us!
Lenten reflections “Sin and Redemption”.
Speaker: Br. Henrikus Suharyono SCJ
Eucharist Adoration, Talk and Social
We will begin with (optional) Mass at 5 pm and Eucharist Adoration (6:15 pm) in the church and then start the event in the hall at 7:15 pm!
Doors (hall) open at 6:30 pm
Saturday March 2nd , 2024.
Coffee, tea and refreshments will be served
Admission: Free and Donation accepted.
To RSVP, please say GOING! this event on Facebook or send an email to stmyac@gmail.com
Registration required by Friday, March 1st.
God bless and Thank you!
Blessings on you and we hope to see you there!
Mass Intentions for February 17 – 24, 2024
Saturday 5:00 p.m. +Ofelia Lim, requested by the family
Sunday 8:30 a.m. +Ofelia Lim, requested by S. McPherson
Sunday 10:00 a.m. Intentions of Marie Fernando
Sunday 11:30 a.m. Intentions of the Parish Community
Sunday 8:00 p.m. In thanksgiving, Tyrone Felix Wallinson
Monday 9:00 a.m. Intentions of Michelle Rodrigues
Tuesday 7:15 a.m. +Maria Paz Ledda, requested by the family
Tuesday 7:00 p.m.
+Caroline Alescandor, requested by P. Alescandor
+Yusuf Patel, requested by the family
+Michael Madigan, requested by Maddy, Josh and Evan
+Elizabeth Ramsbotham
+Deceased members of the Henry and Josiah families
Intentions of Gilroy and Yannah-Marie D’Mello
Intentions of Romulo and Lilic Victorino
+Elizabeth Marin and the souls in purgatory, requested by N. Marin
Wednesday 7:15 a.m. +Bobby, Susan and Darryl Rejano, requested by M. Fuller
Wednesday 7:00 p.m. +James Joven, requested by the family
Thursday 7:15 a.m. +Christine Long, requested by the D’Souza family
Thursday 7:00 p.m.
+Deron Camillus, requested by the family
In thanksgiving, Kevan Rupesinghe
+Deceased members of the Henry and Josiah families
Intentions of our priests and the families of the Serviam Ministry of St. Thomas More and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life
Intentions of Zenaida Salazar
Intentions of Myra and Max Hernandez
Intentions of Sara Philip
Friday 7:15 a.m. +William Dumm, requested by the Taylor family
Friday 7:00 p.m. In thanksgiving, Sebastian and Stephanie Leggatte
Saturday 9:00 a.m. +Kayumba Claver Pierre and Beatrice Kamabara, requested by the family