Beware of SCAMS! Please call the office if you receive a suspicious , phone call, etc. PASTORAL TEAM

Parish Office: 868-2666 Fax: 868--3765 Campus Ministry: 868-2666 ext. 113 Email: stmdurham@comcast.net Website: stmdurham.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmdurham

SACRAMENTS

Reconciliation: Saturday, 4:00 - 4:30 pm or by appointment. Baptism: Call office to register for class & date of celebration.

Marriage: Call office to schedule appointment at least six months prior. Anointing of Sick: Call office anytime.

Inquiries & Reception in Catholic Faith (RCIA): Call Roberta ext. 115. First Communion, First Reconciliation & Youth Confirmation: Call Director of Faith Formation at ext. 117.

For parish registration information call 868-2666.

PASTORAL TEAM

Pastor & Catholic Chaplain:

Very Rev. Andrew W. Cryans, V.F. 112 andrewstm@comcast.net

Pastoral Minister: Roberta MacBride 115 stmpastoralmin@comcast.net

Campus Minister: 113

unhstm@gmail.com

Director of Faith Formation: Ann McGurty 117 stmfaith@comcast.net

Middle School Youth Minister: Regina Attisano 117 stmmsfaith@gmail.com

High School Youth Minister: Felicia Sperry 117 stmHSYM@gmail.com

Finance/Office Administrator: Bindy Curtis 116 stmfinance@comcast.net

Administrative Assistant: Ann McGurty 110 stmdurham@comcast.net

Maintenance: Patrick Murphy 110

StThomasMaintenance@gmail.com

SUNDAY LITURGIES

Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm

Sunday: 9:00 & 11:15 am

UNH Student Mass: 5:00 pm

(when University is in session)

WEEKDAY LITURGIES

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 12:10 pm

Mass times could change due to funerals. Call the office to confirm.

Beware of SCAMS!

Please call the office if you receive a

suspicious e-mail, phone call, etc.

September 27, 2020

Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 4: 27th Sunday in O.T.

Gospel: Matthew 21: 33-43

September 26th-27th Saturday, 5pm – Lawrence Zeis

Sunday, 9am –  Kevin Kearney Sunday, 11:15am –  Wilfred Davis

October 3rd–4th

Saturday, 5pm –  James Beliveau, Jr (1st Anniversary) Sunday, 9am –  Stena MacBride (14th Anniversary) Sunday, 11:15am –  John Gordon

Welcome Child of God!

No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church,

No matter your personal history, age, income, background, gender, race, ethnicity or spirituality, or marital situation,

No matter your own self-image of holiness or virtue,

You belong to Jesus Christ and you belong to us!

You are invited, accepted and respected here at the Parish of Saint Thomas More.

Take our hands, Lord Jesus, leading us in courage to confront with courage the forces which oppress and divide.

Take our hearts, Lord Jesus, and open them to the truth which will set others free.

Accompany us on our way, Lord Jesus, as we seek to share our Roman Catholic faith and life in your Spirit.

CHURCH OF SAINT THOMAS MORE

A Community of Parish & University Ministry

PO Box 620, Durham, NH 03824; 868-2666; stmdurham@comast.net

MASSES & OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK:

Public Masses this weekend at

Saturday 5pm

Sunday 9am & 11:15am and 5pm (StudentMass)

Weekday Mass Mon, Tues, Wed at 12:10pm

(Call the office to confirm)

Office hours:

Mon, Tues, Thurs: 9am - 3:pm and Wed : 9:00am -1:00pm

Food Pantry: Thurs 4-6pm.

September 27: 26th Sunday of O.T.

“Let Evening Come”

Good poems also serve as prayers. Jane Kenyon’s “Let Evening Come,” is a fall favorite. It reads like a litany. The opening words “Let the light “ evoke the book of Genesis where God says, “Let there be light.”

Let Evening Come By Jane Kenyon

Let the light of late afternoon

Shine through chinks in the barn, moving Up the bales as the sun moves down Let the crickets take up chafing as a woman takes up her needles and her yarn. Let evening come

Let dew collect on the abandoned In long grass. Let the stars appear and the moon disclose her silver horn

Let the fox go back to its sandy den. Let the wind die down. Let the shed go black inside. Let evening come.

To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop In the oats, to the air in the lungs Let evening come.

Let it come as it will, and don’t Be afraid. God does not leave us Comfortless, so let evening come.

Let us rejoice in unlikely moments and remember “God does not leave us comfortless.”

L’Shalom-In Peace, Fr. Andrew

There will be NO Mass (12:10pm) on

Monday, September 28th

We Welcome You to Our Parish Public Masses

Saturday-5pm; Sunday- 9am, 11:15am & 5pm Student Mass Begins



The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is still in effect. Please stay home if you have symptoms of

COVID-19, don’t feel well, or are in a high risk group.



The church will be limited to 40% capacity and is being sanitized before every Mass.

Masks and hand sanitization (are required) masks and hand sanitizer will be available).



