St. Patrick Catholic Church

Father, through our observance of Lent, help us to understand the meaning of your Son’s death and resurrection, and teach us to reflect it in our lives. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

ATTENTION PARENTS
There will be no Religious Education classes today, Sunday, February 21. The Catechists are on Retreat. See you Sunday, Feb. 28th. Please keep them in your prayers.

LENTEN STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND SOUP SUPPER.
Come and join us on Friday’s during Lent for Soup followed by Stations of the Cross. This is a wonderful way to gather as a community to socialize and then pray together. The calendar is:
Soup Supper - 6pm - 6:45 pm Stations of the Cross 7pm -8pm
February 26 Madsen family Religious Education Catechists
March 5 Bible Study Jr. High RE
March 12 Knights of Columbus Knights of Columbus
March 19 Spanish Catechists Spanish Catechists
March 26 Andy Krzmarzick & Gr. RCIA

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE COLLECTION
Due to a mix up, the collection for Central and Eastern Europe (Ash Wednesday) was not collected. You may donate to this special collection by placing your envelope/donation in the collection basket either this weekend or next weekend. Please make sure to indicate that your donation is for Central and Eastern Europe. Thank you!

CALLED TO PROTECT
The Archdiocesan program for child safety awareness, Called To Protect, will be presented on Sunday, February 28th from 12:30 - 3:30pm. This presentation is mandatory for all Adult Volunteers, aged 18 and older, who work with youth 4 or more times a year. All parents, grandparents, friend and relatives of children in our Religious Education Programs are encouraged to attend. Deacon Giger will be the facilitator for the presentation. Mark your calendars for this important event.

FUNERAL
The Funeral for Evabelle Smith will be this Friday, February 26th at 11:00am.

Temptations by their very nature are luring-they present us with a seeming good we do not presently have but want. Without a powerfully attractive lure, temptations simply don’t exist. For example, if a tray of veggies and a tray of chips and dip are placed before us, few of us would be “tempted” by the veggies. Let’s face it: the real temptation and need for resistance derives from the lure of the chips and dip. Built into every temptation is a kind of test: choosing a real good over a perceived but false good. Temptations always lure us to false good. The gospel for this Sunday is the familiar story of Jesus’ three temptations. Jesus was faced with three perceived goods. He clearly passed the test by choosing to remain faithful to who he was: “the Son of God” embarking on his saving mission. Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted.” Each temptation put to him by the devil involved some misguided personal gain: seeking easy solutions to human hungers, pursuing “power and glory,” defying death. By resisting these temptations Jesus shows us that our true gain is found not in satisfying ourselves but in something better-utter fidelity to God. Temptations always present us with the choice between personal gain and something even better: the goodness and holiness that comes from serving God and doing good for others. This same choice between self-satisfaction and fidelity to God frees us, like Jesus, to be who we are meant to be, persons “led by the Spirit.” Not even the Son of God was exempt from being tested! We can expect no less in our own lives. Temptation isn’t an indication of sinfulness; rather, it is an occasion for showing that our lives are turned to God, in whom we find our very identity and being. Like Jesus, temptations and our very resistance to them strengthen us in our choices for goodness and holiness. In making these choices we are continually choosing who we want to be: those who faithfully serve God by doing good for others. Temptations’ lure to self-satisfaction is overcome by an even stronger lure: growth in holiness and transformation into ever more beloved sons and daughters of God. Lent is a focused time to take these tests of who we want to be. Let us pray that we all pass it well.

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.

MASS INTENTIONS OF THE WEEK
February 23-26, 2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
+Ann Housen by Matt & Hazel Wagner
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
+Earl Dawson by Mary & Jerry Schoen
Thursday, February 18, 2010
+Isabelle Brown by Hannan family
Friday, February 19, 2010
+John Trumm by William & Mary Trumm

PARISH SUPPORT
Parishioners of St. Patrick through the Sacrificial giving Program gave to God the gift:
February 14, 2010
Funds Collected for Others
Cemetery $10.00
St. Vincent dePaul $41.00
Total: $51.00
Collection Parish Operating Expenses
Envelopes’ $7866.00
Loose $343.94
Children’s $2.00
Poor $10.00
Unemployment Fund $80.00
Building Fund $
Total $8301.94

PRAYER FOR LENT
Good and loving God,
each year you give us this season of Lent
to turn our hearts and minds back to you.
May the prayer we offer during this season
draw us closer to you in love
as we seek forgiveness for our sins.
May our fasting help us see
that even as this world is a gift from you
it is still passing away and will not endure.
May our almsgiving honor you
as we care for our brothers and sisters
whose need is great and whose hope is in you.
Help us in this holy season to be reconciled
with you and with any whom we have harmed
so that we may celebrate
an Easter of eternal joy.
Amen

NO CLASSES FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TODAY, SUNDAY, FEB. 21.
Teachers Retreat listed on Religious Education Calendar. See you Sunday, Feb. 28th. Have a great weekend.

WORLD VISION
Please remember the collections for World Vision next Sunday! Did you receive the Red Flyer with the information about our Lenten Project! Please look in your child’s folder.

