December 8, 2013 - Second Sunday of Advent

Baptisms

Parents are encouraged to call the Church during pregnancy to avoid de-

lays of the sacrament

406 East Pinhook Road Lafayette, LA 70501-8727

Phone: (337) 237-0988 Fax: (337) 233-8868 Rev. M. Keith LaBove, Pastor

Parish Website: www.stpat.org

Weddings

Arrangements must be made at least six months in advance to allow time

for preparation

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm; Friday 8:30 am – 12 noon

Celebration of the Eucharist

Saturday: 4:00 pm – Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 am Monday through Friday: 7:30 am

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday: 3:00 – 3:30 pm and Weekdays: 7:15 am

Welcome to St. Patrick Church

Second Sunday of Advent

December 8, 2013

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Saturday, December 7--Vigil of the Second

Sunday of Advent 4:00 PM: Janell Thomas; Mike Guilbeau;

Hebert Family; Rudy Borel

Sunday, December 8-- Second Sunday of Ad-

vent 8:30 AM: Doris Becker Petre;

John R. Boyle;

10:00 AM: Parishioners of St. Patrick’s

Monday, December 9-- The Immaculate Con-

ception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal

Feastday of the United Stares of America

7:30 AM: Bud Richards; Malcom Cappel;

Jean, Willard & John Chiasson

Tuesday, December 10-- Advent Weekday

7:30 AM: Sick of the Parish

Advent Wreath This week’s candle is called the Bethlehem candle,

and symbolizes faith or preparation, as people prepare

for the coming of Jesus.

Wednesday, December 11--St. Damasus I, Pope

(Msgr. Charles Mallet)

7:30 AM: Dr. Tommy Comeaux & Dorinne;

Col. Clark Comeaux & Catherine (living);

Col. Kimberly Fedele (living)

Thursday, December 12-- Our Lady of Guadalupe

7:30 AM: Rudy Haydel; Leonard Barras;

Tena Bright

Friday, December 13-- St. Lucy, Virgin and

Martyr

7:30 AM: Dr. Charles Stewart

+ + + + + +

Call the office for a donation of Christmas Poinsettias in

memory of loved ones.

Non-Liturgical Devotions

Daily Rosary: Monday - Friday 6:55 a.m.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena: Tuesday

7:15 a.m.

Rosary for Priests: Wednesday 7:00 a.m.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Thursday 7:15 a.m.

Pro-Life Rosary: First Friday of the month 7 am

Shamrocks—Friday, December 13: Gloria Bou-

dreaux; Maggie Sonnier; Stephanie Bacque; Jo-

sette Delahoussaye; Charlotte Privat

The earth shall be filled with

knowledge of the LORD,

as water covers the sea.

— Isaiah 11:9

Pizza at St. Pat’s

Our Youth Team will hold its next Pizza at St. Pat’s

on Sunday, December 15th, from 4:00—5:30 p.m.

at the Parish Hall. Young people 10 to 16 are invited

to attend an afternoon of fun, food and faith-building.

Immaculate Conception

This year December 8th falls on the Second Sunday

of Advent, so the Solemnity of the Immacu-

late Conception is transferred to Monday, December

9th. Because the solemnity is transferred from Dec.

8 to Dec. 9, it is NOT a holy day of obligation. We

will celebrate the liturgy of the Immaculate Concep-

tion at our regular 7:30 a.m. Mass on Monday, De-

cember 9th.

Christmas Project Heifer International

Heifer: $500—Share of a Heifer: $50

A good dairy cow can produce up to four gallons of

milk a day — enough for a family to drink and share

with neighbors, and still have enough left over to sell.

The protein in milk can transform sick, malnourished

children into healthy boys and girls. Income from milk

sales can be put toward school fees, medicine, clothing

and home improvements. Now that’s a gift worth giv-

ing! May we suggest showing someone special how

much you care this holiday season by giving them the

gift that will change lives? Donation sheets are availa-

ble under the stairwell. Make checks payable to St.

Patrick Church. All donations will be sent to Heifer

International at the beginning of the year. Heifer Inter-

national meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s Stand-

ards for Charity Accountability. For additional infor-

mation please visit their website: http//www.heifer.org/

2013 Parish Advent Missions—Central Region

Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 145

Martin Luther King , Jr. Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501.

“The Biblical Basis of Our Catholic Faith”, December

3 and December 10 — 6:30-8:00 p.m. in Church. Pre-

senter: Rev. Mario Romero, Associate Pastor Sts. Peter

and Paul Catholic Church, Scott. Please bring your

Bibles and friends. For additional information, please

call the Church office (233-1591).

St. Peter Catholic Church, 102 N. Church Street,

Carencro, LA 70520. “Preparing for Christmas

Through a Deeper Prayer Life”, December 9-12. Mis-

sion preached twice a day: After 6:30 a.m. Mass; Dur-

ing 5:30 p.m. Mass (Sacrament of Reconciliation be-

fore each Mass and following the Mission). Presenter:

Rev. Brian Mullady, O.P. For more information, please

visit sprcc.org or call St. Peter Parish Office (896-

9408).

St. Bernard Catholic Church, 204 N. Main Street,

Breaux Bridge, LA 70517. “Parish Advent Mission”,

December 16-17 — 7:00—8:15 p.m. in Church. Pre-

senter: Rev. Mark Thibodeaux, S. J. For more infor-

mation, please call Nadine Cain (332-1237)

Schedule of Christmas Masses

Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24: 4 & 6 p.m.

(NO 7:30 a.m. Mass on this Day)

Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25: 8:30 & 10

(same as Sundays)

New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31st: 4 p.m.

