We need adult volunteers to help with BLOCK PARTY set-up!
Saturday, July 11 from 10 am - 12 pm
Set-up will include bringing chairs out to the courtyard & arranging them, carrying items up from the school kitchen, etc.
If you are able to help, please call the Rectory at 516-489-8585.
Thank you!

At our 10:30am Mass on Sunday, June 21, Father Dante offered his final words of thanks and gratitude to Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish

Welcome Father Rick Stelter!

Bishop Barres has appointed Father Rick Stelter as our new associate pastor to serve the needs of the people of Saint Thomas the Apostle Church. The assignment will take effect on Wednesday, June 24th. Father Rickwas ordained for the Diocese of Rockville Centre on March 15, 1980 (exactly one year after Father Tony’s ordination). Father Rick and Father Tony share a lot of connections. In his early priesthood, Father Rick served the people of Westbury at Saint Brigid’s Church (Father Tony’s last pastorate) as well as serving the people of Saint Barnabas in Bellmore (Father Tony’s home parish). Both Father Tony and Father Rick went to Saint Pius X High School seminary, Cathedral College and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception; both also pursued post graduate work at Fordham University. And finally, both are Met fans!

For the past twenty-four years, Father Rick has been pastor of Saint Martin of Tours in Amityville and Our Lady of Peace in Lynbrook. As he has finished his second term as pastor of Our Lady of Peace, Father Rick was generous enough to stay active in ministry and make himself available for priestly service in the Diocese. And so, the Bishop has assigned him to work with us here at Saint Thomas.

We look forward to offering a warm welcome to Father Rick as he begins this new chapter in his priestly life.

Saint Thomas the Apostle Youth Group presents

NEWSIES

Come to the Saint Thomas Family Festival

Saturday, July 11 - from 1pm until 5pm

Free Games, lots of food and Sing along with Bobby D

When Bobby D isn’t playing in local restaurants like Levittown’s La Focaccia, Mineola’s Cassariano’s, and Monroe’s Restaurant in Westbury, he’s performing at private parties, outdoor village festivals and senior citizen centers, which he said is one of his favorite places to sing.

“When I walk in there, I know those people have nowhere to go and I’m bringing them something joyful for that day. They so look forward to it,” Damato said, adding that he looks forward to giving people music they can relate to.  Retired from a 45-year career at Con Edison, Bobby D typically performs three to four times a week across the island while teaching and designing courses on leadership, in which he holds a degree, at Manhattan University. 

Prior to his current show with McKnight, he spent 25 years performing with a seven-piece band called New York Connection, which similarly played covers of ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s music across the New York area. He’s also spent the past 10 years performing musical theatre with the New Hyde Park Players, a community theatre group, where he has starred in productions like “Annie,” “Mary Poppins,” and “Beauty and the Beast." along with none other than our own Father Tony Stanganelli

“I’m very humbled and honored that I can perform for people still at my age,” said Damato, who’s been singing for his family since he was a young kid. “I’m so happy and so grateful to people that come to the shows. They don’t have to come. I’m not Elvis Presley. I’m a person that just enjoys bringing music, memories and love to people.”

You can do your part to keep old music from dying out by catching Bobby D at one of his upcoming shows,

Here's a sample of some of Bobby D's GREATEST HITS

Saturday, July 11 -- 1pm - 5pm in the school parking lot

Entertainment by "Bobby D"

Free Games for people of all ages!

Hot dogs, soft drinks, pretzels cotton candy and snacks

We will be praying

The Patriotic Rosary for our country

Our Lady of Fatima First Saturday Devotion

Saturday, July 4^th

after the 9am Mass until 11am, Lower Church 24 Westminster Road, West Hempstead

~Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

~Recitation of the Patriotic Holy Rosary

~15 minutes of Quiet Meditation

A great way to begin the celebration of the 4^th of July.  Join us!!

Father Tony and Father Charles Mangano invite you to join them in a nine-day long pilgrimage to Medjugorje this summer August 8 - 16

During the time of our pilgrimage, we will be staying in the house of Ivan Dragicevic, one of the six visionaries who allegedly have received these apparitions from our Lady since 1981. During our time together we will participate in daily Mass and spiritual activities, united with pilgrims around the world to visit the sites of the apparition and to listen to Ivan tell his own story of those early days of Medjugorje. 

The all-inclusive price of $3,843 per person includes: 

• Round-trip Airfare from New York, All Airport Taxes & Fuel Surcharges,
• 7 Nights: Dragicevic Family Home with Private Baths,
• Breakfast and Dinner Daily, Wine with Dinners, 
• Transfers by Private Motor Coach, 
• Escorted by Professional Local Christian Guides, 
• Sightseeing and Spiritual Activities, 
• Mass Daily & Spiritual Activities, 
• Special Times of Prayer and Group Meetings,
• Unlimited Use of the Private Home Chapel Books and Tapes, 
• Luggage Handling (1 Piece per Person)
• Air Conditioning in Double Occupancy Only (No Single Rooms).

You will need to make your reservations soon since these trips are booking fast!

Next Right of Respite - Friday, April 17th!

Visit us on Sundays  from 8am to 1pm
Saint Thomas the Apostle Chapel
Lower Level

Our Thrift Shop is moving to a new location (BIGGER and BETTER)

All sales benefit our Parish, so please stop by and support STA!

We welcome donations that are new or in excellent condition.  Please drop off at the rectory.

Can you volunteer to help us at the Thrift Shop? If so, leave a message for Ana at 516-817-1960.

