St. Patrick Catholic Church

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Christmas Mass Schedule Thursday December 24, 2009 - Christmas Eve 5:00pm Family Mass 8:00pm Mass in Spanish 11:15pm Pre-mass Caroling 12:00am Midnight Mass Friday December 25, 2009 - Christmas Day 9:30am Mass of Christmas Day Vigil Mass for New Year’s Day December 31, 2009 6:00pm Mass New Year’s Day January 1, 2010 9:30am Mass

DAILY MASS
There will be no 8:00am Daily Mass on Thursday, December 24th.

PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office will be closed Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25.

CHRISTMAS WORK PARTY
Don’t forget to come and help decorate our Church for Christmas. Our Christmas Work Party is scheduled for this Tuesday, December 22nd from
9:00am until finished. Help is needed to set up and string lights on trees, hang garland and wreaths, set up the nativity, and place poinsettias. Your help is always needed and appreciated.

TV shows genres seem to be broadcast in cycles. For a few seasons dramas are most popular; sitcoms, game shows, and reality shows all seem to have their periodic appeal. Once in a while a spate of science fiction invades the airwaves. Here it seems that the most outlandish characters, with the most supernatural powers and the most enduring goodness, have greatest audience appeal. But in our wildest fictive imaginations we could not best the plan God has for our salvation. In the gospel Mary “sets out” to visit the elderly Elizabeth who also is pregnant according to the word of Gabriel, so the meeting of these two women naturally promises something unusual! Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and the Son of God became incarnated within her; Elizabeth was “filled with the Holy Spirit” and announced the presence of her Lord. What imagination could come up with this scene? And who could best their blessedness and their power to change the course of history? The gospel, in fact, announces two “incarnations”: Jesus in the womb of Mary, and the Holy Spirit who filled Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth extols Mary for her belief in what would happen to her, it was also Elizabeth’s belief that enabled her to conceive John as well as recognize the presence of the Savior in her midst through Mary. Our own belief enables the “incarnation” within us of both the presence of the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit. Blessed are they, and blessed are we to whom God comes and within whom God dwells. On this last Sunday before Christmas we are gently led into the depths of the Christmas mystery. Jesus’ incarnation was no Hallmark card. Already on this Sunday we are reminded that his life was one of obedience to his Father that meant offering his body for our salvation. Mary and Elizabeth show us the way to our being overshadowed by the Spirit by their offering their own bodies in cooperating with God’s plan of salvation. Always our encounters with God lead to an annunciation of God’s presence, an incarnation of that presence within each of us, and an unprecedented blessedness as we share in the very life of God.

OUR PRIVILEGE, OUR RIGHT, AND OUR DUTY
As it is written ‘Even if these forget, yet I will not forget you.’ (Is 49:15):
We in the Catholic Church in the Community of St. Patrick remember, hold in our memory, and pray for the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces especially: Cody Amick, Ryan Thomas Blackwood, Douglas Bower Jr., Ryan Bridges, Lonnie Brown, Nathan Brown, Jeremy Burke, Carlos Bustamante, Adamm Creel, Isaiah Creel, David Davis, Loyd Davis, Kenny Doleac, Brad Dunn, Brian Dykeman, Bill Ellis, Adam Ferrell, David Hannon, April Kennedy, Patrick Kirsch, Mike Krzmarzick, Jessica Krzmarzick (wife of Michael Krzmarzick) Johnny Lugo, Adam Lulay, Alex Martin, Jordan Morelli, John Nguyen, Robert Nolan, Daniel Olsen, Robert Selner, Tarl Spencer, John Suchanek, Leah Sundquist, Brian Thomas, Kenneth Thorpe, CJ Trillo, Jonathan Turner, William Walsh, Erik Wiesehan, Ivan Wilson and John Zagyva, may they be servants of Christ through service to those in need, and may they be kept safe from all harm.

He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love.
Zephaniah 3:17

MONASTERY MUSTARD. . .THE PERFECT GIFT TO SPICE UP YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING
If you are looking for a unique “Oregon” gift, without breaking the bank, consider Monastery Mustard made locally by our own Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel. Their award winning mustard varieties are now available in 13 flavors, something to please every palate. With names like Devoutly Dill, Glorious Garlic and Heavenly Honey, it has to be good. Monastery Mustard is available in Canby at Cutsforths Thriftway and Fishers Meat Market. It can also be ordered on line at Monastery Mustard.com or purchased directly at the Shalom Prayer Center bookstore on the monastery grounds in Mt. Angel. It is not every day that a great gift idea coincides with advancement of Catholic ministry. Consider including MONASTERY MUSTARD in your holiday gift giving!

