Parish Update -- April 4, 2019
We are getting very close to the end of Lent, Holy Week, and into the Easter season. The next two weeks are called Passion Tide -- the last two weeks of Lent. It's a good time to go deeper into the season of Lent really spend time in prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Attending the Stations of the Cross, daily Mass, keeping up with the Little Black Book, spending time in adoration with the blessed sacrament are all good ways to spend time these next two weeks.
Here are a few things that have happened or are happening right now at St. Joseph.
Mission/Reconciliation Service
A special thanks to all of you who came out to be with us last night for our Parish Mission and Reconciliation Service. We are very grateful to Fr. Francis Orozco, O.P. who preached our Parish Mission last night and offered some reflections the night before at Tuesday Night Dinner for our college students. He did a wonderful job. If you missed your opportunity to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Lenten season there will be more opportunities at 4:30 PM on Tuesday's and Thursday's throughout the season of Lent. Anyone can make an appointment also.
Tuesday Men's Prayer Breakfast
All men of the parish are invited to attend our Men's Prayer Breakfast every Tuesday of Lent at 7 AM. Come enjoy some food, fellowship, and a reflection.
Friday, Stations of the Cross/Catfish
We invite everyone to come and join us for prayer as we remember the Lord's Passion and death as we come together in communal prayer as a parish family on Friday evening with the Stations of the Cross at 5:30. The children of the parish will be leading us. Bring your children to come be a part of this.
Afterwards, come join us for Catfish. Thanks to the Knights of Columbus, we have had some outstanding catfish dinners these past few weeks.
Website/Communications Committee
We are very close to the completion and publication of our website. Very soon it should go live. A big thanks to all who helped on our website and all those who gave some feedback recently. A special thanks to our Communications Committee: Emily Damm, Tomasz Haupt, and Dianna Janus. David Buys and Christine Rush.
Director of CCM, Search Committee
Our Search committee will be meeting again to narrow down our candidates for interviews. So far, we have had a very large pool of candidates apply for the position. We are hoping to make a hire by the end of the month.
First Saturday Mass and Devotion
This Saturday, April 6 is the First Saturday of the Month. The Spiritual Committee of College Campus Ministry has sponsored the First Saturday Devotion the last several months of this school year. Confessions are at 9:30 AM and Mass is at 10 AM. The requirements for the five-Saturday devotion are Confession, Communion, a Rosary, and fifteen-minute meditation.
Knights of Columbus Blood Drive
From 12 PM to 5 PM the Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a blood drive at the church in the Parish Hall. Donating blood is a great way to help others in need. During this Lenten season, this is great way to help to give alms and "give of yourself." You can show up and get an appointment or contact Mark Lilly at (662) 323-7794.
Food Pantry
The St. Joseph Food Pantry will be bagging items beginning at 12:30 PM on Friday and distributing bags from 9-11 AM on Saturday.
Unplanned
There is a pro-life movie at Hollywood Premiere Cinemas called Unplanned. It's rated R. So it's not something to take the children to see. But many people have asked us to promote it. Sunday night, several from CCM went to see the film. Everyone I spoke with said it was worth seeing. It's good for us to remember the importance of the dignity of human life, especially during this Lenten season as we walk with the Lord on His path of suffering before He died for us.
Peace,
Fr. Jason Johnston