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Weekly E-Newsletter
Week Ending
July 31, 2009
Dear Parishioner  

St. Thomas the Apostle is an Episcopal Parish in the Anglo-Catholic tradition.  We are called by God to be a holy place where love is found, where all are named and where hearts are freed to change the world.
In This Issue
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Barbara Dove, RIP
Prayer Chain
Transfiguration
Feast of Our Lady
Join us on Facebook!
Weekly Services
Trinity VIII
Pastoral Counseling
Vigil Mass
Sophie's Choice
Mother Knows Best
St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest, July 31

 
Ignatius
In the year 1521 a cannon ball fractured the left leg of Captain Ignatius Loyola, the future founder of the Jesuits. While he was convalescing, Ignatius read about Christ and His saints and thus turned wholly to God. He then undertook to equip himself for Christ's service by acquiring a good classical and theological education. The members of the Society of Jesus became the shock troops of the Church in the battle against the spread of Protestantism in Europe, as well as one of the greatest foreign mission organizations that the world has known. Ignatius died on July 31, 1556.

 
St. Ignatius
Ignatius, by nation a Spaniard, was born of a noble family at Loyola, in Cantabria. At first he attended the court of the Catholic king, and later on embraced a military career. Having been wounded at the siege of Pampeluna, he chanced in his illness to read some pious books, which kindled in his soul a wonderful eagerness to follow in the footsteps of Christ and the saints. He went to Montserrat, and hung up his arms before the altar of the Blessed Virgin; he then watched the whole night in prayer, and thus entered upon his knighthood in the army of Christ.
 
Next he retired to Manresa, dressed as he was in sackcloth, for he had a short time before given his costly garments to a beggar. Here he stayed for a year, and during that time he lived on bread and water, given to him in alms; he fasted every day except Sunday, subdued his flesh with a sharp chain and a hair-shirt, slept on the ground, and scourged himself with iron disciplines. God favored and refreshed him with such wonderful spiritual lights, that afterwards he was wont to say that even if the Sacred Scriptures did not exist, he would be ready to die for the faith, on account of those revelations alone which the Lord had made to him at Manresa. It was at this time that he, a man without education, composed that admirable book of the Spiritual Exercises.
 
However, in order to make himself more fit for gaining souls, he determined to procure the advantages of education, and began by studying grammar among children. Meanwhile he relaxed nothing of his zeal for the salvation of others, and it is marvelous what sufferings and insults he patiently endured in every place, undergoing the hardest trials, even imprisonment and beatings almost to death. But he ever desired to suffer far more for the glory of his Lord. At Paris he was joined by nine companions from that University, men of different nations, who had taken their degrees in Arts and Theology; and there at Montmartre he laid the first foundations of the order, which he was later on to institute at Rome. He added to the three usual vows a fourth concerning missions, thus binding it closely to the Apostolic See. Paul III first welcomed and approved the Society, as did later other Pontiffs and the Council of Trent. Ignatius sent St. Francis Xavier to preach the Gospel in the Indies, and dispersed others of his children to spread the Christian faith in other parts of the world, thus declaring war against paganism, superstition, and heresy. This war he carried on with such success that it has always been the universal opinion, confirmed by the word of pontiffs, that God raised up Ignatius and the Society founded by him to oppose Luther and the heretics of his time, as formerly he had raised up other holy men to oppose other heretics.
 
He made the restoration of piety among Catholics his first care. He increased the beauty of the sacred buildings, the giving of catechetical instructions, the frequency of sermons and of the sacraments. He everywhere opened schools for the education of youth in piety and letters. He founded at Rome the German College, refuges for women of evil life, and for young girls who were in danger, houses for orphans and catechumens of both sexes, and many other pious works. He devoted himself unweariedly to gaining souls to God. Once he was heard saying that if he were given his choice he would rather live uncertain of attaining the Beatific Vision, and in the meanwhile devote himself to the service of God and the salvation of his neighbor, than die at once certain of eternal glory. His power over the demons was wonderful. St. Philip Neri and others saw his countenance shining with heavenly light.
 
