August 24/25 Announcements and Homily Link

First day of School! 2024-25

August 25, 2024
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Join us as we Welcome Community Rebuilders to the Neighborhood
Wednesday, September 11, 6 – 7 pm, Church Lower Level
Parishioners, school parents and friends, we invite you to join us for an informative presentation and Q & A with Vera Beech, Executive Director of Community Rebuilders. Vera will share the important work they are doing next door to Saint Thomas to repurpose the Van Andel Pavilion. Contact Pam Strobel (616) 459-4662 with questions.

We are thrilled to once again gather as a community this fall as we kick off the yearlong celebration of the founding of Saint Thomas Parish and School! We are hosting three School/Parish/neighborhood events and invite you to celebrate with us! Make sure to save these dates:

Sunday, September 22 Picnic at Wilcox Park Kick off to our year long celebration! A family-friendly fall bash for the entire Parish, School and neighborhood community. Knights of Columbus will be grilling again, so lunch is on us. There will be live entertainment from some of Saint Thomas’ 
very best. Games, activities, food trucks, and yes…. the dunk tank is back!

Sunday, September 29 to Saturday, October 5 Silent Virtual Auction
There is no cost to participate. Register for the silent auction online and start bidding. All proceeds from this silent auction go directly to our Home and School Association, providing our students and school resources, supplies, field trips and family events.

Saturday, October 5 Roaring ‘20s Auction Gala
Our largest and most impactful fundraiser for our Parish and School. A roaring great time for all adult parents, parishioners, grandparents, alumni, and friends. Strolling dinner, drinks, photo booth, dancing and live auction event. Optional costumes from the 1920s are welcome! Tickets are going fast! Purchase tickets at https://cbo.io/tickets/sta/Auction

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Around the Diocese

St. Isidore Parish invites you to their Eucharistic Festival
Join the parish community of St. Isidore in Grand Rapids for a day devoted to celebrating the Real Presence in the Eucharist. The day begins at 7:45 am with Mass celebrated by Bishop Walkowiak. Sister Faustina Maria and Sister Lillian Emmanuel of the Sisters of the Children of Mary will present Revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The day concludes with a video presentation of a talk given by Blessed Carlo Acutis’ mother. Please RSVP by Sept. 10 for planning purposes. You can RSVP here: saintisidorechurch.org/eucharistic-festival

Special Jubilee pilgrimage to Italy
April 28 – May 7, 2025
Join Father Lam Le, pastor of St. John Paul II, Cedar Springs and Mary Queen of Apostles, Sand Lake, and Catholics from the Diocese of Grand Rapids as they embark on a special pilgrimage to celebrate the 2025 Year of Jubilee in Italy, April 28 – May 7, 2025.
Highlights include:

• An opportunity to attend a Papal Audience
• Participate in a Mass celebrated by Fr. Lam at the Basilica of St. Mary Major
• Visit the Abbey of Monte Cassino
• See the confessional where Padre Pio heard numerous hours of confession
• Tour the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi where you will see the tomb of St. Francis
• Visits to many other popular and devotional sites

Prayer Line (616) 365-7689