Making Music Praying Twice

Are you interested in a music and movement program for your infant and/or pre-schooler?  St. Joseph Parish is pleased to offer a music experience for our youngest parishioners (from birth to five years of age) and their parent or caregiver.  Unlike other music programs, this class is faith inclusive as it explores the seasons in an age-appropriate way.  We use instruments, toys, and scarves to dance, chant, sing, play games and pray together.
Registration is now open for the fall session.  More information and forms are available in the Church racks at the doors to the church.

St. Joseph Parish offers


Compassionate Sharing

Coffee, Conversation and Support

for those who have lost a loved one



Come and share an hour with others

who are on the journey toward healing



Members of the Ministry of Compassion

cordially invite you to come

Sunday, September 9th at 10:00 am

in the Rectory Meeting Room

767 Prospect Street, Maplewood

DO YOU FEEL CALLED TO SERVE?

Have you ever thought about helping St. Joseph Church by serving as a liturgical minister? The Mass could not “happen” without various roles being filled by parishioners like you! We are always in need of more lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, singers, musicians, altar servers, ushers, greeters, coordinators. The summer is a good time to think about how you might give of your time and talent to make our Liturgies ever more meaningful and participatory. In most cases, all that is required is a short training session and a sincere desire to serve God’s people. We will be taking on new ministers in the fall and would love for you to join us. If you would like to explore how you can help, contact Dugan McGinley at the rectory.

Looking For Music Ministry Members

As August winds down, it’s a good time to start thinking about ways to become more involved during the coming year. Are you interested in sharing your talent in our parish music ministry? We can always use more singers, both in Trinity for the 9:00 a.m. Mass (rehearse Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.) and for the choir at the 11:30 a.m. Mass (rehearse Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m.). We also are looking for additional musicians who would like to share their talent with our parish. If you play drums, flute, violin, trumpet, woodwinds, brass or other, we would especially love to expand our music ministry to include more instruments. Join us for rehearsal this week, September 5-6. Enter the church through the side door on Hilton Ave. If you would like more information, please contact Dugan McGinley at the rectory.

Holiday Schedule

PLEASE NOTE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE


Due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 3rd, there will only be one Mass celebrated at 9:00 a.m. The Parish Office will be closed and the Rainbow Seniors will not be meeting.

Save the Date St. Joseph Family Picnic

Sunday, September 23, 2012
1-5 pm
Maplecrest Park, Maplewood
Rain location Bernard Hall

Order your Gray picnic shirts now!  Only $12.00 sizes youth small thru adult 3XL.  Free admission just bring a dish to share!  Fun for all ages.

CYO Basketball Registration

Boys and Girls in Grades 2 through 12 who are registered students in the parish Religious Education program, High School Youth Group or attend a local Catholic School are invited to play CYO Basketball. Teams will practice and play games at St. Joseph’s Parish Gym from October to March. Registration
has begun and will conclude by October 1. Additional adult volunteers are needed to be coaches for some teams. Contact Gerry O’Connor, St. Joseph’s Parish Athletic Director, at 201-341-4289 or stjosephcyobb@aol.com, with any questions or to volunteer. Additional information can be found on the St. Joseph’s CYO Basketball web site at

http://www.eteamz.comstjosephcelticscyobasketball/

St. Joseph Homilies Available

You can hear or share a homily that has touched you by visiting our parish website. The homilies of our priests are recorded on a weekly basis, and are available for downloading. Just log onto www.stjosephmaplewood.org and click “hearing’ then select the podcast download for the week you want to hear

LOOKING FOR SINGERS

As August winds down, it’s a good time to start thinking about ways to become more involved during the coming year. Are you interested in sharing your vocal talent in our parish music ministry? We can always use more singers, both in Trinity for the 9:00 a.m. Mass (rehearse Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.) and for the choir at the 11:30 a.m. Mass (rehearse Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m.). We will begin again the first week of September. If you would like more information, please contact Dugan McGinley at the rectory.