PARISH SUPPORT
Parishioners of St. Patrick through the Sacrificial giving
Program gave to God the gift:
December 13, 2009
Funds Collected for Others
Cemetery $
St. Vincent dePaul $325.00
Total: $325.00
Collection Parish Operating Expenses
Envelopes’ $6,314.75
Loose $377.89
Children’s $4.00
Poor $
Unemployment Fund $
Building Fund $100.00
Retirement Fund R. $1970.78
Immaculate Con. $1302.00
Total $10,069.42

MASS INTENTIONS OF THE WEEK
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
+Mark Salvetti by the Hannan family
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
+Richard Charboneau by Kathy Charboneau
Thursday, December 24, 2009
+For the intentions of the Parish (all Masses)
Friday, December 25, 2009
+For the Intentions of the Parish

OPERATION LOVE BOX
On behalf of our troops overseas & Trost Elementary, I am organizing the “Adopt a Soldier” program this year to show our support and respect for our troops. It is through an organization called “Operation Love Box.” http//www.loveboxesforourtroops.comvideo.html. With the holidays just around the corner, I am sure you will be cleaning our your closets or finding those good deals on the shelves at your local retail store. So, please donate unwanted items that are still in good shape and can by used by our service men & woman overseas. We are collecting magazines, books, games, dvd’s that are no longer needed, or anything else that you can think of that they would like. (They love goodies). Ask your family, friends and neighbors....we will be collecting until January 24th, 2010. Your help would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to make a cash donation to help cover shipping costs, you can give it to Debbie in the Parish Office. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 503-473-6795. Thank you, Jennifer Moore.

ADVENT PROJECT
Our Advent project to collect coins for World Vision will be an on-going event for the entire school year. The children are being asked to bring coins each Sunday for the collection of money to purchase different kinds of animals to help the African communities to help themselves with growing crops and food. Please take time to see the wonderful bulletin board in the parish center designed by Jody Pattershall to keep track of the funds we collect and animals we purchase. The class with the highest money collected will receive a prize at the End of the Year Celebration on May 2. Maybe a swimming party.

EPIPHANY PLAY BEFANA - January 3,2010 at 12:30pm in the Parish Center.
Reception will follow! We have practice today during class time (December 20th). A practice will be announced for a Saturday before the play and a practice during class in Jan. Sheep are 3/4 year olds and Kindergarten, Servants of the Kings are 1st graders, Angels are 2nd graders and some 4th graders - 1 speaking part, Shepherds will be 3rd graders, the Holy Family will be 4th graders, other worshipers are 4th graders and 5th graders are the primary actors. Adriana and Gary have been practicing with the 5th grade for a month, they are excited about their performance. Watch for the red copy this Sunday. It will be in the folders.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
As coordinators of our RE programs, we would like to wish all of our Teachers, Teacher Assistants and all the volunteers who make our programs successful a wonderful Christmas season. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with the children and youth of St. Patrick. Your seeds of faith in the Catholic Church are being planted on fertile soil to grow in the hearts and souls of our students! You are loved!
Christmas Blessings from Connie and Francis.

THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who brought gifts for the Giving Tree! The gifts and baskets are being distributed and greatly appreciated! Our tables to hold the gifts were overflowing. It looked like Santa had dropped off his whole sleigh full of presents. As Christians we believe and know Jesus is the gift for each of us, we also know by giving we are giving the gift of Jesus from our hearts! Thank you for your giving hearts. Have a beautiful Christmas with your family and friends. See you on Jan. 3, 2010, first class in the new year!.
Blessings, Connie.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CHRISTMAS BREAK
There are religious education classes this Sunday, December 20. After the Christmas break classes will resume on Sunday, January 3, 2010. Journey in Faith (6th, 7th & 8th grades) and Youth Group (High School) will resume classes again on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas break.

