A Special Message from the Pastor
Dear Members of St. Tom's,
I have some really great news I want to share with you.
I have some really great news I want to share with you.
In light of the Center for Disease Control and the State of Indiana's recently updated COVID-19 guidelines, as well as the increased availability of vaccines, Bishop Doherty has lifted any and all restrictions given in his decree of March 17, 2020 and its subsequent extensions from May 8, 2020 to June 26, 2020.
What this means for us at St. Tom's is that, starting tomorrow, May 29:
- We will resume congregational singing this weekend. (The hymnals are being replaced as I write).
- The wearing of masks is now optional.
- There will be an area of the Church designated for people who are vulnerable and/or those who prefer to sit somewhat apart from each other (the middle pews will continue to be roped off for this area).
- Regarding social distancing, please continue to sit at least 3-feet from other individuals or groups that you do not live with.
- The sign of peace has been restored but without physical contact (ex: a bow of the head or a wave to others).
- Hand sanitizer will be used by the clergy and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion before and after distribution of Holy Communion.
We are so grateful that in-person attendance has increased in the last few weeks and we are excited to see so many of you again. Even better: you no longer need to make a reservation to attend.
I look forward to meeting you at St.Tom's!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Tom McDermott, OP
Pastor
I look forward to meeting you at St.Tom's!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Tom McDermott, OP
Pastor
Fr. Tom McDermott, OP
A Message from Fr. Chris Saliga, OP
The Equilateral Triangle: A Partially Helpful Symbol
The Trinity is at the heart of Christianity, but the Trinity is such a mystery that we often shy away from striving to explain it. This is quite understandable. After all, when we try to explain the Trinity, we only get things partially correct. If we're not careful, we can tend to "explain" this mystery away, a reduction of God to a manageable construct we can "own." And so, please read what follows is my simple attempt to shine a bit of geometric light on this greatest of mysteries.
The equilateral triangle helps us ponder the fact that each of the three Persons of the Trinity is equally Divine while distinct remaining one distinct line relative to the other two. While this sounds simple enough, we will each spend the rest of our lives entering into this mystery ever more fully by the power of God's grace, a journey that began for you and me the moment we were baptized.
When you and I were baptized, we were filled with the Holy Spirit and grafted by God into His Mystical Body, the Church. It is as though we are each little points incorporated into the line of the "Triangle" that symbolizes Jesus. And yet, the symbol of the triangle limps badly; this is, in part, because it captures nothing of the interpersonal dynamism between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a dynamism of which we are all joyfully aware as we recall so many true stories of God's constant presence in our lives and our experiences of drawing ever more deeply into God's life.
I encourage you to continue leaning into the fact that you're in the triangle not simply as a static point but as a person loved by God, stepping ever more fully into the Divine Life and bearing witness to all of "that."
The equilateral triangle helps us ponder the fact that each of the three Persons of the Trinity is equally Divine while distinct remaining one distinct line relative to the other two. While this sounds simple enough, we will each spend the rest of our lives entering into this mystery ever more fully by the power of God's grace, a journey that began for you and me the moment we were baptized.
When you and I were baptized, we were filled with the Holy Spirit and grafted by God into His Mystical Body, the Church. It is as though we are each little points incorporated into the line of the "Triangle" that symbolizes Jesus. And yet, the symbol of the triangle limps badly; this is, in part, because it captures nothing of the interpersonal dynamism between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a dynamism of which we are all joyfully aware as we recall so many true stories of God's constant presence in our lives and our experiences of drawing ever more deeply into God's life.
I encourage you to continue leaning into the fact that you're in the triangle not simply as a static point but as a person loved by God, stepping ever more fully into the Divine Life and bearing witness to all of "that."
Fr. Chris
Fr. Chris Saliga, OP
Mass Resources:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
"Pivotal Players" program offered Mondays in June
Discover how two influential Catholic figures helped form souls and fight against injustice by joining us for Bishop Robert Barron's “Pivotal Players: St. Ignatius of Loyola and Bartolome de las Casas,” The sessions meet on Mondays in June from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Siena Rooms. To register for this free program, email
john@boilercatholics.org.
Part-time Cook needed at Priests' House
St. Tom's has an immediate opening for a part-time cook at our priests' house on Wednesday and Friday for lunch (6 hours total). Duties include shopping for ingredients, preparing lunch, and cleaning. The pay rate begins at $15 per hour.
mailbox@boilercatholics.org
with a summary of your experience and qualifications.
Bikes @ St. Tom's
Bikes parked on the rack at ST. Tom's will be removed after June 7. Email martin@boilercatholics.org with questions.
Join Book of Genesis Bible study on Wednesdays
Learn more about the Book of Genesis through a free summer bible study being led by parishioner Alice Hession. Participants will meet from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from May 26 to June 30 in the Siena Rooms. To join, email mary@boilercatholics.org.
Help Needed at St. Tom's
With our student parishioners departing for the summer, St. Tom’s is in need of ushers, liturgical ministers, and volunteers to staff the office reception desk. If you can help, please contact
Nick Baietto (nbaiettto@purdue.edu) to assist as an usher
The liturgy interns (liturgy@boilercatholics.org) to serve as a liturgical minister
Mary Riehle (mary@boilercatholics.org) to serve as an office reception volunteer.
"Ignite" offered this summer
Are you staying here and seeking social connections? Consider joining Ignite, a small group faith-sharing ministry, during the summer semester. It’s a great opportunity to join an Ignite for the first time or to mix things up with a new group. To sign up, scan the QR code on the bulletin board flyer as you leave the church or register online.
For more information on St. Tom’s many other activities and events, including log-in details for virtual events, consult the Announcements section and calendar on www.boilercatholics.org and today’s bulletin.
To provide a one-time or recurring gift to St. Tom's, visit our FaithDirect giving page. We are grateful for your generosity to our mission and ministries.
