W e l c o m e t o S t. P a t r i c k C h u r c h 2 3 5 C h a p e l S t r e e t, G r a s s V a l l e y, C a l i f o r n i a Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time A u g u s t 2 5, 2 0 1 3 Father Sylvester Kwiatkowski, Pastor Father Colin Wen, Parochial Vicar Carlos Astesana, Deacon (retired) Brian Moore, Deacon (retired) James Chatigny, Deacon (retired) Mass Schedule Saturday vigil 5:00 p.m. Sunday 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. Spanish Mass Saturday 6:30 p.m. Reconciliation Saturday 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment Monday through Saturday 7:50 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration See overleaf We, the parish of St. Patrick Church, being one community growing in faith and proclaiming our belief in the message and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, invite all to open their hearts, hear His call, and become one with the Body of Christ.
St. Patrick Church 235 Chapel Street Grass Valley, CA 95945 phone 530-273-2347 fax 530-272-9681 email stpatchurch@sbcglobal.net web www.stpatrickgrassvalley.org Fr. Sylvester Kwiatkowski, Pastor 273-2347 Fr. Colin Wen, Parochial Vicar (residence St. Canice Church) 265-2049 Ellen del Valle, Secretary 273-2347 stpatchurch@sbcglobal.net Pamela Magill, Bookkeeper 273-2347 stpatricks0469@sbcglobal.net John Evans, Facilities Manager 277-2934 Karen Burford, Director of Faith Formation 273-2336 x 201 karinab@aol.com Barbara Burns, RCIA 273-2336 x 205 burnsla@peoplepc.com Frank Ortiz, Youth Ministry 273-2336 x 204 fortiz_53@hotmail.com Pat Muro, Spanish Ministry 273-2336 x 207 Sr. Wendy Mitchell, Marian Consecration 273-8113 Mount St. Mary Academy 273-4694 info@mtstmarys.org PASTOR S CORNER by Fr. Sylvester Kwiatkowski This Monday, August 26, Poland celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, or the Black Madonna. In the year 1382 Paulist monks brought this Byzantinian icon to the monastery of Jasna Gora, and it became an extremely popular pilgrimage destination. Through the centuries, devotions to the Black Madonna became the symbol of Polish identity. During times of the greatest persecution and oppression of the Polish people even during the 123 years when Poland ceased to exist on the map of Europe this monastery was never closed despite attempts by repressive forces. After World War II, under the Stalinist regime, people continued to make secret pilgrimages to the shrine under the cover of night time darkness, as open walking pilgrimages were forbidden. Even Adolf Hitler visited the Shrine of the Black Madonna at one time. He signed his name and left this notorious message in the visitor s book: As long as this place exists, we will never win. Up through the present day, August continues to be the month in Poland when people from all over the country try to make a pilgrimage or visit this very great and special Marian shrine. Next weekend will be the last that Father Colin shares with us here at St. Patrick before moving on to his next assignment in Dixon, where he will serve as a priest while continuing his theological studies. Please be sure to come by the parish hall after any of the Sunday morning Masses as we thank him for his service to our parishes and wish him well in his next new home. READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK August 26 through September 1 Monday: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10 Matthew 23:13-22 Tuesday: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Matthew 23:23-26 Wednesday: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Matthew 23:27-32 Thursday: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 Mark 6:17-29 Friday: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Matthew 25:1-13 Saturday: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 Matthew 25:14-30 Sunday: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a Luke 14:1, 7-14 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK For anointing of the sick, hospital visits or communion visits at home, please notify the parish office. Monday 8/26 8:30 am Mary Geraldine Haynes (D) Tuesday 8/27 8:30 am Sarah Hernandez (D) Wednesday 8/28 8:30 am Norma Santos (D) Thursday 8/29 8:30 am Dean Cross (D) Eucharistic Adoration Schedule Friday 9:15 to 11:00 a.m. First Sunday of every month 12:00 Noon to 8:00 p.m. Friday 8/30 8:30 am Manuel Cicogni (D) Saturday 8/31 8:30 am 5:00 pm Sean O Connell (D) Sunday 9/1 7:30 am 11:00 am Bevery Gomez (D) Mary and Ken Stinson (D) All parishioners
