Parish Weekly Update
April 11, 2019
Parent’s Night Out -- Recheduled!
CCM's Parent's Night Out was scheduled for this Saturday, but it has been moved to April 27.
St. Joseph WebsiteOur website is now live! Go check it out at
stjosephstarkville.org. Thanks again to Emily Damm, Tomasz Haupt, and Dianna Janus. There were several people who reviewed the website and gave some great feedback. Thanks to all of you and I hope you enjoy the site.
Director of Campus Ministry Search CommitteeThe Search Committee has reviewed 15 applications for the position of Director of Campus Ministry. This has been a very exciting process and we have had a great level of interest. We are now in the final stages of hiring. Please continue to keep this process in your prayers. Hopefully, we will be able to make an announcement soon after Easter.
Parish Hall FreezerLast week, our commercial grade freezer died in the Parish Hall. About a year ago, we paid around $800.00 to repair it. We reached out to Hotel and Restaurant Supply of Meridian, MS, and after consultation with them, we decided to not repair it again, as our freezer is approximately 20 years old. Ultimately, we purchased a new one for approximately $2,600.00. This included delivery and disposal of the old one.
Gravel Parking LotAfter a few months with the holes in our east side gravel parking lot we had them filled in today. Hopefully, it will remain in decent condition for a little while longer. This work was about $1,800.00.
Parish Pastoral Council ElectionsElections for the Parish Pastoral Council are May 5th. Nominations for each position will be posted in the back of the church for two weekends prior to elections.
Thank you very much to Laura Damm, for her leadership as the Parish Pastoral Council President these last few years, as well as to our other outgoing members -- Ian Perez, Robin Pigg, Dana Bohna, and Hilary Smith who served as an interim member more recently and who is nominated to sit on the council again.
Cotton District Arts FestivalThe Cotton District Arts Festival will happen this Saturday all around the Church grounds -- rain or shine. That might be good to remember if you were planning to get out to come to Church anytime on Saturday.
Seder SupperDr. Seth Oppenheimer will lead our parish in a Seder Meal on Monday night at 6:30 PM of Holy Week. Please come join us for dinner that night. This will help us understand experience the Jewish Passover and some of the roots our our own Catholic Eucharistic Fatih. Thanks to the Knights of Columbus who will be cooking that night.
Palm SundayThis Sunday is Palm Sunday and we will begin in the West-side Gravel Parking Lot as we have in the past and as we begin Holy Week.
Holy Week and Parish BusinessI will write another Parish Weekly Update early in the week. After Wednesday, we will slow down with parish business and prepare ourselves for the solemn days of the Triduum in expectation of Easter. The Parish Office will be closed Holy Thursday and Good Friday of next week.
Grand JuryRecently, we got word that the Federal Grand Jury will meet on April 23 and April 24 to discuss the case against Fr. Lenin Vargas and decide whether or not to issue any indictments. The Pastoral Council has asked that we keep everyone involved in our prayers to the extent that we are able -- Fr. Lenin, the witnesses, Bishop Kopacz, and especially for continued healing for our parish.
Remember that our prayer candle in the sanctuary is a sign for us to focus on prayer and patience during these times of investigation. Next week, we will be celebrating the Easter Triduum. At the Easter Vigil service we begin in darkness and then, very dramatically, the Light of Christ enters into that darkness and dispels it. It is imperative that we remember that "the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it." Let us continue to put our trust in the Lord, and remember that it is through Christ's suffering and death that Eternal Life is offered to us.
Peace,
Fr. Jason Johnston