St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Masses for the Week

Altar Server's Schedule

Announcements

The following memorials for Rose Kozacheson have been received and are gratefully acknowledged: Rose Guldan, Mary K. Sabocsik, and Mildred A. Stimac.

We would like to welcome Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Conahan and Mr. Carl Meier into our parish family community.

This weekend's Special Collection benefits the Catholic Relief Services, whose principal focus is to respond to human need worldwide. CRS does this by assisting victims of natural and man-made disasters, by easing the plight of the poor and by supporting self-help programs. By your prayerful support and financial generosity to CRS, you participate in sharing the love of Jesus with our sisters and brothers most in need.

Next month brings the 10th Anniversary of the Installation of His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua as Archbishop of Philadelphia. A special Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral-Basilica is planned for February 8th, with each Parish of the Archdiocese represented by two parishioners. Andrea Levenite and Frank Lasak Jr, our representatives on the Cluster Pastoral Planning Committee who served with distinction, have accepted the invitation to carry our Parish honor to His Eminence's Anniversary Celebration. They also take our collective best wishes and good prayers with them.

Because Father Hagen and Father Oulds will, for the most part, be alternating the weekend Masses between them, the opportunity for confession will likewise alternate; i.e., one weekend Saturday, the next weekend Sunday. Please note that this coming weekend, the Sacrament of Penance will be available on Sunday, February 1st, from 9:45am until 10:15am.

Those volunteers in service to our Parish Family who have not yet responded to the Appreciation Dinner Invitation are requested to do so at their earliest opportunity. Final number of participants and entree selections must be established by Monday of this week. The favor of a response would be appreciated.

The St. Charles Seminary Annual Appeal is scheduled for February 7th-8th. Please be as generous as possible in assisting our Archdiocesan Seminary in preparing future priests for Ordination. You may send your donation to the Seminary or drop your envelope in the collection basket on the designated weekend.

God's Word Is Not An Uncle

"The word of the Lord." "Thanks be to God". In our ritual exchange, what power we release! God's word is "an earthquake, not an uncle," to adapt a Yiddish proverb. The returning Jewish exiles wept as they heard the long-lost words of the Law. The people of Nazareth are transfixed as Jesus proclaims from the scroll of Isaiah. As today's psalm intones: "Your words, Lord, are spirit and life." The spirit is Christ's. The life is ours. The gospel we proclaim in our assembly is a word incarnate: It is a word taking on our flesh as we become what we believe.

Pastoral Council Update

The purpose of a pastoral council is to meet with the pastor periodically to discuss various issues that concern the spiritual well being of the parish. Since Father John's appointment as administrator of our parish, we have been meeting with him on a monthly basis to discuss these issues.

Our initial meetings dealt with adjusting to the new realities of our parish--the loss of Father Cy and sharing a priest with another parish. We discussed how we could best accommodate Mass schedules between the two parishes. There were also some concerns raised about what else, if anything, could be done to get a full time pastor assigned to our parish. An important part of these early meetings was getting to know Father John and understanding his wishes for the future of the parish.

In addition to discussing issues in our own parish, we also discussed ways to become involved in the activities of the Archdiocese as well. These discussions led to the bus trip for the evangelization service at the Cathedral in October and attendance by parishioners at the Parish Life Congress in November.

Our goal in the coming year will be to review our parish plan. The purpose of this review will be to recognize what has been accomplished and make any changes based on the current parish needs. We plan to complete this review by June of this year.

Please watch the bulletin for future updates on the activities of the pastoral council. If you have any questions about the pastoral council, please give me a call at 857-1327. Thank you.

Frank A. Lasak, Jr.
Pastoral Council Vice Chairperson

A Family Perspective

In today's Gospel, St. Luke says he has carefully traced all the events in Jesus' life. Baby books set out to do the same thing but get out of date eventually. How about updating those books this winter, telling the stories that go with them? These stories are the scriptures of our home churches.

Cadillac Dinner

CACES Development Committee is sponsoring the First Annual "Cadillac Dinner" on February 21st at Festivities in Exton. Tickets are going fast - only 29 tickets are available. Don't miss out on your chance to win $5,000.00. Twenty additional cash prizes awarded. For tickets and information, call Bob and Diane Ward at 383-5571, Anita Mazzula, Eileen Weaver at 383-1970, or Rita Fantanarosa at 384-2188.

Day of Renewal

MOM-Heart of the Home - Day of Renewal - Saturday, March 21, 1998 at Archbishop Carrol High School, Radnor, PA 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. For Registration Form and more information please refer to the material located on the table in the vestibule of the church.

Help Needed

The COMBONI MISSIONARY SISTERS located at 58 South 6th Avenue, Coatesville are in need of a Baby Dresser and Crib/Mattress for a needy family. If you can help them, please call 380-9229.

Women’s Club News

Regular Meeting - Monday, January 26th, 7:30 in the school hall. We look forward to seeing you to help us plan our spring activities.