St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Masses for the Week

Daily Mass, Monday through Saturday, during the week of May 23rd thru May 29th, will be offered at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.

Donations have been received and are gratefully acknowledged in memory of ELIZABETH TARAN from Kathryn Magala, Anne & Buddy Mullin, and the Amindan Family.

Your Prayers are Reqested

In the kindness of your prayers, please remember the Sick: Julia Esposito, Vera Lahm, John Yankech, Mary Riley, Lillian Turansky, Jean Moister, Lyndsey Conner, Cecilia Shesko, Betty Meister, Carolyn Pechin and Ann Hook.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

This weekend, Confessions will be heard on Saturday, May 22nd, from 5:45 to 6:15pm, prior to the Evening Mass. Next weekend, Confessions will be heard on Sunday, May 30th, from 9:45 to 10:15am, prior to the Morning Mass. Also, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available anytime upon request.

Manna Bag Collection

Dozens of Manna Bags were returned last weekend, filled with your donations of non-perishable food items, to replenish the empty shelves of our local Emergency Food Cupboard. Thank you for your kind response and compassionate hearts.

Cemetery Mass on Memorial Day

Weather allowing, on Memorial Day, May 31st, in St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery, Waterworks Road, West Caln Township, a Mass will be offered at 9:30am for the repose of the souls of all those buried in this hallowed ground. Participants are asked to gather at the Shrine of the Pieta, in the upper left hand section of the cemetery, and to have a folding lawn chair. Should weather be unfavorable, Mass will be offered in St. Joseph Church at 9:30am, honoring the same special intention. Plan to join us for an observance in keeping with the spirit of our National Holiday.

Corpus Christi Sunday, June 6th

Centuries old, the Solemnity of the Lord's Body and Blood, formerly called "The Feast of Corpus Christi", is observed on Sunday, June 6th. It seems a most appropriate opportunity to bring closure to our Parish Eucharistic Forty Hours Devotion, which was abbreviated when the final day's ceremonies were cancelled due to a winter snow storm. We plan June 6th than to be a Day of Eucharistic Observance. The Blessed Sacrament will be solemnly exposed upon the altar at the conclusion of the Sunday Morning Mass. The Exposition will continue throughout the day until a Closing Service of Prayer at 4:00pm. A special feature of this afternoon Service will be our Procession with the Blessed Sacrament, in which all in the congreagation will be invited to participate. Please plan to take part in some facet of our Corpus Christi Sunday, especially remembering in your prayers the need of increased vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

A Family Perspective

Jesus came to the disciples "on the evening of the first day of the week". For us, that is Sunday night, the end of the Lord's Day. How does your family, "keep holy the Lord's Day"? Is is easy or difficult to distinguish it from any other day of the week?

Community Blood Drive

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will conduct a Community Blood Drive on Thursday, May 27th, from 2:00 until 7:30pm, in the Auditorium of the St. Stanislaus Kostka School Building, Diamond & Church Streets.

Every few seconds, someone nationwide needs blood. By the time we reach age 72, there is a 95% chance we will need blood or blood products. If you are able, please give the gift of life by being a blood donor. Complete the form available on the vestibule table and return, or call the Rectory Office at 384-0360 to schedule a time convenient for you.

Catholic Charities Appeal

To date we have received $6,475.00. However, this figure is not a true representation of the giving! Actually we have received 80 donations out of a possible "over 300 parishioners". The above figures includes a few large donations from several parishioners. To those who have not as yet contributed, we hope you will do so this week. At this point, the amount collected is not as important as the "number of parishioners" who are giving. Please do your fair share by supporting this very important charity. Thank you for your support.

Ann B. Cigas, Chairperson

Attention, Young Mothers

St. Cecilia Church, 6th Avenue & Chestnut Street, will hold a Young Mothers' Hour of Prayer on Monday, May 24th, 1:00 to 2:00pm, offering some quiet time for prayer and reflection devoted to Mary, the Mother of God. Treat yourself to a calm and hushed break from the busyness of the day to glorify the Blessed Virgin in her loving example of caring and creating a home of peace. Babysitting will be available in the lower church facility. For more information, call Barbara Larkins at the Rectory, 384-0422.

Congratulations!

St. Joseph students excel at Bishop Shanahan High School! Our parish recently received notification of the performance of our high school students on the Third Quarter Report. We are particularly proud of those who demonstrated academic excellence. Students who achieved first honors include: Kathryn Catanese '01, and Elizabeth Catanese '99. Marissa Sharif '01 achieved second honors.

Charismatic Prayer Groups

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, East Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester on Friday, May 28th. Prayer & Praise 7:30 and Mass at 8:00. Celebrant The Reverend Monsignor McGettigan.

Seminar Series. To be held in the Maximilian Room at St. Maxilian Kolbe, West Chester. Seminar #1 on June 4th, Seminar #2 on June 11th, Seminar #3 on June 18th, and Seminar #4 on June 25th. All to be held at 8:00pm to 9:00pm.

Calling All Teenagers

Teenagers, Grades 9th thru 12th, are welcome to an End of the School Year Dance on Friday, June 4th, from 7:30 to 11:00pm, in the Social Hall of Our Lady of The Rosary Church, South 17th Avenue. Your $2.50 admission provides music by four bands and CD's. Food, too, will be available. Don't be a couch potato; come out and meet new friends on June 4th. Other Summer Dances will follow on July 23rd and August 20th.

School Choice

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia strongly supports school choice legislation now before the General Assembly in Harrisburg. Please help support school choice by contacting your State Representative and State Senator. Feel free to contact the Archdiocesan Office for Public Affairs (215)587-3677 if you are unsure of who your state legislators are. Also, you may fax a letter of support directly to your legislators from the REACH Alliance website (www.paschoolchoice.org), even without knowing who your legislators are (the computer helps you!) Thank You!

St. Joseph's University Basketball Camp for Girls

Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley will hold her annual Basketball Camp for Girls, ages 8-17, at St. Joseph's University's Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Three great sessions will be offered beginning with Overnight Camp on June 18th-20th (cost $165) and followed by two Day Camps during the weeks of June 21st-25th and July 12th-16th from 9:00am to 3:00pm (cost $175 per week). Each camp will feature an experienced staff of current Hawks and other outstanding players who will provide top notch instruction with an emphasis on fundamentals. Don't miss the fun on Hawk Hill this summer! Call (610)660-1737 for more information and a free brochure!

Women’s Club News

Communion Breakfast for the Women and Young Women of the Parish this Sunday, May 23rd following the 10:30 AM Mass. Please join us for a Group Communion by sitting in the front of the church on the Blessed Mother side.

Breakfast, served by the men of the parish following Mass. A very short business meeting will follow our breakfast rather than coming out again this evening. We hope all of you can stay.