This Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 2pm, Jalia Harris and Terrance Davis will be married at our Church! The wedding will be livestreamed on our parish Facebook page as well as on our website at : https://stjoescheltenham.org/jaliaandterrance/
We thank Msgr. David Benz for sharing with us last Sunday the important work that Cross Catholic Outreach is providing to the poorest of the poor in more than 30 countries around the world. To make a donation, visit crosscatholic.org or use one of the brochures available in the church vestibule.
During his homily, Msgr. Benz mentioned a video concerning wells and the collection of water. Here are a couple of videos produced by Cross Catholic Outreach:
You can watch more videos produced by Cross Catholic Outreach by visiting their YouTube channel.
March 28 – 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
March 29 – Monday of Holy Week
10am Mass at St. Joseph Church
March 31 – Wednesday of Holy Week
10am Mass at St. Joseph Church
10:30am Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church
April 1 – 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 2 – 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 3 – 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 4 – 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.
Due to Covid, the Washing of Feet, which is always optional, will not 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 this year.
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.
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.
The penitential season of Lent begins this Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021 and lasts until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 1, 2021.
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 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.
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 daily Lenten reflections at the following sites:
FORMED Daily Lenten Reflections
Due to the icy roads and the icy conditions in the parking lots and sidewalks, the 10am Mass on Sunday, February 14, 2021 at St. Joseph, Cheltenham has been cancelled. Online CCD classes will be held as usual.
Click here for the livestream of the 11am Mass at the Cathedral.
Click here for this week’s bulletin.
Please pray for the soul of Terry McDonnell, an active member of our music ministries and a graduate of St. Joseph School, Class of 1970. Terry died on December 20, 2020. A celebration of Terry’s life will be held in the spring. 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.
Please pray for the soul of Alberto Duque, husband of Rosemary and father of Alan (St. Joseph School, Class of 1986) and Randy (St. Joseph School, Class of 1989). Alberto died on December 21, 2020. A visitation will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 9am followed by the Funeral Mass at 10am . 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.
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 24 – 9:30pm (Low Mass)
December 25 – 8:30am and 11:30am
Please note that the schedule for Sunday Masses on the weekends of December 26/27 and January 2/3 will be the regular schedule in both parishes.
SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD – Holy Day of Obligation
December 31 – 5pm Mass at Saint Joseph Church (Mass will also be livestreamed on our website and Facebook page)
January 1 – 10am Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church (No 6:30am Mass)
This Tuesday, December 8, 2020 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:
Monday (Vigil) – 7:30pm (also livestreamed)
Tuesday – 10am (also livestreamed)
The Mass schedule at our twinned parish, Presentation BVM Church, will be as follows:
Tuesday – 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)
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.
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.
The 2020-2021 St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Appeal has now begun. A donation to the Appeal supports our seminarians, candidates for the Permanent Diaconate and lay church leaders in their formation. Most importantly, your gift provides for the future of our faith. Please prayerfully consider a gift to the Appeal to provide for the future generations of the Church.
For more information or to donate, click here.
On November 3, general elections will take place with various local, state and federal offices on the ballot. Certainly, there is an increased focus on faithful citizenship given that this year features a presidential election.
In order to assist Catholics as they prepare to vote with formed consciences, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has produced a Presidential Candidate Comparison document and a State Legislative Voters Guide. These documents seek to educate the faithful about candidates and their positions on issues of importance to Catholic voters. The documents are posted at catholicphilly.com, the official digital news agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
In addition, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is once again offering to the Catholic faithful Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. This teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics is available in English and Spanish.
You may wish to visit https://www.usccb.org/offices/justice-peace-human-development/forming-consciences-faithful-citizenship for an array of voter information resources. The material is designed to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth.
Please pray for the soul of Joseph P. Mesure, St. Joseph School Class of 1965, husband of Maryann (McMackin), also St. Joseph School Class of 1965. Joe’s funeral will be private. 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 Roman Catholic Church 