Readings for the Weekend, February 17th & 18th Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING (1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23) Second Reading–(1 Corinthians15:45-49) Gospel–(Luke 6:27-38) PRAY FOR THE SICK: Ashley Alford, Laura Blake, Wes Brasher, Gregory Burks, Kelsey Carter, Jamey Cather, Gilbert Casey, Eva Jean Cavender, Joe Cox, Fred Deason, Ann Driscoll, Mary Fadlevich, Michelle Fredrick, Brett Gardner, Carolyn Giambrone, Tom Grainger, Pamela Guyton, Sandra Harris, Paul Johnson, Joe Tom Harrold, Patricia LaRussa, Lisa & Steve Martz, Jo Melton, Mel Melton, Lilly McBrayer, Earl McCann, Buddy Meadows, Louise Meadows, Vito Montabana, Jim Milko, Mary Milko, Jane Nehlms, Allen Patterson, Vita Barrile Pauley, Jan Plan, Virginia Reeves, Larry Robyler, Bill Smith, Baby Jack Smith, Lisa Ann Smith, Theresa Smith, Travis Smith, Mary Jo Sprouse, Charlotte Stewart, Tina Stover, (Rev.) Pat Sullivan, Jeremy Turner, Donna Wallace, Baby Shelby Grace Wood, K C Woodall, Adam Whitley and Carole Zanaty. Please keep these, all the sick and their caregivers in your prayers. If you know of anyone who should be added to or removed from this list please contact the church office. PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SHUT IN: Benny Bakane, Albert Billets, Doug Blanchard, Debbie Box, Jonathan Box, Angie Cusimano, Harold Dill, Carolyn Dunbar, Joe Gagliano, Chad Galloway, Annie George, Jenny Guerino, Norman Gugliotta, Tommy Herron, Maggie Jeely, Virginia Jones, Theresa Lucia, Margaret Alice Mackinaw, Nancy M. Manzella, Rose Marie Mitchell, Rose Monte, Frances Myers, Pearl Newberry, Pete Ragusa, Mary Rodriguez, Stan Rogato, Joe Russo, Willie Mai Sanders, John Sokira, Mildred Stack, Ed Suchey, Elizabeth Sullivan, Lena Vizzinia, Katie VonHagel, Mabel Wallace, Leonard Watson, Patti Watson, Lady Jane Whatley and Gatham Wyatt. Please keep these, all the homebound and their caregivers in your prayers. If you know of anyone who should be added to or removed from this list please contact the church office. PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS: especially our families, friends and loved ones who are currently in active military service: Jeremy Baron (Iraq), Christopher Cates (Iraq), Joel Dill (Japan), Brian Gibson (Iraq), Becky Hodges (Stateside), Tim Rowell (Iraq), Barbara Salvagio (Stateside), Joey Serio (Iraq), and Jason C. Watson (Iraq). Please keep all of our brave men and women in your prayers. If you know of anyone who should be added to or removed from this list, please contact the Church office. PLEASE JOIN OUR PARISH! We would love to have you as a registered member of St. Patrick. If you are attending Mass here at St. Patrick and would like to formally join our parish, please pick up a Census Card in the Narthex, fill it out and put it in the collection basket. Not sure if we have you on record? If you are not receiving contribution envelopes through the mail, you are not registered. LENTEN DAY of SERVICE 2007 is Saturday, March 3rd, a day set aside for the parishioners of St. Patrick’s to come together to Serve the Lord through Service and Fellowship. Please volunteer your Talent, Time and Commitment, to continue St. Patrick’s growth. Phillip Troha will once again direct this Parish event. Opportunities to improve our Parish are being accumulated for Team tasks. There are SIGN UP SHEETS in the Narthex and in the St. Joseph Hall. Please sign up as soon as possible, so Philip and others can make better use of everyone’s capabilities, and to assign you to a team. The day will begin with 8 am refreshments and Opening Prayer. Teams will disperse by 8:30 a. m. Water will be available throughout the day. First Saturday Mass will be at noon at the Blessed Mother Grotto on the grounds. Lunch will be furnished afterwards. We can finish the day with 5 p. m. Mass.

PASTOR’S portion

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jesus reminds us who are the blessed and warns us about who are cursed. Pray that you may be among those who are blessed. (Luke 6:17,20-26) Let us pray for those who have died, especially the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful and those that suffer injustice that the promise of blessings may be theirs. (Vocation View sponsored by the Serra Club)

ON A CRUISE: This week I will be on the parish cruise. I will be saying Mass each day and will say Mass for the intentions posted in this weeks bulletin.

CONGRATULATIONS to Grades 1, 3, and 7 for having full attendance at Faith Formation on January 31st.

