WELCOME to the Nicaraguan children who have traveled from their home in Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua, to be with us Saturday, April 19^th.

After weeks of preparation, the day has arrived! Be sure to attend the Mass at 4:30. We want to give a warm welcome to the children and Father Ron Hicks.

The Dinner and Performance will follow the 4:30 Mass. Limited seats are still available for a donation of $5. Please contact Jane Richards at 815-744-7660 to purchase your tickets today.

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

In 1993, I was completing my first year at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. During this upper graduate seminary training, the Joliet Diocese sent me down to Cuernavaca, Mexico during the summer in order to learn Spanish and spend time with the wonderfully faith-filled people of the area. It was in Cuernavaca that I was first introduced to the Sisters of St. Joseph (Las Hermans Josefinas), who run the daycare center in Joliet that we support here at the parish.

During my studies, I had the opportunity to visit an orphanage that the Chicago Archdiocese has supported for the last few decades, Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (The Little Children). Founded by one priest some fifty years ago, the Chicago Archdiocese has spread this ministry throughout Latin America, as they now support children in thirteen Central and South American countries that has provided hope for over 15,000 children, 3,000 of which living in these orphanages today.

At these facilities, children are offered a home where they are guaranteed to remain with their siblings through their formative years. Through the generosity of the faithful like you, the kids are given an education, a faith, room and board, and a chance to make a difference in the world. In return, the graduates of Friends of the Orphans donate one or two years of their time to support the younger children of the facility. The Archdiocese then offers them the opportunity for a college education or a trade skill.

Next weekend, seventeen children from an orphanage in Nicaragua will be joining us at the 4:30 p.m. liturgy for song, food, and a show that highlights the Nicaraguan lifestyle. Fr. Ron Hicks (a Chicago priest who serves as director of this program) will celebrate Mass for us and explain for us how we can "adopt" one of these children or provide general funding for this most important cause.

Here at St. Patrick's, we very much wish to support life, from conception until natural death. Here is a practical way that we can promote this cause. I very much encourage our faithful to truly become a friend to the orphans by your presence.

God Bless.

Fr. Pete

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

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.

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.

Fr. Pete Jankowski discusses the various roles in which the lay person takes part in the Church. There will be an opportunity to fill out a volunteer sheet at this meeting.

Spring Cleaning? Why not spruce up those closets and cabinets. Clear your home of all that extra clutter! We are having a collection for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. They are looking for clean gently used clothing, shoes, cookware, linens, dishes, knick knacks, toys, books, lamps, etc.

Your donations will benefit the needy!

We will have bags in the church on April 26th and April 27th. Please fill these and/or your own heavy-duty bags and boxes with clean gently used items and bring them with you when you come for Mass the weekend of May 3rd & 4th, 2008.

Our St. Vincent de Paul volunteers will be there to help you with your donations.

For donations of furniture and other large items please call 630-231-4658 to schedule the truck to come to your home. Furniture will not be accepted at the clothing drive.

NO hangers please!

Thank you for Helping Us to Help People! Receipts are always gladly given.

Diocese of Joliet
Sign-Up Weekend, April 12/13, 2008

This is Sign-Up Weekend for the Diocesan Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal. Your pledge continues the good work of the Catholic Church in seven counties that comprise our dio- cese. We ask that you give prayerful consideration in making the most generous gift you can. Please make your gift today.

Thanks to the generosity of St. Patrick's parishioners, the Pro-Life Ministry of St. Patrick's parish raised $3,500 during Lent. Birthright of Joliet and Living Alternatives of Joliet will each receive a check for $1,750. The goal of both organizations is to assist those women with crisis pregnancies and to save the lives of those babies created by God. It is with deep appreciation for the kindness of St. Patrick's Parish that the issue of the sanctity of life is being perpetuated.

We have received your generous and thoughtful gift of $268 from the "Late Nite Catechism" show. Thank you for your generosity to our Congregation. May God bless you today and always. With much appreciation,
Sr. Adrienne Schaffer, OP
Adrian Dominican Sisters, Michigan.

St. Pat's Neighborhood Association will have a general meeting in the School Gym at 7pm on Wednesday, April 16^th.

• Master Gardner presentation: Spring prep for the lawn & garden.
• Information Buffet: Joliet Service Departments, Police Officers and Animal Control Officers present to assist with any questions or issues.

Contact Carol Ann at 815-744-0336 for info.

Our St. Patrick's CCW invite all of you to our general meeting on Sunday, April 13th at 1:00pm in the school gym. We plan a short meeting and election of officers to be followed by a "Bunco Party" which has proven to be a fun time and a great time to meet and greet old and new friends. Guests are also invited. Snacks and dessert will be served. Hoping to see you there!! Call Judy Valek @ 815-725-1528 with any questions. No reservations are needed.

Spring is here and it's time for our annual "Pot Luck". It will be April 24th at 1:00pm in the School Gym. Many have signed up at the last meeting and stated what they will prepare. We will be providing the Chicken and must know how much to order. To make reservations call by April 17th to any of these ladies;

• Kathy at 815-744-1058
  
• Ellen at 815-729-4473
  
• Donna at 815-729-7722

A very enjoyable afternoon is promised. We will be entertained by the "Four Old Parts".  Seniors 55+ welcome! Please join us!

Wanted: Committed pro-life volunteers willing to counsel women in untimely pregnancies. Birthright and Woman's Choice Center are abortion alternative centers located in the diocese. They are committed to aiding women and their unborn babies. To become a trained volunteer, call one of the centers.

• Birthright of Joliet: 815-725-3411
• Birthright of Dupage: 630-355-9888
• Birthright of Kankakee: 815-937-5881
• Woman's Choice Services: 630-495-9850

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

If you have been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church…

Please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. Every arch/diocese/eparchy in the United States now has a victim assistance coordinator who is available to obtain support for your needs, to help you make a formal complaint of abuse to the arch/diocese/eparchy, and to arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative, if you desire. The victim assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Joliet is Barbara Jarvis Pauls at 815-263-6467.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Please pray for those who have been hurt by abuse as well as for the safety of all children.
Visit www.preventchildabuseillinois.org.

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

For over 20 years, St. Pat's volunteers have been providing dinner once a month at Daybreak Center. This easy but rewarding community service is much needed in today's economy. Can you add your name to the list of volunteers that occasionally help by grocery shopping or cooking food at home or serving dinner? Call Mary Mattson at (815) 726-2150 to get more details. Daybreak Center is sponsored by Catholic Charities, but recently experienced budget cuts, so they really appreciate St. Pat's help!

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.