CYO GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

St Joseph’s CYO is exploring the idea of joining the Archdiocese of Newark CYO Girls Volleyball League. We are looking for adults who are interested in organizing and coaching teams made up of parishioners from both St. Joseph’s and OLS. This fall league will consist of girls from the 4th to 8th grades. Anyone interested in coaching should contact Gerry O’Connor at stjosephcyobb@aol.com or by phone at 201-341-4289.

FAITH FORMATION FOR ALL AGES

FAITH FORMATION FOR ALL AGES For Children in Grades K to 8 Our Sunday morning program of instruction for those not attending Catholic School will open on September 23rd for the 2012-2013 year. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back and to meeting new students. To be placed in a class in time for this first session, children need to be registered by September 4th. New families are invited to call the Rectory this week for more information. The special schedule for opening day and a calendar for the year is mailed on or around Labor Day to all registered families. For Adults We have received several inquiries from adults interested in preparing for Sacraments or learning more about the teachings of the Church. Please feel free to call the rectory for more information about updating your faith or becoming a Catholic. Informal inquiries are always welcome. For Children at Sunday Mass Liturgy of the Word with Children is a special time with the Scriptures which will resume in September during 9:00 a.m. Mass. We are looking forward to gathering the children again to hear and talk about God’s word. As usual, there will be two groups, one for those in First Grade and above, the other for pre-schoolers old enough to cooperate in our Pray and Play session. Parents are welcome to visit and pray with their children who return to their pews in time for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Pre-registration is not required for this worship experience.

I'M 55 +...WHAT DO I DO NOW????

New Jersey professionals age 55+ with skills, talent and generosity of spirit can make a social impact and reinvest a career’s worth of experience towards serving a non-profit or public institution. ReServe in Newark matches continuing professionals ages 55+ with rewarding part-time service opportunities at nonprofit organizations and public institutions in order to strengthen their communities. These opportunities allow you to serve your community while also earning a stipend. Questions??? Learn more at www.reserveinc.org/newark. Contact us at 973-596-6400 Ext. 124 or email us at Newark@reserveinc.org

THANK YOU FROM THE IHN TEAM

A huge thank you to all of the St. Joseph's parishioners and volunteers who made our Interfaith Hospitality Hosting a huge success from July 8th through the 22nd. Your generous donations through our Giving Tree, and the gifts of your time, through our various committees made IHN hosting happen here at St. Joseph. We had five families pass through our doors during these two weeks. One family signed a lease for permanent housing! Another family is not far behind in doing so. What did St. Joseph Parish do? We created a "home" for five families and supported them as treasured guests. Each family had their own private space created by our set up crew. Our guests felt the love! St. Joseph volunteers prepared and served forty-two meals; washed countless loads of laundry; played games with kids for at least twenty-hours; stayed overnight as hosts; talked; laughed, smiled and even cried. St. Joseph’s parishioners gave hope and we received joy! We made a difference in the lives of these families. This Parish ministry is not small by any means, and it would not have happened without the full support of the parishioners of St. Joseph Church. Our hats are off to you for your support and love. You all were the hands and feet of our Lord. We fed the hungry, clothed the poor, and gave shelter to the very least of us. May God Bless you all!

BRIDGES "RUN"

A Bridges food outreach Run to Penn Station to feed the homeless is scheduled for Saturday, August 25th from approximately 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A “Run” is the outreach visit to our street sheltered friends where we distribute bagged lunches/breakfast, new and gently used clothing, toiletries and other necessities. Equally important, it is an opportunity for volunteers from housed communities to meet friends living on the street and in shelters to share time, fellowship and smiles. All Run volunteers must be in high school or older. If under 18 you must be accompanied by a parent. A sign-up sheet is in the back of church on the bulletin board outside the Children’s Chapel. We are limited to 12 people so put your name on the list right away! Please contact Don Blaesser at 973-986-3521 if you have any questions.

Calling all Parish Parents!

