ST. PATRICK J es CATHOLIC 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 Deacon 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 Parish 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 salvation. 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 Legion of Mary 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 Chaplet 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 rosary 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 Ministry Schedule St. Albert in our parish. Thank you in advance. 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 EMCHs - John Schlautman & Mary Current Year Current Year Last Year 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: 1,036 712-323-1484 stpatrickcb.org 3 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] Sacrament of Confirmation with our candidates.