"Hardly had the first log been hewn to build the first cabin on the banks of the river when the Catholics began to cut, haul and erect the stone that was used in the construction of the temple of God; so appreciative were they of the honor devolving upon them of setting aside an edifice fitted for the service of their Master and their King.

In the building of Saint Patrick's Church, nothing was considered too hard to undertake-the settlers thought naught of the fatigue, the labor and service necessary for the procuring of the finest and most substantial of material. They volunteered their time, energy and money; and all this for the simple reason that to them the Faith of our Fathers meant everything. No happiness could be had in their new homes, unless it were that happiness which radiates from the central and most prominent pulsating Heart of the Church, under the fortifying shadows of which they realized that they would fight the burning battles of life."

From Dedication of the New St. Patrick's Church, May 18th, 1919

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

Adapted From History of St. Patrick's Church: 150 Years of Faith (1838-1988) by Louise Wagner

St. Patrick parish was canonically established on November 16, 1838, and is the oldest Church in the Joliet Diocese and the second oldest Roman Catholic Church in the metropolitan Chicago area.

Early in the 1800s, history was being made in many parts of the world that would influence the economic growth and population of Joliet. It was in 1836, while Martin Van Buren was serving the country as the eighth President of the United States of America, thatground was broken for a waterway; a canal that would allow grain, coal, salt, seed, livestock and quarried stone to be transported on towboats, pulled by mules into Chicago. The 96-mile-long, man-made Illinois and Michigan (I & M) Canal that passed through Joliet was a means of livelihood for much of the community. It attracted thousands of French, Irish and German immigrants who were looking for work. These ethnic groups, particularly the Irish who were fleeing from their homeland because of a potato famine, made up a large part of the congregation of St. Patrick Church.

During this time, Will County was only two-years old and the city of Joliet was only one- year-old when Rt. Rev. Simon Gabriel Brute' (the first Bishop of Vincennes, Indiana) recognized the need to upgrade the Joliet community from a mission to a parish. (He) ordained John Francis Plunkett in 1837 and a year later sent him to Joliet, Illinois to builda Church. Joliet was in the Vincennes Diocese, and the Bishop could hardly refuse theearly settlers of that community their urgent request for a resident priest. At that timethe Catholic Church was a mission and had no established parishes nearer than St. Louis, Missouri.

It was with the arrival of Father Plunkett, about the middle of November, 1838, that the beginning of the first Catholic Church in Joliet became a reality for the community. Traveling on horseback, Fr. Plunkett would routinely visit his missions-canal towns from Dresden to Lemont; towns that we recognize today as Kankakee, New Lenox, Lemont, Lockport and Plainfield. He would solicit money for his Church and bring the "Church" to his people. He would offer Mass and distribute the sacraments, carrying the vestments and other religious items in his saddlebags.

It was on one of these missions, while making his rounds for religious reasons as well as to seek funds for the construction of the new church, that Father Plunkett was killed. He was caught in a blinding snowstorm late on March 14, 1840, while returning home from Kankakee, Illinois. Fr. Plunkett is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery. Although the exact site is not known, it is believed to be in the older section of the cemetery, at the westernedge, near what is now Hunter Avenue and Washington Street.

May God Bless All of You.

Fr. Pete

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

Please bring your donated sweets, pies, cookies, cakes, etcetera to the School gym prior to the Start of the Mass for Fr. Jim on Friday.

Thank you for your help!

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 12th, we have $12,426 in pledges from 106 families which is 34% 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.

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.

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

• 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.