St Thomas Aquinas Church
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Our 6% Parish Tithe for the month of May will be sent to the San Lucas Toliman Mission located in south-central Guatamala. The mission consists of 22 communities with populations from 20,000 down to 300 people. Their goal is to further social justice within their community and to stand in solidarity with the poorest and most marginalized of society. As followers of Christ they are challenged to advocate for the poor and speak for the voiceless. Some of the work they have accomplished: *After tropical storm Agatha in 2010 they purchased land to relocate hundreds of families
whose homes were destroyed by mudslides, including sewers, portable water and electricity. *They rebuilt roads to San Lucas that were blocked by mud, hug rocks and debris. *They provided schools and post-secondary schools for thousands of people mainly of Kakciquel Mayan descent. *They built a medical clinic managed by the San Lucas Mission that is continually growing. The Mission has many other projects they are working on which you will hear abut in the next few weeks
Vacation Bible School
This year’s VBS will be on June 19-21 from 9 -11 a.m. Children in preschool (age 4 and up), kindergarten and grades 1-4 are invited. The theme will be the Olympics! Volunteers (adults or high school students) are needed to teach and to be helpers (grades 5-8). Registration forms will be available shortly. Please call Julie Dorsey or Marie Dinneen, 815-232-3225 if you would like volunteer. Teaching a class will count for your Confirmation Volunteer Hours and for the St. Thomas Faith in Action Scholarships.
Foreign Exchange Students Need Homes
Three girls from Germany would like to attend Aquin next year. They will need host families. The agency is not able to pay a stipend to the host family. Students arrive for a semester or a school year and come with their own spending money. Host families provide three meals a day, a place to study, a bed to sleep in and a loving environment! If you would like to host a student, please contact the area supervisor directly: Tammy Marie Person, phone - 815-234-2111, cell phone 815.222.7966 or email stpent5@aol.com.or call Peg at Aquin, 815-235-3154, ext 224. Thank you!
Thanks You
To our Religious Education teachers and students for their efforts to raise money for Heifer International. Grades 1-8 filed Ark Boxes and in addition, grades 3-8 made and sold baked good and arts and craft items. Because of the wonderful support of Msgr. McDonnell and our parishioners, we were delighted to send a check for $700 to Heifer Int. They provide struggling families around the world with the gifts of livestock and training in the care. Because of their principle of “Passing on the Gift” each recipient family passes on the gift of their animal’s offspring to another family. Your donations will help families lift themselves out of poverty and become self-reliant. God bless you all!
Ready, Set, Summer!
Aquin Extravaganza raffle tickets are now available!!!! $10,000 Grand Prize Drawing will be held June 9th at the Freeport Country Club. Raffle tickets are $100 each. If you would like to purchase one or two or ten, please contact Mary Jo Clapper by email at mjclapper@comcast.net or leave a message on her cell phone, 815-821-5597.Tickets can also be picked up at the Aquin High School, St. Joe’s Elementary or through the parish offices.