MAKE A CHANGE THIS LENT

LENT 2011~MAKE A CHANGE~MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Think about doing something meaningful this Lent.
Join in on a St Joseph Parish Outreach Project or Ministry.
This energetic parish serves so many people in so many different ways.
We have a wide range of opportunities for you to serve based on your interests, talents and availability.
No offer of help is ever too small.
Please expect to receive inspiration and positive energy from service to others.
Contact: Liz lpetroccia@stjosephmaplewood.org 973-761-5933 X17

BREAKFASTS FOR BRIDGES OUTREACH

Breakfasts for Bridges Outreach, Inc.
“Loving Service” to our neighbors in need

Needed: Soft Granola or Breakfast Bars
Small Individual boxes of cereal
One serving long shelf life milks (Parmalat/Silk)
Fruit Cups
Individual packets of Coffee, Cocoa or Tea
Collection Sat. March 12- Sun. March 20
Drop off donations at the “Bridges” table in the back of Church.
Our St. Joseph Youth Group will assemble and deliver the brown bag
breakfasts to be distributed to our homeless sisters and brothers.

COMPASSIONATE SHARING

COMPASSIONATE SHARING
Coffee, Conversation and Support
for those who have lost a loved one


“Come to me, all of you who are weary,
and carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.”
~ Matthew 11:28


GATHER WITH US AND SHARE AN HOUR WITH OTHERS
WHO ARE BEGINNING THE LENTEN JOURNEY
TOWARD THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION

Members of the Ministry of Compassion cordially invite you to join us
Sunday, March 6th at 10:00 am
in the St. Joseph Parish Rectory Meeting Room

ST JOSEPH FOOD PANTRY SHOPPING

Borrow a
St. Joseph Church
Canvas Bag for your
Food Pantry Shopping

Bags available Next weekend after Masses
March 5 and 6
Return bag and donated items on second Sunday of the month March 12 and 13 before Masses.

Thank you for using reusable bags and being a steward of God’s gift to us, our home, planet Earth.
And many thanks for hearing God’s call to help feed our sisters and brothers in need.

PARISH PANCAKE BREAKFAST

PARISH PANCAKE BREAKFAST
in the spirit of Mardi Gras
SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH 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, pancake, 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 (March 9th). Whether you call it Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Carnival, it is time to gather, celebrate community and enjoy God’s gift of food and fun.

PLEASE NOTE THE DATE IS MARCH 6TH NOT FEBRUARY 27TH AS IN BULLETIN

ST JOSEPH YOUTH GROUP MEETING

The St. Joseph Youth Group will meet this Sunday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the youth room located in Bernard Hall. We will be discussing our trip on March 6th to see Christian artist Steve Angrisano in concert as well as our upcoming service opportunities and our participation in Youth Fest. If you would like more information on any of our activities, come to our next meeting or email our youth minister Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com.

AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM

AARP
DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM
A Refresher Course for Drivers aged 50+

This course will take place on Monday, April 4th and Tuesday, April 5th. in Bernard Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. (You must attend both sessions). The class will be taught by a trained AARP Driver Safety Program volunteer, Bill Keenan.

Participatns will receive a completion certificate to apply for a premium reduction for 3 years with their insurance carrier. Individuals could contact their insurance carrier before registering to determine specifically how their carrier recognizes the completion of a ‘defensive driving’ class.

The fee for the course is $12 for AARP members and $14.00 for non-AAARP members, payable when registering. Pre-registration is necessary and class size is limited. Checks should be made payable to AARP (no cash).

To register, please contact Kathy Oppenheimer at 973-761-5933 x14.

Cornerstone Registration Forms

WOMEN AND MEN CORNERSTONE/PARISH FEAST DAY INFORMATION

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

The St. Joseph Youth Group will meet this Sunday, Feb 20th, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the youth room located in Bernard Hall. We will be discussing a ski trip, our participation in Youth Fest as well as other events and service opportunities. There's a lot going on and we want you to be a part of it! If you have questions please email our parish youth minister Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com.

