December 2020
 

I received information from Fr. and hope this letter covers the majority of things I need to touch on. This week’s changes are due to Governor Pritzker and sent via a letter from Bishop Malloy: “Except for funeral visitations, and wakes at funeral homes, non-sacramental in-person meetings and gatherings have been banned by the State.” It does not affect schools or Religious Education classes ONLY if held in the school building.  So what this means for our parish is remote RE classes, Confirmation Classes, Youth Group, RCIA, Adult Formation classes, parent sacramental preparation meetings, finance council, parish council, Bible study, SVdP and St. Anne meetings. Masses and the sacraments (Baptisms, weddings, funerals, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Confessions) are not affected. These will remain in place until the ban is lifted by the State.

So beginning on December 6^th we will hold classes remotely. I have the 5/6^th-HS Google Meet links on the class webpages. After Thanksgiving I will do the same for the remaining grades. At the beginning of each month I will have family packets for pick-up at the office with any items they will need for the month.

During December, students will be studying Advent and Christmas.
Advent, a Latin word that means “coming”, is a four-week season that calls us to prepare spiritually for the arrival of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

• The first week of Advent is a time of joyful expectation (set up your creche, read about Saint Nicholas, reflect on Corinthians 1:3).
• The second week is a time of hopeful preparation for the coming of Christ (make a Jesse Tree, enjoy storytelling, reflect on Mark 1:2-3).
• The third week is a time to rejoice and share your joy with others (give of yourself, put up your Christmas tree, reflect on Isaiah 61:10).
• The fourth week is a time for sharing God’s gift of love (share with those in need, perform a Christmas play, reflect on Luke 1:30-32).
• Christmas Eve - tonight it’s time to celebrate! (Have a Christmas ceremony, write a letter to God, share God’s love with others, attend Mass, give thanks).

First Reconciliation

Immaculate Conception

Reconciliation

Parish Website

Please visit the parish website at www.stmarystpatrick.org.  With things changing on a weekly basis lately, this is the best way to keep things up to date. Also look for Flocknotes!

Feast of the Holy Family
On December 27^th the church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family.  Mary, Joseph and Jesus give us a model for our own family life.  They were focused on doing God’s will, serving Him was top priority in everything they did. Here are some things you can do as a family: Meditate and discuss stories about the Holy Family, Write letters to family members, Go on a family pilgrimage, Consecrate your own family to the Holy Family or Make Holy Family crafts.  See www.catholicicing.com, www.catholicmom.com, or www.catholicculture.org for more ideas.

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552)
Feast Day: December 3
Patron Saint of: Foreign Missions
Francis was born to a noble Spanish-Basque family on October 7, 1506 in Navarre, near Pamplona. He was studying in Paris when he met St. Ignatius of Loyola who convinced Francis to become one of the founders of the Society of Jesus. In 1534, Francis took his vows and was one of the first Jesuits ordained to that order. He sailed to the East Indies where he brought the faith to the Hindus, Malayans and the Japanese. Most of his time was spent ministering to the poor, sharing their food and accommodations, ministering to the sick especially the lepers. Francis had dreams of going to China, forbidden to foreigners. His dream never came to be as he died in a small hut on an island one hundred miles southwest of Hong Kong.  His body was taken to the Church of Good Jesus in Goa, where it remains today.

All of us are called to “go and preach to all nations” (see Matthew 28:19). Our preaching is not necessarily on distant shores but to our families, our children, our husband or wife, our coworkers. And we are called to preach not with words, but by our everyday lives. Only by sacrifice, the giving up of all selfish gain, could Francis Xavier be free to bear the Good News to the world. Sacrifice is leaving yourself behind at times for a greater good, the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, the good of just listening to another. The greatest gift we have is our time. Francis gave his to others.

St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Feast Day: December 14
John was born Juan de Yepes de Alvarez in Fontiveros, Castile, Spain.  He was raised by his mother after his father died when he was still an infant.  At the age of 25, he was ordained a Carmelite priest. John found this order to be lax and considered joining another order.  Therese of Avila convinced him to stay and help reform the order.  He did and the two of them became close friends. John established the Discalced monastery  at Duruelo, and taking the name of John of the Cross. He experienced the cross as he imprisoned and was met with much opposition. But also during this time he was a mystic, theologian and a poet. John is known as the Doctor of Mystical Theology.  Some of his well-known poems include: the Spiritual Canticle, Ascent of Mount Carmel, Living Flame of Love, and the Dark Night of the Soul. He died at the age of 49 at a monastery in Ubeda.
In John's words: "Never was fount so clear, undimmed and bright;
From it alone, I know proceeds all light, although 'tis night."

*Information on saints taken from www.catholic.org and OSV’s Encyclopedia of Saints.