St. Patrick Post Office to Celebrate 150th
"It’s nearly beyond one’s imagination to think of the influence that one lowly, slave, shepherd, St. Patrick, has had in almost every corner of the world", so writes Pat McCarthy of Cork, Ireland. He is so right. The name of St. Patrick is everywhere you find a descendant of the Irish people.
A pictorial cancellation will be available at the St. Patrick, Missouri post office March 1-30, 2008. The date changes daily. The cancellation will feature an American Eagle holding a banner that reads, "St. Patrick Post Office 1858-2008, and another banner with "150 Years". The lettering reads, "Happy Saint Patrick’s Day Station, March 1, 2008, Saint Patrick, MO 63466". There is no charge for the cancellation. Please specify your mailing date. Customers who want their envelope returned under protected cover should include a large, stamped, self-addressed envelope. The St. Patrick post office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on March 17. Stamped, self-addressed envelopes requesting the pictorial cancellation may be mailed to: Postmaster, St. Patrick, Missouri 63466. The shamrock cachet, designed by Father Francis O’Duignan in 1936, will be placed on your envelope by Shrine volunteers and given to the Postmaster for the postmark on your specified mailing day. St. Patrick greetings sent out on his anniversary, from his name city, changes an ordinary envelope into a collector’s item.
The Shrine of St. Patrick will sell a specially designed envelope with a greeting card inside. The commemorative envelope features an American Eagle holding a large banner that reads, "Town – 175 Years- Post Office 150 Years", and a small banner that bears the name of "St. Patrick". The greeting card has a short story of the first settlers, Richard and Rose Riney, the pastor, Fr. B. P. McMenomy, that obtained the St. Patrick Post Office, and John McSorley, the first postmaster of the St. Patrick Post Office. The envelope sells for $1.00. This will include the envelope, first class postage, pictorial cancellation, shamrock cachet, and a St. Patrick’s Day greeting card. Church volunteers will address the envelope, write the return address of the sender, sign the card with your name, and mail it any day in March you specify, if you request it. The envelope can be mailed only on the day listed on the postmark, unless it is mailed under separate cover. Customers who want the postmarked envelope returned under protected cover should include a large, stamped, self-addressed envelope. Please make all checks and money orders payable to: Shrine of St. Patrick, as all proceeds go to the Shrine. The mailing address is Shrine of St. Patrick, Box 34, St. Patrick, MO 63466. A different envelope, card, and postmark are offered each day.
The Shrine postcards may be addressed, stamped, and mailed for .50 cents each. A plain postcard sells for .25 cents each. There are seven postcards available- Shrine of St. Patrick in summer, Shrine of St. Patrick in winter, inside statue of St. Patrick, outside statue of St. Patrick, St. Patrick stained glass window, greetings from St. Patrick, and a new Shrine of St. Patrick postcard, photo by Daryl Buechting.
A limited quantity of previous March 17 postmarked envelopes are available for $1.00 each. The old envelopes are collector’s items. The 1984, 1986, and 1988 envelopes are sold out. These old envelopes must be mailed under separate cover, so please include a large, self-addressed, stamped envelope with your order.
The envelopes, postcards, Shrine souvenirs, and History of St. Patrick booklets will be sold all day, March 17, in the Shrine basement.
The St. Patrick Novena will
See St. Patrick, Page 14
be March 9-17. Novenas are prayerful nine-day preparations for an important Feast Day. All Novena services will be held in the Shrine of St. Patrick at 8:30 a.m. on weekdays, 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, and 4:00 p.m. on March 17. Names to be included in the Novena will be placed on St. Patrick’s altar during the Novena. The names may be mailed to the Shrine address listed above.
Breakfast and lunch will be served from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Shrine basement on March 17. Marcus Duignan, nephew of Father Francis O’ Duignan will be at the Shrine of St. Patrick all day on March 17 to visit with folks and talk to tours. He will give special Irish talks at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Amah Lou Schreiber, a professional storyteller, will spin Irish tales at 10:00 a.m.
The Leprechaun give Away will be at 1:00 p.m. Two hundred free bags will be distributed, one bag per person. Each bag contains a gift. If the gift is too big or too valuable for the bag, a number will be enclosed for you to exchange for your gifts. Gifts will include Waterford Crystal, Belleek China, and Galway Crystal from Ireland.
Free tours of the Shrine of St. Patrick and Museum will be conducted all day by tour guides. I you are bringing a bus or group that wants a tour, please call or w rite for a scheduled tour time. If an entire group does not want a tour, individuals may ask a tour guide for a tour.
There will be Irish music at 3:00 p.m. Father Paul Hartley, pastor, will celebrate Mass and conclusion of the Novena at 4:00 p.m. Dinner will be served in the Shrine basement for 5:00 pm. to 7:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $7, children (6-12) $3, and children under 6 eat free.
For additional information contact Ellen Krueger Publicity Chairman R. 1 Box 55 Canton, MO 63435-9637, phone 660-754-6028, website http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/patrick.htm or http://www.janeellen.com/seasonal/st.pat.htm.
