Dearest Brothers and Sisters,

God is so good and I am grateful for all that He is doing in each of our lives! So too I am beyond grateful for being here with all of you at St. Pat’s. I want to thank each of you for your faith, your generosity, and you support. I’d also like to thank everyone who so generously gave me a gift for Christmas – I truly appreciate each and every gift and especially the heart behind each one. Again, I am beyond blessed. THANK YOU!
               
I feel like there is a whole lot going on right now, which is a good thing because the Holy Spirit never stops working! In light of this I’d like to quickly remind you of many of the things that we have going on at our Parish right now. I fully understand that no one can make everything, but if it’s been a while since you’ve stopped in for anything extra that is offered (or if you’re never taken advantage of any of our extra opportunities) then I beg you to consider coming and giving yourself the gift of going deeper. After all, what do you have to lose? If I’m honest with you I have to admit that a lot of my free time is spent doing mindless things that in the end aren’t really necessary and don’t ultimately serve and deep purpose I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with that, but if there are other opportunities that could truly lead me somewhere and draw me further into the Truth that I’m loved by God, and I putting that off for the sake of mindless activity . . . then I have no choice but to admit that there is something wrong. I’m just telling you that this is where I find myself sometimes, and now I have to ask: “What about you?” Answer this question for yourself, and see where the answer leads you. Perhaps you’ll find the Spirit convicting you to take advantage of some of the great stuff that we have coming up. So, here we go:

1. This Monday, Jan. 14th at 7:00 we have our Evening of Prayer and Praise. This time of prayer happens every 2nd Monday of the month and is an opportunity to pray with our community, listen to and sing uplifting music, listen to reflections that help us to open up our hearts to the reality of God’s love, spend time in Adoration, and encounter Jesus in the Eucharist. I’ll tell you that outside of Mass, this evening is my favorite event all month.

2. Starting Tuesday, Jan. 15th we’ll be having “Formation Night” and you’re invited! We’ll gather at 7:00 in the Holloway Center to watch a video segment followed by discussion over the topic that we’re studying (if you’re not a talker that’s perfectly ok – you can still come and won’t be forced to share!) We’ll go through different studies and topics. This Tuesday we’ll begin a 6 week study of the Mass that is led by the dynamic Bishop Robert Barron.

3. “Exodus 90” offers an opportunity to take a step back from the world and a step closer to God. It also offers you a chance to meet with a group of other faithful believers on a weekly basis. If you’re interested and you haven’t signed up yet, please e-mail me at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by this Tuesday!

4. The LIGHT OF THE WORLD retreat is approaching soon. So many people throughout the world and in our own parish have been set of fire with the Holy Spirit as a result of this retreat. It will be taking place Friday March 1st – Monday March 4th. You can sing up in the Church Narthex and day before or after Mass.

Have a great week and God Bless You!
Fr. Romke

Reflection Questions for the week of Jan. 13th
Sunday: How often do I pause to reflect on the fact that I’ve been baptized and that this REALLY matters?
Monday: Why might I be afraid to set aside my own plans for the sake of following God’s plan?
Tuesday: Do I trust that God is not only mighty but also infinitely loving? Do I believe that God’s love applies to me life? Can I ask God right now to help me to trust Him more?
Wednesday: What can I concretely do in my life to follow in the footsteps of St. John the Baptist? How can I point others (and myself) to Jesus as the focus of everything?
Thursday: Do I believe that I am a beloved child of God whom God is pleased with? If I struggle to believe this am I willing to consider that through baptism I become a child of God and that God as the Perfect Father loves His children and therefore I am loved no matter what I have done in life?
Friday: Does is give me peace to know that through baptism “I have arrived” and that I don’t need to live so as to prove myself to the world?
Saturday: What specific thing can I do or what words of prayer can I say each morning to remind me to follow God’s plan as His beloved servant each day as I start off?