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

First of a Three-Part Series

… For faith is not like the adoption of a conclusion on the basis of sufficiently compelling evidence and argument: the grace of God is active in moving the will to believe. For this reason, faith is never only intellectual, but also fiducial: One's whole being responds to the revealing God in obedience and trust. - The Catholic Encyclopedia

The story is told of an Atheist who was standing on the edge of a cliff one day admiring the scenery. Suddenly, without warning, the ground beneath his feet broke away and he began to fall. In desperation he grabbed a small branch and tried to hold on with all of his might as he hung over the edge. The rocky ground was hundreds of feet below his dangling legs.

Now this man did not believe in God... but at times like this it never hurts to try. So the man cried out, "Oh God, if there be a God, save me?"

As the story goes, the man heard a loud voice from heaven. The voice said, "There is a God and I am He. Simply let go of the branch and put all your faith and trust in me and I will take you safely to the top."

The man paused for a second, looked intently at the ground far below and then back to the heavens when he yelled, "Is there anyone else up there I can talk to?"

Whether it be an atheist or a person full of God's grace, one of the most difficult tasks that our Lord places upon us is the one where we are called to make "this leap of faith." When we are challenged to allow our minds to travel beyond reason, to allow our souls to guide us not because we can reason our way to God but because our souls are drawn to a presence that words or thoughts we cannot describe, it is then we have taken that most important step towards our relationship with the divine. We see this leap of faith expressed in the marriage vows that a man and woman make to each other, or a priest or religious who professes their vows and promises made for the sake of their bride, the church. Once we are able "to let go and let God," it is then that we truly understand the theological virtues of hope and love that are ever-present in our lives but are often invisible to those who lack this gift of faith.

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 24th, we have $17,249 in pledges from 154 families, which is 47% 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!

Sunday, July 13th: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is hosting a Summer Picnic from noon to 4:00pm at 1000 Barber Lane in Joliet. They will be serving a Cabbage Roll Dinner for $7 or Sloppy Joe or Hot Dog Dinner $5. Both dinners are $3 for children under 12. Carry outs are available. Call 815-467-4717 for more info.

Bishop J. Peter Sartain kicks off the 2008 Theology-on-Tap Season in the Diocese of Joliet for college students and young adults in their 20s and 30s. This event will be held at the St. Charles Borromeo Diocesan Pastoral Center, on Rt. 53 at Airport Road, Romeoville. A social will follow this event. This event begins three weeks of Theology-on-Tap sessions, some of which are near you. For the list of speakers, locations, and topics, go online to the Diocesan Theology-on-Tap website, located at www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam/.

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.

We are in need of cantors and musicians for our liturgies at St Patrick's. With summer vacations in full swing, some of our cantors & musicians have had to do sometimes 2 or 3 masses on a weekend to fill the need for the leading of song for our liturgies. We will train you and give you all the materials you would need and make sure you're very comfortable with what you're doing before you "go solo."

If the Lord has graced you with either of these talents and you would like to share those gifts with all of us, please call Jim Richards at 815-744-7660 and he will help you on your way to singing the Lord's praises in a very special way!! THANKS!

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.

We are looking for volunteers to help in all positions and all shifts on both Saturday 9/13 and Sunday 9/14. All volunteers need to be "Protecting God's Children" certified, and there is a workshop available (at no cost to you) at St. Pat's School on July 12th from 9:00 am to Noon. (Please contact the church office for registration information.)

Family Fest is the major fundraiser for the school and church. We hope to make this year our best ever! Please consider donating your time and talent to help a great cause. If you are interested, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Kelly Creed at 815-726-0712. Thank you!

St. Patrick's Catholic Church is offering the Protecting God's Children workshop at 9:00am in the Rectory. Contact the Rectory or sign up online through the Joliet Diocesan website at www.dioceseofjoliet.org and select "Protecting Children" and then "VIRTUS classes."

Anyone participating in volunteer opportunities with the School are required to take this class. Our volunteers are our best first defense against those that prey upon children. Learn how to spot behavior and protect our children by participating in this class. While Virtus classes are available all year long, this is the only class at St. Pat's prior to school starting.

Mark your calendars! Monday, August 19th at 7:05pm, St. Pat's will be going to the game!

Any altar server that participated this past year (June of 2007-June of 2008) is entitled to a FREE ticket when they are accompanied by an adult. Ticket's for this game are only $10. They will be available beginning Monday, July 7th in the Rectory. Contact the Rectory at 815-727-4746 or stop by Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 3:00pm for tickets.

Dear Saint Patrick Community,
Alumni and Friends of St. Patrick School,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity to serve as school administrator. God calls us to serve and I have great trust in God as He guides me though life and to my next assignment. I have many fond memories of growing up in this neighborhood, walking to school every day, and remembering many things from my eight years in grade school here. More fond memories continued over these past fifteen years from our students, families, alumni, clergy, and parishioners. Thank you!

As I put closure on my time as principal and move on to St. Joseph's School in Manhattan, I want to thank you for your prayers, your generosity, your kindness, your patience, and your continued support to make our great school greater. St. Patrick's is strong in the gospel message today because of our traditions built from the solid foundation of a proud past. We look forward to a bright promising future with continued support. God bless you and again, thank you!

In His Peace,

John T. Garvey
Principal 1993 - 2008
SPS Graduation Class of 1964

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.

Remember to mark on your calendars our 2008 Family Fest Celebration, to be held at St. Joe's Park on September 13-14 this year!

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.