Electronic Offertory

In an effort to make it more convenient for parishioners to financially support Saint Patrick Parish, we now offer you the ability to make your offertory contributions electronically. Rather than placing cash or checks in the collection basket each week, you now have the option to simply have a predetermined monthly amount withdrawn from your checking or savings account that will be automatically deposited into the Parish Offertory. Transactions will be made on the 15th of each month. If you are interested in signing up for electronic offertory payments, or if you would like additional information, please contact Jean Lorrey in the Parish Office at 508-653-1093. Thank you.

Stewardship

“Thus says the Lord: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased.” - Isaiah 42:1

At our own Baptism, each of us became a servant of the Lord. God has chosen us and equipped us to do special work for Him. Everything that we accomplish in this life is a direct result of all that God has given to us. The question is: Are we accomplishing the things God put us here to do? Are we acting as God’s servant or are we only serving our own needs? Is God pleased with the way we are fulfilling His special plan for us?

2008 Tax Statements

For your convenience, tax statements for your 2008 offertory contributions are available by contacting the parish office at 508-653-1093. Your personalized statement will be prepared and mailed to you, or arrangements may be made to pick it up in the office. Please note that the IRS may disallow your charitable deductions if you are unable to provide this acknowledgement to them upon request. Thank you for your continued support of Saint Patrick Parish.

Special Collection

As you are aware, we have instituted a MONTHLY MAINTENANCE COLLECTION to help offset some of the larger expenses (such as heating oil) that we incur at St. Patrick’s. There will be a SPECIAL SECOND COLLECTION taken up at all of the Masses next weekend for this purpose. Please be as generous as you can to this urgent need to provide for our parish.

ARISE Together in Christ

Sign-Up Weekend is January 31-February 1, 2009

Welcome back to those who participated in Season One. If you missed Season One, no need to worry … you can still join us for Season Two.

ARISE Together in Christ is a three-year, parish-centered process of spiritual renewal and evangelization that enables people to deepen their faith, develop a closer relationship with Christ, grow in community, and reach out in service to others. The ARISE process applies the standard of Christ to all areas of life. It emphasizes people living in good relationship with one another, as they make concrete applications of the Gospel to their life situations.

Please join us for the Second Season of ARISE: Together in Christ, which will take place during Lent, 2009. The message of Season Two is summed up in the title “Change Our Hearts”. Just as Lent takes its meaning from Easter, so too this Season “Change Our Hearts” takes its meaning from the title of the process, ARISE. We cry out for God’s help to “change our hearts” precisely because we long to … ARISE Together in Christ.

Please join us this Lent for ARISE: Together in Christ, the process of spiritual renewal and evangelization that has spread through our parish and across the Archdiocese of Boston.

For more information, please contact Jean in the Parish Office at 508-653-1093.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

MARRIED COUPLES – WANT TO GIVE A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING? Register for the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend – it’s the best gift you’ll ever give to each other and your marriage! The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends in New England are January 16-18, February 13-15, and March 6-8. For more information call Ralph & Jane Becker at 1-800-710-WWME or visit our webpage at www.wwmeMA.org.

Nursing Home Ministry

If you would like to join a group of parishioners for a social hour at Riverbend Nursing Home on Thursday, January 15 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., please call Jane Teepe at 508-653-2098.

Rest in Peace

Let us pray for those who have died, especially

John F. Young, Jr. and Mary E. Jodice

May she and all the faithful departed rest in peace.

Natural Family Planning

An Introductory Session on the FertilityCare™ Method (Creighton Method) of Natural Family Planning will be given on January 11th, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the Joseph Center. Come to learn about the latest scientific advances in this field and about its benefits. Some of its benefits include: effectiveness to achieve and avoid pregnancy; medical applications; empowerment of husband and wife; knowledge acquisition of the physiology of the menstrual cycle; improved communication; no side effects. Please call 508-439-2220 to register.

Adoration Ministry

A meeting for the Adoration Ministry has been scheduled for Tuesday evening, January 20th, at 7:30 pm. The meeting will take place downstairs in the Joseph Center, 5 Wilson Street. Newcomers are most welcome. Become informed about Adoration. Thank you all for your continued support. If you wish to commit to an hour, for information, please call Ed or Shirley at 508-653-2941.

LIFT – Catholic Worship for a NEW Generation

Join us for LIFT – an exciting monthly worship event which includes vibrant praise and worship music, dynamic, challenging speakers and Eucharistic Adoration. LIFT is for all ages. Be with us on Tuesday, January 13th as we welcome Chris Benzinger as our speaker. The evening runs from 7 – 9 pm at Fontbonne Academy, 930 Brook Road, Milton, MA. Directions and a downloadable flyer, along with more information about LIFT, can be found on our website at www.liftedhigher.com. Come join in worship with hundreds of Catholics from around the Boston area!

Open Houses

Saint Bridget School, 832 Worcester Road, Framingham is hosting an open house on Sunday, January 25 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm and on Tuesday, January 27 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am. Classroom visits and a school tour are included. Saint Bridget’s offers full and part-time Pre-K, full-day kindergarten, an extended day program, and a challenging program for Kindergarten through 8th grade. For more information contact Jennifer Ryan, at 508-875-0181, ext. 229 or visit www.saintbridgetschool.info.

Saint Joseph Elementary School, 90 Pickering Street, Needham will host their Information Night on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the school library (May Street entrance). For preview, visit www.saintjoes.com.

Monsignor James J. Haddad Middle School, 10 May Street, Needham will host an Information Night on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the middle school dining room. Please join us for a presentation and tour of the facilities. MHMS is co-ed and serves 220 students in grades 6-8. For more information, please call the school at 781-449-0133 x 211.

Prayer for Vocations

Jesus, we ask you to bless our parish and all those living their commitment to you as married couples, singles, sisters, priests, deacons and brothers. We pray that our young people may know their vocation and respond with enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. Increase the faith life of our parish and strengthen our family life. Bless our parish with many vocations. Grant, Lord, that faithfully sharing your mission in this life, we may come together to share your eternal life in heaven. Amen.

What Does It Mean To Be Baptized Roman Catholic?

Join us TODAY, Sunday, January 11th at 6:30 p.m. in the Upper Church as we welcome Dr. Ernest Collamati associate professor of Religious Studies at Regis College. Dr. Collamati will address the powerful dynamics that come as part of our baptism into the Catholic Church. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to hear a gifted speaker and learn more about the riches of our Catholic faith! Refreshments and conversation in the Lower Church Hall to follow. ALL ARE WELCOME!