Weekly Buletin
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Vigil Mass for New Year’s Day
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CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS -
On behalf of the parish staff we would like to thank the many parishioners of St. Patrick who have continually offered their prayers, support, encouragement and assistance through out this past year. Your gifts are many and your grace continually graces our hearts daily. May the blessings of the Christ child bring you and your family Peace and love this Christmas and through out the coming year. Blessings, Fr. John, Deacon Jerry, Sara, Heriberto, Francis, Connie, Julie and Debbie.
PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office will be closed for the Holidays from Monday, December 28-January 1, 2010. If you have an emergency, please call our answering service at 503-829-6105 and they will get a hold of Fr. John or a staff member as soon as possible.
DAILY MASS SCHEDULE
We will have a communion service on Tuesday evening, December 2 at 7pm and Wednesday, December 30 at 8:00am. There will be NO DAILY MASS OR COMMUNION SERVICE at 8:00am Thursday, December 31st, instead we will have our New Year’s Eve Vigil Mass on Thursday, December 31 at 6pm and our New Year’s Day Mass will be at 9:30am.
CONGRATULATIONS!
We extend a heart felt congratulations to Gonzalo and Bernie Maronilla on the occasion of their 25th Wedding Anniversary Tuesday, December 29. May God bless you both with love that is rich in happiness and joy.
AN UPDATE ON THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS
The order for our new Stations of the Cross has been placed. The artisans of Demetz Co. are working hard to be able to provide delivery by February 17th, Ash Wednesday date. Thanks to the generosity of many of the parishioners of St. Patrick we have raised $21,100 of the necessary $23,000 leaving us with a remaining $1900. to raise. On behalf of the whole community of St. Patrick, thank you, everyone who has donated already, for your gift to future generations.
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Dad and four-year old Adam were at a family funeral. As is usually the case at such occasions, reminiscing abounded among the gathered family members. Dad asked who lived in that house now and discovered it was one of the cousins who was also present for the funeral. Dad asked if he could visit the home and property, explaining that he wanted to show his son where he played when he was his son’s age. Dad wanted to show his son firsthand what he valued from his own childhood: happy memories of playtime with extended family, rooted-ness in home and land, the importance of tradition. This feast and these readings remind us that being a “holy” family isn’t a matter of being obsessively religious and pietistic. It is a matter of valuing the memories, families, and traditions that make us who we are. The gospel opens with a telling detail: the Holy Family goes to Jerusalem each year at Passover, the Jewish feast that recalls Israel’s identity as the family of God’s people. Mary and Joseph consciously formed Jesus in the traditions and memories of the family of Israel. We, too, belong to a larger family, for we are “the children of God”. This larger family is not something abstract but very concrete: our being members of God’s holy family is expressed in our own nuclear families, where we build our identities from the traditions of goodness and values we pass on from generation to generation. The model the Holy Family provides us is one of fidelity to traditions and obedience to who they were. They teach us that holiness means we are “in our Father’s house,” because there we learn our religious traditions and form the memories that make us who we are as members of the larger family of God. They teach us that we really belong to God, and everything about our living must reflect that we are most at home “in our Father’s house.” The Holy Family also models for us the importance of the nuclear family for nourishing and strengthening our religious identity. In our everyday living we are called to the same obedience to which Mary and Joseph called Jesus, for it is in giving ourselves over to God’s will that we, too, advance in “wisdom and age and favor before God” and all those who know us. Our nuclear families are the school of holiness, for there we learn the memories and traditions that make us who we are.
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
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 out 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.
PARISH SUPPORT
Parishioners of St. Patrick through the Sacrificial giving
Program gave to God the gift:
December 20, 2009
Funds Collected for Others
Cemetery $100.00
St. Vincent dePaul $235.00
Total: $335.00
Collection Parish Operating Expenses
Envelopes’ $8809.00
Loose $321.03
Children’s $4.00
Poor $70.00
Unemployment Fund $50.00
Building Fund $5.00
Retirement Fund R. $90.00
Total $9349.03
MASS INTENTIONS OF THE WEEK
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Communion Service
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Communion Service
Thursday, December 31, 2009
NO 8AM MASS
+ [6pm New Year’s Eve Vigil Mass]
For the Intentions of the Parishioners
Friday, January 1, 2010
+ For the Intentions of the Parishioners [9:30am]
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!