At length in the sixty-fifth year of his age he passed to the embrace of his Lord, whose greater glory he had ever preached and ever sought in all things. He was celebrated for miracles and for his great services to the Church, and Gregory XV enrolled him amongst the saints; while Pius XI, in response to the prayers of the episcopate, declared him heavenly patron of all Spiritual Exercises.

From www.catholicculture.org
Barbara Dove, RIP
Barbara DoveIt is with great sadness that we announce Barbara Dove, RIP, died Wednesday, July 29th after a long battle with liver cancer. 
 
Barbara was a long-time, beloved Parishioner and prominent member of the choir.
 
Her Requiem will take place in the Parish Church on Friday, 14 August 2009 at 7:30pm. The Parish Family is strongly encouraged to attend and sing with gusto for Barbara!
Prayer Chain
 
Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:18-20) 
 
Prayer is at the center of our worship and binds us together as a community of faith.  This week we commenced our electronic prayer chain email.  A list of persons on the prayer list is sent weekly.
 
Subscribers to the prayer chain email agree to honor confidentiality of the members on the prayer list and to pray for the persons on the prayer list during the week.  It is expected that the prayer chain will be sent weekly, though occasional additional emails will be sent if circumstances warrant.
 
The prayer chain email is an opt-in list only - it will not be sent unless you sign up for it.  If you'd like to be on this distribution list, please update your profile (please use link at the bottom of the email, customized with your email)or contact the office.
Transfiguration - August 6 - 7pm Service
 
The Transfiguration of Christ is the culminating point of His public life, as His Baptism is its starting point, and His Ascension its end. Moreover, this glorious event has been related in detail by St. Matthew (17:1-6), St. Mark (9:1-8), and St. Luke (9:28-36), while St. Peter (2 Peter 1:16-18) and St. John (1:14), two of the privileged witnesses, make allusion to it.
 
About a week after His sojourn in C�sarea Philippi, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them to a high mountain apart, where He was transfigured before their ravished eyes. St. Matthew and St. Mark express this phenomenon by the word metemorphothe, which the Vulgate renders transfiguratus est. The Synoptics explain the true meaning of the word by adding "his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow," according to the Vulgate, or "as light," according to the Greek text.
 
This dazzling brightness which emanated from His whole Body was produced by an interior shining of His Divinity. False Judaism had rejected the Messias, and now true Judaism, represented by Moses and Elias, the Law and the Prophets, recognized and adored Him, while for the second time God the Father proclaimed Him His only-begotten and well-loved Son. By this glorious manifestation the Divine Master, who had just foretold His Passion to the Apostles (Matthew 16:21), and who spoke with Moses and Elias of the trials which awaited Him at Jerusalem, strengthened the faith of his three friends and prepared them for the terrible struggle of which they were to be witnesses in Gethsemani, by giving them a foretaste of the glory and heavenly delights to which we attain by suffering. 
 
By Kevin Knight (www.newadvent.org
 
Come to St. Thomas for Mass on Thursday August 6 at 7pm for the Transfiguration. 
Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, Aug 15
 
Our Lady
 
 
The Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham will observe The Feast Day of The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary on 15, August 2009; The Holy Rosary will be begin at 4:30pm; Followed by a Solemn Mass at 5pm. This occassion will also mark the internment of our late beloved Cell Member Robert Krueger. Afterwards the Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham will host a potluck dinner.   All are welcomed. For more information please contact Mark S. Vigil: 323-303-7426, marksvigil@yahoo.com
Facebook Group
 
Facebook Snap
 
 
Are you a member of Facebook?  Now St. Thomas is as well.
 
Become a fan of St. Thomas!
 
 
Service Schedule
 NOTE:  Daily mass on M,W,F will be at 8am and T,Th at 7pm.  Please join us!
 
