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

Annual Blessing of Throats

This weekend, after each Mass, the opportunity is provided for the individual blessing of throats. This is an annual custom long associated with the Feast of St. Blase, the 4th century martyr and bishop from Armenia, which falls this week on February 3rd. We invoke the saint’s intercession to deliver us from ailments of the throat and from every other evil.

Special Collection This Weekend

Your offerings for the American Bishop’s Overseas Appeal, known also as the Catholic Relief Services, will be taken up this weekend. Victims of war, famine, natural disaster and deprivation worldwide benefit from this Annual Appeal. Thank you for your generous, compassionate response!

Vocaton Retreat Weekend

A Discernment Retreat, sponsored by the Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood, will be conducted over the weekend of February 26th-28th at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook. College age and young adult men and high school seniors are invited to participate. For further details, call Father Joseph Devlin at 610/667-5778.

Lenten Publications Coming

To assist you in your observance of the Lenten Season this year, appropriate publications will be distributed to our households at next weekend’s Masses, February 6th-7th. Two pieces are especially featured: the smaller booklet offers reflections for each day of Lent based on the daily Mass readings; the other publication is magazine-like in appearance with much to offer families. Select the publication of your choice next weekend.

Choir Practice

Reminder, Children's Choir will begins at 6:45pm, the Adult Choir will begin at 7:30pm. Adults please remember to turn in your Christmas Music.

75th Anniversary Celebration

Preparations advance for the crown event marking our Parish Jubilee Year: the Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving and gala Dinner Dance on Sunday, April 25th. Please circle that date on your calendar and plan to join with our Parish Family for this festive celebration. In mid-March, formal invitations will be mailed to all our households; an appropriate reply card will be enclosed. Certainly you will want to be a part of this significant moment in time when a remembering, rejoicing, renewing people celebrate their 75th Anniversary as a community of faith.

In connection with our 75th Anniversary Celebration ...

• We encourage those families who have not picked up their Magnetic Boards to do so.
• Please remember our Hometowne Collectibles images of our past and present churches. To place an order, please contact Andrea Levenite. Cost: $15.00 each or a set for $25.00. Don’t miss out on this beautiful souvenier of our 75th Anniversary.
• Anniversary T-Shirt, Sweatshirts, etc., can still be ordered by calling Mary Frances Johnson. We all will certainly want to have a T-Shirt to wear to our Third Annual Parish Picnic which is scheduled in June.

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Annual Appeal

The St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Annual Appeal is scheduled for February 13-14th. Please be as generous as possible in assisting our Archdiocesan Seminary in preparing future priests for Ordination. You may mail your donation directly to the Seminary or drop your envelope in the collection basket on the designated weekend.

C.A.C.E.S Cadillac Dinner

Coatesville Area Catholic Elementary School Development Committee is holding it’s 2nd Annual Cadillac Dinner on Saturday, February 20th at the Festivities Room in Exton. Tickets are $100.00 per person with a Grand Prize of $5,000. Profits are used to make capital improvements and other additional programs for C.A.C.E.S.

Persons interested in purchasing tickets or additional information, please contact Cindy or Stamate Kousisis.

Devon Prep Open House

Devon Preparatory School will hold an Open House on Sunday, February 7th, beginning at 1:00 PM. Devon’s SCHOLARSHIP AND ENTRANCE TEST will be offered on Saturday, February 20th, and Sunday, February 21st, at 8:30 AM. For further information, please call the Director of Admissions at 610/688-7337.

A Family Perspective

Family stories often reveal characteristics like those Jesus mentions in the Sermon on the Mount. Try to spend some time this week reviewing your family "scriptures," looking for the poor in spirit, the peacemakers, the persecuted, etc. Those are our family saints.

Scheduled Meetings for the Month of February 1999

• 75th Anniversary Meeting
  Tuesday, February 9th, 7:00 PM
  in the School Hall
• Photo Session for Church Directory
  Wednesday, February 10th
• Pierogie Making Session
  Saturday, February 13th - 8:00 AM
• Pastoral Council Meeting
  Tuesday, February 16th - 7:30 PM
  in the Rectory
• Women’s Club Meeting
  Sunday, February 21st - 7:00 PM
• Pierogie Making Session
  Saturday, February 27th - 8:00 AM

Also, please mark your calendars - our ANNUAL EASTER BAZAAR will be held on Sunday, April 21st.