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

This last week, parishioner Pat Cipriani joined the missionary corps from the Joliet Diocese to travel to the Philippines for the sake of the poor and needy. Since 1994, part of your Ministry Appeal donations have been utilized for diocesan missionary work in Bolivia, Ecuador, Navajo Reservations in Arizona, the Philippines, and Kenya.

Some of this mission work involves the work of doctors and nurses who have built hospital facilities in these regions. In this capacity, our medical personnel spend their time in the missions offering their services to the sick and infirm. At the same time, our missionaries recruit the medical personnel from these respective countries to provide volunteer services in the facilities we build for them.

Some of our mission work involves our "Construction Corps," missionaries who teach those from foreign countries how to build and fix their own homes so that these families might become self-sufficient.

In its initial stages, I had the opportunity to serve on both missions in 1997 when I traveled throughout the country of Bolivia, especially on behalf of a young boy with significant back problems. The child's back was so severe that he required a travel visa for the United States to undergo an operation that could only be accomplished in this country. Through the aid of the diocese, this child (and his mother) traveled to Illinois, underwent successful back surgery, spent months convalescing in the home of one of our doctors and returned with his mother to Bolivia with a new lease on life.

The Diocesan Peace and Justice Office constantly is looking for those interested in supporting our diocesan mission programs. If you are interested in participating in the mission corps or if you wish to help in any other way, please contact our office or the diocese directly. The lives of the poor and the salvation of souls depends on individuals like yourselves who choose to make a difference.

In addition, please take a moment this week to pray for Pat and all those participating in this month's mission to the Philippines. God Bless.

Fr. Pete

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

Subjects to be covered: "Who is God, who am I?", "How to Pray", "Humility", "Healing of memories", "Healing of addictions", "Vitues of Faith , Hope & Love", "Self Deliverance", "Why be a Catholic", and much more. If interested, please forward your mail to Joe Bannon in a marked envelope in the collection basket or email the Rectory at [email protected].

Eucharistic Adoration is a time of silent prayer and the offering of your daily trials and physical pains for the good of those most in need of God's love; a time of re-creation and a newness of life.

Come join us on Monday evenings in Church for this intimate encounter with Jesus Christ, present in the Eucharist and a communal praying of the Rosary.

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. This week,

will care for the cross. If you would like to participate, please contact the office (815) 727-4746.

During the last few months at Patrick's Parish, a group of men and women who desire to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Each week, have been coming together on a weekly basis, studying God's word and growing in faith. As is customary during the first weekend of Lent, these men and women will come forward at next Saturday's 4:30 p.m. Mass to be "elected" by our community so that they could attend a Cathedral Service the next day with the Bishop. Please pray for our elect as they enter the final stages of their sacramental preparation.

Distributed by The United States Conference of Catholic Conference (USCCB)

During the Jubilee Year, we, the Church, focused our attention on the person of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, urged all the people of God to grow in conformity to Christ, who leads us to the Father through the gift of the Holy Spirit. One important way to grow in the Lord is to observe the penitential practices that strengthen us for resisting temptation, allow us to express our sorrow for the sins we have committed, and help to repair the tear caused by our sinning.

Penitential practices take many forms: apologizing to an injured party, healing divisions within our families, fasting during the Lenten season, or graciously accepting the menial tasks of life. The purpose of penance is not to diminish life but to enrich it.

Jesus, in Matthew's Gospel, calls us to pray, to fast, and to give alms: "when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites," "when you fast, do not look gloomy," "when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing" (Mt 6:5, 16, 3, respectively). As a Church, we ponder and pray over this call every Ash Wednesday. In a most profound way, the three spiritual exercises identified by Jesus are directed toward the nurturing of relationships.

Prayer, that process of listening to and responding to God's daily call, sustains and nurtures our relationship with our triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Without prayer, personal and communal, this relationship is diminished, sometimes to the point of complete silence on our part. Every day the Spirit of Jesus invites us to enter into that serious conversion that leads to blessed communion.

Fasting, a very special form of penance, and Jesus' second call, has been a consistent part of our Catholic tradition. Fasting assists us in getting our own house in order. All of us have to deal with areas of servitude, whether in regard to smoking or alcohol consumption, misused sexuality, uncontrolled gambling, psychological hang-ups, spiritual obsessions, use of stimulants, immoderate use of the Internet, excessive amounts of television watching, or preoccupations with other forms of entertainment. By fasting and self-denial, by living lives of moderation, we have more energy to devote to God's purposes and a better self-esteem that helps us to be more concerned with the well-being of others.

The third call of the Lord is to give alms. Jesus was always concerned about those who were poor and in need. He was impressed by the widow who, though having so little, shared her resources with others: "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood" (Lk 21:3-4). To be a disciple of Christ means to live a life of charity. To be a disciple of Jesus is to live a life of stewardship, generously giving of our time, talent, and treasure.

