News and Views from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
By Your Pastor, Fr. Pete Jankowski

In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass "For Peace and Justice" (no. 22 of the "Masses for Various Needs") should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day. - General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373

"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. This I command you: love one another." - Jn 15: 13-14, 17

I have a basic rule in my faith life - the more vulnerable the human being, the more responsible I am called to care for them in God's name. This does not mean, of course, that my care for everyone else in this parish should be minimized - we are called to serve all others unconditionally. However, our obligation to provide for the poor, the lame, the sick, and (in this case) the unborn must be a paramount concern for the faithful Catholic who abides to God's will. The United States Conference of Bishops call this defense our primary concern and Mother Church has dictated above that each parish should do what is necessary to promote the gift of life, especially on the day when the taking of life was made legal in this democratic society.

On our part here at St. Patrick's, we will offer two opportunities for prayer on behalf of this gift of life. At the conclusion of our 8:35 School Mass on January 22, I will lead the children in a Rosary for Life, at which all of you are most welcome to join us in prayer. For the remainder of the morning, our parish will offer exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and I will hear confessions until 12:00 noon (or until all confessions are heard), concluding with a Benediction Service and recitation of The Rosary for Life at 12:00 noon.

If you are able to join us for these opportunities, you are most welcome to do so. If you are not, please take a moment this week to pray for life. This is the right thing to do. It is God's will that we do. God Bless.

Fr. Pete

Gloria Dei Vivens Homo (The Glory of God is Living in Man)
- St. Irenaeus of Lyons

Eucharistic Adoration is a time of silent prayer and the offering of your daily trials and physical pains for the good of those most in need of God's love; a time of re-creation and a newness of life.

Come join us on Monday evenings in Church for this intimate encounter with Jesus Christ, present in the Eucharist and a communal praying of the Rosary.

Each week, St. Patrick's Vocation Cross travels from home to home throughout the parish as we pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This week,

will care for the cross in their home. If you would like to participate, please contact the office (815) 727-4746.

Catholic Ministries

Here at St. Patrick Parish, we have reached 66% of our goal, with $23,842 pledged as of November 27th. 216 of the 736 families at St. Patrick's have pledged. Let's make sure that we reach 100%. The ministries of the Diocese touch so many of our families and our neighbors that it is our responsibility to help our neighbors and friends. If you have not given even a one time gift, we urge you to prayerfully consider offering some of the monetary blessings you have through Christ. Please be generous. Thank You!

Over the last few weeks since I have spoken about our parish debt, a few of our parishioners have inquired as to our debt's status. I have been very uplifted by the generosity of many individuals in the parish who have assisted us with donations up to $1000. I am greatly humbled by one donation to the parish for $50,000 on behalf of our Adoration Chapel. Bishop Sartain mentioned in a recent Priest Council meeting that he is thinking about incorporating some items from Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish (which just closed) into this new Adoration Chapel as a means of allowing the faithful from that Church to come and pray with us, if they wish. All we ask is your continued support to relieve this almost $150,000 debt. However you can help us would be appreciated. For the sake of our school and for the sake of our financial stability, we thank you in advance. for your help.

To date, we have collected over $14,381 for our 2nd An- nual Alumni Appeal. Last year, we collected over $25,000 for this event. Please be as generous as you can in helping us meet our goal this year of $25,000.

2007 Tax Statements may be obtained by contacting the Rectory. Due to the increased amount of paper required to print statements this year because of a mandatory change by the IRS, we are asking those parishioners who desire a tax statement to call the Rectory at 815-727- 4746. (We will have a specific mailbox set up for this purpose.) Please plan to leave your name, address and telephone number; your tax statement will then be mailed to you. Thank you!

Market Day has an exciting offer that you won't want to miss! Remember that when you order at marketday.com in January, you're automatically entered in a contest to win exciting prizes! Prizes include a Disney Vacation package for four, IPods and $25 Best Buy cards! Simply place your order online-it's that easy! Order online at marketday.com until NOON on January 26th, 2008. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help, please call Theresa at 815-729-1897. We value your support, we're looking forward to reaching our fundraising goals!

Latin America
Forming Disciples and Missionaries of Jesus Christ

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The proceeds of the annual Collection for the Church in Latin America are distributed to dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, seminaries, and other Catholic institutions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. These essential funds assist in the formation of priests, religious, lay ministers, missionaries, pastoral agents, catechists, and youth ministers.

These funds enable our fellow Catholics in Latin America and the Caribbean-who are rich in faith, but often lack material resources-to participate more fully as disciples and to respond to their call to mission. Last year, as a result of your generosity, our total diocesan collection was $257,517.61. The Church in the United States was able to support 476 pastoral grants in 23 countries, as well as the work of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Social Development and World Peace (now the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development) on behalf of the Church in Latin America. This year, I ask you to contribute generously again to this worthy Collection. Further information can be found at www.usccb.org/ latinamerica.

Together, let us ask the Lord to continue to bless us in all that we do.

Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain

In the most recent Alumni Newsletter, we have included the names of our beloved alumni whose correct mailing addresses we do not possess. If you know the location or situation of these individuals (i.e., married, deceased, etc.) please contact our parish office ASAP so that we may correct this information. This would apply for parents who are receiving numerous news- letters in a home from which their children have moved or those who live in the Joliet area whose ad- dresses we do not have. Thank you for your help.

