Saint Patrick High School honored Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, at the President’s Crystal Shamrock Award Celebration on October 26, 2006. Cardinal George was honored for his pastoral ministry to this Archdiocese and within the Universal Roman Catholic Church. The Crystal Shamrock is the highest award given by Saint Patrick, the oldest all-male Catholic high school in the city of Chicago and the fourth oldest in the nation.

Cardinal George is the tenth honoree to receive the President’s Crystal Shamrock. Previous recipients were: Fr. John Smyth, Philip Corboy, Pat Conroy, Ray Meyer, Elaine Schuster/Paul Vallas, Lowell and Nancy Stahl, Edwin “Max” Kurland, Robert Scarpelli, and John and Kathleen Buck.

The celebration was held at the University Club of Chicago. Guests had the opportunity to meet the Cardinal at a cocktail reception in the library before adjourning to the spectacular setting of the grand dining hall, overlooking Millennium Park, for dinner and the award presentation. Mr. Patrick Cermak, executive vice president of Wight, a major architecture, engineering and construction firm, sponsored the event.

Mrs. James (Carmen) Kaulentis, a former member of the Saint Patrick Board of Trustees, chaired the event Committee. Other dignitaries in attendance included Sen. James DeLeo, Mr. Philip Corboy and Ms. Mary Dempsey; Bishop Thad Jakubowski; Rev. Dan Mayall, Pastor at Holy Name Cathedral; former Saint Patrick Trustee Mr. Daniel J. Pierce and Ms. Penelope Daly; Board Chairman Mr. Robert J. Wilczek and his wife, Shirley Pfenning; and present Board members Mr. Allen Belli and his wife, Lu; Mr. Michael Christopoulos and his wife, Linda; Ms. Kathleen Dolio Thorson and her husband, Robert; Ms. Kathleen Archibald Simon; Mr. Ed Szofer and his wife, Diane; Ms. Norah Lex, and Ms. Angela O’Donnell.

Saint Patrick is Chicago’s oldest secondary school for young men, having provided 145 years of educational service to the youth of Chicago and surrounding communities.