From the Pastor's Desk
Dear Parishioners and friends of St. Joseph,
In the scriptures this weekend, Jesus give His famous 'Sermon on the Mount' and the call of the Beatitudes. This is a blueprint to help us to live our lives as His daughters and sons. How can we better live the beatitudes in our own lives?
We continue to lift Fr. Steve in our prayers.
Thank you for continuing to pray for our beloved Fr. Steve!
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Sign ups for the Parish Super Bowl Football pool fundraiser continue to be received. Squares can be purchased for $25 either in the office directly, or via etransfer to (myparishgift@gmail.com). All proceeds this year will be to support the parish. Anyone can win and there is no need to be a football expert. I've already purchased my squares! Good luck to all of you!
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Our parish will be hosting Marriage Preparation for couples preparing for Marriage next weekend (February 3/4th). Please keep the Marriage Preparation team in your prayers as well as those engaged couples preparing for Marriage. If you would like to register for the Marriage Prep course, please contact the parish office.
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I am pleased to continue to present the Pilgrimage Itinerary that I will be leading to Italy this coming fall - which I call "The Faith and Flavours of Italy." This pilgrimage promises to be one filled with God's grace and much fun too! We will be visiting Venice, Padua, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Assisi, some of the Tuscany regions, Rome, and have an optional extension to the Amalfi Coast for those interested in seeing the Isle of Capri and the Blue Grotto.
We will be journeying from August 27th to September 8, 2023**
Extension trip - Sept 8-10, 2023.
The itinerary attachment is included in this email.
For those who would like to join me, please fill out the registration form and contact the parish office. Spaces will be limited and will be saved on a first come - first serve basis.
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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.
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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