Dear Parishioners:

Time and Talent Forms -- Thanks to all of you who filled out our time and talent forms. We are very appreciative. If you still need to fill one out, we would be very happy to accept it either via email to any of us in the office or by leaving it in the basket in the back of the Church.

Hurricane Ida Relief -- There will be a second collection at the Masses this weekend for Hurricane Ida relief. The proceeds of this collection will be sent to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Diocese of Biloxi, and the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for Hurricane relief. You can give by going here:   https://www.osvhub.com/stjosephstarkville/funds/hurricane-ida-relief-september-26-2021

Vocations Fundraiser -- Please support our seminarians by sponsoring or purchasing tickets for our 2nd Annual 2021 Homegrown Harvest Festival. This year's event will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church in Flowood, MS and will open with an optional tailgate party at 5:00 p.m. The Festival Dinner and Silent Auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a presentation by our Seminarians at 7:45 p.m. The proceeds from this event will go directly toward the annual budget. 

Visit https://one.bidpal.net/homegrownharvest2021/welcome to purchase tickets or become a sponsor. 

Sponsorship opportunities: 

PAPAL SPONSOR - $10,000 / 16 tickets 

CARDINAL SPONSOR - $5,000 / 8 tickets 

BISHOP SPONSOR - $2,500 / 6 tickets 

PRIEST SPONSOR - $1,000 / 4 tickets 

SEMINARIAN SPONSOR - $500 / 1 tickets

Friday and Saturday Parking -- Our Friday and Saturday night security will not allow anyone without a decal to park in our parking lot after 9:30 PM for the time being. This weekend we will use the parking lot for our game day parking fundraiser benefiting the Youth and CCM. If a car is parked in the lot at 6 AM on Saturday morning the vehicle risks being towed.

Grief Support Group -- The Grief Support Group is meeting on the 2nd & 4th Monday of each month at 5:30 pm in the Parish Center Lounge. The next meeting will be Monday, September 27, 2021.

Blood Drive -- Thanks to all of you for participating in the Blood Drive. 35 units of blood were collected.

Food Pantry -- Thanks to those of you helped with the Food Pantry this past weekend. This is a very important ministry.

RCIA -- The next RCIA session is Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the church (NOT the Parish Hall). The topic this week is a tour of the church. It is not too late to join. All are welcome to attend!

Religious Education -- Classes have begun. Kindergarten through 8th Grade meets from 10:15-11:15 AM on Sunday morning and 9th-12th meets from 6:30-8:30 PM on Sunday nights.

ENGAGE -- ENGAGE with Dcn. John McGinley is Monday night. ENGAGE will be in the church from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Dcn. John will lead the discussion on the Liturgy of the Hours -- Praying with the Church.

Blessing of the Animals -- The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is October 4th. There will be a  blessing of the animals next Sunday, October 3rd at 2:00 pm on the front lawn of the church. Please make sure to bring your pets/animals on a leash or in a cage or crate.

Welcome Back -- We are planning on having our Welcome Back festival on November 7

Away Game Tailgate -- The parish will host a tailgate in the gravel parking lot on the Nash St. side on October 27 for the Mississippi State at Vanderbilt football game. An inflatable big screen will be set up to watch the game. Bring your chairs, tents, and favorie foods to watch the game.

Ladies Quilting -- The Ladies Quilting Group is back to quilting and would love for you to join them on the Second and Fourth Sundays of each month at 1:30PM in the parish center lounge. 

First Saturday Mass -- First Saturday Mass will be celebrated Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 10:00 am. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available prior to Mass at 9:30 am

Adult Education -- If you'd like to learn more and have the opportunity to discuss the book, Theology for Beginners, with other parishioners, join the class on Sunday mornings (during Religious Education) at 10:15am in the parish hall. Class will start today!

Middle School Retreat!-- There will be a Middle School retreat for 7th and 8th Graders on October 23-24 at Lake Forest Ranch in Macon, MS.  The theme of the retreat is "Anchored in Hope." Please let Dcn. Jeff know if your child would like to attend. We would certainly love to help provide this awesome opportunity. You can contact Dcn. Jeff at deaconjeff@stjosephstarkville.org.

Peace,

Fr. Jason