ST. PATRICK J es CHURCH 4 Valley View Dr, Council Bluffs, IA 51503 • 712-323-1484 www.stpatrickcb.org

May 9, 2021 6th Sunday/Week of Easter Rev. James Ahenkora Pastor

Rev. Mr. Charles Hannan Rev. Mr. James Mason Deacon Rev. Mr. Emmet Tinley Deacon Rev. Mr. John Pfenning Deacon

Mass Schedule Saturday: 5 PM Sunday: 7:30, 9 & 11 AM Tuesday - Friday: 8 AM Tuesday & Thursday: 6 PM Monday Eucharistic Service: 8 AM

Reconciliation St. Patrick Mission Statement Tuesday & Thursday We, the people of St. Patrick Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a 5 - 5:45 PM Community of Catholic believers, accept our mission of proclaiming Saturday and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We seek to deepen our 3:30 – 4:30 PM relationship with God and one another through individual and Or by appointment. Call the communal prayer, celebration of the Eucharist, reflective study of Office to arrange a time. scripture, education, and social activities. While responding to the needs of our own community, we reach out in union with other Christians to create a world of justice and love. Upcoming Events FR. JAMES WEEKLY REFLECTION

Monday, May 10, 2021 My dear family of God,

8 AM Eucharistic Service Today’s Gospel passage is a continuation of last week’s in which Jesus gave the allegory of the vine Tuesday, May 11, 2021 and the branches. We learned that as disciples of 8 AM Mass for Rita Vallinch Christ we can do nothing apart from Him and it is 5-5:45 PM Reconciliation only in union with Christ the true vine that we, the 6 PM Mass for Mary Ann branches, can bear fruit. Jesus in today’s Gospel Mathiasen passage takes the analogy of the vine and branches even further to demonstrate to us what it means to remain in Him and how we Wednesday, May 12, 2021 can bear fruits. He talks about “agape” a Greek word which translates in 8 AM Mass for Stanley & English as love. This type of love, however, goes beyond sentimentalism or the Frances Swierczek emotional feelings we have towards people. This type of love is rooted in 9 AM - 12 noon Craft Ladies sacrifice. It is the highest and the most perfect kind of love. Jesus uses “agape” to describe the kind of relationship that exists between Him and His Father and Thursday, May 13, 2021 He calls His disciples to emulate this sacrificial love. So when Jesus commands 8 AM Mass for Anonymous us to love one another, He is inviting us to love sacrificially. Indeed He Himself 5-5:45 PM Reconciliation will prove the depths of His love for us by laying down His life, a sacrificial 6 PM Mass for Holy Souls in offering of Himself for our . Pergatory Jesus tells His disciples “as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you, Friday, May 14, 2021 remain in my love.” But how can we remain in Jesus’ love? He gives us the 8 AM Mass for Rachel answer when He says “if you keep my commandments, you will remain in my Klosterman love, just as I have kept the Father's commandments and remained in His 8:30 - 9:30 AM love.” This statement of Jesus makes it abundantly clear that our obedience to 8:30 - 3 PM Adoration His commandments is a sure way to remain in His love. Jesus continues His 3 PM of Divine Mercy discourse by saying to His disciples “I am telling you these things so that your joy may be complete.” This teaching of Jesus sounds very radical and even Saturday, May 15, 2021 countercultural. This is because, we live in a culture that will make us believe 3:30 - 4:30 PM Reconciliation freedom is when one has no obligations towards God, when one does not 5 PM Vigil Mass for Joseph obey the commandments of God. This kind of freedom which the world Darrell promises only leads to misery and despair. True freedom for the Christian is only achieved when we strive to obey God’s commandments. It is our Sunday, May 16, 2021 obedience to God’s commandments that sets us on the path to great joy. 7:30 AM – Mass for Lloyd Finally, I want to reflect with you on what Jesus says about friendship in Grote today’s Gospel. He says to His disciples “you are my friends if you do what I 9 AM – Mass for St. Patrick command you.” Is that not interesting? Come to think of this, how will you feel Church if someone says to you, you have to obey my commandments before you 11 AM – Mass for Elaine qualify to be my friend. I guess this will be an impediment to the very Campbell friendship that one wants to start. When Jesus says to us we must obey His commandments in order to be His friends, we must understand that He is not calling us to an ordinary friendship. That is not how ordinary human friendships work. We must appreciate the fact that Jesus is not an ordinary friend. He is fully human but also fully God. Keeping His commandments leads to a deeper friendship of love and a joy which this world can never give.

Do have a grace-filled week. Shalom!

