Deacon Tom's Homily for Christ the King

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TODAY IS THE LAST SUNDAY OF our Liturgical Year. The last Sunday that we hear the Gospel according to Luke.  Luke’s Gospel is called “the Gospel of God’s compassion” and St. Luke himself is referred to as “the scribe of the gentleness of Christ.” 

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST year, we have heard the parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, and we’ve seen the healing of the ten lepers, all of which are found only in Luke’s Gospel, as is today’s exchange between Jesus and the Good Thief.

BUT IS TODAY’S GOSPEL PASSAGE really the appropriate Gospel for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe?

MISSING IS THE GOLDEN THRONE with it’s scarlet backing and plush cushions; missing is the bejeweled crown of gold and the throngs of followers shouting “Hosanna.”  Instead, we have a cross, a crown of thorns, and the jeers and insults of politicians, soldiers, and a common criminal.

BUT NOTICE, EVERYTHING they say is the truth!  From their mouths, today’s Gospel shouts out to us: “Yes, Jesus did indeed save others”; “Yes, Jesus is the Chosen One, the Christ of God”; and “Yes, He is the King of the Jews.”

BUT, JESUS IS A KING LIKE NO other!  Most kings make sure that everyone in their kingdom pays their share and more.  This King paid for everyone else!

LIKE HIS ANCESTOR, KING DAVID, who once shepherded the people of Israel, Our Shepherd-King, despite the extreme agony of the cross, reaches out one last time to save a lost sheep, carrying him home in His arms across the threshold into Paradise which has been locked to all since the fall of Adam and Eve.

BY FORGIVING THIS REPENTANT thief and guaranteeing him eternal bliss, Jesus reveals to us that He is indeed God.  And we all know that the cross is not the end.  In three days, Jesus will rise from the dead offering us all eternal bliss!

AND SO, TODAY, IT IS UP TO EACH one of us to do as the hymn tells us: “In your hearts enthrone Him.”  His Kingdom is the human heart! 

AND, IN THE DEPTHS OF OUR heart, we each long to hear spoken to us one day, these final words of Luke’s Gospel this year, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

2022 Advent Giving Tree

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The Saint Thomas the Apostle Rosary Confraternity is sponsoring the Annual Advent Giving Tree.

It’s that time of year for our Annual Giving Tree Project. The gift selections will be split between the trees in the Church and digitally on our ministry page (follow button below).

Kindly note the following guidelines:

  • Gift Tags will be available the weekend of November 26th/27th.

  • All gifts must be returned no later than the weekend of December 10th/11th.

  • Please do not wrap gifts – place items in gift bags or plastic bags.

  • Original gift tags must be attached to the bags.

  • Gift cards (with the gift tag and $ value attached) should be placed in the collection basket or dropped off at the Parish Center.

We appreciate your spirit of generosity and look forward to another successful year!

link to digital signup

RCIA: Why do you believe in Jesus Christ?

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On November 6, 2022, Irene will be accepted as a Catechumen. Returning baptized Christian candidates, Jennifer, Brianna, Maureen, and Alissa will be formally welcomed by our parish. Please keep them in your prayers. They walk their own Road to Emmaus toward Easter and Pentecost.

For the next 20 Sundays, we will pursue formation in the faith in Jesus Christ.

When someone asks, “why do you believe in Jesus Christ?” the answer may be a little longer and not be as definitive as, “do you believe in Jesus Christ?” This question gets a clear and resounding “Yes!”. The former question may not have one all-inclusive answer. It may be several reasons or several dozen reasons.

St. John Henry Newman compared our faith to the strength of a good rope. A rope of good quality and strength is made of many small threads or twine. Each small thread is wound with other small threads to form a strand. In turn, the strands are wound together to form a rope.

Like rope, our reason for belief is not dependent on one thread and not made of all equally strong threads. Some break in normal use and wear and tear. Some give way in shock or in great hardship. But a strong rope has many threads making many strong strands. Rope is flexible. It can be tied in a knot! But can also be untied and return to its normal shape. We know that life will test our faith, every fiber of it (or every thread).

Life tests our faith, like a good rope. We must strengthen each strand. Prayer, corporal works of mercy, and seeking understanding, all build strong threads. Our catechumen and candidates are building strong ropes. Pray for them.

STA Home & School Association Grave Blanket Sale

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The holidays are quickly approaching, and the Home & School Association is having a grave blanket sale.

Order forms and payment are due by FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH. No orders will be accepted after this date.

Go to the school website and click on the "STA Buy Now". Please write your confirmation number on your order form. Please submit completed order forms with confirmation number to the school office.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH OR CHECK TO THE SCHOOL.

All items will be available for pick-up on Tuesday, November 22nd between 2:30p to 6pm

Any questions, please email the Home & School Association at homeschool@staschoolnj.org.

Order form

Sign up your child to perform in our annual Pageant!

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All parish youth are invited to participate in our annual Pageant!

The pageant is open to children ages three and up. The children act out the Nativity story and sing at least two well-known Christmas hymns while in costume.

All are welcome!

The pageant will be held in the church on Saturday, December 17th at 6:30pm (6:00pm call time). The rehearsal will be on Thursday, December 15th at 6:00pm. Rehearsal attendance is required to participate. Costume assistance is available.

Please email Dr. Patricio Molina, Music Director at patricio.molina@stachurchbloomfield.org and indicate your child’s full name and age to sign up!

Submit your feedback NOW on our STA Parish!

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The Pastoral Council invites all parishioners to Come and Be Heard.

We are seeking feedback on our parish from October 19th through December 1st via Google form. Click the button below to be taken to the form.

Please note that the form is to be used by STA Parishioners only. If you have not yet registered as a parishioner, please visit our Parish Registration page, or contact the Parish Center at (973) 338-9190.

Please do not email us your responses. To ensure confidentiality and integrity, all digital responses should be submitted via the Google form.

Parishioners will be asked to respond to three questions:

  • What do you like about our parish?

  • What would you like to see improved upon in the parish?

  • What is your hope for the future of the parish?

submit feedback on our parish here