Saint Patrick Parish
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First Sunday of Lent February 18, 2018 Saint Patrick Parish Serving the East Bayfront of Erie since 1837 Daily Mass: Monday-Thursday 8 AM Saturday Vigil Mass: 5 PM Sunday: 8 AM & 10:30 AM From the Pastor’s Desk… Today is the First Sunday of Lent. Many stories in the an- cient world tell of a great flood, but only the biblical sto- ry weaves into it God’s profound mercy which ex- ceeds our sinfulness. After the flood, the first thing Noah does is offer a sacrifice to the Lord. When God smells the sweet odor of Noah’s sacri- fice, he promises never to doom the earth again because of human sin. Our narrative opens with God making a covenant with humanity. It is not Saint Patrick Parish simply repeating the original blessing given to the 130 East 4th Street first man and woman; but now God establishes a covenant not only with Noah, but with his de- Erie, PA 16507 scendants and every living creature that comes out of the ark. Monsignor Henry A. Kriegel—Pastor The first letter of Peter was a circular letter that Janine Carch Sliker—Office Manager was sent to various Christian communities. To- day’s reading provided essential teachings about Ann Halupczynski—Director of Finances Christ for the communities in Asia Minor. It is widely believed that this passage was used both Tom Golab—Sacristan for catechesis as well as in the early liturgy. In the verses just preceding today’s reading, Peter wrote about the suffering people experience, par- Mark Alloway—Organist, Music Director ticularly because of righteousness. Peter is re- minding his readers that Christ, the righteous Jan Gervasi—Wedding Coordinator one, suffered for the sake of the unrighteous. Pe- ter teaches about baptism and makes reference Anne Causgrove—Baptismal Preparation to the image of water by which the righteous in Noah’s day were saved. That water prefigures Mary Pat Schlaudecker—Archivist, baptism and becomes a theme in the Sundays of Genealogy research Lent as we prepare the elect for immersion into baptismal waters at the Easter Vigil. Phone: 814-454-8085 FAX: 814-459-8685 Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell of Jesus’ tempta- Email: [email protected] tion before entering public ministry. The account Website: www.saintpatrickparisherie.org in Mark is by far the shortest. Without describing Office Hours: how Satan tempted Jesus, as Matthew and Luke Monday-Thursday: 8:30 AM-4:00 PM will do, Mark’s brief scene sets the stage for what MASS SCHEDULE: will happen later in the life of Jesus. Satan is not Daily Mass: Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM (CHAPEL) the only one who will tempt Jesus. “Get behind Saturday Mass: 5:00 PM me, Satan,” Jesus says to Peter when he tries to Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM keep Jesus from completing his journey to Jeru- Holy Day Mass: 12:00 PM salem. As Jesus resisted the tempter in the wild, he will resist Peter’s misguided urging, as well as From the Pastor’s Desk continued… A two-year study just released offers a look at why young people are leaving the church as early every other temptation to turn from the will of his as the age of 13. Seventy-four percent of the for- Father. Mark has Jesus begin his public ministry mer Catholics interviewed said they decided to with the proclamation, “This is the time of fulfill- leave the church between the ages of 10 and 20. ment.” Throughout Jewish history, people had Thirty-five percent of the participants told the re- always asked, “Is this the time of fulfillment?” As searchers that they no longer have a religious af- Mark’s gospel unfolds, the answer becomes filiation while 14% label themselves as atheists. clearer: the kingdom of God is manifest in Jesus’ In addition, 21 percent of young Catholics who words and actions. The response, so different left the church say that they are now “born again” from what they were expecting, is repentance or evangelical Christians. Although the “nones,” and belief. those who have no religious affiliation, represent the largest category of former Catholics, the The annual Catholic Service Appeal begins to- study revealed that the vast majority still believe day. This annual appeal generates 60% of the in God and desire some type of religious commu- income for the diocese and partially funds St. nity with which to affiliate. The study further re- Martin’s Center, Catholic Charities, etc. It also veals three archetypes for disaffiliation: the in- provides for the Bishop’s Breakfast, hot cooked jured, the drifter and the dissenter. The “injured” meal prepared every morning for homeless peo- are young people who experienced a tragedy or ple. Up to a hundred meals are served every hardship in which God seemed to be absent. De- morning. spite their prayers, for example, their parents di- vorced or ill family members died. The “drifter” is Our goal at St. Patrick’s this