Category: News

Philadelphia Inquirer shares story of parish fundraising efforts

On Christmas Eve, the Philadelphia Inquirer featured a story about our parish’s fundraising efforts for a new heating system to replace the broken boiler in the church. The article describes some of the activities and groups that have invested their time, talent, and treasure in the campaign to raise the $40,000 needed.

The parish staff and parish council is grateful for all of the donations and work, including those who have helped set up for Mass in the hall before the temporary diesel heaters were up and running, and those who have woken up before dawn to get those machines working so that the church was slightly warmer for the holiday and feast day celebrations of Eucharist.

The story is a great reminder that we are better and stronger together! Christmas blessings! Read the article here. 

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: 

Pictured: Father Hugh Shields leads St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church, which serves many immigrant bicyclists in South Philadelphia.

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

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.

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