St. Patrick Catholic Church A Jewel in the Diocese

Vol. 25 Number 47 saintpatrickcc.com November 23, 2008

Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

This Parish exists to carry out the mission of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Earth. By our participation in the Holy Mass, the perfect act of worship, the saving power of Jesus is realized in our individual lives, families, communities and in the world. Our outreach helps extend the reign of Jesus into all the dark corners of the world. As we gather as a family here in this holy place we experience a foretaste of our own destiny…Heaven! If you are a visitor, welcome! If you are a returning member, welcome home! We are really glad you’re here. And remember, YOU are passionately loved by Jesus Christ.

Readings for the Weekend November 29th & 30th First Sunday of Advent

FIRST READING: (Isaiah 63:16b-17,19b; 64:2-4) Second Reading–(1Corinthians 1:3-9) Gospel–(Mark 13:33-37). PRAY FOR OUR PARISHIONERS IN THE HOSPITAL: Brandon Alexander Brasher, Nicolas Owen Brasher, Fran Cooper, John Devine, John Schnatz, Rita Trifilo and Jimmy Turner. Please keep them, all the sick, and their caregivers in your prayers. VISITS TO THE SICK: If you are ill and in need of the Sacraments and would like a visit from Fr. Vernon, he has asked that you (or an immediate family member if you are too ill) contact him through the church office. The surest way of getting the message to Father is by speaking to him personally during office hours or calling the church office and leaving a message either on the answering machine or with Pegi Gilmore. PRAY FOR OUR PARISHIONERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES: Albert Billets, Mary Catherine Carroll, Joe Gagliano, Chad Galloway, Norman Gugliotta, Margaret Alyce Mackinaw, Nancy M. Manzella, Rose Marie Mitchell, Frances Myers, Ethel Pruitt, Pete Ragusa, Pat Rosato, Stan Rogato, John Sokira, Mildred Stack, Ed Suchey, Elizabeth Sullivan, Patti Watson and Jessie White. Please keep these, all the homebound, and their caregivers in your prayers. If you know of any parishioner who should be added to or removed, please contact the church office. PRAYER BOOK: The prayer book in the narthex is available for all prayer requests. Please pray daily for these requests. PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS: Especially our families, friends and loved ones who are currently in active military service: Darren Armentrout (Stateside), Jeremy Barton (Stateside), Dane Blankenship (Stateside), Justin Bramblet (Stateside), Christopher Cates (Stateside), Michael Diamond (Stateside), Joel Dill (Japan), Erin Fadlevich (Iraq) Brian Gibson (Iraq), Heath Gober (Iraq), T. R. Gray (Stateside) Becky Hodges (Quam), Jenny Malone (Stateside), Anthony Noon (Iraq), Richard Parvin (Stateside), Tim Rowell (Iraq), Joey Serio (Iraq), Ben Perry (Quatar), Shane Thomas (Stateside), and Jason C. Watson (Iraq). Please keep all of our brave men and women in your prayers. If you know of anyone who should be added to or removed from this list, please contact the church office. PLEASE JOIN OUR PARISH! We would love to have you as a registered member of St. Patrick. If you are attending Mass at St. Patrick and would like to join our parish, pick up a Census Card in the narthex, fill it out and put it in the collection basket. Not sure if you are on record? If you are not receiving contribution envelopes, you are not registered. ANGEL TREE & PENNIES FROM HEAVEN This weekend is Angel Tree Weekend. The White Angels are for gifts for some of the children (and their siblings) who attend Minor Community School (Grades K-5) which is a LOCAL school in need of our help. You are asked to buy the suggested gift and return it unwrapped in a gift bag with the angel attached no later than Sunday, December 14. The Lavender Angels are for gifts for the homeless men at the Firehouse Shelter and for needy families. You are asked to put your monetary donation in the envelope and place the Lavender Angel in the collection basket. (Please do not put your donation on the tree.) The Pennies from Heaven money will be used for shut-ins and needy families during the holidays. Thanks to all who are working on this project and thanks to YOU for your generosity. Together, we WILL make a difference and ensure that our less fortunate neighbors have a brighter Christmas! FOOD DRIVE: This year there is a greater need for food at the Catholic Center of Concern due to the economy and more people who are out of work or unable to make ends meet due to the rising cost of food. St. Patrick has always been a very generous parish when it comes to helping those who are less fortunate. We have many opportunities this holiday season to show our generosity once again and the Food Drive is one of them. Please bring non-perishable items to the St. Joseph Hall and put them on the table designated for the drive. We will also need someone who is willing to tithe their time to take the food received down to the Catholic Center of Concern once a week or at least once every two weeks between now and Christmas. God bless you for your generosity as we help make sure those in need do not go without this holiday season.

