Pastor’s Corner — February 8th, 2026
catholic schools week highlights
I am so grateful for our Catholic School, especially our staff and parents who are committed to sharing our Catholic Faith with our children. Here are a few highlights of Catholic Schools Week at St. Patrick.
Sunday’s theme: “Celebrating our Parish”
Students were involved at Sunday Masses greeting parishioners, lectoring, bringing up the gifts, etc.
Monday’s theme: “Celebrating our Nation”
Students wrote letters to local heroes and we prayed for our nation.
Tuesday’s theme “Celebrating our Students”
5th-8th Grade Staff vs. Students had a volleyball tournament while K-4th grade had classroom movies.
Wednesday’s theme “Celebrating our Community”
All-School service project where students made spice kits and meal donations for Gleaner’s.
Thursday’s theme “Celebrating our Families & Vocations”
We had an All-School family breakfast, Spelling Bee, and classroom visits from Priests and Religious Sisters.
Friday’s theme “Celebrating our Faculty & Staff”
Coffee and Hot Cocoa bar for our staff, along with a kind gift and delicious luncheon.
Alpha: Who are you Going to Invite?
The Alpha program at St Pat’s has been quite fruitful in bringing people who are non-Catholic into the Catholic Church and reengaging parishioners in their own faith. As a basic course in Christianity, Alpha is a place where people can come and experience love of a community and hear the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s a place where people encounter God anew or for the first time.
Having a parish committed to evangelization means you don’t have to evangelize (share the good news of Jesus) by yourself. We do this as a parish. We all have people who don’t believe in Jesus or who don’t practice their faith. Such people are the perfect people to invite for free food and conversation. Offering to go with someone is a great way of walking with them in their journey.
Our next session of Alpha at St Pat’s runs February 19th - April 30th from 6:30-8:30 pm in McCann Hall. Registration is happening now.
Even though the Alpha program is great for parishioners to renew their own faith, the primary people who we should be inviting to Alpha do not come to Mass. Alpha works by personal invitation. Who will you invite?
Reminder: Unbound Deliverance Conference at St Pat’s (February 21st)
Any place where you believe the enemy has you bound, Jesus wants to and can set you free. Struggling to be free from trust issues stemming from old wounds or from being enslaved by following things: hopelessness, despair, fear, rejection, abandonment, lust, addiction issues, thoughts accusation and condemnation unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, anger, powerlessness, feelings of worthlessness or unworthiness? Then this conference is for you. If you’ve ever been involved in occult or witchcraft, this conference is also for you.
Learning how Jesus does this and cooperating with his grace is absolutely essential to growing and walking in freedom. Click here for pricing information and to register.
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias