December 20, 2015 - Fourth 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

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday: 3:00 – 3:30 pm and Weekdays: 7:15 am

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

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 20, 2015

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Saturday, December 19--Vigil of the Fourth Sunday of Advent 4:00 PM: Mike Guilbeau; Willis Noel; Cecil & Eva Mae Hebert ; Dr. Leonard & Betty Rolfes; Phil Simon; Bud & Euna Arceneaux; John Foreman, II; Alfred Hitter, Jr.; Mary Lou Broussard; Maurice Menard Sunday, December 20--Fourth Sunday of Ad-vent 8:30 AM: Robert Chastant & Evelyn; Eddie Upton; Dr. Almore (Doc) Bordelon; Nick & Earl Chiasson 10:00 AM: Parishioners of St. Patrick’s Monday, December 21--Advent Weekday 7:30 AM: Bella Hernandez; Gussie Hernan-dez; Manilla Hernandez Tuesday, December 22-Advent Weekday 7:30 AM: Dr. & Mrs. Leonard Rolfes

Wednesday, December 23--Late Advent Weekday 7:30 AM: Dr. Tommy Comeaux & Dorinne; Col. Clark Comeaux & Catherine (living); Col. Kimberly Fedele (living) Thursday, December 24--Vigil of Christmas 4:00 PM: Dr. & Mrs. Leonard Rolfes; Judith A. White; Cecil & Eva Mae Hebert; Joyce Hadley; Marjorie Bernard Domingue; Elaine St. Germaine; Dorothy Mae Bernard; Bertha Guibeau; James Delahoussaye 6:00 PM: John Viltz, Sr.; Hazel Cormier; Shel-ton LeBlanc, Sr.; Shelia Gerard; Mr. & Mrs. Charles Thompson; Chuck Thompson; Mr. & Mrs. Ron Venable (living) Friday, December 25--The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) 8:30 AM: Dr. Charles Stewart; Cecelia & Junius Ledet; Julia Philips; The family of Alexander & Ce-celia Benjamin 10:00 AM: Kakki Purslow (living); Msgr. Charles Mallet (living)

Non-Liturgical Devotions Daily Rosary: Monday - Friday 6:55 a.m. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena: Tuesday 7:15 a.m. Rosary for Priests: Wednesday 7:00 a.m. Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Thursday 7:15 a.m. Pro-Life Rosary: 1st. Friday of the month 7 a.m. Shamrocks—Friday, December 25: No clean-ing. Thanks to all who make this Ministry possi-ble! Decorating Help We are looking for two or three able-bodied folk who can assist for an hour with decorating for Christmas. We will be decorating on Wednes-day, Dec. 23rd, at 5:30 p.m., and need a few more people who can lift and carry.

Christmas Poinsettias In Loving Memory of: Dr. & Mrs. Leonard Rolfes; Dr. Tommy Comeaux & Dorinne; Larry Lampo; Bannon Braun; Christopher Landry; Monty & Pierre Montagnet; Sidney Begnaud; Henry Bourdier & Elzia Lavergne Family

Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24: 4 & 6 p.m. (NO 7:30 a.m. Mass on this Day)

Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25: 8:30 & 10 a.m. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31: 4:00 p.m.

(NO 7:30 a.m. Mass on this Day) New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1: 9:00 a.m.

Reminder: January 1st., New Year’s Day, is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and is a Holy Day of obligation. Christmas Project Heifer International A Gift of a Llama: $150—Share of a Llama: $20 The gift of a llama or alpaca offers a unique way to cele-brate Christmas—one that is sure to be remembered for many years to come. Their wool is prized around the world for being dense, warm and more soft than sheep wool—making it possible for the project families high in the Andes Mountains to earn a steady living by either selling the wool or making clothes and blankets that can be sold for addi-tional income. There is no better way to share your warmest Christmas wishes with those you love! Donation sheets are available under the stairwell. Make checks payable to St. Patrick Church. All donations will be sent to Heifer Interna-tional at the beginning of the year. Heifer International meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s Standards for Char-ity Accountability. For additional information please visit their website: http//www.heifer.org/ Prayer Vigil Ring in the New Year with a Prayer Vigil for Consecrated Life at the Community of Jesus Crucified, Mater Dolorosa Chapel, 103 Railroad Ave. in St. Martinville. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed at 9:00 PM January 31, 2015, night prayer will be sung, and confessions will be available. Holy Mass of Mary Mother of God will be celebrated at 11:00 PM to ring in 2016. The adoration and Holy Mass will be offered for religious vocations as the Church contin-ues her observance of the Year of Consecrated Life. A ple-nary indulgence can be gained by those who join us for the praying of night prayer at 9:00 PM. Call Our Lady of Sor-rows Retreat Center at (337) 394-6550 for more infor-mation. Schedule for Ministers Our ministers for Mass are reminded that if you wish to begin receiving your schedules via email, please send your email address to: stpat.org@gmail.com . Many thanks

