December 3, 2021
News from St. Patricia Parish
"John proclaims a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All flesh shall see the salvation of God"
- Luke 3:1-6
Dear Parishioners,

In Advent, we hear about the end of times. No human being knows when the final end will take place and the Son of Man appear. Therefore, one must avoid complacency and be prepared for this possibility at all times. Each day should be lived as if it were the last. The emphasis here is on preparedness and not an undue anxiety.

How do we prepare? In causes and relationships – Volunteering – getting out of yourself leads to true happiness....
Announcements
Welcome Mr. Will Hilliard - St. Patricia Director of Maintenance
Mr. Will Hilliard will be our new Director of Maintenance effective immediately. Will’s previous experience was at: United Airlines as Ramp Serviceman; Great Lakes Plumbing and Heating in Chicago as an Apprentice Plumber; and, most recently at the Hickory Hills Park District as a maintenance man —- maintaining lawns, repairing damaged equipment, and inspecting park grounds and equipment. The Hickory Hills Park District recommended him as a good worker. Will lives locally with his wife and children. Please be patient with him as he gets to know our parish and all of its many facets.

Welcome, Will! 
Upcoming Events
The Queen of Hearts Returns to St. Patricia!
Festival of Lights - December 10th
All are invited to join us for the Festival of Lights on Friday, December 10th as we celebrate the magic of Christmas with our St. Patricia community! SPS and Religious Education classes decorate Christmas trees that will be on display, Fr. Meany will offer a blessing to our Manger and Trees, and refreshments will be on hand. It is an excellent occasion to invite friends and family to join you to share a wonderful holiday evening together! We hope to see you then!
St. Patricia Knights of Columbus - Keep Christ in Christmas Sale

The St. Patricia Knights of Columbus will be holding a Keep Christ in Christmas Sale in the gathering space of the Church after all the weekend Masses of December 11th and 12th. Some of the items for sale include: tree ornaments, tabletop Nativity scenes for children, Advent calendars, and Keep Christ in Christmas yard signs.

All proceeds benefit our mission of Charity in our local St. Patricia community. Thank you!
St. Patricia Religious Education Good News
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 [email protected] or call us at 708-599-1221.
St. Patricia School Good News
1st Trimester Honor Roll

Congratulations to our 5th - 8th grade students who made the A and B Honor for 1st Trimester! Keep up the fantastic work!
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: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed
We are in need of Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Masses!
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ms. Missy Keegan at [email protected] 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, [email protected] 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!