St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Masses for the Week

Your Prayers are Requested

In the kindness of your prayers, please remember the Sick: Julia Esposito, Vera Lahm, Casper Hracho, John Yankech, Mary Riley, Rose Guldan, Jean Moister, Ann Hook, Lyndsey Conner, Helen Simmers, Sarah Hoopes, Mary Scanlon, and Marie Reali.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

This weekend, Confessions will be heard on Saturday, January 23rd, from 5:45 to 6:15pm, prior to the Evening Mass. Next weekend, Confessions will be heard on Sunday, January 31st, from 9:45 to 10:15am, prior to the morning Mass. Also, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available anytime upon request.

Ash Wednesday Approaches

The West End Catholic Parishes will open the Season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, February 17th, with Services throughout the day. At each service, ashes will be blessed and distributed.

In St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, a Mass will be offered at 9:00am, a Service outside of Mass at 12:05pm, and a Mass at 5:30pm.

In St. Joseph Church, a Mass will be offered at 9:30am and a Mass at 7:00pm.

We trust that this advance notice is helpful in your making plans for attending Church Services on Ash Wednesday. Full details regarding Lent 1999 will be announced shortly in both Churches.

Annual Blessing of Throats

Long associated with the Feast of St. Blase, the fourth century martyr and bishop from Armenia, is the annual custom of blessing throats through his intercession. The feast day itself falls mid week (February 3rd), thus we advance the customary blessing to the Masses of the preceding weekend. Next weekend then, January 30th-31st, after Mass, the opportunity will be provided for the individual blessing of throats, a ritual of faith employed for centuries.

Pastoral Council Elections

Please submit your nominations as soon as possible. If you have questions feel free to talk to any of the current members:

Mary Benkovich, Kathy Catanese, Ann Cigas, Kathleen Franciscus, Stella Grubb, Lisa Hillman, Cindy Kousisis, Frank Lasak Jr, Andrea Levenite, Joseph Sandoski, Susan Sandoski, Francis Seymen, Barbara Reczek, and Joseph Trumpelman.

All nominations must be in by February 7th. Additional forms can be found in the church vestibule.

Choir Practice

Just a friendly reminder, both Choirs will begin rehearsals, this Monday, January 25th. The Children's Choir will begin at 6:45pm and the Adult Choir will begin at 7:30pm.

Special Collection Next Weekend

American Bishop's Overseas Appeal

Your offerings for the Bishop's Overseas's Appeal will be taken up next weekend. The principal focus is to respond to human needs worldwide. Victims of natural and man-made disasters are assisted; the plight of the poor eased by supporting self-help programs. Your prayerful support and financial generosity is earnestly requested.

Catholic Relief Services has been working to alleviate poverty, hunger and suffering since 1943. Those who are victims of war, famine, natural disaster and deprivation look to Catholic Relief Services for lifesaving support, confident that need, not creed, is the only criterion for assistance. Daily, Catholic Relief Services works with the poor in over 80 countries, including 100,000 people left homeless in southern Sudan. You can count on Catholic Relief Services rendering service where the need is the greatest and the circumstances most desperate. Please be generous to the Special Collection taken up next weekend, January 30th-31st, to benefit the compassionate works of Catholic Relief Services. Thank you!

Wednesday Night at Overbrook

The Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood is sponsoring an evening for high school young men, designed to offer them some time to think, reflect and question about priesthood. This evening will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, on Wednesday, February 3rd, from 4:30 to 9:00pm. Call Father Joseph Devlin at the Vocation Office (610)667-5778, for details.

A Family Perspective

Like the Corinthians in today's second reading, quarrels and grudges often divide our families and the Church family. This year's millennium preparation theme is reconciliation. How can you assist with the reconciliations needed between family members and between family members and the Church?

Help!

"Repent, for the heavenly reigns is at hand!" With this clarion call Jesus begins his preaching and work, and right away he looks for help. Picking out two pairs of brothers - Simon Peter and
Andrew, then James and John, the sons of Zebedee - he proclaims good news that is not abstract philosophy but the healing life of the Holy Trinity. We are healed, made whole. Our call is to say "Yes" to being healed by the Lord.

Rescheduled 75th Anniversary Meeting

Tuesday, January 26, 1999 @ 7:30pm - St. Joseph’s School Hall

The crunch is on!! We only have three months until the Anniversary Celebration Dinner! This meeting will focus on finalizing plans for the dinner and setting dates for other activities to commemorate the Anniversary year. Although we have been meeting for several months, it’s never too late to join the group. We are planning a variety of fun activities throughout 1999 and will need continuous help and support. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hillman.

Women’s Club News

Please remember our Regular Monthly Meeting of the Women’s Club will be held this Sunday, January 24th, 1999 at 7:30 PM in the School Hall. Refreshments will be served by Pauline Howell and Babes Horenci. We need your attendance and input to plan our spring activities. Looking forward to seeing all of you after your HOLIDAY REST!!