FIRST EUCHARIST PARENT CHILD MEETING will be Monday, March 1 at 7:00pm. Our own Sara Creel will be the presenter. Subject will be Eucharist. Look for more information in the bulletin, a poster advertising the exact focus will be in the vestibule of the church. This presentation is open to ALL PARISHIONERS so please come join us. Sara as you all know is a very gifted speaker!

YOUTH GROUP COSMIC BOWLING
Senior High students mark your calendar for Friday, March 5 for Cosmic Bowling in Canby. We will bowl from 9:00-11:00pm and the cost is $5.00. Questions, contact Francis Parker.

SUCCESSFUL MARDI GRAS LOCK IN
We had 31 Junior High students and guests spend the night for an evening of fun, games and general merriment to ready ourselves for the season of Lent. This evening could not have happened if not for the help of many people. On behalf of the kids who attended this event I would like to give special thanks to Connie Bilton-Smith and Jennifer Rosenblad for helping with set-up and clean up! The “You are Amazing” award goes to Ron Suchanek, JoAnna Earl and Joe Patershall for staying all night long (with very little sleep)! Thank you to Marlene Kirkpatrick for orchestrating the fabulous PJ fashion show. We are so grateful that Tracie Martin lent us many hours of her time to help and Joyce Branum with her generous donation for prizes. Last, but certainly not least we would ALL like to thank Joe Boyd for another outstanding breakfast to conclude our evening of merriment!

GOSPEL LIVING
February focus:
Temptation

Teenagers often resent the restrictions parents impose on them. They interpret curfews and driving restrictions as indicating a lack of trust. They do not understand that their parents are simply trying to protect them-to help them avoid situations that could get them into serious trouble. As adults, we have to impose restrictions on ourselves and that is more difficult. All of us have weaknesses-things we like to have or do that are not really good for us or may even be harmful. Human nature is very adept at rationalizing why it is okay for us to have what we want and there are always people around to encourage us to do things we shouldn’t. It is much easier to see how others get themselves in trouble. If they would just. . .stop drinking, smoking, eating so much, etc. We look at these “losers” and feel that we are so much better than they are-another illusion protecting us from the truth. Given the right situation, we are all vulnerable. Remember the saying: “there, but for the grace of God, go I.” It takes honest reflection and evaluation of ourselves to discover what our weaknesses are and it can be very disheartening. We need to have the proper mind-set to see that awareness of our weakness is a gift. When we know where we are vulnerable, only then can we protect ourselves. If you know you have a weakness for junk food, you can restrict yourself by not stocking your pantry with these goodies or restricting how many you have around. Temptations are not necessarily “sinful” or glaringly “evil” - in fact, most are just little things that arguably harm no one. The habit of becoming disciplined in handling these little things will strengthen us when big things come along. What are your weaknesses and what will you do to avoid temptation?
Parish Secretary Newsletter
January/February 2010

KC CRAB DINNER AND AUCTION UPDATE
The Knights of Columbus would like to thank all the parishioners of St. Patrick who supported this year’s crab dinner and charity auction. A special THANK YOU goes to the many parishioners who made baskets for our silent auction. The entire event enabled us to raise over $26,000 for our many deserving charities and activities. The paddle raiser for a Canby child afflicted with juvenile arthritis was a huge success. Participants opened their hearts and donated $5000 to our local CARRA (Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance). Also mark your calendars for next year’s event on February 5, 2011, and remember to buy your tickets early.

VANDALISM
The Parish Office recently learned that while parishioners from our Hispanic community were attending both the Friday Night Prayer Group and the 4:00pm Spanish Mass, someone stole items from a couple of vehicles that were left unlocked. PLEASE remember to lock your vehicle at all times. If you see someone that looks suspicious, please report them immediately to the police.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
There is a need for volunteers to clean our beautiful church on Saturday mornings. Either on a permanent basis for the 4th Saturday of the month or called as a substitute. We start at 8am and spend about an hour. This opportunity is not just for the ladies. We currently have about six couples that volunteer throughout the month. Come and join these great volunteers and have some fun too. Please give Verlene Patton a call at 503-266-2476.

SPECIAL THANK YOU
A very special thank you to those parishioners who helped me after I fainted during Mass last weekend. Your kindness, concern and prayers meant so much to me. I am fine and am recuperating at home. Thank you, Marjorie Wolf.

LIVING THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
The ritual act of professing our faith during Sunday Mass is no substitution for living it in our daily lives. When we are tested by temptations, our faith is put to the test, too, and we are faced with a choice of who we are and how we want to live. Lent is a time to examine our choices.
Just as God led Israel to a “land flowing with milk and honey”, so will God lead us to salvation if we “call on the name of the Lord.” For us, though, our desert is the demands of everyday living, and our salvation is found on the cross. Each day we take up our cross and lay down our life for the sake of others, we are building strength to resist temptation and come to greater faith. Our simple acts of kindness are helping us resist temptation. Our doing well whatever the task at hand helps us resist temptation. Our complimenting another or offering a word of encouragement helps us resist temptation.
We don’t have to go out into our desert o find temptation! But we do need God’s nearness to resist it. And that God has promised us.