FAITH FORMATION CLASSES will not meet this Wednesday, November 26th. Class will resume on December 3rd at 6:30pm sharp. R.C.I.A. /ADULT EDUCATION: will not meet this Thursday, November 27th . Next Sunday, November 30th is the Rite of Acceptance. Regular Classes will resume December 4th. SPRING HILL COLLEGE offers “Religion and International Politics” for Six Saturdays beginning December 6, 2008. If you are interested in taking or auditing this course or for more information, please contact the Diocese at 838-8300. JOHN CARROLL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: John Carroll Catholic High School is currently accepting applications for admission for the 2009-2010 school year. Applicants are required to return all forms in full and sit for the John Carroll Placement Test to be administered on Saturday, December 6th at John Carroll Catholic High School. All necessary forms are available online at www.jcchs.org (click on Admissions tab). Deadline for the Preferred Application Period is Friday, December 5th. For more information, contact John DeRulle, Director of Admissions by email at jderulle@jcchs.org. SHADOW DAYS AT JOHN CARROLL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Prospective students who wish to get a closer look at John Carroll Catholic High School may register to take part in our Shadow Program. The Shadow Program allows the prospective student time to meet with the Admissions staff, get paired with a John Carroll ambassador, and shadow John Carroll students for three classes. Shadow days are the1st Friday of each month and can be scheduled by contacting Stephanie Wisdom, Assistant Director of Admissions by email at swisdom@jcchs.org.

Monday, November 24 – No Choir; Sunday, November 30 – Warm Up at 9:00; Monday, December 1 – Choir Rehearsal 6:30

COLOMBIAN SQUIRES Circle 4481 will be celebrating their 10th anniversary on December 7th after church. Anyone who has been a part of the Squires at St. Patrick is invited. Squires and their families should attend. Come join the fun, food and fellowship. PLACE YOUR BOSTON BUTTS ORDER Now for New Year's Day - St. Patrick Knights of Columbus Council 10567's Boston Butts have become very popular and have drawn rave reviews over the past three years. The Knights will cook Boston Butts for New Year's Day again this year and we are asking that you place your order as soon as possible. Cost is just $25 and you can place your order with any Knight of Columbus. Free delivery is offered to any business ordering five or more Boston Butts. All proceeds will go to the Louis N. Muro Memorial Scholarship fund and you can make your checks payable to Council 10567. You can pick up your order after Mass on Saturday, December 27 or after Mass on Sunday, December 28. For more information, contact Mike Muro or any Knight of Columbus. KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS: The Columbian Squires are selling “Keep Christ in Christmas” magnets as a fundraiser. It is a great way to spread an important message as we enter the Advent Season. The durable and attractive magnets will last for years. The cost is $5.00. The Squires will have them on sale in the St. Joseph Hall. For more information, please contact the church office.

DID YOU KNOW that Council 10567 of the Knights of Columbus sponsored a special liturgy for all deceased Knights recently? All those present participated in Father Vernon's beautiful interactive homily about special memories of these great men. If you were unable to attend and want to participate through photos, check out the story and video on the church website. Deceased Knights Remembered with Memorial Mass is the news article accessible right from the home page. Click to open and share in this very memorable night. May their good souls rest in peace, Amen.

Our Lord Jesus Christ the King Tending the needs of others is a gift of service to God as well as those in need. Imagine that you choose to serve God as a deacon, priest, brother or sister. What do you think/feel about this choice? (Matthew 25:31-46) Let us pray for those in need of the basic necessities if life, that we may respond generously as we would to Christ. (Vocation View sponsored by the Serra Club.) CHRIST, TEACHER, KING, JUDGE When Christ the King comes in His glory, He will put on His right those who will inherit God's blessings, and on His left those who will suffer everlasting damnation. By His own examples of love and compassion, Jesus showed us how to be among the blessed. Christ fed the hungry and cured and consoled the sick. Jesus then said, if we neglect the hungry or thirsty or those away from home, or naked or ill or in prison, we neglect him. And those who fail to show love and compassion to the needy will suffer eternal punishment. This challenge encourages us to try to imitate Christ. Chances abound: Parish sponsored soup kitchens feed the hungry and water purification programs help the thirsty. There are visits to be made to the sick and clothes drives to collect for the needy. Even the simple act of treating strangers with the same consideration and honesty we’d like ourselves. By these acts of love and compassion, we step closer to being among God's blessed, and we bring another slice of God' s Kingdom to the here and now.

