Parish Update -- May 14, 2021
Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph and Corpus Christi:
New Parish Council Members -- This past Sunday, the parish elected Sarah Fratesi, Carrie Couvillon, Scott Comish, and Barbara Coats to the Parish Pastoral Council. Thank you very much to Karen Arzamendi, Lance Atchley, Janet Downey, and Catherine Failla for their willingness to serve and for allowing their names to be put on the ballot.
Also a huge thanks to our outgoing members -- Glenn Schmidt, outgoing president; Tom Simmonds; Hillary Smith, and Rosy Taquiño.
First Communion -- Congratulations to our children who received their First Holy Communion this past Wednesday night May 12.
Congratulations to: James Baham, Stella Bastow, Liza Clanton, Knox Couvillion, Pablo Gonzalez, Mackenzie Hanko, Elijah Perkins, Nathaniel Rush, Nicholas Sescu, Quang Tran, and (Sophia Keith at Annunciation Catholic Church in Columbus)
Also to Grant More and Britany Ugalde who received their First Holy Communion last Saturday May 8 at Corpus Christi in Macon
Thank you!! -- Thanks to our photographers and musicians these last several days as we've celebrated these sacraments for our children. Thanks to Dave Reese, Maria Sherman, and Rhett Fereday. Thanks to Lisa Stricklin, Dave Monts, and Zach Rowland. Thanks to Deacon John and Deacon Jeff for their help with these liturgies and to all of our catechists who have helped with preparation.
Adoration -- We are struggling finding some night time adorers for the Summer. We need someone who can cover for the 3 AM hour. Please let me or Deacon Jeff know if you can help.
Deacon Andrew Bowden -- This Saturday, May 15, Andrew Bowden, a seminarian for the diocese of Jackson from St. Jude in Pearl, Mississippi will be ordained to the Diaconate. Please keep him in your prayers. He will be ordained to the priesthood next year in 2022.
Ryan Stoer -- Speaking of seminarians, this weekend we will welcome Ryan Stoer. He will be with us this summer as our seminarian intern. Ryan just finished his third year of formation for the priesthood and will be entering His second year of Theology (after two years of philosophy).
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd -- I hope you received an email from Meg Ferguson last week explaining our hopes to have Catechesis of the Good Shepherd here at St. Joseph this coming year. We will hold an information session on June 6, 2021 at 3 PM in the Parish Hall.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Catholic Montessori (or student-led) style of Sunday school. In this type of class, the teacher does not teach the whole class time. Rather, the teacher briefly introduces children to religious models (or toys aka 'works'), and the children are invited to learn on their own. Topics include everything from specific Scripture passages to the liturgical year and role playing the Mass.
Catholic Campus Ministry - FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) - FOCUS has been in conversation with CCM and St. Joseph over the past several years about coming to Mississippi State University. This year, a very generous donor has offered a scholarship for FOCUS to be here. Catholic Campus Ministry and St. Joseph will be partnering with FOCUS this upcoming year.
FOCUS is a national organization that sends 'missionaries' to serve full time on college campuses. They are typically recent college graduates who spend their days reaching out to college students and helping them grow in their relationship with God. Please keep this endeavor in your prayers.
Holy Spirit Novena -- Today is the first day of the Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit. The time between the Ascension and Pentecost is the nine-day waiting period from where novenas originate. If you click the button below, you'll be taken to a novena that includes prayers for a different fruit of the Holy Spirit every day. The traditional novena to the Holy Spirit is below.
Peace,
Fr. Jason
O Holy Spirit, O my God, I adore Thee, and acknowledge, here in Thy divine presence, that I am nothing and can do nothing without Thee. Come, great Paraclete, Thou father of the poor, Thou comforter the best, fulfill the promise of our blessed Savior, Who would not leave us orphans, and come into the mind and the heart of Thy poor, unworthy creature, as Thou didst descend on the sacred day of Pentecost on the holy Mother of Jesus and on His first disciples. Grant that I may participate in those gifts which Thou didst communicate to them so wonderfully, and with so much mercy and generosity. Take from my heart whatever is not pleasing to Thee, and make of it a worthy dwelling-place for Thyself. Illumine my mind, that I may see and understand the things that are for my eternal good. Inflame my heart with pure love of Thee, that I may be cleansed from the dross of all inordinate attachments, and that my whole life may be hidden with Jesus in God. Strengthen my will, that I may be made conformable to Thy divine will, and be guided by Thy holy inspirations. Aid me by Thy grace to practice the divine lessons of humility, poverty, obedience, and contempt of the world, which Jesus taught us in His mortal life.
Oh, rend the heavens, and come down, consoling Spirit! that inspired and encouraged by Thee, I may faithfully comply with the duties of my state, carry my daily cross most patiently, and endeavor to accomplish the divine will with the utmost perfection. Spirit of love! Spirit of purity! Spirit of peace! Sanctify my soul more and more, and give me that heavenly peace which the world cannot give. Bless our Holy Father the Pope, bless the Church, bless our bishops, our priests, all Religious Orders, and all the faithful, that they may be filled with the spirit of Christ and labor earnestly for the spread of His kingdom.
O Holy Spirit, Thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant me, I beseech Thee, the intentions of this novena. May Thy will be done in me and through me. Mayest Thou be praised and glorified forevermore!
Amen.