St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Weekly Bulletin for December 28th, 1997

Masses for the Week

Monday
12/29 9am		 Mass at St. Joseph's Church
Tuesday
12/30 9am		 Mass at St. Joseph's Church
Wednesday
12/31 6:30pm		 Mary Zevtchin (St. Joseph's Women's Club)
Thursday
1/01 10:30am		 Joseph Yankech (Branson Family)
Friday
1/2 9am		 Mass at St. Joseph's Church
Saturday
1/3 6:00pm		 Helen Bullock (St. Joseph's Women's Club)
Sunday
1/4 10:30am		 Father Cyril Ponisciak (Steffie & Bob Levenite)

Announcements

Donations in memory of Frank Zolenski, Jr. have been received and are gratefully acknowledged from James McInerney and Angelyn Cisarik

Ring in the New Year by celebrating your love for each other on a Marriage Encounter Weekend. Upcoming dates are January 23rd-25th, February 13th-15th, March 20th-22nd and April 24th-26th. For more information, call 1-800-4LOVE30.

The Archdiocesan Boys Choir of Philadelphia is pleased to announce the release of their Christmas CD, "Christmas Midnight Mass," now available at local religious goods stores or by contacting Mrs. Thea Goebel at (610)284-1614. This is a wonderful opportunity to obtain a beautiful tribute to our Savior's birth, as well as to support the talented young men who serve as representatives of our entire Archdiocese.

Special thanks...

...to our Parish participants in the "Trees of Love" program.

...to those who made the dinner at St. Joe's a success.

...to our Adult and Children's Choirs, to our organists and Music Director, during this Christmas season.

...to those who decorated our church so beautifully for the Christmas season.

...and to all who were present at all of the Christmas Masses and for your generous donations to St. Joseph's.

May the Prince of Peace, The Christ Child, dwell in your hearts, your family and the world this 1998 and achieve a true peace on earth ---God Bless You All!

New Year's Masses

New Year's Masses Honoring Mary, Mother of God

New Year's Eve, December 31st

Sung Vigil Mass, 6:30pm

New Year's Day, January 1st

Sung Mass of the Feast 10:30am

There will be no evening Mass offered on New Year's Day.

A Family Perspective

The Holy Family in today's Gospel had to deal with normal family tensions. Jesus "took-off" without permission and Mary and Joseph had to reprimand Him. Jesus caused His parents "great anxiety" and His explanation didn't satisfy them. Anxiety is normal in families. It is in these pressured moments that we are called to keep our cool. Be patient and try to understand one another.

Loss Conference

Sunday, March 1st, 1998 Archbishop Carroll High School, Radnor

For separated and divorced persons, widows and widowers, anyone who has experienced a significant loss. For clergy, pastoral ministers, health care providers, funeral directors, religious educators, and teachers, volunteers, and all who provide comfort to the bereaved. Presenter: Rev. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.

Do you know your Tribunal?

The Tribunal is a group of specially qualified priests, sisters, and lay persons. Their responsibility is to come to the help of persons who are the victims of unfortunate marriage situations.

When a divorce occurs, the Catholic Church is always caught between two tensions. One is the unbreakableness of the bond of marriage. Jesus Himself said: "What God has joined, man must not divide". This is God's law. It cannot be broken by human intervention.

On the other hand, the Church must be concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people involved, Can they be helped? Was this a true marriage? Even though the parties went through a Catholic marriage ceremony, was there some weakness in the consent of one or both of the persons involved?

The annulment procedure is designed to study the history of the marriage and why it failed. It does not affix the blame. If the marriage is annulled both parties are free.

If you could be helped, or have a friend or acquaintance who might be helped, please suggest that the person call the Tribunal. The Tribunal will be happy to forward an application. Have no fear. All interviews are private. There are no confrontations. The Tribunal, 222 North 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215)587-3750.

Family Life Information

Natural Family Planning - classes are held in Chester County and at the Family Life Office on the campus of St. Charles Seminary, Wynnewood. For a schedule, call the Family Life Office (610)660-*9002.

Separated & Divorced Catholics - support group meeting at SS. Peter & Paul, East Goshen, on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, at 8pm.

Encourage - support group for parents, relatives, and friends of homosexual persons. Meets monthly. For information, call Courage/Encourage at 215-587-4505. Confidentiality is assured.

Courage - spiritual support group for homosexual men and women seeking to live according to the Church's teaching on sexuality. Meetings held weekly. For information, call Courage/Encourage, (215)587-4505. Confidentiality is assured.