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This past Friday, the faculty and parish staff joined together for our retreat. We began on campus with opening prayer and a talk on what it means to be on pilgrimage. We soon gathered to head up to St. James Cathedral in Seattle to walk through the Holy Doors during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Pope Francis announced this year as one of mercy where we can rediscover the depth of the mercy of the Father who welcomes all and goes out to meet each of us individually. Our hope in the design of our retreat was to have a profound experience of the grace that comes from reconciliation and prayer. We wanted to be intentional about doing this in community as parish and school remembering that our work together is ministry.
We all stood in the rain at the steps of the Cathedral until the doors were opened for us. I waited in the back as my colleagues and friends entered one by one, in pairs, shoulder to shoulder. We stopped in a small side chapel dedicated to Mary where we prayed for Donna Breikss, lit candles for parents who are battling illness, prayed quietly for our own intentions. At noon, we joined the cathedral staff for Liturgy of the Hours reciting the response, "A heart contrite and humble, O God, you will not spurn."
It was a perfect day to be inside the cathedral. The weather outside was rainy and windy, St James was warm and welcoming. It felt good to be together but it was made more so because we were joined by a few men and women who looked like they needed to get out of the cold. People for whom the cathedral was refuge-a place to be safe from the streets and the harshness that comes with too little to eat. Some were sleeping, others just quietly looking at us, a few seemed to join us in prayer. I was grateful to see that the doors or our cathedral were open to all and our Father who welcomed us from St Pat's also went out to meet those more in need than us. He invited them in. That moment reminded me of a quote from CS Lewis; mercy detached from justice grows unmerciful.
It was special to walk in the holy doors of St. James, it felt better to walk out from them remembering our Gospel call and continuing to do the ministry we are called to everyday.
Blessings as we journey deeper into Lent. St Patrick pray for us, Chris
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Tuition Assistance 16/17 Due TODAY
To be considered for the first round of tuition assistance awards you must return your completed St. Patrick School TA application to the school office by Tuesday, Feb. 16th.
If you have any questions about this, please contact Bonnie Viafore in the school office at
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Prospective Family Night
Please let your friends know about our enrollment event this week!
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Blue Ribbon Event
Mark your calendar and invite a friend! For more information, click here.
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Upcoming Events
February 16: School Tuition Assistance Applications Due February 17: Welcome Wednesday for Prospective Families 9-11 AM February 18: Middle School Mass, 8:45 AM; Admissions Event, 7-8:15 PM February 19: Global Service Free Dress - Neon Day February 25: Blue Ribbon Event
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Global Service Free Dress
Wear neon this Friday and donate to great causes!
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Staff Retreat
On Februry 12, 2016, faculty and staff from Saint Patrick Catholic Church and School pilgrimaged to St. James Cathedral to walk through the Holy Doors.
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Academic Awards
Our Catholic Schools Week included an Awards Assembly and a talk by alumnus Michael Hamilton.
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Community Ministry
Question of the Week:
What do I seek from God this first week of Lent?
Join us on Thursday, February 18 for Middle School Mass at 8:45 AM.
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CYO
Volleyball
Our season will start this Saturday, February 20th. All games are at St. Charles. Here are the schedules:
8th grade plays All Saints at 9:15 am
7th grade plays St. Francis at 11:30 am
6th grade plays St. Charles at 1:45 pm
5th grade plays All Saints at 2:30 pm
Please check with your coaches for more details. Good luck teams!!!
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Jump Rope For Heart
Congratulations on a great job!! This is our 20th year supporting Jump Rope For Heart. Over 100 students participated! We have raised $4,650 so far, I will be sending the money in on Friday. The money raised will help kids and others with special hearts, and you learned what to do to take good care of your own heart. You have made a difference.
Prizes will arrive in 2-4 weeks. I will hand them out during PE class.
I thank you and so do the kids you have helped. With heart felt thanks,
Mrs. Joyce
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Save the Date
Last spring a portion of a short film was shot at St. Pat's. Some of our students were extras in the production. Our community is welcome to attend a screening of the short film at the Blue Mouse Theater on March 26. The time will be announced soon, but will likely be early afternoon. "The Serene Heartache" is a 15 minute short dramatic film about a junior high school girl who sets off to fulfill a school obligation but discovers much more.
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SPPA Save the Dates
We have some fun events coming up! Please save the dates:
April 30: Father/Daughter Dance
May 14: Mother/Son Rock Climbing
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From the Parish
Click here for our parish's plans for Lent
The Pope Series: Laudato Si- On Care for Our Common Home
The second talk in the series is presented by Professor Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, the Director of the Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at Seattle University at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 in the Parish Center. It focuses on the Pope's encyclical on the environment- Laudato Si.
Click here for more information
Holy Door Pilgrimage
On March 6, 2016- parishioners are invited to a Parish Pilgrimage of Mercy- to walk together through the Holy Doors of St. James Cathedral. A bus will leave from the parking lot of Saint Patrick Catholic Church at 2:00 P.M. with the target of a 3:00 P.M. arrival in Seattle to hear a description of Holy Doors and a walk through followed by a tour of St. James Cathedral.
The day will end with Vespers, which includes Exposition, Lenten Vespers and Benediction. There will be time for personal prayer in the Cathedral or an opportunity to participate in a self-guided Way of Mercy through the Cathedral, beginning at the Doors of Mercy and continuing with prayer stations at important places throughout the Cathedral for 15-20 minutes. The return to Tacoma is targeted for 6:00 P.M.
Youth Group Saint Patrick Youth group meets every other Sunday from 4-5:30 PM in the Parish Center. We have fun, great fellowship, games, food, and grow in our faith. Come every time we meet or whenever you can make it. Bring a friend and join us.
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It's time to get excited for JR. HIGH RALLY 2016!
This is an awesome opportunity for youth in grades 6-9 to celebrate God, our faith, and all the blessings that come from gathering young Catholics from around the Archdiocese & beyond! For more information, click here. |
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The mission of St. Patrick Catholic School is to nurture in its students an abiding Catholic faith while pursuing academic excellence and modeling honesty, respect, and service as dynamic members of our world community.
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St. Patrick Catholic School | 1112 N G Street, Tacoma WA 98403 | 253-272-2297
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