December 10, 2017 - First Sunday of Advent

Rev. M. Keith LaBove, Pastor Parish Website: www.stpat.org

stpat.org@gmail.com

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm; Friday 8:30 am – 12 noon Celebration of the Eucharist

Saturday: 4:00 pm – Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 am Monday through Friday: 7:30 am

Holydays of Obligation: 7:30 am only Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday: 3:00 – 3:30 pm and Weekdays: 7:00-7:25 am (and by appointment)

Baptisms

Seminars are held every other month - register

by calling the office. At-tendance is suggested

during pregnancy.

Anointing of the Sick The Church recom-

mends this sacrament for those who are grave-

ly ill or in danger of death. Call the priest to

arrange a visit.

Weddings

Arrangements must be made at least six

months in advance to allow time for prepara-

tion and planning.

406 East Pinhook Road Lafayette, LA 70501-8727

Phone: (337) 237-0988

Welcome to St. Patrick Church

Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Saturday, December 9--Vigil of the Second Sunday of Advent 4:00 PM: Dr. Leonard & Betty Rolfes; Joey Leleux & Family, (living); Rusty & Natalie & Family (living); Ray Kalweit (living); Larry Romero; Darlene Maddox; M. Hitter; C. Mire; Andre Arceneaux (living) Sunday, December 10--Second Sunday of Advent 8:30 AM: Dr. Robert Chastant & Evelyn; Eddie Upton; John Daigle; Phil Simon; Bud & Euna Arceneaux; George Sigue & Siblings; Lorraine Day; Lloyd Sigue; Una Hargrave 10:00 AM: Parishioners of St. Patrick’s Monday, December 11--Advent Weekday 7:30 AM: Special Intention

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight his paths. — Mark 1:3

Tuesday, December 12--Our Lady of Guadalupe

7:30 AM: Esther Metz Wednesday, December 13--St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr 7:30 AM: Dr. Tommy Comeaux & Dorinne; Col. Clark Comeaux & Catherine (living); Col. Kimberly Fedele (living) Thursday, December 14--St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church 7:30 AM: Fr. Robert Young, O.F.M. Friday, December 15--Advent Weekday 7:30 AM: Dr. Charles Stewart

Non-Liturgical Devotions Daily Rosary: Monday - Thursday 6:55 am Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena: Tues-day 7:15 am Rosary for Priests: Wednesday 7:00 am Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Thursday 7:15 am Pro-Life Rosary: 1st Friday of the month 7 am Shamrocks—Friday, December 15: Karen Gambel; Daniel & Charlotte Privat. Meal Prayer For Christmas Eternal Father, we praise and bless you for the goodness you show us at this meal and throughout this season. Be with us as we celebrate the fulfillment of your promise in the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen —To Thank and Bless

Annual Christmas Social This Sunday, December 10th,

at the Parish Hall, 11 am. It is not too late; this is a great opportunity to fellowship with one another and to meet parishioners who attend mass at another time. All are welcome! Decorating Help We are looking for two or three able-bodied folk who can assist for an hour with decorating for Christ-mas. We will be decorating on Sunday, Dec. 24th, at 11:00 a.m., and need a few more people who can lift and carry. Please call the office if you can help. Christmas Poinsettias If you wish to make a Christmas donation for Altar Flowers in memory of a loved one, please come by the office.

Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24: 4 & 6 p.m.

Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25: 8:30 & 10 a.m. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Year’s Day, Monday, January 1: 9:00 a.m.

Note: January 1, New Year’s Day, is The Solemnity of Mary, The Mother of God. This year it is not a holyday of obligation. Please Come The Church encourages all Catholics to celebrate the Sac-rament of Reconciliation each Advent. In addition to our normal confession times (see front of bulletin), St. Patrick Church and all the Catholic parishes of the Diocese will be open on Advent Wednesdays -- Dec. 13 & Dec. 20, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Please take advantage of this opportunity to prepare well to welcome a Savior. Please also reach out to Catholics you know who have been away from the regu-lar practice of our faith and invite them to seize this chance to begin again. Come Lord Jesus! This is a weekly study/support group that focuses on the upcoming Sunday readings in a small group setting. Through study, prayer and faith-sharing in a small group, members are able to deepen their faith, as well as their ap-preciation for the Sunday Eucharist, as a help to living out the Gospel day by day. We have an active group that meets on Tuesdays, at 6 pm, in the classroom directly behind the Church (across from the restrooms). Anyone interested in deepening their faith and appreciation for the Eucharist is welcome to try it out. No need to register, just come and see! Retreat Information The Jesuit Spirituality Center in Grand Coteau, LA is offer-ing the following Retreats: The Little Way: A Journey along St. Therese’s Path of Confidence and Love. Robin Hebert will present, January 18-21, 2018. Introduction to the Directed Retreat Nelda Turner will lead this retreat from February 9-11, 2018. Silent, Individually-Directed Retreats of 3, 5, or 8 days beginning on the following dates: (3 & 5 days only) Mon., Jan. 29 or Thus., Feb. 1st. To register, visit website jesuitspiritualitycenter.org or call 337-662-5251, M-F 8 am-12 noon and 1-5 pm. St. Mary’s Church Christmas Concert December 19, 7:00 pm All are invited to a St. Mary Christmas Concert including Adult Vocal Choir, Adult and Children Bell Ensembles, and Chorale Des Amis. Bring a friend. Bring the children. Light refreshments will be available after the concert.

