SAT. DECEMBER 30, 2017 - 6TH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD 8 a.m. + Francisco Campero (Familia) 3 p.m. 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY– Sergio & San Juana Salazar 5 p.m. + Irene Treviño (Catholic Daughters) SUN. DECEMBER 31, 2017– THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

8 a.m. + Sr. y Sra. Mario Cortez (Familia) + Sr. y Sra. Rogelio Rios (Familia) + Maria de Jesus Treviño (Familia) 10 a.m.+ Teresa Hunter-Gutierrez (Daniel J. Hunter Family)

12 p.m. BIRTHDAY - Rudolph Miles IN THANKSGIVING– Ana Ochoa SPECIAL INTENTION– David Gonzalez & Family

+ Hector & Armando Paredes (Ramos Family)

2 p.m. FOR ALL PARISHIONERS

4 p.m. + Herlinda & Jose Angel Alanis (Familia Alanis) 6 p.m. + Sylvia Escobedo (Thelma Gutierrez) MON. JANUARY 01, 2018— THE OCTAVE DAY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD; SOLEMNITY OF MARY THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

7 a.m. Por las almas del purgatorio (Carmen Delgado) 12 p.m. + George Bennett (Family) 7 p.m. IN THANKSGIVING-Teo, Karla, & Torres Children TUE. JANUARY 02, 2018 –ST. BASIL & GREGORY NAZIANZEN 7 a.m. IN THANKSGIVING - FR. Wojciech Kosowicz

6 p.m. Rodolfo, Lorena, & Regina Portillo (Maru Portillo) WED. JANUARY 03, 2018 – CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY 7 a.m. IN THANKSGIVING - FR. Luis M. Mares

6 p.m. IN THANKSGIVING - St. Patrick Deacons

THU. JANUARY 04, 2018 – ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON

7 a.m. IN THANKSGIVING - FR. Jacinto Olguin

6 p.m. IN THANKSGIVING - St. Patrick Ministries FRI. JANUARY 05, 2018 - ST. JOHN NEUMANN, BISHOP 7 a.m. IN THANKSGIVING - FR. Francisco Stodola 6 p.m. IN THANKSGIVING - St. Patrick Staff SAT. JANUARY 06, 2018 - CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY 8 a.m. Miembros Familia Vasquez Lara Chavez 5 p.m. + Raul & Enriqueta Casso (Yvonne Casso& Family)

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary,

and Joseph December 31st , 2017

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors

through the prophets; in these last days, he has

spoken to us through the Son.”

LK 2:22-40

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Story

Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the

American Catholic Church. She founded the

first American religious community for wom-

en, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first

American parish school and established the

first American Catholic orphanage. All this she

did in the span of 46 years while raising her

five children. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a

true daughter of the American Revolution, born August 28, 1774, just two

years before the Declaration of Independence. By birth and marriage, she was

linked to the first families of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high society.

Reared a staunch Episcopalian, she learned the value of prayer, Scripture and

a nightly examination of conscience. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not

have much use for churches but was a great humanitarian, teaching his

daughter to love and serve others. The early deaths of her mother in 1777 and

her baby sister in 1778 gave Elizabeth a feel for eternity and the

temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far from being brooding and

sullen, she faced each new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hopeful

cheerfulness. At 19, Elizabeth was the belle of New York and married a

handsome, wealthy businessman, William Magee Seton. They had five

children before his business failed and he died of tuberculosis. At 30,

Elizabeth was widowed, penniless, with five small children to support. While

in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action

through family friends. Three basic points led her to become a Catholic: belief

in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction that the

Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ. Many of her family and

friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in March 1805. To support

her children, she opened a school in Baltimore. From the beginning, her

group followed the lines of a religious community, which was officially

founded in 1809. The thousand or more letters of Mother Seton reveal the

development of her spiritual life from ordinary goodness to heroic sanctity.

She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of loved

ones (her husband and two young daughters) and the heartache of a wayward

son. She died January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to

be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg,

Maryland.

December 31, 2017 The Holy Family "When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of

the law of the Lord, they returned ... to their own town of Nazareth." Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews who followed the norms of their

religion. Today's Gospel describes the event we call "The Presentation." Jesus' parents, like every Jewish family, presented their infant son to the

Lord in a formal ceremony at the temple in Jerusalem. Having done what their religious

rites required (and having heard the prophetic words of Simeon and Anna), Mary and Joseph

returned home. It was back in their native region of Galilee, amidst the daily routine of domestic life, that Jesus "grew and became

strong, filled with wisdom." As Christians, we too consecrate our children to

the Lord when we have them baptized in the Church. Seeing our children receive this

sacrament of initiation is always a moment of great joy and hope as we anticipate the life that

lies ahead for them, both on earth and in eternity. But the baptism of a baby is only the beginning of this journey towards heaven. In

truth, the little daily details, the simple living of family life in our own home paves the way for

our children to reach their eternal home. And so it was with the Holy Family. Jesus'

childhood, his formation and development took place not primarily amidst the public drama of

the temple, but in the quiet privacy of his home. How important this home was, where his

parents raised him in their faith and helped him live in such a way that "the favor of God was

upon him." May we too, in our homes and our families, remember that although our mission may be lived out in very small moments, taken

together they have an eternal significance.

