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Ascension Thursday 2023 Mass Schedule

This Thursday, May 18, 2023, is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, a Holy Day of Obligation.

The Mass schedule at Saint Joseph Church will be as follows:
Wednesday (Vigil) – 7:30pm
Thursday – 10am.

The Mass schedule at our twin parish, Presentation BVM Church, will be as follows:
Thursday – 6:30am and 7:30pm.

…When they had gathered together they asked Him,
“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by His own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”
When He had said this, as they were looking on,
He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as He was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, “Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen Him going into heaven.”
Acts of the Apostles 1:6-11

Holy Week and Easter 2023 Schedule

April 2 – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
9:15am Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church
10am Mass* and Blessing of Palms at St. Joseph Church

April 3 – Monday of Holy Week
10am Mass at St. Joseph Church

April 5– Wednesday of Holy Week
10am Mass at St. Joseph Church
10:30am Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church

April 6 – Holy Thursday
5pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. Joseph Church
St. Joseph Church will remain open until 9pm
(7:30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Presentation BVM Church)

April 7 – Good Friday
St. Joseph Church will be open 12 noon until 4pm for private prayer.
7:30pm Solemn Service of the Lord’s Passion at St. Joseph Church
(3pm Solemn Service of the Lord’s Passion at Presentation BVM)

April 8 – Holy Saturday
4pm-5pm Sacrament of Reconciliation at Presentation BVM
5pm Blessing of Easter Foods at Presentation BVM
8pm Solemn Easter Vigil at Presentation BVM

April 9 – Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection
10am Mass* at St. Joseph Church
(8:30am & 11:30am Mass at Presentation BVM)

*Please note: the Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday Masses from St. Joseph will be livestreamed on the parish’s website and Facebook page.

There is a sign-up sheet available on a table in the Church Hall for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday evening and Good Friday afternoon. Please consider signing up for a time slot (or two) so that the Blessed Sacrament will not be left alone during this solemn time. The Blessed Sacrament will be reposed in the s side room near the organ.

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 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 Good Friday, while the other two meals are to be light.

Saint Joseph Novena Prayer

St Joseph Cover Please join us for the Saint Joseph Novena Prayer beginning Saturday, March 11 in preparation for our parish’s patronal feast day on Sunday, March 19.

The novena prayer will be prayed together at Saint Joseph Church on the final day of the novena – Sunday, March 19 at 9:40am.

You are invited to pray the novena prayer privately at home during the other eight days. Click here for the novena prayer.

Lent Begins Wednesday!

The penitential season of Lent begins this Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023 and lasts until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 6, 2023.

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 10am Mass at St. Joseph Church, also, at the 6:30am and 7:30pm Mass and 1:30pm Scripture Service at Presentation BVM Church.

We will pray the Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church on Sundays at 9:15am and Fridays at 10:30am. Stations of the Cross will be prayed at Presentation BVM Church on Tuesdays at 7:15pm and Fridays at 1:15pm.

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in the Presentation BVM Adoration Chapel on Monday afternoons in Lent from 12 noon until 5pm beginning February 27.

Episodes of the video series Explaining the Faith will be shown after the 10am Sunday Mass in the Parish Community Room.

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.

You can sign up for FREE daily and weekly Lenten reflections at the following sites:

FORMED Daily Lenten Reflections

Dynamic Catholic’s Best Lent Ever!

Basilica Shrine of the Miraculous Medal

Relevant Radio

EWTN

Word on Fire (Bishop Barron)

Pray More Retreat

Funeral Notice: Joanna Seemiller

Please pray for the soul of Joanna Seemiller, wife of the late Charles Seemiller. Joanna’s funeral will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 with a viewing at 9am and the Funeral Mass at 10am. Click here for the obituary.

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.

Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Our pastor, Father Harrison, will offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the happy repose of the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 12 noon at our twinned parish, Presentation BVM, Cheltenham. Depending on the number of worshippers, the Mass will be celebrated in the main church or in the adjoining chapel.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at the age of 95.

Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Benoit-XVI.jpg
Medialpj, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2022 Christmas Celebration Schedule

CHRISTMAS MASSES AT SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH
December 24 – 5pm (Carols begin at 4:30pm) (Mass will also be livestreamed on our website and Facebook page)
December 25 – 10am (Mass will also be livestreamed on our website and Facebook page)

CHRISTMAS MASSES AT PRESENTATION B.V.M. CHURCH
December 24 – 7:30pm (Carols begin at 7pm)
December 25 – 8:30am and 11:30am

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (Regular weekend Mass schedule)
December 31 – 5:15pm Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church
January 1 – 10am Mass at Saint Joseph Church (Mass will also be livestreamed on our website and Facebook page
January 1 – 8:30am and 11:30am Masses at Presentation B.V.M. Church

CONFESSIONS
Friday, December 23, 4pm-5pm at Presentation B.V.M. Church
(There will be no confessions on Christmas Eve.)
Saturday, December 31, 4pm-4:45pm at Presentation B.V.M. Church

Funeral Notice: Gerard F. Costello

Please pray for the soul of Gerard F. Costello who passed away on August 20, 2022. Gerard is the son of Gerard and Molly and brother of Patrick (St. Joseph School, Class of 2002).

