Dear Friends,

Lovejoy, Kevin
We sing the song All Are Welcome quite often as the processional song at Mass and not without good reason. All are indeed welcome at Saint Patrick Catholic Church and School. Our reputation as a welcoming parish community is well deserved. But we can't rest on our laurels and presume that everyone feels welcome, especially as we continue to experience a steady decline in Mass attendance.

Our ongoing Parish Strategic Planning process has brought to our attention the need to develop strategies to attract and retain new parishioners. We can no longer rely on cultural Catholicism and successive generations to fill our pews. Making people feel welcome is the key to drawing in new parish families.

We need your help to do this. Helping others feel welcome is something each of us can do. It's not easy to move into a new parish community, so next time you see an unfamiliar face at Church, go up to them and say "Welcome to Saint Patrick. We hope you like it here." It is as simple as that. A smile and a handshake goes a long way.

Our parish staff has been brainstorming ways to make newcomers and visitors feel more welcome. In the coming weeks and months be on the lookout for some of the following welcoming Initiatives:

 

  • Welcome Cards in our pews asking visitors as well as current parishioners to share their desires and interests in joining our community.
  • Asking guests and visitors to stand up at the beginning of Mass to be recognized.
  • New Welcome messages from the ambo before the start of Mass.
  • A Weekly Welcoming Table, not just once a month.
  • Display photos of parish staff and various council and commission members in the Gathering Space.
  • Church Tours for new parishioners, visitors, long time parishioners and the community.
  • Invite new parishioners to bring forward the Gifts of Bread and Wine or lead us in the Creed.
  • Introduction of and presentation of a token gift bag to new parishioners during Mass.

 

As a current parishioner reading this letter, you are the foundation of our community and we treasure you and your commitment to Saint Patrick Church. New parishioners are the lifeblood that will continue to sustain and help us grow as a faith community. 

Please join us on our Welcome Campaign to ensure that all those who walk through our doors feel welcome at Saint Patrick Catholic Church.

Saint Patrick - Pray For Us! 


Kevin Lovejoy 
Pastoral Coordinator


The Fourth of July is a holiday that both celebrates the gifts of being a citizen of the USA and also offers us a time to gather with family.

Independence Day is a fitting time to reflect on USCCB articles on the Fortnight for Freedom and how we help our families integrate both faith and citizenship. As our Bishops remind us:
 
We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens. To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should instead be complementary. That is the teaching of our Catholic faith, which obliges us to work together with fellow citizens for the common good of all who live in this land. That is the vision of our founding and our Constitution, which guarantees citizens of all religious faiths the right to contribute to our common life together. Excerpted from Our First, Most Cherished Liberty-A Statement on Religious Liberty by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.

Let's pray together for our nation and for our families!

Join us for Mass at 9 AM at Saint Patrick Catholic Church on July 4, 2016 in celebration of Independence Day.  

All are always welcome. 
Saturday | July 2
Reconciliation | 4 - 5 PM | Church 
Vigil Mass | 5:30 PM | Church
St. Vincent de Paul Collection | After All Masses | Vestibule of the Church
Welcoming Ministry | Gathering Space in the Church

Sunday | July 3
Mass | 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM
St. Vincent de Paul Collection | After all Masses | Vestibule of the Church 
Welcoming Ministry | After all Masses | Gathering Space in the Church

Monday | July 4 
Mass for Independence Day | 9 AM | Church
Parish Center Closed in Observation of Independence Day

Tuesday | July 5
Mass | 7:45 AM | Church
Prayer Shawl Ministry | 10 AM | Parish Center | All are welcome.  No experience necessary.
PrimeTimers | 5:30 PM | Parish Center | All age 50+ and single are welcome.

Wednesday | July 6
Communion Service | 7:45 AM | Church

Thursday | July 7
Mass | 7:45 AM | Church

Friday | July 8
Men's Prayer Group | 6:45 AM | Church Hall
Mass | 7:45 AM | Church

Saturday | July 9
Reconciliation | 4 - 5 PM | Church 
Vigil Mass | 5:30 PM | Church

Sunday | July 10
Mass | 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM
Respect Life Ministry | 11:30 AM | Church Hall

______________________________
As always we invite you to share your story or upcoming events for your Saint Patrick Catholic Church affiliated organization or ministry! Send us the scoop! Let us tell the story and invite our faith community to join together in fellowship and prayer as we journey together discerning and discovering the Mission that has us.  

National Online Giving Challenge
Farewell Mary Randall

Hundreds gathered at Saint Patrick Catholic Church on June 25, 2016 to farewell Mary Randall at the 5:30 P.M. Vigil Mass celebrated by Father Tom Lamanna, S.J., which was followed by a picnic-style dinner at in the Church Hall in honor of her retirement.

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We Are SO Close!
As our 2016 Annual Catholic Appeal is coming to a close, we thank the 370 donors who have pledged $110,955 as of June 22, 2016, reaching 94% of the $118, 416 goal established for the parish by the Seattle Archdiocese. That leaves us with a shortfall of $7,461. 


Let's Not Fall Short
If we don't reach our goal, we will have to remit the difference from our parish operating reserve.  We fell short in 2015 and paid the difference. If we all do our part, we can reach our requirement this year and avoid having to pay the shortage to the Archdiocese from our operating reserve.  


Have Your Donated?
Have we heard from you? If we haven't heard from you, we ask that you join us in support of this very worthwhile campaign.  If everyone that supported the Annual Catholic Appeal in 2015, but still has not contributed this year, gave at the same level as they did last year, we would surpass our goal!


$1 a Day?
No gift is too small. If you're unsure what to give, please consider a gift of $1 a day or $365 or more. If you are unable to contribute financially at this time, we still want to hear from you and ask you to please consider pledging your prayers.

Help us reach our goal before the end of June. Discern your gift and make your financial pledge or pledge of prayer today! 


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Members of St. Vincent de Paul will collect monetary donations after each Mass this weekend. Members are in the vestibule of the church on the first weekend of every month.

Did you know that Words of Hope is a monthly newsletter published by The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Tacoma-Pierce. It is a great way to stay in the know about the great things happening at St. Vincent de Paul. Check out the June 2016 edition. 



Thank you for your generous support of our Holy Father's charitable works through the Peter's Pence Collection. Our contributions will be combined with those from our brothers and sisters around the world to help Pope Francis provide essential relief to people in need. Your generosity is an act of solidarity with the universal Church, answering the call to become a witness of charity. May God bless you.

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Apply to be a Stephen Minister

Contact a Stephen Leader

Saint Patrick Catholic School News




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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