5th Sunday of Easter

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SAVE THE DATE

VOLUNTEER WORK DAY!

Our next Habitat for Humanity volunteer work day is Saturday, May 21st. Volunteers will be working in West Orange or Irvington. A sign-up sheet is located in 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.

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 gathering will be Saturday, June 4. We will worship together at the 5:30 pm Mass and then have a cookout at the rectory afterward. Anyone with an interest or desire to support this ministry is invited to attend. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the group. If you have any questions or would like further information, contact Dugan McGinley at the rectory

Debit Card Purchases Help St. Joseph Church

PARTY CENTRAL

It’s that time of year when everyone is planning a party! Don’t forget to take along extra Supermarket Debit Cards when you visit your favorite grocery store. This no frill, painless, ongoing fundraiser is an important part of our parish’s financial success. Supermarket Debit Cards are available for Shop-Rite, Kings, Stop & Shop and Pathmark in denominations of $25, $50 and $100 from our volunteers after all weekend Masses. If you’d like more information about the program or interested in being a volunteer, just ask one of folks sitting at the table at the rear of church after Mass.

Youth Group News 5/12/2011

The Saint Joe's Youth Group will meet this Sunday, May 15th from 7:3opm to 9pm in the youth room located in Bernard's Hall. We will be discussing some upcoming service opportunities so please make sure you come by and find out about all the great things we have coming up. For more information please contact our Youth Minister Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com.

4th Sunday of Easter Bulletin Flap

Knight of Columbus to meet

The next meeting of Regina Pacis Council Knights of Columbus will be on Monday May 9th at 8 pm in the club house. Please attend.

YOUTH GROUP NEWS 5/5/2011

St. Joseph Youth Group will NOT meet this Sunday, May 8 in observance of Mother's Day. On Sunday, May 15th, members of our youth group will be going to the NJ State Catholic Youth Rally at Great Adventure. All permission slips for the trip should be dropped off to the rectory by May 9th to ensure your spot.

Food Pantry Information

If you are interested in helping at the Food Pantry...

The next sort night is Monday, May 16th and pack night is Thursday, May 19th.

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

Distribution and delivery to seniors is Saturday, May 21st at 10:00 AM New volunteers needed and welcome!

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SAVE THE DATE

Our next Habitat for Humanity volunteer work day is Saturday, May 21. Volunteers are now working in West Orange on a duplex at 112 Whittlesey Ave.

A sign up sheet is located in 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.

Interfaith Hospitality Network at St. Joseph Church

St. Joseph Parish will be hosting families experiencing homelessness July 10-24.

Look for our Giving Tree in church (May 28-June 5) for items to be donated for our hosting weeks.

Shop Rite cards may be purchased and donated at the grocery card tables in the back of church after masses.

To all women

To all of the women who serve in motherly roles on behalf of our St. Joseph Parish family, we thank you. For your service to ministries, for your gift of inspiring our parishioners through your example, for your faithful participation in activities, for your friendship and kindness to those who gather here and to those we serve beyond this loving community,
WE ARE GRATEFUL.
Happy Mother’s Day!

RCIA information

IS GOD INVITING YOU TO RESPOND?
 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?
 Do you have questions about what the Church teaches and believes?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, God may be calling you to inquire about the next step. To discover what might work best for you, contact Jennifer Leitner at the parish office for more information: call 973-761-5933 or email jleitner@stjosephmaplewood.org.

For Parents CCD info!

CALLING ALL PARENTS

Our parish offers a K-8 program of Religious Education on Sunday after 9 am Mass for all children not enrolled in a Catholic school. Classes run from September to May and are designed to support parents in raising their children in the practice of the faith we share. We offer a variety of Christ-centered experiences and a rich curriculum of learning, prayer and service led by dedicated catechists. Please note that preparation for First Communion begins only after completing at least one year of religious instruction.
Call Diane or Jennifer at the rectory, extension 26 or 24, for more information about this program. Registration for September classes should be arranged now.

Third Sunday of Easter

Confirmation 2012 information

Confirmation 2012 Candidates: Life certainly includes many (sometimes too many) things to do! Now your family and your church as you to add yet another thing to your already busy life....Preparation for Confirmation!


You may think "How can I possibly do one more thing?" But Confirmation isn't just one more thing to do. Actually, it can help you gather the pieces of your life together and serve as a guide for putting new pieces into place as they come along. You're not just preparing for Confirmation, you are preparing for life---which can lead to many questions.

For more information about the Confirmation program at St. Joseph Church, please contact Fr. Manolo at 973-761-5933 EXT 13 or email tomasino401@yahoo.com.

COMPASSIONATE SHARING GROUP

Coffee Conversation and Support for those who have lost a loved one.

Gather with us and share an hour with others who are on a journey this Easter season toward the hopeful vision of Resurrection.

Members of the Ministry of Compassion cordially invite you to join us
Sunday May 1st at 10AM

LATEST YOUTH GROUP NEWS

The St. Joseph Youth Group will meet this Sunday, May 1st from 7:30-9:00 pm in the youth room located in Bernard Hall (lower church).

