August 2, Rev. Larry J. King, Pastor Dcn. Don Sobolewski, Pastoral Associate

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1 August 2, 2015 St. Patrick Catholic Church 140 Church St., Portland, MI Phone: Fax: Rev. Larry J. King, Pastor Dcn. Don Sobolewski, Pastoral Associate Mass Schedule: Reconciliation: Eucharistic Adoration: Saturday 4:30 pm Saturday 3:00 pm Monday, Noon 5:00 pm Sunday 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am or by appointment Wednesday, Noon 7:00 pm & Weekdays: Tuesday 6:00 pm 9:00 pm-12:00 am Wednesday 7:30 am Parish Office Hours Thursday 7:30 am Friday 7:30 am Mon.-Fri.: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Closed 12:30 pm-1:00 pm for lunch Wed. evening: 6:00 pm-9:00 pm The Mission of St. Patrick Parish is: To celebrate the Eucharist, To proclaim the Good News, To encourage Stewardship as a way of life and To grow in Faith, Justice, Love and Service to all.

2 ST. PATRICK CHURCH Page 2 PORTLAND, MICHIGAN Masses for the Week of August Mon. 8/3 Nm 11:4b-15; Ps 81; Mt 14:13-21 THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH August 2, 2015-August 9, 2015 ALTAR APPOINTMENTS August 8th & 9th STEWARDSHIP REFLECTIONS Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. Exodus 16:4 When the Israelites gathered more than their daily portion of manna, the surplus became wormy and rotten. In the same way today, God calls us to be content with a fair portion and to be willing to share the rest. That we recognize the difference between what we need and what we want and trust that God has provided us with enough to share. Family Perspective By Bud Ozar Sponsor of the Week: Please add Bader & Son as sponsor of the week In today s Gospel Jesus tells us: Do not work for what perishes. Give your life to what endures such as the family history you are creating, the love and mutual respect which bonds you together, the memories you share and the forgiveness generously given. These are the true treasures that are worth working and dying for. Eucharistic Adoration Bulletin deadline is 10:00 AM Monday for inclusion in Sunday s bulletin. Our Holy Hour of Eucharistic adoration acknowledges Christ as the spiritual center of our community. Pope Paul VI

3 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Page 3 August 2, 2015 Breaking Bad Habits Ephesians 4:17, Old habits are hard to break, but we give it a try. Some people make New Year s resolutions. They seize the opportunity of a new calendar and decide to make a new beginning in their life. Others use the season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday we acknowledge our faults, and we spend six weeks doing penance for them, in order to rise with Christ as new people on Easter Day. Some people reach for help when the habits have become addictions. Through individual and group counseling they come to recognize their own limitations, and they take one day at a time to live a new life. The sacrament of reconciliation helps too. We bring our sins to God and seek the grace of this sacrament to overcome our weakness and strengthen our resolve to follow Christ. We are not alone. Everyone struggles to break bad habits. And they always have. The Letter to the Ephesians addressed a group of Christian converts who formerly adhered to Gentile beliefs and habits. Becoming Christian, they should have left their former ways behind. But many of them didn t. The letter tells them, You must no longer live as the Gentiles do. You should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires. When we turn to Christ we put on a new self, and we can leave old habits behind. Financial Activities Lost and Found items A piece of ladies jewelry was found in the parking lot next to the parish office, if you have lost a piece of jewelry please contact the parish office at x 410. We also have a few items found after the Summerfest. Stewardship PASTORAL COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK PARISH This is 8 of an 8 week series highlighting criteria to become a vital parish according to diocesan standards. There are 35 total criteria and the 8th category, Stewardship, includes criteria As a category, Stewardship centers around how we give of our time, talent, and treasure, and the quality of our facilities and financial reporting. The Pastoral Council responded mostly positively to the criteria in this category and rated 4 of the 5 into the upper tier. Here is a summary of some of the things that we are doing well that fall into this category: The most recent capital campaign reached its goal in a very short time frame. This was a very big achievement for our parish and showed how dedicated we are to passing on a vibrant parish to future generations. A lot of campaign related projects are either complete or underway. We will soon have a bathroom INSIDE the Church! The Finance Council does an excellent job managing and prioritizing our funds. They do a simple weekly report in the bulletin to keep us up to date on the budget. We have a lot of high quality, volunteer musical groups that contribute greatly to our worship every week at Mass. There was one specific criteria that got rated lower and that was #32: The Parish practices responsible budgeting by operating with a balance budget and has sufficient funds for ministries, programs, facilities, and staff in order to meet the needs of the community. There were two main reasons why this criteria was rated lower. First, we ve been operating over budget for the last 2 years. Second, as I mentioned, in a previous update, ideally we d have a staff member specifically dedicated to recruiting, managing, and coordinating all of our many volunteers, but we don t have that person, and simply don t have the funds available to hire one. If I were to quickly summarize the biggest needs of our parish to become a vital parish it would be more volunteers and better communication. These two things mostly permeate all of the criteria that were rated lower by the pastoral council. You should notice, in the coming months, a concerted effort to improve in these areas Have a blessed week! Fr. Larry

