Saint Joseph and Presentation B.V.M. Parishes are invited to our Spring Retreat to be held at the Basilian Spirituality Center, 710 Fox Chase Rd. on Sunday, April 23, 2017 from 2pm-6pm. The cost is $20 per person (payable at the retreat), which includes a hoagie meal. Please note that you must arrange your own transportation. If attending, please fill out the form shown below by Tuesday, April 18.
Please plan on joining us for this afternoon of prayer, reflection and Mass.
By Mfsad (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
“Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit. He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words, but above all because he listens to the words of the Living God. He listens in silence. And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the Living God.” (St. John Paul II)
“I have great love for Saint Joseph, because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table I have an image of Saint Joseph sleeping. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church!” (Pope Francis)
St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church and our parish patron, pray for us.
Series begins Sunday, March 19
after the 10am Mass
in the Parish Community Room
33 Days to Morning Glory led us to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Stage One, Part I.
In Part II, Consoling the Heart of Jesus, we will learn about God’s infinite mercy and how we can give him joy, consoling his heart, by accepting his love and trusting in him completely. We’ll discover how suffering can actually help us grow spiritually closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Please pray for the soul of parishioner Rosemary McDonnell. Click here for the obituary. Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Viewing: Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 7pm-9pm at Campbell-Thomas Funeral Home in Richboro
Viewing: Thursday, March 16, 2017, 8:45am-9:45am at Presentation BVM Church, Cheltenham
Funeral Mass: Thursday, March 16, 2017, 10am at Presentation BVM Church, Cheltenham
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.
May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Image: Daniel Irmler, churchhacks.com
Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend. Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour this Saturday night, March 11, 2017. We wouldn’t want anyone to be late for church!
Please join us for the Saint Joseph Novena Prayer beginning Saturday, March 11 in preparation for our parish’s patron feast day on Sunday, March 19.
The novena prayer will be prayed together at Saint Joseph Church on Sunday, March 19 at 9:40am, prior to the 10am Mass.
You are invited to pray the novena prayer privately at home during the other eight days. Click here for the novena prayer.
Sundays, March 5 and 12 after the 10am Mass
in the Parish Community Room
In all of God’s creation we see such splendor and beauty, mystery and wonder. Within this creation there are beings with intellect and free will: humans and angels.
From the creation of the world, the realm of the angels and the world of men have interacted. This interaction is not always a positive one.
Powers and Dominions: Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare explores the spiritual world, that very real but unseen realm: God, the human soul, angels, demons (fallen angels), spiritual warfare, the reality of demonic possession and exorcism, the dangers of the new age movement and the occult, and much more.
Featuring well-known speakers and authors Steve Ray, Fr. Andrew Pinsent, Fr. Marcus Holden, Joanna Bogle, Fr. Jeremy Davies and Fr. Behruz Rafat, this film offers an insightful and sobering presentation about the reality of the powers and dominions of the spiritual world. Inspirational music, beautiful artwork and imagery are used throughout the film.
We will have a Poor Man’s Supper in our Parish Community Room on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 6pm. A simple meal of soup and bread will be served. There is no cost – however, all those attending will be asked to make a donation to CRS Rice Bowl for the poor.
Everyone is invited to partake in this symbolic meal! If you plan to attend, please put your name on the sign-up board in the gym or use the form below to sign-up by Sunday, March 5:
The penitential season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017 and lasts until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 13, 2017.
The bishops of the United States prescribe, as minimal obligation, that all persons over 14 years of age are gravely obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent. All persons over 18 years of age and up to the beginning of their 60th year are gravely obliged to fast by limiting themselves to a single full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, while the other two meals are to be light.
All the faithful are encouraged at attend Mass and to receive the Most Holy Eucharist daily, to use frequently the Sacrament of Penance, to undertake spiritual reading, especially the study of the Sacred Scriptures, and to attend parish Lenten devotions and Lenten educational programs.
Ashes will be distributed on Ash Wednesday at the 9:30am Mass at St. Joseph Church and at the 6:30am and 7:30pm Mass at 1:30pm Scripture Service at Presentation BVM Church.
On Sundays during Lent, we will pray the Stations of the Cross at 9:30am at St. Joseph Church. A video will be shown in the Parish Community Room following the 10am Mass each Sunday.
