Dear Fighting Irish football fans,

St. Patrick’s High School prides itself in having one of the longest-standing football traditions in the province of Quebec. We are confident that our program represents an important motivational factor in our players’ academic success. As a matter of fact, unlike several public high schools in the region, the success rate of our male student population is equivalent to that of our female’s.

The 2019 season was a MEMORABLE season. Our teams fight hard all season-long and were proud St. Pat’s ambassadors. As well, several different factors favourably impacted our season.

A major decision was made by the school and the program that home games would no longer be played on the Plains of Abraham, but rather on Terrain-Gérard-Chiquette in Charlesbourg. This turned out to be very valuable for the players, the teams and the program.

Moreover, the Bantam players were introduced to the game in a safe and secure environment. Jamborees allowed our youngest players to learn the basics and they ended up doing very well in the final Jamboree, where they took part in a twelve-man, regular game-like format.

Furthermore, both our Junior and Senior teams played in the higher-caliber, RSEQ D2 League. The Junior team had a REMARKABLE season; they finished second in their league, with a 5-1 record for the regular season. They offered amazing performances, winning five big games and losing only one by a score of 16-14. They then played in a semi-final game against Les Sentiers and won 35-6. The Regional Final was played against Saint-Jean-Eudes, on their home field. Who would have thought that this final, giving access to the Provincial Championship game, would see St. Pat’s playing SJE? Although we lost that game, our presence was a HUGE accomplishment for our program.

As for our Senior team, they fought an uphill battle throughout the season, winning the first game of the regular season and losing five in a row. Since the Seniors were in a reconstruction year - a lot of young players with little or no experience joined the program - the players, showed up, persevered and improved game after game. They ended-up playing up to the second-level playoff of their league. They played a GREAT game against La Courvilloise; they won the semi-final game by a score of 29-28 - with 4 seconds left to play in the game! They played the Final game against Chicoutimi, and in a close game played in the snow, lost by a score of 24-10.

The dedicated, high-quality coaching staff, several of which are St. Pat’s alumni, definitely made a difference. They helped create the ultimate recipe for success. Excellent job everyone! We must now look straight ahead, and keep going.

I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my support to the Fighting Irish Football Program. We have a solid structure in place. What is more, season after season, the Football Parent Committee is doing a fantastic job supporting the players and putting together various activities and fundraising events within the school’s foundation. Your continued support and commitment are vital for the success of our football program. Thank you!

It is my strong belief that football develops values, such as team work, determination, perseverance and self-accomplishment. In my experience, this is what makes football so precious in the context of school life.

Thanks to everyone who dares make a difference in our students’ lives.

Sincerely,

André Gosselin, Principal
St. Patrick's High School

WORD FROM OUR HONORARY PATRON

Another football season is going on for St. Pat’s green jerseys and once again, I want to extend my best wishes of success and mainly, of fun to all the team members, including the players, the coaches, the management and the volunteers surrounding St. Pat’s and high school football.

If I mention success and pleasure, it is because football must be both a competitive activity and a formation process. Of course, when we compete, we always want to win and this is a fact that grows up along the degree of the sport caliber. However, especially at high school level, sport must mainly be an amusement, a pleasure and an opportunity to create new contacts and make new friends; it must also be a school of human values where we learn to respect his team, his logo, his teammates, his coaches and his opponents.

Sport and especially team sport like football is a great school of life and I can assume it myself since it is at St. Pat’s that I have personally started my football career and ever since, I have always been deeply attached to the green jerseys.

So my message to every St. Pat’s player is have fun and surpass yourself and if you develop your skills, your athletic capacities and your passion for football, who knows? There might be a University nearby, waiting for you.

Glen Constantin
Class of '81