HAIL REDEEMER, KING DIVINE

Hail Redeemer, King divine Priest and Lamb, the throne is Thine King whose reign shall never cease

Prince of everlasting peace.

HE REIGNS

While we debate and agree — He reigns While we obey or rebel — He reigns While we love or hate — He reigns

While we believe or reject — He reigns

For His throne is eternal regardless of our action, acceptance or adoration. Christ is King without even a single voice raised in honor or praise. His kingdom will never cease, never fade, never fail throughout the ages. He is King, ruling with mercy, love

and justice.

THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations. Today's Mass establishes the titles for Christ's royalty over men: 1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created by Him"; 2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 3) Christ is Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion. Today's Mass also describes the qualities of Christ's kingdom. This kingdom is: 1) supreme, extending not only to all people but also to their princes and kings; 2) universal, extending to all nations and to all places; 3) eternal, for "The Lord shall sit a King forever"; 4) spiritual, Christ's "kingdom is not of this world". — Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Gandas

PRAYER FOR INDULGENCE: A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King.

ACT OF DEDICATION OF THE HUMAN RACE TO JESUS CHRIST KING. Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever. Amen.

SPIRIT FRUIT BASKET SALES are under way! Order your baskets today and give them as Christmas gifts. Baskets are $15 each and can be ordered from any SPIRIT youth, or by placing your name on the order form on the SPIRIT bulletin board. Baskets will be available Saturday, December 13.

MAKE-UP DAY FOR FAMILY PORTRAITS: If you have not signed up to have pictures, or if you had to reschedule, the make-up day will be Wednesday, December 3rd. Please contact Shirley Goolsby if you need to schedule an appointment for this day. CATHOLIC CRUISE TO THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN: Come sail away on an 8-Night Catholic Western Caribbean Cruise with Fr. Robert Murphy March 5-13, 2009 on the Carnival Miracle out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. To ports of Colon, Panama, Limon, Costa Rica & Belize. Prices begin at $1660.86 for two passengers which includes all port fees and taxes. Daily Mass and Rosary offered. Deposits of only $50.00 per person will reserve your cabin. Space is limited. For further information or to register, contact dpayttc@aol.com. TO ALL LECTORS: Lector books are available in the Sacristy. Please see Catherine Barrett or Fr. Vernon and pick up your copy this weekend. WE NEED YOUR HELP!: We need all Catholic Charities cards returned. Our goal is $35,059.00. As of Wednesday, November 12th we have had 167 cards returned with total in pledges of $30,232.00. BENEDICTINE SISTERS TO HOST DISCERNMENT WEEKEND On December 12 – 14, the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman will host a vocation discernment weekend for single, Catholic women ages 18-45 who are interested in learning more about the Benedictine way of life. The retreat, entitled Seeking God: The Benedictine Way of Living, will be directed by Sister Magdalena Craig, O.S.B., Vocation Director for the Sacred Heart Community, assisted by a team of Sisters. Participants will share in the prayer and community life of the Sisters, including the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist; attend conferences on topics related to vocation discernment and monastic life; and have time to reflect and pray about their future. For those discerning their vocation this is an invitation to ‘come and see’ the monastic way of seeking God. For more information or to register for the retreat, please contact Sister Magdalena at (256) 734-2199 or vocations@shmon.org. There is no charge for the weekend; however, donations will be accepted. ALABAMA-AUBURN TICKET RAFFLE Queen of Heaven Catholic Radio (1480 AM) is raffling two tickets to The Game. These are excellent seats, lower level, on about the 35-yard. For every $10 in donations you make to the radio station between now and Monday, November 24th, one chance will be entered in your name into the raffle. A $10 donation is worth one chance, a $50 donation is worth 5 chances, and so on. The drawing for the winner will be held on Tuesday, November 25th. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Queen of Heaven Catholic Radio, and have your name entered one or more times in the drawing for these tickets, simply go to our website to make a donation: www.queenofheavenradio.com; or mail a check to: Queen of Heaven Radio, 40 Park Road, Suite B (as in boy), Pleasant Grove, AL 35127. All checks must be received by Monday, November 24th.