FAMILY MINISTRY AND FORMATION Religious Education and Catholic Formation for Our Public School Families We will begin on September 8 with a mandatory parent meeting at 10:00 a.m. immediately following the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Faith Formation registration forms have been mailed to last year s families. If you are new to the parish or new to Faith Formation, please call for information and to receive a registration packet. Please turn in forms by September 4 so we can plan accordingly. Faith Formation is the ministry that assists parents in teaching our Catholic Faith to their children. Based on the four pillars of the Catechism, this dynamic process engages the whole family. We meet on Sundays after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Preparing for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation is a two-year preparation process that follows the requirements of our Diocese. For more information about Faith Formation, please contact Karen at 273-2336, x 201 or karinab@aol.com. ATTENTION ALL TEENS Share the love of Jesus with the children. We are looking for dedicated and committed teens who can help with our Sunday children s faith formation program. It is fun, it is easy and rewarding to help the children grow in their faith. No training is necessary. We meet immediately after the 9:00 a.m. Mass from 10:00 to 12:00 in St. Cecilia s Parish Center. You can sign up for each Sunday or as often that fits into your schedule. Please call Karen at 273-2336 x201 for more information and to sign up. We gladly give references for school service hours or future job and school applications! ADULTS SHARE YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH WITH THE CHILDREN, PARENTS AND YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY Do you love kids? Then we have a ministry for you! We are inviting dedicated men and women to help teach our Catholic Faith on Sunday mornings. It s easy, it s fun, and it s rewarding! Resources, lesson plans, materials and preparation support is all provided. Your commitment can be as frequent as your schedule allows. We will schedule a come and see opportunity and open house so that you can come and observe what we do it s awesome for everyone! Please contact Karen at 273-2336 x 201 or karinab@aol.com. FAITH, FUN AND FOOD Do you want an easy way to get involved in ministry and use your gifts meeting awesome people? Come and join the Adult Faith Formation team! What s involved: Quarterly (or less!) planning meetings Helping with hospitality and greeting Refreshments help provide snacks Contact Karen for more information. WHAT S THE BIG IDEA? We would like to know what you re interested in as we plan Adult Faith Formation opportunities for next year. Please let us know what topics are of interest to you. Send your suggestions to Karen at karinab@aol.com or call 273-2336 x 201. SAVE THE DATE FOR WEIRD ANIMALS! June 21-25, 2014 Next year s Summer Faith Camp theme is Weird Animals Where Jesus Love is One-of-a-Kind. Mark your calendars now! Plan your summer and around the awesome opportunity to be inspired and excited by the extraordinary love of Jesus for each one of us. Next year s camp will invigorate and renew not only the children but their families and the whole community as only the love of Jesus can for us! REGISTER NOW FOR MINISTRY DAYS 2013 Join us for Ministry Days 2013 on September 27 and 28 at St. Francis High School as we celebrate the theme: Live It! Moving from the Year of Faith to a Life of Discipleship. All involved in ministry at the parish level are encouraged to attend this opportunity to grow in faith, learn about their ministry and network with others from around the diocese. Visit www.ministrydays.com to view the schedule, keynotes, workshops and presenters. Registration is now available through the Ministry Days website. Register by September 16 to save $10 on the one-day registration and $20 on the two-day registration fee. RCIA SESSIONS ON THURSDAY EVENINGS St. Patrick s RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) meets every Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 at St. Cecilia s Center. These sessions are for people who are looking into becoming Catholic, or for baptized Catholics who have not received the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. We gather to look at what faith means in our lives and in a community, as well as what it means to be a Catholic. Learn more about the Catholic faith by joining us. For more information call Barbara at 273-2336 x 205 or burnsla@peoplepc.com. URGENT ACTION NEEDED! A harmful, controversial and unfair bill cold be voted on in the California Assembly at any time. Senate Bill 131: Discriminates against victims of child sexual abuse Prevents victims from suing public schools and even their actual abuser Targets churches, private schools, private universities and community groups Does nothing to increase criminal penalties Is opposed by private, non-profit and religious organizations. Go to www.cacatholic.org and ask your assembly member to vote NO on SB 131!
