ST. CHARLES – In a show of appreciation for his integral role in helping to build the new St. Patrick Catholic School, students and school leaders recognized Monsignor Joseph Linster Friday morning with letters of thanks, gifts and a puppet show.

Friday’s program, “Building to do God’s Work,” celebrated the spacious new school on Crane Road that opened in August 2011. Letters from three student representatives conveyed students’ appreciation for Linster’s role in helping to complete the school.

“If it weren’t for your leadership, we would still be at the old school,” said eighth-grader Samantha Woodrich, who was referring to the former school in downtown St. Charles.