Dear Brothers and Sisters,
There is so many exciting things going on in our parish as you will see from the contents of this newsletter. I am truly grateful to our dedicated staff and volunteers who work so very hard each day.
As we approach the end of one liturgical year and the beginning of a new one may we have the resolve to continue the hard work continuing to build our parish family.
Sincerely,
Father Carroll
This Saturday November 21st is our Respect Life Mass at 9 am which happens to fall on the Memorial of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Confessions will be available from 8 am - 8:45 am. Please join us as we pray for the protection of all Human Life from the moment of conception till natural death.
We will also remember in a special way all those who have died and whose lives were impacted by terrorism. It is also important for us as Christians to pray for conversion of hearts of those who have committed these acts against God's love.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE 21ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPEL
There will be a special meeting this Sunday November 22nd at 6:45 pm in the Church. I invite everyone to attend as we pray in thanksgiving for the tremendous gift we have as a deanery and as a parish in the gift of Eucharistic Adoration.
At this meeting we will be introducing our new chapel coordinator. Please join me in thanking Jeanne Gangloff who has served in the capacity as chapel coordinator for many years. I am truly appreciate and am grateful for her dedicated service to the Lord.
If you are available Sunday Evening please join us!
Mass on Thanks giving Day will be celebrated at 10:30 am. Please join your parish family in giving thanks to God for the gifts and blessings he has given us.
Dynamic Catholic has a new series online this Advent called the Best Advent Ever.
"Beginning on the first Sunday of Advent (November 29) and continuing every day through December 23, Dynamic Catholic will email you simple yet powerful messages from Matthew Kelly, America’s bestselling Catholic author, and other leading Catholic voices of our time that will help you encounter God’s incredible mercy. An ideal response to Pope Francis’ invitation to celebrate the Year of Mercy, Best Advent Ever: Rediscover Mercy can transform your life, relationships, work, and ability to genuinely embrace and experience life."
Sign up below my clicking their website and share the gift of this program with others.
Update on Formed
On the weekend of November 1st Deacon Michael DeVivo spoke about Formed the Catholic Faith on Demand Program. The program has many wonderful tools to help us grow in the faith.
As pastor I invite you to consider supporting this great program. While you can easily sign up for it individually for $10.00 a month, why cannot consider supporting it by donating $10.00 a year so that the entire parish and those who visit our parish can benefit from it.
So far 85 Parishioners have registered to use FORMED, and $360 in Pledges received towards the needed goal of $1500 to renew our Subscription for next year. Give it a Try, Lots of wonderful Information available. See Bulletin and Website for details.”
Father Carroll's Message on the Year of Mercy
His Holiness Pope Francis has announced a year dedicated to Mercy beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception December 8th 2015 and closing on the Solemnity of Christ the King 2016. When we hear the word "mercy" are immediate thought is the forgiveness of sins. However, mercy can be expressed not only only in the forgiveness of sins but also in kind treatment of others in difficult situations,
Here at Saint Patrick Church we are blessed with numerous opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation...a sacrament in which I have a firm belief should not be limited to one scheduled day a week. Also as a parish we are generous supporters of the Catholic Harvest Food Pantry, Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, and the Pregnancy and Family Resource Center. Starting this past September 2015 on the Third Saturday of the Month we have a monthly Mass at 9 AM for the intention of the Respect of All Human Life. So in many ways we are already expressing the Lord's compassionate mercy to those in need, but that doesn't mean there is room for improvement.
On December 8th we will formally begin the "Year of Mercy" at the 7 PM Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Following the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we will have adoration, with confessions available from approximately 8 PM - 9 PM. At 9:15 PM we will have the public recitation of night prayer with benediction. I strongly encourage and welcome you to participate in the opening of the "Year of Mercy."
In addition to the opening there will be a few schedule additions moving forward in which it is my hope that will continue long after this special year. Starting in February (since January 1 is New Years Day) we will have First Friday Devotions from 7 PM - 9 PM in which the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar for adoration.From 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. Then at approximately 8:45 PM we will have the public recitation of night prayer with benediction.
On the Second Wednesday of every month starting in January we will have prayers for the blessing of the sick and prayers of the faithful. Illness does not just reference physical health. It can take many forms including emotional, physical, and spiritual. I would invite anyone who is struggling with any of these issues or know anyone who is to consider joining us for these monthly spiritual gatherings in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ to pray for the Lord's healing and peace.
These are just two ways in which we as a parish family will mark the beginning of the "Year of Mercy" and beyond. May we use this gift our Holy Father has given us to reflect on the great gift of the Lord's mercy and to pray for the grace to express it ourselves to those we meet.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Carroll
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation.
Mass Times
Monday December 7th at 5:30 pm
Tuesday December 8th
8:30 am (with school community)
12:15 pm (Quiet Mass)
7 pm
Confessions will be available
Monday December 7th from 4 pm - 5 pm
Tuesday December 8th from 11:30 am - Noon, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, and approximately 8 pm - 9 pm
Special Note for the Year of Mercy that Night Prayer with benediction will start around 9:15 pm for those who would like to attend.
MUSIC MINISTRY NOTES
What is going on in Music Ministry at Saint Patrick Church?
Currently, we have approximately 70 students from the Religious Education Program and the School involved in one of our Children's Choirs. Ms. Pantano has been working with students in Pre-K and Kindergarten teaching them Christmas Carol's encouraging them to participate in the Children's Christmas Eve celebration!
In addition to the students, between the adults in the choir and those who cantor we have an additional 20 plus individuals in music ministry. So that makes over 90 individuals involved in music ministry at Saint Patrick Church and that number continues to grow! We are also pleased to announce in the end of January our newly formed Contemporary Choir will formally begin their ministry at the 8 am Mass once a month.
On another positive note we have some new cantors and two cantors have returned after a long absence. We are truly grateful to all the choir members ranging from adults to our youngest participants for their willingness to share their gifts to help us worship God.
Saint Patrick Parish Adult Choir/Teen Choir/Children's Choir Members will go caroling on Friday December 4th during First Friday in downtown York. The tree lighting ceremony will occur between 6:15 - 6:30 pm. They will be caroling from 6:45 - 7:45 pm and will begin at Continental Square and then either remain there, or walk around to other locations. If you are interested in participating please contact Lisa Pantano at lpantano@stpatrickyork.net.
Once again if you are interested in joining one of our choirs or have been blessed with a gift of playing a musical instrument and the spirit is moving you to get more involved, please contact Lisa!
- Saint Patrick Catholic Church
2015 Christmas Schedule
Thursday December 24th 2015
Confessions from Noon – 1 pm and 2 pm – 3 pm
Children’s Choir Presentation at 3:30 pm
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 4:00 pm
Teen Choir Presentation at 6 pm
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 6:30 pm
Confessions from 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm
Adult Choir Presentation at 9 pm
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 9:30 pm
Friday December 25th 2015
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 8:30 am
Confessions available from 9:45 am – 10:30 am
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 10:45 am
Thursday December 31st 2015
Confessions available from 3 pm – 4 pm
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 4:30 pm
Friday January 1st 2016
Confessions available from 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 10:45 am