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

March 29 – Holy Thursday
5pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Saint Joseph Church
Saint Joseph Church will remain open until 9pm
(Holy Thursday Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church at 7:30pm)

March 30 – Good Friday
Saint Joseph Church will open at 12 noon for private prayer.
7:30pm Solemn Service of the Lord’s Passion at Saint Joseph Church
(Solemn Service of the Lord’s Passion at Presentation B.V.M. Church at 3pm)

March 31 – Holy Saturday
4pm-5pm Sacrament of Reconciliation at Presentation B.V.M. Church
5pm Blessing of Easter Foods at Presentation B.V.M. Church
8pm Solemn Easter Vigil at Presentation B.V.M. Church

April 1 – Easter Sunday
10am Mass at Saint Joseph Church
(Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church at 8:30am and 11:30am)

The penitential season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018 and lasts until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, March 29, 2018.

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 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.

Please note that the schedule for Sunday Masses on the weekends of December 23/24 and 30/31 will be the regular schedule in both parishes.

CONFESSIONS
Saturdays, December 23 and 30: 4pm – 4:45pm at Presentation B.V.M. Church.
There will be no confessions Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.

CHRISTMAS MASSES AT SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH
December 24 – 5pm (Carols begin at 4:30pm)
December 25 – 10am (Carols begin at 9:45am)

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

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
December 31 – 5pm Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church
January 1 – 10am Mass at Saint Joseph Church

This Friday, December 8, 2017 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:
Thursday (Vigil) – 7:30pm
Friday – 10am.

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

“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)

This Tuesday, 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:
Monday (Vigil) – 7:30pm
Tuesday – 9:30am.

The Mass schedule at our twin parish, Presentation BVM Church, will be as follows:
Tuesday – 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)