The Cornerstone
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Patrick Catholic Church,

The rhythm and timeliness of our Church Liturgical Calendar is amazing. We are so blessed by the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the different seasons of our church year. This year we are especially blessed by Pope Francis' declaration of 2016 as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. I pray that all of us take advantage of this season to grow closer to Jesus during these 40 Days of Lent. Whether it be Pope Francis' newest book, The Church of Mercy, or his book, The Joy of the Gospel, or Matthew Kelly's Re-Discovering Jesus (complimentary copies in the vestibule), or contemplating Luke's gospel filled with images of mercy, I encourage us to do something to draw closer to Jesus. Commit to making Lent matter. 

To help us along the way, I encourage you to take advantage of the numerous opportunities to join our community in prayer and worship. 

During Lent a Prayer Intention Box will be located inside the church entrance. If you have a personal intention, write it on the card provided and drop it in the box, it will be included in our Prayers of the Faithful. For those who can't make it to Mass but would like us to pray for a special intention, please call or email the parish office or via the website and we'll forward your prayer request to our Parish Prayer Line. 

Join us for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Parish Center Chapel on Monday afternoons, Private Reconciliation and Stations of the Cross on Fridays, Bible Study with Deacon Bill on Mondays, Men's Prayer Group on Friday mornings in the Church Hall, and Walking with Purpose - Women's Prayer Group on Thursdays or Fridays in the Church Hall. Also consider attending our Aggiornamento Series of guest speakers on Feb. 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. for Catherine Punsalan's presentation on - Laudato Si - Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Environment. Finally, join us for our Parish Pilgrimage to enter the doors of St. James Cathedral on Sunday, March 6th. Downoad the Parish Pilgrimage of Mercy flyer for details.


Most of all, please continue to pray for one another in whatever form that may take in your lives. We are a faith community that benefits from the strength and solidarity of each other. Just as a single coal taken from a campfire quickly loses its glow and grows cold, we too need the warmth and support of each other to keep the flames of faith alive for ourselves and for each other. 

God Bless us during this holy season of Lent. Saint Patrick - Pray For Us 



Kevin Lovejoy 
Pastoral Coordinator


Download Your Guide to Lent in the Year of Mercy for a quick reference on ways of prayer, almsgiving and fasting as we prepare our hearts for renewal in the season of Easter.

As always we invite your to share your story or upcoming events for your Saint Patrick Catholic Church affiliated organization or ministry! Send us the scoop! Let us help tell the story and invite our faith community to join together in fellowship and prayer this Lenten season. 

Calendar of Events

Feb 12
Men's Prayer Group | 6:45 AM | Church Hall | Meets Weekly

Stations of the Cross | 3 PM | 7 PM 
Check out the video by Busted Halo that explains Lent

Reconciliation | 6 - 7 PM | Church

Feb 13
Reconciliation | 4 - 5 PM | Church

Mass | 5:30 PM | Church

Feb 14
Mass | 8:30 AM | 10:30 AM | Church

Youth Group | 4 PM | Parish Center | Jesus is always our Valentine!

Feb 15
Parish Office Closed for President's Day

No Eucharistic Adoration or Liturgy of the Hours

Feb 16
Prayer Shawl Ministry | 1 PM | Parish Center

Primetimers | 5:30 PM | Knapp's Restaurant | 2707 N Proctor St, Tacoma, WA 98407

Feb 18
Bridge Club | 12:15 PM | Parish Center

Walking with Purpose | 7 PM | Church Hall | Meets Weekly

Feb 19
Walking with Purpose | 9 AM | Church Hall | Meets Weekly

Hearts of Zambia Fish Dinner benefit sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Tacoma Council 809 | 5 - 7:30 PM | Church Hall

Reconciliation | 6 - 7 PM | Church

Stations of the Cross | 7:30 PM | Church
 

Learn more about the mission of Hearts for Zambia.

