Join thousands of Catholics nationwide in the annual pro-life novena, 9 Days for Life, Monday, January 14 – Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Pray for the respect of all human life with daily intentions, brief reflections, and more. Download a free mobile app, or sign up to receive the novena through daily emails or text message. (A printable version is also available online.) Sign up at www.9daysforlife.com!
This is an ancient blessing in the Catholic tradition that transcends cultures and continents. Legend holds that the letters correspond to the initials for the names of the Three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. More importantly, these letters abbreviate the Latin phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” – “May Christ bless this house”.
The year “2019” is divided by this phrase as a reminder to keep Jesus at the center of our lives and our relationships, wherever we go. The four crosses signify the four corners of the world to which we the Baptized are commissioned to proclaim the Gospel. The crosses also remind us that in the Year of Faith that we are called to:
Traditionally this blessing is done on Epiphany but it can be done at any time. The chalking ritual below is as a way to encourage every household of faith to begin the New Year in faith. This is a simple and versatile way to include family members of varied Christian denominations. The short prayer that follows can be shared at the main entrance of the home.
Chalking Entranceway Prayer
Begin by singing a refrain of familiar a Christmas song (e.g. “What Child is This?”)
Leader: The Lord be with you;
ALL: And with your spirit.
Leader: May Christ dwell in this house and bestow peace to all its inhabitants!
ALL: And all who enter it!
Leader: Let us pray. O God, you once used a star to lead wise ones and all people of good will to your Son. May the light of Christ guide us to recognize him in the epiphanies of our lives, each and every day. As we cross this threshold each day for work, study or play remind us of our true purpose – to love your people, do your will and lead others to you just as did the wise men of old. May all who enter here find your gracious hospitality in our company and may all who dwell here seek you in the face of every guest.
ALL: Christ bless this house.
Invite each person present to chalk the door way with the phrase: 20 + C + M + B + 19. Provide a step ladder and assistance so that younger family members can participate. If possible, conclude by singing another song (“O Come All Ye Faithful” or “We Three Kings”)
Leader: May Christ dwell with us, keep us from harm and make us one in mind and heart, now and forever We pray for this and all good things in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus, into our homes and our hearts and remain with us now and always.
There will be a viewing at Saint Joseph Church, Cheltenham, on Friday, January 4 at 9am, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10am.
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.
This Saturday, December 8, 2018 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation.
The Mass schedule at Saint Joseph Church will be as follows:
Friday (Vigil) – 7:30pm.
The Mass schedule at our twin parish, Presentation BVM Church, will be as follows:
Saturday – 8am.
“The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” (Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 1854)
We set aside Thanksgiving Day to thank God for all the blessings that He has bestowed on us, our family and our country. Mass will be celebrated on Thanksgiving Day at Presentation BVM Church, Cheltenham, at 8:30am.
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION
City of New York, October 3, 1789
WHEREAS it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and
WHEREAS both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me: “to recommend to people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many single favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
NOW THEREFORE I do recommend and assign Thursday, the twenty-sixth day of November next, to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.
Please pray for the soul of Rita Stack, the daughter of Josephine Stack. A visitation will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 9:30am at St. Joseph Church, Cheltenham. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph on the same morning 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.
All Saints Day at Saint Joseph, Cheltenham, 1998
Thursday, November 1, 2018 is All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses at Saint Joseph Church will be Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at 5pm and Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 10am.
Masses at Presentation BVM Church will be 6:30am and 7:30pm on Thursday, November 1, 2018.
Please pray for the soul of Dr. Laureano Garcia, Sr. Larry’s funeral will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Thursday, August 16, 2018 – viewing at 9am and Mass at 11am.
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.
This Wednesday, August 15, is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation.
The Mass schedule at Saint Joseph Church will be as follows:
Tuesday (Vigil) – 7:30pm
Wednesday – 10am.
The Mass schedule at our twin parish, Presentation BVM Church, will be as follows:
Wednesday – 6:30am and 7:30pm.
“Preserved free from all guilt of original sin, the Immaculate Virgin was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory upon the completion of her earthly sojourn. She was exalted by the Lord as Queen of all, in order that she might be more thoroughly conformed to her Son, the Lord of Lords and the conqueror of sin and death.” (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, 59)
“The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 966)
Click here to view the photos from our 30th Annual International Buffet held on June 24, 2018.
We wish all the dads in our Saint Joseph Parish family a very happy Father’s Day.
God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Book of Blessings
Prepared by International Commission on English in the Liturgy
A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences,
The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989
Please pray for the soul of Joseph J. Gerngross, former parishioner and the father of a number of graduates of Saint Joseph School. 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.
Saint Joseph’s annual International Buffet will be held at Presentation B.V.M. Hall on Sunday, June 24, 2018 from 3pm to 6pm.
Please purchase your tickets in advance: $10 for adults; $5 for children over 6 years old; and free for children under 6 years old.
Please sign-up to help prepare a dish to represent your ethnic heritage. Use the sign-up form at the end of this post.
We would also appreciate donations for the prize baskets that we plan to raffle off during the Buffet. Donations of cheer, gift cards, monetary donations or other new gifts may be dropped off at the sign-up table on Sundays through June 10.
We wish all the moms in our Saint Joseph Parish family a very happy Mother’s Day!
Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so You watch over Your Church. Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect.
Book of Blessings
Prepared by International Commission on English in the Liturgy
A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences,
The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989
This Thursday, May 10, 2018, 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, 1pm 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
Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church 