A. S. A. P. Always Share A Prayer

THANK YOU

Giver of all For every good

In the Redeemer came For clothing, shelter and for food

I thank You in His name

SIMPLE PRAYER OF THANKS We thank you God for the equations of life—joy and pain, work and play, sun and rain, victory and defeat—that having one portion we may understand the other also. Amen. G. P. Morris A GREAT HARVEST To each of us Christ says: if you want your life and mission to be fruitful like mine, do as I do. Be converted into a seed that lets it self be buried. Let yourself be killed. Do not be afraid. Those who shun suffering will remain alone. No one is more alone than the selfish. But if you give your life out of love for others as I give mine for all, you will reap a great harvest. Bishop Oscar Romero WITH WARMEST THOUGHTS OF YOU! Dear Parishioners, Thinking of you and wishing you life’s dearest blessings at Thanksgiving and always. Happy Thanksgiving! Love to all, Sr. Maura FROM THE PASTOR: THANKSGIVING DAY: The Lord blessed us to see another Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day is one day in the year when we as a nation come together to give thanks to God for all of His many blessings. On this Thanksgiving Day I encourage you to take the time to share with your family and friends the people and things that you are really thankful for. If there is someone is your life that you have not told them how much they mean to you, then do so during this holiday season. We cannot take for granted that someone who is special to us will always be around. Finally, think about the many, many, many, gifts God has given you, think of that one gift that you don’t focus on and let the Lord know how much you are grateful.. One of the things I am grateful to God for is my new church families, Saint Patrick and Saint Stanislaus. Happy Thanksgiving! Fr. Vernon F. Huguley

Weekly Mass Schedule Saturday 11/22 4:00pm Al Swienton - †

Sunday 11/23 10:00am Mass for the People

Monday 11/24 No Mass

Tuesday 11/25 8:00 am @ St. Stanislaus

Wednesday 11/26 9:00 am Chris & Pam Pruitt - SI

Thursday 11/27 10:00 am Thanksgiving Mass for the People

Friday 11/28 8:00 am @ St. Stanislaus

Saturday 11/29 4:00 pm Joanie Savage - †

Weekly Events and Meetings Sunday Nov. 23 Our Lord Jesus Christ the King – Mass 10:00 AM

Monday Nov. 24 No Choir rehearsal Tuesday Nov. 25 Wednesday Nov. 26 No Faith Formation

Legion of Mary - 9:45 am Thursday Nov. 27 SPIRIT @ Jimmie Hale Mission 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. Church Office Closed

No/R.C.I.A./Adult Education Friday Nov. 28 Church Office Closed St. Joseph Hall Rented Saturday Nov. 29 Vigil of the First Sunday in Advent – Mass 4:00 pm Sunday Nov. 30 The First Sunday in Advent – Mass 10:00 AM

R.C.I.A. Rite of Acceptance at 10:00 Mass SPIRIT @ Jessie's Place 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

EARLY BULLETIN NOTICES: Please have all bulletin notices in the office by Noon Monday. WHEELCHAIR: A wheelchair is in the Cry Room, available for Emergencies Only. LOST AND FOUND: There are several articles in lost and found. Please call the Church Office for assistance. DAILY MASS-ROSARY-NOVENA PRAYER: Daily Mass is at 9 am Wednesday & Thursday and at 10:00 am on First Fridays (Unless otherwise posted under the Weekly Mass Schedule above.) A Rosary, the Daily Prayer for Vocations, and the Miraculous Medal Novena Prayer will be prayed 30 minutes before Daily Mass begins. A Rosary is prayed at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel every Sunday morning. Volunteers are requested to lead the Rosary at each occasion. The Primary Intention of the Rosary prayed is: ‘An End to Abortion’. DAILY MASS MINISTRY: Volunteers are needed to be Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers during Daily Mass. If you would like to serve please check the sign-in sheet in the narthex. If no one is down to serve, sign your name on the appropriate line. We have a number of openings for this month. Your help is appreciated.