IHN VOLUNTEERS, THANK YOU

The key to our success rests in people like you,who embody the spirit of greatness.
Thanks for your inspiring dedication and tremendous example to the world.

To the organizers through the leadership of Carmen Meades, IHN Parish Coordinator
and Liz Petroccia, Coordinator for Parish Ministries. We want to thank you for your dedication,and being there from the very start.Words cannot convey our gratitude
for your tremendous contribution.

The credit for our good deeds firmly rests with our dedicated volunteers and those who donated time, talent and treasure, for your contributions to our cause,Thank you!

Thank you so much for all of your hard work and to bear witness to love of Christ
was an unexpected perk. We never could have asked for a more dedicated volunteer
and words cannot express how grateful we are to have you here. It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with you. Thank you.

ST. JOSEPH PARISH ONLINE GIVING

L WHAT IS ELECTRONIC GIVING? It is an Electronic Funds Transfer which enables you to have your weekly offering automatically debited from your checking account or credit card through secure transactions over the Internet. You choose how much to give, how often to give, and what method is to be used. You can also make special offertory donations for second collections and special events.

L IS THERE A FEE INVOLVED FOR USING THE PROGRAM? It’s free, convenient and gives you peace of mind knowing that St. Joseph Church will receive your stewardship even if you’re away for the weekend or on vacation.

L IS ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER SAFE? Absolutely. Sensitive account information is rendered unreadable anywhere it is stored, and encrypted anytime it is transmitted via SSL technology. We adhere to the strictest guidelines regarding security of the financial information you provide. Sensitive information is never shared with a third party. We safeguard your system with advanced firewall, thorough anti-virus and aggressive anti-hacking technologies.

L HOW SHOULD I REGISTER? To learn more and to sign up, check out the “Electronic Giving” link on the parish website, www.stjosephmaplewood.org or pick up a leaflet at the doors of the church.

L When you have signed up for the program, you can use the “Electronic Giving Cards” available in the racks at the entrances of the church to drop in the collection basket during Mass instead of Parish Tithing envelope or cash.

L You can access your account at www.parishgiving.org at anytime with the user name and password you created at registration. You can view your contribution history, edit upcoming contributions and change your billing date and/or billing method if necessary.

PREVIEW THE STUFF YOU WANT TO TAKE HOME AT ST. JOSEPH PARISH RUMMAGE SALE 2010

http://picasaweb.google.com/sjpmcommunity/STJOSEPHPARISHRUMMAGESALEPREVIEWOFTHESTUFFONSALEATTHERUMMAGESALE2010#

Want to see the stuff on sale? Open this link to preview the items at on sale at the ST. JOSEPH RUMMAGE SALE 2010. These photos were taken today, June 25, 2010 at 10AM. More stuff are coming today....

http://picasaweb.google.com/sjpmcommunity

Fund Raisers

As the hearts of summer draw near we have our last two major fundraisers going on. Next week after the 11:30 mass our Cash raffle drawing will take place. The winner’s share from the fall raffle was over $6000! Make sure you have a chance to win! Please return your sold tickets to the rectory this week or purchase them at the doors of Church this weekend.

The rummage sale will be held the last weekend in June. Donation will be accepted beginning June 17^th at the school gym. See the other information about the sale on the announcement page of the bulletin.

Finally, an explanation of our on-going grocery card program is available at the doors of the Church. This is an easy way for you to contribute tot eh parish while doing your food shopping. I invite you to pick up one of these flyers if you are unaware or have questions about how the program works.

During these tough times I want to say thank you for all the efforts that are being made to support our Church financially. Thank you for making the effort to do all you can. It goes without saying how important your support is to the on-going mission of our parish!

In God’s Peace and Love,

Fr. Michael

PENTECOST NEXT WEEKEND, MAY 22-23

The PENTECOST SPIRIT BLOWS AFRESH

Be Lit! Pentecost Sunday and every day!

PENTECOST NEXT WEEKEND, MAY 22-23

AT ST. JOSEPH PARISH CHURCH

767 Prospect St., Maplewood, NJ 07040

973-761-5933

Pentecost is the great feast when we celebrate the “birthday of the Church” through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It is not just a solemn celebration. It is a time for vigor, excitement, energy, movement, birth, fresh air and fresh commitment. If Pentecost has a sleepy feel to it in your life, wake up! Indeed, one of the best ways to celebrate it is to do just that: wake up! It’s a time to celebrate and worship. If you regularly go to church, invite someone to go with you for Pentecost Sunday because the Spirit birthed the fellowship of Jesus' disciples on that first Pentecost.