ATLANTIC CITY BUS TRIP

St. Joseph Parish and the Knights of Columbus will sponsor the next bus ride to Resorts Casino in Atlantic City on Friday, March 4th. Please call early to reserve your seats. The contact person is John Visicaro at 908-964-4143. The cost of the trip is $25 and we will leave at 9:00 am. Breakfast to be served at 8:15 am in the Knights of Columbus House.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SAVE THE DATE

Our next volunteer work day is Saturday, March 5th. A sign up sheet is located in the back of church on the bulletin board next to the Children's Chapel. You will also find information and directions about the new job site in West Orange. If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Gail Laughlin at glaughlin1@gmail.com or 973-313-0055.

PRESIDENTS' DAY SCHEDULE

Monday, February 21st, is Presidents’ Day and only one Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. in the church. The rectory office will be closed in observance of this national holiday.

OPEN ARMS MINISTRY TO MEET

OPEN ARMS Open Arms is a welcoming spirituality group for gay and lesbian Catholics and their families and friends. Our next meeting will be Sunday, February 27, at 5:00 pm in the rectory. Come and share scripture and fellowship with us. If you have any questions or would like further information, contact Dugan McGinley.

FOURTH GRADE LITURGY

FOURTH GRADERS TO HIGHLIGHT ‘LOVING SERVICE’
Next Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Mass, come and worship alongside our young fourth graders from the parish Religious Education Program as they and their families participate wholeheartedly in the liturgy. For two weeks, they have been preparing with their catechists and helping parents: they have studied the day’s gospel, reflected on our call to work for justice, and prepared related intercessory prayers.
As together we promise to serve and assist those in need, may we all be conscious of being sent forth from Mass to be the hands and feet of Christ, committed to build the Kingdom here on earth. We thank our children for raising our awareness of liturgy’s connection to Social Justice and Christian Service.

HELP NEEDED

CYO VOLLEYBALL COACHES NEEDED St. Joseph's CYO is exploring the idea of joining the Newark CYO Volleyball League. We are looking for adults who are interested in organizing and coaching teams made up of parishioners from St. Joseph and Our Lady of Sorrows. This new spring league will consist of girls and boys divisions with players from 5th to 8th grades. Anyone interested in coaching should contact Gerry O'Connor at stjosephcyobb@aol.com or by phone at 201-341-4289.


FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Please consider a once a month and less than a half hour commitment to our Food Pantry.
Needed: Two or three folks or families to once a month move Food Pantry bags and donations
from the Church vestibule to the Food Pantry house located at the exit of the school parking lot.
When: The Second Sunday of the month after 11:30 Mass.
Donations can be filled in car trunks and driven around the corner to be left in the Food Pantry House.


JOIN OUR ST. JOSEPH HELPING HANDS MINISTRY This ministry is an outreach effort to serve parishioners who may need the following service(s):
• a ride to a doctor’s and/or medical appointment
• a ride to mass or other church services
• grocery shopping for seniors
• telephone calls to the homebound
• make & deliver a meal for those temporarily experiencing challenging health issues

Contact Liz: lpetroccia@stjosephmaplewood.org 973-761-5933 X17

RCIA LAST CALL!

ADULT BAPTISM OR CONFIRMATION: LAST CALL It’s never too late! If you or someone you know has been thinking about completing their sacraments or becoming a Catholic, this is the week to sign up or ask questions. Please contact Jennifer Leitner by phone, 973-761-5933, or by email, jleitner@stjosephmaplewood.org.

LENTEN SERIES AT ST. JOSEPH'S

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL THIS LENT?

Every year, the season of Lent calls us to grow closer to Christ. Could you give four evenings to this goal? If so, do save these dates:
TUESDAYS MARCH 15, 22, 29 AND APRIL 5.
Join us as we reflect on sacraments as our opportunity to encounter Christ.

INTRODUCTION TO NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE STUDY

If you have ever wanted to read the Bible but did not know where or how to begin, then A Quick Journey Through the Bible Parish Study is for you. A Quick Journey through the Bible makes reading the Bible not only easy, but exciting. In this study, you will learn the major people, places, events and themes of the Bible—getting the “big picture” of salvation history. Perhaps for the first time in your life, you will understand the overview of the Bible story. This then makes your Bible reading and even the Sunday Mass readings come alive like never before. A Quick Journey through the Bible will be offered at six Parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark starting late March, 2011. For more information contact the Office for Evangelization at sotolili@rcan.org; 973 497-4353; www.rcan.org/evangelization.

