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SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: Parents are required to register and a end a reparatory workshop before Bap sm. Please call Deacon Jack Quirk at 570-622-1802, ext. 7, to register. Workshops are held bi-monthly. Parents wishing Bap sm for their children must be prac cing Catholics; meaning regular a endance at Mass, and suppor ng the Parish by the use of envelopes.

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Couples planning to be married must contact a parish priest at least six months prior to the desired date of the marriage.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (PREP): Grades 1 - 8 • September thru May Please follow schedule on calendar. When classes are held, please report a er the 9:30 am Mass from 10:45 am to noon.

Sr. Mary Jane Dunleavy, S.S.J., Director 570-544-2464 / smjaned@outlook.com

CHURCH OF

3 1 9 M A H A N T O N G O S T R E E T P O T T S V I L L E , P A

St. Patrick’s Preschool at Assump on BVM Director: Mrs. Sharon Rossi 570-622-0106

Assump on BVM Elementary School Principal: Mrs. Teresa Kea ng 570-622-0106

Pastor........................................................ Rev. Msgr. Edward J. O'Connor

Parochial Vicar/Hospital Chaplain ....................... Rev. Barnabas Shayo, A.J.

Permanent Deacons ........................................................ Mr. John E. Quirk Mr. Lawrence J. Lonergan

DIVINE MERCY PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPEL AT ST. PATRICK RECTORY: Please call Aleece at 570-449-7678 for more informa on. ROSARY AND NOVENA: 7:00 pm, Wednesdays in Our Lady's Chapel COMMUNION CALLS are made monthly. Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to be put on the Communion Call list, or would like to receive the Anoin ng of the Sick. HOSPITAL/NURSING HOME VISITS: The pa ent or a member of the immediate family must no fy the Parish Office of a pa ent's admission so a visit can be made. This is in compliance with the Federal HIPAA Law. RCIA: Rite of Chris an Ini a on of Adults is the process in which adults join the Catholic Church. Please call the Parish Office if interested. ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATE: Cer ficates to act as a sponsor for Bap sm or Confirma on are available at the Parish Office. You must be a prac cing Catholic, meaning regular a endance at Mass, and suppor ng the Parish by the use of envelopes. ST. PATRICK POTTSVILLE AREA KITCHEN: Please call Terry Alexander at 570-617-2957 for hours and dona ons.

SCHEDULE OF MASSES Saturday .................................... 4:15 pm Sunday ................. 8:00 am and 10:00 am

WEEKDAY MASSES Weekdays .........Currently 8:00 am Saturdays..None at the present me

CONFESSIONS Saturday ........................ 3:00 to 4:00 pm Wednesday ........... 6:30 to 7:30 pm

Phone ............ 570-622-1802 Email................ dwalker.stpats@gmail.com

Fax ................ 570-622-2593 Web ................ www.stpatrickpo sville.org Business Manager.......................................................................... Lisa Arant Office Administrator .............................................................. Debbie Walker

Office Hours .................................. 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Thursday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm, Friday

Bulle n Deadline .............................................................. 9:00 am, Mondays

Monthly Parish Events Calendar Deadline ...............First day of prior month

SAINT PATRICK Check out our Facebook page - Church of St. Patrick

Membership/Registra on All parishioners should be registered in our files. New parishioners are asked to register as soon as possible. When moving from the parish, no fy the office. Please also report any address change.

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Diocesan Policies on the Protec on of Youth can be found at: h p://www.allentowndiocese.org/youth-protec on

St. Patrick Parish offers Online Giving as an electronic tool for contribu ons so you can contribute via the Internet. Online Giving helps you maintain your giving even if you cannot be here at Mass. Please go to our Parish website at www.stpatrickpo sville.org to get started.

Catholic Bishop Abuse Repor ng Service: If you have an allega on of abuse against a bishop, please contact the Catholic Bishop Abuse Repor ng Service at www.ReportBishopAbuse.org or by calling 800-276-1562.

