Weekly Updates from St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar, NY
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Weekend of October 17-18, 2026

Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

OUR 5TH ANNUAL SCHOOL GALA IS TONIGHT!

Ticket holders: we can't wait to see you all there tonight!

Make sure to come prepared for our Live & Silent Auctions!

And bring your appetite for all the amazing food!

Can't make it but still want to support the School Gala? Donate here! Thank you

Friday, October 16

10:30am: Reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures, Conference Room
12:15pm: Mass
12:45pm: Senior Luncheon, Gathering Hall
1:00pm: Adoration, Confession
6:00pm: School Gala, Italian American Community Center

Saturday, October 17

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

Sunday, October 18
World Mission Sunday!

7:30am: Mass
9:00am: OCIA Session, Cafeteria
10:00am: Children’s Rosary, Chapel
10:30am: Mass (Livestream)
10:30am: Children's Liturgy of the Word, Chapel
11:30am: Hospitality
5:00pm: Mass
6:00pm: Confirmation Candidate/Sponsor Night for Level 2, Gathering Hall

A LOST BABY STROLLER!

We found a baby stroller earlier this month near the entrance to the church. We don't know if it was mistakenly left behind or was meant to be a donation. If the stroller belongs to you, please contact the parish office by the end of the day on Friday, October 30. If we don't hear from anyone, we will consider it a donation (Thank you!) and pass it along to Mary's Corner, for a family in need.

St. Thomas Parish,

I think we all know what a hypocrite is, and how we really can be hurt by one. Someone says they’re going to do something, and we try to count on their word, but then they don’t follow through. Or maybe someone tells us one thing to our face, only to turn around and say something completely different behind our backs. I’m guessing we’ve all been on the giving and receiving end of hypocrisy at one point or another.

We expect people to be honest with us! We expect them to mean what they say and to follow through on their promises. But when their words and actions don’t line up, it can leave us feeling disappointed, frustrated, and even betrayed.

I remember one time when I was expecting someone to show up for something. They were on the calendar, we had talked about it and planned for it, but then at the very last second, they bailed out and left me empty handed and feeling very frustrated. That was hypocrisy to me…saying you’re going to do something and then not doing it.

In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus encounters a group of people who are being hypocritical in a much more deliberate way. The Pharisees and the Herodians approach Jesus with what sounds like a compliment: “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” These seem like wonderful words on the surface level. They’re acknowledging Jesus as a man of truth who teaches the ways of God. The problem is that they don’t actually believe what they are saying. They are not approaching Jesus with sincere hearts, hoping to learn from Him. Instead, they are trying to trap him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar.

Jesus sees through their flattery and dishonesty and calls them exactly what they are: hypocrites. Their words sound sincere, but their intentions don’t match. They are using the appearance of respect to disguise their desire to discredit him.

It is easy to recognize hypocrisy in other people, especially when we have been hurt by it. But this Gospel also invites us to take a closer look at ourselves. Do our words reflect what we truly believe? Do our actions match the faith we profess? It is one thing to speak about loving God, serving our neighbor, and living according to the Gospel, and it’s another thing altogether to put those words into practice when doing so is inconvenient or requires sacrifice.

When Jesus tells his questioners to “repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God,” He gives them an answer they did not expect. But He also leaves us with an important question: What belongs to God? The coin bears Caesar’s image, but we are made in the image and likeness of God. Our lives, our hearts, and everything we have ultimately come from him.
In my mind, the greatest way to avoid hypocrisy is to remember whose image we bear, which is no image we find on any coin. Rather than simply appearing to be people of faith and living hypocritically, may we strive to live as people of faith, allowing our words, our choices, and our actions to reflect the God whose image we bear.

As I’ve been writing about in the bulletin for the past several weeks, this Tuesday is our Pastoral Council Discernment & Information Evening: October 20 at 7:00pm in the Gathering Hall. You may have read in The Evangelist about Bishop Mark’s Sustainability & Growth Discipline which he is asking every parish to complete by the spring. This process has already been started by the staff and it will be the immediate work of the Pastoral Council. It’s crucial to have an accurate representation of the cross-section of our parishioners: those who have been here for decades, those who are new, parents, young adults, new Catholics, school families, high school students, etc. Several people have expressed interest already, thank you for that, and I’d welcome who is interested to come on Tuesday evening. If you have a nomination of someone who would be a helpful member, please email pastoralcouncil@stthomas-church.org.

