"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,
We continue in this holy season of repentance and renewal - Lent 2023.
I was pleased to lead our first discussion session on Paschal Mystery on Wednesday evening. It was a great learning and dialogue together. I invite you all to attend the next session which will take place on Wednesday March 8 @ 7pm in the Church.
I continue to pray for you all as we grow in our relationship with God as we prayerfully read PASCHAL MYSTERY together.
In Sacred Scripture this weekend, we hear of the Transfiguration of Jesus - where on the mountain, Peter, James and John, saw Jesus for who He is - God. As Jesus was speaking to Moses and Elijah, it opened the eyes of the disciples, and hopefully opens our eyes too, to follow Jesus more closely. Let us pray for one another as we embark on this second week of Lent.
We continue to lift Fr. Steve in our prayers.
Thank you for continuing to pray for our beloved Fr. Steve!
-----
I have purchased special LENTEN calendars for adults, teens and young children. They are found at the church foyer to assist you in making daily commitments to prayer and help focus also on fasting and almsgiving.
The ADULT calendar is the purple one - that has scriptural focuses for each day.
The TEEN calendar is the large purple and white one - young people, place it in your room, on your wall or another special place as you grow with God this Lent.
The CHILDREN calendar is the yellow one - young children, there are daily topics and activities for you and your family to complete each day of Lent to help you grow in God's light.
Calendars are free and are ONE per person.
-----
Through Lent, we will be offering a Communal celebration of the Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings at 6:30pm followed by Mass at 7:00pm. As Lent calls us to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, this is a wonderful way to focus on the suffering of Jesus for our salvation. Join us on Fridays as we grow in God's grace.
-----
Please keep Wednesday March 22nd at 7pm on your calendar as our LENTEN NIGHT OF RECONCILIATION here at St. Joseph. I will have priests who speak a variety of languages here to hear your confessions. Remember as Church Law reminds us, our Easter duty is to go to confession, AT LEAST once a year. Make sure that your Lenten preparations include a holy confession either on this evening or on Saturday afternoons all year round.
-----
Monday March 20th is the feast of St. Joseph. We will have Mass at 6pm, followed by a discussion session on PASCHAL MYSTERY at 7:00pm. Mark your calendars and join us for this special feast of the patron of our parish.
St. Joseph - pray for us!
-----
The Diocesan Day of Reconciliation is Saturday March 25th. From 10am until 2pm in every confessional in the Diocese of St. Catharines, priests will be hearing confessions. Again ensure that you make confession a priority this Lent and be reconciled to God and turn away from sin.
-----
The Sunday after Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday. As our annual tradition here at St. Joseph, I will be hosting priests to help me hear confessions in a variety of languages as we pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy and receive the graces that Jesus promised. Nancy Bodsworth, Catholic recording artist, will lead us in the music.
Join us at 2:30pm on April 16th for this special celebration.
-----
For those wishing to donate funds for our brothers and sisters in Turkey, Syria and the other areas affected by the natural disasters, please see the links shared in the foyer of the Church. There are many organizations that you can donate to directly to assist our brothers and sisters in need.
-----
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.
We will be having an information evening on Thursday April 11 @ 7pm in the Church. Registrations are due on that evening for those who wish to join. Don't miss out on what promises to be an amazing pilgrimage!
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.
-----
GOD's PLAYBOOK podcast continues to launch DAILY.
I have begun a 2 week series focusing on the Stations of the Cross.
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/
-----
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
March is dedicated to the Feast of St. Joseph
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 15/16 on Tuesday March 7th @ 7:00pm via Zoom. All are welcome and encouraged to
join so as to come to know God's Word more clearly.
2. The next PASCHAL MYSTERY dialogue session will take place on Wednesday March 8 @ 7pm in the Church. All are welcome to join.
3. 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.
4. Our updated campaign for our HVAC system is $100,790. 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.
5. 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.
The information meeting will take place on Thursday April 11 @ 7pm. Registrations will be due that evening.
6. Mass on Tuesday March 6th will be at 6:30pm (not 9am) to allow for confessions to be heard for Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary school in the church. All are welcome to join for Mass at 6:30pm
Weekly Mass Schedule
March 6-11, 2023
Monday 9:00 am*
Tuesday 6:30 PM (no morning mass due to confessions)
Wednesday 9:00 am*
Thursday 9:00 am*
Friday 9:00 am* & 7:00pm
Saturday 9:00 am*
* denotes Live-streamed
Holy Hour:
Saturday 9:30am to 10:30am.
Saturday 9:30am to 10:30am.
Stations of the Cross through Lent
Fridays @ 6:30 PM followed by Mass at 7 PM
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
Those who have died in Turkey and Syria due to the Earthquake
Jeremy Prieur
Nancy Sawchuk
Stephanie Kushko
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.
SAVE THE DATE
St. Joseph Summer Camp is now taking those who would like to volunteer this summer! Contact the parish office to be added to the list!
The BLD (OSG) Covenant Community of St. Catharines, would like to invite you to their 22nd Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS), every Friday night (8 PM) from April 14 to May 19, 2023 at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria. See the attached poster or watch the video from Bishop Bergie below to learn more!
On Saturday, March 25, 2023 in every parish church across the diocese a priest will be available from 10:00am to 2:00pm to hear individual confessions. There will also be Eucharistic Adoration during this time. No matter how long it has been, you are welcome to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance, which assists us in spiritual discipline as we turn away from sin and open our hearts to reconciliation and healing; or you can also simply come to pray before the Lord.
Ministries and Groups
To delegates at the 4th World Meeting of Popular Movements, Pope Francis said, “…you have the ability and the courage to create hope where there appears to be only waste and exclusion.”
These are the words that inspired the choice of “Create Hope” as a five-year guiding theme at Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada.
The courage to Create Hope is rooted in actions big and small. For to drive away anguish and despair, it is best to act. Every action we take has a positive effect on us, our neighbours, our great human family, our children and their descendants.
What will you to this Lent to Create Hope? Join our campaign at devp.org/lent.
For more information, contact Bernadette Walsh at bhwalsh13@gmail.com
Please see the attached flyer from the Central chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul about an upcoming Niagara Ice Dogs game.
4thDegree Meeting Tuesday March 21 7:30 pm Gathering Room.
Executive Meeting Tuesday March 28 7:30 pm Gathering Room
Next Bottle drive Saturday, April 1st
9 am to 3pm with proceeds to support local community charities.
World Day of Prayer - Friday, March 3 - 2:00pm at Lakemount Worship Centre
Pizza Pick Up - Sunday, March 5 - 2-4pm at the church
Executive Meetings
Pizza Pick Up - Sunday, March 5 - 2-4pm at the church
Executive Meetings
Monday, March 6 - 7:00pm
Monday, April 3 - 7:00pm
General Meeting
Monday, April 3 - 7:00pm
General Meeting
Monday, April 17 - 7:00pm
Diocesan Convention
Diocesan Convention
Monday, April 24
Children Ministries need teachers and student volunteers for Little Spirits and Children Liturgy. Please contact the office if you are interested in these important and very rewarding ministries!
The Passion of Jesus Christ!
Good Friday evening, April 7, 2023.
Calling BT students and grade 5-8 students, we need actors (no words just actions), readers, singers, piano or other instrument players, play support staff and 2 adults who would like to help put on this new version of The Passion of our Messiah! Please contact the office before Friday March 3rd,2023 to be a volunteer in this amazing event.
Life Teen continues to host 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 have a light meal, a short video and discussion. Contact Andrew to register!
Our next session is March 7th.
We look forward to seeing everyone and welcoming 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 next information session on Tuesday April 4th.
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
