May Crowning This Sunday, May 1

Our parish May Crowning will take place this Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 9:30am with the recitation of the Rosary followed by the crowning and the 10am Mass.  All parishioners are invited to participate in this special, time-honored religious tradition.May Crowning

The rosary and crowning will take place in the Church.  Each family is encouraged to bring a small bouquet of flowers for Mary’s altar.  Vases will be provided.

Children from our parish who made their First Holy Communion this year are asked to wear their special outfits.  Those who were confirmed in 2015 are asked to wear their white robes.

Jubilee Year of Mercy ‐ The Holy Spirit, Fountain of Mercy

Year-of-Mercy-English-CLEARMercy lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Catholics believe in a God of Mercy. He manifested His Mercy, first and foremost, in the Incarnation of His Word in the Person of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins. When He walked this earth, Jesus lived for others and greeted everyone He met with mercy and compassion. Mercy was the reason He entered this world. Mercy was why He forgave sins. Mercy was why He cured people of their physical ailments. Mercy was why He cast out demons. Mercy was why He suffered and died for us. Mercy for others was what He asked of his Father from the cross. Mercy was what flowed from His pierced side in the form of blood and water. Mercy was why He sent his Spirit to dwell in the hearts of the members of His body, the Church. Mercy was the reason for the sending of His Spirit at Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit is the Fountain of Mercy. He is the soul of the Church, the sacrament of Christ. He is invoked at the celebration of every sacrament. He is the source of Mercy, because He is the Bond of Love shared by the Father and the Son. From that Bond everything else flows: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Orders, Matrimony, Anointing. These sacraments give honor and glory to the Father. They are actions of Christ. They are the works of the Spirit. Through them we receive His manifold gifts and fruits. Holy Spirit, Fountain of Mercy, pray for us.

-Rev. Dennis J. Billy, C.Ss.R., Krol Chair of Moral Theology, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

How to Live It

During the Holy Year of Mercy, begin the practice of invoking the Holy Spirit as soon as you wake up in the morning. Use the Veni, Sancte Spiritus or similar prayer to the Holy Spirit. Take note of the special daily mercies that result from this simple act of dependence on the Third Person of the Trinity.

Quote from Catholic Tradition

“Come, Holy Spirit. Spirit of truth, you are the reward of the saints, the comforter of souls, light in the darkness, riches to the poor, treasure to lovers, food for the hungry, comfort to those who are wandering; to sum up, you are the one in whom all treasures are contained. Come! As you descended upon Mary that the Word might become flesh, work in us through grace as you worked in her through nature and grace. Come! Food of every chaste thought, fountain of all mercy, sum of all purity. Come! Consume in us whatever prevents us from being consumed in you.” ‐St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

Congratulations, Katie and Kailly

Prayerful best wishes are extended to the family of Katie Nguyen, who was baptized at our Church on Sunday, April 24, 2016.  Congratulations, Katie!  May God’s grace and blessings guide you throughout your life!

We also congratulate Katie’s sister, Kailly, who received her First Holy Communion at our Church, also on Sunday, April 24, 2016.  May the joy and peace of Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist be with you always, Kailly!

Kailly

Kailly with Father Harrison and her catechists, Kevin Dinh and Jalia Harris.

 

 

Congratulations, Tim and Lauren!

Tim and Lauren.jpgCongratulations to Tim Trinh and Lauren Pringle who were married at our Church on Saturday, April 23, 2016.

In happiness may they praise You, O Lord, in sorrow may they seek You out; may they have the joy of Your presence to assist them in their toil, and know that You are near to comfort them in their need; let them pray to You in the holy assembly and bear witness to You in the world, and after a happy old age, together with the circle of friends that surrounds them, may they come to the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

[The Nuptial Blessing from the Rite of Marriage, Roman Missal (2010)]

April 24: Part 6 of The Mystery of God Video Series

The Mystery of GodBishop Robert Barron’s The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters video series concludes this Sunday, April 24  in the Parish Community Room immediately following the 10am Mass.

WHAT DO WE REALLY MEAN BY “GOD”?

Atheism is on the rise. Skeptical thinkers like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris vigorously attack belief in God as irrational or, even worse, dangerous. The so-called New Atheism has attracted millions of young people thanks to bestselling books such as The God Delusion and God Is Not Great.

How should Christians respond? How can we turn the tide of secularism and draw people back to God?

In this new six-part film series and study program, Bishop Robert Barron reaches into our rich intellectual tradition to teach us how. Using the insights of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Benedict XVI, he uncovers a clear yet sophisticated understanding of what we mean by “God”.

Who is God? And why does he matter? Watch this series and you’ll not only learn the answers yourself, but you’ll discover how to share them with others – especially those who no longer believe.