ST. PATRICK MEETINGS THIS WEEK Mon 8/26 7:50 am 5:00 pm Tues 8/27 7:50 am 9:30 am 6:00 pm 6:00 pm Wed 8/28 7:50 am Thurs 8/29 10:30 am 6:00 pm 7:00 pm Fri 8/30 7:50 am 9:15 am 5:00 pm Sat 8/31 7:50 am Divine Mercy Community Meal O.L. Perpetual Help Legion of Mary Choir practice K of C Officers Divine Mercy Liturgy of the Hours Charismatic Prayer Group Singles Group RCIA Eucharistic Adoration Choir practice Family of Nazareth Sun 9/1 12:30 pm Catechism Round Table FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP ~Our Return to God~ Sunday Collection 8/18: $7,517.00 Feast of the Assumption 8/15: $2,257.00 Mount St. Mary s Academy: $2,747.00 Weekly collection budget for 2013-14 fiscal year: $10,577 Thank you for your generosity! MARIAN CONSECRATION St. Patrick and St. Canice parishes invite all parishioners to attend a 6-week study group in preparation for Marian Consecration. Our meetings will be on Wednesdays, beginning September 4 through October 9, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in St. Cecilia s Parish Center. Please call Sr. Wendy at 273-8113 to reserve your spot. You can also sign up after Masses at St. Patrick s this weekend. SINGLES GROUP MEETS THIS WEEK The St. Patrick s Singles Group meets in the evening of the last Thursday of each month. The location and exact meeting time varies throughout the year depending on the weather and interests of the group members. New members are always welcome! For more information about our activities and our meeting place this coming Thursday call Sandy Wilson at 265-8215. ST. PATRICK STEWARDSHIP A Great Time Had By All I sort of do not know where to start. There has been so much happening that things are just a blur and a feeling of being overwhelmed has encompassed me. And there is more to come! The parish picnic was a huge success, with well over four hundred people in attendance. Thank you all for being there and for your participation as parishioners and family members. So many people went out of their way to help, young and old and older than me. It was great. The entire seating area for the stage was filled up for the celebration of the Mass, and people just kept on coming well after Mass had started. It was special to see non-parishioners walking their dogs, or just walking, noticing our worship service and taking the time to see what was going on. Listening to conversations was of special interest to me. One group was talking about their faith, lack of faith, what to do about it, and why nothing had been done for so long. God was at work and enjoying every minute of it. Things just seem to happen when we get together as a family, as one body in Christ, whether it be for the celebration of the Eucharist or a parish picnic. Last week was the last and final evening of presentations by Father Colin. For those of you that were able to make all three, you have no idea how fortunate you were. His talks were exceptional, his topics all very interesting with an overwhelming wealth of knowledge displayed to all. When there was something he did not know, he was humble enough to let us know that also. Enough cannot be said about what Fr. Colin has been doing here at St. Patrick's and St. Canice for the short amount of time he has been with us. His work with the parish, the youth of the parish, the elders of the parish, and the sick was amazing. In between all that, he took time to create an all-new St. Patrick s website. Time was even spent helping the Knights work in the parking lot and the fair booth during the Nevada County Fair. He also took our two stewardship youth award winners down to a Giants game in San Francisco. I am getting tired just mentioning all that he has done. For all daily Mass attendees, there will be a farewell party for Fr. Colin in the rectory this coming Saturday, August 31, after morning Mass. Next Sunday morning, September 1, there will be a social gathering in the hall after all the Masses for parishioners to pass on their respects to our most recently ordained priest here at St. Patrick's, for all of the hard work he has done and what he has accomplished! Thank you, Father Colin! Your presence with us will long be remembered and we hope that you will be able to return and work with us again at some future date. Your reading between the lines was and is phenomenal! Pat Gerving Pondering thought: To God our praise is due! YOU CAN BE AN ALTAR SERVER Altar servers are greatly needed for both the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Mass and 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Please call Linda Shirkey at 530-615-4171 to find out how you can be a part of this fulfilling ministry.