Burying the Alleluia: 
A Catholic Tradition Alive in the atrium

Throughout the liturgical year, the Catholic Church makes certain changes to the Mass to reflect the liturgical season. Next to the change in the color of the priest's vestments, the absence of the Alleluia during Lent is probably the most obvious. There is a long standing tradition for suspending the use of Alleluia from Shrove Tuesday which is the day before Ash Wednesday until Easter Vigil.
The Recipe of the Week for Lent: Ribollita with Zucchini Croutons 

A hearty soup great for those wanting to try the Mediterranean diet.

Ingredients
  • � lb. dried white beans
  • 2 large zucchini
  • 2/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 large white onion, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup peeled, seeded, and chopped tomato
  • 10-12 basil leaves, chopped
  • � head savoy cabbage, cut in large and diced
  • 2 cups chopped spinach
  • 8 - � inch thin slices day old sour dough bread, crust removed, diced
  • 8 tsp bread crumbs
  • 2 tsp chopped parsley
  • � cup grated parmesan
Directions
Begin by soaking white beans in water over night.

1. Drain beans and simmer, covered in 2 quarts lightly salted water for 45 minutes to 1 hour. When beans are done set aside their liquid.

2. Dice 1 zucchini. Heat 6 T olive oil in soup pot and saut� diced zucchini, onion, celery, carrot, and garlic until vegetables are soft but not browned. Add tomato, basil, cabbage, spinach, and cook for 10 more minutes.

3. Meanwhile, drain white beans, reserving cooking liquid. Put half of the beans through food mill and add puree to vegetables. Add remaining beans and cooking liquid (which should measure two quarts, add more water if necessary) and simmer for 30 minutes.

4. During last 10 minutes add diced bread to soup and season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Slice remaining zucchini on diagonal in 8 � inch thick slices, season. Toss silces with 2 T olive oil and grill or saut� until tender.

6. Combine bread crumbs, remaining olive oil, parsley, and add 2 � T parmesan in small bowl. Top each zucchini slice with a spoonful of breadcrumb mixture and brown quickly under broiler.

7. Ladle soup into hot bowls and top each with a zucchini crouton and parmesan.

Adapted from Soup and Sandwich: Supper for 8 by Michael Romano

The Health Ministry will be sharing meatless Friday recipes throughout Lent. Go meatless on Fridays during Lent for a chance to win a $100 gift card from Metropolitan Market.  

Learn more about how Dr. Garry Fitzgerald, Health Ministry leader is working with parishioners to make Saint Patrick Catholic Church a Blue Zone Parish and listen to the podcast from Busted Halo to learn about the spiriual benefits of not eating meat during Lent.
Living Your Strengths: 
Reflections in Lent for Week I

The Season of Lent is an opportunity to explore ways to connect our talents with Scripture. Talents are the 34 strengths, as defined by the book StrengthsFinder 2.0. 

Reflect on your strengths during the season of Lent think about how the Scripture passages and the reflection questions that follow can help draw you closer to the Lord.

The Catholic Home Missions Appeal is the weekend of February 13 - 14, 2016 at Saint Patrick Catholic Church. Many dioceses here in the United States do not have enough priests and trained lay ministers to serve their parishes. Through your support, the Catholic Home Missions Appeal helps to ease the struggle of these dioceses and to form vibrant faith communities.
Blue Ribbon Event

Saint Patrick Catholic School is hosting a Blue Ribbon Event on February 25, 2016.

It is part student showcase, part registration event and part open house. Current and prospective families are encouraged to attend. Attend one session or both.  

Refreshments provided. Bring a friend or a few!
 
Professor Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, the Director of the Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at Seattle University presents a talk that focuses on the Pope's encyclical on the environment.
REACH Reunion

Save the date for the event of the year!  You are invited to the Auction! 

What:   REACH Reunion 
When:  Saturday, April 16, 2016
Where: Gym at Saint Patrick Catholic School
THE MISSION OF SAINT PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH

We are a Catholic faith community in the traditions and people of "Old Tacoma" called together and empowered by Christ to nurture the spiritual and liturgical needs of our community through lifelong Christian education, celebration of Sacraments, prayer and service to others.
Saint Patrick Catholic Church 
1001 North J Street | Tacoma, Washington  98403 | 253-383-2783

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