EPIPHANY PLAY BEFANA - January 3,2010 at 12:30pm in the Parish Center.
Reception will follow! Rehearsals for the Epiphany play is scheduled for Sat. January 2, 2009. 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.
WORLD VISION 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.
DEAR FAMILIES OF RE CHILDREN
Remember the “Gifts” your children hung on the Christmas trees in the parish center? It might be a wonderful gift to your child to write a letter telling them how they are a gift to you and give it as a gift! I wrote letters one year and they loved them. Our children/grandchildren, nieces and nephews all like to hear how loved they are! Christmas Blessings to you!
FIRST RECONCILIATION
January 4, 2010 is practice for our First Reconciliation. 7pm. We will begin in the parish center in room 7/8 then go over to church to practice. Thank you, Connie.
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.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CHRISTMAS BREAK
We will not have religious education classes this week. We will resume classes on Sunday, January 3, 2010. Journey in Faith (6th, 7th & 8th) and Youth Group (High School) will resume classes again on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas break.
JOURNEY IN FAITH AND YOUTH GROUP
We are still in need of parental volunteer help for snacks served prior to religious education classes on Wednesday evening. Volunteers are asked to arrive at 6:15pm to help prepare and serve a light snack. After the snacks are served, light clean up is also appreciated. We are in need of your help on the following dates: 1/6/10, 1/20/10, 2/10,10, 2/24/10, 3/17/10 and 3/31/10. Please contact Frances Parker at 503-266-9411 or fparker@canby.com to sign up. Thank you for your help.
said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good
tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day
in the city of David
a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
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.
NEW LECTOR’S WORKSHOP
A workshop for those who would like to be part of the liturgical ministries as a Lector is scheduled for Saturday, January 9th from 9am - noon in the parish center. This workshop is for new lector’s.
LECTOR’S SKILLS WORKSHOP FOR EXISTING LECTOR’S
Lector’s who would like to improve their skills are invited to attend a Lector’s Skills Workshop on Saturday, January 9th from 1pm to 3:30pm. Bring your Living Liturgy Workbooks.
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
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES - A NEW TRADITION
This will be the last installment of our Christmas Memories series. We would like to thank Frank Barich, Less Bliss, Mary Schoen, Connie Bilton-Smith and Jerry Schoen for sharing your WONDERFUL Christmas Memories with the parish. Your stories touched our hearts and hopefully helped us to reflect on our own Christmas Memories. This last installment is from Jerry Schoen.
“One of my favorite Christmas memories was when our daughter was 4 years old and the number one item on her Christmas list to Santa was a make believe kitchen set with a sink, stove and refrigerator. So we helped Santa get one for her. BUT Santa didn’t tell me that I would have to assemble it myself. Now most people that know me, knows that I’m a klutz at assembling things. So at 9pm when Debbie was fast asleep I began. I decided to do it dry (without Eggnog). The sink was first and it went surprisingly fast and easy. I was even humming Christmas carols while assembling it. The stove was a little more difficult and took a lot longer. The refrigerator was very hard and I was no longer humming and was ready to hit the Eggnog. But I continued on and finally at about 2:30am Christmas morning I was finishing up the refrigerator and was ready to put the door on when I discovered I had assembled it backwards! However I kept my cool, disassembled it, put it back together, and installed it on the fridge! Done!! Our little Angel woke us up at 5:30am and led us out to the living room where we set it up. The wide-eyed look on her face and that sweet little smile made every sleepless minute worth it. We had make-believe tea in her little kitchen several times in the next few months. And Mary made sure from that time on that anything we bought was pre-assembled.”
Parish Happenings |
December 27, 2009-January 2, 2010 Sunday  |