• Friday Mornings after the 7:30am Mass:
  February 8th through March 14th
  
  
• Wednesdays at 1:00pm with St Patrick's School:
  February 13th through March 12th

Mondays, February 25th, March 3rd and March 10th:    7:00pm-8:00pm
10 minute reflection with Fr. Pete followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The opportunity for Confession will be available as well.

Wednesday, March 12th at    7:00pm
St. Paul the Apostle
Woodlawn Avenue

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

From a Web Posting. Please write me at pjankowski@yahoo.com with your entries.

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.
2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day -- it's like inner jogging.
11. The most important things in your home are the people.
12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it's just hearsay.
18. Its all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out it's neck.
20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read.

God Bless.

Fr. Pete

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

Subjects to be covered: "Who is God, who am I?", "How to Pray", "Humility", "Healing of memories", "Healing of addictions", "Vitues of Faith , Hope & Love", "Self Deliverance", "Why be a Catholic", and much more. If interested, please forward your mail to Joe Bannon in a marked envelope in the collection basket or email the Rectory at stpatrectory0710@sbcglobal.net.

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. If you would like to participate, please contact the office (815) 727-4746.

1. Everyone 14 years of age or over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
   
   
2. Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
   
   
3. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one's needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted on these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige.
   
   
4. To disregard completely the law of fast and ab- stinence is seriously sinful.
   
   
5. Lent is the principal season of penance in the Christian year. All of the faithful are strongly urged to develop and follow a program of vol- untary self-denial (in addition to following the Lenten regulations), serious prayer, and a per- formance of works of charity and mercy.

To date, we have collected over $14,881 for our 2nd Annual 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 ext 55. Or by email at stpatrectory0710@sbcglobal.net. Please plan to leave your name, address and telephone number. Your tax statement will then be available for pick up in the parish office or mailed upon request. Thank you!

Are you looking to get your Ministry schedule for your family via email? Contact us at stpatrectory0710@sbcglobal.net. Ministry schedules are also available online at stpatsjoliet.com.

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.

Miss Julie Dillenburg will discuss the importance of Mary and the saints as models of faith within the Christian life.

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.

• February 21-24 - Here I Am Vocation Workshop - www.hereiamlord.net Visit this web site and find out about the nationally known speakers and musical entertainers at this workshop that will be held in St. Charles, IL. And it is in our own back yard. Registration can be done online. This workshop is for anyone from 6th grade through young adults. Bishop Sartain and I will be speaking on February 21st at Corpus Christi parish in Carol Stream.
  
  
• February 28 - Operation Andrew Dinner with Bishop Sartain - All men who are high school age or older are invited to Holy Family Parish in Shorewood to have dinner with Bishop Sartain from 6-8pm on Thursday night, February 28. There is no cost for this event.
  
  
• March 1 - Jeremiah Day - Boys in grades 7-10 are invited to Mundelein Seminary on Saturday, March 1, 2008. This day will provide the young men a chance to visit a seminary and experience the life of a seminarian. Cost is $5 per person, which includes lunch.
  
  
• March 1 - Marian Day - Girls in grades 7-10 are invited to Loretto Convent on Saturday March 1, 2008, to learn more about religious life. The day will provide young women a chance to visit a convent and experience the life of religious sisters. Cost is $5 per person, which includes lunch. If you have any questions at all, or would like to RSVP, feel free to call Nora at the Diocesan Vocations Office at 815-834-4004 or e-mail noral@dioceseofjoliet.org
  
  
• Sunday, March 2nd: St. Bernard's Church at Sterling and High Streets in Joliet, will hold a pancake breakfast from 8am until 12noon.
  
  
• Saturday, March 8th: St. Paul the Apostle would like to invite you to their annual school fund raiser Festivale 2008 "A Night in Hollywood". This event is scheduled for March 8, from 5:30 pm to Midnight. The evening will feature live musical talent Upbeat Dance Band, DJ - JTW Productions, a Marilyn Monroe entertainer, Illusionist/Mentalist Scott Xavier performing throughout the evening and Hollywood Game Show Master Harris Kal interacting with the crowd using Hollywood and game show trivia. There will be several raffle drawings including St. Paul's Giant raffle for $100,000. Both a cash and martini bar along with buffet dinner will be served. Tickets are $30 in advance/$40 at the door and $20 for seniors. Please call Dawn Serrato at 815-744-4158 or email at d.serrato@sbcglobal.net for tickets or with any questions.

The holidays are over so are you ready to spend some time with old friends and make some new ones? Our first meeting for the New Year will be February 28th at 1:00pm in the school gym. Kathy Wilhelmi will revisit future plans for our club. Dues still only $5. All Seniors 55+ welcome!!

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.