HAVE FUN WITH IFM! There are many opportunities to have fun with friends while supporting Interfaith Food Ministry. On August 27, 20% of the proceeds from California Organics Café will be donated to IFM. This could be a great way to enjoy lunch or dinner out with friends and family while helping the hungry. For those who like spaghetti, Paulette s Country Kitchen is hosting another spaghetti dinner on October 1 (please note the restaurant has changed the date since our previous announcement). The cost is $10 and tickets are available at the door. All of us can be Sustaining Circle members with a recurring donation using Paypal and linking it to http:interfaithfoodministry.or/donatefunds.html. Interfaith doubles the money you donate by buying foods at lower rates than in the grocery stores. This is a powerful way to support this ministry and help the hungry of our community. If you have questions or ideas or wish to volunteer, please contact Nancy Koring at 273-5510. ATTENTION ALL CRAFTERS Our Catholic Ladies Relief Society is taking reservations for their annual Christmas Craft Fair to be held this year on Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27, in the church hall. The fee to rent a 10 x 10 space is $25.00. They would love to have all you crafty folks come and join them! For more information call Dolores at 272-8369. God bless you! FOURTH MONDAY COMMUNITY MEAL On Monday, August 26, the Fourth Monday Community Meal will be serving a FREE, hot, nourishing dinner from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Join them in St. Patrick s Hall. Coffee and milk are always included with the meal. Mark your calendar for the Second Monday meal on September. Camaraderie and good will are encouraged. Call 477-0639 for more information. REFLECTING ON GOD S WORD Trudy hung up the phone very slowly. Well, Jim, there s good news and bad news. The good news is that your mom and dad are coming to Kate s wedding after all. The bad news is that your brother is coming with them. Jim s brother was a missionary for a strict religious sect. When he had learned that Jim and Trudy were becoming Catholic he had erupted in condemnation. They had not spoken since then. Have you ever hoped someone would not come to an event you were hosting, or scheduled it when you knew the person wouldn t be available? Are there people whose presence in the seat next to you at Sunday Mass would make you uncomfortable? Today s scriptures proclaim that those people have as much right to recline at table in the kingdom of God as we do or more. They suggest that if we want the Lord to open the door for us, we must be willing to open the door to everyone. Virginia Stillwell Copyright 2012, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. Everything is a gift from God: it is only by recognizing this crucial dependence on the Creator that we will find freedom and peace. Pope Benedict XVI REFLECTIONS ON THE REIGN OF GOD A threefold message is developed in today s readings. First, everyone is called to proclaim God s glory and receive salvation. Second, salvation is not for the unprepared. Like a loving parent, God gently corrects and disciplines those who have been called. Often, suffering may be part of the formation process. We learn to accept it as Jesus once accepted his cross. Third, some people who are treated with contempt and disdain by the self-righteous actually do have a place in God s kingdom. We need to take these lessons to heart. Recall your initial excitement upon hearing God s word. How has the Good News that once struck your fancy taken deeper root in your life? Look again at the crosses you have been given. How are others transformed when they see how you have accepted and grown from your sufferings? Finally, are there some people you imagine as not invited into God s kingdom? Why do you feel this way about them? For a moment, imagine them on the inside and yourself on the outside. How can this be possible? Always try your best to enter by the narrow gate, gladly proclaiming God s glory. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christians share a love for the Byzantine liturgy because it is during the Eucharist that the Church is most true to its identity, expresses its integrity, and discovers its vocation. Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christians celebrate essentially the identical liturgy, with only very slight variations. It is a fairly complex ritual weaving together three separate layers of prayers: a liturgy prayed in the sanctuary by priests, often hidden by a curtain or screen; a liturgy sung by the assembly and led by a deacon in front of a screen formed of painted icons; and a third layer of private prayer by the priest, who prays in support of the deacon and the faithful. It is an eyeswide-open experience, gorgeous in visuals, and filled with the sound of God s people singing prayer. The energy of the worship centers on the presence of Christ, largely through an awareness of heaven touching earth when the Church gathers to celebrate. In the late twentieth century, Latin Rite Catholics were encouraged to embrace a style of worship that was full, conscious, and active, a value that has never been lost in the East. The liturgy has great impact in its beauty, in its poetry and contemplation, and by the actions of bowing, signing with the cross, and chanting that are required of the assembly. Contact with the Eastern Church reveals some key values that have been obscured in our own Church and are slowly being recovered. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co.