Saint Patrick's Parish

FROM THE PASTOR

There will be a SPECIAL SECOND COLLECTION to be taken up this weekend for the VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKES IN HAITI. Most of us are aware of the horrific earthquake that has ravaged the island of Haiti and all of the world community is seeking to assist in various ways to bring relief. At the moment, the most critical need is for money in order to purchase supplies and medicine. The funds collected this weekend will be sent to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to assist in relief efforts in Haiti. CRS will coordinate with local and international agencies to determine how best to provide help where it is most needed. Cardinal O’Malley also announced that Catholic Charities Boston is actively engaged in working with the local Haitian community to assist families locally who have loved ones impacted by the earthquake. Please be as generous as possible in your response to this devastating tragedy.

I would like to call your attention to the BABY SHOWER to benefit the Pregnancy Help Office of the Archdiocese. Our eighth grade Religious Education students are sponsoring this collection of baby items as a way of supporting those women who are in need of assistance during these critical months prior to and post delivery of their newborn child. Please leave your contribution of diapers, baby clothes, infant blankets and other items in the vestibule of the Church this weekend.

Wednesday, February 3rd is the FEAST OF ST. BLAISE and it is a tradition to bless throats on that day. Because the feast falls on a Tuesday, many people will not be able to participate in this sacred action. We will therefore have the BLESSING OF THROATS after all of the Masses on this weekend. We pray that, through the intercession of St. Blaise, God will protect all of us from all ailments of the throat and from every other evil.

Saint Patrick’s Parish is participating in a new process of spiritual renewal entitled, “ARISE Together in Christ.” This program provides us with a unique opportunity to begin a journey that will bring us to a closer union with Christ and give greater meaning to our lives. As we reconnect with the Lord, we will experience anew the great love that He has for us and bring us to a greater awareness of the purpose of our lives. Through the sharing of our faith with one another in small groups, we can encourage each other, strengthen each other, and love each other. We are about to start the Fourth Season of ARISE TOGETHER IN CHRIST, which will take place during the season of Lent. This wonderful spiritual experience provides six faith-sharing sessions that invite all of us to embrace Christ’s message of Forgiveness. It is my sincere hope that you will participate in this process by signing up for one of the small faith sharing groups that will soon be meeting in our homes and other locations within the parish. When all is said and done, it is this relationship with Christ which gives all life meaning and helps us stay focused on what really matters: the salvation of our souls and entrance into His kingdom.

Mass Intentions This Week

If you would like a LAMP in our Church or Adoration Chapel burning for one week, in memory of a loved one or for a special intention, please call the rectory (508) 653-1093.

Our St. Patrick Parish family donated $3,412.00 to the special collection for the Church in Latin America last weekend. Thank you for your generosity!

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4

Are you jealous? Do you focus more on the things that other people have than on the gifts that God has given to you? Are you pompous? Do you seek to acquire more possessions to impress others? At times we are all guilty of these human weaknesses. Yet as stewards we are called to love God above all other things – striving always to be less jealous, less pompous and more giving.

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.

For your convenience, tax statements for your 2009 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.

The traditional blessing of throats will take place after all of the Masses THIS weekend.

On Saturday February 6, 2010 in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, please join Ed Zicko to recite the rosary at 7:40 am. "So many souls will be saved and there will be peace."

Welcome back to those who have participated in the ARISE program in our parish. If you missed previous seasons, no need to worry … you can still join us for Season Four.

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 Fourth Season of ARISE: Together in Christ, which will take place over a six-week period beginning in Lent. Season Four is summed up in the title “New Heart, New Spirit”. This season offers a Catholic understanding of the need for healing and reconciliation.

Please join us in 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.

Are you not sure what to do with your Blessed Palms from last Palm Sunday? The beautiful season of Lent is just around the corner with the date of Ash Wednesday being February 17 this year. Traditionally, Blessed Palms from previous years are gathered, burned, and used for the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday. If you would like to contribute your Blessed Palms this year, there are two baskets in the front entrance of the Church. Please leave your Blessed Palms in the baskets and we will take care of them. Thank you.

