Dear Holy St. Patrick Families!
Well, Lent is here. It is time to reflect on how we are drawing nearer to God. How are we following in Jesus' footsteps? How are we loving God and loving others? Lent is a special time to look at our lives closely, to see how we are living out our faith. The three pillars help guide us: Pray - FAST - Give! (see below for some ideas)
I don't know about you, but I am reminded in Lent, that I am not where I want to be in my relationship with God. I want to have a better relationship with God, but I find i am struggling with my own stubbornness and my own selfishness. I can't seem to let go of my wants and surrender to God's perfect will. I know God has a perfect plan for my life - that He wants me to be Happy! I trust that this is TRUE! I love God with all my heart, but I get sidetracked by life. God usually ends up on the back burner. Lent is a special time to strive to build habits to put Him first, to be more Holy - to be set apart as His beloved. People should be able to see more of God in me and less of "Nancy". But when I look in the mirror (which, at my age, I hate to do), I usually see Nancy.
Here is my daily prayer (sometimes it is minute by minute) "Dear God, help me". Help me to want what you want, help me to love others the way you love them, help me to give up my desires and seek your desires, help me embrace the crosses in my life.
It's comforting for me to be Catholic, because I know I am not alone. Each one of us is going through the same thing! The Church is here to help us, to guide us, to encourage us and to challenge us. We are all journeying to heaven and so many of you give me encouragement to keep going, even though I get tired and discouraged. Thank you, good and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. You may not know it, but I am leaning on you, as I watch you strive to be more Holy! You encourage me to be more like Jesus! To be more Holy! Thank you! I am truly blessed to be here with you this Lent!
I continue to pray for you and your families. Please continue to pray for me!
Blessings,
Nancy Longo
Director of Religious Education
562-822-8779 (cell)
512-759-3712 (office)
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Don't forget! DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME - March 8th
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Important Dates for
Elementary Religious Education
- March 4 - Classes at 4:30 or 6:30. RCIC classes for children and parents and high school.
- Sunday, March 8 - Daylight Savings Time! Turn your clocks ahead (we lose an hour of sleep!)
- March 11 - Classes at 4:30 or 6:30. RCIC classes for children and parents and high school. ALSO - 2nd Year Sacrament Prep - Parent 1st Eucharist Meeting at 4:30 or 6:30pm.
- March 17 - St. Patrick's Day! We will celebrate this day at our Parish Picnic in May!
- March 18 - No RE - Spring Break
- March 25 - No RE - Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Mass at 6:00pm, please try to attend as a family! It is NOT a Holy Day, but a special day to Honor Mary and her YES to be the Mother of God.
- April 1st - Classes at 4:30 or 6:30. RCIC classes for children and parents and high school.
- Thursday, April 2nd - 1st Eucharist retreat for parents and child! 3pm-6pm. See below.
- Sunday, April 5th - Palm Sunday
- Wed, April 8th - NO RE - Holy Week
- Sunday, April 12th - EASTER SUNDAY - He has Risen Indeed!
- Wed, April 15 - Classes at 4:30 or 6:30. RCIC classes for children and parents and high school.
- Wed, April 22 - Classes at 4:30 or 6:30. RCIC classes for children and parents and high school.
- Sat/Sun - April 25/26 - 1st Communion at all masses!
- Wed, April 20 - Last Day of RE - Family Night - 4:30 or 6:30pm
- Wed, April 27 - Catechist Thank you Dinner!
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Lent is here! This newsletter has lots of ideas to help your family grow closer to Jesus!
- Lent is a time of prayer, penance and sacrifice, a time for the entire family to be more attentive to the words of Jesus and to each other.
- It is a time to try harder to put Christ’s teachings into practice. It is a time of concentrated effort toward the springtime of spiritual growth, or rebirth and renewal.
- It is a time when the whole Church goes on retreat for 6 weeks.
- It is a 40-day journey with Jesus.
- Lent means doing something as well as giving up something.
Family idea: Clay Pot – Shatter an inexpensive clay pot and give each family member a piece to keep during Lent as a reminder that we are like clay in God’s hands. During Lent, we can allow God to shape us into new vessels.
Lent Family Activity Challenge Below - each day complete one activity - mark it off the calendar (in any order) and the Wednesday after Easter, bring your completed sheet in for an EASTER Surprise!
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We have a prayer team available every first Sunday of each month after the 10am Mass, to provide intercessory prayer for individuals, married couples and families. This prayer team itself is open to all who are called to minister to others in this way. They will meet in the chapel immediately after this Mass. The Lord says in Matthew Ch 18, “ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” We invite you to come for prayer – for healing, insight, strength in a trial or thanksgiving.
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Important dates for families of those children receiving their 1st Holy Communion April 25/26.
- Wednesday, March 11 - Parent Workshop on Holy Eucharist - mandatory at either 4:30 or 6:30pm
- Thursday, April 2nd - Parent/Child 1st Eucharist Retreat.
- 1st Holy Communion will be celebrated at all masses during the weekend of April 25/26. Please email Nancy to request a mass time.
- More information on march 11th - either 4:30 or 6:30pm
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Middle School Ministry!
CIA - Catholics in Action
Sundays, before 5pm mass from 3-4:30pm
CIA Agents (volunteers) are needed!
Middle School RCIC teen classes: Saturdays Apr 4, May 2, June 6 - from 9am-10:30am.
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Youth Ministry - SPY
Sundays after 5pm mass - 6:15-8:30pm
Volunteers are needed!
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Confirmation Classes for Teens
Confirmation Classes are every other Monday from 7-8:30pm. Visit our
website for more information.
Sacrament of Confirmation Celebration - May 16th at the 5pm Mass with Bishop Joe Vasquez
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It's never too late to register!!!
https://www.stpatrickhutto.org/re-online-registration
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GOOD Catholic RESOURCES for your Spiritual Growth on the Internet!
- If there are other things you would like links to - let me know! I will try to keep this updated!
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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!
NEW: RICEBOWL APP - Download the app for many recipes and ideas for giving alms during Lent! Also - pick up a RiceBowl for your family. Weekly - create a simple meal for your family and put the extra money you would have spent on a normal meal into the Rice Bowl.
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St. Patrick PARISH FAMILY ACTIVITIES:
Every Friday - Fish Fry, Stations of the Cross at 7pm and Confession at 7pm
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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! I am usually here from 9am - 4:30pm - Mon-Fri. During school year, I will be here during the RE programs, but probably not available by email or office 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
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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
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