New Years Resolutions

• Join St. Tom's Intercessory Prayer Group - A monthly Flocknote shares the intentions for the month.
• Save the last few minutes of your daily prayer time praying for others.
• Make a resolution to pray for someone immediately if they ask for your prayers.
• Pray one decade of the rosary for a different family member each day.
• Set a notification on your phone to remind you to pray for a specific person at a certain time.
• Make a list of people you are praying for that you can turn to easily.
• Put a person's name in your calendar to remember to pray for them.
• Put names on notecards and pick one randomly each time you pray.  

• Quiet prayer anytime or during Adoration (M/T/Th/Fri noon to 5:00 p.m. and Wed. from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. when Purdue classes are in session.)
• Join Virtual Morning Prayer on weekdays for 15 minutes starting at 7:30 a.m. (Visit the Parish Calendar for the log-in link.)
• Sign-up for a Spring Faith Formation Program (Follow the links for more information and registration.)
  • Boiler Awakening (March 24 to 26)
  • Called & Gifted Workshop (Feb. 4 at St. Tom's)
  • Ignite Small Groups (weekly)
  • Sycamore (starts January 26)
  • Spring Discipleship Training (starts January 25)
  • OCIA (Open to those exploring the Catholic faith and those wanting to refresh their knowledge.)

Join our sufferings to those of Jesus through fasting and making sacrifices. And the best ones are those that are small and go unnoticed, serve others, are part of the regular day, help us operate better, and support others. Here are some suggestions:

At Work

• Stick to a schedule
• Start on time and end on time
• Do unpleasant or difficult tasks first
• Whenever anyone asked for your help, give them your immediate attention (if your position allows it)
• Or the opposite: schedule focused time, shut your door, close your email when not using it, silence unnecessary notifications, etc.
• Stay off of social media during work hours.
• Compliment people; go out of your way to be friendly and smile- even when you don't feel like it.
• Finish your tasks as well and quickly as possible, and then offer to help someone else with their tasks.
• Close your computer if you don't need it for your current task.

• Let others choose music, movies, TV shows, etc. Accept their choice with a cheerful spirit.
• Lessen a spouse's or roommate's burden; do an undesirable home task or one of their leas-favorite chores before they get to it.
• Do a certain number of loads of laundry per day or week.
• Set the table, wash the dishes, or offer to make a meal if you usually aren't responsible for it.
• Drop whatever you're doing whenever someone asks for your assistance.
• Exercise regularly, or if you tend to be indulgent with exercise, end your exercises on time.
• Cut out a certain amount of social media time and instead play a board game with friends/family/roommates.
• Put your phone in another room when you get home. Only get it if it rings.
• Make your bed first thing in the morning.
• No phones or screens at the dining table or while doing activities with someone else.
• For parents of small children: be the one to brush the little kids' teeth, do the bedtime routine and make it fun, or offer to change the diaper or assist the toddler in the bathroom.

• Drive in silence.
• Get up early and go to Mass.
• Don't hit snooze in the morning. 
• Get to bed on time.
• Cust out screen time one hour before bed.
• Decrease your news or podcast consumption by one source.
• Don't give your opinion if you're not asked for it.
• Avoid talking about certain topics (i.e., yourself, topics that draw out negativity, complaining, indulgent topics)
• Instead of grumbling, say a prayer at red lights, when someone cuts you off, or when stuck in traffic. 

Stewardship (or giving our time, talent, and treasure) requires discernment, sacrifice, and prayer. And being a devoted and faithful steward requires some sacrifice, not to the point where it wears us out (though it sometimes does) but at least to the point where it feels meaningful and purposeful so that, in the end, you know you've made a difference in the world by expanding God's kingdom.  Below are some ways to give back to the One who gave us everything that we have:

• Pledge to St. Tom's Day of Giving in March and the Diocese's 2023 Catholic Ministries Appeal. 
• Volunteer your time and talent at St. Tom's (A form to submit your interest is on the St. Tom's Giving page.)
• Sign-up for St. Tom's Angel Corps (A Flocknote group for ongoing volunteer needs at the Church)
• Participate in a Spring Break Mission Trip
• Join a service ministry at St. Tom's (There are more than a dozen listed under the "Service" tab on the website.