Jan Dedek of our parish has generously and beautifully created our new Altar, Ambo and Presider's chair for St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The details in the pieces echo the architectural details within the church itself. The dedication and blessing of the new furniture will be on September 15 at the 10:30am Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas. Bishop Cantu will bless the altar, ambo and Presider's chair at preside at the Mass. All are welcome.

Our parish potluck picnic is September 15, but it is not too soon to begin thinking about donations to the FreeCycle, one of the most popular activities within the picnic. Parishioners donate items that are no longer of use to them but might be of use to a fellow parishioner. Any salable items not taken at the FreeCycle are then donated to St. Vincent de Paul.

On Wednesday night, September 18, at 5:45 p.m. in the Our Lady of the Rosary Hall, there will be a S.O.U.P. gathering (Sharing Ourselves with Undernourished People). Please come and enjoy fellowship and soup. Over the years this group has donated almost $100,000 to local charities and to Father Jack Donald, who works in Central America. The basic plan for SOUP is simple. Three families bring soup to the meeting and a few bring wine and juice. Each person brings a bowl and crackers or bread. We have about an hour of good conversation and a simple dinner. At the end of the meal, each person donates what they would have spent for dinner.

First Orientation Meeting after the OLR 10.30am Mass on September 22 at the Dermody Center.

As liturgical ministers, we commit ourselves to ongoing education when we volunteer and in that vein, there will be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion In-Service session at Our Lady of the Rosary Hall on September 28, 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Extraordinary Ministers from any site are welcome to attend.