4 ST. PATRICK CHURCH Page 4 PORTLAND, MICHIGAN Youth Corner Junior High - See you on Thursdays until school starts 2:30 pm until 4:00 pm. This week we will just chill and share summer fun. The gatherings are open to those who just completed 7th & 8th grade. (we will invite new grades once school starts) See you at C.I.A. Headquarters. High School - This week at 6:00 PM-Let s watch a movie!!! I will bring several to choose from. In Christ s Peace Mr. George Women s Faith Sharing Group The Women s Faith Sharing group will meet Saturday, August 8, 2015, 9:00 AM 10:30 AM in the Parish Hall. For more information please contact Carol Kahn , Gloria Hensley , Sandy Steed or Mary Herblet Worldwide Marriage Encounter Why not celebrate the Year of Marriage by making your good marriage even better? Attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter to renew and enrich your marriage and your faith! Upcoming weekends will be held August 7-9 at St. John the Evangelist in Fenton (you sleep at home or in a hotel), Sept at the Holiday Inn - Troy, and October at the Saginaw Center for Ministry. For more info or to apply, visit or contact Harry & Karen Porter at (888) Portland Cruiser s Car Show Sunday, August 16, 12:00 4:30 PM at Bogues Flats near Portland Red Mill. Registration begins at 10:30 AM. $10.00 donation, proceeds to be donated to a Family, Organization, or both. For information call or Communion Calls The first Friday of August the following parishioners will be visited and the Eucharist brought to them. If there is someone not on our list, and not receiving Communion, who would like a visit, please call the Parish Office. Diana Rivera Sandra Odem Agnes Trowbridge Donna Fedewa Irene Jensen Theresa Gerkman Geri Ryan Sandra Bayne Laura Stegenga Rosie Baker Catherine Fedewa Helen Cook Dorothy Keena Bernie Witgen Eleanor McConnell Mary Martin Linda Schanski Janet Hengesbach Bernice Schneider Freda Bauer Tom Allen Patricia Klein Walnut Grove Country Living Faith Formation New News Summer Office Hours Thursdays 9 AM-3 PM, I will have access to and phone, If you need assistance please contact me at Mark your Calendars Open house for next school year is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2015 at 6:30 PM. This is for all returning, new and homeschool students. More information will be coming in August. New Service Project READ A BOOK DONATE A BOOK Help children learn to read and keep reading all year long. Start collecting new/used books for the Ionia County Literacy Council. This Council provides children with books to read during the summer to keep from falling behind in their reading skills. It also provides various services and events throughout the year. Learn more at ionialiteracy@gmail.com. There is a collection basket in the gathering area of the church for your donations. If you are a Monday Night Faith Formation student, put your name and grade on the books you donate. The grade with the most donations will be rewarded. There will be three collection times; for the months of Oct./Feb./May. KEEP THOSE BOOKS COMING IN! If you have any questions regarding this project, contact Lori Thelen at x 419 or lorithelen@portlandstpats.com Bookcases Needed The Ionia County Literacy Council is in need of gently used or new bookcases. Many of the books donated are being stored in boxes which makes them inaccessible. Your donations will help this vital program continue and will be greatly appreciated. Please contact James Ryan at Thank You! The family of Melissa Bengel wished to express their deepest appreciation to the many family and friends who have offered such kindness and support during our time of loss. The family of Melissa Bengel

5 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Page 5 August 2, 2015 Shamrock Newsletter The fall issue of The Shamrock newsletter is now being prepared. If you have information that you would like included (births, engagements, weddings, reunions, etc.) please send it to shamrockeditors@gmail.com. Information can also be sent to the Shamrock News, 140 Church St, Portland, MI Or put it in an envelope, clearly marked: Shamrock News. Deadline for submitting information is August 25, Blood Drive Portland Knights of Columbus is hosting a Blood Drive on Tuesday, August 11, :30 AM- 5:15 PM at the Knights Hall located at 690 Maynard Rd, Portland, MI. To schedule an appointment, call ( ) or log onto redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: Portland). Appointments are honored, walk-ins welcome as space permits. Donor diner sponsored by Portland Federal Credit Union. Knights of Columbus News Monday, August 3rd, Business Meeting, 8:00 PM, Knights Hall. Tuesday, August 11, American Red Cross Blood Drive, Knights Hall Monday, August 17, Social Meeting, 8:00 PM, Knights Hall If you are interested in joining the Knights of Columbus, contact Bill Vallier at gk2168@mikofc.org As previously mentioned you will be able to see our newsletter and calendar on the parish websites under stewardship Please Pray for the 19 seminarians in our Grand Rapids Diocese: Congratulations to the July Athletic Association Sports Raffle Winners Steve Snitgen Tri-County Linemen James Bower Marie Cook Thank you for your continued support of St. Patrick Athletic programs. St. Patrick Healing Prayer Ministry Please join fellow parishioners to pray in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the spiritual, physical, and emotional healing of all who are in need of such. We encourage anyone in need of any kind of healing to come and be in the healing presence of the Blessed Sacrament, while we pray. If unable to attend, however, we welcome anyone to call with any specific or general healing needs so that we may pray in their behalf. We very much encourage those with healing needs to seek the Sacrament of The Anointing of the Sick as well as prayer before the Eucharist. We also encourage anyone who receives healing of any kind to let it be known in some way so that we can offer praise and thanksgiving to Jesus, the Divine healer, and to help build the faith of our parish family. August Seminarian Prayer Lord Jesus, your Mother Mary continues to shine as one who fully responded to God s call. May young people throughout the world be graced to follow her example of doing God s will in their lives. Help them understand the joy that comes from serving God and others. Amen Amen If you have a devotion to the healing of others, please join us. We meet at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Contact Mike Cook or Carol Kahn