CONFIRMATION SESSION

13 - SIXTH SESSION

11:30 AM - Mass
12:30 - 1:00 PM - Light Lunch
with Intergenerational Valentines Day Celebration

Lunch volunteers - Jennifer Gedin
Claudia Fuenzalida

1:00 - 2:30 PM - Session

Please Volunteer To Sell Grocery Cards!
Arrive at Mass 15 minutes early and stay 15 minutes after…
That is the usual commitment for selling Grocery Cards to benefit our St. Joseph Parish.
Can you help? Please email or call the Parish Office for more information on volunteering or to sign up
973-761-5933 lpetroccia@stjosephmaplewood.org

Please join our Confirmation Candidates, all young children (7 & under) accompanied by an adult family member and Parish Senior Citizens in our

Parish Intergenerational Valentine Outreach

A parish group gathering of diverse ages to make Valentines meaningful for those in need.We will make Valentine Cards and other crafts to send to our homebound parishioners and those living in senior residences.
Enjoy our fresh brewed Coffee, donuts and cookies.

Sunday, February 13th after the 11:30 Mass
In Bernard Hall

Please let us know if you can join us. Contact Liz Petroccia 973-761-5933 X17
lpetroccia@stjosephmaplewood.org

As Iron Sharpens Iron So One Man Sharpens Another.
(Proverbs 27:17)
CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE
Saturday, March 5, 2011, 8 AM—5 PM
Seton Hall University

As men of God, we seek to guide one another towards Christ by spreading the Gospel, and pray that we may follow Him faithfully. The Archdiocese of Newark is pleased to introduce a Men’s Commission, an opportunity to offer a structure of fellowship and support to deepen men’s faith and relationships with Jesus Christ; and help guide their roles in their families, in the Church, and in society as men of God and men for others. To introduce the Men’s Commission throughout the Church of Newark, we will hold our annual Catholic Men’s Conference (or Call to Catholic Men of Faith) which is a large scale public gathering of men throughout the Archdiocese and beyond to come together and support one another in their personal discipleship and journey toward Christ. 

Dynamic Speakers:
Fr. Martinez Koch, CFR Darrell Miller, former MLB Player
Chris Godfrey, NY Giants Steve Wood, Family Life Center
Chris Bell, Good counsel Homes

Register through www.rcan.org/menscommission or call 973-497-4545
Ticket Prices Adults $20; Students $15; Seniors 15 (Continental Breakfast & lunch included)

MASS OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK

PRAYER, PRAISE AND HEALING

THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Saturday, 23 October 2010, 10:00 a.m.

PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH
767 Prospect Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040

"Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray.
Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call or the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil
in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up;
and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven"
(James 5:14-15).

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for:


• Those of the faithful whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age
• A person facing surgery
• Elderly people who have become notably weakened even though
no serious illness is present
• Sick children or people of any age in need of healing
• Those suffering mental or spiritual illness in search of healing
in a time of crisis or pain.


A light luncheon will be served for participants after Mass.
If transportation assistance is needed,
please call Liz at the Parish Office, 973-761-5933 ext 17,
on or before Monday, October 18.



Anointing of the Sick

The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive. A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit.


The Sacrament’s Institution
Like all the sacraments, holy anointing was instituted by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. The Catechism explains, "This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord" (CCC 1511; Mark 6:13; Jas. 5:14-15).

The anointing of the sick conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude (CCC 1520). These graces flow from the atoning death of Jesus Christ, for "this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’" (Matt. 8:17).

Mark refers to the sacrament when he recounts how Jesus sent out the twelve disciples to preach, and "they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them" (Mark 6:13). In his epistle, James says, "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (Jas. 5:14–15).

The early Church Fathers recognized this sacrament’s role in the life of the Church. Around A.D. 250, Origen wrote that the penitent Christian "does not shrink from declaring his sin to a priest of the Lord and from seeking medicine . . . [of] which the apostle James says: ‘If then there is anyone sick, let him call the presbyters of the Church, and let them impose hands upon him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him’" (Homilies on Leviticus 2:4).

