St. Joseph Parish 

August/September Minister's Schedule: Click Here

 

September 27, 2020
Fr. Tom's Letter
October Calendar
Auction Flyer
Outside Learning Pics
Grotto Mass Pics

September 20, 2020
Fr. Tom's Letter
Math/Science & the Outdoors 
We Love Gym ClassPictures

September 13, 2020
Fr. Tom's Letter
New Kneelers Pic Page
St. Joseph Facelift Pic Page
School Prayer Service Pics
Portage County School Safety Pic Page

September 6, 2020
Fr. Tom's Letter
Back to School Pic Pages

August 30, 2020
Fr. Tom's Letter
Conversations Toward the Catholic Faith
Grotto Pic Page
New Teacher Pic Page
September Calendar

August 23, 2020
Fr. Tom's Letter
Assumption Triduum Pages 1&2
Assumption Triduum Pages 3&4
 

Please Keep in Your Thoughts and Prayers The Ill of the Parish:

Barb Seli, Dr. Dennis McCluskey, Anne Luli, Jamie McKinley Taylor, Michael Anthony, Cecilia Woodward, Martha (Wohlwend) Harris, Paul North, Charlie Wise, Fred Pero, Theresa Long, Linda Shaw, Geri DiBona, Tony and Helen Franjesh, Jane Evans Kober, Ralph Herman, Gladys Hilgert, Melissa Charba, Cork Greiner, Bernie White, Richard Hengle, Susan Andrews, Janelle Albertoni, Gloria Rodenbucher, Roger Klodt, Baby Charlie Richardson, Shirley Laubert, Vicki Newnham, Doreen Knapp Riley, Jeff Helmling, twins Karlie & Chloe Esposito, Josephine Demboski.

Passed into the Lord's Hands: 

John Luli Jr., George Berger, Veronica Wise, and Helen Nichols.

Grotto Masses 

The 7:00 PM Saturday Grotto Mass has become very popular. People find the outdoor environment both inviting and safer during this COVID 19 challenge. We are seeing ‘record crowds’ for the Saturday evening Mass.

The Parish Council decided we should keep the Saturday evening Mass all through the year at 7:00 pm. Outside it is becoming dark and soon it will be getting excessively cold. We will have to move inside soon.

I would also like to invite people to return to the Eucharistic service even though weekend Mass is not obligatory. Hopefully a spiritual appetite will entice you to receive the Eucharistic. It is especially important for our children to receive Holy Communion together with their family. Allow me to present this opportunity.

Beginning in October ten minutes before each weekend Church Mass, I will be standing at the back of the church by the baptismal font with my back to the cry room. I will have the Euchairist with me. Parishioners and children who have a concern of the virus in confined places can come in the front doors of the church, pick up a bulletin, leave an offertory contribution, then come to me and I will give you Communion immediately. You will also receive a sheet suggesting prayers. You can leave the church, go to the car and pray for the moment with family or return home to pray.

Those who wish to remain in church can simply go to a pew and sit, and Mass will begin on time. As for those people who remain for Mass, we ask the people to spread out and as the crowds become greater also consider a mask. However, I will not police this aspect because your own common sense and concern will give you the best answer.

Remember the Grotto Flag will be present in front of the church if there is to be a Grotto Mass.

Sacramental Needs 

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

Pope Francis told people on March 15, "United to Christ we are never alone, but instead form one body of which he is the head. It is a union that is nourished with prayer and also with spiritual communion in the Eucharist, a practice that is recommended when it isn't possible to receive the sacrament." The idea of "spiritual Communion" is part of Catholic tradition. We invite Jesus into ourselves when receiving the actual sacrament isn't possible.

"My Jesus, I believe you are really here in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you more than anything in the world, and I hunger to receive you. But since I cannot receive Communion at this moment, feed my soul at least spiritually. I unite myself to you now as I do when I actually receive you."