Na vity BVM High School Principal: Mrs. Lynn Sabol 570-622-8110

St. Joseph’s Center for Special Learning Program Director: Mr. Robert Giba 570-622-4638

Local Safe Environment Coord. Lisa Arant, 570-622-5566

Vic m Assistance Coordinator Wendy Krisak, MA, NCC, LPC DIRECT LINE: 800-791-9209

Diocesan Safe Environment Coord. Pamela J. Russo, MSW, MS 610-871-5200, Ext. 2204

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 13, 2020

Monday, December 14 – St. John of the Cross, Priest 8:00 am Louis Troilo Family (Tina & Bill Rutecky & Family)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, December 15 8:00 am Robert Kalbach (Francine & Allen Johns) and Olga Potlunas (John & Micki) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, December 16 8:00 am Virginia Frick (The Verchicks) and Dick Matthews (Annette Matthews) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, December 17 8:00 am Emma Bevan (The Bevan Children) and Clara & John Cielinski (Rosemary Cairns) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, December 18 8:00 am Sam & Barbara Mannello (Frank & Maryann Fetterolf) and Mildred Stoudt (Kathleen Didjunas) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fourth Sunday of Advent Saturday, December 19 4:15 pm Teresa C. & Joseph V. Putsavage (Son, Joseph)

Sunday, December 20 8:00 am Jeanne Ferhat (Faith Curran & Tony Sophy) 10:00 am John & Mary Ferris (Daughters) and People of the Parish

READINGS OF THE DAY

First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11 Isaiah describes the joy and salvation which will accompany the coming of Christ. He compares the

plants which spring from a garden to the justice that will spring from all nations.

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Paul reminds the

Thessalonians to constantly ready themselves for Christ’s arrival. He tells them to “avoid any semblance of evil” so that they may be found irreproachable when Jesus does arrive.

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28 John explains that he is only a messenger to the people for one more powerful than himself. John stresses to them that they must make a path for the one so powerful that he is not fit to unfasten the strap of his sandal.

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PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: - the sick of the parish - our many Benefactors - those recently deceased –

CANDLE INTENTIONS December 13 to December 19

Sanctuary – IMO David Guzick (Mom & Dad) Sacred Heart – IMO Alice & Thomas Murphy (Alice Henry) Pieta – IMO Joe Wollyung (Joe & Suzanne Wollyung) Pope St. John Paul II – Denise (Betty Ann Kline) St. Patrick – Our Lady’s Chapel - Sanctuary -

Our Lady’s Chapel – Blessed Virgin Mary –

LOTTERY CALENDAR – RECENT OUTCOMES

WEDNESDAYS from 6:30-7:30 pm and SATURDAYS from 3-4 pm! PLUS….. MONDAY, DECEMBER 21

from 4-5 pm The 2020 Christmas Usher Schedule Sign-Up Sheet is in the Sacristy. If you would like to

sign-up and are willing to help for the upcoming Holiday, please do so!

DECORATING OUR CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS!!

Please join us on Sunday, December 20, at Noon!

Please Help!! We Need You!!

If you are a visitor to the Church of St. Patrick, we want you to know that you are most welcome, whether

you come from another State or from another Parish. Please feel comfortable in our beautiful house of the

Father. Thank you for worshipping with us!

Tues., December 1 #141 No Winner Wed., December 2 #185 No Winner Thurs., December 3 #330 E.J. K. ($50) Fri., December 4 #212 Tyler & Alex ($50) Sat., December 5 #006 EBC ($100) Sun., December 6 #197 Jimmy H. ($150)

Our monthly lottery calendars are a great fundraiser for our Parish! They make great gifts! Please consider being a seller, or buying one by calling the Parish Office!

Solemn Vespers for the Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 13 4:00 – 5:00pm St. Patrick Church All are Welcome!!

Due to the Coronavirus, we must take some special precautions with our Christmas schedule. This year, there will be an early Vigil Mass (2 pm). We ask that people try to respect that we would like to keep this for our elderly population as best as we can.