Fr. James Ahenkora

2 stpatrickcb.org 712-323-1484 Readings for the Week •New MAY CROWNINGand Notable…

•MOTHER'S DAY BREAKFAST Monday: Acts 16:11-15; John 15: Happy Mother's Day! Please join us for a Mother's Day breakfast hosted and 26--16:4a prepared by the Knights of Columbus. See the details on page five of the Tuesday: Acts 16:22-34; John bulletin. 16:5-11 Wednesday: Acts 17:15, 22--18:1; •CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS John 16:12-15 The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Anthony #330 will hold its Thursday: Acts 18:1-8; John next meeting at St. Patrick Social Hall on Monday, May 17, 2021. We will pray 16:16-20 the at 5:30 PM with the meeting to follow. Wear a mask. No food or Friday: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; John drink will be served. We welcome Catholic women 18 years and older from 15:9-17 all Council Bluffs parishes. Please join us or check us out at www.cda330.org. Saturday: Acts 18:23-28; John 16:23b-28 •MOTHER'S DAY FLOWER BASKET SALE Sunday: Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; The St. Albert cheerleaders will be taking orders for their hanging flower Mk 16:15-20 basket fundraiser before and after all Masses Mother's Day weekend. This annual fundraiser greatly reduces the cost of uniforms for the girls. Each hanging flower basket is $12 and can be paid for in cash, with a check or with Venmo. The flowers can be picked up between 11 AM and 1 PM on May 15 in the St. Albert parking lot. Your support will help several cheerleaders from St. Albert in our parish. Thank you in advance. Ministry Schedule

May 15/16 Saturday 5 PM • FROM THE DIOCESE OF DES MOINES Sacristan - Dick Janousek Masks, will continue to be required on church property. Please respect this Lector - David Wise request from our Bishop when attending Mass and other activities at the EMCHs - Cindy & Tracy Joneson

parish. To read the entirety of Bishop Joensen's letter regarding the new Sunday 7:30 AM COVID-19 standards, go to the front page of the Diocese website: Sacristan - Dennis Shea dmdiocese.org. Lector - Doug Rew EMCHs -Steve Chamley

Sunday 9 AM Parish Stewardship/Tithing week ending May 2, 2021 Sacristan - Rita Hughes Lector -Michaela Schwartzkopf Current Year Current Year Last Year EMCHs - John Schlautman & Mary Hoferer Date Actual Budget Variance Actual YTD (4-30-2021) 663,463 659,400 4,063 625,230 Sunday 11 AM 4-4-21 18,129 15,650 2,479 Sacristan - Tim & Sherry Hobbins 4-11-21 22,044 15,650 6,394 Lector - Mike Reilly EMCHs - Sherry Hobbins 4-18-21 9,358 15,650 (6,292) 4-25-21 12,046 15,650 (3,604) SERVERS 5-2-21 18,488 15,650 2,838 Until further notice we will not schedule Servers Other Donations Received GIFT BEARERS Building Maint: $460.00 Needy Fund: $170.00 Until further notice we will not Gifts paid Pledges Goal Variance schedule Gift Bearers 2021 ADA 45,170 8,657 76,001 (22,174) GREETERS 2020 ADA 66,544 59,739 6,805 Saturday 5pm Sunday 7:30 Capital Campaign: Payments received this week: $450 Sunday 9:00 Pledges outstanding: $257,412 Loan Balance: $3,143,215 Sunday 11:00 Number of registered families: 1,036

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Office Contacts Sacramental & RE Announcements

712-323-1484 [email protected]

Office Hours Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 3 PM • NCYC Pastor If you have already signed up for this year's NCYC or you are interested in Fr. James Ahenkora attending this amazing experience in Indianapolis in November, please join 712-323-1484 us for our next planning meeting on June 2, 2021. For more information, [email protected] please contact Linda Pfenning at [email protected].

Deacons Rev. Mr. Charles Hannan 712-323-6923 Rev. Mr. James Mason 402-639-6965 Rev. Mr. Emmet Tinley 712-323-4855 Rev. Mr. John Pfenning • CONFIRMATION 712-322-2887 Wednesday, May 12 at 7:00 PM Bishop Joensen will celebrate the [email protected] of Confirmation with our candidates. Due to limited seating, this celebration is not open to the public. The service will be live-streamed Parish Manager on the parish Facebook page for relatives who cannot attend in person. Darin Hecker Please pray for our Confirmation candidates. 712-310-3138 [email protected] • PRE-BAPTISM SESSION Sessions are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 PM in the Director of Faith Formation church. The next session will be Tuesday, May 18. If you have a child Jill Faust that needs to be baptized, please call the Parish Office, 712-323-1484 to 712-323-1484 sign up. A session is required for parents and Godparents. The [email protected] session must be completed before a baptism date is scheduled.

