These principles apply to everyone—whether you’re financially secure or are struggling with debt.  The class will show you how to really live like never before with lessons on saving, debt elimination, investing and real estate to name a few.  Over a million families have changed their family trees through Financial Peace, and we want to give you the opportunity to do the same.

Class Details: 

Free Preview: On Thursday Apr 12, 2012, 6:30 PM or watch it online: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/preview/

Class Registration at:  http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/locations/org/38843/class/205645/atid/l_ln

Class Start: Thursday Apr 12, 2012, 6:30 PM

For more information, Phil Wilker at wilkers@q.com

Please make plans to join us on the journey to true financial peace!

Hope to see you there!

Phil

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be "of, by, and for the people," has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people--the Catholic population--and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees' health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those "services" in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation's first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration's sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

We cannot - we will not - comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America's cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God-given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible.  Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration's decision.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan,
Bishop of Colorado Springs

The Diocesan Appeal for 2012 asks Catholics to support the mission of our church because we are Catholic. It connects the Appeal to Stewardship and by supporting the Appeal, we have the opportunity to become closer disciples of Christ. Brochures and intention forms were mailed out to all registered Catholics in our diocese. Additional brochures and intention forms are in the sanctuary and the gathering space. Please review it, pray about it, make a commitment if you can, and return it to the diocese by February 12.  You can also log on at www.diocs.org and select Ways to Give; you can then make your contribution or set up electronic payments.

This Appeal for 2012 asks Catholics to support the mission of our Church precisely because we are Catholic. It connects the appeal to stewardship: that by supporting the appeal through stewardship, we have the opportunity to become closer disciples of Christ. This new Appeal highlights various parishioners throughout the diocese. It communicates that even though we may belong to different parishes, we are part of a greater family that supports each other. The method by which we provide this support is the Returning God's Gifts Appeal.

This Appeal supports Seminarian Education, Total Catholic Education, Catholic Schools, Catholic Charities of Central Colorado and Partners in Housing. A brochure and an intention form were recently mailed to all the registered Catholics in our diocese.  Additional brochures and forms are in the Sanctuary and the gathering space if you did not receive one. Please review it, pray about it, make a commitment if you can, and return it to the diocese by February 12. You can also log on at www.returninggodsgifts.org and set up electronic payments.

The Returning God's Gifts Prayer

Loving God, we thank you for calling us together. In you we are one.
Help us to remember that united, we are called to love and serve one another through the generous sharing of our time, talent, and treasure.
Please bless our efforts and help us to grow as a unified and vibrant community of faith.
Give us the grace to generously support the Returning God's Gifts Appeal so that we may faithfully do the work of Your Church.  Amen.

Bishop Richard Hanifen will present this Lenten Mission on Monday and Tuesday, February 20 & 21 at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary.  ASH WEDNESDAY is February 22.  Times for the Mass and Distribution of Ashes are: 7am, Noon and 6:30pm.  On the Fridays during Lent we will have Evening Prayer at 5:30pm, either a Fish Fry or Soup Supper at 6pm, and Stations of the Cross at 7pm.

On the weekend before Lent (February 18/19), we will have the Little Black Books for Meditations and the Rice Bowls. The Little Black Books have a 6 minute meditation for each day of Lent, with explanations, reflections and timely thoughts. Each Lent we participate in Operation Rice Bowl which was founded by Catholic Relief Services. We hand out the cardboard containers for you to take home and put in it the money that is saved because of your fasting and the things you give up for Lent. At the end of Lent, the Rice Bowl is brought to Mass and the money is used for development projects in poor nations and hunger relief in our own diocese.

Lenten Regulations:
Fasting - On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, those who are 18 but not yet 59 are allowed only one full meal. Two smaller meals are allowed as needed, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.  Abstinence from meat - Those who are 14 years of age or older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.

We have many events coming up so continue to check the Parish Calendar for dates & times. ALL Bible Studies and Faith Formation classes are shown on the Faith Formation Calendar.  More details can be found under the Parish Life Events or under the Faith Formation tabs.

ALL ARE WELCOME AT ST. PATRICK!!!

Sunday, Feb 5, after the Sunday morning Masses: come join us for breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and juice, cooked and served by the Knights of Columbus. Newcomers eat for Free. Our Health Ministry will be providing blood pressure screening - have you checked it lately???