2009 GIVING TREE
On behalf of the religious education program, we would like to extend our appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for your generosity and support. This is the season of giving, caring and sharing; the Giving Tree is a wonderful example of just that! Our parish community provided gifts, food items, as well as many individuals’ time and talent. When an opportunity to help those in need arises, our parishioners are always there and we can’t thank you enough.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ATTENDANCE
As we approach the Christmas break and reflect on the first half of our religious education year, we would like to recognize the effort of each parent and student for their participation in this program. We realize each family has scheduling and activity challenges and it can be difficult to find time for religious education and yet you do! Thank you for sharing your child (ren) with us and for their attendance. Each young member of our parish is a gift.

MAGAZINE/BOOK RACK AVAILABLE
We have a magazine/book rack available to anyone who would like it. The dimensions are 54"H x 49 ½" W x 24"D. If you are interested, please contact Frances Parker at 503-266-9411 or fparker@canby.com.

CHRISTMAS CD TO BENEFIT OUR CANBY SCHOOLS
Please visit www.stayandplaychristmas.com to learn more about “Joy to the World a celebration of Christmas.” This beautiful CD was put together by local musicians and all proceeds will benefit the Canby School District’s Stay and P.L.A.Y. program (an after-school program for Canby elementary students). The purchase price of the CD is $15.00 and would make a wonderful gift this holiday season.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES - A NEW TRADITION
We continue our new tradition this week with a story from Connie Bilton-Smith. Following this story, please see the guidelines for including your memories. It’s not too late! Thank you Connie for your beautiful story.

“The Christmas Season has always been special both when I was a kid, when I grew up and had children of my own and now there is the blessing of Grandkids, eleven and 2 Greatgrandkids, Yeah! With the coming of Grandchildren and Great grandchildren you are blessed by seeing it all new again! My story begins in Gold Hill, Oregon, around 1955. I am the oldest daughter of 9 children. My Dad was a builder and he built all of our lovely family homes, but during the winters it was very slow and sometimes Dad would take a second job at the local lumber mill. He was able to buy wood for building and projects for less than a third of the cost as well as wood for the fireplace and wood stove!
Our Christmas was about the advent season, we collected greenery from the woods, we decorated the fireplace mantel with greenery and 4 big white candles ( we didn't have purple or pink). Every evening we read scripture and sometimes said the Rosary as a family. (no TV, we didn't own one yet) I remember one year when Dad was not working much, we all decided to have a homemade Christmas. Mom baked fruit cakes (my Dads favorite) for all the neighbors, made divinity, fudge, cookies and filled the baby crib Mom kept in their bedroom, (no babies that year) hiding everything from the little ones.
Dad made a little chair and table set and painted it red, a rocking horse painted black and white with yarn mane and a saddle and stirrups! He made rifles for the little boys and a beautiful new family table for my Mom! I made cloth dolls and pajamas for all the little brothers and sisters and aprons for Mom. It was wonderful!
One thing I almost forgot was our home had beautiful hardwood floors, they had to be paste waxed! (because everything had to shine for the birth of Jesus) The boys job was to put on work socks and skate all over the floors to polish them. You can imagine where that usually ended up, they were using their whole bodies before the job was done. Usually finishing with a bruised elbow, head or a sock in the eye!
Christmas Eve was a mad dash for Mom and Dad, the Christmas Tree (real, cut in the woods) was always put up after the little ones were in bed, stockings were filled and presents were set out. Clothes were laid out, shoes polished and made ready for Christmas Mass 8AM, 17 miles to Grants Pass, on Christmas morning. We could look at our stockings

