These are just three of the eight pictures that DCF sent of all the gifts that our parish donated to them for Christmas. They separate them by category to create a ‘store’ where their social workers can ‘shop’ for children and families. Thank you so much for your abundant generosity and for making Christmas happier for those in need. God bless you!
Big Changes Are Coming to Tax Law
January 1, 2026
Maximize the effectiveness of your charitable giving--and your tax benefits in 2026.
Beginning in the 2026 tax year, a reinstated deduction allows non-itemizers to deduct cash donations to charity—up to $1,000 for single filers or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. This means all households are now eligible to receive a tax deduction for qualified charitable contributions.
For top earners, new laws will cap tax benefits at 35 cents for each dollar of itemized deductions instead of the current 37 cents. Consider accelerating your 2025 giving to maximize your deduction before the new cap goes into effect.
Itemizers who make charitable contributions will only be able to claim a tax deduction to the extent that their qualified contributions exceed 0.5% of their adjusted gross income (AGI). For example, a couple with an AGI of $300,000 could only deduct charitable donations in excess of $1,500. Consider “bunching” your charitable contributions or making multiple years’ worth of donations in 2025. This allows you to itemize your large donation and then take the standard deduction in future years.
Giving Tuesday is a day that encourages people to give back in whatever ways they can. It presents nonprofit organizations with the chance to raise even more money than they would on an average day of giving, which is why many organizations create special campaigns to participate in this day of giving. Giving Tuesday takes place on December 2, 2025.
Won’t you consider donating to St. Patrick Parish? Please click on or scan this QR code.
Religious Education Registration is now open!
Registration is now OPEN for the 2025-2026 Religious Education School year! Go to Religious Education to learn about our In-Person Classes or Homeschool options for Grades 1-6 and our new two year Confirmation Program for Grades 7 and 8+. Older students or students who have missed a grade or a sacrament are asked to email the office to create a custom plan for getting back on track. Register today!
Confirmation Detailed Information
Confirmation Lessons and Masses
Students enrolled in the Confirmation Program are expected to attend the 6 pm Mass (families are encouraged to attend with them) and then stay for a class from 7-8 pm in Our Lady of Providence Hall. Dates of classes and the chapter to be covered at each class are available here.
The Confirmation Program this year is using the Confirmed in the Spirit book by Loyola Press. This 8-chapter book includes text, written response questions, and chapter reviews to be completed by the student. Students are expected to have read the chapter and completed the questions BEFORE attending class. This will ensure they have thought about the topic that will be discussed that week and be ready to fully participate.
During class the students will review the chapter and then break into small groups for guided discussion with the catechists. Finally, students will move back to the church for the last five to ten minutes of class where they will be led in a prayer activity before being dismissed.
Missed Class Policy
Students should make every effort to attend every class. However, if a student is unable to attend class for a legitimate reason, he or she must complete the following and turn in the writing assignment by email before the next class:
- Attend Mass another time that weekend and write a paragraph on what the homily was about (if student is ill, he or she can watch the Mass on www.catholictv.org.)
- Complete the chapter reading, answer the questions, and complete the review at the end of the Chapter (this is what is expected before attending every class).
- Write 1-2 paragraphs on how the theme of the chapter relates to your life.
The writing assignments can be emailed in PDF format to us at
reled@stpatrickstoneham.org. Please
do not send as Google Docs as we are unable to open them.
2025 Lenten Study
In Jesus, Friend of My Soul, each two-page daily reflection brings our attention to the Lenten season, providing reflections for growth and inviting us to follow Jesus and become more like him.
“As Christians,” Joyce Rupp writes, “we look to the person of Jesus to learn from him.” Because our lives are filled to the brim with activity, it is easy to drift away from trying to live as Jesus did, and we find ourselves in need of time to focus on drawing close to him again and learning from his example.
We will meet to share and discuss our experiences with these reflections on Monday evenings from 7:00 – 8:00 pm on March 3, 24, 31 and April 7 & 14. Registration is required. Please contact Diane McCarthy at 781-438-0200 or dianemccarthy@stpatrickstoneham.org. Cost of the book will be approximately $10.
Registration:
Registration is open now through September 30th.
Religious Education Registration is now Closed
Religious Education Registration is currently closed. If you need to complete your child(ren)’s registration, please email the office at
reled@stpatrickstoneham.org.
What should I wear?
We want you to feel comfortable. After all, we are thrilled that you're joining us and want you to be more focused on the service than what you're wearing. In the summertime, it's not uncommon to see people wearing sandals, shorts, and a shirt. Others prefer to still put on their "Sunday best," and that's fine too! However, we do request that shorts be of a conservative length (no “short-shorts”) and that in general, clothing be respectable and conservative.
How do I get to St. Patrick's Parish?
Our parish is located at 71 Central Street, Stoneham, MA 02180. Here is a map.
Where should I park?
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Where do my children go?
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I’m not Catholic, how do I know when to sit, stand and kneel?
There’s no need to be self-conscious about the postures and responses used during worship. Most visitors just follow the lead of the our parishioners. However, we do have worship aids located in each pew that provide you with the order of the mass, the postures, and the words to each prayer. If you don't see a worship aid in your pew, ask an usher, and they will be happy to bring you one.
I’m not Catholic, is it okay for me to participate in communion?
Communion, or The Eucharist, is the most intimate expression of our faith. Catholics believe that the host is literally the body of Christ, transformed from bread by the priest presiding over the service. Most evangelicals think of Communion as symbolic, so it makes sense that they are not as strict about having the right relationship to it as Catholics and Orthodox Christians who believe it is a sacrament and the true presence of Christ. So, if you are not Catholic, we ask that you not receive communion. However, those not receiving the Body of Christ and Precious blood are invited to come forward with their hands crossed over their chests for a special blessing.
Am I expected to put money in the offering?
If you are visiting with us, we don't expect you to put money in the offering, and you are welcome to just let it pass you by. If you consider our parish your church home, we'd love for you to prayerfully consider giving to our parish on a weekly basis. You can give by check or cash during the service, or you can sign up for online giving here.
I have a hearing problem, is there any special assistance?
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