Beyond Cornerstone Soup Kitchen Ministry - Update

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A message from the Beyond Cornerstone Service Ministry.

There will be a meeting on Monday, June 16th at the parish center at 7PM.  We will be planning our continued commitments to the Soup Kitchen over the Summer months.
Tiffany will present her plan for our participation in the St. Augustine's Day Camp. Over the warmer months we will increase our delivery of cases of water, and we will continue to serve an attractive, nourishing meal at the Soup Kitchen on the last Sunday of each month. I encourage you to attend this meeting if you wish to participate, particularly in the camp visit.  

Thank you to all our parishioners who participated in the UNICO of Bloomfield Food Drive held at the Brookdale Shoprite.  It is estimated that over $2000 worth of food, paper products, cleaning products and toiletries were delivered to St. Augustine's soup kitchen.

Joanne delivered 45 hams, 18 chickens, 3 turkeys, 2 pork tenderloins, and assorted cans and dry goods that were distributed on Palm Sunday to families in need.

Our individual parishioners’ consistent and prayerful donations of time and money are the foundation of our ministry and allow us to continue our mission. Please consider placing a donation in an envelope marked SOUP KITCHEN attention Alicia in the collection basket or at the parish center. In the memo line, please designate the donation is for the soup kitchen. 

Thank you to all who participate in our efforts to bring food to the hungry and homeless.

The Young Adults Ministry Presents: A Screening of "Jesus Thirsts, The Miracle of the Eucharist"

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In celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, The STA Young Adult Ministry is happy to host another parish-wide movie screening of the film "Jesus Thirsts, The Miracle of the Eucharist", free of charge!

Through discussions with Catholic leaders and heartfelt personal narratives, this visually stunning film takes viewers on a global journey to uncover the transformative power of the Eucharist. The movie will be hosted in the Parish Center, on Sunday, June 22nd, after the 12pm Mass and Eucharistic Procession. This is a free attendance, snacks and drinks will be provided, everyone is welcome to watch!

Morning of Reflection May 10th at 9:30am

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MORNING OF REFLECTION: Why Mary?

Why do Catholics pray to Mary?

Is devotion to Mary “optional” for Christians?

How can I be more devoted to Mary?

Should the Rosary be part of every Catholic’s spiritual life?

How can I pray the Rosary in a fruitful way?

Get the answers to these important questions and much, much more!

When: Saturday, May 10th

Where: Parish Center, 9:30am—12:30pm (Mass at 8:30 am in Church)

Presenter: Dr. David Hajduk, Theology Professor, Speaker, and Author.

Loss of a Child Mass on May 1st

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Dear Parishioners,

The passing away of a child leaves families in pain navigating grief's life-long journey. A myriad of unspeakable emotions assail broken hearts every minute of every day bringing each mother, father, each family individual to its knees. Along the way, we gather courage and strength to continue the journey. Our respite lies in the healing Holy Mass brings.

In the spirit of focusing on bereaved families in need of peace through healing, the Archdiocesan H.O.P.E. Group (Helping Other Parents Endure) calls upon you to reach out to families who have experienced the horrific loss of a child by sharing the information as noted in this email. We also remember all lost babies, nameless, yet mourned to this day. Through butterfly kisses and gentle kicks, signs of life in the womb, they are a part of us and hold a reverential place in the hearts of our families.

St. Thomas will be hosting the Family Mass for Child Loss on Thursday, May 1st, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. This Mass is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Newark. It has been noted in our bulletin. During the Mass, there will be a reading-of-names, a very powerful moment remembering and memorializing our lost children. Please ask families to submit the child's name to the Archdiocese's Office of Family Life, John Kalinowski, at (973) 497-4327 or call the St. Thomas Parish Center at (973) 338-9190. Following Mass, light refreshments will be served in the St. Peter's Room of the Parish Center.

I am deeply grateful to Father Fama for throwing the doors wide open of our beautiful church, the St. Thomas Administrators, the entire Parish Center Staff, to John Mothier and Damien, to Patricio, Ms. Osondu (our resident flautist), to Jen Benke, and to the community within St. Thomas and surrounding St. Thomas, people who have acceded to my every request so that families may gather strength and courage to continue their journey and find peace through healing along the way.

Thank you and the members of your ministries - thank you so much for helping us to reach out to these families. Please understand our grief path centers around " ... a time to heal." We humbly welcome ALL of you to come together at this Family Mass for Child Loss. Come pray with us and for us.

With gratitude and hope,

Hedi Kovacs

On behalf of the H.O.P.E. Ministry

and on behalf of the St. Thomas Bereavement Ministry

Disciple Maker Index Survey

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Dear Parishioners,

St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Bloomfield, is on a journey to know, love, and serve Christ in our parish community. Together we must embrace Christ’s vision for missionary discipleship so our parish can thrive and be a place for others to grow together in faith.

The very first step in this process involves assessing our greatest strengths and opportunities, and that is where the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) comes in! The DMI is an important survey tool that invites you to reflect on your discipleship journey here at St. Thomas the Apostle. The Disciple Maker Index is designed to:

❖ Invite parishioners to reflect on their journey of discipleship.

❖ Enable parish leadership to make data-driven decisions.

❖ Help parishioners grow in their faith.

The 10–15-minute survey can be accessed through an online link below. It will ask you to reflect on your own spiritual growth and enable you to provide your perspective on our parish’s efforts to help you grow in relationship with Christ. All responses will be confidential, and the parish will only receive information about the community as a whole.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact patrice.maher@stachurchbloomfield.org.

Together we must embrace Christ’s vision for missionary discipleship so our parish can thrive and be a place for others to grow together in faith.

Thank you for helping with this important project and please continue to pray for this intention and for the growth and protection of our parish.