St. Patrick's Home history

The original building opened in 1958 with 82 beds.

The opening of St Patrick School in the Fall of 1959, brought to fruition the dreams of many Catholic families for a parochial education for their children.

They point out that, in 1961, a hotel restaurant manager named Tom Woolley convinced city officials to dye Savannah’s river green.

The practice started in 1962, when city pollution-control workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges and realized that the green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday.

When St Patrick Parish was split in 1973 to allow for the establishment of Holy Faith Parish in Northwest Gainesville, a decision was reached not to build a school at Holy Faith due to the negative impact it would have on the enrollment level at St Patrick School.

Extension constructed and opened in 1985 with an additional 132 beds to a total now of 214 beds.

In January 1986, another renovation and extension project for the Home was completed so that it could continue to provide a safe, comfortable and attractive atmosphere that speaks of its focus on residents.

In 1988 a new construction program increased the sizes of the library and school office and created two new classrooms next to the library to house the kindergarten program.

However, it was not until 1991 that the school began formally calling itself St Patrick Interparish School.

In 1992 the convent of the Sisters of St Joseph was sold marking the end of their affiliation with the school.

In 1994 construction was begun on a new facility to house the middle school classrooms, a lunchroom and kitchen, technology and science labs, a gymnasium, parish meeting room and offices for parish youth and CCD ministries.

Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use interest in St Patrick’s Day to drive tourism and showcase Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the world.

It was that Mass that lead Lowell’s French speaking community to form St Joseph Parish on Lee StreetOn August 31, 2004, Nuestra Senora Del Carmen Parish, Lowell (Hispanic) joined with St Patrick’sRecently, Lowell’s newest immigrant community, the Burmeese, have found a home at St Patrick

The Chicago River on St Patrick's Day, 2006. (Image by © John Gress/Reuters/Corbis)

The year 2008 marked the 50th anniversary year of St Patrick’s.

The Give us a Lift Fundraiser is an ongoing fundraiser that started in 2013.