On the morning of Friday, March 14th 2008, the annual Prime Timers St. Patrick’s Day Mass and Lunch celebration was held. Not only is it a great way to celebrate this Irish legendary hero’s life but fun to join other “over 55ers” for a party!!

The festivities began with the celebration of the Eucharist at 11:30am in the church with our pastor, Jim DeBruycker as celebrant, magnificently garbed in green vestments and his favorite stole, hand-made for him by his mother. His homily was a gentle reminder to always appreciate other people and individually make an effort to kill off all resentments as how to best attain the peace that is so sought after in all of our lives.

To welcome all the sons and daughters of Ireland at the beginning of the Mass, the strains of the beautiful song, “Danny Boy” was heard sung most elegantly by St. Joan’s own Irish tenor, J.P. Fitzgibbons and accompanied by George Maurer on the grand piano.

After Mass, all went to Hospitality Hall for the special Irish lunch that awaited them. The volunteers had the food ready and tables set for this banquet. There would be corn beef and cabbage as the traditional St. Patrick’s Day main entrée. There was available a choice of tuna salad in croissant as a meatless choice, fruit shish-ka-bob, dessert choices galore and Irish dark beer, as always, an anticipated favorite beverage on this day.

J.P.Fitzgibbons and George Maurer again entertained the crowd with Irish songs, some for listening and some for singing along. Prior to the music, our very own Irishman, Patrick Stevens, stepped up to the mike with a clever theological/historical limerick that he had composed for this occasion.

All present seemed to enjoy the Mass, food, beverages and entertainment. However, it always seems that on this occasion, everyone has a desire to visit friends and so, conversation is always very lively. Whether one is of Irish descent or of another culture, the people from St. Joan’s always seem to have a lot to say to each other whenever they gather. St. Patrick’s Day was no exception to that unwritten rule.

In case you didn’t hear every word of the special limerick (or really, a group of limericks) by Pat Stevens, I have been given special permission to reproduce it here for all to see. ENJOY:

St. Pat Limericks St Pat disembarked at old Dublin, Where Druid concoctions were bubblin’ He ordered corrections, Took up some collections, And swiftly his money was doublin’. St Pat found their doctrines quite strange, And their acumen of limited range; They worshipped the oak, Thought the Trinity a joke, And knew wee folk under the grange. So Padraic held forth at the Liffey, Admonished those Druids in a jiffy; He banished the snakes, For heaven’s sakes, And threw the false books in the biffy. Then he plucked up a triple-leaf clover To put the Trinity over: “Though you wish there were four of ‘em So you could praise more of ‘em, We’ll designate the fourth one a rover.” Then Pat worked on his Gaelic diction, Told the Druids their creeds were a fiction; Several wizards, stepping forward, Said “Pat you’re untoward, Cuz you’re outside your own jurisdiction.” A Druid named Michael Mullalley, Fell under St Patrick’s Shillelagh, Said the prelate”there’s no proxy ‘gainst sound orthodoxy, Or you’ll spend a week in the Bailey.” Pat Stevens, 3-17-08

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JoAnn Potts is a retired teacher, music/English/choir director and 35 year member of St. Joan's. She enjoys volunteering to assist Anna Vagle with music tasks one day each week; singing in the choir; writing her memoirs, poetry and SJA web articles; keeping up with family and friends. JoAnn and Jim, husband and wife team of 54 years, are proud of their family of five children and nine grandchildren. Wanna see pictures?  JoAnn can be reached at joannpotts@gmail.com.