Pastoral Staff
Tel: 503-266-9411 Fax:503-263-2293
Pastor: Fr. John Waldrom email: stpatricks@canby.com
Pastor Associate: Sara Creel
Deacon: Rev. Mr. Jerry Giger
Director of Rel. Educ: Sue Unger
email: stpatrickreligiouseducation@yahoo.com
Aministrative Assistant: Debbie Newbury
email: dnewbury@canby.com
Maintenance: Heriberto Aguilar
email: haguilar@canby.com

Rectory Office Hours
Monday thru Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
We are closed for lunch between 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Bulletin Policy
Items for the bulletin are due in the Parish Office no later than Wednesday of each week. Email your items to dnewbury@canby.com

Prayer Needs
If you have prayer needs, please call St. Patrick prayer chain. Contact Kathy Usher, 503-266-2485

Social Service Ministries
St. Vincent dePaul Food Bank:
Bill & Delores Piller: 503-701-9135

Sacrament
Infant Baptisms:
Registered parishioners are expected to complete a Baptismal Preparation program prior to scheduling a baptism. Baptismal preparation programs are offered 3 times a year. For information and /or registration, contact Sara 503-266-9411.
Next Baptismal Prep Class: September 28, 2006

Adult Baptisms:
Adults seeking baptism are expected to participate in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.) RCIA begins in the fall with the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation in the Spring (Easter). For information and/or registration contact Sara at 503-266-9411.

Marriage Policy:
Our parish is a signator of the Clackamas County "community marriage policy", that is a multi denominational agreement for common standards for marriage preparation. Please contact the Pastor at least six months prior to the wedding to ensure adequate time for these preparations.

Palm Sunday of
The Lord’s Passion
March 16, 2008

IN SYMPATHY. . .
Please keep in your prayers Patty Snyder the aunt of Sue Unger who passed away this past week. May we remember to keep all of our family members as well as our parish family in our thoughts and prayers.

MASS AT HOPE VILLAGE
On Wednesday, March 19 at 10:30am we will gather together at Hope Village Retirement Complex to celebrate Mass with our parish family members currently living at the Retirement complex. All parishioners are invited. Don’t forget to take a few minutes to visit residents who currently live at Hope Village and could use some companionship and conversation. Additional parking is located behind the main building.

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA & CHAPLET
The Second Sunday of Easter, March 30, has been designated as Divine Mercy Sunday. Devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy originated with Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, in the early 1930's. In her spiritual diary, St. Faustina writes of the revelation of God to her of his merciful presence in the world and of the necessity to offer prayers for his mercy. His message to her was three-fold: Ask for his Mercy, Be Merciful to others in return, and Completely trust in Jesus. St. Faustina’s devotion to God’s mercy has become a devotion honored and recognized by the Church. Shortly prior to his death, Pope John Paul II declared the Second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday. Spiritual preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday begins with a Novena beginning on Good Friday, March 21, and continuing through Easter Saturday in the Octave of Easter, March 29. On Sunday, March 30 a Chaplet to the Divine Mercy is offered.
Here at St. Patrick we will offer the Chaplet to the Divine Mercy on Sunday, March 30 at 10:00 am following the 8:30 am Mass. You are invited and encouraged to offer the Novena individually and join with others in the community for the Chaplet on Sunday. Brochures on the Novena and the Chaplet are available in the vestibule of the church. As Jesus reminds us, “Blessed are the merciful, mercy shall be theirs.”

