THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 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.
PASTOR S COLUMN THE MOVIE UNPLANNED IS COMING TO HERMITAGE: The movie Unplanned is making its national debut later this month. To ensure that it is seen in Mercer County, Pro-Life of Mercer County bought out two theaters for a special showing Thursday, March 28, at 7:00pm at the Shenango Valley Cinemas, 2996 East State St. in Hermitage (behind Lowe s). The movie tells the story of Abby Johnson who was a clinic director for Planned Parenthood. What she saw while working for Planned Parenthood made her change her mind about working for Planned Parenthood and the truth about life in the womb. Her story is that of an insider who changed her views about abortion and is one of the most ardent Pro-Life speakers in America today. The movie is rated R because talk of abortion (rather than a woman s right to choose) is disturbing to Hollywood, which prefers that no one see this movie. The movie has three bad words and no sex scenes, but there is killing. Tickets are on sale in the parish office for $5.00 (half price). CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL: So far in our Catholic Services Appeal we have 141 pledges for $62,850. Our assessment goal for the diocese is $66,000. Last year we exceeded our goal thanks to the 278 generous families and individuals who made a pledge or a one-time contribution to this appeal. We will be using the money we collect over our goal this year to re-pad the kneelers in the church, fix the canopy at the Clepper entrance, and update some computer software in the parish office. We are inviting every parish family to make some gift or pledge to this campaign. We are grateful to those who continue to make the Catholic Services Appeal a priority because it is through your generous gifts that we are able to keep St. Joseph Parish moving forward. May God continue to reward you for your generosity and your thoughtfulness. Pledge envelopes will be in the pews for the next several weeks. Please make your checks out to St. Joseph Church. SOUP AND STATIONS: Every Wednesday during Lent at 6:00pm we will walk the Stations of the Cross and a soup and bread meal will follow in the Choir room immediately after the stations are completed. All are welcome. PENANCE SERVICES: Sunday, March 24, Beloved Disciple, Grove City 2:00pm Sunday, March 31, St. Michael, Greenville 1:00pm Sunday, March 31, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mercer 4:00pm Monday, April 1, Good Shepherd, West Middlesex 6:30pm Tuesday, April 9, St. Joseph, Sharon 7:00pm Thursday, April 11, Notre Dame, Hermitage 6:30pm CHURCH TOUR: Are you new to St. Joseph Parish? Wonder where the chapel, the hearing impaired system, the elevator, or the bathrooms are? On Monday, April 8, there will be two tours of the church and office for those who would like to attend. The first tour will begin at 1:00pm and the second will begin at 7:00pm. If you plan on attending, we ask that you please sign up on the main bulletin board in the Gathering Space or call the office to let us know how many to prepare for. RELIGIOUS MATERIALS FROM HOME: I have asked before, and I will ask again, (maybe this person doesn t belong here) please do not bring to church religious oils, cards, pamphlets, etc., that you receive in the mail at your home. These items are intended for your personal use and not for distribution at church. They have been, and will be, removed immediately. If you don t want the materials sent to you, either contact the sender to stop or dispose of them. Please do not bring them to church for us to dispose of them. REFLECTIONS: Please see today s insert; Third Sunday of Lent
PLEASE PRAY FOR: Ed Thomas, Bill Lasche, Lorraine Penhos, Lillian Fabrey, Ed Benedict, Donna Fraley, Tess McCallen, Tony Perry, Ruth Perry, Grover McKnight, Gerrie Derr and Bob Poerstel. MINISTRY SCHEDULES Eucharistic Minister * Lector * Altar Server * Greeter The 2nd quarter schedule, April through June is now LIVE online and available to view and print from the Ministry Scheduler Pro website. To view your schedule log on to: https:/www.rotundasoftware.com/ ministy/stjosephchurchsharon Those who do not have email or internet access, a copy of the schedule has been mailed. ST. JOSEPH QUILTERS invite anyone that would be interested or is considering joining the St. Joseph Quilters. The quilter s group meets at 9:30am the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month in the choir room and no experience is needed! If you have any further questions, please call Joann at 330-448-8733. PARISH APP Download our parish app to your phone by texting APP to 88202. ADULT CATECHETICAL FORMATION SESSIONS You are prayerfully invited during the season of Lent to deepen your relationship with Jesus and His Church through prayer and study. The sessions will be held on three consecutive Mondays from 6:15-7:30pm in Notre Dame Chapel. The evenings will be facilitated by Joe Ranelli. Those attending will need to bring their Bible, notebook and pen. If interested, please call Notre Dame parish office at 724-981-5566 to register. If there is an area of the Faith you would like to learn more about, please mention it when registering. 