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

As we begin our new fiscal year at St. Patrick's Church (in the Diocese of Joliet, the fiscal year always begins on July 1), our Parish Council and Finance Committee have been quite cognizant that our deficit over the last year has grown by a factor of almost $130,000. Despite the fact that our weekly collection actually has increased by a factor of $600 a week since 2006, the ever- increasing health benefits and cost of supplies have exceeded our ability to keep up with the times. After an analysis by our parish business manager, Mrs. Diane Egan, we came to the conclusion that the health benefit increases levied upon our school staff have wreaked havoc on our budget (each full time staff member at the parish currently receives about $15,000 - $17,000 in benefits which we are obligated to pay). As a group, we have discussed how to address this budget situation. In the process, we have been able to trim an additional $150,000 off the budget for 2008-2009 in order to maintain the programs that currently exist at St. Patrick's.

On the parish side, we were able to trim a minimum of $60,000 due to the kindness of three of our staff members. First, our parish Office Manager (Heather Domanski) has volunteered to reduce her workload to a part-time basis, eliminating her full time status and the benefits so that our parish could save on her resources. As a result, our parish's office hours have been reduced to the times listed on the front cover of the bulletin, starting on June 30.

Second, our parish's business manger (Diane Egan) has volunteered to step down from her position in the business office in order to spend more time with her family. We are most grateful of Diane's wonderful contribution in steering our budget towards the direction which we currently are proceeding. Deacon Paul Kolodziej has volunteered to shift his responsibilities in the direction of parish finance office with the same skills he has utilized with the Crisis Line budget for Will County.

Finally, Sr. Loretta Vetter (who celebrates her 60th Jubilee as a Franciscan Religious this year) has chosen to step down as a part-time secretary at the parish in order to devote her time to the religious community with whom she lives.

We are most grateful for the sacrifices made by the staff members on our parish side and thank all of you for your continued support of our parish during this time of transition. It is through your sacrifice and the sacrifices made by people like Heather, Diane, Sr. Loretta and Deacon Paul that the ministry of St. Patrick's Church will continue for years ahead. God Bless.

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.

Everyone needs to be fed by spiritual experiences. Every Monday at 7pm until 8pm we experience the presence of Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary. Come and join us in church for one hour. All are welcome - Come and be fed! Come and experience the Eucharist every FIRST FRIDAY beginning after morning Mass and ending with Benediction for the Repose of the Blessed Sacrament at 5pm. It would be very fitting to have at least three persons committed to Eucharistic Adoration for each hour from 9am to 5pm on each First Friday. There will be a sheet in the vestibule of the Church for you to sign your name and the time you prefer. Please consider this hour with our Lord a privilege!

Diocese of Joliet
2008 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal

This is a reminder to send your Annual Appeal coupon with payment to the Diocesan Annual Appeal Office by the 15th of each month. We meet out parish goal only when pledges have been fulfilled. Thank you.

As of June 16th, we have $16,769 in pledges from 142 families, which is 46% of our goal.

Catholic Charities Daybreak Shelter is the largest non-profit homeless shelter in Will County Illinois. At this time they have 56 people living at the shelter. This number includes Men, Women and Children. They are in need of personal care items such as: Deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream and razors, soap and shower gel. A collection bin is available in the Church by the Food Pantry Bin. Thank you St. Pat's!

• Canned Corn
  
  
• Canned Tuna Fish
  
  
• Canned Potatoes
  
  
• Canned Peas
  
  
• Canned Green Beans
  
  
• Canned Mixed Vegetables
  
  
• Pork & Beans
  
  
• Ramen Noodles
  
  

• Breakfast Cereal
  
  
• Canned Tomatoes
  
  
• Stove Top Stuffing
  
  
• Dry Pasta of any style but especially:
  • Spaghetti
    
    
  • Noodles
    
    
  • Macaroni
    
    

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.

Take Note-Voter Registration Faithful Citizenship In keeping with our Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in political life is a moral obligation.