There will be a visitation at May’s Funeral Home, Glenside, on Monday, September 12 from 4pm until 8pm. There will also be a visitation at St. Joseph Church on Tuesday, September 13 from 9am until 10am. Gerard’s Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Tuesday, September 13 at 11am. Gerard’s Funeral Mass will also be livestreamed on the parish’s website and Facebook page. Click here for the obituary.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Funeral Notice: Ron Quarry

Ron Quarry and his wife Margarete

Please pray for the soul of Ronald Quarry who died on June 27, 2022. Ron was a long time parishioner of St. Joe’s and the husband of the late Margarete Quarry.

Ron’s Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 10am with a visitation preceding at 9am. Click here for the obituary.

Funeral Notice: Katherine Dritsas

Please pray for the soul of Katherine Dritsas, husband of Stephen and mother of Andrew ’81, Lawrence ’85, David ’87, Shawn ’92 and the late Jennifer ’80 . Katherine died on June 12, 2022.

Katherine’s Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Wednesday, June 22 at 10am. Click here for the full obituary.

Funeral Notice: Maria Nguyen

The Dinh Family – Maria, second from right

Please pray for the soul of parishioner Maria Nguyen, wife of Ly Dinh and mother of Kevin and Vivian Dinh. Maria died on Sunday, June 12, 2022.

There will be a viewing at Gietner-Givnish Funeral Home, 6230 North 5th St., Philadelphia, on Friday, June 17 from 6pm until 9pm. Maria’s Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Peter the Apostle Church, 1019 North 5th St., Philadelphia, on Saturday, June 18 at 9am.

Holy Week and Easter 2022 Schedule

April 10 – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
9:15am Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church
10am Mass* and Blessing of Palms at St. Joseph Church

April 11 – Monday of Holy Week
10am Mass at St. Joseph Church

April 13– Wednesday of Holy Week
10am Mass at St. Joseph Church
10:30am Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church

April 14 – Holy Thursday
5pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. Joseph Church
St. Joseph Church will remain open until 9pm
(7:30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Presentation BVM Church)

April 15 – Good Friday
St. Joseph Church will be open 12 noon until 4pm for private prayer.
7:30pm Solemn Service of the Lord’s Passion at St. Joseph Church
(3pm Solemn Service of the Lord’s Passion at Presentation BVM)

April 16 – Holy Saturday
4pm-5pm Sacrament of Reconciliation at Presentation BVM
5pm Blessing of Easter Foods at Presentation BVM
8pm Solemn Easter Vigil at Presentation BVM

April 17 – Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection
10am Mass* at St. Joseph Church
(8:30am & 11:30am Mass at Presentation BVM)

*Please note: the Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday Masses from St. Joseph will be livestreamed on the parish’s website and Facebook page. Those who are unable to attend the Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday services in person are encouraged to participate in the livestreams from the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Click here for the schedule of services from the Cathedral.

The Washing of Feet will take place on Holy Thursday. The Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday should take place with a genuflection or a bow. Please do not touch or kiss the Cross .

There is a sign-up sheet available on the bulletin board for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday evening and Good Friday afternoon. Please consider signing up for a time slot (or two) so that the Blessed Sacrament will not be left alone during this solemn time. Please note that due to Covid, the Blessed Sacrament will be reposed in the sanctuary of the Church rather than in the small side room near the organ.

Funeral Notice: Doris Gwiszcz

Please pray for the soul of Doris Gwiszcz, husband of Joe and proud mom of Joseph ’96, Jacqueline ’98, Julianna ’00, Jennifer ’02 and Jessica (Pres ’10) . Doris died on March 11, 2022. She was very active in our church and school community.

Doris’ Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 10am with a viewing preceding from 8:30am until 10am. Click here for the full obituary.

Death Notice: Gregory Farrell

Please pray for the soul of Gregory Farrell, St. Joseph School Class of 1971, who died on March 3, 2022. Greg was one of seven Farrell siblings to graduate from St. Joe’s. Click here for the obituary.

Lent Begins Wednesday!

The penitential season of Lent begins this Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022 and lasts until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 14, 2022.

Ashes will be distributed on Ash Wednesday at the 10am Mass at St. Joseph Church and at the 6:30am and 7:30pm Mass and 1:30pm Scripture Service at Presentation BVM Church.

We will pray the Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church on Sundays at 9:15am and Fridays at 10:30am.

Episodes of the video series The Search will be shown after the 10am Sunday Mass in the Parish Community Room.