(NO 7:30 a.m. Mass on this Day)

New Year’s, Wednesday, January 1st: 7:30 a.m.

Annual Christmas Social

You are invited to attend our yearly Christmas Social

on Sunday, December 15th., at 11 a.m. at the Parish

Hall. Bring your favorite holiday dish. The parish will

provide the meat. This is a great opportunity to fellow-

ship with one another and to meet parishioners who

attend mass at another time.

Wednesday Evening Confessions

This outreach is called “The Light Is On For You,” and

is an effort on the part of our Diocese to highlight the

importance of the Sacrament of Confession in the life

of Catholics and to make it as easy as possible for eve-

ry Catholic to come or to return to this great source of

God’s mercy and healing love. You are welcome to

come here or to go to any other Catholic parish in the

Diocese. Please make plans to come on Advent

Wednesdays (Dec. 4, 11, & 18) and spread the word of

this special outreach of mercy to those you know.

Reminder—Baby Items

Next weekend is time to bring baby items to be given

away to those mothers who choose life for their babies.

Immediate need: diapers for infants and sizes 3, 4 &

5; wipes; body wash; baby lotion, diaper bags. Also

needed: shades; sterilizers; strollers; car seats (new).

The kindness of your donations help this ministry.

Second Collection Next Weekend

Support elderly religious. A parishioner writes, “As a

Catholic school student from grades K-12, I was

formed to be the person I am by many religious broth-

ers and sisters, and I am forever grateful.” Show your

thanks for the senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and

religious order priests who made a positive difference

in so many lives. Please give generously to next

week’s collection for the Retirement Fund for Reli-

gious.

Teurlings Catholic High School Dance, Raffle and

Silent Auction - Saturday, February 8, 2014, at Pe-

troleum Club, Lafayette. Tickets are $100/couple and

can be purchased form any T.A.S.C. representative or

by contacting the TCH Athletic Office 337-235-5711

Ext. 110, or email astroderd@tshs,net. To donate an

item for the Silent Auction, contact R.A.B.C. Silent

Auction Chairman Lori Beslin at 235-5711 Ext. 251 or

email to Ibeslin@tchs.net.

STEWARDSHIP OF THE PAST WEEK

Our Response to God’s Generosity to Us

Offertory………………………..$ 4,311.36

Building Fund…………………. $ 865.75

Thanksgiving Day (UCO)………$ 362.90

Heifer International……………..$ 275.00 Thank you!

Date

Saturday, December 14

4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 15

8:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 15

10:00 a.m.

Lectors

Kathy Kalweit Patsy Robicheaux Karen Begnaud

Eucharistic

Ministers

Peggy Spruill

Candis Thompson

Joy Borel

Maggie Sonnier

Suzanne Lavergne

Sandra LaGrange

Jerry Boudreaux

Dee Biydreaux

Tami Petre

Altar Servers Harold Guilbeau Glenn LaGrange Nicholas Begnaud

Ushers Janell Venable

Joyce Stelly

Donald Vallot

Anne Pitre

Jenny Feehan

Lionel Jeanmard

Liturgical Roles for December

Readings for the Week

Monday Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38

Tuesday Is 40:1-11; Ps 96:1-3, 10ac, 11-13; Mt 18:12-14

Wednesday Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30

Thursday Zec 2:14-17; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38

Friday Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19

Saturday Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13

Sunday Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11

From the Pastor’s Desk

It’s a pity we will never find a poster advertising the Jordan River baptisms offered by John the Baptist. One

thing it would tell us is how long he was there. Was it for a week? A month? Was he there all day, every day except

for the Sabbath? How many people did he baptize anyway, before the Long-Awaited One finally showed up?

Not knowing these things leave me free to wonder: What was it like for him to go out to the Jordan day after

day (certainly long enough to gather a group of his own disciples), looking for the Messiah, and not seeing him? His

purpose to prepare the way for the coming of the Savior of the world, was a task that was filled with expectation, much

like our season of Advent. But we can assume that day followed day, each filled with the baptizing of sinners, and each

day was marked by the expectation not being met. (Until the day, when the expectation was met, and exceeded.)

We all have expectations, some of them realistic and some not. We have expectations of ourselves and of loved

ones, expectations of businesses and tradespeople, expectations of government and politicians, not to mention expecta-

tions of God. It is certainly fair to say that not all of those expectations will be met. Yet having expectations seems to

be unavoidable, for we base our lives on them. You showed up at Church this Sunday because you expected that Mass

would be celebrated. You showed up at the meeting because they said they would be there. You perhaps even gave a

gift because you expected one in return. You prayed because you expected God to be attentive to your prayer. Expecta-

tions are an essential part of life.

The central question regarding expectations is not whether we should have them — we will have expectations.

Nor is whether my expectation is reasonable the most important consideration, though that remains a good question to

ask. Sometimes, unrealistic expectations need to be put on the shelf. But ultimately, everything will flow from this

question: “What do I do when my expectation is not met?”

When expectations are not met, disappointment, discouragement, and sometimes even anger and self-pity can

quickly follow. I can end the relationship. I can blame myself or others. I can lash out at other people in my life, who

had nothing to do with any of it. Or I can resolve never to trust that person — or anyone — ever again.

Day after day, John the Baptist showed up, expecting the Messiah to appear. Day after day, it didn’t happen.

Even when the expectation was met, it was not in the way he expected: Jesus wanted to be baptized by him! Luckily,

he hadn’t just gone away mad. He kept showing up.

How we deal with unmet expectations affects every aspect of our lives. What do you do when friends, or fami-

ly, or even God, do not live up to your expectations? How we respond makes all the difference.