Annual Christmas Social - Thank You We would like to thank Stephanie Bacque and Maggie Sonnier, Chair Persons of our Christmas Social, and all the volunteers who came in Saturday morning to set up and decorate the Parish Hall and transformed it into a beautiful Christmas Dining area. The food was deli-cious as always and all in attendance had a good time visiting. We are grateful for your presence at this joy-ful event. Church Office The office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, De-cember 24 & 25th. Annulments - What They Are and How to Go About It Please join us for a workshop on “Annulments: What They Are and How To Go About It” on Thursday, January 14, 2016, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Edmond Catholic Church (Family Center), 4131 West Congress Street, Lafayette. Presented by Very Rev. Msgr. Robie Robichaux, JCL, VJ, Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Lafayette, this workshop will explain what the Church means by a Declaration of Nullity and how to petition for one. All are welcome to attend. For information, please contact Mary Bergeron (337-654-8682 or Mbergeron@diolaf.org). All New Ragin’ Cajun Catholics App for Iphone & Android There's an app for that! The Ragin' Cajun Catholics from Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Stu-dent Center proudly announce the release of a new mo-bile app! Available for both Apple and Android, the free app delivers Catholic life and everything Ragin' Cajun Catholics at your fingertips! To get the app, search Ragin' Cajun Catholics in the app store, or go to www.parishsolutionsco.com/rcc. Once downloaded, app users can choose to receive push notifications for exclusive updates and reminders. The app is a produc-tion of the Parish Solutions Company, and features links to Ragin' Cajun Catholics media, homilies, blog posts, prayers, local events, and much more! Visit www.RaginCajunCatholics.org for more information. STEWARDSHIP OF THE PAST WEEK Our Response to God’s Generosity to Us Offertory……………………...$ 4,937.05 Immaculate Con. (Needy)..…...$ 1,260.00 Heifer International…………...$ 7,655.00 (to date) Thank You! The second collection this weekend is for the Retire-ment Fund for Religious.

Date

Saturday, December 26 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 27 8:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 27 10:00 a.m.

Lectors Janell Venable Susan Cain Michael Doumit

Eucharistic Ministers

Candis Thompson Oren Spruill Harold Guilbeau

Maggie Sonnier Sarah Hamsher Sandra LaGrange

Andre Arceneaux Jean Arceneaux Tami Petre

Altar Servers George Eaton Glenn LaGrange Phyllis Roy

Ushers Kevin & Dylan Phillips Donald & Scottie Vallot Robin Roy Lionel Jeanmard

Liturgical Roles for December

Readings for the Week

Monday Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45

Tuesday 1:1 Sm 24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56

Wednesday Mal 3:1-4, 23-34; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66

Thursday 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Lk 1:67-79

Friday Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22

Saturday Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14]

Sunday Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28; Ps 128:1-5 or Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52

From the Pastor’s Desk

Elizabeth was a walking miracle. She and her husband Zechariah, long past the normal age for child-bearing, expected to die childless. When the angel announced the coming of a son to Zechariah, he of course was incredulous, so that his tongue was stilled until the promise was fulfilled. And when the son, named John and called the Baptist, was finally born, Zechariah would proclaim the tender compassion of God in the canticle that bears his name: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free.”

Elizabeth had conceived, though advanced in years, and eventually received a visitation of her own. No angel this one, her visitor and guest was a young woman, betrothed but unmarried, who was carrying within her own body the Desire of Nations, the Savior of the World. Mary, engaged to Joseph, but with child through the power of the Holy Spirit, would soon give birth to one who had come to announce good news to the poor, to bring liberty to captives and to announce a year of favor from the Lord.

This visitation, of one woman to another, was so pregnant with grace that the child in Elizabeth’s womb “leaped for joy” at the sound of Mary’s greeting. Yet the world took little notice of these two extraordinary preg-nancies, and less notice of their births. Each child was destined to play his own proper role in nothing less than the redemption of the world, and yet they were born into humble obscurity.

So Mary, too, was a walking miracle. She was the one chosen by God for this glorious task of giving hu-man flesh to the Word of God. For her part, she simply said yes, fully and completely, on the occasion of her own visitation and throughout her life. She molded her life around the will of God, just as she molded her body around the Son of God. What privilege then for this walking miracle to bear within her own body the very Body and Blood, the Incarnation, of the salvific love of God.

Consider then that event we call Eucharist. In order that he not leave us orphan, this Incarnate Word would send his spirit, and give us his sacrament: a living gift of his Body and Blood, accomplished through dying and rising from the dead. Simple gifts of bread and wine, gift of the Father and touched by the Spirit, become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this spiritual Food and in this spiritual Drink, transubstantiated and transformed, is not the whole Christ present, as he offers himself for us and to us? Doing what Jesus did, and speaking as he spoke, do we not consume the same Body and Blood that took flesh in the womb of the Virgin? Miracles, indeed!!!