On the weekends of June 29th and September 7th there will an opportunity to register to vote. (Please plan to bring two forms of identification) The Sundays have been designated as National Voter Registration Sundays. Churches of every denomination are urged to give their congregations this opportunity to vote by having voter registration forms available at Church. To further help in the voting process, please see the insert in today's bulletin.

Join us here at St. Pat's June 23rd through June 27th from 9am to noon for a fun time this summer! Registration forms available in the School office and at the Rectory. Limited spaces-so reserve yours today!

The Young at Heart Club of St. Patrick's is planning a trip to the Performing Arts Theatre in Munster, Indiana to see the musical "Phantom." The date is July 30th. The cost for bus, lunch and play is $60 payable by July 3rd. For reservations, please call Joyce Hutten at 815-744-1188.

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

...of St. Pat's is gathering names of all of our parishes veterans. With being in existence for 170 years, we may have had veterans defending our freedom as far back as the Mexican-American War. Please contact the rectory, or any member of the Men's Club with our heroes' information. Please spell the veteran's name, branch of service and when he serve. There will be a special Mass held at the St. Pat's cemetery on July 4th followed by a picnic offered at the parish. All are welcome.

Communion pictures and discs are in the school office and may be picked up during office hours of 9:00am to 12:00pm.

It's been a long process, but the new portrait directories are here! Directories are available to those who purchased or had a portrait taken last fall for this directory. To ensure that everyone receives the copy reserved for them, the directories will be in the parish office during the week. Please stop by Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:00pm. If you are unavailable during the week, please contact the rectory at 815-727-4746 to make other arrangements for picking up your directory.

Raffle tickets for the 2008-2009 school year are now available. Pick yours up in the school office from 9:00am to 1:00pm Monday through Friday. Tickets are due to the Rectory by Monday, September 8th and the drawing for the grand prize as well as the two highest sellers will be announced On Saturday, September 13th at 8:00pm at the Parish Fest at St. Joe's Park.

• Sunday, June 29th at the 10:30am Mass: St. Paul the Apostle Church invites one and all to a special Mass with Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain, to officially begin in the "Year of St. Paul" as well as officially install their pastor, Fr. Gregory Rothfuchs.
  
  
• June 28-29, 2008: St. Joseph's Parish in Joliet will hold its annual homecoming fair at St. Joseph Park at Theodore and Raynor Streets. Saturday is 5-10pm and Sunday is 12noon to 10pm. There is free admission!
  
  
• August 1st through August 4th: Join the Daughters of St. Paul in a Discernment Weekend of prayer, presentations, silence and sharing. Women 18-30 discerning a religious vocation are invited to attend. Contact Sr. Helena Raphael, FSP at 617-850-5584, helraphaelfsp@aol.com or Sr. Margaret Michael, FSP at 617-435-1879, srmichaelfsp@aol.com.
  
  
• Heading out of town this summer? Locate a Catholic Church and their Mass times by going to www.masstimes.org or by calling 305-598-7490.

Some of the St. Patrick's School personnel will offer tutoring at school this summer. Financial arrangements and times will be determined between you and the tutor. So far the following will tutor: Mrs. Plunkett, Mrs. Delach, Mrs. McGarry, Miss Dillenburg & Mrs. Boley. Call the office or contact these persons directly.

Remember: 5% discount off of your tuition if it is paid in full by June 30, 2008.
New This Year: 10% tuition discount if you bring a new family to our school. This discount is given when both families stay until the end of the school year 2008-2009.

Preschool - Children must be of age by Sept. 1 Preschool Times:

• 3 Year Olds Tues. & Thurs. Mornings 8:15 - 11:00
  
• 4 Year Olds Mon. & Wed. & Friday or
  Every morning M - F : 8:15 - 11:00

All Day Kindergarten
Grades one through eight

To Register: Call our office any time @ 815-726-2924. Stop in our Lobby to see the Information Station. For Additional Information : Check our web site: www.stpatsjoliet.com

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.