In the year 350, Bishop Serapion wrote, "We beseech you, Savior of all men, you that have all virtue and power, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we pray that you send down from heaven the healing power of the only-begotten [Son] upon this oil, so that for those who are anointed . . . it may be effected for the casting out of every disease and every bodily infirmity . . for good grace and remission of sins . . " (The Sacramentary of Serapion 29:1).


The Sacrament’s Effects
"The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; the preparation for passing over to eternal life" (CCC 1532).

PICNIC THANKS....

Picnic Thanks

Photos of the ST. JOSEPH PARISH FAMILY PICNIC 2010 (2 Albums)
Families who brought their cameras and captured the wonderful event are welcome to share their photos with us. Please send Photos in CD’s and drop it at the Parish Office.

http://picasaweb.google.com/106264372990659767789

Last Sunday’s parish picnic was a wonderful event. Having a great weather day helped too! It was just beautiful. I want to thank all those who made it all possible. Many thanks to those who did the heavy lifting as the set – up and clean up crews. I want to acknowledge the presence of the Boy Scouts from Troop 21 and all our confirmation candidates who served throughout the day in many different areas. Thank you to all who welcomed everyone in our hospitality tent; the food committee which ordered shopped and cooked at the grill, to the Knights of Columbus Regina Pacis Council for their donation of all the soda and water; to all those who organized the face painting and games for the children to those who assisted with the 50/50 and our Carpenters’’ Band for sharing their talents with us and of course to Fr. Manolo our chief party organizer! Most of all, I’m glad so many of you could come and enjoy and were willing to share with others what you brought from home. This is quite a special community! Thanks for all who have done so much to make it that way!

In God’s Peace and Love,
Fr. Michael

OUR PARISH FAMILY PICNIC 2010

We have been running about as hard as we can for some time now. This picnic is our way to thank you for all that you do for St. Joseph Church. You deserve the best.

Our Parish Family Picnic is not just an ordinary picnic because it celebrates, blesses and highlights the community life and ministry shared in our parish. This picnic brings all of us together. It shows just how vital our beloved St. Joseph Parish Community is – how it is truly a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ alive and well in the wider community. This picnic also encourages more members to get involved in this parishwide experience of the wonders of our faith. Let this event be a source of affirmation, rededication, hope and promise.

SIGN-UP NOW FOR FREE EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS

SIGN-UP NOW FOR FREE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS

Spend fun-filled quality time with our parish family and friends, and enjoy this life with which God has so graciously blessed us. This is what our Parish Family Picnic is all about. Teens will be on hand to help families with small kids. Tables and chairs will be provided for those who need them, but in order to have an authentic feel of a picnic, we encourage families to bring lawn chairs and picnic mats. There will be plenty of food to share. We provide free, freshly grilled burgers, hot dogs, soda and water and a lot of surprises.

Please bring a dish to share for 6-8 people. If your last name begins with letters A to I, please bring a SIDE DISH. If your last name begins with letters J to R, please bring a DESSERT. If your last name begins with letters S to Z, please bring an ENTREE.

Visit our interactive blog for more information and photos of previous PARISH FAMILY PICNICS - http://open-doors-at-st-joseph-maplewood.blogspot.com

THE 2010 COLLECTOR’S ITEM

THE 2010 COLLECTOR’S ITEM

Add to your collection and proudly wear our BLACK Picnic T-Shirts which you can order for $12. Deadline for orders will be Monday, September 13. To order, please use a separate envelope provided for that purpose.

...fun, fun, fun and more fun!

FUN FOR EVERYONE

We have lined up various fun events during the picnic. More colors for the FACE PAINTING; more exciting games for the KIDS’ PLAY; music for PRE SCHOOLERS in the POLO area; Children’s playground is open for the kids to hop and jump around; bats, balls and gloves are ready for the SOFTBALL GAME. TABLE GAMES and BUNCO will be provided for the seniors. We welcome more suggestions.

THE CARPENTER’S BAND TO SERENADE AT THE PICNIC

THE CARPENTER’S BAND
TO SERENADE AT THE PICNIC

A group of talented parishioners have banded together to form “The Carpenter’s Band”, nicknamed after our patron saint’s trade. Musically inclined parishioners are welcome to join. Whether you are a guitarist, bassist, drummer, singer, harp player, sax player and so on, you can find a place to play with us. The more, the merrier. Please call Fr. Manolo at 973-761-5933 ext. 13.