year is $81,359. Any one who typically had trouble connecting their money generated above that remains in the par- identity as a baptized Catholic to their concrete ish. Last year we had an assessment of $74,000 life experiences in the real world. They struggled and generated $115,000 which gave the parish to articulate why being Catholic matters. The $41,000 in income. This year our goal is “dissenters” are those who reject the faith most $120,000 and if we meet it, we will again gener- likely citing the church’s sexual ethic as in conflict ate $39,000 for the parish. with their own. Notably, only two percent cited the clergy sex abuse scandal as a reason they left I’m hoping that each of you will support this ap- the church. Only 17% of those interviewed said peal. I only ask that you do what you can. Some they attended Mass regularly while they were can’t do anything and I understand that. Others Catholic and almost 80% did not attend a Catho- can be very generous, and you always are. You lic school. can make a pledge and pay it monthly or pay the full amount at once. A special thanks to chairperson Angie Kontur and all who volunteered to organize and staff our re- Lent is not observed in all Christian churches but cent Homeless Shelter. For some reason, this only in the Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, year saw a surge in homeless women which pre- Lutheran and Methodist churches. Some of the sented several challenges such as providing a evangelical churches observe it. Others do not. separate area for them to sleep, providing time for showers, etc. Parishioners volunteered to be Lent developed rather slowly in the early church. at the Shelter throughout the night, others pre- There was always some form of fasting prior to pared a hot evening meal for the guests, etc. I am the celebration of Easter but that only lasted 40 so proud of the social outreach of this parish. hours, not 40 days. By the mid-third century, the fast was extended to six days and it would only Most businesses like that our credit card ma- be with the Council of Nicea in 325 that the fast chines automatically print, “Thank you, please would become 40 days. Lent begins on Ash come again” at the bottom of receipts. Though Wednesday and ends at the time of the celebra- one guy called to ask if I could take it off. “Sure,” I tion of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. Last said, “but do you mind my asking why?” “It just week’s bulletin outlined the suggestions for fast seems inappropriate,” he said. “We’re a funeral and abstinence during Lent. home.” Saint Patrick News Stewardship Let Us Welcome Offertory Collection $ 8,971.25 Arlo James Sieber Online Giving 1,362.50 son of Total Income $ 10,333.75 Derek & Emily (Leone) Sieber who will be baptized after the 5:00 pm Liturgy on Saturday Thank you for your generosity! We continue to thank those who make special dona- tions to our parish and we pray for those people in The Sanctuary Lamp whose memory and honor the donations were made: burns in loving memory of William J. Rennie Sr. Mary Pascal Food Pantry from Dorothy Rennie The Food Pantry Truck is sponsored this week in memory of Joe Kohler, Jo Johnson, and Bud Ministry Schedule Johnson from Gary & Becky Johnson. Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 5:00 pm Donations were made in memory of: Lector: Jay Habas Mary McCarthy from Sally Kohler, Judy Alstadt Eucharistic Ministers: Jay Habas, Carol Habas, and Mary Pat Schlaudecker Ray Fiorelli Mary McCarthy from William & Sylvia Schaaf, Greeters: Mary Anne Ashworth, Mary Tellers Nancy Donnelly, Dennis & Janet Danielson Altar Servers: Ryan Jubulis Renee Calabrese from David & Gretchen Durney Ushers: Chris Lampe, Rob Oligeri, Phil Rewers, and the Sisters of St. Joseph 1 NEEDED Maureen Fitzgibbon from Leo & Jane Fitzgibbon Kristine Chaippazzi Kravis from Yvonne Gersims Sunday, February 25, 2018 at 8:00 am James, Jerry, Tom, Trish Hardner and Lois Lector: Fred Olds Paradise from Jeff Hadner Eucharistic Ministers: Tom Golab, Kathryn Olds, Rita Jackson, John C. Jackson from Bill & Patty Joe Schneider Jackson Ushers: John Maloney, Dave Korn, Chuck Straub, Barbara Korn form David Korn Mike Nies Luke from John & Cynthia Purvis JoAnn Schenker from Robert & Carolyn Schenker Sunday, February 25, 2018at 10:30 am Lector: Mary Williams Also donations from: Eucharistic Ministers: Mary Williams, Mary Kearney, Mary Rzomp Alberstadt, Jennifer Butters, Tim Scully Phil & Judy Kelly, Terry & Linda Pfeffer, William & Greeters: needed Rebecca Ruprecht and Mark & Barbara Sargent Altar Servers: Juliette Morales, Sarah Pristello Ushers: Randy Pristello, Dave Wilcox, John Purvis, Special Thank You!!! Chuck Agresti to PANERA BREAD & Offertory Counters: Bill & Cindy Welsh, Tim Donlin, HABORCREEK EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS Kay Sauers NEED PRAYERS? Scripture classes— Please call Mary Alice Hartwell at 454- Fr.