"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,
In the scriptures this weekend, Jesus says "You are the salt of the earth..... you are the light of the world." I cannot help but remember the wonderful 2002 World Youth Day message that Pope John Paul II gave at the papal Mass in Toronto - where he challenged the youth of the world, and everyone to live according to this command. May each of us continue to seek ways to praise God by our actions, words and behaviours.
We continue to lift Fr. Steve in our prayers.
Thank you for continuing to pray for our beloved Fr. Steve!
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Please keep the 9 engaged couples who are preparing for Marriage in the Church that will participate in our Marriage preparation this Friday evening and Saturday. Please also pray for the presenting couples, Fr. Bill and myself that we will help to provide them the tools and strategies they need to strengthen their relationship with God and each other.
These couples will receive a special blessing at the Saturday 5pm Mass on Feb 3rd.
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LAST CALL for squares for the Parish Super Bowl Football pool fundraiser. 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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Next weekend, Feb 11/12 - I will be handing out the Lenten Resource I have purchased for each family by Bishop Barron - entitled THE PASCHAL MYSTERY. This will be our Lenten Mission this year and our study will begin on Ash Wednesday Feb 22nd. I encourage each of you to make this a big part of your Lenten Journey this Lent. We will be having special mention in the Sunday sermons, daily reflections on my podcast and also a weekly in person faith sharing opportunity each week to enhance your spirituality as we journey with the Lord this Lent.
I pray this Lent that each of us will grow in holiness and spend much time thanking God for the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus - which has brought salvation to the world and hope for each of us.
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I encourage each of you to buy tickets for our Parish Shrove Tuesday pancake supper that we are holding at the Blessed Trinity School cafeteria. Tickets can be purchased in the parish office. There will be 3 sittings - 4:30/5:30/6:30pm on Tuesday February 21st. Tickets are $5.
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We are also committed here at St. Joseph to support Marriages and encouraging couples to take a "DATE NIGHT". Drop your children off here at the parish on Tuesday February 14th at 6pm and enjoy Valentine's Day as a couple. Information is below and contact the parish office if interested.
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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.
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/
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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
February is dedicated to the Holy Family
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 13/14 on Tuesday February 7th @ 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 March.
3. Our updated campaign for our HVAC system is $99,775. 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. The 2023 Faith & Flavours of Italy Pilgrimage that I will be leading from August 27 - Sept 10, 2023 itinerary has been finalized. 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, Pisa, Padua, San Gimignano and an optional trip to the Amalfi Coast (see extra cost)! Reserve your spot now as spaces will be limited! The price for the experience is $5,490 for double occupancy, please see the attached PDF for the full itinerary and registration form.
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
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
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.
Congratulations and God bless
Harry & Sally Servos for their 40th Anniversary January 29th
Congratulations and God bless
Mitch & Mary Loik for their 50th Anniversary on February 3rd
Mass Intentions
Monday, February 6th
St. Paul Miki and Companions
9:00 a.m. † Fernando Cardoso
-and- † Alberto Frattaroli
Tuesday, February 7th
9:00 a.m. † Celine Fernandes
-and- Special Intention for Michelle Williamson
Wednesday, February 8th
9:00 p.m. † Marie MacPherson
-and- † Fr. Bertrand D’Cunha
Thursday, February 9th
9:00 a.m. † Albert D’Amico
-and- Special Intention for Una Dillon
Friday, February 10th St. Scholastica
9:00 a.m. † Louise Kumanovic
-and- † Robert Telford
Saturday, February 11th
9:00 a.m. † Maria & Antonio Dafre
-and- Living & Deceased Members of the Murphy Family
5:00 p.m. † Anselmo Rego
-and- Special Intention for Tom & Anne Manzuk
Sunday, February 12th 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
9:00 a.m. † Tony Rizzo
-and- Special Intention for Sandy McKenzie
10:30 a.m. † Msgr. Stephen Horvath
-and- Parishioners of St. Joseph, Living & Deceased
12 noon † Napoleon Varela
-and- † Daisy Funes Aguilar
Click here to see our upcoming events
Ticket sales have begun for our upcoming Pancake Supper on February 21.
Tickets are $5 per person or $20 for families of 4 or more. Tickets are limited at each sitting (4:30/5:30/6:30) so let us know which seating you would like to attend and the tickets are different per seating. Cost includes pancakes and sausages with tea, coffee and juice to drink. Come out and kick off Lent with a time of fellowship.
In-person Marriage Preparation
Marriage preparation takes place on Friday and Saturday this week. Please keep the presenter couples as well as the engaged couples in your prayers!
SAVE THE DATE
St. Joseph church wants you and your significant other to spend some quality time together for Valentines Day.
Valentines Date Night
Parents! Take the opportunity to drop off your kids and enjoy a date night out! We will be watching the kids from 6-8:30 with age appropriate movies and food in our upstairs and downstairs hall. A collection will be taken up a free will offering for the night and any extra funds raised will go to the Coldest Night of the Year walk.
Ages 10-13
Ages 4-9
Ministries and Groups
Once again, Dave McClung and his team will be taking to the streets in late February to help those families threatened with hunger and homelessness in West Niagara. Please take a few minutes to read the attached brief outline (above) of 'why we walk' and why we must continue to support these families.
His personal 'link' is found here and he is walking on behalf of the "St. Joseph Servers" Team.
He is honored to once again be allowed to represent St. Joseph Church and parishioners on this Coldest Night 2023.
If you are interested in learning more or sponsoring, please contact Dave at 905 928 7290.
*Note* Moving forward, all knights of Columbus meetings will be on Tuesdays
New date for the General Meeting is JANUARY 31ST
Gathering Room @ 7:30 pm.
Executive Meeting
Monday, Jan. 30 @7:00
General Meeting - Monday, Feb. 6 @9:30am (after morning Mass)
CWL Lenten Retreat @Mount Carmel
Saturday, Feb. 11 / Wednesday, Feb. 15
Communion Breakfast Sunday, Feb. 19 at 12:00 (after the 10:30 Mass)
Tickets are $25 and will be sold after all Masses the weekends of February 4 & 5 and February 11 & 12.
It is hard to believe but we are starting to make plans for our Good Friday stations of the cross. If you think you might be interested in helping then contact the office for more details.
In partnership with the Diocese of St. Catharines Family and Youth Office, we will be hosting a bus trip to the Lift Jesus Higher Rally (LJHR) on March 4th. We will have two pickups for the bus at St. Joseph Church as well as at the Catholic Centre in Thorold. Tickets for youth are $35 and Adults are $40 which includes the transportation and admission ticket. Contact the office to register.
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. We will start a new session on February 8 for those who are interested. We will have a light meal, a short video and discussion. Contact Andrew to register!
Our next session is February 7th We look forward to welcoming back returning faces as well as all the new faces!
EDGE takes place from 6:30 - 8 pm on Tuesdays.
It is open for all students in grades 5-8 and takes place in the Youth Room.
Contact Andrew for details!
EDGE ministry at St. Joseph Church is going to camp this summer! From August 19-23, we will be going to Camp White Pine in Haliburton for 4 nights. If you are interested in learning more about it, please attend our information session on Tuesday February 28th in the Youth Room. Parents and children are all invited.
Young Adult(19-39)
We are saddened to announce that we have had to cancel our World Youth Day trip due to a lack of interest. Thank you for those who have supported the funding for World Youth Day up until this point and those that expressed interest. We will be looking to host a Youth Festival to coincide with that weekend so that those interested can start to have that experience of World Youth Day. Stay tuned for more details on that.
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. Stephen, Fr. Bill and the Pastoral Team
