During the month of April, students will continue to study “Life in Christ”.
  

The universal Church never “ did away” with abstaining from meat “every Friday of the year” (Code of Canon Law, #1251).  Recognizing, that abstaining from meat no longer carried the same potential for spiritual growth in a nation of such plenty, the bishops of the United States issued a pastoral statement in 1966 that freed Catholics in this country from abstinence of Fridays outside of Lent.  At the same time, they strongly encouraged the faithful to find other penitential practices or ways of fasting on Fridays throughout the year that would better aid their spiritual growth.
 
FLOCKNOTE
I have been using Flocknote to send out the monthly newsletter.  If you have signed up on Flocknote, you can make changes at any time, if you haven’t why not sign up and give it a try! Get important updates from our church in a timely and convenient way.  With Flocknote, you can choose what info you’d like to receive – via email or text message – from the various ministries and groups in our church.  To subscribe go to: www.flocknote.com/st-mary-st-patrick or text 1in3 to 84576 from your phone.  Text STOP to 84576 to stop text notifications at any time. Text HELP for help. There is no charge for this service, but your carrier message and data rates may apply. View full terms & conditions at  www.flocknote.com/txt.
 
FORMED
Would like to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you know someone who has fallen away from the Church, perhaps a friend, a family member, a co-worker, and you want reach them but you just don’t know how to?  This is why our parish has invested in FORMED, so that each of us might grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and in our desire to share our Faith with others, especially those closest to us.  FORMED, is a wonderful website that has been called a “Catholic Netflix.” FORMED has inspiring movies and video based studies, audio talks and e-books from the Church's most compelling speakers and authors. With your free access to FORMED, 24/7 on your smartphone, computer, iPad, or Kindle, you can:
 
• Prepare for Mass each week by watching an insightful five-minute video on the Sunday Readings;
• Enjoy movies as a family that are both nourishing and entertaining;
• Enrich your marriage with the award-winning video program Beloved; and
• Help your children grow in faith and character with engaging children’s materials.
 
To register, simply go to www.stmarystpatrick.formed.org, and create a user name and password…it’s that simple. FORMED also has an app for Apple or Android mobile devices! Go to the App Store or the Google Play store to download the FORMED App.
 
SMALL BABY ITEMS COLLECTION
The First Grade class is asked to bring in small baby items such as: bottles, bibs, pacifiers, teethers and rattles for a collection to the local Pregnancy Centers.  Donations may be placed in the basket marked as such in St. Mary Church Hall or in the vestibule by Sunday, May 6^th.
 
RICE BOWL BREAKFAST
In April during Religious Education class we will have the breakfast party for the Sixth Grade class who raised the most money per student! 
 
FIRST EUCHARIST
Our students are in the final stages of preparation to receive their First Eucharist.  We ask that you pray for our young children as they prepare to receive Jesus for the first time on April 8^th.  Students are: Ali Anderson, Lilli Coleman, Ireland Dolan, Evan Flores, Lucas Johnson, Lilly Nestler and Sawyer Wells.
 
The second First Eucharist Parent & Student meeting is scheduled for April 7^th from 9-11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Church Hall.  We will be practicing for First Communion and answering any questions you have about this sacrament.  One parent (both are welcome) must attend this meeting. Banners need to be finished and brought to this meeting. First Communion Mass is April 8, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Church.  There is RE class that day and students should attend.
 
MAY CROWNING
May Crowning will be held on Sunday, May 6^th at St. Mary Church at the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  The First Communicants will be the honor guard.
 
LAST CLASS FOR RE
May 6^th is the last Religious Education Class of the 2017-18 year.  At 10:00 a.m. we will meet in the Church Hall and hand out perfect attendance awards and recognized those who learned all their prayers. Parents and grandparents are welcome to attend.
 
TOTUS TUUS
Mark your calendar… July 14^th-21^st Totus Tuus will be held at St. Mary Church! Totus Tuus is a week-long “parish mission” for Catholic youth entering grades 1^st through 12^th.  It is dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, apologetics, Christian witness, the sacraments, Marian devotion, and Eucharistic worship.  Grades 1 ^st-6 ^th meet Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-2:15 pm and Grades 7 ^th-12 ^th meet Sunday-Thursday from 7:00-9:00 pm.  Flyers and registration forms are attached and are also available on the parish website. Registration forms returned by May 6^th will be entered in a drawing for a FREE T-shirt!

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577 – April 24, 1622)
Feast Day: April 24
Mark Rey was born in 1577, in Sigmaringen, Germany. As a practicing lawyer, he traveled across Europe as a tutor to aristocrats, but then began defending the poor. Mark left his law career to become a Franciscan Capuchin monk and took the name Fidelis. As a missionary in Switzerland, he was so successful the Protestants accused him of being a spy from Austrian. Fidelis was stabbed to death in a church. He was canonized in 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV and later was recognized as a martyr.

St. Peter Chanel (1803 – April 28, 1841)
Feast Day:  April 28
Patron Saint of: Oceania
He was born in Cluet, France, to a peasant family, and became the first martyr of Oceania. In 1827, Peter was ordained a priest and served in a simple parish. Wanting to be a missionary, Peter entered the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) in 1831. He was sent to the Marshall Islands, in the Pacific. While on the islands, Peter was murdered by a local chieftain. Within two years of his death, the entire island became Catholic.

  *Information on the saints was taken from Catholic Online, American Catholic and OSV Encyclopedia of Saints.