PRAYER FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW BISHOP OF YOUNGSTOWN

Lord God, you are our eternal shepherd and guide. In your mercy, grant your Church of Youngstown a shepherd who will walk in your ways and whose watchful care will bring us your abundant blessing. Give him a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. May he govern with fidelity we who will be entrusted to his care, and may he build your church as a sign of salvation for the world. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit - you are one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Let us also remember in our prayers our Diocesan Administrator, Monsignor Robert J. Siffrin, who continues to lead our diocese during this interim period. May God continue to strengthen and bless him.)

Conversations Toward the Catholic Faith

St. Joseph Parish will again offer the Directed Reading Course Conversations Toward the Catholic Faith. This four-part course will begin on Saturday, September 19, 10:30 am in the fourth room (closest to the Grotto area) of the Four Thought Center. Fr. Thomas Acker, S.J., will lead these sessions utilizing the book This Is Our Faith by Michael Pennock. Please call the parish office at 330/628-9941 if you are thinking of attending so that the proper amount of books will be on hand. Thank you.

ACME Cash Back Program Has Begun

St. Joseph School is once again collecting ACME receipts for the ACME Community Cash Back Program. The Program began August 6, 2020, and will run through December 6, 2020. Please save your receipts from ACME and drop them off at the school, send them to school with your child/ren, place them in the back of church or you can drop them off at the office. This program helps the school in purchasing educational materials by the tally for the total amount of receipts received. In the past we have received a couple hundred dollars per year. Thanks in advance for your support.

Additional Servers/Lectors Needed

We are looking for additional servers and lectors, especially for the 7:00 pm Saturday Mass and the 8:00 am Sunday Mass. However, anyone interested in serving at any of the Masses please call the rectory and Fr. Tom will talk with you.
 

News on the Food Shelf

The Randolph Suffield Atwater Food Shelf is growing! The Food Shelf has existed since 1970 and has been on St. Joseph campus for 35 years. We need to vacate the current location because of the children’s playground safety. We plan to build on the east side of the Knights of Columbus Hall. We have started a fundraising campaign with a goal of $125,000. We are asking for donations to help us reach this goal. Thank you for your consideration!

Piano Lessons 

Yuliana Kvinta, St. Joseph’s Music Director, is now offering piano lessons here at our parish. Yuliana is a highly skilled educator, state-certified, with over 20 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master’s degree in Music Education, studied piano performance and instruction along with choral directing and vocal performance. Contact Yuliana at 234- 716- 3287 or email at ykvinta@gmail.com

Catholic War Vets

To those of you who have already purchased flags from the CWV, thank you for your support. We are placing another order for additional flags since our original amount has all been sold. If you want an American made flag, please contact a CWV, or the office.
 

Lead Testing of Water

Recently our water consultant, Don Macko, completed testing of our water in three places in the school and two places in the rectory. In all locations the level was less than 2 milligrams per liter. The threshold is 15 milligrams per liter. This is a public notice that we have undergone lead testing and we are well below the levels for safety. Click here for more information.
 

40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses. (Go to https://www.40daysforlife.com/). The Fall 2020 campaign takes place September 23 through November 1. There are two 40 Days for Life campaigns in the Diocese of Youngstown: - Canton, at 2663 Cleveland Ave. NW, in front of the Planned Parenthood. Contact Linda at 330- 826-1885 or fortydayscanton@gmail.com. - Youngstown at 77 E. Midlothian Blvd, in front of the Planned Parenthood. Contact Don and Mary at 330-372-6147 or mgoffos@hotmail.com.
 

Catholics Care. Catholics Vote.

Learn about the Issues. In their statement on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. Catholic bishops lift up various issues of different moral weight and urgency. Some issues they mention include: addressing abortion, euthanasia, racism, the use of the death penalty and imprudent resort to war; protecting the fundamental understanding of marriage as the life-long and faithful union of one man and one woman; achieving comprehensive immigration reform; caring for our common home; helping families and children overcome poverty; providing healthcare while respecting human life, human dignity and religious freedom; and establishing and complying with moral limits on the use of military force. Learn more about these issues and others at www.faithfulcitizenship.org