Take some time to think about the gifts the Spirit has given you: 'Is there a way I can use these to build up the community of disciples or help bring healing to others, to the credit of God alone?' The thanks that the Spirit wants for giving gifts is in your using them instead of sitting back and frittering away the opportunities.

We invite your special participation next weekend in two ways:

BRING A SMALL BELL to ring during the Gloria, just as we did during the Holy Triduum, but this time to signal the completion of the Easter Season.

WEAR RED, especially if it is part of clothing that represents your unique ethnic or cultural heritage. Red recalls the tongues of flame in which the Holy Spirit descended on the first Pentecost.

EASTER CELEBRATIONS

EASTER VIGIL

GOOD FRIDAY

HOLY THURSDAY

PALM SUNDAY

MEN'S CORNERSTONE REUNION

HAPPY FEAST DAY TO ALL OF YOU

TODAY IS MARCH 19,
SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH
HAPPY FEAST DAY
TO ALL THE PARISHIONERS OF
ST. JOSEPH PARISH
Please join us in our Parish Celebration
on Sunday, March 21, 2010; 4-7 PM in Bernard Hall.
Join the Fun with Food, Music, Dance and laughter.

Admission is FREE.
Please bring a dish to share that reflects your family heritage.
(main course or casserole to serve 5 or a vegetable dish to serve 10 - large families, bring more).
Please bring food in a disposable aluminum serving pan
to be placed on warmers.
You can also bring your own wine or beer if you wish.
We will provide soda, juice, water, coffee and tea.

ST. JOSEPH PARISH FEAST DAY CELEBRATION

http://picasaweb.google.com/stjosephinformationservice

click the link to view photos of past FAITH COMMUNITY DAYS

If there is just one self-evident fact that presents itself to us time and time gain, it is this – that we belong to this beautiful faith community of St. Joseph Parish- which is filled with diversity!

We are Living Stones; We are an outward looking people of faith who reach out into the community; We are a community which puts a high value on our Catholic Faith expressed in many different traditions and practices - such as we looked at from the Letter to the Hebrews. “Let us come near to God; Let us persevere; Let us be concerned for one another to show love and to do good; and Let us not give up the habit of meeting together for worship. All of these things emphasize the importance of our working together. We are a community of believers, who desire to Know Christ personally, and also in our commitment to Make Christ known to others. We are a family, in Christ – not a bunch of solo individualists each doing their own thing, concerned only for one’s self.

But an extremely important principle of being a family in Christ, being a community of faith – is that there is, and will always be many languages, many faces, various cultures, different traditions, CELEBRATING ONE FAITH!

COME TO OUR

FAITHCOMMUNITY DAY

A celebration of the cultural heritage and diversity OF OUR PARISH FAMILY
IN HONOR OUR PARISH PATRON SAINT
ST. JOSEPH
Sunday, March 21, 2010

4 - 7 pm in Bernard Hall.

This is the occasion that no one should miss.

Beginning with a brief prayer service in honor of St. Joseph, our patron saint,
followed by
POT-LUCK DINNER
featuring
INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
from our parish family.
Admission is a dish to share that reflects your family heritage
(main course or casserole to serve 5 or a vegetable dish to serve 10 - large families, bring more).
Please bring food in a disposable aluminum serving pan to be placed on warmers. You can also bring your own wine or beer if you wish. We will provide soda, juice, water, coffee and tea.

KIDS' PLAY DATE PARTY at the FAITH COMMUNITY DAY

FILIPINO MASS

THE BIBLICAL STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Evening of Prayer, Devotion and Reflection on

THE BIBLICAL STATIONS OF THE CROSS

First Friday
MARCH 5 at 7:30 PM

The great Pope John Paul II
developed a set of Stations of the Cross
based on events in the final days of Jesus’ life
as recounted in the Bible.
Join us for this special evening
of prayer and reflection on the Stations.
We will have a prayer service
featuring scripture reflections, music, movement and visual art.

When we come together to meditate on the Stations of the Cross, we want to tell ourselves that all is not lost in hard times. When bad news comes, one bit after another, we grow anxious. When misfortune hits us close to home, we grow disheartened. When we fall direct victims of a disaster, our self-confidence is totally shaken and our faith is put to the test. In testing times we see no reason for believing and hoping. And yet we believe. And yet we hope. This can happen in our personal lives. It happens in the wider society.

