Good afternoon,

I pray you are all doing well, and that you're ready to have a little fun.
It doesn't seem possible, but tomorrow will mark a year since the original Shave or Save began...and what a year it has been!
Now a few who donated to Save the beard say they want another year because they didn't get their money's worth, since I've been wearing a mask for about a year now.
A few others from the Shave side, who have been wearing black and have been in mourning this past year, would beg to differ.
So the only fair thing to do is to put it to a vote again...a monetary vote that is :)

Here are the rules for those who would like to participate in this FUNdraiser...
- If you can't afford a monetary vote, you are welcome to cast an honorary vote for Shave or Save...they could possibly be used if a tie-breaker is needed.

-Any amount you contribute will be greatly appreciated, but please don't let your contribution to this FUNdraiser reduce your usual weekly/monthly contribution to St. Joseph.

-The money raised will go to our college and high school youth ministries (CCM & CYO). In a normal year these two groups do well raising money for themselves through our MSU football parking fundraiser, which in a good year can be about $24,000 (split between the two groups). This past season with very reduced numbers of fans at the games, we only raised about $2,500.

-Monetary votes need to be cast by noon on Saturday, April 24th. The fate of the beard will be announced later that afternoon.

-The best way to send payments is by going to our website, stjosephstarkville.org; click on GIVE; click on GIVE NOW in the Weekly Fund box; then enter the amount, choose One Time for Gift Type, put your choice of Shave or Save in the notes then press Continue; then fill out your info, choose Bank Draft or Credit Card, choose either create an account or give as a guest, then click Submit Your Gift.

As with the first go around of Shave or Save, this is an attempt for our parish to have a little distanced fun together while we wait for that time when we can really have fun together at an in-person parish meal/celebration.
It has been great to be able to see many of you at Mass with the limited numbers we are able to have, but I continue to pray for the time to come soon when we can safely fill up church completely.

Please know that all of the St. Joseph Parish Family (near & far, past & present) are in my prayers.

God bless,
jeff