Matthew’s Gospel underscores throughout its account the affirmation of Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah: Matthew’s genealogy (Matt 1:1-16), at the annunciation when an angel appears in a dream to Joseph (Matt 1:18-25), at Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3:17), at the healing of the demoniacs in the territory of the Gadarenes (Matt 8:29), when Jesus walked on the water and the disciples worshiped him (Matt 14:33), at Peter’s confession (Matt 16:16), and at Jesus’ transfiguration (Matt 17:5). It ought to come as no surprise to us, then, that on the cross Jesus is taunted for his identity. For all his teaching, preaching, healing, care, and love, so many still find it difficult to accept who Jesus is. At Jesus’ crucifixion, bystanders taunted him, “save yourself, if you are the Son of God.” And not only do the bystanders taunt him, but the religious leaders also do. And “revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.” What all of these people misunderstand so thoroughly is that Jesus’ life was not about saving himself but about saving others. Jesus reveals on the cross that as the Son of God he would not save himself, for he had already “emptied himself” by becoming human and would remain human, even unto death. Indeed, Jesus embraced death and, in that embrace, overcame death. Jesus, fully human and fully divine, laid aside his divine glory and his human life so that we might be saved. We, too, must lay aside our self-seeking if we are to receive his self-giving. As at every moment of his life, Jesus chooses at the moment of his death to submit to the full meaning of his humanity: he empties himself in obedience. For this obedience God “greatly exalt[s] him”. Through this same obedience we are saved. Through this same self-giving we are saved. We enter this year’s celebration of Holy Week remembering Jesus for his gift of self for our salvation and embracing, with him, our own journey through self-emptying to resurrection.

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 Ryan Thomas Blackwood, Ryan Bridges, Lonnie Brown, Nathan Brown, Douglas Bower Jr., Carlos Bustamante, Adamm Creel, Isaiah Creel, David Daves, Brad Dunn, Brian Dykeman, Bill Ellis, Adam Ferrell, Rob Gamble, Andrew Gibby, David Hannon, April Kennedy, Mike Krzmarzick , Jessica Krzmarzick (the wife of Michael Krzmarzick) Johnny Lugo, Alex Martin, Ryan McInnis, John Molamphy, John Nguyen, Tarl Spencer, Leah Sundquist, Kenneth Thorpe, CJ Trillo, Jonathan Turner, William Walsh, Erik Wiesehan and Ivan Wilson, may they be servants of Christ through service to those in need, and may they be kept safe from all harm.

PARISH SUPPORT
Parishioners of St. Patrick through the Sacrificial giving program gave to God the gift: March 9, 2008

Building Fund $261.00
Cemetery $25.00
Envelopes $7792.00
Loose $411.45
Children $4.00
Poor $1.00
Catholic Relief $1159.50

Total $9653.95

But you, O Lord, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
Psalm 22:19

MASS SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2008
+Norbert Meyer by Cliff & Sue Ash
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008
+Stewart Prue by Joyce Prue
HOLY THURSDAY - NO DAILY MASS

GOOD FRIDAY ~ NO DAILY MASS

SUMMER CONFERENCE
Building the Church - The Spirit Moving Still
July 30-August 3, 2008
A retreat for all ages! Set on the beautiful campus of the University of Portland. This year’s theme “Building the Church - The Spirit Moving Still. If you are looking for time to refresh, renew, and refocus your life, join us for Summer Conference 2008. A retreat set on the beautiful campus of the University of Portland. Summer Conference, formerly known as Mount Angel Summer Conference, welcomes families, singles, clergy and lay people of all ages. Complete details are available in the brochure available online at www.summerconf.org.

Prayer for St. Patrick’s Day

Dear Lord,
your servant, Saint Patrick, was first a slave to,
and then a servant of, your people in Ireland.
As he endured years of hardship as a slave,
so help us to persevere through trials
which seem to serve no purpose at the time.
As Patrick’s time in Ireland served him well,
after he was called to be a bishop of that land,
so help us to see how our sufferings strengthen
us to do your will.
Later, as Patrick’s people withstood great hardship,
protected your word in monasteries,
and brought your Church to many new lands,
so help us also to grow in faithfulness to you
and be your instruments of the world’s conversion.
Amen

