FLOCKNOTE
Never logged into Flocknote before, but you’re already part of our parish’s network?  No worries, setting up a login only takes a few seconds.
-For starters, just head over to flocknote.com/login.
-Enter your email address (or phone number, if that’s what you’ve registered with), then click Reset or create a password below the big blue Sign In button.
-After that, click the yellow Reset my password button that comes up, and follow the prompts.
If you indicated you would like to receive things via email, I signed you up with Flocknote. By creating a password and logging in you will be able to choose additional ministries you would like notifications from and choose to receive things by text also.  For short reminders, the texts are great.  Any questions, feel free to contact me or the office.
 
LENT
We all know the things that make us happy, but we don’t always do them. Lent is an opportunity to change that. This year we invite you to do something different. Sign up for Best Lent Ever, a FREE, video-based email program featuring internationally acclaimed speaker and New York Times bestselling author Matthew Kelly. From Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, Matthew will help you identify what stands between you and happiness . . . and what to do about it. Are you ready for your best Lent ever?  Sign up at www.dynamiccatholic.com/lent.  This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday with Masses at 7 a.m., 12 p.m., and 7 p.m.

ABSTAINING & FASTING
All persons 14 years and older are bound by the law of abstinence. The law of abstinence forbids the eating of meat, and foods prepared with meat or meat by-products. Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent are days to abstain from meat. All adults 18-59 years are bound by the law of fast. The law of fast allows only one full meal, and two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. Eating between meals is also prohibited. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of fasting.

THURSDAY EVENING MASSES
On Thursdays during Lent the daily Mass will be held at 7 p.m.  Daily Mass is shorter than the Sunday liturgy lasting about 20 minutes. If you are able, why not attend one this Lent. Following these Masses will be the Stations of the Cross. This is a great way to prepare your heart this Lenten season.
 
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross will be held during the weeks of Lent after the Thursday evening daily Mass and again on Fridays at 12 noon.  The Stations are a way we can walk with Jesus on his way to Calvary.
 
PARISH APP
The St. Mary/St. Patrick Parish App is another way you will be able to connect with the parish and stay up-to-date with what is going on. With myParish App you can join ministry groups to receive and easily respond to messages from the parish. There are faith building resources and features to complement your daily life such as: daily readings, prayer time and confession time reminders, daily Mass reading. To download the App, text APP to 88202, download the App and select St. Mary/St. Patrick Parish after opening. If you haven’t downloaded it, why not give it a try.
 
HEART TO HEART
You can help others by taking part in the Heart to Heart Project!  Sponsored by the Junior Observer and the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW), thousands of children in the Chulucanas Diocese in Peru have been given basic school supplies.  If a child does not have a notebook, they cannot attend school.  People in the Rockford Diocese decorate the heart, cut it out, and return it along with $2 to the Parish Center by Sunday, April 7^th.  The funds are sent to the bishop in South America who purchases school supplies for the children and then distributes along with a heart as a gift from our children to their children.  See attachment or the parish website.
 
WIN A BREAKFAST PARTY
All classes will be participating in a friendly competition to raise money for Operation Rice Bowl.  Students are asked to bring their monetary donations to class by April 14^th.  The total will then be divided by the number of students in the class.  (This will give even the smallest class a fair chance to win.)  The class with the largest “per student” average will win a Breakfast party on May 5 ^th.
 
GIRL SCOUT SUNDAY
March 10^th is Girl Scout Sunday. Any Girl Scouts who wear their uniform and participate in Mass are eligible for the Scout Sunday patch from their Troop.
 
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation Class will be held on Wednesday, March 13^h from 6:30-8:30 pm.   Session 11: Made for Mission will be the topic for the evening.
 
YOUTH GROUP
The High School Youth Group will meet on Sunday, March 17 ^th from 5-7 p.m. Parents & students should sign up on Flocknote (under Religious Education) to receive text notifications of upcoming activities.           
                                                                                   
FIRST EUCHARIST
Preparation has begun for First Eucharist.  We ask that you pray for our young children as they prepare to receive the Eucharist for the first time on April 28^th.  First Communicants are: Gabriel Carlson, Evelyn Dolan, Davis James, Madelyn McLevige, Rowan Stache, Levi Sublett, Luke Watson and Dempsie Woker.
-       A parent and student meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 20^th at St. Mary Church Hall – 6:00-7:30 p.m.
 
RECONCILIATION
Students in grades 2-12 will have an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Religious Education class on April 7^th.
 
HOW THE FOURTH GRADE LIVES THEIR FAITH
Students in the 4 ^thGrade R.E. class are asked to discuss with their family how they can help with needed donations of: toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex, laundry soap, dish soap, fabric softener, toothpaste, shampoo or body soap.  These items will be included in the Easter baskets that will be given to local families in need.  You may leave your donation in the 4 ^th Grade classroom or put it in the basket at the entrance of St. Mary/St. Patrick Church.  Please have you donation in by April 7^th. Thank You!