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St. Patrick’s Day! Happy


March 17, St. Patrick’s Day


by Doug Robinson People all over the world celebrate on the 17th day of March in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Some cities have parades, most revelers wear green, and a few families commemorate the day with traditional Irish fare for their meal. However, not everyone may know who St. Patrick was.


Born in Britain during the 4th


century, St. Patrick was kidnapped and enslaved by Irish raiders when he was a teenager. Although he was able to escape after six years and become a priest in Britain, he later chose to return to Ireland as a missionary, in order to help spread the teachings of Christianity to pagans. According to Irish folklore, he also used a shamrock to explain the Christian concept of Trinity to the Irish.


In spite of continuous opposition from pagan leaders, he continued to evangelize for 30 years while baptizing newly converted Christians and establishing monasteries, churches, and schools. He died on March 17 and was canonized by the local church. St. Patrick’s Day was first publicly


celebrated in Boston, MA, in 1737 where a large population of Irish immigrants resided. Nearly 200 years later, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the Irish Free State was held in Dublin in 1931. During the mid 1990s, the Irish government also began a campaign to promote tourism in Ireland on March 17. While many Catholics still quietly


celebrate this day of religious observance by going to Mass, St. Patrick’s Day slowly evolved to become a celebration of Irish heritage. Through the years, along with legendary shamrocks, many symbols were included in festivities that are reflective of Ireland’s folklore, culture, and national identity (think leprechauns, ethnic cuisine, and wearing green). Other places that join in on this celebration include Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, and Canada, along with many cities across the United States. According to the Christian Science Monitor, “blue was the first color associated with St. Patrick’s Day, but that started to change in the 17th century. Green is one of the colors in Ireland’s tri-color flag, and it has been used in the flags of several Irish revolutionary groups throughout history. Ireland is the “Emerald Isle,” so named for its lush green landscape. Green is also the color of spring, the shamrock, and the Chicago River, which the Midwestern city has dyed green on St. Patrick’s Day for the past 40-odd years. This St. Patrick’s Day, millions of people will sit down to an authentic Irish meal of corned beef and cabbage. Or so they think. In fact, only half of it is really Irish. Though cabbage has historically been a staple of the Irish diet (along with potatoes), it was traditionally eaten with Irish bacon, not corned beef. Irish immigrants in America could not afford the bacon, so they substituted it with corned beef, a cheaper alternative they picked up from Jewish immigrants.


Hudson~Litchfield News


Hudson~Litchfield News Volume 22 Number 35 March 16, 2012 20 Pages The Eagle Scout Who Didn’t Listen by Maureen Gillum


Phillip Christopher simply didn’t listen when he was told that starting an Eagle project in his senior year was too late. He didn’t listen when he was warned by many that building a one mile trail at Robinson Pond – cutting much new trail, restoring and connecting two older sections, along with building three substantial footbridges, two benches, a dozen trial markers and a kiosk with a map - was way too aggressive a project to tackle. He simply plowed through and completed his project believing in himself and fulfilling his dream. The 18-year old Troop 20 Eagle Scout celebrated his major achievements at his Eagle Court held at the VFW on March 11. Many of those attending supported him through his extensive Robinson Pond trail project, which took in excess of 389 person hours. Eagle Advisor Joe Undercofler shared, “Phil was unique as he knew exactly what he wanted to do for his Eagle project.” Mr. U also


centered on food, kayaking the blue minnow backwards, and divulging Phil’s life plans.


Scoutmaster and emcee Bill


Zaharchuk divulged, “We add our special Troop 20 boot print on the back of every Eagle badge earned, which represents all those who “helped” (and sometimes kicked) our Scouts to become Eagles.” Hudson Selectman Roger Coutu addressed the Troop and spoke about the importance of “perception” and living up to the “integrity honor, commitment and loyalty” embodied in the Boy Scout uniform. Coutu also thanked Christopher for his “very important gift” which offers the Hudson community “beauty, wildlife and a passive recreational area to enjoy at Robinson Pond.” His father, Jim Christopher,


Eagle Scout, Phil Christopher, flanked by his Eagle Advisor, Joe Undercofler (left) and Troop 20 Scoutmaster, Bill Zaharchuk (right) at his Eagle Court.


