Just a reminder that during the month of October, the Month of the Holy Rosary, we will be praying the Rosary before Sunday Mass at 9:40am.
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Pray for Us.
Premiere of Documentary Film: Philadelphia Welcomes Pope Francis
On Thursday, October 13, 2016, from 7pm-8:30pm, there will be a premiere of an award winning film documenting the World Meeting of Families – 2016 and the visit of the Holy Father. All are welcome to attend the premiere and celebrate the one year anniversary of Pope Francis’ visit to our great city.
Location:
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Michael A. Nutter Theatre,
Entrance at 13th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Michael A. Nutter Theatre,
Entrance at 13th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia
Seating is free but limited. Please RSVP:
E-mail WMOF@americanbible.org or call 1-866-800-9683
More info:
Pro-Life News
40 Days for Life
This important campaign will begin on Wednesday September 28th and continue through Sunday, November 6th. “40 Days for Life” is an international, community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three-point program: Prayer and Fasting – Constant Vigil – Community Outreach. We have the opportunity to participate at three local locations:
- Center City Philadelphia – Philadelphia Planned Parenthood (12th and Locust Streets). Free parking is available at St. Peter Claver Parish (12th and Lombard Streets). Vigil hours: Monday – Saturday from 8am to 5pm . Please contact Mary Schott (215-635-3172) or Monique Rubero (469-231-9083 — roobearoo@hotmail.com) for additional information and to sign up.
- Northeast Philadelphia – Northeast Medical Center (2751 Comly Road) Vigil hours: Monday – Saturday from 7am to 3pm. Please contact Patricia McNamara (610-457-9908) for additional information and to sign up.
- Warminster – Planned Parenthood (619 Louis Drive – just off Street Road). Please contact Elise Cowley (215-589-5422 — me@parisherd.com) for additional information and to sign up. There will also be an opening Mass on September 27th, 7pm Nativity of Our Lord Church, 605 Street Road.
Forty Days for Life United Bus Tour
FORTY DAYS FOR LIFE UNITED will be visiting our area on Tuesday, October 4th. The National representatives David Bereit and Steven Karlen will be DRIVING A HUGE TOUR BUS TO 50 STATES IN 4O DAYS visiting vigil sites and holding rallies! They will be speaking along with other local pro-life leaders from groups such as Silent no More, Susan B Anthony etc. There will be media present at this event which we hope will help others join our campaign and continue the prayer and witness!
- Warminster – Planned Parenthood (619 Louis Drive) afternoon rally – 3:15-4:15 PM
- Center City Philadelphia – Philadelphia Planned Parenthood (12th and Locust Streets) – evening rally 7-8 PM
Respect Life Sunday
Sunday, October 2nd, is Respect Life Sunday. Members of Saint Joseph’s Respect Life Committee will distribute Pro-Life Union newsletters, lapel roses and bumper stickers and will take up a collection after Mass for the benefit of the Pro-Life Union. Please be generous; their work is of the utmost importance for our society.
Life Chain
The Life Chain will form across from Abington Memorial Hospital on Respect Life Sunday, Sunday October 2nd. Please join this Chain as we pray for all life. Please meet at the northeast corner of Horace and Old York Roads (across the street from Abington Hospital) at 1:45 PM. The chain begins at 2 PM and lasts approximately one hour – rain or shine. If you have any questions, please call Mary Schott (215-623-3172).
Baby Bottles for Life
Baby Bottles for Life will be available in the back of church throughout October .- Please take one home, fill it with your loose change and return the filled bottle on Sunday, November 6th. Your donation will allow the Pro-Life Union to continue working to build a Culture of Life and offering women alternatives to abortion. Please be generous.
September 20: Catechetical Sunday 2016
Today. Sunday, September 20, at the 10am Mass, our parish celebrated Catechetical Sunday where we honored those who share in the evangelizing and teaching mission of the Church through a special rite of commissioning and blessing.
The following catechists were commissioned to share the faith of the Church with the youth and children of our parish:
William Boyce
Lynn Chau
Cecilia Dang
Alan Duque
Katharin DiRosa
Kevin Dinh
Adena Harris
Jalia Harris
Carmelo Jacinto
Kristine Macatantan
Leslie Melecio
Valerie Melecio
Ruth Nocero
Kathleen Payne
Mary Russell
We thank each of you for showing us how to live our faith! We thank you for giving the precious commodities of your time and talent to our CCD students for the 2016-17 school year! We will be sure to pray for you during this academic year!
Refreshments were served after Mass in honor of our devoted catechists.
Sunday Videos Are Back!
The following videos will be shown in the Parish Community Room after the 10am Mass:
Mother Teresa
September 18 (part 1) & September 25 (part 2).
In an acclaimed film portrayal, Olivia Hussey illuminates the life story of Mother, now Saint, Teresa of Calcutta, the selfless missionary who brought hope, love and salvation to the poorest of the poor.
Rosary Stars: Praying the Gospel
October 2
Celebrities share their reflections on how they live and pray the Rosary Mysteries.
The #1 Reason I Love Being Catholic
October 9
DVD from the 2016 Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Defending the Faith Conference. Dr. Allen Hunt, author of Confessions of a Mega Church Pastor, shares his conversion story.
Divine Mercy: The Second Greatest Story Ever Told
October 16 & 23; November 6, 13 & 20
A dramatic 5-session journey featuring best-selling author and popular speaker Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC.
Fr. Gaitley weaves a tapestry of wonder and beauty from the threads of the dramatic history of Poland, the transformative message of St. Faustina Kowalska, the prophetic apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, the powerful witness of St. Maximillian Kolbe, and the world-changing papacy of St. John Paul II.
