FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, Rev. Thomas J. Whitman, Pastor Director of Religious Ed: Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. Parish Secretary: Lori Vasconi Financial Secretary: Carol Koch Maintenance: Brad Goodall Music Director: Mary Messina Office Hours Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed 12:30-1:30 PM) Schedule Saturday Vigil - 5:15 PM Sunday - 8:30 & 11:00 AM Weekday: M, T, Th, Fri - 8:00 AM Wed. - 12:10 PM (Check weekly bulletin for changes.) Confessions Saturday: 4:00-4:30 PM or by request. Religious Education Program Sundays, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM CCD Grades K-10 at Case Avenue Elem. School, Grade 11 in the church annex. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Every Wednesday after the 12:10 PM in the Mother s Chapel. Shenango Valley Catholic School System Mr. William Lyon, Principal, Kennedy Catholic Middle and High Schools: 724-346-5531 Mr. Joshua Testa, Principal St. John Paul II: 724-342-2205 PARISHIONER PRE-REGISTRATION FORM NAME STREET CITY & ZIP PHONE E-Mail Place completed form in today s collection basket or drop it off in the church office. New Member Address Change Update Info Baptism: Please contact the parish office to schedule a time and date. A pre-baptism class is required. No baptisms during Advent and Lent. Matrimony: By appointment six months in advance. Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA): Please call the church office at 724-981-3232. Prayer Line: For intentions, please call 724-342-3456. SUPER BOWL CHILI FEST TODAY - 3 Noon to 1:30pm St. Joseph's Guild Hall Look inside today s bulletin for more details!
PASTOR S COLUMN SCRIPTURE CLASS: Fr. Tom will be offering another Scripture class this one will be on the Passion Narratives. We will be looking at the Gospel of Mark and his Passion over a four-week period. Classes will be February 6, 11, 20, 25. February 6 & 20 are Wednesdays and February 11 & 25 are Mondays. You will need a Bible, paper, and a writing instrument. ASH WEDNESDAY CHANGE: The liturgy committee evaluates what we do for each season of the year. In our discussion about Ash Wednesday we decided to continue the Ash Wednesday es at 12:10 and 7:00pm. The early morning was not well attended for various reasons. This year we are planning to have a 7:00am prayer service, (not a ) on Ash Wednesday. This will consist of a prayer, scripture reading, brief homily, and the distribution of ashes. We hope that those who wish to start their day with prayer and ashes can do so and make it to work. This service will conclude as you receive ashes and you can be on your way to work before 7:30am. Ash Wednesday is March 6. REFLECTIONS ON THE READINGS: Our readings this weekend reflect on the role of the prophet to speak a word that challenges us to greater love. In the first reading we hear about the call of Jeremiah the prophet. God promises to be with Jeremiah before he is born and throughout all the struggles he will endure as a prophet. Jeremiah will speak out against the civil authorities and how they endanger the people s freedom. He will speak out against the religious authorities who have placed all their trust in the Temple and external worship. Jeremiah will challenge them to practice a religion of the heart. He will challenge them to reach out to people in need. His message will not always be welcome by those who are in power or who have grown accustomed to the way things are. In the second reading Paul gives us his great discourse on love. But Paul speaks here not simply about romantic love or a love that is based on feelings or emotions. Paul speaks about a love that is demonstrated by acts of charity and compassion. It is the kind of love we all want, but it is not always the kind of love that we are willing to extend to others, particularly those who are not part of our inner circle. Jesus in the Gospel has just announced what he will do in his ministry (last week s Gospel) and now the people are questioning how Jesus could do these things because he is no one special (the son of Joseph). Jesus then speaks about how foreigners have been granted God s assistance in the past and will continue to have God s assistance. God is not just the God of the Jewish people, but the God of all people. This was not something they wanted to hear or something that was easy to hear in their culture, or in ours. And rather than allow themselves to be challenged by the message of Jesus, they