Thank you St. Patrick. Without your life of apostolic duty to Christ, March 17 would be just another ho-hum day in the pursuit of spring. Instead, it is a day of celebration, parades, dyeing the river green (note to self: Wabash River green???? 2010 possibility???), Irish stew and Green Beer, Masses said the world over in your remembrance (Thank you Fr. Sextus Don). Our little world of St. Patrick's Church in Lagro IN is no exception, for it is on this day that the Friends of St. Patrick work diligently toward a wonderful soup supper, an inspiring mass and excellent entertainment to wrap up the day.

Jo and Janet cut pies in preparation for the soup supper. THANK YOU LAGRO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH for letting St. Patrick's use your wonderful facility to host our soup supper each year. Without your support, our efforts would be much harder to complete!

The Friends of St. Patrick's is a small but earnest group. We are Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran. We are teachers, business owners, farmers, housewives, office workers, retirees, and the self-employed and we all come together for the purpose of promoting and expanding the knowledge of the history of St. Patrick's Church in Lagro, and its role in the expansion of Catholicism in the Ft Wayne/South Bend Diocese.

Velva , one of the FOSP, returned on March 17 to assist as a greeter to folks coming to the soup supper. Velva has had a difficult four years, but with God's help will be coming back to her home in rural Lagro the end of the month.

Friends of St. Patrick's plays an important role in many of our lives. We each bring gifts to the group. Small but mighty, it is amazing how God has called us to be a part of St. Patrick's legacy.

Janet is a leader and friend to all; Peggy is so gifted in music and was a lightning rod behind the restoration of the Erben organ. Cindy is a leprechaun with a loving spirit and talents in the kitchen and the stage. Her husband, Pat is a Connoisseur in the kitchen and can do wonderful things with beer and food! Mike is always willing to give a smile and a helping hand; Tom D. is Mr. Fix-It; Mary Jane keeps track of our money and brings her daughter and daughters-in-law to help us when needed. Thank you Gayle, Peggy and Jane!!! Jo is the most organized person I have ever met and is pro-active in the kitchen, knowing what needs done before anyone else....Steve is a new member, quiet and a worker bee, as well as Thom C.....Then there is Ann, Frank, Matt and their families....They are the face of St. Patrick's and we are so grateful to them all....Paul is the elder of St. Patrick's and the very reason the FOSP is an organization. He has loved St. Patrick's longer than any of us and his guidance has been so invaluable....Brenda is Paul's driver and sidekick and is willing to help in any way she can....Tom W. always has a smile on his face and rides a John Deere around the Church every week all summer long.....Becki has her words, Blog and camera....
Many other people are silent soldiers to St. Patrick's and help us in ways large and small. There are the two Ann's from St. Bernard's, who spread the word about our festivities and devote themselves quietly to St. Patrick's efforts. There is Minda, who sends out our thank you notes, Cherryl and Doug, who donate pies and come out to make sure we are set up for the evening, Nancy and Bill, who are there when called on and needed, the columnists at "the paper" and the Wabash Plain Dealer who make sure our events are recorded in a timely manner, and the women of the Lagro UMC, who come to open the fellowship Hall and stay around to assist us each year. Last, but not least, there is Fr. Sextus Don and Bishop D'Arcy. Although they cannot be at each and every activity the FOSPer's foster, we know they are with us in spirit and love.


The Friends Quartet, from the Friends Church in Wabash, performed for us this year. They did a wonderful job !!! Mike, second from left, was an Altar Boy at
St. Patrick's over 50 years ago!!!

Finally, St. Patrick's would not exist without people like you!!! You come to our events, you enjoy the mass, the food, the fellowship and the beauty of the church. Every time the doors of St. Patrick's are open, someone will come in who has never been in the church before.
They enter and then exclaim, "Oh, how beautiful! I've never been here! This church is just wonderful!!!
Yesterday I took two people on a quick tour of the church. Both of them were lifelong residents of Wabash County but were novices to St. Patrick's. They just wanted to see the church and took the opportunity to come to St. Patrick's Day. They are not Catholic, but will spread the word to their friends about the wonders of the venerable old cathedral.



In each and every life there should be a catalyst that pushes us to be better people. For the Friend's of St. Patrick's, it is the church. Standing stately on Main Street in Lagro IN since 1873, the church has welcomed thousands into her arms. She has a spirit that cannot be quieted, and once She touches your heart, you are willing to ask God's help and guidance in keeping her vigil. Our friendships that have begun because of St. Patrick's will be life-long. We are better people because of our selfless involvement with this church and we Thank God for leading us to her.


Be sure to come to Lagro Days on Saturday, June 27 and be part of the celebration of Lagro's 150th Anniversary and St. Patrick's role in this Irish community!!!