Peace to you,
Fr. Matt

October 17-18 Bulletin

Monday Message October 12

This Weekend's Readings

St. Thomas Calendar

Next Week:

Monday, October 19

7:30am: Mass
8:00am: Rosary
7:00pm: Women of Mary, Mary Chapel

Tuesday, October 20

11:30am: Confession
12:15pm: Mass
3:00pm: Tuesday Drive, Gathering Hall
7:00pm: Pastoral Council Discernment Informational Night, Gathering Hall

Wednesday, October 21

11:00am: Rosary, Mary Chapel
7:00pm: Choir Rehearsal, Church
7:00pm: 518 Frassati, Conference Room

Thursday, October 22

7:30am: Mass
8:00am: Rosary
7:00pm: Creation Care Team Meeting, Gathering Hall

Friday, October 23

10:30am: Reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures, Conference Room
12:15pm: Mass
1:00pm: Adoration, Confession

Saturday, October 24

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

Sunday, October 25

7:30am: Mass
9:00am: OCIA Session, Cafeteria
10:00am: Children's Rosary, Chapel
10:30am: Mass
10:30am: Children's Liturgy of the Word, Chapel
11:30am: Hospitality
5:00pm: Mass

We Celebrate 100 Years of World Mission Sunday!

This World Mission Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of its establishment by Pope Pius XI in 1926. This centenary is an opportunity to celebrate with renewed missionary zeal.

Last year, Pope Leo XIV made an appeal to us in a personal video for World Mission Sunday. His request echoed around the world: “Please help me help missionaries everywhere.”

That’s what World Mission Sunday does: it helps Pope Leo care for the 1,130 missionary dioceses and territories under his supervision through the Dicastery for Evangelization.

We are called to be a part of this missionary work and we have a singular means to do so: World Mission Sunday.

The second collection we take up this weekend helps extend the Church’s evangelization work to missionary lands where the Gospel is being proclaimed for the first time, as well as to places where the Church barely exists, or is too young, too persecuted, or too poor to sustain herself. Thank you for responding to Pope Leo’s call to help him help missionaries everywhere!

Donate to World Mission Sunday!

October is Respect Life Month

www.respectlife.org

RESPECT LIFE MONTH TUESDAY DRIVES!

This Tuesday, Oct. 20, 3pm-4pm is for the South End Children’s Café Birthday Closet: Children ages 8-17: NEW only please: Board Games, Stuffed Animals, Lego sets, Football, Basketball, Soccer Ball, Arts & Craft Kits, Lip Gloss & Nail set, Barbie Dolls, Dolls, Car Sets, Character Throws, $15 gift card to Five Below, Birthday Cards, reusable gift bags. Thank you for being a birthday angel!

Respect Life Apostolate
Essay Contest

The Respect Life Apostolate invites students,
Grades 9-12, who attend St. Thomas parish to participate in an essay contest reflecting the value of every human life.

More Information!

Pastoral Council Discernment & Info Evening
Tuesday, October 20
7pm, Gathering Hall

Our Pastoral Council information session will be this Tuesday, October 20, at 7pm. I’m looking for an accurate representation of the cross-section of the parish: those who have been here for decades, those who are new, young adults, parents, high school students, school families, etc. Our immediate task will be to begin work on Bishop Mark’s Sustainability & Growth Discipline which every parish is required to complete. Thank you for your prayerful consideration to use your time, gifts, and input to serve in this way. If you'd like to nominate someone, please email pastoralcouncil@stthomas-church.org.

Ladies of Charity Annual Coat Collection!

With the cooler weather arriving we are reminded that many among us find it difficult to obtain a warm winter coat. We ask that you please go through your closets to find unneeded coats, jackets and snow pants. We need both adult and children’s sizes. Please leave your items in the box in the Gathering Hall, from Saturday, October 3 through Saturday, Oct. 17. The Gathering Hall is open during the week for your donations. Many families are supported by your generosity and, on behalf of the Ladies of Charity, we thank you! Any questions, please call Sandie Flynn, (518)221-1027.

Immediate Opening – Cleaner Needed

We have an immediate opening for an individual to clean our church and adjacent spaces. They will also assist the Facilities Manager as needed. The position is for 15-18 hours per week, with a salary range of $16-$18 per hour. Our preference is for someone who can work before or after business hours, but some flexibility is possible. You need to be physically able to use cleaning equipment and lift up to 25 lbs. If you are interested or know someone who is, please email your resume and cover letter to Patricia Holm in the parish office: pholm@stthomas-church.org.