To Our Parish Family, St. Thomas More Parish has been truly blessed by your persistence in faith, hope, and love, and dedication to our mission through the pandemic. As we approach the end of 2020 and look forward in faith together, we are comforted, sustained, and strengthened by Jesus’ birth and the gift of Love Himself to us all. Although operations have been streamlined, regular Sunday Offertory Collections (through the Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time) were largely interrupted, and our Carnival Fundraiser needed to be canceled, STM continues to persevere through this shutdown. Your generosity has kept us moving through these times, and we need your help to have STM emerge from 2020 with real strength. We are asking you, if at all possible, to prayerfully offer (and even increase) your faithful support for our Christmas Collection and our STM 2020 Assistance Appeal. You can…
As always, we appreciate your support and commitment to our Parish. We thank you for your understanding and patience. Rest assured of our prayers for you and for good health, healing, and peace. May God’s blessing be upon you for a |
 | Christmas 2020 Mass Schedule Christmas Eve. Vigil Masses - Dec. 24: 2:00PM * & 4:00PM Family Mass (Sorry! Our "Max Capacity" has been reached for these 2 Masses! Other Masses are filling up.) 10:00PM Solemn Christmas Mass Christmas Day - Dec. 25: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM * & 12:00 PM |
Only those who have registered to attend Mass will be able to Check-In & enter the Church. If our "Max Capacity" has not yet been reached for a Mass you might try to attend, additional people will be able to check-in and be seated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Consider participating in the Celebration of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord via live-stream if you are unable to attend.
* Our 2:00 PM Mass on Christmas Eve & 10:00 AM Mass on Christmas Day will be live-streamed through our Facebook Page. The videos will be accessible on Facebook for live viewing and playback at a later time. Please note: Anyone, even without a FB account can view the stream and watch the videos. The General Dispensation to attend Mass in-person from Cardinal Tobin continues on.
As we navigate these difficult times together, we know: "Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family. Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven's glory was made manifest. The Church never tires of singing the glory of this night" (CCC 525). May Jesus' birth and heaven's glory which comes to us strengthen our faith, hope, and love!
Due to the COVID pandemic, St. Thomas More Church is especially concerned about
everyone’s health and safety. We have received directives from the Archdiocese of
Newark concerning Christmas Masses. In view of these directives (and their implementation - see bottom of page), attendance for Christmas Masses will be by registration only. Please note, registration has ended as of 12/22 at 4PM.
everyone’s health and safety. We have received directives from the Archdiocese of
Newark concerning Christmas Masses. In view of these directives (and their implementation - see bottom of page), attendance for Christmas Masses will be by registration only. Please note, registration has ended as of 12/22 at 4PM.
The directives have been implemented as follows...
We are permitted to have 100 people in Church and 50 people in O’Connor Hall. It is mandatory for everyone to wear a mask in Church & O’Connor Hall throughout the Mass, along with maintaining social distancing of 6'. There is to be absolutely no congregating (socializing inside or outside Church) besides for the liturgy. An additional Vigil Mass (at 2PM on December 24th) will be celebrated. The dispensation continues to be in effect for those not able to attend Mass. We will live-stream Christmas Mass. (Note: this information is all pending directives that are sent to us from the Archdiocese of Newark. We will inform you if any changes are made.)
We are permitted to have 100 people in Church and 50 people in O’Connor Hall. It is mandatory for everyone to wear a mask in Church & O’Connor Hall throughout the Mass, along with maintaining social distancing of 6'. There is to be absolutely no congregating (socializing inside or outside Church) besides for the liturgy. An additional Vigil Mass (at 2PM on December 24th) will be celebrated. The dispensation continues to be in effect for those not able to attend Mass. We will live-stream Christmas Mass. (Note: this information is all pending directives that are sent to us from the Archdiocese of Newark. We will inform you if any changes are made.)
All are invited to join our Seminarian, Andrew Rubinich, for an Advent Reflection Series each Wednesday evening of Advent at 7:30 PM. We will reflect on Faith, Hope, Love, and the Angelus Prayer. The live-stream will be accessible from our Facebook Page. We hope you will join in this meditation!
**Each reflection will conclude with Night Prayer from the Liturgy of Hours.**
To view/print a "Night Prayer Sheet" so you can pray along, click here.
To view/print a "Night Prayer Sheet" so you can pray along, click here.
Click here to go to the live-stream. All the videos (and links) to them will be posted here and on the Facebook Page after each reflection:
If you have any questions about accessing the stream or viewing it, please check out this guide for helpful tips and tricks!
If you have any questions about accessing the stream or viewing it, please check out this guide for helpful tips and tricks!
STM Programming & Other Resources
- Annual Advent Penance Service on Tuesday, December 15th at 7:00 PM. These guides might be helpful to prepare to make an Individual Confession and receive God's mercy and forgiveness.
- Live-Streamed Advent Reflection Series with Seminarian Andrew Rubinich each Wednesday of Advent at 7:30 PM. Click here for details.
- FORMED.org Daily Advent Meditations...STM Parish is subscribed! Sign up and watch at FORMED.org.
- Bulletin Inserts from STM CCD can be found throughout the Advent Season. Check them out here.
- Daily Meditations on "Our Lady" from the Priest Faculty & Theology Staff of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. Click here to sign up for these video mediations delivered right to your email.
USCCB Resources for Individuals & Families
- Advent Calendar
- About Advent Wreaths
- Blessing of an Advent Wreath
- Blessing of a Christmas Tree
- Commentary on the Proper Prayers of Advent from the Roman Missal
- Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene
- Festival of Lessons and Carols
- Lectio Divina for Advent
- Liturgical Notes for Advent
- Parish Resources
- Pope Benedict XVI's Spiritual Thoughts on Advent
- The "O Antiphons" of Advent
- Video Reflections on Wisdom
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