Coordinator of High School Faith • RCIA Formation & Confirmation RCIA will meet on Thursday, May 13 from 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the classroom. Linda Pfenning This will be the last meeting for this year's group. Thank you to everyone 712-323-1484 who helped make this the best in the world for our new [email protected] members!

• STILL LOOKING FOR UNUSED "DECISION POINT" BOOKS Parish Secretary The Religious Education team is looking for unused copies of the Beth Wilson workbook, "Decision Point" by Matthew Kelly. If you have a book you no 712-323-1484 longer want, please donate it to the parish RE program. Contact Linda [email protected] Pfenning, Confirmation Director, at [email protected]

Hall Rental Special thanks to Mary Hoferer, Jeannette Kenny, Bonnie Helms, 712-323-1484 Bobbi Marshall and Bunny McCoy for their donations.

For more information on Faith Formation at St. Patrick contact Jill Faust or

Linda Pfenning or visit our Faith Formation Website at https://sites.google.com/view/stpatsfaithformation/home.

4 stpatrickcb.org 712-323-1484 Ministry Contacts Ministry & Organizational Activities

• KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Music Ministry The Knights monthly meeting is held on the first Thursday of the month Lyn Stuntz after the 6 PM Mass. 402-578-6081 The Knights of Columbus will be hosting their annual Mother’s Day breakfast on Sunday, May 9 from 8-11 AM with a menu that includes Marriage Prep egg casserole, pancakes, ham, fruit, yogurt, pastries and juice and George & Kris Smith coffee. It will be a good opportunity for our Church community to come 402-650-6471 together and enjoy a wonderful breakfast. Hope to see you there! Bereavement Ministry

Vickie Rule • ALTAR & ROSARY SOCIETY 712-325-0772 The Altar & Rosary Society meets the third Thursday of each month. The Altar & Rosary Society Governing Board is seeking nominations for Prayer Chain members to serve on the 2021-2022 governing board. The governing board Prayer requests may be submitted oversees the programming and business portion of the ARS. A term on the via the Parish Office or website. board lasts one year. If you would like to nominate yourself or another person, please email Bridget Trager at [email protected]. Hospital & Care Center Chaplain • INTO THE BREACH All Catholic men are invited to a City-Wide meeting series called "Into the Reiver Catholic Breach." This program for all Catholic men 18 years or older follows a book Jack DeLong – Club Advisor of the same name. Join us in discussion of the [email protected] sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Our third session will be Monday, Audriauna DeLong – Student May 10, 7 - 8:30 PM. For more information contact Dennis Shea at 402- Leader 250-1678 or [email protected]. [email protected]

• LEGION OF MARY The Legion of Mary meets every Friday morning after the 8 AM Mass. The Organization Contacts Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church, and under powerful leadership of Mary Knights of Columbus Immaculate, , serve the Church on a voluntary basis Larry Andress – 712-355-0441 in about 170 Countries.

• JOY ON THE JOURNEY Altar & Rosary Society Joy on the Journey is a support and social activity for those who are Bridget Trager – 712-328-9603 widowed, divorced, or separated. It is a social coffee time which includes fun, prayer and connection. We meet the Second Tuesday of the month Legion of Mary after the 8 AM morning Mass, around 8:30 AM. Please feel free to join us. Cathy Eastwood - 402-598-0172 No reservation necessary. (We will practice social distancing and wear masks.) Joy on the Journey Mary Bartlett - 712-269-1501 Dick Janousek - 712-256-0631 • REIVER CATHOLIC - change of schedule Vickie Rule - 712-325-0772

Attention high school graduates! Welcome back! The Reiver Catholic Club Women’s Book Club will be meeting at St. Patrick Church for prayer, fellowship, and discussion Jeanette Kenny - 402-490-7983 about the . Check us out on FaceBook for day/time of our meetings. For questions, signup, and/or suggestions please contact Audriauna DeLong or Jack DeLong. See our Facebook page for more information: Mission of 72 @ReiverCatholic Margie Graeve – 712-309-1119

Parish Nurse Margie Graeve – 712-309-1119 Elaine Fenner – 712-328-2481

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STEWARDSHIP • PROJECT HOPE UPDATE Thanks to the generosity of our parishioners, as part of Project Hope, the Knights of Columbus were able to make four very large deliveries of many needed items and cash donations to the New Visions Homeless Services for the months of March and April. They were very appreciative of your generosity. For the months of May and June, Project Hope will be collecting items for . The items that are needed include the following: dish soap, body wash, hair brushes, shower curtains & shower curtain rings, trash bags, paper towels, shampoo and conditioner, and laundry detergent, pajamas for any season ranging in size from baby to adult for any gender. The Knights of Columbus would like to thank you for the support you have given and continue to give to Project Hope! You are making a difference with your generosity in giving!