We renew and strengthen our faith, and continue to trust in the Lord. For he saves those who have lost all hope. And this hope does not ultimately disappoint us. It is truly in Christ that we understand the full meaning of suffering. During this meditation on the Stations of the Cross, while we hear with anguish the painful side of Jesus' suffering, we will also give attention to its redemptive value. It was God's plan that the "Messiah had to suffer", and that these sufferings should be for us. An awareness of this fills us with living hope. It is this hope that keeps us joyful and patient in our troubles.

A journey of faith and hope is a long spiritual journey, as we ponder the deeper design of God in the cosmic processes and events of human history. Below the surface of calamities, wars, revolutions and conflicts of every kind, there is a quiet presence, there is purposeful divine action. God remains in the world, in society, in the universe. "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord."

POLO VALENTINES EVENTS IN PICTURES

Hello All - I wanted to share some photos from our POLO Valentine's event last weekend at Winchester Gardens. Following is a thank you from Pat Rush, fellow parishioner and Winchester Gardens resident:"On behalf of everyone at Winchester Gardens who participated, thank you and POLO for your most generous contribution to our Valentine's day. You parents came awesomely prepared and your kids mixed most comfortably with the residents. I heard remarks like, how cute they are, how sweet, how poised, etc. referring to the children. And I know the cupcakes, brownies and other favors were so appreciated." We hope to see you at the next POLO event!
POLO

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=285244472407%3A1919090034

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING 2010

Super-sized offense hits South Florida as Drew Brees and the Saints will square off with Peyton Manning and the Colts in what has all the makings of a high-scoring Super Bowl XLIV. Indy's second-ranked passing offense will be pitted against the Saints' 26th-ranked pass defense, while the Saints' fourth-ranked aerial attack will contend with the 14th-ranked pass defense of the Colts. There should be no shortage of touchdowns through the air in this one.

As these football teams play each other in South Florida, our candidates for Confirmation will try to score a touchdown for the poor and needy on our annual Souper Bowl of Caring, February 6 & 7, 2010.

"The Souper Bowl of Caring" is an annual parish event and is a great opportunity to help the needy. Our young parishioners will use that weekend, transforming the days of parties and celebrations into a day of caring for the hungry, the poor and hurting. Armed with soup pots, they will be at the doors of the church, collecting donations from each person walking by in all Masses next weekend.

ST.JOSEPH PARISH NOW ACCEPTS DONATIONS FOR HAITI RELIEF

I’m writing you all this week while taking a post-Christmas vacation. When I turned on the news on television my heart sank at the terrible news breaking forth. On Tuesday January 12, 2010 a catastrophic earthquake hit the capital city of Port- au- Prince in Haiti. The devastation has been unprecedented. The poorest nation in the Western hemisphere now faces a long and painful recovery. Our hearts and prayers go out to the many victims and the entire nation as they asses the awful damage, assist the injured, and recover those who have perished. Haiti is a deeply Catholic country with almost 80% of the population being Catholic. The Archbishop of Port-au-Prince is already been identified as having died during the earthquake. There is great fear and panic as many try to make contact with loved ones.

I know many of our own parish family have been affected as many of you have family members in Haiti. Information is still coming in as I write this column but there is no question that much of the news that will surface in the days to come will not be encouraging. In solidarity and support of all, our parish community will open a voluntary collection of funds to be sent to Catholic Charities for earthquake relief. A special second collection will be taken up at all Masses this weekend. Checks should be made out to St. Joseph Church and clearly marked Haiti earthquake relief. If you are unprepared this weekend you may send your donation directly to the parish office during the week. In the meantime our faith community will continue to pray and offer our support as this horrific event unfolds.

In God’s Peace and Love
Fr. Michael

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY

Our heartfelt prayers go out to the victims, their families and the entire Haitian Community in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, which resulted in serious loss of human life, a great number of homeless and missing, and enormous material damage.

We will immediately move into action and appeal to the generosity of everyone, so that our brothers and sisters receive our concrete solidarity and the effective support in this moment of need and suffering in coordination with the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark.

We, the St. Joseph Parish Faith Community, invite everyone to join in our prayer to the Lord for the victims of this catastrophe and for those who are mourning their loss. We assure our community’s spiritual closeness to people who have lost their homes and to all those affected in various ways by this calamity, imploring from God consolation and relief of their suffering.

FILIPINO MASS

FILIPINO MASS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 2010
Beginning at 2:00 PM

ST. JOSEPH PARISH
767 Prospect St.
Maplewood, NJ 07040
973-7615933

As another year unfolds,
may God grant you the strength and faith

to count your blessings, not your your crosses;

count your gains not your losses.

Count your joys not your woes;

Count your friends not your foes.

