Religious Education
People of Faith Proclaiming the Justice of God
The Life and Dignity of the Human Person

   "In the Catholic social vision the human person is central, the clearest reflection of God among us. Each person possesses a basic dignity which comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment, not from race or gender, age or economic status. The test of every institution or policy is whether it enhances or threatens human life and human dignity. We believe people are more important than things."
A Century of Catholic Social Teaching NCCB

   In October for respect Life St. Patrick will be making donations of items to various organizations. Please bring items to any weekend Mass and bring them up at the offertory. We will have baskets for them.
Tampa Port Ministry
   They provide spiritual & Religious services, hospitality services & social services for seafarers, truckers, employees, and all others who use the facilities of the Port of Tampa. We will be collecting: Phone Cards, Stationary and Postage.
Office of Prison Ministry
   Provides many services to jails & prisons. We will be collecting: Bibles, Religious Magazines, Scripture Studies and other Catechetical Material.
Catholic Charities Pregnancy/Parenting Support
   Provides services to young mothers & their children in spiritual, health, emotional, temporal, and all life learning needs. We will be collecting: Formula, Diapers and New /like new baby clothes.
Metropolitan Ministries
   Our neighbors that provide a wide variety of services to the poor and homeless. We will be collecting: Canned Meat, dry/canned milk and Rice/Pasta.

Let the Children Come to Me
Children's Liturgy of the Word

   On Sunday, October 9, we will begin Children’s Liturgy of the Word during the 9:00 AM Mass for children from 3 years old to 5th grade. Would you help out with this new aspect of the Liturgy? Commitment is for two to three Sundays a year. You would not be teaching lessons on the Gospel but rather providing leadership and witness. We need Readers, Cantors, Guides, and “Ushers” (for leading the children to and from the Church and maintaining and orderly Liturgy of the Word experience for the children). You will not have to go to another Mass since you will be with the children in the Chapel for the Liturgy of the Word and with the assembly for the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the one Mass. We will begin when we have a sufficient number of volunteers. Teens, Moms, Dads, Grandparent, Aunts and Uncles are invited to consider this ministry. Our plans are to extend this feature to the 11:00 AM Mass by Advent. Please see Kerry Mayo, Jackie Mallory or Marcia Seheult after Mass this weekend to sign up.

It Is Written

   It is Written is a forum set up for St Patrick parishioners in an effort to enhance your faith journey with this faith community. If you have questions about our Church, our Faith Tradition, our Catholic Community of St. Patrick, email your questions here. If you have suggestions about the parish community or specifically about the adult education program, you may email them here as well. You will receive an email reply within 48 hours. Your question or suggestion and the answer or reply will be posted on this page for future reference. Your identity and email will remain confidential and will not be posted. For it is written, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find." (Mt. 7:7) Click It Is Written on the menu bar to submit a question and read the answers.

Will you share the gift of faith with others in our St. Patrick Community?

   Many sacrament preparation catechists who have served this ministry for several years are returning to teach again in sacrament preparation programs. But, as we build up our various faith formation programs and launch parish wide Generations of Faith events, we need many more catechists and coordinators. Most programs meet seasonal (Advent or Lent) for three to six weeks or monthly from September through May. Some few, such as the Children’s Catechumenate, RCIA, and Youth Ministry meet weekly. And a couple programs are under consideration or reformatted (mentoring families who have been inactive, Young Adult Ministry and Baptismal preparation).

Catechist and Coordinators Needed

• 4 catechists for sacrament preparation (2 Penance/Eucharist and 2 for Confirmation)
• 2 couples for infant Baptism preparation (2 sessions) and follow-up visits (4 over a two year period)
• 2-4 adult education catechists (scripture study, faith formation, adult presentation)
• 4-6 young adults to work with our junior and senior youth programs and other service, study, or prayer events
• 8-10 coordinators to work in teams for four Generations of Faith events (hospitality, activities, home packet preparation)
• Mentors or sponsors for families joining St. Patrick or returning to active participation in the parish Communication, hospitality, activities and resource materials coordinators for Family Festivals and family clusters
• Hospitality and activities coordinators for Sacrament retreats for children and/or adults, RCIA hospitality, Junior Youth events, 9:00 Family Mass
• People to work with our Youth Minister to form a young adult ministry

Call or email Jackie Mallory to find out more about any of these ministry opportunities.

