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

As we continue to celebrate our 170th year as a Catholic Church, I cordially invite you to our special Anniversary Celebration with Bishop Peter Sartain on May 17. The festivitiesbegin at 4:30 p.m. with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Sartain. All those who have been invested in the Church and School are most welcome to attend, from our 2200 alumni to all those who have attended Mass here at the parish from over the years.

Following the Mass, we will host an Appreciation Dinner, not just for those who have served the parish over the past year in any capacity, but for all the faithful of St. Patrick's. In one way or another, all of you serve our parish through your presence at our liturgies and parish life. Specifically, we give thanks to those who give their time and talent to thevarious ministries that fuel our community. Everyone is invited and encouraged to support our parish.

Last year was the first time I was present at St. Patrick's for this dinner, which became an event of thanks for what God has offered us. In addition to the normal cast of cooks and cleaners that made this event a special one, a few of our parishioners treated those whoattended the event to lessons in square dancing, line dancing, and other dances of skill which did nothing but good for a wonderful group of faithful parishioners who celebrated the life of the Church on a gym floor. There are times in life that we realized how truly blessed we are that our brothers and sisters in Christ gather together in fellowship so that we can give thanks for our neighbor supporting and praying for us in God's name.

I also received a call from the Busson Portrait Studio (the photographers from our Anniversary Photo Directory). They have informed me that the hardbound copies of our directory will be available by June 30 and that a limited number of softbound copies will beprovided for us by our Anniversary Celebration on May 17.

Finally, for those interested in joining us for our Irish Pilgrimage on November 3-11, we ask that you submit a deposit to JeriCo Journeys no later than June 1 so that we may setup arrangements for all those attending this trip. Colleen and the staff of JeriCo did sucha wonderful job for us last year with our Italian Pilgrimage that we are certain this year's experience will be just as memorable! Call (877) 453-7426 for more information.

May God Bless All of You.

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

Why is Eucharistic Adoration for our parishioners so important? Everyone who has friends talks often to them. This ongoing communication is the answers to having intimate friends you can trust. How can Jesus be your intimate friend unless you have ongoing communication with Him? This is personal prayer-silence time.

Every Monday evening from 7:00pm to 8:00pm Jesus is on the alter at Adoration making it possible to spend time in intimate communication nurturing you with love. "Silence is the language of God."

Diocese of Joliet
2008 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal

Our Faith helps us to recognize that gratitude is at the heart of generosity. We are all "Rays of Hope & Love" that continue to shine and supply the needs of God's people with expressions of thanks to God. If you have not made a gift to the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal, please do so today. Your gift touches many lives.

As of May 5th, we have $9,861.00 in pledges from 95 families; 27% of our goal.

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.

St. Patrick's is looking for those who love to dig in the dirt. If you know how to plant or can work a shovel - we need your talent! You can even pick a time when you can volunteer around planting your own garden. Contact Jim Smith at 815-546-4758.

Our next meeting will be on May 14th at 7pm at Nick and Vitos. Be there and bring your ideas and your appetite!

The 2008 Illinois Catholic Home school Conference will be held May 23-24 at the University of St. Francis in Joliet. Conference will feature great Catholic Vendors, keynote and workshop presentations, a teen track, a conference Holy Mass and special entertainment. For more information, visit www.ilchc.org or contact Barbara Halbur at 815-727-3018.

A successful St. Pat's Area Clean & Proud Day requires community involvement to positively impact our area.

Help spruce up the St. Pat's Area- Saturday May 17, 2008 @ 9:00am

A Community Service Opportunity Make your surroundings better for yourself and others!

St. Pat's Church will be Celebrating it's 170th Anniversary mass with Bishop Sartain on this day @ 4:30pm, let's make the St. Pat's Neighborhood Shine!

Saturday, May 17, 2008, meet at 9:00am in front of St. Pat's School.

There will be McDonald's gift cards for all students that participate!

Any questions please contact Carol Ann Heinemann @ 815-774-0336 or spnajoliet@comcast.net

• June 15^th: Heartland Blood Drive 8am to 12noon
• June 23-27: Vacation Bible School
• August 18^th: Joliet Jackhammers!

St. Patrick's CCW will host their Spring Luncheon on Wednesday, May 14th. Activities that day:

• 11:00am Mass at St. Patrick's. We are joining in the "World Day of Prayer" along with the World Union of Catholic Women Organization. Intentions will be said around the world.
  
  
• After Mass, we will follow with a delicious lunch at Truth Restaurant. We will have Stuffed Chicken Breast with Risotto at only $20 a person.
  
  
• Honoring our Woman of the Year, Joan Bannon, and our nominee for the Bishop Blanchette's Scholarship, Emily Kambic.
  
  
• Installation of CCW Officers for 2008-2009.
  
  
• Having fun and friendship and spirit all day! Call Judy Valek at 815-725-1528 or Sharon Kolodziej at 815-741-0146 for reservations.

• 9:30am: Gather in the Borromeo Room
  (with coffee, tea and donuts)
• 10:00am: Conference with Fr. Pete
• 11:15am: Mass in the OLA Chapel
• 12:00pm: Lunch in the Borromeo Room
• 1:15pm: Conference with Fr. Pete
• 2:30pm: Benediction in the OLA Chapel
• 3:00pm Dismissal

PARKING is available in the circular drive. Handicapped spaces are marked. Because of the construction now in progress, parking spaces are somewhat limited; car pooling is suggested. WALKING is required between the Chapel and the Borromeo Room. An elevator is available and the hallway is well marked with directions for us. COST for the day is $10 per person, which is all- inclusive. The reservation deadline is May 15th. Checks should be made payable to "Young at Heart 55 Club".

RESERVATIONS Loretta Crawley @ 815-744-1145.

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.