• MERCY GUILD MEMORIAL DAY FLOWER SALE This flower sale is a major fundraiser for Mercy Hospital. See the flyer in today's bulletin for details.

YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH, December 8, 2020 - December 8, 2021

To celebrate the Year of St. Joseph, each week in the St. Patrick bulletin, we will feature information about St. Joseph all year long.

From ChurchPOP, "8 Little Known Facts about St. Joesph, the Foster Father of Jesus" Here are 8 things you might not know about St. Joseph, the foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1) He has no recorded words in Scripture He protected the immaculate Mother of God and helped raise of the Universe! But he doesn’t get even one quote. Rather, he’s a silent, humble servant of God who does his task well, and no more. 2) He is not even mentioned in the Gospel of Mark – or most of the New Testament

Joseph is mentioned in Matthew, Luke, once in John (someone calls Jesus “the son of Joseph”) – and that’s it. He’s not mentioned at all in Mark or in the rest of the New Testament. 3) His exit from the story of the Gospels is left unexplained in Scripture He’s an important figure in the Nativity narratives of Matthew and Luke, and he is included in the story of finding the 12- year -old Jesus with the teachers of the Law in the Temple. But that’s the last we hear of him. Mary comes up several times during Jesus’ ministry, but Joseph is gone without a trace. So what happened to him? Various traditions explain this gap by saying that Joseph died around Jesus’ 20th birthday. 4) He may have been an old widower Scripture doesn’t tell us how old Joseph was when he married Mary, or really anything about his previous life. An early tradition, though, claims that he was about 90 years old, and that he had been previously married, had children from that previous marriage, and that his wife had died, leaving him a widower. 5) Veneration of him goes back at least to the 9th century

An early title used to honor him was nutritor Domini, meaning “guardian of the Lord.” 6) He has 2 feast days The Solemnity of St. Joseph is March 19 (if this falls on a weekday during Lent, you can break your fast!), and the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker is May 1. Of course, he’s also included in the Feast of the (December 30, or thereabouts), and he’s certainly a part of the Christmas story. 7) He’s the patron of a bunch of stuff He is the patron of the Universal Church, a happy death, families, fathers, expectant mothers, travelers, immigrants, craftsmen, engineers, and workers. He’s also the patron of the Americas, Canada, China, Croatia, Mexico, Korea, Austria, Belgium, Peru, the Philippines and Vietnam. So start asking for his intercession! 8) Josephology is a thing Among the sub-disciplines of , you’ve probably heard of and . But did you know there’s Josephology now? Of course, St. Joseph has been a figure of theological interest for centuries. But only in the 20th century did some people start to gather the Church’s insights about him into a sub-discipline of its own. In the 1950s, three centers dedicated to the study of St. Joseph were opened: one in Spain, one in Italy, and one in Canada.

6 stpatrickcb.org 712-323-1484 AROUND THE COMMUNITY

• FR. JAMES' TUESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY Fr. James' Bible study has gone international! Friends from his time in Jamaica are helping to lead the study. To join Father James in his Tuesday night Bible Study, contact the Faith Formation Office at [email protected].

• CYC REGISTRATION IS OPEN The staff at Catholic Youth Camp have been busy planning to make summer 2021 the most amazing summer ever! Campers driving up to the St. Thomas More Center in Panora will find new cabins, a renovated Dingman Lodge and double the number of paid summer staff hired to ensure procedures are followed so everyone can have a safe experience. See what a week at CYC holds, watch the 2021 video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yALMAvxFjGA. A postcard with schedules with pricing is available in the Narthex on the information table.

• DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM Angels Care Home Health is offering a 10 week series for persons who care for loved ones with Dementia. The program begins Monday, May 17 and runs through February. Lunch is provided and an RSVP is necessary. See the flyer in today's bulletin for more detailed information.

Do you like the look of the new color ads in the bulletin? Would you like to promote your business while supporting St. Patrick? SolutioSoftware, is offering a great deal. If you purchase any level of sponsorship on the website, you will receive a 1/2 price, colored ad in the bulletin! If you are interested, call SolutioSoftware at (712) 201-8989 or email them at [email protected].

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