Welcome: Mental Health Ministry

From the Mental Health Ministry.

The newly created Mental Health Ministry at St. Thomas the Apostle Church was formed to help meet the needs of families and loved ones of individuals who struggle with mental health.

Our ministry is run by parishioners who have been trained by the Sanctuary program through the Archdiocese of Newark. The team offers compassionate support and accompaniment to those interested. We do not provide therapy or medication management. All are welcome to attend.

Our team will meet the first Sunday of each month at 11:00 a.m. in the St. Peter Room of the parish center at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish beginning April 6th, with a hiatus during July and August. No registration is required.

To reach the Mental Health Ministry for general questions, please visit their ministry webpage by clicking the button below.

Saint Dymphna, pray for us!

An Important Message from the Social Concerns Ministry

From the Social Concerns Ministry.

“Love thy neighbor as thyself”

Lent is a time of Prayer, Fasting, and Giving. During this tumultuous, rapidly changing time, the Social Concerns Ministry invites you to reflect on our Catholic Christian obligation to support, defend and care for our neighbors whether they are local, national or international.

Can. 222 §1. The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for the works of the apostolate and of charity, and for the decent support of ministers.

§2. They are also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the precept of the Lord, to assist the poor from their own resources.

Please consider donating to one of the following organizations who carry out important charitable work worldwide:

• Catholic Relief Services Donation Page

• Bread for the World Donation Page

In light of our Catholic social teaching, we also invite you to address the shut down of USAID, which supports critically needed charitable services throughout the world by contacting your Congressional Representatives and visiting the following links:

• CRS.org Action Page

• Bread.org Advocacy Page

To learn more or to contact the Social Concerns Ministry, please click here to be taken to their ministry page.

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults at STA in 2025

This year we are blessed with having 10 adult candidates for Confirmation, 5 of whom will receive their First Holy Communion at the 10AM mass June 8, 2025, Pentecost Sunday.

Please pray for Sean Gang, Keisha Peters, Cassandra Bodendorf, Christine Castillo, Jordan Clark, Mia Clark, Pedro Gavilano, Frank Tamburino, and Alexander Zeno, who will complete their initiation into the Church at Pentecost.

Please pray also for Charles Peters who will initiated into the Catholic Church in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist at the Easer Vigil mass Saturday evening April 19, 2025.

These candidates and catechumen will have spent 8 months preparing for the sacramental life in the Church participating in the OCIA. They have committed themselves to learning the faith and to enter in the life of the Church.

Each year St. Thomas the Apostle welcomes candidates and catechumens seeking full initiation into the sacramental life of the Church by the ministry of the OCIA. If you or someone you know is seeking a closer relationship by full initiation into the Church founded by Jesus Christ, please contact us at Ocia@stachurchbloomfield.org or contact Frank Miller at 201-207-0020.

Lent and Easter Mass and Liturgical Schedule 2025

ASH WEDNESDAY 03/05

• Masses at 8:00am, 11:30am, and 7:00pm; Service at 4:00pm

CONFESSION

• Every Saturday at 1:00pm (Except April 19th)

• Plus Monday, March 31st at 7:00pm

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

• Every Friday 3/07-4/11 at 7:00pm [with music]

• Friday, April 4th there will be a special music program and prayer service following the Stations of the Cross.

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

• Monday, March 24th after 11:30am Mass and at 7:00pm

• Monday, April 18th after 11:30am Mass and at 7:00pm

HOLY WEEK

• Passion Palm Sunday, April 13th

  • Palms blessed at 5:00pm mass on Saturday April 12th

  • Palms distributed at all masses

• Holy Thursday, April 17th

  • (No morning Mass)

  • Mass of the Lord's Supper, 7:30pm

  • Night Prayer 11:00pm

• Good Friday, April 18th

  • Morning Prayer, 9:00am

  • (No morning Mass)

  • Passion of the Lord, 3:00pm

  • Living Stations of the Cross, 7:00pm [a live performance featuring our Youth Group]

• Holy Saturday, April 19th

  • Morning Prayer, 9:00am

  • No scheduled confessions and no 5:00pm mass

  • Easter Vigil Mass [Adult Choir] 8:00pm

    The Easter Vigil Mass Satisfies Easter Sunday obligation

• Easter Sunday, April 20th

  • Masses at 8:00am, 10:00am [Children’s Choir], 12:00pm

RESOURCES FROM THE USCCB

What is Lent? Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Click here to read more.

2025 Daily Lent Calendar. Available in English and Spanish.

10 Things to Remember During Lent.

Beyond Cornerstone Soup Kitchen Ministry: Upcoming Meeting 3/10

The next Beyond Cornerstone Soup Kitchen Ministry Meeting will be held Monday, March 10th at 7PM at the Parish Center. Everyone is welcome, so please consider attending.

The Beyond Cornerstone Service Ministry supports the needs of the Missionary Sisters of St. Theresa at the St. Augustine's soup kitchen in their efforts to provide meals to those in need.

Each month we provide a hearty meal for about 150 people, including adults and children. For many clients, this is the only meal they will have all day. Volunteers are needed to plan, shop, and deliver these meals. We also provide specific supplies when asked by the nuns.

We need the financial support from our parishioners to meet our mission. Please consider placing a check, made out to St. Thomas Parish, for any amount in the collection basket or in the lock box at the parish center. In the memo line designate the donation is for the soup kitchen.

If you are unable to attend the meeting but wish to participate in this ministry, please contact Alicia at Aliciiavons@gmail.com or (973) 715-5770.

300 Club: 2025 Tickets Available Now

The Finance Council invites you and your friends to participate in our annual 300 Club Raffle. You will find that this raffle is better than State Lotteries, Casino Slots, or Bingo.

Here is how it works:

• ONLY 300 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD!!!

• Prizes are as follows:

  • First Prize is $ 10,500.00 or 35% of tickets sold

  • Second Prize is $ 3,000.00 or 10% of tickets sold

  • Third Prize is $ 1,500.00 or 5% of tickets sold

• The Raffle will be held on Thursday March 13, 2025 (winners need not be present)

• Click the button below to download the form with full instructions.

Reserve your tickets now!

Irish Night 2025: Reserve Your Tickets!

The Holy Name Society is sponsoring an Irish Night + St. Patrick’s Celebration on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 7:00PM – 10:00PM.

This event is open to adults age 21 and over. Cost: $35 a Person, Tables of 8 available

It features the following:

• Dinner: Salad, Corned Beef, Cabbage, Baked Potato

• Keg Beer, Beverages/Soft Drinks, Coffee & Desserts

• Entertainment: The Captain & O’Neil, Irish Dancers

• Tickets sold onsite for: 50/50 Drawing, Raffles/Games

Note: If reserving for multiple people, please submit a form for each and include a check or checks covering all. (Checks payable to St. Thomas Apostle Church). Reservations must be submitted in an envelope marked “Irish Night Celebration”. They can be put in the weekly collection basket or dropped off at the Parish Center. If you have questions, Contact Guy Pilsbury At (973) 667-1926 or GVPilsbury@msn.com.

To access the reservation form, you may click the button below or find it in our weekly bulletin.