Permission slips to attend the State Catholic Youth Rally on Sunday, May 17th will be distributed.

For more information please email our youth minister, Tom Berrios, at tomberrios@hotmail.com.

St. Joseph Rosary Society Meeting

The Rosary Society will meet Monday evening May 2nd at 7:30pm in the rectory meeting room. Hostesses for the evening are Margaret Coughlin and Grace McGrath. All women are invited to come out.

NEXT 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, May 6th. Please call early to reserve you seats. Contact John Visicaro at 908-964-4143.

The cost of the trip is $25 and we will leave at 9 am. Breakfast will be served at 8:15am in the Knights of Columbus house.

Interfaith Hospitality Network at St. Joseph Church

There IS room
at the Inn…

St. Joseph Church
Hosting families temporarily experiencing homelessness through
Interfaith Hospitality Network
July 10 - July 24, 2011

Make room INN your heart to help…

Purchase and donate grocery cards to help feed our guests.
Sign up to provide a home cooked meal or shop for groceries
Volunteer as an overnight host or organize children’s activities.
Help clean and prepare Bernard Hall (our guest’s temporary home).
Assist with laundry, shopping set-up or break-down.
Provide supplies such as pillows, diapers, games.

Rent Parties Benefit St. Joseph Food Pantry

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2011
South Orange Elks Club 220 Prospect Street South Orange
Live music is provided by local bands and individuals donating their time and talent to help feed our brothers and sisters in need.
$5 suggested donation at the door.
Proceeds are donated to our St. Joseph and the OLS Food Pantries

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Help heal someone's heart with your talented hands.

Please join us for the last 2 gatherings before our summer break!
Bring your shawls (completed or in process) to show and share.

Thursday May 5th 12:30 in Rectory Meeting Room
Thursday June 2nd Noon Mass and gathering to follow

Pray together
Bless the Shawls
Impart stories of witness
Share patterns and ideas
Bring a knitting/crocheting friend

Food Pantry donations

Borrow a St. Joseph Church Canvas Bag for your
Food Pantry shopping after Masses next weekend May 7th & 8th

Return bag and donated items the following weekend
May 14th & 15th before Masses.

Congratulations and welcome to our new permanent Deacon!

On May 21st, Archbishop Myers will ordain a new class of Permanent Deacons for our archdiocese and among them will be our very own, long time parishioner, John Florio. He has been assigned to serve here in our parish.
More than one in five ordained Catholic clergy in the United States are permanent deacons. In the early Church, men and women with special roles of service assisted the bishops in works of charity. Over time, this role died out and the diaconate became and still is part of the process of becoming a priest.
We have had transitional deacons serve here as a last step before being ordained a priest, but John will belong to the permanent order restored in 1967 by the Second Vatican Council. Now, men who are ordained deacons can serve in many ministries, as a witness to Christ and a servant to the world. We congratulate John Florio on successfully completing his years of study and preparation.

First Eucharist at St. Joseph Church

ON THE JOURNEY TO EASTER SACRAMENTS:
Parish Children Celebrate First Eucharist
Next Sunday, the second Sunday of this Easter season, twenty nine parish children will join us at the Table of the Lord. Ready now to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time, they, their families and guests will join us at the 11:30 Mass on May 8th. Many of the center pews will be reserved for their families to sit together. Do take time to admire the banners they have made to mark their pews and their ‘Works of Mercy’ quilt. As always, welcoming the children at their first Holy Communion will make this a special day for our parish.

Mayfest 2011

Share your St. Joseph Parish pride at
MAYFEST 2011
Sunday, May 15th
Springfield Ave. Maplewood
11 AM-5PM
Stop by our table after Mass!
(Rain date May 22nd)

May 1st busy day at St. Joseph parish

Save the Date The Rummage Sale is coming!

Our annual rummage sale will be held on June 4-5 in the school gym.

We will be receiving donations from May 26-June 3 in the school gym between the hours of 9am- 12noon. and from 5 pm -8pm.

There will be sign up sheets in the church very soon if you would like to volunteer!

Any questions contact Ernie D'Amato 973-763-2002 or email egd49@juno.com

MUSIC PROGRAM FOR BABIES AND TOTS

Interested in a weekly music and movement program for your infant and/or preschooler? ‘Making Music Praying Twice’ is available here! Find out more about the classes beginning after Easter in our parish. Wednesdays or Thursdays at 9:30-10:30 a.m. Email faith@stjosephmaplewood.org or call Jennifer at 973-761-5933.

MUSIC CAMP FOR BABIES AND PRE SCHOOL CHILDREN
Sample ‘Making Music’ in a one week camp for children with a parent/caregiver. M – F, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. July 18-22 or 25-29. $35 per family. Limited enrollment so please call 973-761-5933 ext. 24 for more details or email jleitner@stjosephmaplewood.org