St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Masses for the Week

Altar Servers

Donations

The following memorials are being gratefully acknowledged:

Appeal Sunday

After decades of religious oppression, people are now free to practice their faith in Central and Eastern Europe. Yet the Church they "awoke to" was unprepared: there were no structures in place, no religious instruction, no charitable agencies. Next week you will have the opportunity to contribute for their needs and help revive Catholicism in this land where the faith goes back for centuries. You can help them move from darkness to light. Please be generous.

Mass Opportunities During Lent

Daily Morning Mass, Monday through Saturday, is offered at 9'oclock, alternating weekly between St. Joseph Church and St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. On two nights of the week, evening Mass is celebrated on Tuesdays at 7:00pm, in St. Joseph Church; on Wednesdays at 5:30pm, in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.

Lenten Way of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross Devotion, a venerable Lenten exercise, will be conducted in both churches on Thursdays at 1:15pm with the school children participating. On Saturdays, immediately following the 9:00am Mass, the Stations of the Cross Devotion will be conducted in the Church designated as the Worship Site for that week.

Communal Penance Service in Lent

As Easter nears, on Monday, March 30th, a Lentel Communal Penance Service will be conducted at 7:00pm in St. Joseph Church. At the conclusion of the Service, based on the Way of the Cross, several priests will be available for the individual hearing of confessions. We welcome your participation.

Lenten Almsgiving

Operation Rice Bowl invites your participation during Lent to assist in feeding the world's starving and malnourished people. Your kind donation may be placed in the specially marked receptacles in the rear of the Church. Thank you!

Passion-Palm Sunday

In commemoration of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem prior to His death, palms will be blessed and distributed at the weekend Masses of Passion Palm Sunday, April 4th & 5th. The Saturday evening Mass will be celebrated at the usual 6:30pm time. The Sunday morning Mass, however, will be celebrated at 10:45am, 15 minutes later than usual time, to allow Father John the additional quarter-hour or so to complete the Solemn Liturgy at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. Thank you for your understanding; kindly note the slight change in schedule for that day only.

Weekend Confessions

Please keep in mind that the hearing of confessions alternates between Saturday and Sunday. This weekend, the Sacrament of Penance will be offered on Saturday, March 21st, 5:45 to 6:15pm; next weekend on Sunday, March 29th, 9:45 to 10:15am.

CCD News

There will be NO CCD classes next Sunday, March 29th, due to the Women's Club Spring Bazaar. Classes will resume on Sunday, April 5th.

Thank you to All

What a fine, wonderful spirit was in evidence from all who participated in last weekend's Annual Eucharistic Devotion! A steady stream of worshipers kept prayerful watch throughout the hours of adoration on both days. Choir members and organists were at their best in providing beautiful, appropriate music for the various Services. Altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, lectors and elementary school children added to the solemnity of the occasion. Completing our Eucharistic Devotion was the bountiful hospitality of the St. Joseph Table, assembled by the Women's Club with Fran Shesko organizing the culinary efforts of many talented cooks. Thank you to all who participated in this yearly parish event, marking our homage to Jesus, the Bread of Life, and St. Joseph, our heavenly Patron.

Pastoral Council Meeting

The monthly Pastoral Council Meeting was held this past Monday. The agenda focused on the ways that we are building up our parish as a Christian community and how we are serving the greater community outside of the parish. The topic of Christian community led to a discussion on the lack of handicapped accessibility to the parish hall. No resolution was reached on any actions at this time. The work of the Comboni Sisters and ways that we could support their work was discussed as a way for our parish to support a visible Catholic presence serving the needs of the people of Coatesville. The final issue on the agenda was a discussion of the need to rotate new members onto the council. The Archdiocesan guidelines for appointing new members to the pastoral council will be reviewed at the next meeting.

2nd Annual Reunion

CACES Athletic Association announces its 2nd Annual Reunion. Any graduate from CACES presently in 9th - 12th Grade is welcome to come to North Brandywine on Friday, March 27th at 6:00 until ? for a boys and girls basketball game. Experience not necessary, come out and see old friends and enjoy the night. Hope to see a lot of familiar faces!

A Special Invitation

His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua is inviting all our parish workers and church volunteers to join with him and representatives from all the other Parishes of the Archdiocese in a major event recognizing 1998 as the "Year of the Holy Spirit". It will be held on Pentecost Sunday, May 31st, at 2:30pm, in the Pavilion of Villanova University. A Festive Mass will be offered, featuring the Confirmation of Adults, a Salute to the Virgin Mary and the Honoring of Parish Workers and Church Volunteers. We shall be glad to provide bus transportation to and from this event for those attending. A commitment is needed by this Wednesday, March 25th, however, since the Cardinal's personal invitation will be forwarded to all who plan to participate. Kindly make your reservation for "Pentecost '98" by calling Miss Andrea Levenite. Your helping to give us representation at this major Archdiocesan event is genuinely appreciated; we certainly desire to have a delegation in attendance.

Annual Spaghetti Dinner

St. Cecilia's Family Life would like to invite you and your family, friends, and neighbors to their Annual Spaghetti Dinner. St. Cecilia's is located on 6th Avenue & Diamond Street. This will take place in their school cafeteria on April 4th, 1998 from 3-7:00pm. The price is $8.00/Adults, $6.00/Children, and FREE/Children 4 and Under. The menu includes Spaghetti & Meatballs, Salad and Rolls, Dessert and Beverage. There will be take-outs available.

New Creation

The one who tends the sty becomes the prince feted in his father's love. Jesus says the action of the forgiving father is not a fairy tale; Jesus says it is how God treats repentant sinners. In God's love we are a new creation, not because we deserve to be but because God is good. The call to conversion is at the heart of Lent. We turn from the craze of the moment to the deep satisfaction that lasts for all time. The corruptible world is passing, and what is coming is the very goodness of God. Taste and see!

Women's Club News

Don’t forget the EASTER/SPRING BAZAAR next weekend (March 29th)9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

We can’t do it without your support. We hope to have a great bake table (please don’t forget to bake Ladies), also crafters will be present, plus our Craft Table. Many activities are being planned for the children, so please bring them to the Bazaar. The $500 chance returns are coming in quite nicely, however, there are still a few to be returned. Please try to do it this weekend. If you are able to sell more, please contact Ann Cigas. We are still accepting a few take-out orders for pierogies and stuffed cabbage but we are getting very close to a sell-out.

Regular Monthly Meeting

Will Be Moved to Wednesday, MARCH 25th where the program will be Making Kiefli. No experience is necessary, we will teach you. A brief meeting will be held, if necessary.

Schedule

The rest of our schedule this week is as follows:

• Friday, March 27th - Cook Cabbage and Set Up Tables
• Saturday, March 28th - Make Stuffed Cabbage and continue to set up tables
• (We need many hands to make the Stuffed Cabbage. Please come help.)
• Sunday, March 29th - The Bazaar - Thank you in advance for your support.

Card Party

The next project of The Women’s Club - Our Annual Card Party on Monday, MAY 5th. It’s not too early to organize your party. Tickets are $5.00 for a wonderful evening of fun and prizes. We will also have a BINGO GAME. For Reservations please call Mary Benkovich.