RCIA/ ADULT FAITH FORMATION: RCIA will meet this Wednesday, February 14th.

THE ADULT BIBLE STUDY CLASS: Sunday at 8:45am. We are studying the book of Numbers. SPRING HILL COLLEGE will offer a Spring Theological Studies Program at the Chancery located at 2121 Third Avenue South, across from the Cathedral of St. Paul. The course begins Saturday March 3rd from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. And will meet every other Saturday and end on May 5th. The course is designed to introduce the students to modern methods of interpreting the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) with a focus on an interpretation of each text from a literary, historical and structural perspective along with application of gospel teachings to Christian living. Graduate or undergraduate credit or audit options are available. For more information contact Sr. Marie Leonard, O.S.B by e-mail theologybirmingham@shc.edu or contact the church office.

SPIRIT SUNDAY! is next Sunday, February 18, for all SPIRIT Youth (Grades 6-12). We're going on a road trip to Trussville for Dinner and a Movie with our friends from Holy Infant of Prague Parish. We'll eat at Pizza Hut and then watch "Bridge To Terabithia." Meet at St. Patrick at 4:30 p.m. and we'll return by 9:30 p.m. The cost is $10, which will cover pizza and a drink at dinner, followed by the movie. Bring extra money for food at the theater. See the enclosed flyer for details. ATTENTION HIGH-SCHOOL YOUTH! Registration is now underway for CROSS, a 3-day retreat experience conducted by teens for teens. Please see the enclosed flyer, and call Kevin Whitaker for more information. The registration deadline is next Sunday, February 18.

KNIGHTS Of COLUMBUS Saturday & Sunday For Ministry are Feb. 17 & 18. Knights, please wear your Red Knights Shirts; Ladies Auxiliary, your appropriate Blue; and Squires, your Green. SQUIRES Meeting set for Sunday, Feb. 18 after 10 a.m. Mass.

IMPORTANT DATES: Monday; February 12th. No Choir rehearsal.

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PRO-LIFE MASS & ROSARIES is Saturday, February 17. The Celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will begin at 8 a.m. at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, 1515-12th Avenue South, Birmingham. Following the Mass is the procession to the abortion center, where 20 decades of the Rosary will be prayed, concluding at approx. 10:30 a. m. JOURNEY OF A CELTIC HEART will be offered again this year at Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat, Ft. Mitchell, Alabama on March 9th thru 11th. Carmel Boyle, singer/songwriter from Ireland, will take us on a symbolic pilgrimage to visit the sacred places of our soul’s journey and reflect on the inspiration of St. Patrick and St. Brigid. In a reflective atmosphere of song, poetry, gentle movement, ritual and meditation, Carmel will share her own faith which is deeply rooted in Celtic spirituality. For more information or to register, contact the church office. SPRINGFEST 2007 Our first Springfest note is to thank you for your support over the years in contributing to the Bargain Basement. This year the Springfest Committee wishes to use that space for other options. If you have been collecting items for the bargain basement, please donate them to the Catholic Center of Concern if the items are appropriate. Other options are to donate them to The Foundry in Bessemer, Hanna Home, The Salvation Army or Kings Ranch. Again, thank you for your support. Thanks also to Maria Whitaker and her helpers for all the time and effort they have donated to this booth over the years.

******************************************************************************** WORLD MARRIAGE DAY This Sunday, February 11th is World Marriage Day, sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter. World Marriage Day honors husband and wife as head of the family, the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their faithfulness, sacrifice and joy in daily married life. The Theme for WMD is to “Love one another”. This phrase is the commandment given us by Jesus in John 15:12. It speaks to us in a simple but challenging way of how our Father wished us to live. Loving one another is a daily decision – simple but challenging. The next Marriage Encounter Weekend is February 23-25, 2007. Register on line at www.wwmealabama.org . PRAYER FOR WORLD MARRIAGE DAY: Father, as we celebrate World Marriage Day, we thank you for your tremendous gift of the Sacrament of Marriage. Help us to witness to its glory by a life of growing intimacy. Teach us the beauty of forgiveness so we may become more and more One in Heart, Mind and Body. Strengthen our dialogue and help us become living signs of your love. Make us grow more in love with the church so we may renew the Body of Christ. Make us a sign of unity in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Brother. Amen MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND: Do you want to rediscover the joy, intimacy & romance in your marriage? Do you want a happier, healthier family? A Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a Catholic Movement designed to enrich and deepen the relationships of married couples, priests and religious, is holding a Weekend February 23rd – 25th at the 4 Points Sheraton Hotel at the Huntsville Airport. It is not “marriage counseling” nor is it a retreat, nor a marriage clinic. It is a private, intimate weekend with no group sharing. For more information go to their web site at www.wwmealabama.org or the church office.