"We, the members of St. Joseph Parish, as followers of Jesus Christ, are committed to serving the church, recognizing that our Church is a community of the people of God"
From the Pastor's Desk
Dear Parishioners and friends of St. Joseph,
I pray this week has been a truly blessed one for each of you.
In the Sunday scriptures we are reminded that each of us are like Zacchaeus at times and need conversion of heart and let Jesus into the 'home' of our hearts. May we do just that and welcome the Lord in.
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We continue to lift Fr. Steve in our prayers.
Thank you to all those parishioners who have already dropped off their GET WELL cards. For those who have not yet done so, please drop them in the box in the vestibule of the church or bring it to the parish office. Don't forget to add your spiritual bouquet of prayers in the card and let Fr. Steve know how you are praying for him!
Thank you for continuing to pray for our beloved Fr. Steve!
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Thank you for your prayers, gifts and kind words for my birthday. God is amazing and can never be outdone in generousity. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. God bless you all
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This week begins the holy month of November. We especially remember those who have died from our families, friends and parish family. It is important that we remember them at Mass and pray to God for their eternal repose.
I encourage each of you to take an envelope from the foyer of the Church and place the names of your loved ones who have died, even those from many years ago, so they will be remembered at Mass each day in the month of November. Please then also place your donation in the envelope and return it to the office. Please note that the Diocesan offering for just one Mass is $10, please allow your offering to be appropriate since there will be over 40 Masses offered for our loved ones. Please return the names BEFORE October 29th to the parish office.
I will also be hosting the Parish All Souls Mass on Sunday November 6 @ 6:30pm and have invited all parishioners who have lost a loved one in the past year to attend. You are also welcome to attend this Mass as we lift our loved ones to Almighty God.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.
Mass for All Saints Day
November 1st - 9:00am
Mass for All Souls Day
November 2nd - 9:00am
November 2nd - 7:00pm
Parish Mass for Remembering those lives lost this past year
November 6th - 6:30pm
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GOD's PLAYBOOK podcast continues to launch DAILY.
I pray that each of you will use this podcast to enhance your faith and especially recommend it to your family and friends to bring them back to faith, especially the weekly attendance at Mass. This podcast will answer tough questions about faith, give the reasons why we believe what we believe and also broaden our prospective on God and His daily will for our lives.
Subscribe here on the podcast Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/GodsPlaybook and click on this link to begin listening to the podcasts - https://godsplaybook.buzzsprout.com/
Andrew Natale and I continue to promote World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. Our pilgrimage will be from July 27- August 6th, 2023. I will be leading our Diocesan group and encourage ALL young people of the parish, aged 18-35 to consider joining us. We will be staying with families in the Diocese of Fatima, visit the shrine and also experience the many youth activities and faith programs. This is a great way to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ and experience the Church on a global level. Join Pope Francis along with young people from all over the world in this amazing experience of God.
If interested, contact the parish office and speak to Andrew or myself.
I once again encourage each of you to attend our Evening of Reconciliation and discussion regarding building better relationships of healing and accompaniment with our Indigenous brothers and sisters on October 25th. I thank Rose Scott and Carolyn Pietrangeli for spearheading this important evening.
Please see below for more details.
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Please continue to bring in your new socks to give to those who are most in need in our community as our CWL hosts our SOCTOBER drive. New socks can be left in the bins in the vestibule or brought to the parish office during the week. Thank you for your generosity.
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Please remember to support the Knights of Columbus Bottle Drive next Saturday November 5th from 9:00am to 3:00pm. All proceeds go to support the charitable work of the Knights of Columbus.
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Congratulations to David Rosier for winning our NFL Survivor Pool. Last week the 3 other teams were ousted and so he has won the pool!
Thank you again for all those who have supported the fundraiser for World Youth Day 2022. Enjoy the rest of the NFL season.
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Let us continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. They deserve and rely on our prayers and support. Let us ask the Lord of peace to bring peace to the people of Ukraine, Russia and throughout the world. Once again, I include this Prayer for Ukraine.
PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Almighty God, through Jesus' divine name and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we humbly ask for your mercy to obtain peace in the land of Ukraine. May all the people of that country, especially children and the elderly, remain safe from danger. Please do not let chaos and war reign in the land of Ukraine, but only a forever peace that comes from You. Amen.
Be assured of my prayers and I humbly ask for yours.
God loves you and so do I.
Mary, Mother of the Church - pray for us
St. Joseph - pray for us
God bless,
Fr. Rico
The RCIA team and I have begun our parish RCIA program for this year. This program invites those who have never been baptized into the Catholic Church, those baptized in different faiths, those who are Catholic and have not yet received all of their sacraments, or those who are Catholic who would like to learn the WHY we believe what we believe. I encourage each of you to consider joining RCIA, or recommending it to family, friends and neighbours. We meet Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm in the Gathering Room. Please pray for for the RCIA team as we guide souls to come to know Jesus Christ.
