Pastor’s Corner — September 22nd, 2024
Parish Festival Oktoberfest, Sunday October 6th (2pm-6pm) at the School
After the resounding success of last year’s event, the parish is invited to our parish festival at our school grounds across town (1001 Charles Orndorf Dr) to highlight the unity of our entire St Patrick Family (parish and school). The school St Pat’s Dad’s Club again is planning and executing this family friendly event which includes bounce houses, obstacle courses, beer brewed by parishioner-owned Eternity Brewing, Tommy Schober and the Sound of Sorgenbrecher German band, and authentic German food.
We will also be drawing tickets at the end for our Annual Parish Raffle. (Don’t forget to turn in your tickets in the white barrels at the entrances in the Church by that day). Thanks to all those who have already turned in your tickets for this big fundraiser. Special thanks for Keehn-Griffen Funeral home for purchasing the tickets and the Knights of Columbus who mailed them out to you.
Please plan on bringing the family for the event. I hope to see you there!
A Priest Discernment Group for High School Boys (From Fr Joshua)
Every man has a vocation. Every man is called by God to lay down his life in a noble way. Because of this fact, every man must take seriously the questions, “What is my vocation? How am I called to lay down my life?”
At the beginning of the Book of Jeremiah, the Lord speaks to Jeremiah, calling him to be a prophet to God’s people. Jeremiah is hesitant, afraid, and gives excuses that he is too young, but the Lord replies in chapter 1, verse 7: “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you.”
The Lord says that to each of us: Be not afraid.
The Jeremiah 1:7 group here at St. Pat’s is for men in high school to begin discerning those questions: “What is my vocation? How am I called to lay down my life?” Each month, we will meet, eat food, talk about how to be men who listen to and respond to God’s call, and spend some time in prayer.
Meetings are held in the Youth Room in the PLC on one Friday each month from 6:00-7:00 PM, with a time of Eucharistic Adoration over in the Chapel afterwards. Please RSVP to Fr. Joshua at least 24 hours in advance if you plan on attending so he knows how much food to get.
Beginning in September, group discussion will focus on selections from “To Save A Thousand Souls,” by Fr. Brett Brannen. Free copies of the book will be available at the meetings. If you are in high school and would like to join the group, or if you have any questions, please email Fr. Joshua Fons at frjoshua@stpatchurch.org. If you are past high school age, but would like to discuss vocational discernment, feel free to reach out to Fr. Joshua as well.
It’s important to ask boys in high school if they’ve ever considered the priesthood. Often, they won’t even consider themselves a good candidate unless someone tells them they would make a good priest or ask if they’ve ever considered. If you ask them and they’ve thought about it, it’s important to invite them to this discernment by encouraging them to reach out to Fr. Joshua.
Catholic Morality Through the Lens of Justice in the Next Election
Here is a great article from Fr. Robert Spitzer about voting for candidates and proposals that protect the vulnerable, including the unborn and those suffering from gender dysphoria. He notes the grave harms of transgenderism with statistics that are rather shocking.
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias