Don't Forget Your Socks!
Each weekend of Advent, we will be collecting white socks for the homeless. This is an ongoing need throughout the year, but especially now as the weather gets colder. Guests at Andre House and Justa Center will be grateful.
During the offertory we will be asking parishioners to bring the socks to the altar as part of our theme: As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord.
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Mass Readings for this Weekend:
Take 5 minutes and review the readings before Mass. Click Here to read online. You can also listen to them by podcast through iTunes, through Podbean or by clicking the player below.
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration
Friday, December 9, We honor the Blessed Mother, who under the title Our Lady of Guadalupe, is the Patroness of the Americas and of our Diocese. Please join us for the children's play, Mass with the Mariachis, and free food for everyone in Fenlon Hospitality Center! Come and feed the kids and honor Mary. What else are you going to do on a Friday night? It will begin at 6:30 PM in the church.
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LAST WEEKEND!
Giving Tree & Adopt-a-Family Gift Return
If you took an ornament off our tree or participated in Adopt-a-Family, please return your gift this weekend, curbside in front of the Church.
If you have questions, please contact Cathy Olds at colds@stpatcc.org or 480-998-3843 x-116. Your loving generosity makes a big difference in the lives of those most in need.
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Returning Catholic Invitation
There will be a table this weekend where you can pick up cards to use to invite people to come to church with you on Christmas. Stop by the table, take a card, and invite a friend to Mass.
The back of the card has information your guest can use to contact someone to have a conversation about returning to the Church.
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Advent Reconciliation Opportunities
In a special way during the season of Advent, we are invited to the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Use this season as a way to experience the grace and mercy of God through our repentance and God's forgiveness.
Confession is available Wednesday December 14 & 21 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in the Church.
Advent Penance Service, Tuesday December 20, at 7:00 pm. There will be 6 priests scheduled to hear confessions.
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Movie Discussion Group
The Movie Discussion group will meet this Monday, December 12 at 7:00 PM in the Church Classrooms.
The movies to be discussed are: DR. STRANGE, LOVING and HACKSAW RIDGE
All are welcome! If you have any questions, contact Betty Smith or Torri Winn at 480-998-3843 or email bsmith@stpatcc.org or twinn@stpatcc.org
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 Special note... On January 1st, our 8:30 am Sunday Mass will be changing to its new time, 8:00 am.
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Coming soon... Lessons & Carols!
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DECEMBER
December 9 - Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration
December 10/11 - Adopt-a-Family & Giving Tree returns
December 10/11 - Third Sunday of Advent (Don't forget your socks for the homeless)
December 10/11 - Returning Catholics Table
December 12 - Movie Discussion Group
December 14 - Reconcilliation
December 17/18 - Fourth Sunday of Advent (Don't forget your socks for the homeless)
December 17/18 - Returning Catholics Table
December 19 - Lessons & Carols
For more events, times, and locations please view our Online Calendar or the Bulletin
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Christmas Eve | Saturday, December 24
2:00 pm in the Church
2:00 pm in Fenlon Hospitality Center
4:30 pm in the Church
4:30 pm in Fenlon Hospitality Center
7:00 pm in the Church
10:00 pm in the Church (Adult Choir/Brass Quartet, 9:30 pm Prelude Music)
Christmas Day | Sunday, December 25
10:30 am in the Church (Adult Choir/Brass Quartet, 10:00 am Prelude Music)
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Shuttle on Christmas Eve... Hassle-free parking and an amazing Christmas double-decker shuttle ride to the Church!
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Something to Trust
Throughout Advent at St. Patrick, we sing that well known hymn, O Come O Come Emmanuel. Both its imagery and its melody permeate our weekly worship. So, it's not a bad idea to give the lyrics some of our attention, given that they capture two key ideas that can be insightful for us during this season.
Originally written in Latin in the 12th century and translated into English seven centuries later, in 1851, the hymn carries two major requests. It first entreats the Savior--whose name, Emmanuel, means "God-with-us," to ransom captive Israel, and to release the people from their exile. Secondly, it begs God's intervention so that there be victory over the grave, so that "death's dark shadows" are put to flight.
 Let's take the first one, the imagery of a people bound in captivity. Why is this one a biggie? Because it is absolutely the central spirituality of the Old Testament. Over and over again the Pentateuch narratives (the stories of the first five books) and the preaching of the prophets remind the people of Israel that our God is a liberating God. It's as if they say, on God's behalf, "Remember? I'm the God who brought you out of Egypt. I'm a God who saves. Wherever and whenever the people of a community cry out in pain, I am here, to liberate, to set you free from whatever captivity holds you bound!" Throughout all the adventures of the people of Israel--the invasions by foreign powers, mis-directions, wanderings, misunderstandings, betrayals and losses, trials and tribulations--God's voice roars out, "I'm here! Count on me! Trust in me! I am the One who Saves!"
What a marvelous spirituality for us today, during these turbulent times! It demands our trust that God does not let us down. Never has, never will. And while demanding our trust, it simultaneously offers us comfort and hope. We need never despair, because the Almighty One never, but never, lets us down.
The second theme of the hymn is on the darker side: Death casts a long shadow over life. How true ... It does, doesn't it? Our yearnings are real in that respect: we all sincerely hope that in some way there can be victory over the grave. This is where the Christ event matters, for we have received the invitation to eternal life. Great news indeed.
But I wonder is there an added nuance that can be of benefit to our spiritual life here? If death has been overcome, then there's nothing to fear. If the greatest single force of destruction to our lives has been rendered powerless, then no other disruptive event can have power over us. We enter into a life with no fear. Imagine that. Neither animosity nor violence nor hatred nor disregard nor exclusion nor neglect can conquer us. Now there's something to trust in Advent!
How sweet it is!
Tricia Hoyt
Director of Evangelization, Family Ministry and Adult Formation
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