Bulletin

New Communication Tools for Faith Formation!

Facebook

St. Patrick Faith Formation, Nevada, Iowa is now on Facebook! To get the latest messages and updates on events, “friend” us on facebook! We will be putting up the latest news, events and photos as they become available.

Wiggio

What is Wiggio? Wiggio is a data system that makes it easier for groups to communicate with one another. It is a free on-line service that was created by parents and coaches to help improve communication among the group. If you accept Wiggio, your email is not being sold. The Faith Formation Commission has agreed to use Wiggio to communicate important and timely information to parents from our church. We will use it as another way to cancel classes if there is bad weather. It will also send out reminders for meetings. If you have questions about Wiggio, go online to Wiggio.com and check out the tutorial video which explains it in detail.

Join our collaborative St. Patrick’s & Memorial Lutheran’s service to the hungry on Thursday evening, December 29th, by helping cook/serve at Food at First, 5th & Kellogg, in Ames. We have fun! Two shifts to choose from: Prep & Cook 3-5PM and Serve & Clean-up 5-7PM. Sign–up here or call Jodi @ 382-6509 or Mike @ 382-5232

Harmony Closet is in need of winter coats for all ages!! Drop off your donations on Saturdays from 8:00 am – Noon or on Monday evenings, from 4:30-7:00 pm. Harmony Closet is also in need of more volunteers. To volunteer, go to the Memorial Lutheran website and click on Harmony Closet. Once you volunteer, you will receive an email reminder about the date.

We would like to thank Diane Dawson and her family for the donation of two Christmas poinsettias in memory of Leon and Mary Ann Wilson. Also, thank you to all who donated flowers throughout the year!

Mark Your Calendar! January 20 will be the Good Samaritan Concert at the Methodist Church at 2:00 pm. Money raised from this free will concert helps those in need of assistance with rent, utilities, etc. More information coming soon!

Financial support of the parish through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is easy and convenient. EFT saves time having to write checks and remembering to bring checks or envelopes to Mass or mail them when you are on vacation. Forms are available at the parish office, complete the form, attach a voided check or deposit slip, and mail or bring the form to the parish office or place in the collection basket. EFT may be changed or discontinued anytime by written notification to the parish office.

Wondering how you can help the youth of St. Patrick’s? Have you thought of donating your cans and bottles to the youth Ministry Fund? It’s easy! All you need to do is take your cans/bottles to the Story County Redemption Center, 1420 Lincoln Way, Nevada. Take them in and tell them that they are for St. Patrick’s Church. That is all there is to it! What a great way to help support the youth of St. Patrick’s!!

Harmony Clothing Closet is a clothing distribution center, hosted by the churches of Nevada to provide clothing to those who have need. They are open on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings. Volunteers are very much needed to help at Harmony Closet. Our own St. Francis Study Club has volunteered to take the 4th Monday evening of every month and they could use your help! What a wonderful way to give back to God for all the blessings He has given you! The busier you are – the bigger the gift you are giving – to God and to those who are in need! Call Louise Jennrich at 382-6167 if you’d like to help the St. Francis Study Club on the 4th Monday, or contact the Lutheran Church for more information about other

Each Sunday, Ann Malven provides child care during Mass in the basement of the church. If you have infants or toddlers, perhaps you might want to take advantage of this wonderful ministry provided by Ann!

Good Samaritan Fund

Please consider helping out your friends, neighbors, or a complete stranger in the upcoming months. The Good Samaritan Fund is also going through some lean times, just as everyone else is experiencing. If you could help in anyway; prayerfully, or with a donation, you will be helping someone who has a dire need. The Good Samaritan Fund is driven by your donations and by donations from other churches and individuals here in Eastern Story County. We have helped many families in the past year, all from our smaller towns, where you may live. Our clients aren’t asking for a “handout” but a “hand up.” Please take the time to consider helping others in our community.

Thank you!!