The sacrament of Confirmation will be administered at St. Patrick’s Parish on May 15 at 11:00am by Bishop Edyvean. Any 10th grade Catholic high school student who would like to be Confirmed at St. Patrick's or has any questions about our requirements should contact the Religious Education Office at (508) 907-6220 or stpatreled@comcast.net as soon as possible.

It is a joy for us to welcome new members to our parish! If you worship with us regularly, but are not fully registered, use this form to request registration information. Drop it in the basket or mail it to us. We look forward to your active participation in our faith community.

Attention all High Schoolers ; please come to the Youth Group meeting tonight, Sunday January 31st, 7:30-8:45, in the school building in Our Lady’s Hall. Bring a friend, we supply pizza and fun!!!

We will be going to Cor Unum on Saturday February 6th. We meet in the church parking lot at 3PM and arrive home by 8PM. Any questions please call Bill Howe 508-655-3620.

We will be offering training for any youths interested in serving as altar servers. Serving at the altar offers a unique opportunity for young men and women from the 3rd Grade through High School to give valuable service to Jesus and his Church. Most men and women who were altar servers in their youth favorably recall how it enriched their faith and enhanced worship for them. If interested please call the Parish Office at 508-653-1093.

We are most grateful to our altar servers for the generous and faithful service they cheerfully offer. The entire St. Patrick’s parish community is genuinely proud of them and their parents and families should share our sentiment. May God generously bless them.

The 8th grade Religious Education students, in conjunction with the Respect Life Ministry, will be hosting the annual Respect Life Baby Shower the weekends of January 24 & 31. The items donated will help struggling families who chose life through Project Hope.
Items needed include:
DIAPERS, (size newborn to 5),
SLEEPING CLOTHES with snaps (size 0-9 mos.), BLANKET SLEEPERS (size 0-6 & 6-12 mos.),
BOTTLES 4 oz. & 8 oz. (no VPA please),
and BABY TOILETRIES
Items can be dropped off in the baskets at the doors of the Church January 24 & 31 or at the school during religious education classes through Feb. 3.

The St. Patrick Altar Society is in need of additional members to help with the cleaning of the sacristy, altar area and altar linens. We would like enough volunteers so that a once-a-month commitment is all that would be necessary. If you are interested, please call the rectory at 508-653-1093, and leave your name and number. Thank you for your consideration!

Spaces are available in the full-day kindergarten program. The students receive an excellent academic education with a full Catholic identity. Inquiries must be made to the Principal’s office (781-444-4459) for more information. Also, there will be an opportunity to meet the principal at 10 a.m. on February 1 in the school cafeteria.

Embrace a Family (EAF) is a committee of the Rotary Club of Natick which has been developed to assist Natick individuals and families who are battling a cancer diagnosis. EAF raises money within the community to provide financial support for non medical expenses including transportation, groceries, child care, utility bill assistance, and other expenses that can be used to ease the strain while battling cancer.
We also participate in prevention activities in Natick such as the Dana Farber Mammogram Van for women to obtain their yearly screening. If you know anyone who could benefit from our services or if you would like to donate to EAF please email us at Embraceafamily@verizon.net or contact Kitty Gerry at 508-653-2393.

Please join Catholics from throughout the region at the annual Boston Catholic Men’s and Women’s Conferences. The Women’s Conference will be on Saturday, February 27, 2010. The Men’s Conference is on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Both Conferences will be at the beautiful Cathedral of the Holy Cross. For more information please visit www.CatholicBoston.com, phone 617-444-9950. or email info@CatholicBoston.com.

The January meeting of the St. Linus Christian Book Group was postponed due to weather. The group will meet on Tuesday, February 9 at 7 pm at the Morse Institute Library to discuss A Travel Guide to Heaven by Anthony DeStafano. New participants are welcome and encouraged to come join the discussions in 2010.

Saint Patrick's Parish Natick, Massachusetts

Saint Patrick's Parish
Natick, Massachusetts