ST. THOMAS BECKET PARISH center of unbroken praise 435 North Brooksvale Rd., Cheshire, CT 06410 Rev. Eugene J. Charman, Pastor, frgene@snet.net Rectory address: 511 Sharon Dr. Rectory: (203) 272-3324 Parish Office: (203) 272-5777 Parish Fax: (203) 271-9210

Parish Secretary, Mrs. Margaret Irving, 203-272-5777; e-mail: stboffice1@snet.net
Coordinator of Religious Formation, Phyllis Provost McNeil, 203-272-5777 ; e-mail: stb-dre@snet.net
Web Site: http://www.stthomasbecket.org
Masses: Saturday Vigil - 5:00 P.M. (DST) Sunday - 8:00, 9:30, 11:00AM
Weekdays: 9:00 AM (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday); Holy Days: as announced.
Confessions: Saturday, 4:00 – 4:30 PM
Rosary - Monday at 7:00 PM, daily after the 9:00 AM Mass, and before the Saturday Vigil Mass.

Second Sunday of Easter, March 30, 2008

Announced Masses:

AREA MASS SCHEDULE
St. Bridget - Daily (M-F) 7:00 AM, Sat. 9:00 AM, Sat. Vigil 4:30 PM, Sun. 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 AM
Epiphany - Daily (M,T,W,F) 8:30 AM, Sat. Vigil 4:00 PM, Sun. 8:30 & 10:30 AM
O.L. Mt. Carmel - (M-F) 7:30 & 9:00 AM, Sat. 8:00 AM, Sat. Vigil 5:00 PM, Sun. 8:00, 10:00 , 11:30 AM
O.L. Fatima, Yalesville (M-F) 8:00 AM, Sat. Vigil 4:00 PM, Sun. 8:30 & 10:30 AM

Financial Report. Offertory: $10,416 Donation $250 (10%)Bingo $.50 Thank you for your generous support of our parish.

Food Collection this weekend Coffee /& next weekend

Religious Formation Classes scheduled this week: Monday – Grade 2 & 8 ; Tuesday – No classes Saturday Program – April 5^th AM- 9:30; PM – 12:45
All Rice Bowl money should be returned to classes this week.

Children's Liturgy – The 5^th grade classes will assist with the 11:00 Mass next Sunday. A rehearsal will be held on Saturday, April 5^th from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM (between Saturday program classes)

Our Annual CCD Outing at Holiday Hill for our Religious Formation students will be held Monday, May 5^th. Students will receive a permission slip at their last class of the year, which they must bring with them signed by a parent or guardian. Parents are responsible for transportation and for their children while at the outing.

Building Update. As you know the bid on the rectory building came in at 1.2 million – well outside our budget of $600,000. It is being redesigned to lower costs and will go back out to bid in about a month.

The Women's Club Victorian Tea will be held on Sunday, April 27^th. Save the Date! More information to come.

Prayer Shawl Ministry. will meet on Friday, April 4^th at 10:00 AM in the Parish Center. They welcome new knitters or crocheters who can join them on the first Friday of each month at 10:00 AM as they pray; knit and bless shawls that are presented to parishioners for special occasions or special needs. For more information contact Elaine 272-7397.

Archbishop's Annual Appeal: This year's theme: Sharing God's Gifts, calls us to to join together as one Catholic family to help the neediest among us. Our Annual Appeal donation is one way we can Share God's Gifts with our neighbors. Our financial gifts to the Appeal truly benefit everyone in the Catholic community around the three counties of Hartford, Litchfield, and New Haven. If you have already made your gift or pledge to this year's Appeal – thank you! If you haven't done so yet, your help is still very much needed. Pledge cards and envelopes are available in the vestibule. Please participate in the Appeal to the best of your ability.

Family Perspective: In today's gospel Jesus tells us: “as the Father sent me, so I send you.” become who you are called to be, ambassadors of peace and forgiveness.

Reminder. Please say the prayer in the front cover of your hymnal for the persons in whose memory that hymnal is dedicated. Hymnals are still available to be memorialized by calling the church office.

Stewardship: Jesus meets the need of each disciple. To the fearful in the upper room, he speaks words of peace. To doubting Thomas, he provides tangible proof of his resurrection. What do I need to become his disciple? What do I have to share that might meet someone else's need?

Economic Stimulus Package. Many people have gotten into the habit of sharing their good fortune at Bingo or the Casino by giving 10% of the winnings to the church. When your check comes in for the stimulus package please consider sharing 10% of that windfall with the parish. We will put it toward next year's oil bill (a budget-buster by all predictions). Thanks for your generosity. Fr. Gene