Whole Community Catechesis

   St. Patrick Religious Education is about Lifelong Faith Formation through Whole Community Catechesis.  Well, that’s a mouthful!  So, what does it mean?  How will we do it?  When does it happen?  Who is involved?  Click on the links below to read the articles about Whole Community Catechesis.

We offer the following programs:

Baptism - Children under seven years old whereby parents attend two afternoon or evening classes at least one month before the scheduled Baptism.
Baptism - Children seven years old and older, teens as well as adults prepare throughout the year through the Catechumenate (a stage of the Rite Of Christian Initiation of Adults).  Those Christians of other traditions who wish to join the Catholic Church are prepared through this process as well.
First Eucharist - Children who will be seven years old by the end of 2005 may be presented for preparation.  Preparation and reception of First Reconciliation is in the Fall, with preparation and reception of first Eucharist in the Spring.  Please note: These programs are family-based and for families with children in parochial, private or public school.
Confirmation - Candidates who are eleven years old and older, including teens and adults may request preparation for this sacrament.  Retreats are in the Fall with classes conducted in the Spring.  Candidates choose a sponsor who is a practicing Catholic to take the faith journey with them.
Generations of Faith - A faith formation process for every household of faith that prepares for, celebrates and reflects on six events in the Church Year.  Those families with children also partake in three Saturday family retreats with separate religious education for children.  The theme this year is taken from the Church’s rich Social Justice documents: People of Faith Proclaiming the Justice of God.
Scripture Study - Adults gather on Wednesday Mornings at 9:30 in the conference room of St. Patrick School.  Two six-week sessions will be offered this fall: Living for a Just Society and Mark: Getting to Know Jesus.
Junior Youth Ministry - Young people in grades 6, 7, and 8 attending parochial, private, or public school are invited to join.  A rich variety of events including socials, retreats, social action projects, trips, and involvement in Generations of Faith.
Youth Ministry - Young people in high school (parochial, private, or public) are invited to join.  Events include Scripture Study, trips, socials, retreats, social action events, and involvement in Generations of Faith.
New This Year!  Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 9:00 and 11:00 Mass.  This is for all children three years old through fifth graders.  More details at registration.

The Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima

   As you know from Father Angelus' weekly column, this year the Holy Father has proclaimed the Year of the Eucharist under the protection of Our Blessed Mother.  In addition to the weekly reflections offered, we would like to implement an outward sign to encourage families to pray together in their homes.
   A member of the Secular Franciscan Order has donated a beautiful statue of the Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima to the Catholic Community of St. Patrick. Click here for more information about the statue and to schedule a time for the statue to be in your home.

Family Chalice Program

   Families that would like to be a part of the Chalice program at the 9 and 11 AM Masses, please contact Kerry Mayo.  We would like as many families as possible to have the opportunity to participate.

Youth Readers

   Students who are interested in becoming Youth Readers at the 9:00 AM Mass need to contact Kerry Mayo. To be eligible for this ministry, you must be a registered, active parishioner and have received the sacrament of Confirmation.

Desperately Seeking Catechists

   School of Faith is looking for immediate help with the Generations of Faith Program, and Sacrament Preparation classes. You will receive on the job training!  Contact Jackie or Kerry in the Religious Education Office.

“It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

• Will you let the Holy Spirit inspire you to witness?
• Will you exercise the Spirit in you for the building up of the Body of Christ?
• Will you go where the Spirit is leading?
• Will you be good a steward of the gift of faith?

   We are seeking parishioners who will share their faith by sponsoring new parishioners or an RCIA or Remembering Church candidate, serve as welcoming/hospitality people, prepare couples for the baptism of their child, teach a three or six week session for children or teens, coordinate children’s, teens, or adult retreats, help coordinate and facilitate events, design and/or put together “home packets”, do telephoning for programs or events, coordinate food for events.  If you have a talent and would like to offer to help, contact me and we can talk about a place for you in our community.  For more information on any of these areas, please contact Jackie Mallory. Come, help renew and refresh St. Patrick parish.

Permission Slip for Youth Events

   A Parental Permission Slip is required for Youth Events. Click on the link below to print out the Permission Slip (Adobe Reader is required). If you can not open the link below please contact Theresa Franks to receive a permission slip.