Count your smiles not your tears;

Count your courage not your fears.

Count your full years not your lean;

Count your kind deeds not your mean.

Count your health not your wealth;

And love your neighbour as much as yourself.

CHRISTMAS at ST. JOSEPH PARISH
767 Prospect Street, Maplewood, nj 07040
973-761-5933
www.stjosephmaplewood.org

We welcome all to share fully in the life of our Parish Community

Schedule of Masses

Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24
4:00 pm Vigil Mass with Children’s Choir
6:30 pm Vigil Mass
Contemporary Carols led by Trinity at 6:00 pm
12:00 am Midnight Mass

Carols with Choir and Trumpet at 11:30 pm

Christmas Day, Friday, December 25
9:30 am Mass with Traditional Carols

11:30 am Mass with Choir & Trumpet

Prepare the Way of the Lord

Advent
is a period of devout
and joyful expectation.
The Son of Man calls us to holiness
and blamelessness in the sight of God.
Are we ready to meet him face to face?
All the comings of Jesus are Gospel, Good News.
God is greater than our sins, our faults and our despair
and is leading us to a greater love for the world and our own selves.

Come to our

ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE

Wednesday, December 16 at 7:30 PM
This service of Sacramental Penance
will help us to make ready and straight the road to our God.

Priests will be available for individual confession.

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

Advent is a special time in the Church calendar. It is a time of paradoxes. We are beginning a new liturgical year while the secular world is ending one. We wait for the coming of Christ even as we acknowledge his constant presence with us. It is a time when we really experience the “already and not-yet” nature of our faith lives.

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT is one way to experience Advent waiting and the sense of joyful anticipation. We savor the sounds of our longing while reveling that Christ is already in our midst. What better way to do this than joining us on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 beginning at 8PM at St. Joseph Church, 767 Prospect St, Maplewood, NJ and sing with us familiar Christmas carols during this Parish Evening of Reflection and look at them through the lens of Advent. Carols by Candlelight is a wonderful way for families and friends to get together and celebrate with joyful anticipation the coming of the Lord.

PASKUHAN - Filipino Mass and Christmas Party

Paskuhan 2009
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2009
beginning at 2:00 PM

St. Joseph Parish
767 Prospect St.

Maplewood , NJ 07040 * 973-761-5933

· Misa ng Bayang Filipino
· Awitan sa Paskuhan
Tayo’y sama-samang mag kantahan ng ating mga paboritong awiting Pamasko.
· Salu-Salo sa Paskuhan
Pagsaluhan natin ang ating mga paborito’t masasarap na lutong Pinoy.
Please bring a pot-luck dish for everbody to share.

· Feature Family Presentation & Salu-Salo Entertainment

WE WILL WATCH THE AMERICA ’S FAVORITE
CHRISTMAS SHOW WHICH COMES ALIVE IN DVD!!!
bringing you the magic of the
RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
Featuring - THE ROCKETTES -

Together as a Filipino Family, we will watch the video via wide screen projection of this unparalleled show featuring the Rockettes signature eye high kicks, and precision choreography in multiple show stopping numbers. Bring your entire family! Audiences of all ages will delight in this multifaceted spectacular including the awe-inspiring Living Nativity - the beautiful story of the first Christmas. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is an enduring Christmas tradition which has dazzled and inspired for over 75 years and continues to create memories that last a lifetime.

ALL SOULS DAY - REMEMBERING OUR DECEASED LOVED ONES

REMEMBERING OUR DECEASED LOVED ONES

November is traditionally a time for praying, remembering and lighting a candle for our loved ones who have died. We give thanks for them and recall how each one brought a touch of God’s light into the world. We remember their loving deeds and rejoice in their faithfulness. As we thank God for their witness and inspiration, let us renew our desire to live lives that reflect God’s love.

If you wish to have a loved one remembered in our parish Novena of Masses which begins on All Souls Day, envelopes are available in the racks in the back of church for those who do not have one at home. Envelopes must be returned anytime before Monday, November 2. Names submitted will be entered into our parish Book of Remembrance. This will be placed by the Baptismal font during the month of November.

In a spirit of unbroken, loving connection,

our parish Ministry of Compassion invites you,

your family and friends

to come together with the faith community of Saint Joseph Parish

for a

MASS OF REMEMBRANCE

on

MONDAY, ALL SOULS’ DAY, NOVEMBER 2ND

at 7:00 p.m.

during which, we will honor the cherished memory

of all our beloved dead, especially those who died during this past year

and whose funeral rites were celebrated at St. Joseph Parish.

