St. Thomas Aquinas Parish

Do you have any blankets or sleeping bags that need a new home? Our parish, through the Human Concerns Committee, will be collecting them for reuse by people who come needing them to St. Francis of Assisi church in East Palo Alto, our parish St. Vincent de Paul and the Opportunity Center in Palo Alto. Throughout the month of October, boxes will be in the vestibules of our three churches/ What you are not using will be given to others who need a warm wrap at night during the coming winter months.

Members of the Knights of Columbus will be waiting outside after each Mass with their yellow cans to collect donations on the weekend of October 21-22. The goal per the Knights of Columbus Council is $4,000.00. The proceeds were evenly distributed to the following organizations in Palo Alto: Abilities United & Achieve Kids. The Knights of Columbus are really thankful and ask for your support again this year.

Bishop McGrath expresses his deepest apologies for the actions of those who were in positions of authority and who violated that sacred trust by abusing children. The sexual abuse of children and young people is an appalling crime and a sin. When these perpetrators are members of the clergy, there are not only psychological wounds but spiritual wounds. Thursday of this week, the names of priests who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with children was released. On that list are four priests who either had an assignment or presided at Masses in our parish. The Bishop's statement, the list, and Inquiry Protocols can be found by selecting this link: https://www.dsj.org/ministries/protecting-gods-children/clergy-disclosure-list/ I encourage you to go to this website and review the information for yourself. If you have any questions or concerns about the materials on this website, please contact the Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults at 408-983-0113 or opcva.ethicspoint.com. Our parish adheres to this diocesan commitment to making our parish a safe environment as well. And if anyone needs some support around this painful issue don’t hesitate to reach out to me or parish staff.

The news this week of the historic sexual abuse of minors in six Pennsylvania dioceses is truly horrific. Trust was first betrayed by these attacks on the innocent; however, the systematic cover-up and reassigning of these priests by their bishops and superiors is just as unforgivable. Click for more.