CALLING ALL PARISH PARENTS It’s time to make plans for the fall! Our parish offers a K-8 program of Religious Education on Sunday mornings for all children not enrolled in a Catholic school. This formal instruction is designed to support parents in raising their children in the practice of the faith we share. Kindergarten is optional but children are expected to participate from first grade through grade 8, at which point they will be invited to prepare for Confirmation. This ongoing formation in faith offers a variety of Christ-centered experiences and a rich curriculum. We invite families to contact the rectory for more information, including special needs options and individualized catch up plans. Please call 973-761-5933. Registration for September should be arranged now. Please note that preparation for First Communion begins only after completing at least one year of religious education background. We extend an invitation to parents of enrolled children who are eligible and this sacramental preparation also begins in early fall.

Car Needed

Fr. Eustace is looking to buy a used Toyota Camry to be sent to a needy priest in Africa, for missionary work of evangelization. Please call the Parish Office if you have one or know of someone who does. Call 973 761 5933 and let us know. Thank you!

Habitat for Humanity New Information

Our next volunteer parish build day is Saturday, August 4th. A sign-up sheet is in back of church on the bulletin board outside the Children's Chapel. The tentative work site is 359 Lafayette St. in Newark. You will receive a follow up call the week of the build. For more information, email or call Gail Laughlin at glaughlin1@gmail.com or 973-313-0055.

Interfaith Hospitality Network Update

SHELTERING FAMILIES, BUILDING COMMUNITY Our IHN guests are midway through the two weeks of their stay with us and we thank everyone who has worked so hard to prepare and to provide for the four families in need of shelter who have come to us for a temporary place to stay. The Interfaith Hospitality Network unites across Essex County to give these and other parents a place to stay while working to secure permanent housing for themselves and their children. We were delighted that one of our anticipated families did not need our shelter because they found a home of their own just last weekend! Instead, we have welcomed a mother and her daughters into a safe, home-like place in Bernard Hall. Our wonderful volunteers and donors make it possible for us to offer three meals a day, help with laundry and arrange activities for the children. Yet, there is ‘no place like home,’ so we pray that all of our guests will soon secure permanent housing and leave the network with good memories of the support they received in a difficult time of their lives. If you would like to help during this second week or with clean up next Sunday, please call Suzanne Ryan at 973-761-7083.

REACHING OUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE

REACHING OUT ~ MAKING A DIFFERENCE! What difference can two cents make? It can have a huge impact when we put our money together as a parish and create a Tithing Fund for Others. Look below at the amount donated last week! Two percent of our Sunday offering is set aside each week: two cents out of every dollar you give. Our individual contributions joined together have helped local efforts to feed the hungry, give shelter to people who are homeless, facilitate contact with immigrants held in detention, and provide emergency relief. Our parish community has also reached out across the oceans to help the poor and vulnerable in Haiti, Nigeria and the Philippines. Thank you for your generous hearts! We began the Tithing Fund for Others two years ago this week. A committee of parishioners actively engaged in social justice ministries has worked with the pastor to select ways of using this fund to make a difference in Jesus’ name. The resulting donations by our community are reported to you as they occur, and we have received touching letters of appreciation from the recipient groups. For the month of July, 2% of your Sunday offering will be given to BACKPACK PALS to feed children who go hungry on weekends when school nutrition programs are closed. Let’s think of them as we make our offering at Mass this month and let’s keep this organization in our prayers, remembering all those who volunteer time for the cause we are supporting through our Tithing Fund .