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A Message from Fr. Bill
You are invited: Each Wednesday night the RCIA (an instruction in the Catholic faith for the unbaptized, for those of other faiths who wish to learn about the Catholic Church) meet. As baptized Catholics, sometimes we might have questions re: the Catholic Church. As the members of the RCIA team are here every Wednesday night, you are invited to come with your questions at 7:30pm (after the topic has been presented to the RCIA group) to the St. Joachim Room and to hear a short presentation re: the RCIA topic of the night, and to bring your questions.
This week the topics is PRAYER LIFE AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD. If you would like to understand more about the purpose of prayer, please join us Wednesday night at 7:30 pm.
November is dedicated to All Souls in Purgatory
Click the image to learn more!
Hello everyone!
This week's bulletin/newsletter is attached below. Click on it to download and view.
Here are the highlights this week:
- Letter from the pastor
- Church BBQ coming up on Thursday!
- Vacation Bible School is starting soon
- Jerry's mom passed away. Please pray for her!
- (NOTE: be sure to update these bullet points to reflect the highlights in each weekly bulletin)
1. Our GOD TALK Parish Bible study will continue praying over John Chapter 8/9 on Tuesday November 1st @ 7:00pm via Zoom. All are welcome and encouraged to join so as to come to know God's Word more clearly.
2. Baptisms continue to take place. If you are looking to have your son / daughter baptized, please contact the parish office. We are booking dates into November.
3. Our updated campaign for our HVAC system is $93,730. Please continue to remember the parish through your regular giving and consider giving in addition for this campaign. Funds can be left in the parish collection box or sent via etransfer to myparishgift@gmail.com with "HVAC" on the memo line.
4. Below, you will see the teaser for the 2023 Faith & Flavours of Italy Pilgrimage that I will be leading from August 27 - Sept 10, 2023. Join me as we journey to enjoy the experience of a lifetime as we walk in the footsteps of St. Peter, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Francis of Assisi. Highlights will include Rome, Assisi, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, Pisa, Padua, San Gimignano and other beautiful places! Save the date and reserve your spot now, spaces will be limited! More details to follow in the coming weeks.
5. The Knights of Columbus Bottle drive will take place on Saturday November 5 from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Please continue to bring your empty bottles and cans and support the charitable arm of the Knights of Columbus in our parish.
Weekly Mass Schedule
Monday 9:00 am*
Tuesday 9:00 am*
Wednesday 9:00 am*
Thursday 9:00 am*
Friday 9:00 am*
Saturday 9:00 am*
* denotes Live-streamed
All Souls Mass - Sunday November 6 at 6:30 pm - open to all
Holy Hour:
Saturday 9:30am to 10:30am.
Saturday 9:30am to 10:30am.
Please keep these brothers and sisters in Christ in your prayers as we mourn their passing into the Lord's hands
Patrick McMahon
Ronald Thompson
Ilene DeLeon
Rozalia Kazal
Annie Rebek
Florence Rallon
Those who have died in Ukraine
Those who have died in Ukraine
Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
October Cathechism Sections based on the Sunday Gospel
Luke 14 :1, 7-11
CCC 575, 588 : 575 Many of Jesus's deeds and words constituted a sign of contradiction but more so for the religious authorities in Jerusalem, whom the Gospel according to John often calls simply"the jews" than for the ordinary People of God. To be sure, Christ's relations with the Pharisees were not exclusively polemical. Some Pharisees warn him of the danger he was courting; Jesus praises some of them, like the scribe of Mark 12:34, and dines several times at their homes. Jesus endorses
some of the teachings imparted by this religious elite of God's people: the
resurrection of the dead, certain forms of piety (almsgiving, fasting and
prayer), The custom of addressing God as Father, and the centrality of the
commandment to love God and neighbour.
some of the teachings imparted by this religious elite of God's people: the
resurrection of the dead, certain forms of piety (almsgiving, fasting and
prayer), The custom of addressing God as Father, and the centrality of the
commandment to love God and neighbour.
