"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.
Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. May we forever thank God for His presence in our lives and for His coming among us as Man. Let us also thank God for gift of Mary, whose fiat echoes in our ears and throughout heaven and earth.
Our Lady of the Annunciation - pray for us!
Tomorrow, we celebrate the 5th Sunday of Lent. The Scriptures draw us into coming to know who Jesus is and further deepen our relationship with God. I pray that the tools of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, continue to help you grow in holiness this week.
I was pleased with our fourth discussion session on Paschal Mystery on Monday evening. Andrew - from our Parish Leadership Team - led our discussion on the 5th chapter of our amazing resource from Bishop Barron and Word on Fire. I invite you all to attend the next session which will take place on Monday March 27 @ 7pm in the Church.
-----
Please keep our candidates for Confirmation in your prayers. We will have 3 Confirmation liturgies this week, with Bishop Bergie presiding. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out His grace upon our young people of the parish and flood their souls with the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
COME HOLY SPIRIT!
-----
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.
-----
For those still needing to go to confession before Easter, please ensure that you make it a priority as you beg God's pardon and healing for your sins.
Confessions are heard on Saturdays from 3:30-4:30pm and will be heard on Good Friday morning from 8:30-9:30am & Holy Saturday April 8th from 9:30-11:30am
(Note they will not be heard on April 8th from 3:30-4:30pm).
-----
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 Tuesday 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.
We continue our Lenten journey walking with the Saints in Lent and also focusing on the Lenten Scriptures to enhance our relationship with God.
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/
-----
I am pleased to announce that we will once again be holding an amazing night of entertainment and fun at the - 2nd Annual St. Joseph Parish Designer Purse Bingo night. This will take place on Friday May 26, 2023 @ 7pm. The premium purse for the Bonus Round will be a beautiful Louis Vuitton premium handbag. Save the date and tickets will go on sale shortly. This event will definitely sell out. Stay tuned!
-----
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 18/19 on Tuesday April 18th @ 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 Monday March 27 @ 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 May.
4. Our updated campaign for our HVAC system is $101,820. 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 Tuesday April 11 @ 7pm. Registrations will be due that evening.
Weekly Mass Schedule
March 26 - April 1, 2023
Sunday 9:00 am, 10:30 am* & 12:00 pm
Monday 9:00 am*
Tuesday 9:00 am*
Wednesday 9:00 am*
Thursday 9:00 am*
Friday 9:00 am* & 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am* & 5:00 pm
* denotes Live-streamed
Holy Hour:
Saturday 9:30 am to 10:30 am.
Saturday 9:30 am to 10:30 am.
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
Tom Manzuk
Walter Rice
Sigrid Bachmann
Ruth Nigro
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.
Please keep the Students of St. John School and Our Lady of Fatima School in your prayers this week as they celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.
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.
We are putting a call out to see if there is anyone who might consider supporting out Purse Bingo night by donating a prize that might be great for our ladies. Spa packages, vintage hotels or other ways to be pampered are all great! Contact the office if you might be interested in donating.
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!
Ministries and Groups
This Solidarity Sunday, Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada’s Stand for the Land campaign invites you to give generously and thanks you warmly for your generosity.
Your donation transforms the lives of some of our most vulnerable sisters and brothers across the world. Our solidarity rests on your generosity.
“The support we receive from Development and Peace has been very important for me. It allowed me to find myself, to live again.”
— Raquel Soto, participant in the documentary filmmaking school of the Asociación Campesina de Antioquia (ACA, Peasant Association of Antioquia)
Such is the difference you can make by giving to your Share Lent parish collection or at devp.org/give. Thank you for helping us build a world of justice.
Contact devpstjg@gmail.com to get involved!
Executive Meeting Tuesday March 28 7:30 pm Gathering Room
Next Bottle drive Saturday, April 1st
9 am to 3 pm with proceeds to support local community charities.
The CWL is also collecting eyeglasses to be sent to war-torn and third world countries through the Warehouse of Hope. A collection basket is on the table in the church foyer.
Executive Meetings
Monday, April 3 - 7:00pm
General Meeting
Executive Meetings
Monday, April 3 - 7:00pm
General Meeting
Monday, April 17 - 7:00pm
Diocesan Convention
Diocesan Convention
Monday, April 24
Items are still being collected for Out of the Cold Niagara. Winter items are in special need including gloves, hats, coats and especially for men. Contact Bill Slattery for questions!
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!
On Saturday April 1st we will be holding an in-person event as the conclusion of our ThinkFast. Participants will begin fasting on the Friday and then will join us in person on Saturday for talks, activities and a meal to break the fast. Students in grade 8 and above are invited to participate by contacting the Church or chaplaincy at Blessed Trinity High School.
We will gather at the Church for 9 am on Saturday.
5 EDGE NIGHTS LEFT THIS YEAR!
Our next session is April 4th.
EDGE regularly 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)
Our next Feed your Faith is Friday, March 31st
BUT with a TWIST….
The plan is to still meet around 6pm for a simple Lenten Meal of soup and salad at the Catholic Centre but then, around 7:40pm, head out to the Cathedral to join the hour longLenten Taize and Meditation Evening lead by Fr. Chris Kuelig, hosted by the BLD Community.
For those who wish, we may continue our fellowship with drinks downtown SC as this prayer is scheduled to end around 9 PM.
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
