Saint Patrick Celebrates its First Spirit Week

While the pulses of many raced frenetically high for the start of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, known as “March Madness,” the campus of Saint Patrick Catholic School was also frenzied as its first “spirit week” activities were under way. In the kindergarten class of Mrs. Denyse O’Connor, her pupils were preparing traps to ensnare that lecherous leprechaun before too much mayhem ensued. Alas, by Wednesday, two days before the Feast Day, the pixy vagabond had pilfered all of the staplers from both lower and middle school. Included in the theft of supplies was Mrs. O’Connor’s beloved stapler, “Sammy,” who had survived more than 20 years of use. “Lucky” the Leprechaun had not sprung through all the traps set for him. Undaunted by this crime spree, the Spirit Week activities continued as the 3rd and 4th graders presented a musical of mirth and merriment, The America Dream, A Celebration of America's Early Heritage. Saint Patrick Catholic School was also preparing for a most extraordinary visitor, Cardinal Jorge Mejia, a librarian for the Vatican, was going to give a talk on the newest encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI. Unfortunately, there was a snafu with his passport and his visit has been deferred to a later date. Though the Cardinal Mejia visit was postponed, it did not stop a live cardinal from peeking through building works and paying a visit to Saint Patrick Catholic School minutes before the Mass that Cardinal Mejia was supposed to celebrate. Fortunately, when the bird was finally grounded, no harm came to him as Mr. Kypros carefully gathered him in his hands and set him free into the wild blue yonder. Another highlight of the St. Patrick Feast Day was the picturesque motif of the school dining facility prepared by the Sage Dining Service. There were more pots of gold to come not only for Saint Patrick, but all Catholic persons in the Diocese of Richmond. Bishop Francis Xavier DiLorenzo granted a dispensation, repealing Lenten obligations for one day in order for Catholic families to engage in St. Patrick Day traditions and eat meat!  The Sage Dining Service followed up their luncheon bonanza by providing an authentic Irish stew and Chicken O’Nuggets for the 2nd Annual Feast on the Feast Dinner. Saint Patrick has introduced all the “new” families to the greater Irish Wolfhound community at this affair. Our principal also surprised everyone by revealing that the remorseful “Lucky” the Leprechaun had returned all of the missing staplers to his custody and Mrs. O’Connor and “Sammy” were reunited at last! All the children enjoyed the social atmosphere and the chance of playing on Saint Patrick Green. The absolute topper for the Feast on the Feast came in the form the entertainment by the authentic Irish dance troupe, Reel Thing. These six young ladies kept everyone, especially the youngest members of the audience in rapt attention displaying their championship form in Irish step dancing. Concluding the Spirit Week activities was an appearance of Saint Patrick Catholic School in the 39th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade sponsored by the Father Kealy Council 3548 of the Knights of Columbus. The Irish Wolfhounds were invited to appear by invitation from the Ancient Order of Hibernians.