PASSIONTIDE
Matthew 27:45

Tenebrae

It was Holy Week and darkness had fallen upon the monastery perched atop Graymoor Mountain in the highlands east of the Hudson River. In the chapel the friars were chanting back and forth across the aisle the psalms of the ancient rite of Tenebrae. The Latin word means darkness and the rite, repeated (at Graymoor) on the three nights prior to Saturday of Holy Week, laments the death of Christ.
In the chapel sanctuary stood a large triangular candelabrum with seven candles ascending its right and seven its left arm, converging upon a fifteenth candle at its apex. As the friars completed each of the rite’s prescribed 14 psalms, an acolyte extinguished one of the candles until only the fifteenth at the top (symbolic of Christ) remained lit. All the chapel electric lights were then also extinguished. A closing prayer was recited and an acolyte lifted the lone candle from its holder and carried it solemnly out of sight behind the high altar. The chamber was now absolutely dark. Silence prevailed. And then ( to the surprise of any guests present) all the friars pounded the oaken choir stalls with their heavy hymnals-creating a sound equivalent to thunder itself-to symbolize the cataclysmic nature of what we had done to the Son of God. Only when the echoes had died away was the hidden candle returned from behind the altar and replaced at the top of the candelabrum-to forecast the Good News that the light of life and love can never be fully extinguished, that Christ will rise again and again and again!
As often as I participated in the Tenebae rite as a young man, I was deeply moved by it. What moved me most was that slow, one by one extinguishing of the 14 candles and the loneliness of that final candle until it too was withdrawn. It seemed to illustrate so poignantly what happens to Jesus in the Passion story: Judas and Peter, Caiaphas and Annas, Pilate and Herod, the mob and soldiers converging on Jesus one by one to quench the radiance of his presence.
And one (I thought) was this cast of characters but you and me! For we play out the Passion story not only during Holy Week but every week of our lives. I mean, the presence of Christ within me struggles with a Judas within me who pretends to love him but really is engaged in arresting his development, handcuffing my Christic potential. The presence of Christ within me looks with sadness upon a Peter within me

who’s ready to deny him at the drop of a hat if it means sticking my neck out. The presence of Christ within me has to face up to an interminable trial before my Annas and Caiaphas dimensions who insist that he prove beyond a doubt the validity of his Gospel of love before I make any commitment to him. And then there’s Pilate, the ambivalent me, who would just as soon wash his hands of the whole affair - and Herod, the voyeur, who like the promise of miracles but not the hard stuff about turning the other cheek, forgiving one’s enemies, caring with all one’s heart and mind and strength. And then there’s the mob within me, quick to opt for some current fad or TV guru as more compatible to my modern tastes than the depressing figure in crown of thorns and purple displayed on Pilate’s balcony.
Yes, for as long as I can remember, Christ’s Passion has been billed as “Now Playing” within the theater of my mind, the luminous Christ often reduced to hardly perceptible taper within the sanctuary of my heart. But thank God for Christ’s survival skills! Because the play never quite ends with him simply dead and buried: the acolyte always returns with that solitary candle-this time to start within me (at long last) a conflagration of Pentecostal magnitude.

Hosannah!
Blessed is He who comes in the name
of the Lord

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR GRADE SCHOOL
We meet on Sundays from 9:45-10:45 for 1st -5th grade and 11 am for 18 months through 5 years old. These classes are for all parishioners. We welcome you to join us at any time. Classes will be closed for Easter and for the 2nd Sunday of Easter because of Spring Break. There will be no classes on March 23 or March 30. Contact Sue Unger for more information.

ATTENTION PARENTS
On March 19 at 7 pm during the Junior High Session we are offering to all parents of Senior and Jr High students to preview the youth video that will be shown in class on April 13 (this is a change of date because of Spring Break) for Senior High and April 2nd for Junior High. This is a short video on staying safe in our unpredictable society. There will be a presentation of the video and discussion. Jerry Giger will be presenting. Contact Sue Unger for any information.

YOUTH MINISTRY AND JR HIGH MINISTRY
The Journey in Faith (6th- 8th grade) group meets on Wednesday night at 7 pm. All are welcome to join us. There will be no class on March 26th because of Spring Break. Our next fun Friday will be April 11th at 7 pm. We are encouraging all 8th graders to attend the Youth Mass on the first Sunday of the month. We need many hands and voices to make this happen.

