Dear Holy EASTER Families!

"We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!” It’s one of Pope John Paul II’s most famous quotes. He continues...

“We do not pretend that life is all beauty.
We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain.
But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his Death and Resurrection.
“We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!”. We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith, that grows through unselfish love, that respects the “fundamental duty of love of neighbor, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of Joy”. We realize that joy is demanding; it demands unselfishness; it demands a readiness to say with Mary: “Be it done unto me according to thy word”. –  John Paul II, Angelus 30 November 1986. Adelaide, Australia.
This helps me understand that even though we are in the days(weeks) of pandemic, and not in control of anything ....we are still people of JOY! Jesus has conquered death! God is bigger than COVID-19!
Yes, things are challenging - we are getting a little stir crazy and we cannot do what we want (hugging family and friends are the most important things I miss), we don't know what's going to happen or when, but we know that God's got this! There will be good that comes from this. "All things work together for those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose". Romans 8:28.

During this EASTER Season, being an EASTER person, I am focused on the JOY of the LORD! I am loved by the God of the universe. I have died and risen with Christ. God created me to love Him and to love others (and myself). My little sacrifices are nothing if I don't have LOVE as the core.
How can I share this GREAT NEWS with those I am not meeting with, but who are very present to me during my day? I am praying for all of you, your families, our St. Patrick family, Fr. Brian (who is doing a great job in helping us keep our eyes on God!), our national and world leaders and those who are lonely and sick without any family.

Every day, I ask God to show me ways to see JOY in my life today! How can I be a light in the world today? How can I be an EASTER person of Love today?

Look below for some ideas to help you and your family be an EASTER people, singing ALLELUIA during these 50 days of EASTER Season!!! and then into the future, taking one day at a time!!!

Blessings, 

Nancy Longo
Director of Religious Education
562-822-8779 (cell)
512-759-3712 (office)

If you are struggling with all of the "What Ifs?" due to this COVID-19 season, check out this video (it's only 2:26 minutes long - but it is filled with the hope of the Lord and how we can trust in God to "Give us this day, our daily bread".
50 Ways to Celebrate the 50 Days of Easter With Your Children
  1. Make a Paschal candle and light it in your home during prayer time, meal time or even every Sunday during the Easter Season.
  2. Display “Alleluia” somewhere prominently in your home to acknowledge praising God for Jesus’s Resurrection!
  3. Complete an Easter Calendar where you can follow and count the 50 days of Easter, like the Garden of the Good Shepherd calendar.

Great Links with lots of ideas:

DID YOU KNOW:
  • There are 50 days of Easter - from Easter Sunday to Pentecost. It is characterized, above all, by the joy of glorified life and the victory over death, expressed most fully in the great resounding cry of the Christian: Alleluia! All faith flows from faith in the resurrection:"If Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, is your faith." (1 Cor 15:14). This is the longest liturgical season of the Year! Enjoy living in this JOY!
  • The 2nd Sunday of Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday - we celebrate this coming Sunday-April 19th.
  • What is Divine Mercy Sunday?
  • Divine Mercy Chaplet - Sung
Creating a Prayer Space in Your Home
How to Complete the 2019-2020 Religious Education Classes - K-5

We last gathered together on March 11th. (that was 4 weeks ago). At that time we had 4 sessions left for the year.

I don't believe we will be gathering together again this year....but remember WE are NEVER done learning about our God and our faith!!! Our faith needs to be fed every day. We need to keep connected to God every day! Just because classes are over, doesn't mean we stop living our faith!

We normally spend our last night of Religious Education honoring Mary and we talk about ways we can go out and live as Disciples of Jesus, just as she did! This year we will celebrate it in a different way! Details will come later.

Here is the plan:

Families who began in September 2019- Please complete the year with the sessions on our Homework Web page . Once I get a copy of your homework (via pictures or reflection via email) I will send you a certificate of completion for the year. You are still encouraged to live your lives as Disciples during the summer and I will be sending some ideas your way at the end of April. At the same time, work on some of the 50 ways to Celebrate Easter Season below and let me know which ones you liked the best - or take pictures and send them to me or your catechists.

For the families who began in November or later: I will be sending you an email with a syllabus of make up work that you can do during the summer to get credit for this Religious Education Year. The email will have directions for you. You can expect this email early next week. You will have until the end of August to complete it.
Homework for finishing the RE Year.

Check out our new RE Homework page on our website.

