RCIA information

IS GOD CALLING YOU?
 Have you thought about joining the Catholic Church?
 Are you a Catholic who regrets never receiving First Communion or Confirmation?
 Are you married to or dating a Catholic and feeling drawn to learn something more about your partner’s Church?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, God may be calling you to inquire about the next step. Our parish offers adult faith formation sessions, a Bible series and informal Inquiry sessions to help you discover what might work best for you. For more information, please call the parish office this week: 973-761-5933

Important Information for parents of First Communion Children

FIRST COMMUNION IN 2012?

We invite children of the parish to prepare for and celebrate the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist once they have reached at least the age of seven and have completed one year or more of religious instruction (in a Catholic school or our parish Religious Education program.) We will be contacting the parents of potentially eligible children with information about an enrollment meeting.
If your child attends a Catholic school , please call the rectory early this week for information about preparing for First Communion. (Children attending our K-8 Sunday classes will automatically receive an invitation letter if eligible.)

Habitat for Humanity Thank you!!!!

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!

Last Saturday, 3 new volunteers helped in Irvington at the newest Habitat for Humanity construction site. THANK YOU!!! Watch the bulletin for our next volunteer work day. Teenagers must be at least 16 years of age and accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you have any questions about volunteering, contact Gail Laughlin at glaughlin1@gmail.com or 973-313-0055.

Holy Body and Blood of Christ (feast of Corpus Christi)

Benefit Recital

Long time parishioner and Trinity choir member, soprano Amanda Grafton, will present VIVA ITALIA! A concert and history of Italian Art Songs and Arias on Thursday, June 30th at 7:00 pm at St. Joseph Church.



It will be an evening of vocal compositions by Carissimi, Scarlatti, Handel and the popular predecessors Puccini, Verdi, and Mozart. Hear selections from La Bohemme, Rigoletto, Falstaff, Gianni Schicci, Don Giovanni, & Italian Aria Antique. Amanda will be accompanied by esteemed pianist Duk kyu Kim of the Manhattan School of Music.



The concert is free but donations will be accepted with 50% of the proceeds to benefit St. Joseph's Food Pantry and 50% will help sponsor this young singer's summer vocal study in Italy with the Daniel Ferro Voice Conservatory.



Come enjoy some fine music while supporting a worthy cause.

Food Pantry donations

Food Pantry Bags will be available the weekend of July 2 and 3rd. Please retrun bags along with donated items the following weekend July 9 &10th. As always food donations can be left in the back of church at ANY time. We thank you for your support!

Youth Group News 6/23/2011

The St. Joseph Youth Group will meet this Sunday, June 26 from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the Youth Room located in Bernard Hall. This will be the last meeting before the summer break.

50/50 Coming Soon!

One week left to buy the winning ticket!!



Please support this important parish fundraiser. We are counting on the proceeds to help us pay our year end bills. The more tickets sold, the better for our parish and for the lucky winners.



DRAWING DATE IS NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 26TH AT 12:30 PM IN BERNARD HALL.

(you do not need to be present to win)

St Joseph Youth Group News 6/16/2011

The St. Joseph Youth Group will not meet this Sunday, June 19th in observance of Father's Day.

Our last meeting of the year before summer break will take place on Sunday, June 26 from 7:30 to 9pm in the youth room in Bernard Hall.

Happy Father's Day

Pray and Play Summer Hiatus

IT IS SUMMER HIATUS TIME for our parish
LITURGY OF THE WORD WITH CHILDREN and PRE-SCHOOL PRAY & PLAY


Next Sunday, June 26th, will be our last session this summer.
But we will be back in early September!


WOULD YOU PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER HELPING TO LEAD A FEW OF THESE SESSIONS?
We would like to add to our group of leaders when we resume Liturgy of the Word with Children in September. Aides and Team Leaders are also needed for our tots in Pre-School Pray & Play. This is a wonderful way to share a faith experience with the youngest members of our parish. Sessions are based on materials designed for volunteer leaders. We encourage you to think about offering your talent!

Please call Diane Pew or Jennifer Leitner at the rectory 973-761-5933 or speak to us after Mass to let us know if you are interested.

Christian Service and Outreach Updates

Happy Birthday and thank you to our parishioners who in lieu of gifts asked for donations to our Food Pantry!

Thanks to Tuscan School Grade 2 Brownie Troop and the Tuscan Fair Committee for your donations to our Food Pantry and hosting homeless families.

We truly appreciate our Parishioners’ generous support of the IHN Giving Tree. All of the gift tags were taken!

Kudos to the USPS, Morrow Methodist Jr. High Youth Group, St. George’s Episcopal Church and the South Orange Elks for your continued support of our Food Pantry Ministry which helps feed our local brothers and sisters in need.

Parish Volunteers: If you have not yet attended the Protecting God’s Children one evening workshop, please join us Monday evening June, 20th at 7PM in the Rectory Meeting Room. Register online at rcan.org

An Option For The Poor and Vulnerable
Look for details in upcoming bulletins about our August collection of new backpacks and school supplies for children in shelters. Supplies will be distributed through Bridges Outreach, Inc. This Social Justice effort is sponsored by our Religious Education Program and Families.

