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St. Patrick Preservation Update - Summer 2007
Contact Person: Joan Coffey, 262/673-2193
Over 150 people helped celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17, the way
Ireland does-with a beautiful Mass at St. Patrick's Church in the Town of
Erin. Father David LaPlante, Pastor of St. Kilian Parish and St. Patrick's
Chapel kindly accommodated parade goers with an 8:30 a.m. Mass. We wish to
thank the St. Kilian's choir for filling the church with beautiful music,
Mary Hasslinger (Nancy & Ev Henke's daughter) for filling the church with
beautiful flowers and for Father David's kind words, home-baked cookies
and memorable Irish Blessing: "May you all be in heaven a half hour before
the devil knows you're dead!" Father LaPlante's only requirement-all his
cookies had to be eaten if there is to be a Mass next year. Rest assured
that those in attendance did their part to ensure another Mass for next
year.
After Mass, many people headed off to the annual Town of Erin St.
Patrick's Day Parade and the St. Patrick Preservation Group again provided
the namesake for the parade. St. Patrick, a.k.a. John Kaczor, had his
staff, Holy Water and snake in hand as hundreds cheered along the parade
route. We again wish to thank Kay and Gary Ebert for providing their green
pick up truck for the occasion.
We would also like to take this opportunity to honor the memory of Paul F.
Quick, one of our founding members. Paul passed away in April after
suffering a stroke on March 16. Even though Paul was a lifelong member of
St. Kilian's, he also shared a great love for St. Patrick's and its
historical significance. Paul's message of living for God by serving
others will live on in our hearts forever.
The 149-year old St. Patrick's Ladies Altar Society held a luncheon at
Dunnigan's Restaurant in the Town of Erin on May 9. It was a wonderful
time to enjoy good food and conversation, and even though the group's
original purpose ceases to exist, spirituality and friendship is the
common thread at the heart of the Society's longevity. In 2008, the group
will celebrate 150 years of existence! Meetings will resume this September
on the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Erin Town Hall. The
Society helps support the Hartford Food Pantry and the Pregnancy Help
Center through donations and also has memorial Masses said for deceased
parishioners. If you would like to be a part of the camaraderie and
spirituality, please call President Marge Van Beckum at 262/673-2097.
The next St. Patrick Cemetery Committee Meeting will take place on July 5,
2007 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss ongoing gravestone restoration at Old St.
Patrick's Cemetery. There are many more gravestones that still need to be
repaired. Although money is set aside each year for this purpose, the work
could be completed at a faster pace if more money was available. If you
have a loved one buried at the cemetery and would like to donate to this
cause, please contact St. Kilian's Parish at 262/673-4831.
Yes, there are still a few copies left of the 150th Anniversary History
Book of St. Patrick's Church-a wonderful gift for your favorite Irish
relatives. If you haven't already done so, please think about purchasing a
copy-suggested donation of $30 or $35 if shipping is requested. The
187-page book packed with memorable information, very interesting facts
and over 250 pictures. To get your copy, please contact Nancy Henke at
262/673-5219 or E-mail Mary Hasslinger at
flrlkpsk@nconnect.net
.
For continued updates, please visit our web site at www.savestpatrick.com
(check out the latest news and pictures) or join us the second Tuesday of
each month at 7 p.m. at the Erin Town Hall. Coffee, dessert and catching
up with family, friends and neighbors follow the meeting. Prior to the
meeting, the Rosary will be prayed (weather permitting) from May through
October at 6:35 p.m. on the front steps of St. Patrick's. If you would
like to become a member of the St. Patrick Preservation Fund, Inc.
(reasonably priced at $5/Single and $10/Family), please contact Maureen
Fitzsimmons-Vanden Heuvel. We again thank you for your ongoing support
during the past seven years, as we continue our goal to preserve St.
Patrick's, an important part of the history of the Town of Erin.
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