3-25-19 - Prayer / Devotions / Worship 4-1-19 - Sacred Vessels / Liturgical Objects and Gestures 4-8-19 - The Triduum: A Walk through Holy Week WEEKEND COLLECTION - March 11, Number of Adult envelopes sent.. 859 Number of Adult envelopes used. 346 Number of unused envelopes... 513 Sunday Offertory......$10,027 Budgeted Offertory....$10,650 Deficit........($ 623) Other Collections: Ash Wednesday....$ 640 FEATURED FOOD PANTRY ITEM Next week s featured item - Toothpaste. Please place your donation in the shopping cart located in the Gathering Space. UPCOMING FEATURED ITEMS Canned Fruit - Cereal - Crackers 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 day, Friday, April 5. St. Joseph s Paschal Candle St. Joseph Church will be offering three-inch handcrafted Votive Candles poured from our own blessed Paschal candles from years past. Only a limited quantity are available! These special votive candles will be available in the Gathering Space the weekend of April 6 & 7 for a minimum donation of $8 per candle. Bring a part of our Paschal tradition home with you. This special votive will add beauty and meaning to any home. Consider one for yourself, a hostess gift or basket filler this Easter! STATIONS OF THE CROSS Each Wednesday during Lent at 6:00pm we welcome and invite you to join us as we follow the footsteps of Christ s journey to the cross. Immediately following Stations of the Cross, everyone is welcome to join us for fellowship and soup in the choir room. March- March 24 at 9:30am, All Parent/Family Activity-Case Ave. School March 28 at 6:00pm, 3rd Grade Blessing Cup Meal-Guild Hall
Intentions +Indicates Time Monday, March 25 Is 7:10-14; 8:10 / Heb 10: 4-10/ Lk 1: 26-38 +8:00 Verna Picciotto (SHS History Dept.) Tuesday, March 26 Dn 3: 25, 34-43 / Mt 18: 21-35 +8:00 Ann Tarkanick (Diane Esposito) Wednesday, March 27-Dt 4: 1, 5-9 / Mt 5: 17-19 +12:10 Charles Sanata (Peg & Jim Hansley) *2:30 West Hill Ministries * 6:00 Stations and Soup Thursday, March 28 Jer 7: 23-28 / Lk 11: 14-23 +8:00 Beverly D Urso (Fabry and Barnhart Families) *2:30 West Hill Ministries *6:00 1st Communion Blessing Cup Meal-Guild Hall *6:00 RCIA-choir room Friday, March 29-Hos 14: 2-10 / Mk 12: 28-34 +8:00 Nellie Vasconi (Patti Palko) Saturday, March 30-Jos 5: 9a, 10-12 / 2 Cor 5: 17-21 / Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT +5:15 Carmine Trenga, Sr. (Ted & Louise Ferrara) Sunday, March 31-Jos 5: 9a, 10-12 / 2 Cor 5: 17-21 / Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT +8:30 Jennifer Maries +11:00 Deceased Members of the Parish *1:00 Penance Service-St. Michael, Greenville *4:00 Penance Service-Immaculate Heart, Mercer Saturday, 30, Vigil 5:15 PM Ministry Schedule for March 30/31 Volunteer P. Dach, D. Dach, S. Messina, E. Anderson, T. H. Cole, F. Smeraglia, M. Goodwin A. Jordan, M. Jordan, N. Jordan GS: S. McLaughlin, L. Volansky Fr: R. Axtell Sunday, 31, 8:30 AM Sunday, 31, 11:00 AM S. Swogger B. Maffey, G. Maffey, S. Missory, J. Vukovich, R. Vukovich, M. Christman, J. Mausser A. Schupp, N. Schupp, S. Schupp GS: C. Dunn J. Bonomo V. Mulligan, L. Dach, K. Bonomo, D. D Amore, D. D Amore, S. Feeney, J. Grandy, D. Ranelli, M. B. Jones, J. Kaibas, J. Sherbine A. Anzevino, H. Busi, R. Busi, B. Dach GS M. Smith, M. A. Smith CL: B. Anzevino Fr: G. & O. Pacsi WEEKDAY-HOSPITAL March 31 26 - P. Heldorfer SRMC - G. Smith 27 - K. Mueller Nugent - P. Dach 28 - F. Giroski Clepper - F. Smeraglia
We will be having our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 14, (Palm Sunday) after the 11:00 a.m. on St. Joseph Church grounds. It is for children who are two years old through third grade ONLY. We ask that you bring a container for your child in which he/she can place the eggs. The two-year-olds through pre-k will meet in the choir room and have their hunt in the courtyard. Kindergarten through First Grade will meet outside by the steps to the main office (by the mailbox). Second and Third Graders will meet at the steps outside the Gathering Space. Each group will be led by a group leader to their designated area. Please DO NOT leave your starting point to collect eggs before your leader gives you the go to start; this way each participant has the same opportunity to search out some eggs. BAD WEATHER DATE WILL BE THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, April 20 at 11:00 a.m. After the hunt, if you would like to donate the empty plastic eggs, please give them to the leader of your group who will be sure to see that the Easter Bunny gets them. If you would like to turn them in later, please bring them to the Church office. Thank you for your cooperation and generosity.