Call the Parish Office if you would like to help us host families experiencing homelessness
July 10-24
973-761-5933

Confirmation Candidates past and present

Save the date:

Friday, June, 24,2011

BARBEQUE!!!

Youth Group News 6/10/2011

The St. Joseph Youth Group will meet this Sunday, June 12th from 7:30 pm until 9:00 pm in the Youth Room located in Bernard Hall. We will discuss planning for the summer and September. If you have any questions please contact our Youth Minister, Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com.

Confirmation 2012 Candidates

Attention all Confirmation Candidates for 2012

If you have not picked up your Confirmation Packet yet, please do so today, June 10.
It contains very important information about the program that you will need. Also it is necessary for you to make an appointment at the rectory when you pick up the packet to meet with Fr. Manolo, so be sure to stop by ASAP!

Thanks!

Help the Homeless

NJ Statewide homeless count 2011:
12,825
SOURCE: N.J. Corporation for Supportive Housing
Do your part to help host 4-5 homeless families this summer
July 10-24 here at St. Joseph Parish.
Sign up in the vestibule of church.

Attention Teachers!

AN INVITATION FOR TEACHERS
If you have experience as a catechist for children, or if you would like to apply your teaching skills to a Faith Formation context, please contact the office of Faith Formation at 973-761-5933 or email faith@stjosephmaplewood.org Jennifer Leitner or Diane Pew will be happy to talk to you.

Save the date Benefit Recital at St. Joseph Church

BENEFIT RECITAL
Soprano Amanda Grafton will present Viva Italia! A concert and history of Italian Art Songs and Arias, on Thursday, June 30, at 7:00 pm, at St. Joseph Church. It will be an evening of vocal compositions by Carissimi, Scarlatti, Handel and their popular predecessors Puccini, Verdi, and Mozart. Hear selections from La Boheme, Rigoletto, Falstaff, Gianni Schicci, Don Giovanni & Italian Aria Antique! Amanda will be accompanied by esteemed pianist Duk kyu Kim of the Manhattan School of Music. The concert is free but donations will be accepted: 50% of proceeds will benefit St. Joseph’s Food Pantry and 50% will help sponsor this young singer’s summer vocal study in Italy with the Daniel Ferro Voice Conservatory. Come enjoy some fine music while supporting a worthy cause.

Pentecost Sunday Bulletin insert

Men's Cornerstone Alumni

Please join us for an alumni gathering on Friday night June 10th at 7:00 pm in Bernard Hall to celebrate the birth of the Church aka PENTECOST!

This will be the last gathering until the fall. Spouses are invited!

There will be a prayer service and a reflection on the Gospel for Pentecost, followed by an update on Cornerstone III and other upcoming events. We will then have a social hour with refreshements.

Please RSVP to Dblaesser@gmail.com

Knights of Columbus to meet

Founders day celebration will be on Sunday, June 12th at 2:00 pm in Bernard Hall.

The next meeting of the Regina Pacis Council is on Monday, June 13th at 8 pm. Election of officers for the next Columbian Year will take place. Please come and vote!

ST. JOSEPH YOUTH GROUP LATEST INFO as of 6/2/2011

The St. Joseph Youth Group will meet this Sunday, June 5th from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the youth room located in Bernard Hall.

We will be discussing our summer service project opportunities as well as a trip to Great Adventure.

Make sure you stop by and check out all the good things happening with the group! New members are always welcome!

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SAVE THE DATE

Our next Habitat for Humanity volunteer work day is Saturday, June 18th. Volunteers will be working in West Orange or Irvington.

Teenagers must be at least 16 years of age and accompanied by a parent or guardian. A sign up sheet is located in the back of church on the bulletin board next to the Children's Chapel.

If you have any questions about volunteering, contact Gail Laughlin at
glaughlin1@gmail.com or 973-313-0055.

St. Joseph's Rosary Society

The next meeting of the Rosary Society will be on Monday, June 6th at 12:30 pm in the rectory meeting room. Lunch will be served.

Food Pantry Information

If you are interested in helping at the Food Pantry, sort night is Monday, June 13th and pack night is Thursday, June 16th.

Volunteers meet both nights at 7:00 pm in the house at 241 Hilton Ave. (Between the school parking lot and the church)

Distribution and delivery to seniors is Saturday, June 18th at 10:00 am.

New volunteers are always welcome!

Protecting God's Children Workshop

Protecting God’s Children Workshop for Parish volunteers
Save the date: Monday, June 20th 7pm-9:30pm
Register at rcan.org

7th Sunday of Easter Bulletin flap

Find out about the Interfaith Hospitality Network at St. Joseph's

Perhaps you've seen the Christmas tree in church, or have heard the buzz about IHN coming this summer and wondered what it's all about!


Well, wonder no more! Join us this Sunday, June 5th from 10:15-11:15 to hear Kanani Briggs who is the IHN (Interfaith Hospitality Network) Volunteer Manager speak about the network and answer your questions about ways you can help. Light refreshements will be served so be sure to stop down to Bernard Hall between the masses this Sunday.


The Giving Tree is up, and tags are available for you to take and donate items, gift cards to help the families who are experiencing homelessness and who will be our guests this summer fro 2 weeks in July. All donations should be returned by Father's day, June 19th.