Over the 2007-2008 year, parishioners from St. Patrick's Catholic Church are invited to audit our RCIA Sessions in learning the basics of the Catholic Faith. Sessions generally run on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge of the School. As an effort to promote Adult Education in the parish, all members of our community over the age of 14 are welcome to join us for any or all of the sessions listed each week. For more information, please contact the parish office at (815) 7274746.

Confirmation. The third of the Sacraments of initiation (which include Baptism and Eucharist), Fr. Pete Jankowski will discuss the unity of these three sacraments and how Confirmation seals one's baptismal promises through the Holy Spirit.

The committee is busy working to prepare for Shamrock Gala 2008 at the Patrick Haley Mansion on the corner of Center and Marion Streets on February 2nd.

This formal evening is for adults, with a great sit down dinner, dancing, and the presentation of the Dominican Award. This year, the award will be presented to former pastor, Rev. Vytas Memenas for his 50 years of service to the Diocese of Joliet as a Priest.

There will be both silent and live auctions as well as unique and special events for the evening. There is also a raffle with cash and prizes. Make reservations to spend this evening with friends and family. Tickets for the Gala are $75 per guest. Raffle tickets are $10 per chance with a first prize of a one week vacation for 2 to Cancun, Mexico; a second prize of two round trip tickets to anywhere Southwest Airlines Flights and a third prize of $600 cash. Both the Gala and Raffle tickets are available at the Rectory or at the School Office during regular business hours.

Bring Your Old Palms Back to Church! As is tradition in the Catholic Church, we invite all of the faithful to bring their blessed palms from last year's Lenten Season back to church the weekends of January 19-20 and 26-27. We will them burn these palms in order to use them for our Ash Wednesday services on February 6. You may return your old palms to the Food Pantry closet, where a receptacle has been placed for this purpose. God Bless.

Evenings of Reflection February 25th, March 3rd and March 10th at 7:00pm in Church. Join us for a 10 minute reflection with Fr. Pete and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. An opportunity for the Sacrament of Confession will also be available.

Natural Family Planning Classes are available throughout the year at St. Patrick's. Please contact John and Barbara Halbur at 815-727-3018.

Why do some studies today show that parents are the top obstacle to religious vocations today? First of all, families are smaller. Parents want to have grandchildren and they want the family name to continue. And if they only have a few children they are less likely to encourage their children to consider a celibate vocation. It used to be when families were much larger, parents would encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life more readily because they had other children that would provide grandchildren.

I have had parents tell me that they do not want their children to be a priest, brother or sister. I always respond to by saying, "What do you want for your children?" They inevitably tell me, "I want my kids to be happy." My next question is, "How do your children find happiness - by doing your will or the will of God?"

If God is calling your child to be a priest, sister or brother, God will give them the grace to live this life and to find great joy in it. My father asked me before entering the seminary, "Son, are you sure you can be happy as a priest?" I asked my Dad, "How did you know Mom was the right one for you?" He said, as most married people say, "I don't know, but when I met your Mother I knew she was the one." I said, "Dad, I feel the same way. I don't know why God is calling me and I don't know where He is leading me, but I feel this is what I was created to do." My Dad understood and has supported me ever since.

Parents, please encourage your children to follow the will of God in their lives. Just as you encourage them to be teachers, doctors, etc., give them the option of following Jesus in a religious vocation. If they determine that God is calling them to be a priest, sister or brother, they are going to find true peace and joy in that vocation.

Fr. Burke Masters
Director of Vocations
Diocese of Joliet
815.834.4004

St. Patrick School Mission Statement

St. Patrick School embraces a mission to provide the finest academic environment for all of our children. We emphasize achievable goals and high moral ethical standards. We instill in our students a lifelong commitment to excellence and dedication to their Catholic Christian faith. Saint Patrick School is marked by a spirit of hospitality, a parent-school and parish partnership with a nurturing atmosphere in which our children develop in mind, body and spirit.

   Catholic Schools Light the Way   

Join us in the classrooms for:

• Kindergarten through Fourth Grade will have crafts for parents and children to work together.
  
  
• Grades Five through Eight will carry on a "Pat Paul Tradition" with two sessions of BIBLE TRIVIA at 9:00 and then again at 11:00 in the Seventh Grade room.
  
  
• Grade Six and Eight Classrooms - Science Fair Projects
  
  
• Come and sign the "Wall of Honor" for Patrick Paul in the Junior High hallway - write a note and sign the "wall" to be hung in the gym during the dedication.

Dedication of the Gymnasium to Mr. Pat Paul at 12:00 pm
We will dedicate the Gymnasium to Patrick Paul with the unveiling and presentation of a plaque in his honor and a special prayer and blessing. *A banner in Pat Paul's name will be presented during the annual basketball tournament.

Catholic Schools Mass - School Uniform Sunday
"Catholic Schools Light the Way"
Candle honor guard and faculty staff procession, gifts of gratitude to our parishioners, students to speak to thank the parishioners for their continued support of Catholic Education, student greeters and gift bearers

Our monthly Pancake Breakfast will be served after both the 8:00 am and 10:00 am Masses