we talk about the “Right to Life”…it isn’t simply the issue of bringing a baby into our world (a very important issue!), rather it includes that fight for justice!  What you and I are doing in our solidarity of battling the coronavirus is very Catholic, it is very much walking and talking like Jesus, putting LIFE as our central most important call in our journey on earth!

I am inspired to use this as the backdrop of this past Sunday’s Gospel message.  The Gospel story of “Doubting Thomas” (John 20:19-31) is a story about each one of us!  When life gets tough, challenges become long lasting, grace grows thin (it seems), and tempers rise, it is then that we can lose sight of the purpose.  We may be like Thomas and feel like we were left out of the revelation so it’s hard to believe…I won’t believe until I see the wounds of Christ!  It may be that the party and joy of others is just not where I am, so I can’t/won’t join into the celebration…it’s just not my party!  We can learn from the story of Thomas just how to seek grace and experience the ‘ah-ha’ of seeing and believing, when we are at these thresholds that life provides through the tough stuff!  When Thomas stopped, opened his eyes, touched the wounds of Jesus he opened himself to the grace that stood before him, he responded to that grace with one of the most profound conversion statements in all of Scripture, “My Lord and my God!”  Yes, it was too bad that Thomas didn’t believe his friends when they told him of Jesus, he was very much a human, just like you and me.  But when his eyes were opened, he shows us how to go all in as followers of Christ.  If our noses are bent out of shape because things aren’t going our way, we are probably standing at a threshold to New Life!  Take a moment to welcome and be changed by the grace from God that is there!I hope you enjoy this week’s FF Newsletter, finding little nuggets of love for your family.  We even have a video lesson put together by our CREW for the elementary families!  There is an invitation for our adults to gather via Zoom, check it out!  Thank God for creativity.

Be sure to be following the PFLAUM links above! These programs are great easy activities that middle school parents and students can use to bring faith formation into your home.

It has been quite some time since we have seen the faces and heard the voices of many who we attend mass with.  We are putting together a community wide Zoom gathering that will take place on Saturday mornings from 10-11:30am, beginning May 2, 2020.  When you arrive at the gathering we will break into smaller groups for better opportunity to say hi to each other.  Those groups will be determined by the mass time you typically attend.  You will simply tell us the time that you normally attend mass, we will place you in that group, and then you will be able to see those you would normally see on a weekly basis.

So what will we do in these groups, you may ask?  We will take some time just to say hi and catch up on how life has been, then we will read the Gospel of the weekend, dialogue with two questions that are provided each week, and pray.  

You may wonder how much you need to share?  As always in adult small faith communities, you have the freedom to share as much or as little as you want.  Whatever is comfortable for you.  What is shared in the small groups will stay in the small groups, confidentiality is important.  We will respect the time and give each person the opportunity to share if they desire to.  There will be a facilitator in each small group to help with the flow of the gathering.  

How to sign up for these Zoom gatherings?  Send me joanw@sjtbcc.org an email letting me know that you would like to join this gathering.  I will then send you a link to the gathering, and directions of how to connect with Zoom.  If you would like to make sure that you are computer ready for the Zoom meeting on May 2nd, we will have a tutorial on Saturday May 25th at 10am with Chelsea Wilde. This practice Zoom meeting will be to help teach people how to use the Zoom platform and give people an opportunity to practice and work out any problems they might have with the platform before joining the parish Zoom on May 2nd. Email Joan at the address above to join the practice so that we can get you the pertinent information and know how many to expect. Please join us to connect with one another again.

JOAN WILLIAMSON                                    Faith Formation and Sacramental Prep

253-630-0701 

   

CHELSEA WILDE                                         Youth Ministry and Confirmation

ChelseaW@sjtbcc.org

Text: 248-385-3567

AMY BONTE                                                Elementary and First Sacraments

AmyB@sjtbcc.org 

Text: 214-684-1881