Funeral Notice: James Clearkin, Jr.

James Clearkin
Please pray for the soul of parishioner, James Clearkin, Jr. who passed away on July 17, 2019.  Mr. Clearkin was a founding parishioner of Saint Joseph Parish and his construction company built our combination church/school building, rectory and convent.

There will be a viewing at William R. May Funeral Home, Glenside, on Monday, July 22 , 7pm-9pm.  There will be another viewing on Tuesday, July 23 at 9:30am at Saint Joseph Church, followed by the funeral Mass at 11am.   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.

Father Hennegan lays the cornerstone of the church/school building, assisted by Mr. James Clearkin, Jr., on May 22, 1955.

Funeral Notice: Jane Rush

Please pray for the soul of longtime parishioner, Jane Rush.  Jane died on June 13, 2019. Her viewing and funeral Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, Jenkintown.  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.

Happy Father’s Day!

We wish all the dads in our Saint Joseph Parish family a very happy Father’s Day.

God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. 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.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Book of Blessings
Prepared by International Commission on English in the Liturgy
A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences,
The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989

66 Years Ago…

Father Hennnegan

Our Founding Pastor, Rev. Francis J. Hennegan

On May 22, 1953, the Archbishop of Philadelphia,  John O’Hara, announced the establishment of a new parish dedicated to Saint Joseph, the patron of the Universal Church, to be situated in Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County.  The new parish would be made up of parts of Holy Angels and Saint Helena in Philadelphia and Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cheltenham.

At the same time as Archbishop O’Hara announced the establishment of Saint Joseph Parish, he also announced the appointment of the founding pastor, Rev. Francis J. Hennegan, then assistant pastor at Saint Gabriel Church in Philadelphia.  Father Hennegan would assume the arduous task of starting the new parish on Friday, June 12, 1953.

We thank God for the abundant blessings that He has bestowed on our parish during these 66 years.  We pray for the many men and women who sacrificed so much to build the parish community that we enjoy being a part of today.  We ask our patron, St. Joseph, to continue to protect our parish family as we continue the mission to build up the Kingdom of God for generations to come.  St. Joseph, pray for us!

For a detailed parish history, click here:

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.