1. Everyone 14 years of age or over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
   
   
2. Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
   
   
3. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one's needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted on these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige.
   
   
4. To disregard completely the law of fast and ab- stinence is seriously sinful.
   
   
5. Lent is the principal season of penance in the Christian year. All of the faithful are strongly urged to develop and follow a program of vol- untary self-denial (in addition to following the Lenten regulations), serious prayer, and a per- formance of works of charity and mercy.

Anyone who makes the Lenten journey is called to be more alert to the attacks on human life and dignity around them. During this Lenten journey, St. Patrick Parish will sponsor a Baby Bottle Collection to benefit Birthright of Joliet and Living Alternatives (the Pregnancy Resource Center of Joliet). The Baby Bottles will be distributed February 10th, the first Sunday of Lent. You will be asked to return them March 2nd, the fourth Sunday of Lent. A firm rejection of the "pro choice" and "right to die" positions is integral to repentance. Lent is the perfect time to lead our parishioners to a deeper affirmation of life, both natural and eternal, in the celebration of the Paschal Mystery!

Here at St. Patrick Parish, we have reached 66% of our goal, with $23,842 pledged as of November 27th. 216 of the 736 families at St. Patrick's have pledged. Let's make sure that we reach 100%. The ministries of the Diocese touch so many of our families and our neighbors that it is our responsibility to help our neighbors and friends. If you have not given even a one time gift, we urge you to prayerfully consider offering some of the monetary blessings you have through Christ. Please be generous. Thank You!

To date, we have collected over $14,381 for our 2nd Annual Alumni Appeal. Last year, we collected over $25,000 for this event. Please be as generous as you can in helping us meet our goal this year of $25,000.

2007 Tax Statements may be obtained by contacting the Rectory. Due to the increased amount of paper required to print statements this year because of a mandatory change by the IRS, we are asking those parishioners who desire a tax statement to call the Rectory at 815-727- 4746. (We will have a specific mailbox set up for this purpose.) Please plan to leave your name, address and telephone number; your tax statement will then be mailed to you. Thank you!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Pope Benedict XVI writes in his first encyclical, God Is Love (Deus Caritas Est), "Love is the light-and in the end, the only light-that can illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working" (no. 39).

Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR endured decades of communist oppression. The Church suffered grave wounds to its spiritual life and pastoral capacity to serve its people. For generations Church leaders were killed or imprisoned. Catechists were persecuted, and churches, monasteries, and seminaries were closed or destroyed.

The Office to Aid the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe of the USCCB provides Catholics of the United States an opportunity, through a national collection, to express our compassion and solidarity with our brothers and sisters whose faith has endured such great suffering.

Many dioceses hold the collection on Ash Wednesday or on a Sunday during Lent, while others schedule the collection at another time. This is an optional collection in our diocese and I leave the decision to your pastoral discretion.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Mary Mencarini Campbell at [email protected] or ((202-541-3365).

Sincerely in Christ

Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain
Bishop of Joliet

St. Patrick's will take up this special collection at all of our Ash Wednesday Masses on February 6, 2008

Over the 2007-2008 year, parishioners from St. Patrick's Catholic Church are invited to audit our RCIA Sessions in learning the basics of the Catholic Faith. Sessions generally run on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge of the School. As an effort to promote Adult Education in the parish, all members of our community over the age of 14 are welcome to join us for any or all of the sessions listed each week. For more information, please contact the parish office at (815) 7274746.

Fr. Pete Jankowski will go through a practice confession with the RCIA Candidates, highlighting the symbolism and rituals behind the sacrament. Fr. Pete will also talk about the Sacrament of the Sick and the development of the Sacrament over the years.

Evenings of Reflection February 25th, March 3rd and March 10th at 7:00pm in Church. Join us for a 10 minute reflection with Fr. Pete and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. An opportunity for the Sacrament of Confession will also be available.

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

Women's League Luncheon: On Thursday, February 14th, 2008, the Catholic Woman's League will meet at Al's Steakhouse for its Art Department luncheon and book review. 11:30am Gathering; 12:00noon Luncheon; 1:00pm Program: Book review by Peggy Fay. Your check for $12 (made to the CWL) is your reservation. Please send it before February 3rd to Mrs. Edie D'Atri, 1500 Woodbridge Road, 2E, Joliet, IL 6436.

Four Consecutive Wednesdays beginning February 13th: St. Thomas More Lecture Series will be hosted by St. Joseph Church in Joliet. Join us from 7pm to 8pm, February 13, 20, 27 & March 5th.

February 23rd: Men of Christ Conference at the Wisconsin Expo Center at State Fair Park See Menof Christ.net for information.

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.