St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Masses for the Week

Reminder

Please use your envelopes for the Archdiocesan High School collection the weekend of March 7th & 8th. Please be generous. The amount collected is not included in the ordinary income of the parish but will be deducted from the parish Diocesan Assessment.
Donations

The following memorials are being gratefully acknowledged:

Our sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Jean Cisarik who passed away last week. May she enjoy eternal peace.

The Look of Lent

The Church Sanctuary in its appearance betrays that we are now observing the Lenten Season. Gone are the flowers and greens, replaced by a solitary container of barren branches. Tall violet banners keep silent watch on either side of the Altar. Our joyful "Alleluias" lie in mock burial on the side altar, shrouded in the color of penance. With Jesus, we are forty days in the desert, doing battle with the death-dealing Devil and all things deadly. We pray to emerge triumphant when the Tree of our Defeat shall become our Tree of Victory.

Adult Choir

During the season of Lent, we will be holding our weekly rehearsals for the Adult Choir after the special Lenten Mass on Tuesdays. We have a very short time to prepare for the spring services so please make every effort to attend these rehearsals.

Eastern European Pilgrimage

A Pilgrimage is being planned to Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic from July 20th to July 31st, 1998. Two Archdiocesan priests, Fathers Louis Kolenkiewicz and Andrew McCormick, will act as your spiritual directors over the course of the twelve day trip dedicated to the Divine Mercy Devotion and the Footsteps of Pope John Paul II. Those interested can find brochures in the vestibule or can contact John Baird, Tour Director, at 1-800-264-1110.

Saved!

Ask someone snatched from the brink of death what it means to be saved. You might get an answer different from the dull formulas of religion. Saved means rescued from suffering, isolation, loss, the bleak end of the familiar and known. We are saved for life, relationship, the future. Saved means there will be more. Lent begins with the story of salvation reaching fulfillment. Just as Israel was rescued from slavery in Egypt, we are saved from our slavery to sin and its wage of death. We are given this season to loosen the bonds of temptation by our disciplines. Today we celebrate our freedom as God's children.

Application Forms

The following are available on the table in the vestibule of the church: Faith: Family Style, Making the Most of Pre-Jordan, and An Introduction to Separated and Divorced Catholic Ministry. If interested, please pick up a copy.

Eucharistic Devotion March 14th-15th, 1998

The following is an excerpt taken from the talk that Pope John Paul Il gave during his visit to Ireland in 1979 in regard to Visiting the Blessed Sacrament:

“The visit to the Blessed Sacrament is a great treasure of the Catholic faith. It nourishes social love and gives us opportunities for adoration and thanksgiving, for reparation and supplication. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Exposition an Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Holy Hours and Eucharistic processions are likewise precious elements of your heritage — in full accord with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council? ... It is also my joy to reaffirm before the whole world the wonderful teaching of the Catholic Church regarding Christ’s consoling presence in the Blessed Sacrament: his Real Presence in the fullest sense: the substantial presence by which the whole and complete Christ, God and man, are present (cf. Mysterium Fidei, 39). The Eucharistic, in the Mass and outside the Mass, is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and is therefore deserving of the worship that is given to the living God, and to him alone.”

In the light of these words spoken by the Holy Father, we ask families of the parish to sign-up for adoration before the Blessed Sacrament on the sign-up poster provided in the church vestibule. Adoration times are as follows:

Saturday March 14th 10:30 am - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 15th: 11:30 am - 3:30 p.m.

75th Anniversary Celebration

Lisa Hillman, Chairman - Please don’t forget to fill out and return the Questionnaires that were attached to the Bulletin last week. We look forward to your input. Already we have received a number of good ideas. Thank you. Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 11th in the Rectory Meeting Room at 7:00 PM. Any parishioner is welcome to attend.

Dated Events

Celebrate your 25th, 50th and over 50th Wedding Anniversary with His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua at Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul on Sunday, April 26th, 1998. Posters with registration forms have been sent to your parish.

Women's Club News

Easter/Spring Bazaar - Sunday, March 29th - 9:00 to 2:00. Please join us. Chances on $500 have been either mailed or delivered to all parishioners. If you did not receive them, please call Ann Cigas. We would appreciate your prompt and early return of these tickets. Thank you in advance for your support. We also are looking for donations for the children’s table - we need articles ($1.00-$2.00) to give as prizes for the many activities we are planning for the children. Please contact Carol Ryan or Tina Taylor if you can help us out. Thank you.

Don’t forget to make your reservations for the Eucharistic Devotions Covered Dish with Fran Shesko at your earliest convenience.

Again, Thank you to all who helped make Pierogies this past Saturday. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Patrons for March

Please remember to patronize support the local businesses who have helped to support the Women's Club during the month of March.

Mariano's Catering 383-7475
Located at 717 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, Mariano's can help you will all of your catering needs. They also carrry fresh fruit baskets for every occasion.

Photography by Len 383-1130
Our own fellow parishioner, Len Sabocsik, provides a photography service for all occassions. He does your portraits your way. Please call for an appointment.

Raytik's Upper Level Hair Designs 383-5195
Raytik's are a local hair salon that provides quality service for the entire family.

John & Nancy Pitcherella

FOCCUS Training

What is FOCCUS? FOCCUS is a pre-marital inventory that provides a comprehensive assessment of an engaged couple's readiness for marriage in terms of both strengths and areas for growth in their relationship. A facilitative instrument rather than a predictive test, it is designed to deal with current issues and concerns in marriage and family life preparation.

Why FOCCUS? Because recent national studies indicate that marriage and family life preparation has the greatest effect when a couple has first taken a marriage readiness inventory. The inventory dispels the myth that they are a "perfect" couple, and identifies areas of their relationship on which they can focus their attention.

What does FOCCUS training cover? This workshop is designed for both experienced users and those being introduced to FOCCUS for the first time. It includes insights on using the inventory effectively, and the patterns and topics that FOCCUS discloses and explores.

Where and when are trainings held? Training sessions will take place at the Family Life Office, on the campus of St. Charles Seminary, on: Wednesday, March 11th, 1998 from 7:30 until 9:30pm and on Wednesday, May 20th, 1998, from 1:30 until 3:30pm. (You need to attend only one session).

Who can attend FOCCUS training? Priests, deacons, and their designated lay representatives are all welcome.

How do I register? By calling the Family Life Office to receive a form that needs to be completed and mailed back with payment.

How can I get more information? By calling Eleanor LeGates at the Family Life Office at (610)660-9002.

Family Life Information

Natural Family Planning

Classes are held at St. Charles Seminary, Wynnewood; Assumption B.V.M. Parish, West Grove; St. Joseph Parish, Downingtown; and Queen of the Universe Parish, Levittown. For information and dates, call the Family Life Office at (610) 660-9002.

Courage

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

Encourage

Is a support group for parents, relatives, and friends of homosexual persons. For information call (215)587-4505. Confidentiality is assured.

Separated and Divorced Catholics

Support programs are held throughout the archdiocese. To receive a listing of locations, call the Family Life Office at (610)660-9002.

Marriage Encounter

"The greatest gift we can give our children is our love for one another". To refresh your marital love, make a Marriage Encounter Weekend. For information call 1-800-456-8330.

Bereavement Programs

A directory listing parish/cluster Bereavement Programs is available by calling the Family Life Office at (610)660-9002.