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Mass Intentions Saturday, February 8 4:30 Edward Kolodziej Sunday, February 9 8:00 Special Intention 10:00 Mass for the People 11:30 Eugene Gleason r.b. Ed and Rosemary Muir Monday, February 10 7:40 Rosary 8:00 Thomas F. Martin r.b. Mary Martin Family Tuesday, February 11 8:00 Rosary 8:35 Kaylee Vertin r.b. Mrs. Delach and the 5th Grade Wednesday, February 12 7:40 Rosary 8:00 Helen Prendergast Thursday, February 13 7:40 Rosary 8:00 Joe Garvey r.b. Ginny Garvey Friday, February 14 7:40 Rosary 8:00 Mary Harrigan r.b. Loretta Harrigan and Bee Marquaradt Saturday, February 15 8:00 Deceased members of Patrick H. and Mary C. Fitzgerald Family r.b. Harry Knarr 4:30 Minnie and LeRoy Seeman Anniversary r.b. Family Sunday, February 16 8:00 Maria and Frank Fratia r.b. Family 10:00 Mass for the People 11:30 Mary F. Paul r.b. Family READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday February 15 and 16 Schedules Eucharistic Minister Greeters Lectors Meetings for the Week Thursday Parish Council BVH 7:00 p.m. SHAMROCK GALA VII - PROFITS Due to the splendid involvement, interest and generosity of so many persons, the proceeds from Shamrock Gala VII amounted to a little over $12,000.00 after all bills were paid. All of the profits are used strictly for the St. Patrick students and school. Incidentally, please mark your calendars for Shamrock Gala VIII. The next Gala will be held on November 8, 2003, at the Renaissance Center in downtown Joliet. Valet parking will be available. Father Jim THE IRISH FAMILY Come celebrate The Irish Family with all of us on Saturday, March 1. A customary Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, bread and a dessert will be available. Prices are $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children and a special hot dog and mac for $3.00. Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. There will also be live entertainment! Tickets will be available after Masses on the weekend of February 22 and at the door on March 1. Come celebrate with all of your parish friends and family. We hope to see everyone there. Thanks! The Irish Family Committee

Father Jim’s Corner BLESSED ARE THE FAMILY PEACEMAKERS (Continued from last week) Say no to overcommitment. Being too busy is a form of violence. God always works in peace. If your life is too hectic, other voices may shout down the voice of the Spirit. Improve your skills as a parent. Conflicts and power struggles can escalate because parents lack adequate techniques to deal with them. Use creative conflict resolution. Brainstorm together to come up with ways of solving family problems. Hold family meetings: schedule them regularly, post an agenda, rotate leadership, take turns talking, don't interrupt, decide by consensus, re-evaluate decisions as needed. Home may be the hardest and most important place to live out St. Paul's words: "If possible, live peaceably with everyone" (Romans 12:17,18). But in today's world what greater gift could parents give children than basic training in peacemaking? From: Blessed are the Family Peacemakers, by Kathy Mariani Smith, 221 West Madison St. Chicago, IL. 60606 God Bless! Fr. Jim NB) There are some powerful mediations in each of the above statements for all of us. Ponder and pray, too! Sacrificial Giving Last Sunday you contributed $8,389.50 to your parish. You also contributed $2,526.42 to the Latin America Collection. Many thanks for your continued generosity. God Bless YOU! JML Eucharistic Adoration Don't wait until there is a smoking gun. Pray now for peace and conversion of terrorists everywhere. Mary says war can be avoided through prayer. Spread God's love with your prayers on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary for Peace. HELP NEEDED Do you enjoy drawing, painting, working with your hands... Then we have a project for you!!! St. Patrick's Religious Education Program is in the planning stages for our Family Day event in April. We need help transforming the gym into an interactive Old Testament Timeline. We have a whale to build, the Red Sea to part, an Ark to fill and all sorts of interesting panels to paint. If you would like to help out AND have a lot of fun, please call Julie Dillenburg at the Rectory 727-4746. Thanks!!! Hope to hear from you soon!!! ADOPT-A-CHILD Many thanks to Mary Legan and to the PTO for their donations to this fund. All donations are very much appreciated. MEMO FROM GOD I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now. If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege. Should you have a bad day at work, think of the man who has been out of work for years. Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!

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ABORTION

Pope John Paul II speaks to women who have had abortions, from Evangelium Vitae. (The Gospel of Life), #99 I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and His peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child who is now living in the Lord. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life.

REV. FRANK PAVONE, PRIESTS FOR LIFE

Some have the mistaken impression that to oppose abortion means to oppose those who have them. Just the opposite is true, however. To be pro-life is to be pro-woman, and is to reach out and embrace with healing, compassionate love the person who h ad gone through the abortion experience, whether that be the mother, the father, the abortion practitioner, or anyone else involved. One of my greatest joys as a priest and as a pro-life leader is to be able to say to one who has had an abortion, "Your sins are forgiven, go in peace." I recently worked with one who had ten abortions, I know of another who had 24. Even she can be forgiven when she repents of her sins. Even to her, our message is "The doors of the Church are open!"

PRO LIFE CORNER
Local Resources
Keep this list and call these groups for assistance.
Catholic Charities	Adoption, individual, family counseling	815-723-3405
Birthright of Joliet	Pregnancy assistance	815-725-3411 or 800-550-4900
Crisis Pregnancy Center	Pregnancy assistance	815-744-7755
Helpers of God's Precious Infants	Pray at abortion clinics	815-838-1002
Hospice	Care for terminally ill	815-740-4104
Lamb's Fold	Maternity Home	815-723-5262
Natural Family Planning	Non-contraceptive fertility awareness	630-551-1712
RETURN Ministry	Post-Abortion Counseling	815-838-7171

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