Videos: To Be Announced
December 4 & December 11 – Save the Dates!
Parish History: 25th Anniversary Celebration (1978)
This is the thirteenth article in a series. Here are the links for the first twelve parts:
Our Founding: June 12, 1953
The First Parish Meeting
Our First Christmas
The First Rectory, Part I
The First Rectory, Part II
Ground Breaking!
The First Convent
Church and School
The New Convent
The New Rectory
A New Pastor
Convent Explosion
Our parish’s second pastor, Father Richard B. Ward’s priorities centered principally around the church building and the sanctuary. During the summer of 1976, the church was completely redecorate with the altars and statues refurbished, the walls painted a light gold and a matching gold carpet in the sanctuary and aisles. At the same time, the hall in the rear was re-floored with an appropriate color tile. In the summer of 1977, the usher’s room and the crying room were re-tiled, together with both sacristies and the passage behind the main altar. The tiles under the pews were renewed and the pews cleaned and revarnished. This work naturally took money, but due to the constant generosity of our parishioners, this work was squeezed into the annual budget.
Sept. 11: We Remember
O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.
We ask You in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here–
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.
We ask You, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope.
We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.
God of peace, bring Your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to Your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek Your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.
Prayer of Pope Benedict XVI at Ground Zero, April 20, 2008
Our Parish History: Convent Explosion
This is the twelfth article in a series. Here are the links for the first eleven parts:
Our Founding: June 12, 1953
The First Parish Meeting
Our First Christmas
The First Rectory, Part I
The First Rectory, Part II
Ground Breaking!
The First Convent
Church and School
The New Convent
The New Rectory
A New Pastor
On July 11, 1975, at about 8:45pm, a devastating blast shook the neighborhood. Something mechanically had gone wrong with the water heater in the convent. The boiler itself, the boiler room and the entire basement were blown apart. The rear wall of the convent was split at the basement ceiling level almost the entire length of the building. The next two days, Saturday and Sunday, workmen had to shore-up the wall all the way to the roof to prevent a collapse of the building. The total amount of the damage, including furniture and other items was $157,823, which fortunately, was fully covered by insurance.
Funeral Notice: Rocco Bender
Please pray for the soul of Rocco Bender. Rocco’s funeral will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Friday, September 2, 2016 at 9:30am, with a viewing in Church at 8:30am.
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: William Perez
Please pray for the soul of William Perez. Bill’s Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 9:30am with a viewing preceding.
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.
Our Parish History: A New Pastor
This is the eleventh article in a series. Here are the links for the first ten parts:
Our Founding: June 12, 1953
The First Parish Meeting
Our First Christmas
The First Rectory, Part I
The First Rectory, Part II
Ground Breaking!
The First Convent
Church and School
The New Convent
The New Rectory
To many of Saint Joseph’s parishioners, there was a void left in their lives by the death of their Founding Pastor, Rev. Francis J. Hennegan, one whom they looked upon as truly “Father.” However, as happened many time in the past history of the Church and will continue to happen in the future history of the Church, God’s people would not be long without a shepherd and spiritual father.
Funeral Notice: Timothy J. Laigaie
Please pray for the soul of Timothy J. Laigaie, St. Joseph School Class of 1975. Tim’s funeral will take place at Our Lady of Calvary Church, Philadelphia on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 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.
Our Parish History: The New Rectory
This is the tenth article in a series. Here are the links for the first nine parts:
Our Founding: June 12, 1953
The First Parish Meeting
Our First Christmas
The First Rectory, Part I
The First Rectory, Part II
Ground Breaking!
The First Convent
Church and School
The New Convent
In typical fashion, our Founding Pastor, Rev. Francis J. Hennegan, who always thought of himself last, had to be almost forced into realizing that the rectory at 101 Hilldale Road could no longer accommodate the needs of a growing parish as well as the other two priests who were now living with Father Hennegan. So in 1965, Father Hennegan undertook another building program – the construction of a new rectory. In July 1965, the preliminary sketches for the new rectory drawn up by the architect Mr. Peter Getz were approved and on October 11, 1965, the bid to build the rectory for $110,000 was awarded to the builder, and parishioner Mr. James J. Clearkin. By April 1966, the former rectory at 101 Hilldale Road was put up for sale. (Not to worry – the original rectory has “remained in the family” – first by the Rogers Family and currently by the Duffy Family.) By July 1966, the new rectory was ready for occupancy.
New Rectory
Our Parish History: The New Convent
This is the ninth article in a series. Here are the links for the first eight parts:
Our Founding: June 12, 1953
The First Parish Meeting
Our First Christmas
The First Rectory, Part I
The First Rectory, Part II
Ground Breaking!
The First Convent
Church and School
On March 15, 1959, at a meeting of Father Hennegan and the parishioners, an Executive Committee was established and given the responsibility of planning a fundraising campaign for a new convent. The cost of such a building program was approximately $100,000.
Our Parish History: Church and School
This is the eighth article in a series. Here are the links for the first seven parts:
Our Founding: June 12, 1953
The First Parish Meeting
Our First Christmas
The First Rectory, Part I
The First Rectory, Part II
Ground Breaking!
The First Convent
Father Anthony Garrity
As the raising of Saint Joseph’s church-school combination building progressed, the parish began to grow in numbers and soon the Founding Pastor, Rev. Francis J. Hennegan, needed the help of an assistant priest. The first assistant of Saint Joseph Parish was Rev. Anthony M. Garrity who was appointed on January 20, 1955. However. Father Garrity’s stay among the people of Saint Joseph’s was short-lived because on March 11, 1955, Father Garrity was called to the Father to live with the Eternal High Priest forever.
Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church 