It’s impossible to think about Saint Patrick without evoking images of shamrocks, parades, Irish music and dancing. March 17th has become an occasion to celebrate the Irish culture and, for many, an excuse to party to excess. But the man who is celebrated as the quintessential Irish icon was not Irish at all. In fact he was kidnapped as a youth and enslaved by the Irish, people he would later embrace.

He suffered years of privation as a shepherd in the Irish hills. Like all holy people, Patrick endured his harsh circumstance by turning to prayer. He wrote in his Confession: “Tending flocks was my daily work, and I would pray constantly during the daylight hours. The love of God and the fear of him surrounded me more and more – and faith grew and the Spirit was roused.”

Patrick eventually had a dream in which he was told a ship was waiting to take him home. He followed the dictates of his dream and eventually escaped captivity. Not too many years later, it was another dream that called him to leave home again and return to Ireland. After his ordination, that’s what Patrick did.

Patrick’s devotion to the Irish is remarkable for so many reasons. First, is the obvious fact that these were the people who had enslaved him and deprived him of his youth. Second, Ireland at the time was a barbaric land untouched by the civilizing influence of the Roman Empire. Patrick voluntarily returned to a land where human sacrifice, slavery and constant warfare were prevalent. But he was able to impress this warring community with his unshakable faith in God and his uncanny ability to connect his message to their deepest concerns. Patrick not only converted the island to Christianity, but he improved the lot of the Irish people by discouraging slavery and reducing warfare.

Patrick’s mission to the Irish became an enduring legacy. His followers became the most zealous of all missionaries to the world. And today, more than 1500 years after his death, the example of Saint Patrick continues to inspire and instruct.

Continuing Saint Patrick’s work is part of the mission of St. Patrick’s Catholic School in north Jacksonville. “We teach the children that we all have a mission in life,” says Sister of St. Joseph Carmel O’Callaghan, principal of the school. All the grades at St. Patrick’s collect toys and money to benefit children at Sulzbacher Shelter and Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville. But the seriousness of mission is balanced with a joyous celebration on St. Patrick’s Day complete with a parade, Irish music and dancing and a corned beef and cabbage dinner.

At St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Gainesville, children see Saint Patrick as a role model. “We teach the children that Saint Patrick was a person who felt God’s calling and followed it,” says Principal Elaine Baumgartner. “God will guide you, too, if you just keep your heart open.”

Susan Woods is a member of San Jose Parish, Jacksonville.

Bobby, 8th grade “St. Patrick listened to God and returned to Ireland to convert the people who had made him a slave. He used the shamrock to teach about the Trinity.” Brockni, 5th grade “St. Patrick was a slave who prayed and became a missionary. Our school is very festive on St. Patrick’s Day. I like the parade and the Irish dancing.” Felicia, 6th grade “St. Patrick had many powers and gifts. The priest who baptized him was cured of his blindness.” Leah, 5th grade “I feel very close to St. Patrick because I was born on March 17th. St. Patrick was brave, caring, forgiving, wise and religious.” Alex, 4th grade “St. Patrick is a man who believed in God and in return for his love, got a lot of help from God when he needed it.” Oscar, 3rd grade “St. Patrick means to me kindness because he was a very gentle person. He also had courage to go through a lot of bad things so he could do all the things he believed.” T.J., 3rd grade “St. Patrick to me means faith. He taught others faith and prayer instead of violence. He is important because he is a saint and never used violence.” Sarah, 5th grade St. Patrick is important and means a lot to me because he helped free the Irish from slavery. I am happy about that because I don’t like slavery.”