St. Joseph Food Pantry Info

FOOD PANTRY
Put your Lenten intentions into action and join us in helping with the Food Pantry. The next sort night will be on Monday, March 12 and the pack night will be Thursday, March 15th both at 7 p.m. in the house next to the school parking lot. Distribution of the food will be on Saturday, March 17 at 10 a.m. New volunteers are always welcome!

Used Book Drive

USED BOOK DRIVE– A WORK OF MERCY
Spearheaded by the 2nd and 3rd Grade Religious Education Classes in continuation of St. Joseph Parish tradition of social justice and community outreach. Please donate your gently-used children’s books and adult novels to the needy.

Most welcome are:
lightly used picture/chapter books,
unused activity/coloring books,
adult fiction and child-rearing books

Please place donations in the decorated Book Drive Drop Boxes located at the main entrances to St. Joseph Church on Sundays after Mass, or in St. Joseph School cafeteria during February and March

They who oppress the poor show contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31

All You Can Eat Breakfast!

ALL YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST
 On the second Sunday of each month, the South Orange Elks holds an all-you-can-eat breakfast, which is open to the public. The price is $7.00 per person. The money is donated to charity. The Elks are located at 220 Prospect Street in South Orange. The next breakfast will be on Sunday, March 11th. From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Stations of the Cross

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Every Friday of Lent at 7:30 P.M .

The Stations of the Cross is a popular devotion used by individual Catholics who wish through prayer and reflection to follow Jesus Christ on His way to Calvary. Many Christians practice the devotion, but the Stations hold a special significance among Roman Catholics. It is one of the most important devotions honoring the passion of Jesus.

What matters most in the Stations of the Cross is to follow Jesus Christ in His passion and to see ourselves mirrored in Him. To face life's dark side in ourselves and in our world, we need images of hope, and Jesus offers images of hope in His passion. By accompanying Him on the Way of the Cross, we gain His courageous patience and learn to trust in God who delivers us from evil.

Handicraft Sale

HANDICRAFT SALE

March 24th and 25th, 2012
This fair trade economic justice project of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd will be selling fair trade handcrafts made by women throughout the developing world. Your support of HCJ’s partners makes a tremendous difference in their lives, supporting their efforts to live a dignified life and provide food, education and shelter to their families. Please join us in promoting fair trade at this sale, following all masses.

HandCrafting Justice Inc. is a fair trade project partnering with women in 20 developing countries. The mission of HandCrafting Justice is to market women’s handcrafts and raise awareness about the root causes of poverty, gender inequality, and social issues. To learn more and to shop online, please visit www.handcraftingjustice.org.

Youth Group News 02/20/12

St. Joseph Youth Group will meet this Sunday, February 26th in the youth room located in Bernard Hall.  All high school students are welcome to attend, we will be discussing our participation in Living Stations of the Cross, the upcoming parish youth retreat on March 24th and much more.  For more information please email our youth minister Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com..
Confirmation Candidates: Living Stations of the Cross practice will begin in March with practices starting at 7:00 p.m. in the church on March 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th.  For questions: Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com.

OPEN ARMS MINISTRY TO MEET

NOTE NEW DAY AND TIME FOR THIS MEETING!
Open Arms is a welcoming spirituality group for gay and lesbian Catholics and our families and friends. Join us for a special gathering on Tuesday, March 6, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., in the rectory. We will look at Lent readings and share ways of making Lent more meaningful. If you would like more information, please contact Dugan McGinley at
dmcginley@stjosephmaplewood.org.

Parish Community Day! Save the date!!!

CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH

A parish festival celebrating the Cultural Heritage and Diversity of our Parish Family

SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2012
4-7 P.M. BERNARD HALL

POT LUCK DINNER
featuring
INTERNATIONAL CUISINE FROM OUR PARISH FAMILY!

Pancake Breakfast

PARISH
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
in the spirit of Mardi Gras
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19th
AFTER ALL MASSES
in Bernard Hall

Boy Scout Troop #21 is once again offering this event as a gift to our parish. They will be serving a delicious menu of sausage, pancakes, juice and coffee to all parishioners. Join as we observe the ancient pre-Lent tradition of feasting before we begin our season of fasting on Ash Wednesday (February 22nd.) Whether you call it Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Carnivale, it is time to gather, celebrate community and enjoy God’s gift of food and fun.

Knights of Columbus to meet

REGINA PACIS COUNCIL #4066 K of C

The next meeting of Regina Pacis Council of the Knights of Columbus will be on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 8:00 p.m., at the Council Home. Men of the parish are invited.
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Youth Group News 02/07/12

YOUTH GROUP NEWS
St. Joseph Youth Group will meet this week on Sunday, February 12th from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the house that hosts the food pantry which is the building next to the gym.  Permission slips for the snow tubing trip to Mountain Creek for Sunday February 19th are due at this meeting.
Confirmation Candidates Living Stations of the Cross practice will begin in March with practices starting at 7:00 p.m. in the church on the following dates; March 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th.  If you have any questions or would like more information, please email our youth minister Tom Berrios at tomberros@hotmail.com



Confirmation Candidates Living Stations of the Cross practice will begin in March with practices starting at 7:00 p.m. in the church on the following dates; March 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th.  If you have any questions or would like more information, please email the parish youth minister Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com

Food Pantry Information

If you are interested in helping at the Food Pantry, volunteers are meeting to sort Monday, February 13th and pack on Thursday, February 16th. Volunteers meet both nights at 7:00 p.m. in the house at 241 Hilton Ave. (between the school parking lot and the church). Distribution and delivery to seniors is Saturday, February 18th, at 10:00 a.m. Give someone in need the gift of your time!