JR HIGH YOUTH MINISTRY TWILIGHT RETREAT
On Friday, April 18th St John the Baptist in Milwaukie is sponsoring a retreat for all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. It will begin at 7 pm and go to Midnight. The theme is: Just Do It….Right! It will focus on peer pressure and temptations. The fee is $5.00 per student. All will need a permission slip. There will be Pizza, snacks, reflection, fun and music. Contact Sue Unger for more information.

FAITH IN ACTION (9TH-12TH GRADES) meets on Sunday evening from 5:30 pm -7 pm in the Parish Center. All High School teens are welcome to join us. On March 16th the Faith in Action group will leave at 2 pm. We will be going to the St Francis Dining Hall to serve dinner for the poor. Watch the bulletin or contact Molly or Liz or Sue Unger for more information. Our next Youth Mass is Saturday, April 5th. We can use more singers and volunteers to help with the different ministries.

SERVICE PROJECT
The Service Project for April has been changed because of schedule conflicts. We will be going to Join Immersion Program on April 12th. This is a day aimed at gaining knowledge and insight into the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness. This is done through volunteer work, visits to homeless camps, and meeting with people who have experienced or are currently experiencing, homelessness. It will begin at 8 am. We will meet at 7am on Saturday the 12th to arrive at JOIN by 8 am. All High School students are invited to attend. We will also need drivers and chaperones for the day. All Confirmation candidates and their sponsors are welcome. It will cost $25.00 per person. Lunch will be provided. Permission slips and flyers will be available at Sunday afternoon at the Service Project for St Francis Dining Hall leaving St Patrick at 2 pm.

LOVE, LIFE AND HOLINESS: THE THEOLOGY OF THE BODY FOR TEENS
On April 19th all High School students and Young Adults are invited to hear Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers on Pope John Paul’s statement on The Theology of the Body. We will gather at 11:30 am to leave for Salem St Joseph’s Catholic Church. The session will go from 1 pm-4:15 followed by Mass at 4:30 pm. Entry fee will be $5.00 plus one of the following: For those teens who’s last name begins with: A-I bring beverage, J-Q chips or cookies, R-Z fruits or veggies. For more information contact Sue Unger. Permission slips will be sent to all registered Youth Ministry students.

SPRING CLEANING IS COMING
The Youth Ministry and Religious Education programs will be sponsoring a garage sale in late spring to help with buying bibles and sending the youth to Spokane for a Youth Conference. We will need volunteers and a co-coordinator to make this happen. Please call Sue Unger at the office. I generally am available by phone on Monday –Thursday. Sundays I am in the office but generally do not take messages.

LENTEN ACTIVITY
For Lent we are collecting personal hygiene items. As during advent there will be a box in the vestibule of the church and across from the resource room in the Parish Hall. During the week you can drop them off at the office. We could use feminine products as well as all the usual items. This collection is very appreciated by those who cannot afford to buy them on their own. If you would like to donate money I will make sure it gets designated for donations for personal hygiene items for the Food Bank here at St Patrick Church.

SACRAMENT PREPARATION CLASSES
Our next gathering will be Monday, April 7 at 7 pm. We will be covering chapters 6, 7, and 8. This meeting is for Parents and the child who is preparing for First Eucharist (Communion) for 2008. For more information contact Sue Unger. Remember if you have a child in first grade that will want to receive Reconciliation and Eucharist in 2008-2009 they must be signed up for Religious Education this year.

Our next Confirmation gathering will be March 16 at 2pm. This class will be a service project for St Francis dining hall. Please contact Sue if you are attending. If you are not attending the expectation will be that you have attended the 24 hour fast ~ information is in the letter I sent home and in the bulletin. Adults seeking Confirmation need to contact Sara Creel for more information. See information on Service Project under the Youth Ministry announcement.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL TEAM
All parishioners interested in working on Vacation Bible Study are welcome to our meeting on April 6th at 1:15 pm. We will meet in room 7. Contact Sue Unger for more questions. Vacation Bible School is scheduled for July 14- 18th . We will also be thinking about doing a series of talks for adults in the evening of that week.