Christmas Schedule 2020 *Christmas Vigil Masses* Thursday, December 24, 2020 2:00 pm, 4:15 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:30 pm *Christmas Day Masses* Friday, December 25, 2020 8:00 am, 10:00 am

*Please note: Because of seating limitations, pre-registration is necessary. Seating is by ticket only. Please call the Parish Office at 570-622-1802, ext. 1, by December 16 to request a ticket. Tickets will be mailed.

PARISH STEWARDSHIP Fiscal Year 2020-2021

November 29, 2020 (Week 22)

Budgeted Weekly Sunday Offering Last Sunday’s Offering/% of Budget

$ 9,110 $ 8,000 88%

Sunday Offerings To Date Deficit to Date

$174,238 ($ 26,174) -15%

280 Envelopes used out of a possible 911 54 Online Giving Contributions

Fiscal Year 2020-2021

December 6, 2020 (Week 23)

Budgeted Weekly Sunday Offering Last Sunday’s Offering/% of Budget

$ 9,110 $ 6,291 69%

Sunday Offerings To Date Deficit to Date

$180,529 ($ 28,992) -16%

292 Envelopes used out of a possible 911 49 Online Giving Contributions

The Second Collection on the weekend of December 20 will be for Parish Utilities. Please be generous!

Our Lady’s Chapel (Lower Chapel) is open EVERY day from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm for Private Prayer. Our Perpetual Adoration Chapel will remain closed at this time. Confessions will be heard on Wednesdays from 6:30 pm until 7:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm in Our Lady’s Chapel.

Please Note: There have been reports from some people in the Diocese about e-mails or text messages saying that their Pastor or

Priest is soliciting money or gift cards. Please be aware that this is a SCAM!

The Next Activities Committee Meeting is on Tuesday, January 5, at 6 pm, in the Parish Center.

All are welcome! Please wear a mask!

Commercial: *Chicken Pot Pie & Bake Sale – December 29 - 3-6 pm, Holy Family Parish Center (538 Sunbury St., Minersville). Advance orders only for pot pie. Call 570-617-2174.

In an abundance of caution to protect our people and our staff, our Office will remain closed for in-person business until further notice. If you need to reach us, we will be answering the phone and monitoring voice/e-mail (Phone: 570-622-1802; e-mail: dwalker.stpats@gmail.com). Also, you can continue to send in or put your contribution envelopes and/or correspondence in the 4th Street mail slot or Our Lady’s Chapel from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Thank you for your understanding!

St. Patrick Parish Appreciates!! Picture it….Pottsville, 1922…. A woman walks (yes you heard me) downtown to, of all things, Shop! Those were the days my friend! However, with time and progress things have changed from brick and mortar shops to shopping online and having your wares delivered right to your door step. Through the ingenuity and inspiration of our parishioner, Jessica Brennan, she rose above the how am I going to shop this year, to providing a solution to the “Rona” problem! Jessica suggested getting in touch with her direct sales and vendor/crafting friends, and having an Online Vendor Party…and what a Party it was!! Thirteen vendors participated in our Party: Candee’s Made to Order with delicious homemade chocolate; Color Street nails with giving us alternatives to skip the nail salon and do it ourselves; Discovery Toys with a wide variety of toys to make any age happy; Epicure with a lot of ideas of ways to make quick and easy meals; Mary Kay with so many cosmetic products that can help make you glow; Norwex with chemical-free ways to make your house/environment clean; Pampered Chef with so many tools to help make meals/desserts quicker and easier; Perfectly Posh with pampering products that can make you smile; Scentsy with any kind of fragrance imaginable for your home; Tastefully Simple with so many different seasonings and sauces and mixes and dips; Thirty One with ways to keep you organized in a pretty way; Tupperware with their famous air-tight and stackable containers and more; and Rosaries/Necklaces by Helen handmade out of our Church bulletins!! Please call the Parish Office if you want to get hooked up with any of these vendors! We know they would be happy to have you as a customer! The Online Vendor Party was a HUGE SUCCESS for St. Patrick Parish!! Thank you to all who bought gifts and supported this great virtual adventure! We LOVE all of our Golden Girls!! We shopped till we dropped…the safe, happy, and non-stressful way! And a special Shout Out to Jessica for her organization and keeping the party going!!! She did an awesome job by helping us ditch our purses in a fun and newfangled way! Our feet and shoulders thank you, Jess!

