Weekly Updates from St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar, NY
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Weekend of July 4-5, 2026

Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Today we Celebrate the Feast of

St. Thomas the Apostle

Dear St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Community,

Today, July 3, we celebrate the annual Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, our Patron Saint! This special edition of the Weekly Update is being sent to everyone on our distribution list as we acknowledge this important day.

St. Thomas was an evangelist, traveler, apostle, and martyr. Often known as the one who doubted Jesus, his proclamation “My Lord and my God!” became one of the most powerful professions of faith in all of Scripture. His doubt gave way to deep belief, and that belief compelled him to go forth to witness, to preach, and ultimately to lay down his life for Christ. He was martyred on July 3, 72 and continues to be a strong example for steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, even when some doubt might enter our minds.

In our parish logo, we see two of the most common symbols of St. Thomas the Apostle: the spear and the carpenter’s square. The spear recalls the way he gave his life for Christ, martyred in India as he knelt in prayer. It is a symbol of his bold witness and ultimate sacrifice. The carpenter’s square reflects the tradition that Thomas helped build churches during his missionary journeys. It reminds us that he was not only a builder of physical structures, but also a builder of faith, laying foundations for the Church in distant lands.

May the Lord, through the intercession of St. Thomas the Apostle, continue to bless each one of us and our parish community!

Peace to you,

Fr. Matthew Duclos
Pastor

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Friday, July 3 (Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle)
Office will be closed in Honor of Independence Day; There will still be Mass, Adoration, and Confession

9:00am-12:00pm: Library Hours, St. Thomas School Library
10:00-11:00am: Story Time, St. Thomas School Library
10:30am: Reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures, Conference Room
12:15pm: Mass
1:00pm: Adoration, Confession

Saturday, July 4 (Independence Day)

12:30pm: Prayer Vigil for Peace, Peace Pole
4:00pm: Confessions
5:00pm: Mass

Sunday, July 5

7:30am: Mass
10:30am: Mass
11:30am: Hospitality
5:00pm: Mass

St. Thomas Parish,

Happy 4th of July! And for our parish, Happy Feast Day of St. Thomas the Apostle! Although we officially recognize his feast day as July 3 each year, I have the option to transfer the celebration to the closest Sunday for the benefit of our community, and that’s what we’re doing! So, the usual readings in your devotional will not match the readings we hear at Mass this weekend because we’ll be hearing the readings from Friday, July 3.

And what do we hear in those readings? Considering the Gospel, we hear the familiar story of the "Doubting Thomas." But of course, the main focus is not doubt! These readings reveal the mission and faith that defines the life of St. Thomas the Apostle, as well as every Christian.

In the Gospel, Thomas is usually remembered for his skepticism. We often focus on his demand to see and touch the wounds of Christ before he would believe. But, instead of ending in doubt, in concludes with one of the most profound professions of faith in all of Scripture: "My Lord and my God!" Thomas is moved from doubt to conviction, and from questioning to faith.

In the second reading from St. Peter, we learn that this is precisely the journey of every disciple. Throughout his life, Peter speaks to many Christians who had never physically seen Jesus. "Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him." Those words also describe us. Like Thomas after the Ascension, we do not see Jesus with our eyes, yet we are called to know him, trust him, and follow him. Faith is the decision to place our lives in Christ's hands even when we cannot see everything clearly.

The first reading then shows us what happens when that faith is lived. St. Paul tells the Ephesians that they are "built upon the foundation of the Apostles." The Church exists today because the Apostles like Thomas who encountered the risen Christ and then carried that Good News to the ends of the earth. St. Thomas traveled as far as India, preaching the Gospel and ultimately giving his life for Christ.

That image of a foundation is especially fitting for us at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. This community is a gathering of people being "built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Every time we gather for Mass, come to school, serve a neighbor, welcome a newcomer, or deepen our prayer, we participate in that same work of building up Christ's Church.

As we started last year, we’ll continue our new tradition of taking up a second collection this weekend for our charitable giving. The funds for charity come from two special collections: one today on our patron saint’s feast day, and the other on Thanksgiving. On behalf of those we serve who may find themselves in a challenging position without funds for rent, food, utilities, transportation, or any other need, please know of my sincere thanks.

Registration is still open for Vacation Bible School, new to St. Thomas this summer! It’ll be Monday through Friday, August 17-21 from 8:30 to noon. The week will be full of saints, snacks, songs, and summer fun. More info on that further in the bulletin.

As you make plans for your summer vacations around the country, please visit this website to find local Mass times wherever you’ll be: www.masstimes.org. You can sort by location, day, time, etc. And, if you’re reading this note as a visitor to our parish who’s on vacation in this area, welcome! Thanks for being here!

May St. Thomas the Apostle continue to intercede for our parish and school communities.

St. Thomas the Apostle, pray for us!

Peace to you,
Fr. Matt

July 4-5 Bulletin

Monday Message June 29

This Weekend's Readings

Calendar

Next Week:

Monday, July 6

7:30am: Mass
8:00am: Rosary
4:00pm: Bereavement Support Group

Tuesday, July 7

11:30am: Confession
12:15pm: Mass

Wednesday, July 8

11:00am: Rosary, Mary Chapel
6:15pm: Confirmed in the Spirit Gathering, Conference Room
7:00pm: Young Adult Group: 518 Frassati, Gathering Hall

Thursday, July 9

7:30am: Mass
8:00am: Rosary
10:30am: Catholic Mom's Group, Lower Lounge
5:00-7:00pm: Open House, St. Thomas School
6:00pm: Movie Night (Toy Story), St. Thomas School

Friday, July 10

9:00am-12:00pm: Library Hours, St. Thomas School Library
10:00-11:00am: Story Time, St. Thomas School Library
10:30am: Reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures, Conference Room
12:15pm: Mass
1:00pm: Adoration, Confession

Saturday, July 11

4:00pm: Confessions
5:00pm: Mass

Sunday, July 12

7:30am: Mass
10:30am: Mass
11:30am: Hospitality
5:00pm: Mass

ST. THOMAS VBS 2026

VBS Camper Registration!

Volunteer Registration!

St. Thomas School

2nd Annual Tiger Trot!

5K Race & Kids Run!

Saturday, September 19th @ 9am

Runner Registration!

Volunteer Registration!

St. Thomas School Summer Events

Summer Events

Discipleship Formation Registration Open
2026-2027

Registration for all grades 1-12 is being accepted. Registration includes those new to our Discipleship Formation Program and our Sacramental Prep for: First Eucharist, Penance and Confirmation which are two year prep programs. Confirmed young people are encouraged to register for Confirmed in the Spirit to remain active in our parish and serve as Confirmed Catholics, it's free! We look forward to accompanying you on your faith journey.

Register Here

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region

Right now, in the Capital Region there are over 200 youth looking for adult mentors in their lives, and they wait on average over a year to be matched with one. The need is especially great for male mentors. For more information, please see the St. Thomas men’s group tab on the church web site at https://stthomas-church.org/mens-group.