Youth Group News 2/6/12

YOUTH GROUP NEWS
St. Joseph Youth Group will not meet this week, Sunday, February 5th.  Our next meeting will take place on Sunday, February 12th from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the house that hosts the food pantry which is the building next to the gym.  We will be finalizing our plans for the snow tubing trip to Mountain Creek for Sunday February 19th.
Confirmation Candidates Living Stations of the Cross practice will begin in March with practices starting at 7:00 p.m. in the church on the following dates; March 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th.  If you have any questions or would like more information, please email the parish youth minister Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com

Intergenerational Valentines Gathering

POLO (Parent’s of Little Ones)
INTERGENERATIONAL VALENTINE EVENT
On Sunday, February 12th, POLO will have our Intergenerational Valentine get together. Come join us in creating Valentine’s Day cards for our homebound parishioners. We will be meeting immediately after the 9 a.m. Mass. You can plan on it lasting for about 1-1 1/2 hours, but feel free to stay for as long as you can. We’d love to see you for some fellowship and outreach. Since Bernard Hall is under repair, please check with our organizer Mary Riesett at 973-313-9670 or call the parish office later in the week to find out if the location needs to be changed.

Men's Cornerstone Alumni

MEN’S CORNERSTONE ALUMNI
PRE-LENTEN RETREAT
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Beginning with a Mass at 9 AM and concluding at 3 PM
Organized, facilitated and presented by the
CORNERSTONE 3 TEAM
Come and continue to be held in the grace of brotherhood. Experience the joy of being seen, heard and honored for the deep man you are. During our time together we will rediscover the strength of our vulnerability and the wonder of our gifts. The freedom we seek requires only that we accept ourselves. And yet this is a journey that, when taken in solidarity with other men, brings us very quickly to the prize.
A light lunch will be served for a free will donation.

WOMEN'S CORNERSTONE REUNION

SISTERS OF CORNERSTONE I & II REUNION
On Wednesday, February 15th at 7:00 p.m. all participants of the first two Cornerstone retreats are invited to gather at St. Joseph’s Bernard Hall for an evening of reflection, renewal, and socialization. Please set aside time to join us as we recall a special time shared in the past, and begin a new chapter of sisterhood allowing our Christian community to grow. A donation of $5-$10 is requested.

Tracy Grafton, MSW, LSW Hospice and Oncology Counselor will be the guest speaker for the evening. RSVP to Beverly Mozone at mozonebee@yahoo.com or call 973-763-0973.

New Icon

BLESSING and DEDICATION of the ICON of ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA – FEBRUARY 11/12
You may have noticed the icons of OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, ST. MARTIN de PORRES and SAN LORENZO RUIZ DE MANILA at the Holy Family shrine. ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA will be the new addition in our commitment to assuring that every person is represented in our church and recognized as integral to the Body of Christ. St. Josephine Bakhita is a Sudanese-born former slave who became a Roman Catholic Canossian nun in Italy, living and working there for 45 years. In 2000, she was canonized by Blessed John Paul II. Her feast day is on February 8.

Youth Encounter

A day of gathering for our parish teens where they share faith, witness to the power of Christ’s love, and come to appreciate a whole new way of living their religious values.

The weekend’s message is simple. It poses the three questions every young Christian must ask: Who am I? What am I to do? How am I to do it? The encounter takes up God’s gift of Grace and our response in Faith. It examines the way Holiness, Christian Study, and Christian Action are used as tools as Christians attempt to live the life of Christ.


March 24th 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Lenten Series at St. Joseph's

Growing in Christ
THREE TUESDAYS OF MARCH
7:30 to 9:00 P.M.

March 13 – Prayer: A Call to Holiness
March 20 – Visualization in Prayer: Making Prayer Practical
March 27 – Examining the Road to Perfection: “Be perfect as
your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Rev. Fr. Jim Tortora, Ph.D.
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Newark
Speaker and Facilitator

Each of us is on a spiritual journey.  In the heart of every person is a God-shaped vacuum that can only be filled by God Himself.  God's desire is that each of us have our heart filled with His love through the person of Jesus Christ.  God sees us as a precious treasure, and He longs to have a close relationship with us. More than anything He wants us to have an intimate love relationship and friendship with Him. God wants us to spend time with Him and intimately communicate with Him, to enjoy fellowship with Him, to trust and follow Him, and to give your life meaning and purpose by giving you the privilege of joining Him in His work.
Do you desire a deeper and closer relationship and friendship with God? Is your desire to know Him and to please Him growing? Do you know that hearing God's voice is by far the most important part of your prayer & fellowship time with God ? God needs to touch our hearts so that Jesus is our 1st Love, and so that we will faithfully and passionately seek Him and follow Him, however and wherever He may lead us.

Burning of Palms

From PALMS to ASHES
-the Rite of Burning of Palms for Ash Wednesday

To reinforce the origin and symbolism of the ashes used on Ash Wednesday, we invite all of our parishioners to gather their old palms from Palm Sunday 2011. Please place all old palms in the container in the back of the church. Our confirmation candidates will lead us during the Rite of Burning on Saturday, February 18, at 6:30 p.m. to remind us that “dust we are and to dust we shall return” The resulting ashes will be used on Ash Wednesday, February 22, on which Lent begins. Come and burn your own piece of palm as an expression and confirmation of a Lenten resolution you have made.