Please enter through the front church doors only, and leave by closest exit immediately after Mass, but still maintaining

social distance.



While in your pew - only sit and stand (no kneeling to maintain social distancing).



There will be no communal singing, no offertory (a basket is available in the foyer during Mass for your donations), no sign

of peace.



Please follow the directions of the ushers during the distribution of the Eucharist, to maintain social distance.

Only the Body will be offered during Communion (not the Cup).



During Communion, step aside after receiving the Eucharist, lift mask to consume the Body of Christ, lower mask, and

return to your pew by side aisles.



If you need special assistance, please contact an usher at church, or email

STMPastoralMin@comcast.net

ahead of time.

Note that ramp is being used as an exit, so an usher would need to help you enter there, if needed.



If your elementary school age (or younger) children to use the bathroom, please accompany them for sanitization (and

safety!).

STM Office Regular Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 9 am to 3pm and Wednesdays 9-1pm .

We are asking parishioners and visitors to: - Call ahead if you are able (868-2666). - Wear a mask in the building (required), - Use hand sanitizer as you enter, (required)

- The front doors will remain locked. Call from outside (or between the double doors) of the Student Center when you arrive, and someone will let you into the lobby to assist you.

Keep in mind that many tasks can still be accomplished via email or phone.

We look forward to seeing you safely face-to-face!

October 4th is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

This year because of COVID-19, we WILL NOT have the Blessing of

Animals, but we are including the following prayer for you to Blessing your own beloved pets:

FRANCISCAN BLESSINGS OF PETS

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air,

and animals on the land.

You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet ___________

By the power of your love, Enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all Your beauty of creation.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, in all Your creation! AMEN

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life;

Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise,

God, whose very own you are , will lead you safely through all things;

And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in his arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

the same everlasting Father Who carries you for today will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering, or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace,

and put away all anxious thoughts and imaginations. St Francis de Sales

If you know someone who does not have Internet access and would like to have a bulletin mailed to them,

please have them call the office at 868-2666. We’d be happy to mail them one!

These past months have been

challenging and our faith has

strengthened us through these

unprecedented times.

Let’s continue on our Journey of Life Long Faith Formation

together! Thank you to all of our families who completed

the Faith Formation Survey.

This information will help us in planning our Faith Formation

this coming year.

Registration Forms

Registration forms for all grades Kindergarten through

High School are available on our website,

stmdurham.org. Please complete and return by email, mail,

or drop off at church as soon as possible.

PLEASE COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORMS BY

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

We want to thank all of our Food Pantry

volunteers for their dedication and

service to our community.

Food Pantry Needs your Help!

Our STM Food Pantry is in need of

Food donations are always appreciated. Please drop off at

the Student Center between the glass door entrance.

Volunteers needed for the Food pantry. If you can

help, please contact Cindy Racic at

cynth95419@aol.com

200 Club

The next 200 Club drawing is on

September 27th

That’s just a week away.

Make sure you have a number.

It could be your turn to be a winner!

Enrollment is easy. Subscription options are for 3, 6 or 12 months, at a cost of $50, $100 or $200 respectively. Simply write a check made payable to St. Thomas More with 200

Club in the memo section. Mail it, along with your contact information [address, phone, and email], to the parish office at

PO Box 620, Durham NH 03824

Announcing Walking with Purpose

Women’s Catholic Bible Study

Do you desire to grow in your Catholic faith? Would you like to connect with other women in our parish community? Do you feel that you are doing so much but none of it very well? We invite you to consider joining Walking with Purpose, Sundays this fall at St. Thomas More. Weekly virtual group sessions via Zoom are starting on October18. Keeping in Balance, our study for this Fall through Spring, focuses on creating balance within. No previous Bible study experience is necessary and you are welcome to come as you are as we explore Biblical ways we can manage life’s pace and pressure while living with calm and steadiness.

The mission of Walking with Purpose is to help every Catholic woman and girl in America to open her heart to Jesus Christ. Interested in learning more? Please join us on October 4 for our Virtual Open House to find out what Walking with Purpose is all about via Zoom! To RSVP, please sign up at

https://bit.ly/2R889Dr. For questions, contact Michelle

If you or someone you know is

interested in joining the Catholic Church

or completing their adult (age 18+) sacraments of

Confirmation and Eucharist, please contact Roberta

MacBride

stmpastoralmin@comcast.net

or call

(603)868-2666 X115 to begin the conversation.

“Come and See,” Tuesday Sept 29th at 7pm

We will sanitize, wear masks and social distance in the

student center library as we discover what you are seeking

and discern a plan for your faith education and formation.

RCIA/Adult Formation This Fall

Meal Helpers: Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, Manwich Taco Shells & seasoning

Pudding and Jello: boxes and cups

If you know someone who does not have Internet access and would like to have a bulletin mailed to them,

please have them call the office at 868-2666. We’d be happy to mail them one! Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide

Please call or email the parish office to update your new address, phone number or email. Thank you for your cooperation.