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

As promised, this year St. Patrick's Church is sponsoring a pilgrimage to the country of our legendary patron saint. With this in mind, we had a choice of two countries attributed to our patron: Nigeria and Ireland. After much prayer and discussion, our parish has chosen to direct this year's pilgrimage in the direction of the Blarney Stone.

Inserted in this month's bulletin and in our Spring Newsletter are the locations we will visit on this nine day journey from November 3-11, 2008. Among the highlights:

• In Dublin, we will take a panoramic city tour on both sides of the River Liffey, where we pass by General Post Office on the city's main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, Custom House, and the Phoenix Park, the largest city park in Europe.
  
  
• The beautiful mountains of Wicklow, called the 'Garden of Ireland' to reach Medieval Kilkenny and magnificent view of the Sugar Loaf Mountain.
  
  
• The "Rock of Cashel," standing high in the middle of the "Golden Vale," these religious buildings, dating from the 12th century, form the most spectacular medieval set in Ireland.
  
  
• The Cliffs of Moher. The coastal rode with Galway's intensely blue bay on one side and natural rocky landscape on the other side.
  
  
• A Corrib Cruise on Corrib Lake, which is the largest in Republic of Ireland. It is going to be best way to see Galway and its surroundings. On our route will be a visit to Clonmacnoise, which is Ireland's most important monastic site, overlooking the River Shannon.
  
  
• A tour through Knock and the shrine situated in the plains of East Mayo. It is one of the worlds leading Marian shrines.
  
  
• The National Museum of Dublin, situated in the heart of the city, its collection of golden prehistoric jewelry is without a doubt the most beautiful in Europe. The cost of the nine day excursion will run about $2900 (double occupancy). Our travel agent for this trip is JeriCo Journeys, who provided wonderful service for us on last year's Italian Pilgrimage. Please call 877-453-7426 or the parish office for more information.

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 or Library 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) 727-4746.

In this final RCIA session open to the St. Patrick's community, Fr. Pete Jankowski will address questions that have been asked in the Adult Formation Group of the Parish, in addition to those questions presented by the members of the RCIA group.

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
2008 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal

Sign-Up Weekend, April 12/13, 2008 Your pledge continues the good work of the Catholic Church in seven counties that comprise our diocese. We ask that you give prayerful consideration in making the most generous gift you can. Please make your gift today. .

Save your Ultra Foods and Strack and Van Til receipts! Receipts from March 3rd through June 1st will earn 5% for the parish! When the School collected these last fall, they raised $400! Contact the Rectory for details.

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!

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.