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Tuesday is St. Patrick’s Day! We will have a concert at 9:30 Am in which will all be able to sing Irish songs, Mass will begin at 10 am. After the Mass we will enjoy coffee and Irish Soda Bread in the Church lobby. Please, I invite all of you to attend this special celebration. I want to thank our Church community for all their support that they have given to our Parish since its beginning. God bless you as we all celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

I strongly encourage you to purchase tickets to our Annual St. Patrick dance to be held next Saturday March 22nd from 4 PM—8 PM in our School Auditorium. We are going to honor Msgr. Hardiman, Sr. Teresa Ryan and Margaret Haggerty. These three individuals have given so much to the life of our parish over the course of the years. I look forward to this gathering so I can thank these three individuals personally on behalf of the entire parish! I want to thank the committee who has been working so very hard over these past weeks in making sure that all who attend will have great time! Tickets are going fast, so please call the rectory ASAP.

Father Abels
Rev. Kevin P. Abels
Pastor

Last week, Marie Sardinha retired after 15 wonderful years of service at St. Sebastian. You can imagine how “shocked” I was when she asked to see me and told me the news back in December. I can’t thank Marie enough for all that she has done for our Parish. Marie was the Parish Receptionist who welcomed and attended to the needs of so many who came to the rectory over the course of the years, the first person people saw when they came to the rectory. Marie always had a smile and was always willing to be of service as best she can. Our rectory is so very busy with people calling and coming in for assistance in so many different ways. Marie handled all of this extremely well and with great professionalism. I know I will miss Marie very much in the rectory but I know I will see her at Mass and involved with the altar Guild and the opening of our parish Mass book in September, which she loves so very much! Thanks Marie for a job well done!

On St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday March 17, we will have a special Mass at 10.00AM to celebrate this special Saint who continues to draw us all closer to God in our lives. I wanted you to know that we will be having a short concert at 9:30AM in the Church. At the concert there will be the singing of Irish music, both religious and contemporary. I hope all of you can attend. After the Mass we will be having coffee and Irish soda bread in the lobby of the Church. This is where I need your help! I am asking you if you can either buy or bake, Irish soda bread, so we can enjoy it after the Mass with coffee. If you are interested in helping with this, may I ask you to please call the rectory and leave your name and how many soda breads you are planning to bring with you to the Mass. Thanks for your help with this!

Our young people have been receiving their first penance over these past couple of weeks. I am so thankful to God for the gift of His mercy and forgiveness in their lives. My prayer is that as they receive God’s mercy and forgiveness, they also will be His instruments of mercy to others.

Thanks for your support!

Father Abels
Rev. Kevin P. Abels
Pastor

I invite you to two special Masses next week, Monday and Wednesday, at 7 PM in the Church. I have invited two priests to celebrate and give an extended homily on some aspects of Lent. Please make every effort to join us.

I am happy to tell you that Bishop Ray Chappetto has accepted my invitation to be the celebrant at the 1:15 PM Mass on Palm Sunday. I know we will welcome him with open arms.

Looking ahead to Easter Sunday, we will be having a special sunrise prayer service at 6:15 AM in our parish gardens followed by Mass at around 6:45 AM. Scripture recalls that the tomb was empty early on Easter Sunday morning. There is a tradition in the Church of having an early morning service and Mass that corresponds to the disciples encountering the empty tomb at the dawning of a new day! I hope some of you can attend. There will be breakfast served as well.

Father Abels
Rev. Kevin P. Abels, Pastor