We, at St. Patrick are here with you during this time! We are the Body of Christ and we are never alone, even when we cannot gather together as a spiritual family. You should be receiving an email or phone call check in from your catechist or your Youth Group Team member. If you have not received any contact, please email me with your email and phone number so that we can get you connected.
1st Eucharist on-line Preparation Ideas:

Not knowing when we will celebrate Eucharist together again - Here are some videos to help your students continue to prepare to receive their 1st Holy Communion.

The best thing you can do as a family to prepare for and/or to grow in understanding about Jesus in the Eucharist is to attend mass - live-streamed every week. Follow our Home Church Sunday ideas to make each mass more meaningful and to say a Spiritual Communion together (your little ones can do it, too!!)

  • There are lots of videos for children and for adults to prepare for first Holy Communion. Or for all of us to understand the Eucharist better.
  • 1st Eucharist Retreat is available ON-Line. If you want to receive a packet to take home, please let me know.
St. Patrick Parish is with you in this Pandemic. You are not alone!

Check our our St. Patrick Family Faith Resources Page for lots of faith videos and links for you and your family!

Connecting with Jesus at home
Watching Mass At Home -
check out our HOME CHURCH SUNDAY Page:

Other helpful Mass tools:
Here are some great faith resources for you and your children:


Middle School Ministry!
CIA - Catholics in Action
Youth Group on your mobile devices! This Sunday night at 7pm.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not meeting in person for the next few weeks. HOWEVER, please join us on your mobile devices for the Youth nights that are being streamed live on Sundays. They've got some incredible stuff lined up for us. We'll send details and reminders on Sunday via the Remind app, so be sure that you are subscribed to those. (See our web page for details.)
Check out the news on our CIA Website -

You should also be getting a phone call/remind/email from your CIA Agent for more information!
Youth Ministry - SPY
Youth Group on your mobile devices! This Sunday night at 7pm.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not meeting in person for the next few weeks. HOWEVER, please join us on your mobile devices or on your computer for two awesome virtual youth nights each week. They've got some incredible stuff lined up for us. We'll send details and reminders on Sunday via the Band app, so be sure that you are subscribed to those. (See our web page for details.)
Check out the news on our SPY Website

You should be hearing from your SPY leaders regarding chat opportunities during or right after these youth nights using "Band". You should have received an invitation to join band from your SPY leaders - Check the website for more details.
Confirmation Classes for Teens

Confirmation Classes - on-line, using Zoom.
You should be receiving a zoom invitation soon.
  • Monday, April 20th

Sacrament of Confirmation Celebration is still scheduled for May 16th at the 5pm Mass with Bishop Joe Vasquez unless it is cancelled because of COVID-19. We will keep you posted!
Sharing Faith at home during COVID-19 Self - Quarantine!




Check our our St. Patrick Family Faith Resources Page for lots of videos and links for you and your family!
GOOD Catholic RESOURCES for your Spiritual Growth on the Internet!
and Parents -
  • If there are other things you would like links to - let me know! I will try to keep this updated!
Even though you are busy - check out this app while you are waiting for your child at soccer practice, band, school, etc. .anywhere (except driving, of course!!!)

Laudate also has Daily Mass Readings, Liturgy of the Hours, Order of the Mass, Calendar with daily readings, Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, How to go to Confession, Stations of the Cross, Basic Catholic Prayers, Latin Prayers, Catechism, Catholic Media, EWTN & Vatican Documents. Everything you wanted to know about being Catholic but were afraid to ASK! You are now smarter than a 5th Graders!

  • Catholic Answers & Apologetics
  • Catholic Confession Guide
  • Our Daily Bread - Meditations

Hallow: Catholic Meditation - download app on your phone!

myParish Catholic Life - has all the information you need for St. Patrick - Mass/Confession times/Special Group connections!

USA Catholic Church - USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops...everything you wanted to know about being Catholic!


St. Patrick Religious Education Ministry is here to empower and support families in their ministry to form and teach their children about God and the Catholic faith. This is a life-long process that includes us as adults and those families with special needs!

If you have any questions or needs that we can help you with, please feel free to email us or call us! We are here to serve you! During the COVID-19 stay-at-home guidelines, I am available via email or phone.
You can text me at (562-822-8779)

May God bless you with His abundant Love, Peace and Joy as we grow more like Him every day during our journey of faith!

Nancy Longo
Director of Religious Education
St Patrick Catholic Church
 2500 Limmer Loop
 Hutto, TX 78634
 512-759-3712 ext 104
If you would like text reminders, we will use REMIND:
Dial 81010 - and add yourself to your desired group:
  • Catechists—@ah8gk
  • RCIA adapted for C/T—@d6kbak
  • 4:30 Session—@4c8464
  • 6:30 Session—@b8de64