MASSES & DAILY OFFICES
Sunday
7:30 AM  -  Morning Prayer
8:00 AM  -  Low Mass
9:45 AM  -  Rosary
10:30AM -  High Mass with Choir - Childcare Available
4:30 PM  -  Evening Prayer
 
Monday
7:30 AM -  Morning Prayer
8:00 AM -  Low Mass
6:30 PM -  Evening Prayer 
 
Tuesday
7:30 AM -  Morning Prayer
6:00 PM -  Reconciliations / Confessions
6:30 PM -  Evening Prayer 
7:00 PM -  Low Mass

Wednesday
7:30 AM -  Morning Prayer
8:00 AM -  Low Mass
6:30 PM -  Evening Prayer 
 
Thursday
7:30 AM -  Morning Prayer
6:30 PM -  Evening Prayer 
7:00 PM -  Low Mass 

Friday
7:30 AM -  Morning Prayer
8:00 AM -  Low Mass
6:30 PM -  Evening Prayer 
 
Saturday
10:00AM -  Low Mass
5:00 PM  -  Vigil Mass with Gregorian Chant
6:30 PM  -  Compline
 
 
Many additional activities occur each week at St. Thomas the Apostle.  See the calendar for more!
 
We hope to see you soon!
 
Blessings from
 
St. Thomas the Apostle
Trinity VIII
Patronal Saint
Celebrant (8am)
The Rev. Mark D. Stuart
 
Celebrant (10.30a):
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies  

Homily (8am & 10.30a)
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
 
Deacon
(10:30a):
The Rev. Mr. Walter Johnson
 
Guest Organist (10:30a): 
Ron McBain
 
READINGS
 
2 Samuel 11.26-12.13a
Psalm 51.1-13
Ephesians 4.1-16
John 6.24-35
Clergy
Fr Davies
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Rector
 
Fr Stuart
The Rev. Mark D Stuart
Associate Rector
 
Fr Cooper
The Rev. Michael Cooper
Assistant Priest 
 
Deacon Johnson 
 The Rev. Mr. Walter Johnson
Deacon
Pastoral Counseling
One-on-one Pastoral counseling is available.  Please contact the office (323-876-2102 ext 2) to schedule an appointment with the Clergy.
Vigil Mass
Missa Vigil hoc septem dies cum lingua Latina. Missa mos ineo 5 meridianus et cum ero Abeo Gregoriana in Ecclesiae Parochiae Sancta Thomasiensis.

[The Vigil Mass on Saturday will be in Latin this week.  Join us at 5pm in the Church with Gregorian Chant.]
 
Homeless Breakfast
Saturday, August 8th the Homeless Breakfast will take place.  Volunteers are welcome and greatly needed!
 
150 homeless and needy Angelinos are served a tasty breakfast by St. Thomas volunteers. Come at 7:00am to help prepare and share pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and good fellowship.  Come at 7:30am to help serve.  Come at 9:00am to help clean up.
 
Deacon Johnson serves as the Social Worker providing outreach to the Homess during the Breakfast.  This portion of the program, including providing safer sex kits, hygene items and other critical supplies is funded in part by a grant from The City of West Hollywood.
The Psalms of King David Special Exhibit at The Getty
King David
Temptation and Salvation: The Psalms of King David
June 9-August 16, 2009 at 
The Getty
Sophie's Choice
Sophie's Choice
Sophie's Choice is a novel by William Styron published in 1979. It concerns a young American Southerner, an aspiring writer, who befriends the Jewish Nathan Landau and his beautiful lover Sophie, a Polish (but non-Jewish) survivor of the Nazi concentration camps. An immediate bestseller and the basis of the 1982 successful film. 
 
Friday, September 18th join in a viewing of the film and a lively discussion afterwards.
Mother Knows Best
Interesting facts about
St. Thomas the Apostle
 
Doubt
The State Trumpets of the organ on the back wall below the window, pre-date the current organ. They were some of the first work done by Organ Builder Weston Harris for St. Thomas. The Trumpets have a separate blower to supply the wind for them, hidden under the back pew. Usually such trumpet pipes sit on a large wooden rack. Weston Harris felt such a rack would distract from the beauty of the window. He therefore devised a unique suspension system of using piano wire to hold them in place. The wires become almost transparent. To be doubly strong the wires run up and through the roof and are literally bolted outside to the roof. This means the roof itself would have to come down before those pipes would fall. They were completely undamaged by the 94' earthquake. The trumpets were the gift of parishioner Ron Hartwig.
Minutes
The minutes from the Vestry Meetings of St. Thomas the Apostle are now available on the St. Thomas the Apostle website.  Click here to get the minutes. (Or goto the "Wardens & Vestry" page and click on "Minutes.")
 
 Each month after the Vestry approves the prior months minutes they will be posted in PDF format.
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