Author Archives: sjwebmaster

Ascension Thursday 2019 Mass Schedule

Ascension Dosso_Dossi_022

This Thursday, May 30, 2019, 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

May 19: International Buffet

Saint Joseph’s 31st Annual International Buffet will be held at St. Joseph Church Hall this Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 3pm to 6pm!

You can purchase your tickets at the door:
$10 for adults; $5 for children over 6 years old; free for children under 6 years old!

Come join us for a wide variety of international cuisine, fun, music and more!

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

We wish all the Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers and Spiritual Mothers 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
by Prepared by International Commission on English in the Liturgy
A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences,
The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989

Funeral Notice: Rev. Joseph McCloskey

Fr McCloskeyPlease pray for the soul of Rev. Joseph McCloskey who died on May 2, 2019. Father McCloskey was the Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph Church from September 1998 to November 1998 while our pastor at the time, Fr. Quindlen, was on sabbatical in Rome.  Father McCloskey’s viewing and funeral will take place at Queen of Peace Church, Ardsley.  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: Martin Rush

Martin RushPlease pray for the soul of longtime parishioner, Martin Rush.  Martin died on May 1, 2019.  His viewing and funeral Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, Jenkintown.  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: Rev. Francis M. Gallagher

Father Francis Gallagher

Please pray for the soul of Rev. Francis M. Gallagher. Father Gallagher was the Parochial Vicar (Assistant Pastor) at St. Joseph Church from September 1966 to November 1971.  Father Gallagher’s funeral will take place at Saint Cecilia Church, Philadelphia. 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.

Congratulations, First Communicants!

Prayerful best wishes are extended to the families of Luke and Alexander who received their First Holy Communion at our Church on Sunday, April 28, 2019.  May the joy and peace of Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist be with you always!

Luke and Alexander are pictured here with Father Harrison and their catechists, Miss Jalia Harris, Mr. Kevin Dinh and Miss Leslie Melecio.

Holy Week 2019 Schedule

April 14 – Palm Sunday
10am Mass with a Solemn Entrance procession at Saint Joseph Church
(8:30am and 11:30am Masses at Presentation B.V.M. Church)

April 15 – Monday of Holy Week
6:30am Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church)
10am Mass at Saint Joseph Church

April 16 – Tuesday of Holy Week
6:30am and 10am Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church
6:30pm Living Stations of the Cross at Presentation B.V.M. Church
8pm Holy Holy in Adoration Chapel at Presentation B.V.M. Church

April 17 – Wednesday of Holy Week
6:30am Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church)
10am Mass at Saint Joseph Church
11am Living Stations of the Cross at Presentation B.V.M. Church

April 18 – 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)

April 19 – 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)

April 20 – 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 21 – Easter Sunday
10am Mass at Saint Joseph Church
( 8:30am and 11:30am Masses at Presentation B.V.M. Church 

Solemnity of Saint Joseph

20190313_091241Tuesday, March 19 is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our parish patron.

“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.

Lent 2019 – 40 Days for Life

40-days-for-lifeThe 40 Days for Life campaign has begun! Visit the 40 Days for Life web page to find locations in the Greater Philadelphia region and to sign up for days and times to witness outside an abortion center.

The official 40 Days for Life Podcast recently interviewed Dr. Monique Ruberu, OB/GYN, Pro-Life Union board member, and leader of Philadelphia’s 40 Days for Life campaign, to cover the following topics:

  • whether abortion is ever needed to preserve a mother’s health;
  • the absurdity of aborting children facing terminal prenatal diagnoses;
  • Dr. Ruberu’s experiences saving lives as the leader of the 40 Days for Life campaign in Philadelphia, PA;
  • and the lifesaving power of abortion pill reversal.

Podcast hosts Shawn Carney (40 Days for Life President and CEO) and Steve Karlen (40 Days for Life Campaign Director) talked with Dr. Ruberu to receive her medical and pro-life expertise as our nation encounters late-term abortion legislation.

Click here to listen to the entire interview online.

Click here for further information concerning the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia.

Lent Begins Wednesday!

The penitential season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019 and lasts until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 18, 2019.

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.

On Sundays and Fridays 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.

Funeral Notice: Claire Fiandra

Please pray for the soul of parishioner Claire Fiandra.  Claire’s funeral will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Monday, March 4, 2019 at 10am with a viewing from 9am to 9:45am.  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.

Congratulations, Jalia and Kevin!

jalia harris - 10 year award

Jalia Harris received the St. Pius X Award.

Congratulations to our CCD catechists, Jalia Harris and Kevin Dinh!

Jalia received the St. Pius X Award at the Mass for Catechists at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Saturday, January 12, 2019.  The St. Pius X Award is a national catechetical award presented to those who have given ten years of service to parish religious education.

Kevin Dinh will receive the St. John Neumann Award later this Spring.  The St. John Neumann Award is an Archdiocesan catechetical award presented to those who have given five years of service to parish religious education.

Thank you, Jalia and Kevin, for your dedicated service to the children of our parish!