All are welcome to join us August 19, from 2:00 to 6:00 PM.
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Confirmation Dates
The Parish will be celebrating the Ceremony of Confirmation during the month of September the following dates:
September 7: 6:00 PM for all children that are 7th grade or above in September.
September 9; 6:00 PM for all children that are 6th grade or below in September.
For more information about the date of your ceremony please contact the office.
Thank you very much.
Parish Community Recognized as a Group that Relies on Bikes
In a recent article in SPOKE Magazine, the reporter explored how the use of bikes is an essential part of life in our immigrant community. Here is an excerpt from the feature:
Father Hugh Shields leads St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church at 17th and Morris streets. The church proudly boasts that it serves “the immigrant and the stranger in South Philadelphia” and offers weekly services in Vietnamese, Spanish and Indonesian. The majority of its congregants rely on bicycles to get around.“Our people don’t have cars,” Shields says. “When we have meetings here, it’s not cars parked. It’s bikes chained.”
Shields says his parishioners find that biking is not only cheaper, but also safer. With parking always a challenge in the neighborhood, some worry about having to park far from their front doors. “They’re worried about having problems while walking home,” he says.
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Read more in Our People Don’t Have Cars: For immigrants in Philadelphia, the bicycle is a way of life, as featured in Issue 06 of SPOKE:http://www.spokemag.co/our-people-dont-have-cars/
Sept 9th is a Day of Prayer for Peace
In light of recent incidents of violence and racial tension in communities across the United States, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has invited all dioceses across the country to unite in a Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities. He has also appointed a special task force to support bishops in marking that Day of Prayer, and more broadly, in promoting peace and healing during this time of great strain on civil society. The Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities will be celebrated on the feast of St. Peter Claver, September 9th. The following is a prayer that can be used on that day. Visit this site for additional resources.
Prayer of the Faithful for the Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities
For an end to the violence perpetrated by harsh words, deadly weapons, or cold indifference. May our homes, our nation, and countries around the world become havens of peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For the grace to see every human being as a child of God, regardless of race, language or culture, let us pray to the Lord.
For the wisdom to receive the stories and experiences of those different from ourselves and to respond with respect, let us pray to the Lord.
For the strength to teach our children how to resolve differences non-violently and respectfully, and the courage to model it in our own behavior, let us pray to the Lord.
For our faith community, that we may celebrate and welcome the diverse faces of Christ in our worship, our ministries, and our leaders, let us pray to the Lord.
For our faith community, that we may respond boldly to the Holy Spirit’s call to act together to end violence and racism, let us pray to the Lord.
For healing and justice for all those who have experienced violence and racism, let us pray to the Lord.
For the protection of all police and first responders who risk their lives daily to ensure our safety; for fair and just policing that will promote peace and wellbeing in all our neighborhoods, let us pray to the Lord.
For our public officials, that they will strive to work for fair education, adequate housing, and equal opportunities for employment for all, let us pray to the Lord.
For our parish, that we may cultivate welcome, extend hospitality, and encourage the participation of people of all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds, let us pray to the Lord.
For the courage to have difficult conversations about racism, and for a better appreciation of how our words and actions – or even our silence – can impact our communities, let us pray to the Lord.
For solidarity in our global human family, that we may work together to protect those who are most vulnerable and most in need, let us pray to the Lord.
Parish Partnership Creates a Place to Belong
PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — Just a few miles from where Democratic convention delegates met July 25-28 at the Wells Fargo Center, a South Philadelphia neighborhood echoed with the sounds of multiple languages, presenting an array of cuisines and businesses that cater to a dizzying diversity of ethnicities and cultures.
Once a landing place for Italian and Irish immigrants, the area which houses the Aquinas Center, an innovative church- and community-supported venture in welcoming and supporting immigrants, is now home to Asian, African, Latin American and others families seeking a new life in America.
Founded in 2013 as a collaboration between the people of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and various social service organizations and educational institutions, the center sits on the northeast corner of the church campus.
It is adorned with six community-created murals, the result of collaborative work that reflect the values and common vision of the groups who find a home at the center.
To read more about mural making and our desire to be a place that welcomes all, check out: http://catholicphilly.com/2016/08/news/local-news/parish-partnership-creates-culture-of-inclusion-in-phila-neighborhood/
