BULLETIN

 

July 25, 2010

 

SPECIAL ANNUAL APPEAL 2009-2010
WE VALUE OUR PLACE TO WORSHIP – WE SUPPORT OUR PARISH
Unless within the next week or so someone discovers an envelope for our Special Annual Appeal and returns it, it is safe to say that this year’s APPEAL has concluded. As of Thursday, July 8, our gross in gifts from 339 contributions was $64,282.00 for which we are enormously grateful. We know the care and sacrifice behind those gifts.
This marks the 4th SPECIAL ANNUAL APPEAL since our resumption of this form of fund raising after the school property was no longer leased and each year its importance to our being able to survive as a parish grows. To the 21.36% whose care prompted their response “THANK YOU”.
SAINT THOMAS MORE PARISH was established in APRIL of 1938. In the intervening years it has served the Catholic community of this part of Braintree and the larger community as well. That service, however, calls for the support of the community. This annual appeal offers all the known households in the parish an opportunity to manifest their support.
REPORT #21 (through 7/8/10)



2010 CATHOLIC APPEAL
“CALLED TO LOVE AND SHARE”
As of Thursday, July 22nd we have reached 79.8% of our parish goal for this year’s appeal. 170 contributions have brought us to this point. With $11,323.00 still to raise to reach our goal we appeal to those who have not yet contributed to join those of us who have. At this point we are in the “share” phase and a portion of contributions made at this point comes back to us. If you can help and choose to help please know that
your support will be greatly appreciated.
You can pick up information packets with pledge forms at the doors of the Church. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com or call 617-779-3700.


SAINT THOMAS MORE
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL:
PARENTS, PLEASE RETURN REGISTRATIONS PROMPTLY. We need to know the approximate number of families/students for the upcoming year when ordering books and materials. Classes cannot be organized until we receive this information. If we haven’t already heard from you we hope we will be hearing very soon. Your cooperation is needed and expected.
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PARISHIONERS: If you are NEW to the parish religious education program, please call 781-843-2142 or email us and leave your name, address, phone number and email. The First Communion program is a two-year program starting with grade one.
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TEACHERS: Thank you for sharing your faith with our students this year. If you plan to volunteer to teach for 2010/11, please call the office at 781-843-2142 or email us at stmpreled@aol.com. It is never too early to say YES (or even a maybe)! Church classroom space is limited, so let us know ASAP.

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CONFIRMATION LEVEL:
We are looking for those 9th grade students who plan to join the CONFIRMATION I program to let us know before August 1 of your intention by returning the registration form mailed to your family. Until we hear from you, we are assuming you do not intend to register. We cannot guarantee an available place in the program for this coming year if we do not hear from you by August 1.
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CONFIRMATION II students. As soon as information is available regarding the special Christian Service project for early September we will e-mail you.


RIGHT TO LIFE
“I’m against abortion, but I don’t want to impose my morality on someone else.” What? How can you be against the killing of the unborn in one breath and then justify this by not wanting to tell others what to do? “The problem is we are allowing abortion to fall into a different category than every other act of homicide. But abortion is not a different act; it is a different method of the act of homicide in which one person kills another.” Bryan Kemper of Stand True Ministries, The Southern Cross, February, 2010


NEW PARISH MEMBERS
Please complete the registration form on the front of the bulletin and give to the ushers or place in the collection basket so that you may be properly registered as a parish member.


ST. VINCENT dePAUL FOOD PANTRY
During the summer months, donations are needed more than ever. PLEASE remember to bring something for our Food Pantry each time you come to Mass. This week the most critical needs are jelly, tuna & mayonnaise. Also, always needed are “fun foods” such as cake and brownie mixes, cookies, crackers, jello, juice as well as other miscellaneous non-perishable items. Thank you for all that you give.

READ THIS PLEASE!
The support of our generous advertisers provides this avenue of communication to us each week.
This year we have 25 advertisers, 22 of them are repeating their generosity from last year. Three are new to our bulletin this year.
We ask you to be kind enough to always check the bulletin when you have need of goods and services and to support with your choice those who are thoughtful enough to support our efforts. Be sure to let these good people know that you saw their ad in our bulletin.

LINK TO BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORT OUR BULLETIN

 

HEALING PRAYER MASS CARDS
~ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE RECTORY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MASS SAID FOR THE GOOD HEALTH OF A LIVING PERSON. STOP IN DURING RECTORY OFFICE HOURS (MONDAY–FRIDAY 9AM-5PM). OFFERING IS $5.00.

AVAILABLE AT THE DOORS OF THE CHURCH
AT ALL TIMES: PARISH BULLETINS
ST. VINCENT dePAUL ENVELOPES
CENSUS FORMS
AT OTHER TIMES: ARCHDIOCESAN APPEAL PACKETS
PARISH APPEAL ENVELOPES
COUNCIL ON AGING MONTHLY
NEWSLETTERS
PILOTS (WEEKLY)
ALSO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE SURE TO LOOK AT OUR BULLETIN BOARDS FOR NOTICES ABOUT ALL TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND ENJOYMENT AND FOR APPEALS FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL SUPPORT.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE SURE TO LOOK AT OUR BULLETIN BOARD FOR NOTICES ABOUT ALL TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND ENJOYMENT AND FOR APPEALS FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL SUPPORT.

 

Do you use your computer often? Do you have internet access? Did you ever think of using your computer to support your prayer and reflection?
Try this --- Use LINKS on home page; click anywhere on the paragraph pray-as-you-go and spend 12 to 15 minutes listening to God’s Word and reflecting on what it means for you. Very refreshing for the spirit!

CARDINAL SEAN’S WEEKLY E-MAIL
Cardinal Seán hopes that every Catholic in the Archdiocese with an email account as well as everyone interested in learning about the ministries, activities and works of the Archdiocese of Boston will sign up for his weekly email. Please visit www.Boston200.org



TAX INFORMATION

Due to recent changes in the federal tax laws for charitable contributions, beginning in 2007, parishioners who itemize deductions on Schedule A of their tax returns will no longer be able to deduct contributions to the parish unless they maintain a bank record or receive a written contribution statement from the parish. Cash contributions that are not in a parish envelope cannot be tracked by the parish and will not be included in the year-end contribution statement. To ensure tax deductibility for contributions to our parish, the following payment methods are recommended:

1. Use of parish envelopes provided to you by the parish; or
2. Written check made payable to the parish.

Our parish will track contributions made using the parish envelope system, and will, upon request, produce a written statement of contributions made. This information will include the name of the parish, name of parishioner, date of each individual contribution, and the dollar amount. Our parish cannot track cash contributions, regardless of the amount, that are NOT part of our parish envelope system. Please note, that this does not change the requirement that a taxpayer receive an acknowledgement from our parish for each deductible contribution of $250 or more. If you have any additional questions, please consult with your tax advisor.