ADULT SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Lent 2008 – Small Groups

Adult scripture reflection will continue on Wednesday evenings at 7 pm. The Bible study groups will return to their normal agenda starting the week after Easter. If you would like to join any of the groups either now or after Easter you are more than welcome. Contact Sue Unger for more information.

YOUTH MINISTRY FUND RAISERS:
Spaghetti Dinner for Youth Ministry
will be April 5th following the Youth Mass
We will have Spaghetti and meatballs,
Green salad, garlic bread, and dessert
$8.00 Adults (12 & above) $5.00 children (4-11)
and $25.00 family
(need to live in the same house)
Fun Bingo will be going on as we serve dinner
Come and join us and support your Faith in Action Group
To go to the Steubenville conference in August of this year.

Volunteers needed: Coordinator, servers, set up people and clean up people.

One way to support Youth Ministry is by supporting the Knights of Columbus fundraisers. They are very supportive to our Religious Education programs. We also have a new opportunity through Safeway to get a percentage of their profit to support our Religious Education programs. If you shop at Safeway and have a Safeway card St Patrick Religious Education can get a percentage of what you spend. You need to register your card through the company. You can call at 1-800-400-7878 or email at sbucher@escrip.com they will guide you through the registration. This can help support the many programs without the extra work of a fundraiser. Contact Sue Unger with any questions about the program. St Patrick Safeway group ID # is 163944105.

Youth Ministry is collecting cans to support the ministry. If you have cans please bring them to the Parish Hall side entrance next to the gym. If locked they can be left Sunday through Thursday outside the doors between the gym door and the hall door. If open please leave them just inside the gym by the door. Every little bit helps. Please be sure there is no garbage in the bags and that they are redeemable. Thanks for your generosity.

GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION ~ FRIDAY, MARCH 21
The daily news reminds us of the violence and instability plaguing the Middle East, but we rarely hear of the shrinking Christian community there, a community that struggles to remain in the land of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. Please help our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land by giving to this special Good Friday Collection. This Pontifical Collection allows the Franciscans and others to continue caring for Christianity’s holiest sites and for God’s people in the Holy Land. Please be generous in your support.

PARISHIONER NEEDS YOUR ASSISTANCE
We currently have a women who would love to come to Mass but cannot drive. She would be willing to attend any of our three Masses. She lives in Deer Creek Estates in Aurora. For more information, please contact Debbie in the Parish Office at 503-266-9411.

EVENTS AROUND THE AREA

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUAL CENTER PRESENTS:

A CELTIC LENTEN RETREAT: JOURNEYING TO THE PLACE OF RESURRECTION
Dates: March 22, 2008
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Facilitator: Sister Mary Lonergan, OSF
Cost: $35.00 (includes lunch & snack)
Savor the rich tradition of Celtic spirituality as we open our minds and hearts to the wonders of God’s presence and protection at this Celtic Lenten Retreat.

THOMAS MERTON: CONTEMPLATION AND EXPERIENCE
Date: March 29, 2008
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Facilitator: Mary Erickson and Sister Mary Lonergan
Cost: $30.00 (includes lunch and snack)
Enter into contemplative dialogue with others as we explore the life of Thomas Merton, his writings and how you can draw upon your own life experiences to find a deeper level of understanding and acceptance of your own spiritual path.

LASTING RELATIONSHIPS
Date: April 8, 15, 22, & 29
Time: Mondays, 7:00-9:00pm
Presented by: NW Family Services
Cost: Free
A Couples Workshop to help develop and strengthen lifelong relationships. To register call: 503-215-6377. Location: Franciscan Spiritual Center, 6902 SE Lake Rd., Suite 300, Milwaukie, OR