PART 6 – THE GOD WHO IS LOVE

The book of Genesis reveals that we are made in the image and likeness of God. What does this mean? For St. Augustine it affirmed that our own traits—our minds, our self-knowledge, our self-love–can tell us something about God as a Trinity. What is Christianity finally about? What is the deepest meaning of being and all reality? The Christian answer is this: God is love, a play of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

International Buffet: Help and Donations Needed

GlobeSaint Joseph’s annual International Buffet will be held at Presentation B.V.M. Hall on Sunday, June 19, 2016 from 3pm to 6pm.

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 May 29.

More details, including ticket information, will be forthcoming…

SIGN-UP TO HELP WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BUFFET:

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Thank you for your response. ✨

 

 

April 17: Part 5 of The Mystery of God Video Series

The Mystery of GodBishop Robert Barron’s The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters video series continues this Sunday, April 17  in the Parish Community Room immediately following the 10am Mass.

WHAT DO WE REALLY MEAN BY “GOD”?

Atheism is on the rise. Skeptical thinkers like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris vigorously attack belief in God as irrational or, even worse, dangerous. The so-called New Atheism has attracted millions of young people thanks to bestselling books such as The God Delusion and God Is Not Great.

How should Christians respond? How can we turn the tide of secularism and draw people back to God?

In this new six-part film series and study program, Bishop Robert Barron reaches into our rich intellectual tradition to teach us how. Using the insights of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Benedict XVI, he uncovers a clear yet sophisticated understanding of what we mean by “God”.

Who is God? And why does he matter? Watch this series and you’ll not only learn the answers yourself, but you’ll discover how to share them with others – especially those who no longer believe.

PART 5 – EXPLORING THE TRINITY

The most important event in human history took place when God, infinite and incomprehensible, became a finite and familiar man, Jesus Christ. While some people reduce Jesus to a wise teacher, the testimony of scripture and the early Church makes it clear that Jesus of Nazareth was, and is, God incarnate. He’s the Second Person of the Trinity. And by his sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, we too can enter into Trinitarian life.

April 10: Part 4 of The Mystery of God Video Series

The Mystery of GodBishop Robert Barron’s The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters video series continues this Sunday, April 10  in the Parish Community Room immediately following the 10am Mass.

WHAT DO WE REALLY MEAN BY “GOD”?

Atheism is on the rise. Skeptical thinkers like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris vigorously attack belief in God as irrational or, even worse, dangerous. The so-called New Atheism has attracted millions of young people thanks to bestselling books such as The God Delusion and God Is Not Great.

How should Christians respond? How can we turn the tide of secularism and draw people back to God?

In this new six-part film series and study program, Bishop Robert Barron reaches into our rich intellectual tradition to teach us how. Using the insights of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Benedict XVI, he uncovers a clear yet sophisticated understanding of what we mean by “God”.

Who is God? And why does he matter? Watch this series and you’ll not only learn the answers yourself, but you’ll discover how to share them with others – especially those who no longer believe.

PART 4 – PROVIDENCE AND THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

Perhaps the most difficult question in theology is this: Why does God allow evil? If God is all-good and all-powerful, then why are our lives marked with pain and suffering? These are not abstract questions. They go right to the heart of our experience. We have each wrestled with misery, wondering when God would intervene. As with Job, God does not give us answers. He instead offers a person: the crucified Jesus, through whom God enters our suffering and makes it his own.

 

April 3: Faustina Video

Faustina-The-Apostle-of-Divine-MercyThis Sunday, April 3, Divine Mercy Sunday, in the Parish Community Room, we will show the video Faustina: The Apostle of Divine Mercy immediately following the 10 am Mass.

This award-winning movie is a beautiful representation of the mystical life of St. Maria Faustina, who became the “Apostle of Divine Mercy”. It tells the story of her mystical experiences as a nun living in a convent in Poland in the early 20th century. It is to her that Jesus appeared and commanded that she be his instrument for promoting devotion to his Divine Mercy, and that the Feast of Divine Mercy be established and celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. He also requested from Sister Faustina that an image be painted and venerated of him and his Divine Mercy, and asked that we pray especially the Chaplet of Mercy.

The story and film are based on her own writings from her “Diary”, which has become a worldwide best-selling spiritual work. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000 as the first saint of the new millennium. Actress Dorota Segda received great critical acclaim by European film critics for her stunning portrayal of Sister Faustina.

Jubilee Year of Mercy – Divine Mercy Sunday: Feast of Mercy

Year-of-Mercy-English-CLEARIn the Gospel reading every year on the Second Sunday of Easter, Jesus enters the upper room where the disciples are and tells them, “Peace be with you.” That peace lies at the heart of Divine Mercy. It is the peace which Jesus won for all men and women on the cross. His resurrection is the Father’s public validation of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. That is why Pope Saint John Paul II gave the Second Sunday of Easter the name “Divine Mercy Sunday.”

Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, experienced visions of the Lord Jesus during the 1930s. As a result of these visions, she produced a now-famous image of Jesus with red and white beams of light coming from his side with the words, “Jesus, I trust in you.”

Catholics who go to Confession, receive Communion, and offer prayers for the Pope while also participating in Divine Mercy devotions in a spirit of complete detachment from sin can receive full remission of temporal punishment due to sin (Plenary Indulgence) on this day.

Pope Francis has made mercy one of the hallmarks of his pontificate. He proclaimed the Year of Mercy so that in receiving God’s mercy in our own lives, we can extend it to others. All of us can do this in concrete ways such as forgiving our spouse or siblings. Perhaps there are relationships in our lives that require healing. The poor, the vulnerable, and sinners especially need us to be instruments of God’s mercy. Through Divine Mercy, the great gift of Jesus’ cross and resurrection, we can hear Jesus once again say to us, “Peace be with you.”
-Eric Banecker, Seminarian, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

How to Live It
This year’s Divine Mercy Sunday falls on April 3, 2016.  During this special Jubilee year, consider making a effort to receive the Plenary Indulgence available on this Feast of Mercy.  To learn more about our Archdiocesan celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, visit archphila.org/mercy or contact the parish at [parish contact info here].

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Quote from Catholic Tradition:

“I have opened my Heart as a living fountain of mercy. Let all souls draw life from it. Let them approach this sea of mercy with great trust. Sinners will attain justification, and the just will be confirmed in good. Whoever places his trust in My mercy will be filled with My divine peace at the hour of death.” -Jesus to St. Faustina, Diary of St. Faustina, 1520

To continue reflecting on this theme, consider one of these resources!

 Recommended Book for the Month:  Consoling the Heart of Jesus, Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC

Lighthouse Catholic Media CD: The Saving Power of Divine Mercy by Fr. Jason Brooks

Funeral Notice: Adela Przybylowski

Please pray for the soul of Adela Przybylowski. Adela’s viewing will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Wednesday, March 30 at 5pm followed by a her funeral Mass at 7pm.  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.

Funeral Notice: Dorothy Gervin

Please pray for the soul of Dorothy Gervin. Dorothy’s funeral will take place at Saint Joseph Church on Wednesday, March 30 at 9:30am. 

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.

Holy Week 2016 Schedule

March 20 – Palm Sunday
10am Mass at Saint Joseph Church with a Solemn Entrance Procession

Monday, March 21
9:30am Mass at Saint Joseph Church

Tuesday, March 22
6:30pm Living Stations of the Cross at Presentation B.V.M. Church
8pm Holy Hour in Presentation B.V.M. Chapel

Wednesday, March 23
9:30am Mass at Saint Joseph Church
7pm-8pm Sacrament of Reconciliation at Presentation B.V.M. Church

March 24 – 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 25 – 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 26 – 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

March 27 – Easter Sunday
10am Mass at Saint Joseph Church
(Mass at Presentation B.V.M. Church at 8:30am and 11:30am)

March 13: Part 2 of Joseph of Nazareth Video

Joseph-of-NazarethThis Sunday, March 13, we will show the final part of the Joseph of Nazareth video in the Parish Community Room immediately following the 10am Mass.  Please join us for this inspiring film on the life of our parish patron, Saint Joseph, as we approach his feast day on March 19.

The first feature film ever on the story of St. Joseph – carpenter, husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that St. Joseph was a “just man”, and that God gave him the most daunting task ever asked of a man – to be the husband of the woman who would give birth to the Messiah, and the father and protector of this Holy Family, the man closest to Christ.

Starring Tobias Moretti in a manly, appealing performance, we are shown the human, noble and the deeply spiritual aspects of Joseph the carpenter, son of David, servant of God and loving husband of Mary. He is presented as a man of faith who has to grapple greatly with the profound mysteries of the divine conception, virgin birth and the Incarnation of the Son of God, and the incredible challenges of protecting and raising Jesus amidst the threats on his life from the moment of His birth and beyond.

As Joseph is informed by God’s messengers about trusting and following God’s plan for the mysterious divine conception and humble birth of Christ, the dangerous flight into Egypt to save his child, and finally returning to Nazareth to raise Jesus, teach him carpentry and guide his family, this lovely film presents beautiful vignettes of these and other powerful scenes in the life of the young Christ and the Holy Family that are authentic and inspiring. Also stars Stefania Rivi as Mary, and Franco Interlenghi and Andrea Prodan.