Join Father Tony each Thursday morning at 8:30am in the Sienna Center of Saint Catherine of Sienna Church for a weekly Bible study program, "Sunday to Sunday"

Beginning Thursday, October 2 and every Thursday thereafter, Father Tony will explore the upcoming Sunday's Gospel (and perhaps the first reading as well) offering an exegesis (study) of the passage, its context and meaning within the bible. Following the teaching, there will be an opportunity for prayerful sharing on the passage as time allows.

The sessions will take place at the Sienna Center of Saint Catherine of Sienna Church. All are welcome!

The history of the U.S. Catholic Church, like the history of the United States itself, is very much intertwined with the phenomenon of migration. The first American citizen to be canonized a saint, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, was the embodiment of this. An immigrant from Italy, she adopted this country as her own. While often facing discrimination and seemingly impossible odds, she never succumbed to hopelessness. With relentless faith, she accompanied her fellow immigrants and others living on the margins of society with a great missionary zeal. 

But Mother Cabrini’s challenges, and the challenges of those she served, are not unique among the generations of Catholics and immigrants in general who have come to this land. This is not just a matter of history. It is a present reality in the life of our Church and nation. 

As Catholics, we are called to recognize the face of Christ in each person we encounter, especially the poor and vulnerable. Jesus tells us in his own words: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25:35). The Gospel and the social teaching of the Church continually affirm the equal dignity of every person, irrespective of race, nationality, or immigration status.

The Cabrini Pledge is both a reminder of our immigrant heritage and a call to deeper engagement with our faith in response to current events. At a time when our culture is dominated by deep political divisions and reasonable disagreements about immigration policy, progress can feel impossible. But by witnessing to the God-given dignity of every person, including the migrants and refugees in our midst, we pave the way for an approach rooted in mercy, justice, and the common good. And together, like Mother Cabrini, we can be keepers of hop

Click here to take the pledge

Click here to read the New York Catholic Bishop's Statement

Click here to read the Statement of the US Conference of Bishop's

Hours of operation-
First Saturday of each month, 11am - 2pm
Other Saturdays of the month: 10AM - 1pm

Located in the former library of the Parish Center
A great opportunity each week to find treasures at a low low price. . .

Donations for the Thrift store are accepted through the rectory office! Please call 516-489-8585 for more information!

An interesting debate

In the light of the recent tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, there have been many videos and remembrances of this heroic and challenging voice defending the moral teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the gospels. 

With the deepest respect for this honorable man of faith and conviction, we post this particular debate between Michael Knowles, a conservative political commentator, and Charlie Kirk on some of the major differences between  Catholics and Protestants.  The video is about eight months old (during the pontificate of Pope Francis), and perhaps since then there may be evidence that Charlie Kirk was becoming more sympathetic to the Catholic Church than is perhaps reflected n this video. 

The video is posted with deepest respect for Charlie Kirk but also with deepest respect to the fullness of the teaching of the Catholic Church. In light of the popularity of Charlie Kirk, most especially after his assassination, this video may help us understand more clearly what Catholics believe and what we embrace as the fullness of the truth of our faith.

From Human Services Director Gail Miller. . .

"I am always amazed by the generosity of our Parishioners, but this year’s school supplies drive leaves me speechless! (which, our volunteers will tell you, is rare) We received close to 3700 individual items, including…

36 children in 17 families were sponsored! Parents received gift cards from Target or Walmart to purchase shoes, clothing, or whatever else was needed for the start of the school year. One donor saved a mom some time & shopped for clothing for a family!

Sharing the Good News of Saint Thomas the Apostle Human Services

Take some time to look at these great video presentations of the wonderful work that is done right here at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church through our parish Human Services

 A brief reflection on "Why we Minster" here at STA Human Services

 

 A look at our Parish Food Pantry

Take a glance at our Crochet and Knitting Ministry 

 

And don't forget our special Holiday projects -- and Birthday Blessings! 

Human Services of Saint Thomas Helping the Homeless
(and what you can do to help!)

Some of the angels & stars on our Giving Trees request basic warm clothing which we give to our transient clients to help them through the cold winter months. Many of these clients face unstable housing situations which could lead to homelessness, adding to the danger of cold weather.

A CODE BLUE Emergency is triggered when the temperature drops to 32 degrees or below, including wind-chill between 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.  Department of Social Services policies are relaxed to ensure anyone homeless is warm and safe. Drop-in centers are required to take as many clients as possible, within occupancy restrictions. Single adult or family shelters are not required to undergo typical intake and eligibility procedures for that night and clients can access any shelter that night. 

If you know or see someone needing shelter on a CODE BLUE night, the Nassau County Winter Homeless Hotline is 1-866 WARMBED (866-927-6233).  Additional resources are the Coalition for the Homeless Street Outreach team 631-464-4314 ext. 118; the Department of Veterans Affairs 877- 4AID-VET; the Nassau County -Salvation Army 800-728-7825 and Family & Children Association Emergency Housing Assistance 516-221-1310.  

After only four votes among the cardinal electors, Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. was selected to be the successor of Peter, taking the name Pope Leo XIV on the afternoon (12:27pm EDT) of May 8th. Cardinal Cupich, Cardinal of the archdiocese of Chicago stated that the qualities that the cardinals saw , , ,  that were important in determining if he would be the right person. First of all, he’s a hard worker. He’s multilingual. He understands different cultures. He’s lived on three different continents. He’s a pastor, and he has a very strong record of administration, as he had as prior general of the Augustinians.  But it was also very clear that we wanted somebody who was going to continue the work of Pope Francis. There was no interest at all in diverting attention away from that or moving in a different direction. There was a real fondness for Pope Francis that people carried into our discussions."

A brief bio of Pope Leo XIV

Full text of his first address to the world (Urbi et Orbi)