MEMORIAL AND ST. PATRICK’S TEAM UP TO FEED THE HUNGRY: Members of Memorial Lutheran and St. Patrick’s churches will provide workers for “Food at First” United Methodist Church in Ames on four Thursdays in 2011 There is an open invitation of anyone-any family-to get the free meal, and everyone has their own reason for attending. The major focus is to help those who are not able to simultaneously meet their basic needs of food and shelter. Two shifts of workers prepare and serve/clean up after the meals: 3-5 p.m.-preparation (4 people needed); 5-7 p.m.-serve/clean up (8 people needed). Children and youth are welcome, when accompanied by an adult. For more info contact Mike Coverdale at 382-5232 or mjcoverdale@mchsi.com or click here to sign up

Stewardship
Offertory	Good Samaritan	Christmas/Flowers
$154.73	$299.00	$620.00 / $25.00
Tithing	Capital Campaign	Religious Retirement
$3610.00	$2610.00	$115.00

REMINDER: All lay ministers (Eucharistic ministers, lectors, altar servers, etc.) are meeting in the reconciliation room for prayer about 15 minutes before Mass starts.

JUST A REMINDER if you need to reserve the social hall for events, you will need to contact the Cluster Office to reserve the hall.

Special Intentions

All caregivers, the ill and homebound, Eric Jensvold, and all special intentions. Please also remember our service men and women in your prayers.

Let us support one another in prayer

Bread for the Journey

No. 42

Concluding Rites (Part III)

This understanding of the missionary dimension of the Mass has been articulated by Pope Benedict XVI in his recent exhortation, Sacramentum caritatis. The Pope eloquently states, “The mystery of the Eucharist inspires and impels us to work courageously within our world to bring about that renewal of relationships which has its inexhaustible source in God’s gift . . . . In a particular way, the Christian laity, formed at the school of the Eucharist, are called to assume their specific political and social responsibilities” (91). For the Pope, the Eucharist “schools” us and sends us out for our responsibilities as social and political persons. Therefore, the social dimensions of the Mass extend beyond the walls of the Church to live the mission Christ gives to the Church.

What is this social mission that Christ gives to us? The Pope offers two ways we embody the social mission of Christ. The first is through “the sanctification of the world” (92). To sanctify is to grow in holiness. God sends us forth to work for holiness in the political and the social spheres of life. Pope Benedict XVI also alerts us to our mission of being good stewards of God’s creation. “The world is not something indifferent, raw material to be utilized simply as we see fit. Rather, it is part of God’s good plan . . . . (92). Therefore, as the Pope mentions, our second responsibility of the social mission of Christ is to work “responsibly for the protection of creation” (92). All of creation belongs to God alone. God entrusted to us this precious gift in order to take good care of it and all creatures.

Preparing Your Parish for the Revised Roman Missal: Homilies and Reproducibles for Faith Formation © 2011 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago IL 60609; 1-800-933-1800; www.LTP.org

You may read more about the revisions at www.usccb.org/romanmissal., or click the link at the top of this page

During the weekend of January 7 and 8, 2012, Father David Schatz, Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, will be here and will preside and preach at all the Masses of the Cluster. Let us all welcome him!

Please be sure to stop by in your parish’s gathering space and pick up your 2012 budget envelops. If you don’t use them, please pick up your packet anyway. We use this information to keep our data base up to date. Thank you!!

Archbishop Hanus is inviting members of the Archdiocese to join him on a pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land from March 12-24, 2012. This pilgrimage is part of the 175th Anniversary celebration of the Archdiocese. For a brochure with more information, please contact the parish office or the web site of the Archdiocese: www.arch.pvt.k12.ia.us. You may also call Jackie Doser at Travel Headquarters (800) 383-0563.

Clarke University in Dubuque is pleased to announce the Diocesan Award which gives one $1000 renewable scholarship to one new full-time daytime undergraduate freshman or transfer student from each parish in the Dubuque Archdiocese. If you are interested in being considered for this scholarship, please contact Father Dagit no later than January 25.

The Shepherds who heard the joyous news from the angels on that first Christmas night and then hurried to find the infant Savior must surely have been changed by that experience. How has His coming changed my life?

Donations of nonperishable food, paper products or cash are always gratefully accepted!

Catholic Charities offers the following services:
Individual, marital, and family counseling; confidential assistance with marital problems, depression, stress and other issues. Affordable sliding fee schedule. For an appointment call 515-296-2759.

Gabriel was the angel who delivered the message to Mary announcing the birth of Jesus. Angels are sometimes messengers. In order to send a message, what must you have?