6 ST. PATRICK CHURCH Page 6 PORTLAND, MICHIGAN St. Patrick School This is part I of a three-part series exploring the interests and activities of our student body during their summer break. The onset of summer break each year provides a time for rest and relaxation for our faculty, staff, parents, and student body. I have often wondered what our students do to keep busy during the break. There are the obvious things like family vacations, sporting events and summer camps. This year, I set out to see what other activities our students are involved in that help them become such well-rounded individuals? One of the activities I have heard our students talk about is the Summer Theater program. I did a little research and found that the Portland Civic Players annual Youth Summer Theater program is for kids in grades It provides students with a unique six-week session that offers them a fun way to gain theater experience. The program integrates theater games, improvisations, and exercises, culminating in three full-length plays. This summer, one of the three plays that was performed was James and the Giant Peach based on the novel by Roald Dahl. This is a story where a boy, with the help of a little magic grows a giant peach which he is able to enter. When the peach becomes unattached from the tree, James and some companion go on an amazing adventure. St. Patrick Students who had roles in James and the Giant Peach are Cordelia Fox-Elster, William Chislea, Mekbul Timmer, Arianna FoxElster, and Joe Timmer. The play Snow Queen is based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson and involves the kidnapping of a boy named Kay by the Snow Queen. His cousin Gerda must go to the Snow Queen s castle to rescue him. St. Patrick Students who had roles in Snow Queen are Mya Kahn, Grace Timmer, Mary Timmer, Rhiannon Pohl, Letti Pohl, Olivia Fogarty, and Teaghan Lathers. Finally, Little Women is based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. This play is about the March family and their four daughters. It refers to their financial hardships during the American Civil War and how they endure through it all. St. Patrick Students who had roles in Little Women are Jorden Klein, Grace Timmer, Karley Goodman, Jenna Pung, Mary Timmer, Matthew Frazee and Joshua Snitgen. Each play staged one matinee and one evening performance. The students and their adult staff leaders and directors did an excellent job with all three performances. A good crowd showed up for each performance and the students were marvelous in their acting skills. The summer theater program proved to be a very creative and fun way for many of our students to spend their summer. Randy Hodge-School Administrator The Augustinian Missions of Northern Peru The Church has called for missionaries, both religious and lay people, to evangelize the world ever since the days that Jesus called on his disciples to proclaim the Good Work. This missionary spirit is alive and beats in the heart of the Augustinian Order, a religious order serving the world s missions for centuries. Today, the Augustinians across the United States are uniting to support a very special mission in northern Peru, and have don so ever since St. John XXIII called them to do so over 50 years ago in The area we serve spans over 14,000 square miles and serves over 600,000 people daily living in conditions of extreme poverty. We serve from the desert area of the Pacific Coast through the rugged Andes Mountains. Dependent on charitable gifts from the United States, we are able to ordain native clergynearly 60 in the entire country in Peru in Augustinian formation, staff impoverished parishes, teach in religious educational institutions, and promote social justice projects. We are also building St. Augustine School, which will one day be a thriving Augustinian high school. We continue to promote consecrated life this year, welcoming new friars into the Augustinian Order. We have also begun programs to prevent and treat diseases, provide clean water to the poorest of the poor in the desert, and promote women s rights and equality. Next weekend, August 8th & 9th Fr. Robert Basler, O.S.A. will be preaching at St. Patrick Church giving us additional information about this mission. There will be an additional collection taken up to support this appeal, envelopes are enclosed in the bulletin and at the entrances of church. Additional information regarding the Midwest Augustinians can be found at Thank you for you support!

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9 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Page 9 August 2, 2015 Parish Staff (517) School Website: Ministries