In addition, we would like to acknowledge your loved ones

who have died since last November

whose funeral rites were celebrated elsewhere.

Immediately following Mass, light refreshments will be served in the back of church.
-We hope that you can join us in prayer and support

St. Joseph Parishioner produced "split ends" - the movie

SPLIT ENDS - NOW SHOWING IN MAPLEWOOD THEATRE
Limited Engagement - October 25th - November 5th


http://www.splitendsthemovie.com/

Bob Pusateri - a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Maplewood, New Jersey, has produced and production-managed Back Pocket Productions’ short films. He brings to Back Pocket a background in feature film and commercial special effects, as well as experience in industrials for major corporate concerns. Bob has also been actively involved in the Los Angeles and New York theatre scene, enjoying the challenges of producing, directing and showcasing the acting talent those cities offer.

Bob’s background in business — more than 12 years’ experience in profit and loss responsibility, sales, marketing and business development — makes him uniquely positioned to develop independent feature film projects. Bob has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Theater from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY.

......................

NOW SHOWING IN MAPLEWOOD THEATRE - OCTOBER 25TH - NOVEMBER 5TH

SPLIT ENDS - THE MOVIE

Manningtree, New Jersey is a little town on the brink of extinction. The 19th century storefronts of Old Town are being threatened by an international development cabal, North Sea Assets. North Sea is preparing to raze Old Town and replace it with a massive mall/luxury condo complex named – incongruously – Cortona.
If Cortona is built, a dozen mom and pop businesses will be bought out and uprooted, and if anyone refuses to sell, North Sea Assets is prepared to use eminent domain law to pry the Old Towners off of their property.

When our story begins, Cortona has a great shot at being approved. Manningtree’s portly Mayor, Tiny Provenzano, has a vested interest in Cortona’s success, and North Sea’s point man, the charming Warren Brown, is determined to remove any obstacle in its way.

That obstacle is Scottish-born Lizzie Munro. She owns and operates The Paisley Set hair salon in Manningtree. Lizzie is over 40, vibrant, witty, and quite capable of attracting male attention. Her salon caters to the locals, and while Lizzie’s not making a fortune in the beauty game, she earns enough to get by and keep three local beauticians employed – worldly-wise Jacquie, bohemian waif Ashley, and a wry Pakistani immigrant, Mehar. They’re a tight group who work together and occasionally meet for a meal at MacIntosh’s, the local pub.

Lizzie’s love life is full of split ends. She has carried on with Len French, the owner of a coffee shop in Old Town, another business slated for the bulldozers. Len’s marriage to mousy DEANNE is on the rocks, or more accurately, on life support, but he is hesitant to pull the plug. His relationship with Lizzie might just be the town’s worst-kept secret. Although Lizzie is an intelligent gal, she has, like many women, settled for less than she deserves. Len has filled a void in Lizzie’s life, but now their relationship is no longer enough.

When Lizzie receives official notice from the Town of Manningtree that the powers that be intend to plop the grotesque Cortona right in the middle of Old Town, Lizzie vows to fight the invasion. Invoking the spirit of her countryman, William Wallace, aka Braveheart, Lizzie enlists the aid of antique dealer Bernie Depper, her Paisley Set staff, Tiny’s Aunt Connie Provenzano, and the whole town, in her struggle to fend off the developers.

Just when the local drama begins to heat up, a new leading man walks into Lizzie’s life. He’s romantic, considerate, passionate … and, unfortunately, the enemy. It’s none other than Warren Brown, under cover – and under the covers – in the service of North Sea Assets.
Is Lizzie headed for heartbreak? Is Old Town headed for the wrecking ball?

HOLY NAME SOCIETY PRESENTATION

The Holy Name Society of St. Joseph Parish and Our Lady of Sorrows
Presents
“MY OWN FOUR WALLS”
Next Sunday, October 18th
10:00 a.m. in Bernard Hall
Light Breakfast and Special Presentation

ALL PARISHIONERS ARE WELCOME

You may never think of homelessness in the same way again! Come for a powerful presentation that will give voice and visibility to homeless children from across the country, in towns and rural areas from coast to coast. How can we help answer their wish for a permanent place to call ‘home’?

Did you know that this week our partner parish has been hosting several homeless families in their lower church as the parents search for housing? Parishioners from our parish have supported this outreach by their welcoming presence and by cooking meals.

This video presentation and discussion is being sponsored by the Holy Name Society of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Sorrows Parishes to help us all become more aware and informed. Find out about the next dates when you can help support the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Tia Aery, Executive Director of IHN of Essex, will be our guest speaker.