FOOD PANTRY HELP WANTED

FOOD PANTRY HELP WANTED Make A Difference! There are many ways to make a difference in the fight against hunger. Volunteer opportunities range from sorting and packing food in our distribution center to lending a hand delivering to seniors. The St. Joseph Food Pantry is an outreach program to our needy families around the parish. Our mission is to help a caring community share its food resources. We act as a as a food warehouse and a front-line agency assisting those struggling to make ends meet and work with other agencies that assist people in need. Your assistance is always welcome. The next sort night is Monday, July 16, and packing night Thursday, July 19 at 7:00p.m. Delivery day is Saturday, July 21 at 10:00 a.m. Meet at the Food Pantry house located at 241 Hilton Ave. Maplewood. 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Our next volunteer parish build day is Saturday, August 4th. Be a part of the Habitat Mission…watch the bulletin and listen to the weekly announcements after Mass for more sign-up information or call Gail Laughlin (973-313-0055).

Children's Liturgy of the Word

IT IS SUMMER HIATUS TIME for our parish LITURGY OF THE WORD WITH CHILDREN and PRE-SCHOOL PRAY & PLAY 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 973 761 5933 to let us know you are interested. Please call the rectory 973-761-5933 to let us know if you are interested.

ARCHBISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL UPDATE

To date we have reached $30,971.00 of our Archbishop’s Annual Appeal goal of $45,610.00. So far 136 of our 1,000 parishioners have made a pledge or gift. If the remaining 864 could each make a $16.00 gift we would meet our goal and RECEIVE A REBATE! Our rebate will be used right here at St. Joseph’s to fund our many parish ministries and projects. Last year it only took 191 donors to make our goal. We can do it together! Envelopes are in the church, or checks can be made out to the Archbishop/s Annual Appeal.

Holy Ghost Father's to visit St. Joseph

HOLY GHOST FATHERS (IRISH PROVINCE) TO VISIT ST. JOSEPH JULY 28-29 The Holy Ghost Fathers are an International Missionary Society, one of the largest Missionary Congregations in the Church. They are responsible, in large part, for the evangelization of many African people in countries such as Ghana, Liberia, Angola, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi. Some of our missionaries are working in very tense and difficult situations, especially in war ravaged countries. The Holy Ghost Fathers are involved in all kinds of missionary activities from pastoral ministry to educational work at all levels, to the training of native clergy to social and agricultural work. The Holy Ghost Fathers also have missions in Asia and South America. In recent years they have even begun to work in China. The Holy Ghost Fathers are grateful for your prayers and continued support.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE JULY 4th

There will only be one Mass celebrated on Wednesday, July 4th at 9:00 a.m. The office will be closed in observance of our national holiday, Independence Day.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TO MEET

REGINA PACIS COUNCIL #4066 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The NEXT meeting of Regina Pacis Council will be on Monday, June 25th, 2012 at 8:00 pm, at the Council Home. This will be the last meeting for Grand Knight Bob Spangenberg. He will be turning over the gavel to our new Grand Knight David Luciano and his new officers. Please come and show your support for these members.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR ROE REED SATURDAY, JUNE 30 10:00 A.M. Come celebrate the life of our good friend and fellow parishioner Rosalie Reed at a memorial service here at St. Joseph Church. All are invited!

St. Joseph Ongoing Fundraiser

Youth Group News 6/19/2012

The Youth Group will meet Sunday, June 24th for our final meeting/dinner of the year. We are meeting at the Applebees Restaurant at 1721 Morris Ave. in Union from 7:00-9:00 p.m. For more information about our activities please email our youth minister Tom Berrios at tomberrios@hotmail.com

SUMMER MUSIC CAMP

SUMMER MUSIC CAMP FOR K, PRE-K AND BABIES JUNE 25-29 10am-11:30 a.m. Start summer with a happy week of music and song! The Making Music Summer Camp was a great success last year and filled up early. So, we are offering it again, the week of June 25th, and perhaps again in July. Please let us know soon if you are interested. Sessions run from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. including snack and social time. This is your chance to try a hands-on music experience at a summer discount! Only $35 , including a music CD and songbook – that is just five dollars a day for a week of fun. Children attend with a parent or caregiver and together use instruments, toys, and scarves to dance, sing, chant, pray, and play games with new friends. Enrollment will be limited so please email jleitner@stjosephmaplewood.org or call 973-761-5933 ext. 24 for more details.