Sunday, Feb 5, Spanish Mass at 1:30pm, celebrated by Father Frank Quezada - ALL are welcome to attend. Nursery service is available.

Wed/Thu, Feb 8/9 - FIRST THINGS FIRST presentation by Father Larry - ALL are welcome to attend.

Saturday, Feb 11 -Men's Breakfast: 7:30am in Bonzel Hall

Saturday, Feb 11 - Spanish Women's Brunch:  9am in McGivney Hall

Saturday, Feb 11 - St. Valentine's Day Dinner & Dance at 6pm; tickets are available after weekend Masses and in the parish office. The cost is $15 each for Roast Beef or Chicken Cordon Bleu. Whether you're a couple or single, come have a fun evening! Nursery service is available for children up to 10 years old.

Friday, Feb 17 - Temple Beit Torah is honoring St. Patrick Catholic Church at their Shabbat service for all the support we have offered them. Come and learn about some of the Jewish traditions. Call our Parish Office for more info and to sign up to attend.

Saturday, Feb 18 - CPR Training from 9-11am ($30 fee) and First Aid Training from 11am-1pm ($30 fee; or $55 for both classes). Call Rosie at 548-1389

Saturday, Feb 18 - 12:47pm-2:47pm - Retreat for First Communicants & Parents (this is the first of three retreats - please plan on attending ALL retreats)

Sat/Sun, Feb 18/19 - Sale Weekend: Fair Trade Products; Parish Life is selling St. Patrick T-shirts, sweatshirts, dress shirts and cookbooks; Girl Scout Cookies; Boy Scout items; Youth Group projects; St. Mary's High School Raffle Tickets.

Monday, Feb 20 - The Parish Office will be closed in honor of Presidents' Day.

Monday/Tuesday, Feb 20/21,  PRE-LENTEN MISSION at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary: Bishop Hanifen will be the presenter to help us prepare for the Lenten Season. ALL are encouraged to attend.

Feb 22 - ASH WEDNESDAY, Mass and Distribution of Ashes at 7am, Noon, 6:30pm - Start the Lenten Season in Prayer.

Thursday, Feb 23 - Pastoral Council/Servant Leader Gathering at 6pm

Friday, Feb 24 - Evening Prayer at 5:30pm; Fish Fry at 6pm, cooked & served by the Knights of Columbus; Stations of the Cross at 7pm.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE:
In 2 1/2 years we have paid down our original $1,350,000 debt to less than $200,000 and have saved over $400,000 in interest!  If you contributed to this effort, THANK YOU!  Paying off our debt is crucial to the health of our parish. Contributions have dwindled recently, and it seems as though we probably will not reach our goal of paying off the debt in the next 6 months. It would be an extremely powerful additon to the last outstanding pledges if those who haven't contributed to our Debt Reduction Campaign were to give a donation to this worthwhile project. Any amount will help - just indicate "Debt Reduction" on your check or envelope...or go online and make your contribution. One final push is all that's needed to become debt-free!  Thank you for your support.  If you have questions about this campaign, contact Scarlett in the Business Office at 598-3595.

St. Patrick Catholic Church greatly appreciates your contributions whether it's for the weekly offertory, Capital Campaign or a special cause! You can donate from the convenience of your own home and computer.  It is totally SECURE AND CONFIDENTIAL!!!  Your personal information is not on our website or accessible by office staff - it's as secure as your bank and you don't have to write out checks anymore.  And so you don't feel left out when the offertory collection basket comes by, we have green cards in the pew pockets that say "I DONATE ONLINE" and you can just place one in the basket (no need to write down any information). It shows you are participating in the "sacrificial offering" to be brought to the altar.

Online Giving saves time and money! Just click on the DONATE NOW button and it will take you step by step thru the process. Once you set up your registration form, you can designate how you want your gift applied. It will be transferred conveniently from your bank account or your credit card account directly to our parish. It's that simple! With the online giving, you can also access a history of your donations.  Your gift will go farther than ever, allowing our parish to reduce administrative costs, plan future projects with greater efficiency, and spend more time on ministry, less on envelopes and contribution recording. If you need more info, contact Scarlett at 598-3595 or email stubridy@stpatscs.org.