February 21: Part 2 of The Mystery of God Video Series

Bishop Robert Barron’s The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters video series continues this Sunday, February 21 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 2 – ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AND THE PATHS TO GOD

In the thirteenth century, St. Thomas Aquinas composed his famous five paths to God. His proofs don’t depend on the Bible or divine revelation. They simply start from the world around us—trees, birds, buildings, and even ourselves. Thomas noticed that none of these things have to exist. But if that’s the case, there must be some cause behind them, something grounding their existence. For Thomas and all Christians since, we know this source of all being by its ancient name—God.

Catholic Charities Appeal – A New Vision

The Catholic Charities Appeal is the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s single most important annual fundraising initiative. For 2016 there is a new vision guiding the Catholic Charities Appeal. In addition to its traditional and vital work supporting the poorest and most disadvantaged, this year Catholic Charities is targeting virtually every aspect of Catholic life for enrichment and improvement. They are taking on a bigger challenge than ever before. The expanded case increases the goal by 50% from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. Gifts to the Appeal help to fund a base of nearly 180 wide-ranging ministries, programs and supporting offices, from childcare to retirement living, from homelessness to growing the Church on college campuses.

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February 14: Part 1 of The Mystery of God Sunday Video Series

Our Sunday Videos return with the latest series from Bishop Robert Barron, The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters. This six part series will be shown in the Parish Community Room on three Sundays in February and three Sundays in April, 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 1 – ATHEISM AND WHAT WE MEAN BY “GOD” – FEBRUARY 14

There are lots of views about God. Some see him as a mythical fairy in the sky, others as the Supreme Being. Some consider him a threat to our freedom. But for Christians, God is not one being among many. He’s not a competitor to our flourishing. God is that than which nothing greater can be thought, the strange and unique source of being itself. Before discussing anything about God we must become clear about one question: who is God?

Poor Man’s Supper

We will have a Poor Man’s Supper in our Parish Community Room on Wednesday, February 17 at 6pm. A simple meal of soup and bread will be served. There is no cost – however, all those attending will be asked to make a donation to Operation Rice Bowl for the poor.

Everyone is invited to partake in this symbolic meal! If you plan to attend, please put your name on the sign-up board in the gym or use the form below to sign-up by Sunday, February 14:

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Lent Begins Wednesday!

The penitential season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10 and lasts until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, March 24.

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 9:30am Mass at St. Joseph Church and at the 6:30am and 7:30pm Mass 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 Operation Rice Bowl, which has aided countless hungry persons here in our Archdiocese and throughout the world.

Best Lent Ever!

What are you doing for Lent this year? What if we told you: Don’t give up chocolate. Do something life-changing instead.

Let’s do something life-changing together!

This year our parish is participating in Dynamic Catholic’s FREE email program Best Lent Ever^®Rediscover Jesus. Beginning Ash Wednesday (February 10), you will receive daily inspirational emails with short videos from Matthew Kelly and a member of the Dynamic Catholic team. During the 40 days of Lent, they will guide you through each of the 40 chapters in Matthew’s new bestseller Rediscover Jesus – the book we gave away at Christmas (we have a few copies left at the entrance of the Church) – and share simple ways to bring Jesus into your everyday life.

Take a 40-day spiritual journey to encounter Jesus—and yourself—in a deeply personal way. Let’s make this your best Lent ever!

CCD Report Cards

Report cards for CCD grades 1-8 will be distributed this Sunday, February 7 after the 10am Mass. Our distribution process is a little different this year so that we can insure that the report cards are being seen by the parents. On Sunday, our CCD Coordinator, Bill Boyce, will be handing the report cards directly to parents after Mass, so please see him before leaving on Sunday.

Some of the catechists would like to meet with some parents when they receive the report cards. Bill will let parents know on Sunday if their child’s catechist would like to meet with them. This meeting should not be interpreted as a bad thing – in some cases, it is just that the catechist has not yet met the parent this year and would like to introduce himself or herself.

And don’t forget to visit our new website – www.stjoescheltenham.org – we have our own page at www.stjoescheltenham.org/ccd

February 7: Stewardship Library Open House

Our Prayer and Worship Committee will host an Open House for the Stewardship Library as well as the Parish Library immediately following the 10am Mass on Sunday, February 7. What a perfect time to stock up on some reading materials before Lent begins.

The Stewardship Library, which is a product of Lighthouse Catholic Media, and our Parish Library are located in the hallway outside of our Parish Community Room where refreshments will be served during the Open House.

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Jubilee Year of Mercy – February 2016: Confession, Sacrament of Mercy

Year-of-Mercy-English-CLEAR “Through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace…”

Each time the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance is celebrated, the priest begins the formula of absolution with these words. They express the profound reality that is taking place. First, there is the recognition that the Church mediates God’s loving activity of forgiveness of sins. Jesus intentionally created the Church to extend his victory over sin. Second, this Sacrament, like all the others, begins with God’s initiative. Long before we recognize our need for God’s mercy, he is already calling us to him, extending his offer of grace.

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Presentation B.V.M. School Open House

Presentation B.V.M. School will host an OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, January 31, 2016 from 9:30am to 12pm.

Come and visit our school and see all we have to offer your children. Presentation B.V.M. School provides an excellent education and affordable private Catholic School education from pre-school to grade 8.

Registrations for the 2016-17 school year are now being accepted. Those registering will need the following:

Birth certificate
Baptismal certificate
School records
Immunization records, and
Registration fee of $150

Please spread the word to anyone you know who is looking for a quality education

Presentation B.V.M. School offers a nurturing, faith-filled environment rooted in strong Catholic traditions.

The Giving Tree Thank You

Thank you to everyone who participated in Saint Joseph Parish’s Giving Tree this year. Your generosity was overwhelming. We brought all of our gifts to the Pro-Life Union Office. Edel Finnegan, Executive Director of the Pro-Life Union, was very grateful for all of our donations.

Baby Bottle Campaign Thank You

We are so grateful to the people of Saint Joseph for their gift of $270.65 during our recent Respect Life Activities. This support provides housing for expectant mothers and their children through maternity homes, including Guiding Star Ministries; enables us to organize prayer, witness and education events for thousands of people; and supports our efforts in public affairs to protect the dignity of life. Through their gifts, the parishioners of Saint Joseph are building a Culture of Life in the Philadelphia area.

Thank you for all of the work you do to assist us in our mission for life!

Edel Finnegan
Executive Director
Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia

Anne Hinnegan
Member Services

Theresa Leinker
Director of Development

Save the Dates: Sunday Video Series

The Prayer and Worship Committee will be sponsoring the following videos immediately following the 10am Mass on the Sundays noted below. The videos will be shown in the Parish Community Room. Save the dates!

THE MYSTERY OF GOD: WHO GOD IS AND WHY HE MATTERS
Bishop Robert Barron
Parts 1-3 – Sundays, February 14, 21 and 28

JOSEPH OF NAZARETH
Parts 1 & 2 – Sundays, March 6 and 13

FAUSTINA: THE APOSTLE OF DIVINE MERCY
Sunday, April 3

THE MYSTERY OF GOD: WHO GOD IS AND WHY HE MATTERS
Bishop Robert Barron
Parts 4-6 – Sundays, April 10, 17 and 24

DIVINE MERCY 101
Father Chris Alar, MIC
Sunday, May 22