Parish Weekly Update – May 9, 2019
Gift Card ScamPlease be aware that there is a scam going around where someone receives an email or a text message under the name of different local priests to solicit funds by asking for iTunes or Steam gift cards. These people are never who they say they are. They have used the names of just about every priest that has served here at St. Joseph. Many parishes in the Diocese of Jackson have been hit by this scam. Please don't communicate with these people or purchase funds from them.
First CommunionCongratulations to the 11 children who received their First Holy Communion this past Sunday at the 11:30 Mass!
Congratulations and Welcome!Congratulations and welcome to JT Mackay who received the sacrament of Confirmation and was welcomed into Full Communion with the Catholic Church this past Sunday at the 9 AM Mass. We are very happy to have you as a part of our Church!
RCIAThis past week, the RCIA team had an end of the year meeting and dinner. I'd like to encourage all of our parishioners to think and pray about inviting your non-Catholic friends who may be interested in the Catholic Church to consider attending our inquiry sessions when they begin in the Fall.
ConfirmationTonight, Bishop Kopacz will confirm our High School Confirmation students at Annunciation Catholic Church in Columbus at 6 PM. We hope you all can make it. Please keep these young men and women in your prayers as well as they receive the sacrament of the Holy Spirit this evening. Congratulations to Emily Anthony, Olivia Artigues, Elizabeth Balzli, Camille Barden, Joseph Chromiak, Caroline Dewbery, Denise, Fuentes, Edith Fuentes, Travis Fuentes, Lily Grado, Dani Janue, Christian Leach, Olivia Mapp from Corpus Christi in Macon, Alida Perez, Calvin Richey, Alex Shaw, Adrian Velasquez, and Michael Winfield!
Priesthood OrdinationsDeacon Mark Shoffner, who spent a summer here as a seminarian in 2014, and Deacon Adolfo Suarez will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 11 at 10:30 in the morning at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, MS. Please keep them both in your prayers these next few days.
Parish Pastoral Council ElectionsElections for the Parish Pastoral Council were this past Sunday. Congratulations to our new members: Kathryn Barbier, Parish Life Commissioner; Beverly Wilson, Witness Commissioner; Flo Henley, Secretary; and Chris House, President-Elect. Their terms begin June 1. A very big thanks to all of you who agreed to have your name on the ballot.
Glenn Schmidt will continue to serve on the council, as President beginning June 1. The following will also continue to serve until May 31, 2020: Tom Simmonds, Worship Commissioner; Rosy Nigro-Taquino, Faith Enrichment Commissioner; and Hillary Smith, Parish Organizations Commissioner.
Thanks especially to Laura Damm, Dana Bohna, Robin Pigg, and Ian Perez who have served for the last two years. Please keep our Parish Council in you prayers as they help continue to put our mission into practice.
Lebanese DinnerThe Knights of Columbus will be selling tickets after the Sunday Masses for the 13th Annual Lebanese Dinner on the May 16. Come get your baked Kibbee, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Green Beans, and Salad. Lebanese pastries will be available that evening as well. Tickets are $12.00. You can even order online at:
https://squareup.com/store/ knights-of-columbus-170
Alex Mazzola and Nathan Gaudin MarriageCongratulations to Alex Mazzola and Nathan Gaudin who will be married at St. Joseph this coming weekend.
Weekend MassesMy nephew will receive his First Communion in Vicksburg this coming Sunday, since Fr. John Bohn will be here for the wedding he agreed to take the Sunday morning Masses at St. Joseph. I am very grateful to him for allowing me to have the opportunity to be with my family this coming Sunday.
Mother's DayAlso, Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers this coming Sunday. You'll be remembered in my prayers.
Annunciation Catholic School Draw DownThe Annunciation Catholic School Annual Draw Down will be 7 PM tomorrow, Friday, May 10, 2019 at the Trotter Convention Center on 402 2nd Ave N. in Columbus, MS. This is a great way to support Annunciation Catholic School. Many of our families attend this awesome little school and this is a great, fun event for a night out of the house. Tickets are $100.00 and that admits two people and gives you a chance to win $10,000. Pay off those student loans!
Homestead CenterIn the past several years, St. Joseph has made a nominal $250.00 monthly contribution to Helping Hands to help with some of the needs of the people in the community. However, sometime in the last year, Helping Hands discontinued operations. Though the service has ended, the need has not. The J.L. King Community Center is partnering with the Homestead Center here in Starkville, MS in order to try to meet that need with the help of church organizations and individuals around the Golden Triangle. Our staff, and I, and a few parishioners have made visits to the community center to hear about some of the ways they are hoping to help meet that need.
When the Homestead Center is ready to begin receiving funds, the Finance Council has approved we reroute those funds previously used for Helping Hands. In the meantime, we have been using those funds for other charitable causes
The Homestead Education Center is registered with the Secretary of State and reports using 86% of donations for services.
You can learn more here:
https://www.thehomesteadcenter.org/jl-king-center Peace,
Fr. Jason