commented Phil’s trail was a “very major project” which was “very well done” and “greatly enhanced our community.” Christopher is known to be unique character. “Artistic,” “quirky,” “sincere,” “creative,” and “entertaining” were used to describe the amiable young man. Perhaps the best compliment, a fellow Eagle stated, “Phil has always been a true and great scout!” More than a dozen Scouts shared


Troop 20 Eagle Scout, Phil Christopher, proudly stands at the Kiosk, the start of the new one mile Yellow Triangle Trail at Robinson Pond.


their favorite quips about “Phil of the future” during his rousing roast, which nearly required an intermission – funny stories


revealed much pride and stated his deceased father, once a Scoutmaster in Long Island, was surely beaming at Phil from heaven. Mom, Kathy admitted,


“Thankfully, because Phil didn’t listen, Hudson now has a lovely new trail through Robinson Pond.” In Phil’s rebuttal, he


acknowledged the boot print was often needed and he earnestly stated, “I just cant thank you guys enough.” Walking the new one-mile


“yellow triangle trail,” which begins at the kiosk at the end of the Robinson Pond parking lot and beach, Phil pointed out trial highlights and talked of aspirations. The trail covers a fairly easy but interesting terrain with gentle hills, twists and some spectacular vistas of the pond with thoughtfully


continued to page 8- Eagle Scout Bishop Libasci Visits St. Kathryn Parish


submitted by Rev. Joseph Cooper and Laurie Jasper St. Kathryn Parish welcomed Bishop Peter Libasci on


Friday evening, March 9, for the first of what he promised to be many visits. Bishop Libasci celebrated the 7 p.m. Mass and then presided over the Stations of the Cross. In his Lenten homily, the Bishop stressed God’s eternal love and reminded parishioners and friends of the parish


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Bishop Peter Libasci offers up the host for communion


that they are never alone, God is always with them.


During the Stations of the Cross, a different Confirmation candidate held the Cross at each Station and then walked it to the next candidate in a very moving procession around the church. The devotion of the Stations of the Cross is an ancient practice in the Church by which the faithful remember Jesus’ walk to Calvary and His suffering and death. Pastor Fr. Joseph Cooper presented Bishop


Bishop Libasci and Father Jason Jalbert perform Te Stations of the Cross


Rodgers Library Names New Director


submitted by Hudson Library Board of Trustees The Hudson Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles Matthews as the new Director of the George H. and Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library effective March 26. Charlie Matthews joins the Hudson Library after 10


years with the Nashua Public Library, most recently as head of the Music, Art and Media Department, which accounts for 40 percent of the library’s total circulation and houses one of the most comprehensive media collections in the state of New Hampshire. In addition, he has been chairman of the Hunt Memorial Building Board of Trustees, secretary of the Nashua Cable Television Advisory Board (CTAB), member


of the Friends of the Nashua Public Library and Friends of the Hunt Memorial Building, member of the Nashua Art Commission, member of the CTAB Education Channel Subcommittee and member of the New Hampshire Library Association.


Before joining the Nashua Public Library, Charlie managed four corporate library organizations and has had experience conducting primary and secondary research and providing information management services as an independent contractor. He was a panelist on the topic of “Self-Service in


Libraries” at the 2010 New England Library Association Annual Conference, and presented on the topic of


“Attracting Customers with a Great DVD Collection,” at the 2009 NH Library Association Annual Conference. He holds a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky, and a BA in English from Fairfield University in Connecticut. Charlie follows the former Director, Toni Weller, who retired in January 2012, as the second Director of the new Rodgers Memorial Library which was dedicated in June 2009 after the generous gift of local entrepreneurs Phil and A1 Rodgers. He joins a tradition of Hudson Library leadership that dates back over two centuries.


Libasci with a gift basket of Italian delicacies from the parish. Bishop Libasci warmly greeted parishioners as they left church and was sincerely appreciative of the prayers and support from St. Kathryn’s. Bishop Peter Libasci was installed as the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester on December 8, 2011. For more information on Masses and Confession and other Lenten devotions, visit www.stkathryns.org.


Charles Matthews will be the new Director


of the George H. and Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library effective March 26.


Staff photo by Len Latrop


Photos by Maureen Gillum


Photo by Louis Dalpe


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