WOW, over 100 and still going strong! Thank you St. Thomas for your kindness and generosity to our neighbors and family at our weekly drives. We started back in March of 2020 in response to wanting to do something to assist our neighbors when so much uncertainty and fear surrounded us! The drives gave us an opportunity to share what we could. It also gave us an opportunity to gather to see one another. We gathered with no masks, with masks, with social distance, in the rain, in the snow and the sunshine. We collected in the parking lot, in Father’s garage, in front of the church and in the Gathering Hall. Some came with their four legged friends or with a friend. Some of you joined us once or twice, others have never missed a drive! Thank you, St. Thomas, for giving witness to what being a Roman Catholic means. Sharing with our homebound, reminding others that they are thought of, helping families and veterans on a tight budget, and allowing our young church to know what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ in our world. Click here for 100 pictures from our drives!

The 50th Annual Diocesan Marriage Jubilee Celebration will be held Saturday, October 8th, 2022 at 4:00 pm at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. Couples celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th or other special wedding anniversaries are invited to attend this celebration. Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger will celebrate the Mass at 4:00 pm and greet couples and their guests at a reception in the gathering area at the Cathedral immediately following Mass. Please register by email to Marriage.Jubilee@rcda.org.

Christ the King parish is hosting Mass (the Luncheon has been canceled) to pray for and honor Breast Cancer Survivors and their loved ones on Sunday Oct. 2nd at 11 am.

September 22 at 7 pm young adults from across the diocese are invited to a fun social gathering and spirited conversation with the Sisters of the Resurrection. The Sisters of the Resurrection welcome us into their Provincial House 35 Boltwood Avenue, Castleton, NY. Come early to enjoy their beautiful grounds. The evening will include social time with food and drinks, Adoration, and a presentation / conversation with the Sisters: "How do we live in holiness and grow in our love for Christ and each other?”. All attendees MUST register. Click here to register.

Thank you St. Thomas for encouraging “new Trees” to spring forth from your kindness and generosity at home and in the community. Together we collected $675.00 worth of gift cards for our own Parish Meal Ministry! Your kindness will provide comfort to a parish member who may be in mourning the loss of a loved one or juggling the joy of a new baby or simply just to let someone we care and are praying for them. St. James Food Pantry thanks you too for the reusable bags and food donations. Please see the next news posting for their need for donations again. The Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless was blown away by the amount of new and gently used men items that were collected. Jon Romano Coordinator for the Clothing Pantry at Community Connections made three trips to unload the van! He thanks you for assisting to cloth their guests our neighbors. Click for pictures

On September 24th from 10-1pm there will be drop off boxes in the parking lot (weather permitting) of St. James, 16 St. James Place Albany or alternatively you may drop off any non perishable food item at the food pantry window. They are very munch in need of 1 lb. bags of rice, cereal, spaghetti sauce, jelly, toilet paper, paper towels, and hygiene products. If you can give, they would be greatful!

Come to the free Repair Café with your broken lamps, tools and lawnmowers, torn jeans or sweaters, broken teacups or necklaces or chairs, computers, gardening questions, and your knives to be sharpened. The Café will be at Hoags Corner Firehouse, Sept. 17, 10-2 pm. (7237 NY-66, East Nassau). Keep stuff out of the landfill, and go home happy. Sign up in advance and get more information from Wendy at  missmisc@icloud.com, (518) 526-5594‬.

Albany NY Chapter of Magnificat (a Ministry to Catholic Women) is hosting a Women’s Pilgrimage on Saturday, September 10 from 11-2:30 pm at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine. The day includes Mass, Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary, lunch (bring a bag lunch and beverages), Praise & Worship, a Reflection by Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Kyle Gorenski – topic: “Our Lady of Sorrows”. Cost is a free-will donation – RSVP by Thursday, Sept 8. To register, email albanymagnificat@gmail.com and include your name, phone # and parish. Click for more information.

Heartfelt thanks and gratitude are extended all who participated in our drive for St. John St. Ann’s Outreach Center. Staff and volunteers at the center were most appreciative of our van load of supplies. They are only receiving about half of their typical order because the Food Bank is low on supplies or totally out of some items. Your kindness will go a long way in supporting a neighbor who is having a tough time making ends meet. Special thanks to Eli for sorting and greeting! Click for more photos

Young Adults are invited to a Mass and BBQ Sunday, August 28 for a 5 PM Mass with BBQ to follow. Come worship with young adults from across the diocese and Fr. Matt Duclos as the Mass Celebrant. St. Mary’s Crescent 86 Church Hill Rd, Waterford, NY All attendees MUST register at https://forms.gle/SMUTguBMj3WH1GKn6

Blessings from all around town were received at our drive for St. James/St. Francis Food Pantry! Special shout to our Delmar Community Bank for sharing items with us, and to you St. Thomas for packing our van. Linda Cruz and her faithful volunteers at the pantry were surprised and appreciated the gift cards too that will be used to purchase needed food items. Special shout out to our greeters Kevin and Gehrig. Together we are making a difference! Click for more photos.

Thank you St. Thomas for supporting LIFE! Catholic Charities Community Maternity Services appreciates your donation of large sized diapers, wipes, gift cards and cash! Blessings for “ You are wonderfully & fearfully made!” Isaiah 139:14. Click for more pictures!

Come to the St. Thomas Creation Care Team meeting August 23, at 7:00 PM in the Church Gathering Space and take an active part in positive plans to care for creation.

All Diocesan Young Adults are invited to renew and refresh at Pyramid Life Center August 5, 6, and 7. There is flexibility to arrive on Saturday or just come up for the day. PLC is located off Exit 28 of the Northway in Paradox, NY. PLC is set on more than 750 beautiful acres of Adirondack wilderness with a crystal-clear lake and a 16 acre island. There is a waterfall, hiking trails, and forest with lots of activities. Register at https://pyramidlifecenter.campbrainregistration.com/

“Hope for our heroes!” Thank you St. Thomas for sharing hope with the Veterans Miracle Center during our Tuesday Food Drive. We thank our greeters Eli and Kevin and Jen Curry for supervising. Our friend Rob from the Veteran’s Miracle Network had a surprise for us… tee shirts. Feel free to pick one up in the Gathering Hall while they last! God Bless all veterans and their families for their service to our Country and God Bless you. Click for more photos.

Beach or the mountains? You can care for creation anywhere your vacation takes you.

Hope Smith, Volunteer Coordinator at the Capital City Rescue Mission, thanks you for your prayers and truck load of hygiene items, food and school supplies for our neighbors served by the Mission! Special thanks to all who dropped items off early to the Gathering Hall or Office too. Special shout out to our young church Paige and Candace for greetings and sorting. God Bless you St. Thomas for making a Difference! Click for more photos.

Fishing or camping this summer? Follow these tips to care for creation while you enjoy being outdoors.

Capital Region Interfaith Creation Care (CRICC) offers resources and local support to care for creation.

The Diocese of Albany is hosting the Step Up Men's Conference on Saturday, August 20 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville. The Step Up Men's Conference will give men the tools needed to grow in holiness in their everyday lives. The event will include presentations from Fr. Donald Calloway and Fr. Roger Landry, Reconciliation, Adoration, Rosary, and 4 pm Mass. The purpose of this event is to grow in our relationship with Christ and establish a plan to bring this energy back to our families and parish families. The cost is $50 per person and includes lunch; College age and younger men are FREE. For more information and to register click here.