Christmas Project Heifer International Great Gifts They Will Never Forget

By donating to Christmas Project Heifer International, your purchase includes: -An animal that will be given to a family in a part of the world where just one animal can literally be the difference between life and death for a hungry child. -Training that ensures the animal you buy will be well cared for. And the family who receives it will know how to use the animal to change their lives and lives of those around them. -The good, good feeling that millions of Americans who choose to do their shopping with Heifer have come to love! Donation sheets are available under the stairwell. Make checks payable to St. Patrick Church. All donations will be sent to Heifer International at the beginning of the year. Heifer International meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability. For additional information please visit their website: http//www.heifer.org/ Food for the Journey The Central Deanery of the Diocese of Lafayette pre-sents “Food for the Journey”, a monthly lunchtime speakers series designed to help Catholics live out our faith in our daily lives. “Food for the Journey” will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at River Oaks Catering and Event Center Lafayette, 520 East Ka-liste Saloom Road, beginning at 12:00 noon. The speaker will be Rev. Joseph Champion, SSJ, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Breaux Bridge. An op-tional buffet ($14.00) is available for purchase begin-ning at 11:30 a.m. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, please call Danielle Huval (232-1322). Second Collection Next Weekend—Retirement Fund for Religious Help care for elders. “Thanks to support from the Re-tirement Fund for Religious, we are now in a much better position to care for our elders,” writes a religious sister. Your donation helps her religious community and hundreds of others provide for aging members and plan for long-term needs. Please give to next week’s Retirement Fund for Religious collection. STEWARDSHIP OF THE PAST WEEK Our Response to God’s Generosity to Us Offertory…………….……… $3,523.08 Building Fund……………..…$2,285.09 Heifer International…………..$2,370.00 (to date) Thank You!

“If you know someone who has had an abortion, express your sympathy for her loss. Assure her of her loss. Assure her of God’s unconditional love, and encourage her to seek healing and forgiveness.” —USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities “Bridges of Mercy for Post-Abortion Healing

Date

Saturday, December 16 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 17 8:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 17 10:00 a.m.

Lectors Edward Turner Larry Lewis Brenda DeMette

Eucharistic Ministers

Janell Venable Rosalind Allen Peggy Spruill

Geneva Phillips Fred Vallot Maggie Sonnier

Jean Arceneaux Monica Mullins Robin Roy

Altar Servers Oren Spruill Mary Kramer Harry DeMette

Ushers Kathy Kalweit George Guidry

Donald Vallot Jason Sonnier

Jenny Feehan Lionel Jeanmard

Liturgical Roles for December

From the Pastor’s Desk

This week I read the story of Time magazine’s naming of “The Silence Breakers” as Persons of the Year. (Historical note: From 1927 to 1999, this honor was awarded to the “Man of the Year”). The aware serves as recognition so many women who found the courage to speak out against sexual harassment, in the work place and elsewhere. It is still a developing story. Yes, there are concerns about due process, in a nation that upholds innocence until proof of guilt. At the same time, there seems to be a realization that our culture, which objectifies women in countless ways, is a fertile breeding ground for these unjustified attacks on the integrity of women. That realization makes it possible, finally, to believe the women. When there are 16 accusers, the perpetrator’s statement that every one of them is lying is simply beyond belief. That kind of denial, a self-serving attack on the integrity of these victims of sexual harassment, is beneath contempt.

This week I also read an article detailing three ways in which sexual harassment contradicts Catholic So-cial Teaching. These three fundamental principles of faith are trampled upon when society believes the lie to women that the fullness of their humanity is in their sexual value to men. Sexual harassment is: 1) A violation of Human Dignity: Our respect for human dignity flows from the heart of the Gospel, and our belief

that we are created in God’s image and likeness. When anyone abuses power by coercing the victim into inti-mate acts against their will, their dignity is clearly being trampled upon.

2) A violation of Participation: In Catholic Social Teaching, human dignity is (and must be) upheld in the midst of society. This solidarity in community which our faith demands of us also permits every person to be a partic-ipant in that society, contributing to and receiving from the goods of the community. Demanding sexual fa-vors in exchange for equal participation at work offends against the very nature of the human person.

3) A violation of the Dignity of Work: Catholic teaching upholds the dignity of work itself, regardless of associated prestige or position. The demand for a just and living wage, safe working conditions, etc. are not just good economics but requirements of human dignity. Especially for the poor and for the vulnerable in society, sexu-al disrespect and harassment fail to recognize that dignity of work.

Our holy season of Advent is a special opportunity to recognize the presence of Christ in all, including co-workers. Treating other people as objects for one’s own sexual satisfaction must be condemned. It was Christ himself who said, “Whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.”

Readings for the Week

Monday Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 5:17-26

Tuesday Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47,

Wednesday Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30

Thursday Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9-13ab; Mt 11:11-15

Friday Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19

Saturday Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13

Sunday Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lk 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28