A Message from Andrea Kreps, Director of Development
In our first reading this week (Jb 7:1-4, 6-7), Job expresses frustration that I think we all recognize in our current culture of busyness — He feels life is drudgery; there is so much to do, yet there’s not enough time in the day to get everything done! The night drags on, and he’s unable to sleep, anxiously thinking about what did or did not happen, what will or will not occur. He thinks he will never be happy again. Who can’t relate? This week, I was wrestling with preparing 2023 charitable donation statements, getting my kiddo to and from all her commitments on time, and daily demands. Cooking. Cleaning. Laundry. All never-ending. Even my seventh-grader lamented, when faced with a week of schoolwork, doctor appointments, play rehearsals, and daily chores, “Mom! I never get a minute to myself!”
What advice can we get from the scriptures on feeling stressed and overwhelmed? In today’s Gospel (Mark 1:29-39), Mark says Jesus spent all day healing many and driving out many demons. I wonder, did He ever feel overwhelmed by the needs of others? Jesus was God, but He was also human. I think the answer is “yes.” After a long day of work, He was bone tired. He needed time to recharge, refuel, and reconnect with His Father. So, what did He do? Jesus rose early and went off to a deserted place to pray. He spent time mentally, physically, and spiritually in quiet, preparing to face another day doing the work His Father sent Him to accomplish. We are here on purpose for a purpose, too — to do the work God has for us to achieve.
We must follow Jesus’s example. No, his does not mean we all have to rise before the crack of dawn and go out in the middle of nowhere to pray for hours and hours. You may be a morning person, and waking up early to pray works for you. Perhaps leaving your desk at lunch and taking five minutes to talk to God in the parking lot works. It may be possible to take a walk at the end of the day in prayerful silence. Or, instead of scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok before bed, consider putting the devices down and scrolling through the ups and downs of your day with God. There will be days when our plans to make time for God (and everything else) fall apart. That’s ok. Try again tomorrow. The point isn’t perfection; the point is progress.
Lent starts February 14, Valentine’s Day, a perfect day to begin carving out some one-on-one time with the one who loves you simply because you are His.
Andrea Kreps
Resources:
Livestream Mass @ 9AM
Sunday Bulletin
Readings: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Faith Direct e-giving
If you are a Faith Direct e-giver and would prefer NOT to receive Sunday Collection Envelopes, click here
Parish Calendar
Parish Website
Prayer Intentions
To submit names for prayer intentions in the Bulletin, use this link or call the Parish Office at (765) 743-4652.
Announcements
Second Collection, ACE Food Pantry Collection
THIS weekend is the first Sunday of the month when we collect items for the campus food pantry. Items of special need include canned tuna and chicken, rice, beans (dried and canned), snacks, pasta, and baking mixes. Please place your donations in the southeast corner of the sanctuary. Also, the second collection will benefit our Mother Teresa Fund, assisting community members in need of rent and utility assistance. Donations can be made through Faith Direct, by mail, or by placing them in the second collection basket at weekend Mass. Thank you for your generosity!
Ladies Mass Resumes Feb. 5
The First Ladies Mass for spring will be Monday, Feb. 5. Attend the 5:30 p.m. Mass, then join us for dinner in the upstairs room at Harry's Chocolate Shop. For questions, email Mary Gertsmeier. To receive ongoing communications about Ladies Mass, sign up for the Ladies Mass Flocknotes.
"Theology of the Body" on Feb. 6
St. Tom's next Theology on Tap will take place Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7:00 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at Harry's Chocolate Shop. Nick Koeppel, the manager of the Office of Family Life for the Diocese, will give an introduction to Saint John Paul II's "Theology of the Body," which he has extensively studied and spoken about to many audiences. Nick has an earned MS in Marriage and Family Studies from the International Theological Institute established by Pope John Paul II in Austria.
Knights of Columbus: "Into the Breach"
All are invited to attend a viewing of "Into the Breach" on Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Room 22. Inspired by the Apostolic Exhortation for Catholic men written by Bishop Olmsted of Phoenix, the Knights of Columbus produced a video series which seeks to answer the question of what it means to be a man and how to live as a man in today's world. For more information on the video, visit https://www.kofc.org/en/campaigns/into-the-breach.html
Incense During Mass
Due to the sensitivity to incense among some parishioners, St. Tom's has decided to reserve the 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass as incense-free for all solemnities when incense is typically used.
