Feb. 4 – TLC, MCNR, 1:30 p.m., Off Campus
Feb. 5 – Haiti Committee, 11:30 a.m., Library
Feb. 5– AA, 12:00 p.m., Basement
Feb. 5 – Religious Education, grades 7-10, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Center
Feb. 6 – RCIA, 2:30 p.m., Library
Feb. 6 – Chant, 8:00 p.m., Chapel Basement/Chapel
Feb. 7 – AA, 1:30 p.m., Chapel Basement
Feb. 7– TLC Team Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Library
Feb. 7 – Religious Education Grade K-6, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Center
Feb. 7 – Choir, 8:00 p.m., Basement
Feb. 8 – CEUI Meeting, 3:00 p.m., Chapel Basement
Feb. 8 – A.A., 5:30 p.m., Basement
Feb. 8 – Dance, 7:00 p.m., Chapel Basement
Feb. 8 – Faith Sharing, 7:00 p.m., Library
Feb. 9 – Union Meeting, 12:00 p.m., Library
Feb. 9 – Holy Hour at 8:00 p.m. followed by Mass at 9:00 p.m., Chapel
Feb. 10 –Staff Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Library
Feb. 10 – Appalachia Mission Trip Fundraising Baking, 11:00 a.m., Kitchen
Feb. 10 – ICF, 5:30 p.m., Chapel Basement
Feb. 11/12 – Appalachia Mission Trip Fundraising Bake Sale after all the Masses
Feb. 12 – Pastoral Council, 11:15 a.m., Library
Feb. 12 – AA, 12:00 p.m., Basement
Feb. 12 – Religious Education, grades 7-10, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Center
Feb. 18 - K of C Spaghetti Dinner

A Way To Help Our School in Haiti - The doughnut ladies

A Note From Fr. John

Members of the Parish Council

Our Parish Library Needs Your Help - More

Ongoing
	Empty prescription bottles for Haiti
	Healthy Spiritual Giving - Stewardship
	Donate to Banque Agapé
	St. Thomas Haiti Committee News
	Gluten-Free Hosts
	Printer-ready PDF Brochure: Opportunities to Grow in the Knowledge of Our Faith & in Our Experience of God

Faith Sharing Group Meeting
The Faith Sharing Group will be meeting every other Wednesday in the library. We will explore methods to slow down and find God in places we never thought to look. We will alternate discussion of the book, Bridges to Contemplative Living by Thomas Merton, with viewing and discussion of DVD's on spiritual topics. For more information, contact Betty Ann Marsland at 860-870-4396 or email her at bamarsland@sbcglobal.net.

Well the dust is still flying in my new office at the Center and rooms at the rectory, but I wanted to write all of you and thank you for your smiles and encouraging words of support upon my being made Administrator of St. Thomas. I am very excited about this new appointment and look forward to continuing my service to the parish and students. I’m looking forward to this new semester and hopefully years ahead, continuing my work with FOCUS, TLC and Campus Ministry as well as becoming more involved with the workings of running a parish. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to remain at St. Thomas since I am so familiar with you and the wonderful ministries we have here. I am also fortunate to have been given a really great assistant, Fr. Greg, to help me serve the community of St. Thomas.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank so many good people who helped me in this transition: Joanne and John Drega, Ursula and Mike Beschler, John Bova, John Bruno, Antonio Aguilera, and Bill Revellese. Thank you for painting my rooms before I moved into them. I also need to thank Maryanne Brennan and John Bruno for helping take down the Christmas decorations and putting up Ordinary Time – everything looks great! Last, but certainly not least, is the staff of St. Thomas that I’d like to thank for your dedication and warm reception to my appointment: Joanne Drega, Lisa Wild-Cornell, Marcia Zimmer, Antonio Aguilera, Jane Frogley, Tammy Halle, as well as FOCUS missionaries Dominic Paolucci, Shannon Zucher, Tricia Lester and Vince Sartori, plus TLC co-presidents Paul Secola, Lindsey Volz and Michael Flaherty. Putting all of you together makes me realize not only how blessed I am, but how blessed we all are to be a part of such a great parish “family” or as we say in Italian “familia”.

With prayers that God will continue to bless our parish,

Fr. John

You Are Invited!
The Knights of Columbus are cordially inviting the members of St Thomas Aquinas to an almost free spaghetti dinner on Saturday, February 18, at 6:15 p.m. This is our way of saying "Thank You" for your support of our parish events: by supporting our pancake breakfasts, buying raffle tickets, Christmas trees, yule logs, and making our "A Cappella" concert truly a success. The monies raised from these events help the Knights in their charitable outreach. The cost of the meal will be $2.00 per person and the meal includes a salad, spaghetti with a meat sauce, desserts and drinks plus much more. So save the date. Abbondanza!

Members of the Parish Council
The current members of the Parish Council are: Fr. John, Anita Powers, president; Mary Black, vice president; Mary Covello, secretary; Cecile Hurley; Robert Jellen; Kathy McKee; Henry Cerwinski; and Paul Secola and Dominic Paolucci who represent the students. Also, the Building and Grounds Committee is represented by Ted Busky and the Finance is represented by Fred Dauser. Please pray that we will do a good job of representing you and we encourage you to talk to any one of us if you have concerns and/or suggestions to make our parish community even better than it is now. Peace, Anita Powers Email: tanitap@charter.net, phone: 860-487-2683.

Our Parish Library Needs Your Help
New and gently used books are welcomed as gifts to our parish library. Please put them in the book return box in the library. The library's loan period is a very generous three months and all are welcome and encouraged to use the library. However, please remember to return the books as well. Thank you! Any questions contact Kathy McKee, Parish Librarian at 860-423-0743 or kmckee@snet.net.

Knights of Columbus Pill Bottle Collection
The Knights of Columbus are still collecting used, label-less* medicine bottles for use in Haiti. There is a collection box for recycling these "pill" bottles in the Aquinas Center. *please try to mark the name with an indelible marker or remove it all together.

A Way To Help Our School in Haiti
The doughnut ladies do not ask a set price for coffee/doughnuts, but they would like to remind everybody that any donations you make that are over and above their expenses go to support Ecole Agape, our school in Haiti.

Thank you for helping Ecole Agape
Thanks to all who have donated to Ecole Agape, our school in Haiti, and other projects that help Haitians help Haitians. In 2011 you gave $2,055.30 through Banque Agape, our banks located in Chapel and the Aquinas Center. Our banks are convenient places to deposit loose pocket and wallet change and coins that accumulate at home and to put in larger contributions. Please keep your generous contributions coming or take the opportunity to donate for the first time. Your Parish Haiti Committee.

An Opportunity To Give
Thank you for your donations to Banque Agape, our small wooden banks in chapel and center. Your continuing gifts of coins and bills in any amount small or large are especially appreciated in these summer weeks when so many are away on vacation. All funds collected go toward the support of Ecole Agape, our school in Lilavois, Haiti, and other projects that help Haitians to help Haitians.

Gluten Free Hosts
It has come our attention that there is a need for gluten-free hosts. We will have a supply of them available at Communion time in a separate pyx. If you are one of these people, please see the celebrating priest before the Mass and be in his line to receive Our Lord. Peace, Fr. John.