328 CCC : 588 Jesus scandalized the
Pharisees by eating with tax collectors and sinners as familiarly as with
themselves. 364 Against those among them "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others", Jesus affirmed: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance "365 He went further by proclaiming before the Pharisees that, since sin is universal, those who pretend not to need salvation are blind to themselves. 366
Pharisees by eating with tax collectors and sinners as familiarly as with
themselves. 364 Against those among them "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others", Jesus affirmed: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance "365 He went further by proclaiming before the Pharisees that, since sin is universal, those who pretend not to need salvation are blind to themselves. 366
Mass Intentions
Monday, October 31st
9:00 a.m. † Ermelinda Passero
-and- † Barbara Derousie
Tuesday, November 1st All Saints
9:00 a.m. † Patrick McMahon
-and- † Marcella Philip
Wednesday, November 2nd
All Souls’ Day
9:00 a.m. † Deceased Members of the Parish of St. Joseph
7:00 p.m. † Deceased Members of the Parish of St. Joseph
Thursday, November 3rd
St. Martin de Porres
9:00 a.m. † Kristen Brigham
-and- † Maria & Domingos Vieira
-and- † Ilyn De Leon
Friday, November 4th
St. Charles Borromeo
9:00 a.m. † Rick Ward
-and- † Ilyn De Leon
Saturday, November 5th
9:00 a.m. † Marcella Philip
-and- † Fr. Anthony Inneo
5:00 p.m. † Vince Olivieri
-and- Special Intention for
Anthony Milina
Sunday, November 6th
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
9:00 a.m. † Mary Goodson
-and- Special Intention for
Lyn & David Hibbitt
10:30 a.m. † Fernando Cardoso
-and- Special Intention for
Fr. Stephen Innamorati
12 noon † Fr. Joseph Ingrao
-and- Parishioners of St. Joseph, Living & Deceased
6:30 p.m. ALL SOULS MEMORIAL MASS
Calling all to the 2-night only Canadian theatrical release of Mother Teresa: No Greater Love – showing in St. Catharines on November 2nd and 3rd, at Landmark Cinemas.
Mother Teresa is one of the most inspirational figures of the 20th century. In honor of the 25th anniversary of her passing, the Knights of Columbus has produced a feature length documentary film on the life and legacy of this beloved humanitarian and the singular vision she and her sisters have embraced to serve the poor. Far more than a documentary, this film is a soaring tribute to a spiritual icon, and a guidepost for all who seek hope today. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to see this definitive film on a modern saint and be inspired to put your faith into action. Visit motherteresamovie.com to purchase your tickets today.
Engaged? Looking to be married in the church?
Zoom meetings scheduled for Catholic Engaged Encounter in the Diocese of St. Catharines are:
November 4, 5 & 6
Cost: $200 per couple paid by e-transfer.
The link for district registration is:
What an amazing event we had! Thank you for all who attended this extremely powerful event, many were visibly moved by the event even to tears and the learning was incredible. Thank you to our partners at the Hamilton Native Centre and Blessed Trinity school for hosting us. Check your emails for follow up from Carolynn and Rose.
THE LAST WEEKEND! Boxes are being shipped out on Monday!
Ministries and Groups
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul would like thank everyone for another successful honey sale. We raised $1,300 for our school winter clothing project.
Thank you for your generosity!
With September officially coming to an end, it is officially Soctober! For the full month, the CWL will be collecting new socks for those is need so that the winter season will be a little warmer for them. Boxes are inside the main doors of the church. Thank you for your generosity!
The next bottle drive is November 5th from 9 am to 3 pm so start saving up the empties again!
All parishioners are invited to join the Knights of Columbus for the 5th Sunday Rosary prayer. Sunday October 30th after the 12 noon mass.
Next Meetings
4thDegree Thursday October 20th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Gathering Room.
Executive Monday, October 24th7:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Gathering Room.
General Tuesday, November 1st 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Gathering Room
The next meeting will take place in November to kick off Advent from 6-7:30 pm in the St. Ann Room to prepare for a Grace Filled Advent. For more information, email Moms. We look forward to seeing you!
Little Spirits Aged 3-6 & Children's Liturgy Aged 7-10. Join us during the 10:30 am mass on Sunday!
Life Teen will be hosting an Alpha Youth for those who are curious and want to learn more about their faith and is open to all students in High School. We will be meeting after school in the Youth Room. Our next meeting is on Tuesday November 1st in the Youth Room. We will have a light meal, a short video and discussion. Contact Andrew to register!
EDGE will take place from 6:30 - 8 on Tuesdays this year. It is open for all students in grades 5-8 in the Youth Room.
We had 19 people out at our last Youth Ministry night and a ton of fun was had by all! Our next meeting will take place November 15th, contact Andrew for details!
Young Adult(19-39)
Stay tuned for our next meeting!
Get those deposits in for World Youth Day, the deadline has been extended and we continue to accept new applicants.
Please continue to remember the Parish in your financial giving.
May God bless you abundantly for the gifts of your time, talents and treasures.
Reply to this email and let us know how we can pray for you! It is so important during this pandemic that we are there for each other so if we haven't seen you in a while let us know what's going on! We continue to pray for you, please continue to pray for all of us.
Fr. Rico, Fr. Bill and the Pastoral Team