MoST Retreat, Feb. 9 to 11
To all the men of St. Tom’s: Now is the time to register for the MoSt (Men of St. Tom’s) Men’s retreat. The retreat will be held Friday evening, Feb 9, to Sunday morning, Feb 11, at the St Joseph Retreat and Conference Center in Tipton. Online registration with cost information can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/47ivDKZ. The deadline to register is Sunday. Car-pooling from West Lafayette will be arranged for those interested. If cost is an issue, scholarships are available; simply contact Leo Plomin (lplomin@gmail.com) or one of the MoST officers (MosT@Boilercatholics.org)
Prayer will be the main theme of the retreat. Prayer is how we communicate with God, and better understand His desires for us. Sessions will be devoted to the various forms of prayer. There will be ample opportunity to spend time in individual prayer, group prayer, and group discussion. Fellowship opportunities at the retreat will include watching the Purdue – IU men’s basketball game for those interested. If you have not attended such a retreat in the past and would like more information about the retreat, feel free to contact Leo or one of the MoST officers. A short introductory session will be made available to those who would like to get a better idea of what to expect of the weekend.
For questions or to get on an information mailing list, contact most@boilercatholics.org.
2024 Family Promise Volunteer Weeks
Help end the cycle of homelessness in our community by participating in St. Tom's ministry which provides meals and/or companionship for the families staying at the Family Promise facility located behind the Northend Community Center in Lafayette. We need volunteers to provide the evening meal at 4:45 pm or provide companionship from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday or Friday of our volunteer weeks. For 2024, St. Tom's volunteer weeks areMarch 18 to 22, May 13 to 17, October 14 to 18, and December 2 to 6. Anyone interested in volunteering is required to complete the both the Family Promise and Safe Environment Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana online training. The training is excellent and takes about 4 hours. Please see the St. Tom's Family Promise website for further details. For questions, email Sharon Graves, Family Promise ministry coordinator for St. Tom's.
In Memory of Sue Alexander Shipman
A memorial Mass took place at St. Tom’s on February 1 for long-time parishioner Sue
Alexander Shipman who passed away at her daughter’s home in Garland, Texas, on January 19. She is survived by her six children, 21 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. As a registered nurse, Sue made 25 medical mission trips to Haiti. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Haiti Foundation or the Covenant House at covenanthouse.org.
What does the Eucharist mean to You?
Part of the St. Tom’s Eucharistic Revival activities is an opportunity to share what the Eucharist means to YOU. Like Clarence, you can share your thoughts by visiting the boilercatholics.org website and using the online form.
"The Eucharist as Presence"
If you missed last night's discussion about the Eucharist through the lens of St. Thomas Aquinas, which was led by Fr. Don Goergen, OP, you can view it on St. Tom's You Tube Channel.
Learn more about the Eucharistic Revival at St. Tom's by watching this short video.
If you’d like to receive information about upcoming Eucharistic Revival activities and resources, a special Flocknote group has been set up. To sign up, you can either log into flocknote and select the group or follow the link on boilercatholics.org/holy-eucharist.
Racial Equality and Justice Ministry
Thank you to our Racial Equality and Justice ministry members who will be serving as this weekend’s Mass greeters. Members will be available after Mass if you have any questions about this ministry.
Spotlight on St Josephine Bakhita (1869 to Feb. 8, 1947). During Black History Month, we celebrate our Black Catholic Saints, including St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese-Italian Canossian religious sister, who was born in Sudan and kidnapped into slavery at the age of 7 or 8 by Arab slave traders and sold and bought at least five times before freedom. Bakhita means “fortunate one” or “lucky,” a name she was not born with. Due to trauma, she had forgotten her name. She is the Patron Saint of Sudan and human trafficking and was canonized by John Paul II on October 1, 2000.
SBMT Fundraising Dinner
There are 42 student and resident parishioners participating in this year's Mission Trip over Purdue's Spring Break in Jonestown, MS, Charleston, SC., and Pensacola, FL. The main fundraiser for their trips is the Rib Dinner next Friday evening, Feb. 9, in Newman Hall. Participants will be selling tickets to the dinner after all Masses this weekend. The cost is $25 per person, $40 per couple, $50 per family, and $15 per college student. Tickets also can be purchased at the Parish Office, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Catholic Ministries Appeal
Thanks to the generosity of our parish community, St. Tom's exceeded its $138,230 goal for the Diocese of Lafayette's 2023 Catholic Ministries Appeal by $2,402. This weekend is the launch of the 2024 Campaign. The Diocese's goal for this year is $5,902,000. St. Tom's portion is $146,000. We ask you to prayerfully consider your donation to the 2024 CMA campaign, which directly benefits St. Tom's campus ministry programs. Learn more about the impact of the CMA campaign on our Diocese's many ministries by visiting the campaign website. If you are a resident parishioner, you should have received a pledge card in the mail. If not, cards will be available in the pews this weekend. You may mail or place your pledge card in the collection basket or make your pledge or one-time gift online.