31 de diciembre de 2017

La Sagrada Familia

Si preguntáramos a la gente en que se distingue

la Navidad de otros días de fiesta de seguro su

respuesta es que es día para la familia. Y es

verdad, son días para ser vividos y disfrutar del

calor familiar. Estas fechas son muy

tradicionales a pesar del bombardeo de la

publicidad que aprovecha estos elementos

familiares para vender objetos que no se

necesitan. Hoy la liturgia nos dirige la mirada

hacia la familia de Jesús, a María y a José. Ellos

vivieron durante treinta años en Nazaret, desde

ahí es nuestra alianza a la fidelidad a la familia y

a la humanidad entera. Si atendemos a las

lecturas veremos que Jesucristo vivió 30 años en

familia y 3 predicando el Reino de Dios para sal-

varnos. ¿Cómo santificas tú familia? ¿Cuánto

tiempo dedicas al servicio del Reino de Dios?

Cualquiera que sea la repuesta, se llegará a la

conclusión que la familia nace de la Encarnación

y que Dios es nuestro Padre, y Cristo es el

hermano que nos lleva a todos los demás. El

Papa Francisco tiene mucha esperanza en la

familia, él cree firmemente que la familia unida

puede llegar a ser el motor de amor que mueva

al mundo a la justicia y al amor. Él dice: "Cuando

nos mostramos atentos a nuestras familias y a

sus necesidades, cuando comprendemos sus

dificultades y sus esperanzas... Vuestro

compromiso en apoyo de las familias no ayuda

sólo a la Iglesia, sino también a la

sociedad" (Discurso dirigido a los obispos de Sri

Lanka, el 5 de mayo del 2014). ¿Cuál es tu

opinión al respecto? ¿Qué piensas de lo que el

Papa Francisco dice?

The Sanctuary Lamp is burning this week in

memory of:

Mr. & Mrs. Mario Cortez

December 23rd & December 24th, 2017 Total Sunday’s Offering $ 46,045.74

Online Giving $345.00

Mass Intentions for 2018

Attention St. Patrick Parishioners. Mass intentions for

the 2018 calendar are now being taken at the Parish

Office. For any questions please stop by or call the

Parish Office at (956) 722-6215. Thank you!

In observance of New

Year’s Day, Parish Office

will be closed Monday,

January 1st, 2018.

Office will resume it’s

regular business hours

on Tuesday, January 2nd

at 8:00 a.m. Happy New

year !

St. Patrick Men’s Club

The Men’s Club will be having their annual meeting

this coming Thursday January 11th, at 7:00pm. All

Parish Men are invited to attend and become

members. We are here to serve our Parish and

Ministries. For more information, please feel free to

c o n t a c D e n n i s E v e l a n d , P r e s i d e n t ,

at dfeveland@att.net or Narciso Castro, Vice

President, at ncastrojr1946@yahoo.com.

Let us pray...

God of heaven and

earth, you came to us

and took our earthly

flesh through the gift

of Mary's yes. She is

our Mother in faith, as

she is your earthly

mother.

We are thankful

beyond our ability to

thank you for the gift

of her Son as our

brother and savior.

Through her self

giving, we have been

reconciled to you.

Bless us as we begin

this New Year and

endow us with the

desire and ability to

create a world of

peace.

We ask all this,

through the

intercession of Mary to

you, one God, Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd The Good Shepherd Catechists extend our

heartfelt gratitude for your commitment to your

children and the growth of their faith. May 2018

be a year filled with grace to

rejoice, contemplate and enjoy the great love of

God for each and everyone of us.

Holy Day of

Obligation

The Solemnity of

Mary, The Holy

Mother of God

Mass Times:

7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.

& 7:00 p.m.

Help us pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Dear Jesus, Divine Physician and Healer of the sick, we turn to You in this time of illness.

O’ dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with Your gentle love, and

grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. Dear God,we place our worries in Your hands. We place our sick under Your care and humbly ask that You restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to

acknowledge Your holy will and know that whatsoever You do, You do for the love of us.

Adolfo De Luna Richard Camacho Rene San Miguel Aurora González Michael ‘Mikey’ Leija Jr. Refugio ‘Cuco' Escobedo Jesse Rodríguez Alex de la Garza Frances Rizo

Rosa Vidaurri Dora L. Singer Adolph Puig Francisco Velasquez Gilbert P. Sanchez Paul Rivera Jose Gomez James “Jimmy” Puig Thomas Allred