December 24, 2021
News from St. Patricia Parish
"And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?" - Luke 2:49
Dear Parishioners,

The family is “the beginning and basis of human society” — an image of the relationship between Christ and His church, and a foreshadowing of the hope that through the preaching of the Gospel “the human race might become the family of God, in which the fullness of the Law would be love.” Vatican II. - Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity.

In the twenty-first century, “family” has many cultural and moral connotations and challenges for Christians. We are all aware of those who belong to separated, divorced, blended, or single-parent families. We find it is more and more common that our classmate, neighbor, an old friend, or a co-worker are part of a same-sex family or in a civil partnership.

We are also becoming more aware of the physical and verbal abuse that takes place in an otherwise seemingly “perfect” suburban home. The public, and above all, parents are horrified by the child abuse and pornography that reaches into the home via the internet, that often strangles relationships in the family.

The reading we have just listened to can seem light years away from today’s challenges. We must keep in mind that they are written in another time, which embodied a different cultural milieu, which was patriarchal...
Parish Holiday Schedule
St. Patricia Parish Christmas Mass Schedule
St. Patricia Parish invites everyone to celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ with us in prayer this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! "The people that walked in darkness shall see a great light... For a Child is born to us and a Son is given to us." Isaiah 9:2-7
St. Patricia Parish Office Holiday Hours
St. Patricia Parish New Year's Mass Schedule
Events and Happenings
St. Patricia Community Services
Thank you to all those who donated to help our local neighbors in need this Christmas Season. Community Services packaged Christmas Dinner items and gifts that were delivered on Saturday, December 18th by our own St. Patricia elves! Together, we are helping to spread the hope of the season and make a difference to those that we serve.
The Queen of Hearts Returns to St. Patricia!
Due to Christmas and New Years Holidays, we have rescheduled our Week 2 Drawing for Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 6:00 pm at Prime Time. Ticket sales after Masses will resume the weekend of January 8-9. The website will be updated with the 12/22 drawing results after Christmas. Thank you for your support!
Holy Name Society News
Please mark your calendars for the next Holy Name Society Meeting taking place on Wednesday, January 5th at 7:00 pm in the School Hall. All men of St. Patricia Parish are invited to attend and enjoy a night of fellowship and camaraderie while working to support St. Patricia.

The Holy Name Mass will take place on Sunday, January 9th at 9:30 am Mass.
Young Adult & Teen Parish Survey
St. Patricia would love to hear from our Young Adults and Teens ages 13-25! Have you gone on a Teen Mission Trip in the past or participated in Religious Education or St. Patricia School events/happenings? Please share your feedback with us to help initiate and improve future programs and activities. Click below to take the survey today!
St. Patricia Religious Education Good News
Wishing you a Blessed and Merry Christmas from St. Patricia’s RE Program! May the light of Jesus Christ, our newborn King, shine brightly in your homes and in your hearts.
Mrs. Christine Ramos - Religious Education Director
Registration for RE is still available. If you have not registered yet, register soon! Classes have already begun. Classes are on Tuesdays, from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. We offer RE Classes for grades K through 8, as well as Teen RCIA, and Adult RCIA. Please contact the RE office for more information at reled@stpatriciaparish.com or call us at 708-599-1221.
St. Patricia School Good News
During these seasons of Advent and Christmas, I invite us all to continue reflecting on our blessings, and the presence of God manifested in each. Pope Francis has said, “Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.”

I pray that this season your family is filled with the truest joy that comes in the sharing of time with our loved ones and in the traditions that define the essence of our families.

From all of us at St. Patricia School, Merry Christmas, and may the New Year bring even more blessings.

Rejoice,
Veronica Skelton Cash, Principal
Tax Credit Scholarship News
Mass Intentions for 2022 - Now Open
Would you like to remember your loved ones at our Masses - perhaps for the anniversary of their death, their birthday, or for their health? Their names will be printed in the weekly bulletin. Mass Cards are available on request.
For more information or to reserve your Masses, please call the Parish Office at (708)598-5222 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or email us at: rectory@stpatriciaparish.com
Volunteers Needed
We are in need of Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Masses!
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ms. Missy Keegan at mkeegan@stpatriciaparish.com or call the Parish Office at (708) 598-5222.
Alpha
Alpha is a program designed particularly for people who would not describe themselves as Christians or churchgoers. It is a series of 15 interactive sessions, typically completed in 11 weeks, including a weekend away, where anyone can explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open, and informal environment. Everyone is welcome! There is no charge to attend Alpha – it is free! After a small meal and time spent getting to know one another, a short talk and group discussion will follow. We are looking for volunteers to be part of this wonderful team to serve as Hosts or Helpers. We will have training sessions twice a year. Please view the video below for an overview of the program.

Please contact Missy Keegan (708) 598-5222, mkeegan@stpatriciaparish.com if you have any questions, want to participate in Alpha (or know someone who would like to), or want to be a volunteer as an Alpha Host or Helper.
Stay Connected...
As we continue to rely more on email communication and online interactions, we encourage you to share this email with your contacts!

Please visit our Facebook Page for photos, announcements, and updates of Parish happenings. Our website has added Spiritual Resources to help you worship at home. Also, be sure you are signed up to continue to receive our weekly newsletter. Stay connected with St. Patricia Parish!





Get Involved!
St. Patricia Ministries help our parish and local community grow in the faith. The Ministry Booklet contains a description of each Ministry here at our Parish, along with contact information about joining. Please consider joining a new Ministry to grow your relationship with St. Patricia’s faith community.

Enroll in Online Giving Today!
Thank you to all those who are mailing and dropping off their parish envelopes and donations, as always your support is greatly appreciated. As we begin our Parish Reopening, please note that collection baskets will not be passed at church. You may submit your envelope in the designated drop off in the Gathering Space before Mass begins or at the Rectory.

Online giving is still strongly being encouraged. We have a great tool via Give Central available where you can make an offertory contribution to our St. Patricia family and keep the vital ministries and services we provide going. Please click the link to learn more. God bless you for your generosity!
Support St. Patricia on Amazon Smile This Holiday Season
Please keep St. Patricia in mind if you shop on Amazon. When you order from Amazon.com, you may designate that a contribution of 0.5% of your total Amazon.com order will be donated to St. Patricia Church. Simply visit www.smile.amazon.com, login, and search for St. Patricia Church as your charitable organization, or follow this link: smile.amazon.com/ch/36-2428437

Be sure to log in through smile.amazon.com each time you place an order so it credits to our account. Please consider doing this every time you place an order with Amazon.com. It’s free to you and it’s a wonderful way to benefit our parish and school!