All are encouraged to participate in the annual CRS Rice Bowl, which has aided countless hungry persons here in our Archdiocese and throughout the world.
Unleash the Holy Spirit in Your Life
In this professionally filmed and cinematographically stunning series, Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR will lead you on an unforgettable journey around the world and into the very heart of God. Discover the immense power and beauty of the unconditional Love of God that is the Holy Spirit.
Why the Name: “The Wild Goose”
The “Wild Goose” was a term that the ancient Celts had for the Holy Spirit. Yes, there is a wildness to the Holy Spirit. The dominant images of the Holy Spirit are a meek dove or a flickering flame of a candle, both of which are in one way accurate. But the Holy Spirit is far more than that.
About the Presenter
Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, is a nationally known author and speaker dedicated to helping others come to know God’s love for them through preaching and writing. Fr. Dave has held several ministry positions at Franciscan University of Steubenville and is actively involved in the highly successful summer conferences program. He is the author of the new book Breath of God – Living a life led by the Holy Spirit.
About the Series
The Wild Goose series is fourteen independent segments dealing with different experiences of the Holy Spirit. For the most part, each segment stands on its own so you do not have to watch them in any particular order. However, the first three segments give a type of foundation to the others, so it is suggested that you start with these. After that, ask the Spirit to lead you in what to watch next and go with that.
This important campaign will begin on Wednesday March 1, 2017 and continue through Sunday, April 9, 2017. “40 Days for Life” is an international, community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three-point program: Prayer and Fasting – Constant Vigil – Community Outreach. We have the opportunity to participate at three local locations:
You can also sign up directly on the Forty Days for Life web site. Follow the prompts. Eventually you will be asked to set up a login account. Just make sure you input your correct e-mail and remember your password. If you are not able to participate in the vigil, please pray and fast.
Gifts made to the 2017 Catholic Charities Appeal will provide support needed to tens of thousands of people through countless organizations, programs and ministries throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The beneficiaries are grouped into five key areas:
Last year, our parish raised 92% of its assigned goal. With your help, we could get to 100% of this year’s assigned goal! To donate, or for further information, visit the Catholic Charities website.
Sunday, February 12 and 19, 2017
after the 10am Mass
in the Parish Community Room
Over the centuries, Saint Anthony of Padua has been acclaimed as a great example of holiness through countless works of art, sculpture and books. Many Catholics, and even non-Catholics, think of Saint Anthony as the first one to turn to when something is lost. Yet amid this widespread veneration and devotion, we may miss the story of a man who began his life like all of us.
This film reveals the journey of Fernando Martins de Bulhões, a 13th century Christian whom we know today as Saint Anthony. Here, we discover a young man who was often “lost” and searching for direction in his life. He wanted to make a difference in the world of his time. As we encounter his humanity, we find someone we can relate to, someone who struggled in life, someone we could have easily called a friend.
Shot on historic locations in Portugal and Italy, Finding St. Anthony: A Story of Loss & Light is a documentary film that focuses on the experiences of Fernando (Anthony) in his search for the life God is calling him to lead. And as we look closely at the journey of St. Anthony, what we find may surprise us: a reflection of ourselves. His story gives us insight and inspiration for our own spiritual journey.
We continue to collect nonperishable goods for the Food Bank at St. Helena Parish. This coming Sunday, February 5, 2017 is Souper Bowl Sunday. We are asking everyone to bring one can of soup to church this Sunday. There will be a table in the gym where you can drop off your donation. Thank you for your love of neighbor!
Please pray for the soul of Rev. Msgr. Richard J. Skelly, the third pastor of Saint Joseph Church, Cheltenham (1981-1987). Msgr. Skelly passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2017.
The Reception of the Body will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Morton, on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 4pm followed by a viewing. A parish Mass will be held at 7pm.
Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Msgr. Skelly at Saint Joseph Church, Aston (Delaware County), on Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11am. A viewing will be held beginning at 9am.
Msgr. Skelly will always be remembered for his great love for the people of Saint Joseph Parish and his great love of sports (he had been Athletics Director at Bishop McDevitt High School for 23 years prior to his assignment at our parish). Many parishioners fondly remember Msgr. (then Father) Skelly behind the wheel of the tractor cutting the parish field or behind the wheel of the parish school bus transporting students to various extracurricular activities.
Eternal rest grant to Msgr. Skelly, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. My his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church 