G  I'm happy you're taking the time to visit the Web Site!  I'm very pleased that Bishop Listecki has appointed me Chaplain of Aquinas Middle School for the second year.  I'm very happy to work with Patty Gallagher-Kosmatka and the whole Aquinas Middle School team.  I'm proud to be part of the tradition of Coulee Catholic Schools.  It's a long one, that's for sure.  I'm proud too, of the many Bishops and Pastors of our Diocese who have made great sacrifices to make sure Catholic School education is and remains a priority in our Diocese.

I grew up in Stoddard, Wisconsin and attended De Soto High School and UW-La Crosse.  I received a B.S. Degree in Broad Field (Instrumental and Vocal) Music Education, certified to teach grades K-12.  I taught Music, Band and Choir before going to Saint Francis Seminary in Milwaukee to study for priesthood.  I was received Ordained a Deacon on 28 April 1979 and received my M.Div. (Master's Degree in Divinity) and was Ordained a Priest on 16 May 1980.  Click Here to learn much more about me!

I'm extremely proud to be Pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Onalaska and to be very involved in Saint Patrick School there. Our growing parish has nearly 1900 families.  I celebrate Mass with the kids at Saint Pat's School every Tuesday morning and teach at Saint Pat's School.  I eat lunch with the kids there most every day and enjoy coming to games and student events.

The first six years I was Ordained I was assigned to Saint Mary Parish in Burlington, Wisconsin.  I taught Seniors in our Parish High School (now Catholic Central), and grades 4, 7 and 8 in our Parish Grade School.  I've always enjoyed being with 7th and 8th Graders.  I appreciate the gifts and talents they have and understand the stresses and strains of growing up.  It's not easy, that's for sure!

I was proud to be Pastor of Saint Bronislava Parish in Plover when we built a Catholic School there.  It was great to be part of Pacelli High School in Stevens Point too, and work on the School Web Site.  Visit my Web Site too! www.frpat.com

I'm currently Webmaster for six Web Sites, including the one for the Diocese of La Crosse.  They're listed below.  You can contact me any time by e-mail at frpat@frpat.com.  I also have AOL instant messenger (frpat123). Feel free to contact me any time!

My Web Ministry has been featured in USA Today, the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel and around the USA and Canada in articles carried by the Scripps Howard News Service, Saint Anthony Messenger, National Catholic Register, the Ligourian, Catholic Newspapers of the La Crosse and Green Bay Dioceses and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and many other Catholic publications.  I have appeared on Television in the Dioceses of La Crosse and Winona and on Cable TV Programs in Wisconsin and Massachusetts. I have also appeared on Relevant Radio with Bishop Listecki (Connecting with the Bishop), on Relevant Radio's "Morning Air" with Sean Herriot, and most recently on 26 September 2007 on Relevant Radio's "Morning Air" with Wendy Wiese.

I look forward to getting to know you better.  I'll try to make it to lunch, come into the classrooms and to some games and other School events and activities.  I'm very proud of those of you who are in Band and Choir.  You'll benefit from that experience your whole life long!

I look forward to Celebrating Mass with you too, even more often this year!  What a privilege it is to be part of a Catholic School and to gather around the Eucharist.  Jesus feeds us with his very Body and Blood.  We become what we eat, the very Body of Christ here on Earth! By the way, I drive a Prius.

I send out a daily Morning Prayer by e-mail and also weekly reflection questions and a Spiritual Reflection.  You can subscribe very easily right here:

       www.frpat.com/morningprayer.htm

I love anything electronic.  I was one of the first to have XM Satellite Radio.  I drive a Prius. We're working on an RSS feed and it will be easy for you to subscribe and download weekly homilies to your iPod, other MP3 Player or to your computer.

I am trained and certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated Electronic Defibrillation (AED) for adults, children and infants.  I have also received training in First Aid for choking in adults, children and infants.

It's much better, when we remember how much God loves us.  God is with us in all our joys and through our struggles as well.  It's good for us to pray often and keep in contact with Him.  Jesus shows us a great way through this life and it's great for us to try to walk in His footsteps.  He is with us always.  We can give our lives to Mary too, and learn from her how to be better disciples.  I have traveled to Mexico City and Guadalupe eighteen times.  I had the privilege of Concelebrating at the Canonization Mass for Juan Diego with the Holy Father Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Burke and Cardinals, Bishops and Priests from all over the world. There is great strength in Mary's appearance there and the message she came to bring.  God loves ALL PEOPLE.  "Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."  God's love doesn't depend on how much we have or what we look like.  God made us and loves us. 

I am Chaplain of Knights of Columbus Saint Patrick Council 10914 and Faithful Friar of 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Bishop Schwebach Assembly 1195 in La Crosse.  On 07 April 2008 Bishop Listecki appointed me Wisconsin Knights of Columbus La Crosse Diocesan Chaplain.

I hope that together we can do wonderful things for God!  We call upon Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Thomas Aquinas to help us know and follow God's call! Keep me in your prayers and know you're remembered in mine as well.   May God continue to draw near to you and those you love and keep you safe!

You can contact me by e-mail at:

      frpat@frpat.com

Or by AOL Instant Messenger at:

      frpat123

Father Pat's current Web Sites include:
      www.frpat.com
      www.stpatz.com
      www.cmonback.com

      www.dioceseoflacrosse.com

      www.lacrossedeanery.com

      www.aquinasschools.com/middle (soon to be taken over by students of Aquinas Middle School)

The Web Site of Saint Patrick's in Onalaska is here:

       www.stpatz.com

Saint Pat's School Web Site is here:

       www.stpatzschool.com