Our next PREP Instruction session will be held TODAY, Sunday, December 13, following the 10 am Mass, with classes from 11:15 am until 12:30 pm. These classes are for Parents or Guardians only! Monsignor and Sister Mary Jane will be conducting the classes.

HELP!! CATECHISTS NEEDED FOR PREP!!! STARTING IN JANUARY, 2021…ONCE A

MONTH!! If you can help out by being a person who will teach our children about Jesus, please call the Parish Office immediately. All Catechists must have their clearances and follow Safe Environment Guidelines. If you would like to help, we can get you started on the Protecting God’s Children requirements now so that you are ready to start in January.

Cemetery CORNER Cemetery Lots for Sale! Calvary and St Joseph Cemetery plots are all $600/grave. We have both

upright monument, and flat marker options available. Plan ahead and make your final arrangements easier on your family. Please call 570-622-5566 for details. Cemetery Memorial Donations Did you know that Parish and Cemetery funds are kept separate? Anyone wishing to make memorial donations to our cemeteries must specify your wishes in order to be sure that those donations are being used to help maintain and improve all four of our cemeteries. Please consider a memorial donation to St Patrick Cemeteries!

Oplatki, aka Christmas wafers, are available from our Parish Office. Please call before you come so that Debbie can meet you at the door. The breaking of “Oplatki” is a Central European Christian tradition celebrated in Poland, Lithuania, and Slovakia during Holy Supper. A requested offering of $5 (or a

donation of your choice) is asked for each pack of four wafers. There is a limited supply so get yours early.

In memory of Florence Bound by: David & Ann Terleckas

In memory of Joe Brahler by: Kathleen Young

In memory of Vince Gargano by: Kathleen Young

In memory of Leonard Sumoski by: Kathleen Young

In memory of Marie Hochgertel by: Bill & Melody Montag; Dottie Gittleman; Shirley Hasenauer & Scott; Mr. & Mrs. Chip Andrefski; Anne Rowan; Kathleen & Charlie Bauers; Betty Ann Kline; Rowan Joseph; John W. Hochgertel, Jr.

In memory of Catherine “Cookie” Ferhat by: Bill & Melody Montag

In memory of James McGovern by: Ann & Dave Terleckas

DONATIONS TO THE

ST. PATRICK MEMORIAL

FUND

DID YOU KNOW???? THE SHAMROCK $10,000

IS OUR BIGGEST FUNDRAISER!! These tickets make EXCELLENT Stocking Stuffers!! Nice gift when you just need a little something like a tip for a Postal Carrier, Newspaper Delivery Person, Hair Stylist…. Tickets are available from the Parish Office (Please call first)! If you already sold some, please think about selling more to family, friends,

co-workers?? Our Goal is STILL to FILL the chance barrel!!

Christmas serves as a wonderful reminder of the precious gift of all life. We hope that you will consider supporting the good work of our Catholic Charities office to respect life by donating a monetary gift or gift card during the Advent season. Because of ongoing restrictions and efforts to socially distance, we feel this will be a better option for all concerned. There will not be an actual Giving “Tree” in the vestibule this year. We ask that you kindly send in your gift to the Parish Office, marking it clearly for “Catholic Charities”. Let us pray for all women who choose Life, and let’s all try to make an Advent sacrifice!

It’s the Shamrock $10,000!! They make GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS!!! The second drawing of the Shamrock $10,000 took place on December 5, and the winner was Joseph M. Dries from Pottsville! Congratulations Joe!

Just a reminder that if you didn’t get your tickets in or if you would like to purchase some more, you still can and you will have a chance to win up to $12,000 over the next few months! The next prize ($1,000) will be drawn on Saturday, January 2 after the 4:15 pm Mass! The drawing will be livestreamed on our Facebook page. Remember, Each winning ticket will then be placed back into the chance barrel for the opportunity to win again and again, and the grand prize of $10,000! Where else can you buy a ticket for $5 with a chance to win $12,000

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