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

Next week, we will be publishing some of the spiritual events we will be offering the faithful here in the parish during the Season of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday on February 21st. One of these opportunities will take the form of "The World Mission Rosary," which was initiated by Archbishop Fulton Sheen during the time he served as National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the 1950s. The Rosaries are multi-colored and we will make them available for purchase over the next week or so. We have also provided pamphlets in today's bulletin concerning one manner in which our faithful may utilize this type of private prayer.

Essentially, each decade of the rosary focuses on the intentions of specific continents throughout the world (with the exception of Antarctica, which means that Archbishop Sheen either did not study geography or he ran out of decades�). The Archbishop's intention here was that through the recitation of the World Mission Rosary, we remember each day the needs of everyone around the world. Here is the color scheme for the rosary:

May God Bless All of You.
Fr. Pete

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

Everyone needs to be fed by spiritual experiences. Every Monday at 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. 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.

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!

St. Jude Parish in Joliet has Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel of the Little Flower. The Chapel is located directly west of the school and is open from 5:00am to 10:00pm to all. After hour adorers (10:00pm-5:00am) need to register. Please call 725-2209.

• Over the last few months, it has become evident that our Usher Corps (especially at the 4:30 Mass) has become somewhat depleted and in need of re-nourishment. If you are willing and able to help us with some of the basic usher's tasks at Mass (distributing bulletins, helping people find seats, hospitality, the collection) or if you wish to coordinate this ministry, please contact Fr. Pete at your earliest convenience.
  
  
• As part of an engaged couple's marriage formation, they are asked to complete a compatibility questionnaire and to discuss the results of this form with the priest. It is most helpful if married couples in the parish assist in this important process, to offer insight into the life of "two joined into one." If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact the Parish Office. Support The St. Vincent de Paul Society

In place of our Needy Fund here at St. Patrick's, we have invested ourselves in The St. Vincent de Paul Society, an organization that assists the needy communities throughout the nation. With your generous support, we will be able to assess and assist those in our local community who seek temporary financial assistance or help with attaining food, clothing or supplies from one of our national St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shops.

We have designated the Fourth Sunday of the Month as Food Pantry/St. Vincent de Paul Weekend. Please support our causes with your financial and food donations. Envelopes are provided for St. Vincent de Paul; the Food Bin for the Pantry is located in the Confessional by the Baptismal Font inside of church. If you feel inspired by the Holy Spirit to offer your gift of time and talent to the Society, please contact Fr. Pete at the Rectory.

Donations to the Inaugural Alumni Appeal total over $22,000 to date. Thank you Alumni for your generosity!

We are making wonderful strides in taking care of the needs of our parish. We sincerely thank all of you for your continuously giving spirit.

Thank you to the following generous donors in sup- port of our children: Glenn E. Steed, Jr. in memory of Anna Jean Henessey.

"We are all molded and remolded by those who have loved us, and though that love may pass, we remain, nonetheless, their work � No love, no friendship can ever cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark upon it forever."
-Bishop J. Peter Sartain column

• February 18 - 8am to 12 noon-A pancake breakfast sponsored by St. Anne's Church in Crest Hill with pancakes, sausage, eggs juice, milk and coffee. Adults $4.50, children 6-10 years $3.00 and 5 years and under are free.
  Please call 815-722-3222 for more information.
  
  
• February 24 - Training sessions for counseling office volunteers for the Women's Center will be held in our Evergreen Park office beginning on February 24th for 3 consecutive Saturdays. We also need people to help in our Cicero Avenue Family Room, especially on Saturdays. Call Katie at 773-794-8807 for information on these opportunities.
  
  
• February 27 - The Loyalton of Joliet presents: Heart Health on Tuesday, February 27, at 6:30pm at 3320 Executive Drive. February is American Heart Month. Please join us for this very important seminar brought to us by Heartland Cardiovascular Center. Please RSVP to: 815-729-4773.
  
  
• March 11 - A morning of Renewal and Luncheon sponsored by the Catholic Woman's League of Joliet will begin with Mass at St. Patrick's Church on Marion Street in Joliet at 10am followed by a business meeting at 11:30am at Al's Steak House at 1990 West Jefferson. Lunch will be served at 12 noon. Your check for $12 made out to the Catholic Woman's League is your reservation. Please send it before February 25th to: Agnes Stubler, 709 N. William, Joliet, IL 60435. No reservations will be accepted at the door. Non-perishable food and/or money for the needy will be collected at the Church.
  
  
• March 23-24 - St. Ray's Annual Children's Spring/Summer Resale. Admission fee is $1. Registration for Sellers, Volunteers and donation drop off starts Tuesday, February 15th. Contact the resale committee for information:
  Lindsay at 5776825 or Cristy at 439-1331.
  
  
• April 12th at 9:30am & 12:30pm the Vocal Music Department at Joliet Township High School will be performing a matinee of the musical "Narnia" Tickets are $5/person as a group rate, or $7/person for regular admission. Please contact Tim DeBoes at 815-727-6906 or email at [email protected] if you would like information on bringing a group.
  
  

Saturday, March 3rd, 8:30am to 5:00pm. By popular demand, St. Ray's youth ministry will be hosting a paint ball day at Challenge Park at 2903 Schweitzer Road in Joliet. The cost is $45 and includes 500 paint balls. Additional Paintballs available. This is open for all 7th grade through High School students. Permission slips must be filled out by parents of teens who wish to participate. We will meet at the park at 8:30am. Early or late arrival and departures are OK with notification. This will be a private game for our group. Reservations and payment are due by February 28th. Make checks payable to St. Ray's Youth Ministry. Lunch can be purchased at the park or you can bring your own. For more information please call Denis or Michelle Brunner at 815577-6185.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the classroom, Sister returns in this sequel to the nationally-acclaimed comedy phenomenon, LATE NITE CATECHISM. Sister is now teaching her own class on the Golden Rule, with comments about fashion, music, cell phones, bad drivers, and our general public behavior. In Sister's world, everything relates to our upbringing in the Catholic Faith. "Sharp, funny, and richly humane," says the Chicago Tribune.

Many silent auctions and 50/50 raffles available. Please contact Denis or Michelle Brunner at815-5776185.

St. Pat's parishioner Kathy Limbach & pastor Fr. Pete will be joining St. Ray's for his World Youth Day experience!

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.

WHAT is MANNA? Those same gift certificates you can purchase at most of your favorite stores are available to order or are in stock and ready to purchase.

Buy your gas with a Marathon, BP, Speedway or Shell gift card.

Or your groceries with a Jewel gift card.

Get a birthday gift with a Bed, Bath & Beyond gift card.

Keep Wendy's on hand for a quick lunch, dinner or snack.

Go out to dinner at Cracker Barrel, Old Country Buffet, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc.

WHY buy MANNA? St. Patrick's purchases these cards at less than cost so when they are sold at cost, St. Pat's makes the difference.

HOW does this help me? Did you know that if every parish family (approx 900) purchased just $100 in Jewel gift cards it would mean $3,600 per month in raised funds half of which goes to St. Pat's and the other half goes to a chosen school family to decrease tuition?

WOW! WHERE do I sign up? During the school year, MANNA is available in the Rectory until 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, at the school 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and between the 10am & 11:30am weekend Masses.

For additional information about our parish school, please visit web site: