From "Fr. Jim's Corner" - June 11, 2006

To all St. Patrick Parishioners,

Thanks be to God for St. Patrick Parish.
Thanks be to God for loving and supporting me over the years.
Thanks be to God for strengthening my Faith and love of the Priesthood.
Thanks be to God for accepting me as I was, am, and will be, and please forgive my failings and shortcomings.

I will always love you,
Fr. Jim Lennon

Fr. Jim Lennon's 50th Anniversary Mass and Reception will take place at St. Patrick's Church on May 30th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. All are invited and encouraged to join us at this celebration.

Memorial Day Liturgy

Please Note: In honor of our veterans who have served our country with distinguished service, our Memorial Day Liturgy on May 26th will take place at St. Patrick's Cemetery (weather permitting). All are invited to join us in this celebration.

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 $12,426.00 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.

Mark your calendars for June 5th! We will have our annual summer picnic at West Park. Lunch will be catered and served about noon. Iced tea and coffee will be available, you may bring other liquid refreshments and lawn chairs if you wish. Enjoy nature, friends and good food! Cost is only $3 for members and $6 for guests. Make reservations by May 29th with Pete Valek at 815-725-1528.

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

We are please to inform you that we are recruiting for the 2008-2009 school year. This division services over 700 low-income families in our Licensed and Accredited Child Care Centers. We have openings for children who meet one of the following conditions:

• Infants, toddlers and preschoolers whose parents are low-wage earners and need full day care, working at least 30 hours a week.
• Infants, toddlers and preschoolers whose parents are enrolled in school 12 credit hours and working part time at least 10 hours, vocational/employment training and need full day care.
• Children who are three to five years old and need part day child care and transportation.
• Children who were five years old after September 1st, 2008 and need Full day care, working at least 30 hours a week.

We are especially interested in children ages 6 weeks through 5 years old with a diagnosed disability or specialized medical need who could benefit from a high-quality, inclusive child care setting. Call 815-7241148 with any questions.

• June 13th at 11:00am: St. Anne's in Crest Hill is hosting a Anointing of the Sick. There will be a luncheon immediately following. Reservations are required for the luncheon. Please call Betty at 815-722-8346. Please call 815-722-3222 for more info.
  
  
• June 21st and every third Saturday of the Month, the traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated at 8:00am at Poor Clares Annunciation Monastery, 6200 East Minooka Road in Minooka, Illinois.
  
  
• Sunday, June 22nd at St. Joe's Park in Joliet. 12:00pm to 9:00pm: Lockport Firefighters Local 1544 presents Summer Bash. This Union Fundraiser and Benefit for IAFC Burn Camp Picnic. Food, beverages, Kids games, Raffles, Bingo and Music.

Catholic Engaged Encounter sponsors weekends to prepare couples for marriage. Engaged couples are given the opportunity to talk honestly and intensively about their prospective life together. Topics include an assessment of the couple's strengths and weaknesses; their ambitions and goals; attitudes about money, sex, children, family and relationship to the Church. Personal reflection and communication are the main focus. Engaged Encounter is an approved marriage preparation program.

Available weekends during 2008 are: May 16-18, June 6-8, September 12-14, October 10-12, November 7-9 and December 5-7. A brochure/registration form is available at:
http://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/JOBInserts/2008-05/2008engagedEncounterBrochure.pdf

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.