"...and renew the face of the earth." Pentecost is the perfect time to begin to recover from the pain and suffering caused by COVID-19 and to consider how lessons from our seclusion may help us renew the face of the earth.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: In a story in the May 27 issue of the Albany Times Union, a report on an alleged case of clergy sexual abuse listed St. Thomas the Apostle, Delmar, as the location. This was an error on the part of the newspaper. The case does NOT involve our parish but a long-closed parish of the same name in Schenectady. The accused priest, John Phillips, is already listed on the Diocese of Albany's List of Offenders and has been dead since 2001. He never served in our parish. The Times Union has corrected the online story and says they will print a correction in print, but we know how often corrections are missed.

WE are focusing on personal care items: toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, sanitary napkins, household items: dish detergent, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner spray, floor cleaners, cleaners, paper towels, toilet paper Baby items: diapers & pull ups all sizes and baby wipes. These are all items not covered by food assistance. Any item you can spare will assist a young family in staying healthy and allow their budget to stretch that much farther! God Bless you for your continued generosity& support of our neighbors! YOU ARE TRULY MARVELOUS 

We want to ALERT you that if you receive a text from Father Berberian with an offer for a a gift card that includes elaborate instructions as to how to get the gift card, please ignore this SCAM text. Thanks for your cooperation.

Water is more important than ever during the pandemic. Donations from St. Thomas help ease the burden.

Hosted by St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish: Sunday, May 24 at Noon EDT

This month marks the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis' Laudato Si encyclical on ecology and care for all of God’s creation: the foundation of our Creation Care Team and the invitation to all of us to care for our common home.

St Kateri will have an on-line prayer service celebrating the 5th anniversary of Laudato Si Sunday May 24 at noon. Here’s a link to the Facebook post announcing the event. This is a global event at noon local times so It is a rolling prayer over the whole face of the earth. Please join us if you can. https://facebook.com/events/s/laudato-si-global-day-of-prayer/282167132822252/?ti=icl

Youth Ministry/ Faith Formation is ordering a new HOPE adult tee shirt to wear in our community to show our St. Thomas spirit to: HELP OTHERS PRAY ENCOURAGE! We are taking orders till June 8 for a donation of $10.00. Ordered Tee shirts will be available for pick in the Gathering Hall the week of June 15. Questions please contact: Mary Ann at mhospodar@stthomas-church.org. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to Freshman NORAH MCCAFFREY for designing our tee shirt! Please download the order form by clicking on HOPE ORDER FORM

Pope Francis has asked us to join him in the Rosary and two special prayers during the month of May.

Barbara Quinn, Coordinator at St. John/St. Ann’s Outreach Center is grateful for your generosity this week! A very special shout to our own food pantry coordinators, Bob & Martha Keen, who for years have shared your wonderful monthly donations with all of our Catholic Charities Food Pantries! The Keen’s and all of you have been “breaking bread “ with so many neighbors through the years! God bless you for your generosity and support! St. Thomas Makes a Difference!

As we await the reopening of church activities, we want to thank you for your support of this parish in these difficult times. The offertory amount is again larger than usual. Please remember that the infinite graces of our Risen Lord are present every day and are helping us cope with the pandemic. God Bless everyone.

Mother's Day Prayer Over the People May 10, 2020 Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so you watch over your Church. Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Our liturgy this weekend opens with the words of Jesus to his disciples – and to us – “Do not let your hearts be troubled!”

The St. Thomas Community has participated in Hannaford Supermarkets’ “CLYNK to Give” program for several years. Hannaford has selected St. Thomas as a recipient of a $500 Gift Card as a recognition of St. Thomas as a "true community change maker."

“WOW! You work fast!” exclaimed Catholic Charities Maternity Services when Ted pulled up with our truck load of baby wipes and diapers! St. James/St. Francis Food Pantry was hit twice by our parish this past week! “WE couldn’t do what we do without your support! St. Thomas is always generous!” THANK YOU ST. THOMAS FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT OF OUR PARISH & NEIGHBORS! YOU my FAMILY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! “Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with you!” Yes Mary, the Lord is with US!! God Bless YOU!

For the past four years, the St. Thomas Creation Care Team has gathered donations from our generous parishioners to help fund projects that provide access to clean, safe and reliable water and sanitation across sub-Saharan Africa. We recently sent another donation through our partner organization The Water Project, a faith-based organization in Concord, New Hampshire.

Diapers/Wipes/Food Drive: May 7 from 1pm-2pm in church parking lot. Catholic Charities Maternity Services is in need of diapers of any size! But are in most need of Newborn#1, and larger sizes #4, #5, #6 and baby wipes. If you don’t have diapers or wipes to spare we will be collecting boxes of crackers, jelly, peanut butter, cereal, and pancake mix for our neighbors down the street who are served at the St. Francis of Assisi Food Pantry.

There are fresh announcements in the MS/HS Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, St. Thomas School, Creation Care and Administrative sections. Please note the Offertory amount and Thank you for your generosity in these difficult times. Remember that we are only physically distanced, not spiritually distanced.

People around the world are resisting the dark shadow the pandemic casts with acts of kindness and demonstrations of gratitude.