plot to kill him. Not the loving response that Jesus was hoping for! Jesus will constantly be pushing the boundaries of inclusion in his ministry and the challenge of the Gospel for us today is to look at whom we are excluding from our love and care for whatever reason. How can we grow in our imitation of Jesus and the way in which he continually moves the boundaries of inclusion to be wider and wider? FIRST FRIDAY VISITS If you or a loved one are unable to attend church for health reasons or a disability, please call the church office at 724-981-3232 to be placed on our First Friday list. By signing up, the First Friday of each month a Eucharistic Minister or our priest will come to your home and distribute Holy Communion. When the priest visits he will also administer the Anointing of the Sick. 2018 END OF YEAR TAX STATEMENTS are available upon request beginning February 1. Please call the church office at 724-981-3232 ext. 13 if you would like a copy. Please allow two business days for processing. FUNERAL Our sympathy and prayers to the family of Marie Zoccola. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. WEEKEND COLLECTION - January 28, Number of Adult envelopes sent.. 859 Number of Adult envelopes used. 243 Number of unused envelopes... 616 Sunday Offertory......$ 8,508 Budgeted Offertory....$10,650 Deficit........($ 2,142) Other Collections: Catholic Communication...$ 671
FEATURED FOOD PANTRY ITEM Next week s featured item - Canned Tuna. Please place your donation in the shopping cart located in the Gathering Space and thanks for checking the expiration date! UPCOMING FEATURED ITEMS Canned or Boxed Soups - Pancake Mix - Jelly The Food Pantry is in need of volunteers! Distribution days are the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month. If you d like to volunteer for one or both sessions, please report to the church s lower level at 8:00am on our next distribution days, Friday, February 1 and Friday, February 15. Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments - Teen Dating Violence and Protecting our Youth: Teen dating violence is a serious problem in the United States. A national survey found that 10% of teens had been victims of physical dating violence within the past year and approximately 29% reported being verbally or psychologically abused in the previous year. Teen dating violence can be physical, emotional or sexual. Teen dating violence can be prevented through empowering teens to lead healthy lives and establish healthy relationships. Healthy relationships consist of trust, honesty, respect, equality and compromise. To see what the Diocese of Erie is doing to help maintain safe environments, visit https://www.eriercd.org/childprotection/ PLEASE PRAY FOR: Ed Thomas, Bill Lasche, Lorraine Penhos and Lillian Fabrey. REMINDER: The PLEASE PRAY FOR is updated at the beginning of each month. If you or your loved one were on the Please Pray For Lis the month prior and still need continual prayer, please call the church office at 724-981- 3232 at the beginning of the new month. And as always, if at any given time during the current month you or a loved one become ill or hospitalized and need placed on the list, you may call the church anytime during our week day office hours. The 5th Annual Erie Men s Conference will be held at Our Lady of Peace in Erie, Pennsylvania on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 9:00 AM. This conference will ignite and strengthen your faith, through powerful speakers, and Fr. Larry Richards will be speaking alongside Steve Wood and Mike McCoy. You will build a foundation that will change your life forever. Bishop Lawrence Persico will be in attendance all day and preside over the opening ceremony and closing. Grow strong and meet the challenges of the modern world with the power and tools you will take from this conference! Please log on to www.2232men.com to register and to view group and individual fees. If you have any questions, please call 814-455-7364. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CAREER OPPORTUNITY: The K of C is seeking a Field Agent for a career opportunity representing their insurance program. We offer a complete benefits package with this full-time position. In order to qualify, one must be eligible for membership in the Knights of Columbus. For more information, please contact David McIntosh, FIC, General Agent at 517-214-7040 or by email: david.mcintosy@kofc.org. PRO-LIFE ANNUAL BREAKFAST The Pro-Life of Mercer County s 17th Annual Breakfast will take place on Saturday, February 16, at 9:00am. The location is the Park Inn by Radisson, 3377 New Castle Road, West Middlesex, PA. Keynote speaker is Monica Migliorino Miller, the Director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and author of Abandoned - The Untold Story of the Abortion Wars. Tickets are $16 adults/$10 children through age 19. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Susan Wallace at susanrwallace@hotmail.com or 724-815-5221; or Bob Lackey at rlackey@glolaw.com or 724-342-6835. S T. ANTHONY/ST. STANISLAUS-LENTEN BIBLE STUDY Join us for Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come at St. Stanislaus Church Hall, in Sharon, Pa. beginning Tuesday, February 26 at 6:30pm and continuing every Tuesday for 11 weeks. For more information or to register for the study, call Mary Ann at St. Anthony Parish Office 724-342- 7391 or email: themustardseed3@yahoo.com. Altar flowers are donated in thanksgiving to God and in memory of Nancy Cortese by Joe & Louise Aquino
Intentions +Indicates Time Monday, February 4 Heb 11: 32-40 / Mk 5: 1-20 +8:00 Jack Taylor (Glenda Kurelko) *7:00 Liturgy Meeting-choir room Tuesday, February 5 Heb 12: 1-4 / Mk 5: 21-43 +8:00 Charles Sanata (Jack and Lois O Toole) Wednesday, February 6-Heb 12: 4-7, 11-15 / Mk 6: 1-6 +12:10 Ann Tarkanick (Lucille Marnejon) *2:30 West Hill Ministries *7:00 Scripture Class-choir room Thursday, February 7 Heb 12: 18-19, 21-24 / Mk 6: 7-13 +8:00 David M. Bock (Family) *2:30 West Hill Ministries *6:00 RCIA-choir room Friday, February 8-Heb 13: 1-8 / Mk 6: 14-29 +8:00 Kathryn S. Earnhart (Jim Earnhart) Saturday, February 9-Is 6: 1-2a, 3-8 / 1 Cor 15: 1-11 or 15: 3-8, 11 / Lk 5: 1-11 FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME +5:15 M/M Thomas J. Dach (Peggy and Diane) Sunday, February 10 Is 6: 1-2a, 3-8 / 1 Cor 15: 1-11 or 15: 3-8, 11 / Lk 5: 1-11 FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME +8:30 Edwin Lasche (Dr. & Mrs. Robert Weiner & Family) +11:00 Deceased Members of Our Parish Saturday, 9, Vigil 5:15 PM Ministry Schedule for February 9/10 M. Norman T. H. Cole, S. Messina, P. Dach, D. Dach, M. Goodwin, F. Smeraglia, Volunteer N. Alexander, D. Eller, M. Jordan GS: F. Giroski, S. McLaughlin Fr: L. Volansky Sunday, 10, 8:30 AM Sunday, 10, 11:00 AM D. Rubano P. Emery, M. Christman, S. Missory, S. Cleary, J. Vukovich, R. Vukovich, S. Delp A. Schupp, N. Schupp, S. Schupp GS: S. Paul J. Bonomo G. Pacsi, J. Kaibas, K. Bonomo, Dr. D Amore, D. D Amore, S. Feeney, J. Grandy, D. Ranelli, D. Yao, L. Dach, V. Mulligan H. Busi, R. Busi, B. Dach, S. Pass GS: T. McCallen CL: O. Pacsi Fr: B. Anzevino, A. Ward WEEKDAY-HOSPITAL February 10 5 - F. Giroski SRMC - P. Dach 6 - P. Emery Nugent - D. Ranelli 7 - P. Radasevich Clepper - F. Smeraglia
FEBRUARY- 17 at 9:30am, 7/8 Grade Retreat- Buhl Park 23 at 9:00am, First Penance Retreat-Guild Hall 24 at 9:40am, 3-10 Grade, Stations of the Cross-Church PRINCE OF PEACE CENTER Bowl-a-Thon Strike Out Poverty! Sunday, February 24 / 12:30pm Thornton Hall Bowling Lanes 1208 Hall Ave., Sharon This event will support Prince of Peace Center s AWESOME life-skills classes and its Family Supportive Services programs. Teams of up to five bowlers and individuals are invited to register for the event by 1 to guarantee a free T-shirt and a chance at various prizes. Cost is $30 per person, which will include three games of bowling, shoe rental, T-shirt, raffle ticket and food, drink and snack tickets. The bowl-a-thon also will include a Chinese auction, 50/50 raffle and other prizes. Area churches, many of which support Prince of Peace throughout the year, are invited to field at least one team to take part in the bowl-a-thon competition. To register a team or individual, call (724) 346-5777 ext. 14 or go to the Prince of Peace website www.princeofpeacecenter.org/events/-bowlathon/ and download the event registration form. Return the completed form to the center, PO Box 89, Farrell, Pa. 16121. Welcome St. Joseph Parish Welcomes All New and Visiting Parishioners! We hope you find warmth and hospitality at our parish as well as St. Joseph Church being nurturing and spiritually enriching. If you are considering or would like to join our parish community, we invite you to please take a Welcome Packet located at each exit or fill out the Pre- Registration Form on the front cover of the bulletin and drop it in today s collection basket and a census form will be mailed to you.