This Sunday morning is the Rock & Roll Marathon. Please see this important information sent to us by the race organizers. In addition, please be aware that the Firestone lot (with your permit) and Premium Parking lots (both on the same side and across the street from the church)* WILL BE available for parking. We have spoken with Premium Parking, and they told us that Sunday will NOT be an event parking day, meaning you should be able to park there using the St. Patrick’s rate. However, please always keep in mind that these things can change, and if you see an EVENT PARKING sign out front, do not park there unless you want to pay the event rate.

Also please note that the race will only really impact the 8:00am Mass on Sunday, and slightly impact the 9:30am Mass (if you get here really early).

The race no longer passes in front of the church as it has in years past. The biggest issues will be the St. Charles exit and some street parking.

Since Camp will be closed at Julia, the race organizers have asked that the NOPD allow vehicles carrying any elderly or disabled through to drop off their passengers and then make a u-turn out.

*Note: Since Camp is closed at Julia, the Premium Parking lots will not be available for the 8am Mass.

Further information:

Full lists of:

Road Closures: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/files/2011/03/no12_roadclosuregrid.pdf

No Parking: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/files/2011/03/no12_noparking.pdf

Crusade for the Conversion of Greater New Orleans
9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, Confession, Novena and Holy Mass. All are invited.

The Claddaugh group will host a Lenten potluck on Friday, March 9, in the rectory, following the Way of the Cross at St. Patrick’s Church at 6:00pm. Please bring a seafood or meatless dish to share. Beverages will be provided. Young adults are especially encouraged to come meet and greet one another. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please contact Kai Theriot at kaitheriot@msn.com with any questions you may have.

The US Bishops are taking a strong and vocal position to protect our First Amendment Rights. Freedom of Religion is a founding principle of our nation and we must do all we can to educate the Catholic faithful of the bishops’ position and their reasoning behind their stance.

Please see the following 2 documents.

Bulletin insert
Urgent memorandum

Click here for the February 19 music insert.

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to each one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years or older on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent. The determination of certain days as obligatory days of penance should not be understood as limiting the occasions for Christian penance The spirit of the season of Lent should be maintained throughout the weeks of Lent. The obligation to observe penitential days of the Church is serious. Failure to observe individual days of penance is not necessarily considered serious. No one should be scrupulous in this regard. People should seek to do more rather than less, since fast and abstinence on the days prescribed should be considered a minimal response to the Lord’s call to penance and conversion of life.

THE PASCHAL FAST
All Catholics of the appropriate age are to fast and abstain on Good Friday.

A society of Catholic lay activists speaking out to promote and defend the faith in the public square. We confront the assaults on our Constitutional right to free exercise of religion, teach the uninformed the truths about our faith, and evangelize Catholics who have been poorly formed. Currently, we are opposing the HHS mandate and are working for passage of the Rubio bill. Anyone interested in joining should contact Mary Ramirez: StPhilomenaSociety@aol.com.

1139 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. (formerly Dryades St.)
The Cenacle of Our Loving Mother
Saturday, February 25, 2012; 9:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
Father Stanley Klores, Celebrant and Spiritual Director
Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, Confession, Novena and Holy Mass.
All are invited.

St. Patrick’s Respect Life Group will pray a rosary in front of Louisiana’s largest abortion facility, on the corner of Ridgelake Drive and 20th Street in Metairie, Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 9:00 A.M. Everyone is invited!

The Archbishop has directed that this Lent each parish have groups formed to discuss the book The Mass Explained by Msgr. James Moroney. The St. Patrick group will have its 1st meeting Wednesday March 7 at 7 PM in the rectory and meet for 4 consecutive weeks. Prior to the 1st meeting, those interested should obtain a copy of Msgr. Maroney’s book from the rectory office and begin reading the first two chapters so that they may be able to contribute to the discussion. Everyone is invited.

FEBRUARY 19—FEBRUARY 22, 2012
Sun., February 19 Masses: 8:00 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; & 11:00 a.m.
Church closes after the 11:00 a.m. Mass.
Cancelled: Adoration and Benediction.
Cancelled: Mass at 5:30 p.m.
Mon., February 20 Masses at 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Rectory office closed.
Tues., February 21 Church and rectory office closed.

FEBRUARY 22—ASH WEDNESDAY
Masses—11:00 a.m.; 11:45 a.m.; 12:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
Distribution of ashes—At all Masses.
Confessions—Before the Masses.

LENTEN SCHEDULE
Way of the Cross—Every Friday after the noon Mass.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament—Every Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
Benediction—Every Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

There are still some Christmas poinsettias in the courtyard waiting to be picked up by their donor, to be planted in someone’s garden.