but no eating until after Mass. When we returned from Mass, sometimes with Father Kelly, we would all help with breakfast and then everyone would rush to the living room, put the infant Jesus into the manger, sing O Little Town of Bethlehem and last but not least open presents!
Mom always invited our elderly neighbors to dinner, Edith and Shorty Brian ( an elderly English couple). Edith always brought plum pudding and Mr. and Mrs. Harrison who had a plum orchard, would always bring home canned plums. Sometimes old Frank Bucklemeier, he was a hunter from Alaska.
Mr. Harrison played the fiddle and Shorty Brian the banjo. After dinner we all went up to the living room, with a "rip-roaring" fire going in the stone fireplace (that is what my Dad and brothers called it when the fire was blazing) and everyone sang Christmas carols. Usually Shorty Brian would bring a bottle of spirits which Dad, Shorty, Frank, Fr. Kelly and Mr. Harrison would savor! We all had a great time singing and sometimes a little dancing!
Writing this made me realize how simple our Advent and Christmas season was but also how wonderful it is now too! We just celebrate in a little different way. We prepare for the coming of Jesus, we give a lot but we give from the heart, we celebrate our traditions, we spend precious time with our family and friends, and come together to worship and remember the birth of Jesus our friend and savior of the world!
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it and that it will help you with some memories
you will share during this Advent and Christmas Season. May the love and peace of Jesus Christ be with you and your families!
This is written in loving memory of my Dad who was a great family man and a man who wasn't afraid to show how much he loved my Mother and all of his children, David J. Morris. Merry Christmas Dad! You are loved, Connie

Guidelines:
You are invited to share a Christmas memory or tell us “What does Christmas mean to you?”
You may submit your stories from now through December 15. You can submit your articles two ways:
1. Email your article to dnewbury@canby.com subject line: Christmas Memories

2. By mail: Christmas Memories - % St. Patrick Church; attn: Debbie Newbury - PO Box 730, Canby, OR 97013. *If you do hand write your article, please make sure it is written legibly so we can read it. Please include a contact number in case of questions. Questions, contact Debbie Newbury in the Parish Office.

NO EUCHARISTIC ADORATION for Thursday, December 24.

SPECIAL BULLETIN DEADLINE
Due to the holidays, the bulletin for Sunday, December 27, 2009 and January 3, 2010 will be published early. The deadline to include an article in these special bulletins will be Tuesday, December 22, 2009. Please email your article to: dnewbury@canby.com.

HAVE A LOOK AT OUR NEW WEBSITE
Thanks to the hard work of Budhi Suwardi, our website is now working. Take a peek at the new look. The new address for our website is www.stpatcanby.com (not org). Thank you Budhi for all your hard work. It looks wonderful!

LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT? WHY NOT GIVE TICKETS TO THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CRAB DINNER, AUCTION AND RAFFLE?
The 13th annual Knights of Columbus Crab Dinner and Charity Auction will be held February 6, 2010. The location will be the main pavilion building at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $30. Doors open at 5:00pm. Silent Auction 5:30-7:00pm, Dinner 7:00-8:00pm and Oral Auction 8:00-10:00pm. You can reserve a table for 8 people for $25.00 but you must also buy 8 tickets at the same time. Tickets are sold after the weekend Masses, or you can contact Dave Tibbetts at 503-263-6932. We are always looking for additional auction items. If you have something that you would like to donate, please contact Mike Schmader at 503-266-1331.
ALSO. . .
CHARITY RAFFLE TICKETS
Charity Raffle tickets are also on sale for $10. First prize is a Three Minute Shopping Spree at Cutsforth Thriftway. Second prize is a One Night Stay at “The Landing” in Newport. Third prize is a $25 gift certificate to Canby Pub and Grill plus two tickets to Canby Cinema 8. Drawing will occur on Feb 6, 2010.

CARE NOTES
Sometimes getting through the holidays can be a very difficult time. Especially if you have lost a loved one. Available in the vestibule of the church is a pamphlet called “Getting through the Holidays When You’ve Lost a Loved One.” These small 4 page pamphlets are a wonderful Care Note to read yourself or give to a loved one going through a difficult time. Please help yourself. Take One-and take heart - Give one and give hope.

CHOIR NEWS
On Sunday, December 27, at 6:00pm, the St. Patrick Church Choir will be performing a variety of seasonal and sacred Christmas music at the Grotto’s Annual Christmas Festival of Lights. If you’ve never attended this event, give yourselves a special treat and come on Dec. 27. The gates are open from 5:00pm-9:30pm for you to enjoy the lights, theatrical performances, petting zoo and puppet shows. Music performances take place in the Chapel of Mary which is renowned for its incredible acoustics, attracting 150 musical performances between Nov. 27 and Dec. 30. Our choir members would be delighted to see as many community members as possible in attendance. Please come!

Where: The Grotto, NE 85th & Sandy Blvd; free parking
When: Sunday, December 27, 6:00pm
Cost: $7.50 general admission, $3 children 3-12; children 2 & under free