ST. JOSEPH CHURCH
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2011


The quote of the month by Jay Leno:
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"


SNOW REMOVAL HELP

Anyone home on weekdays or weekends or students who might be available during snow days, who might be interested in earning some money by helping with snow removal, please call Fr. Phil to put your name on a list to be called [973.696.4411, x16].

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK. As Catholic Schools Week approaches, I encourage all parents to consider a catholic school education for their children. Here is some information about Holy Spirit School in Pequannock to aid in your decision making (all this information is taken from their brochure).

K-8 Profile

• Fully Accredited by Middle States Association
• NJ certified teachers, certified librarian
• Comprehensive, full day kindergarten
• Before & after care programs
• Small class sizes for individualized attention
• Children from all religious denominations welcome
• Ongoing registration
• Holy Spirit School in Pequannock is excited to announce the expansion of its three-year old preschool program. Beginning in January, the Pre-K 3 program will be available Monday thru Friday mornings from 8:30 to 11:15 am only. Two fully certified teachers provide a nurturing.
•
Academics

• Terra Nova testing in grades 1-8
• Core curriculum includes: reading, spelling, phonics, science, religion, mathematics/algebra, English, language arts, literature, penmanship, social studies, geography & vocabulary
• Music, art & physical education round out the core studies
• Spanish taught in grades 1-8
• Speech therapy, supplemental instruction for gifted & extra assistance

Facilities

• Online communication & grading system for parent, student, and teacher interaction
• Technologically advanced computer and science labs and library
• Nurturing and safe environment
• Hot lunch program
• On site Automated External Defibrillator (A.E.D.)
• Honeywell Instant Alert System – instantly notifies parents and caregivers of closings and emergency information
• Nurse on premises, staff members CPR certified

Extracurricular/social activities

• Performing Arts
• C.Y.O. Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Forensic League
• Jr. Leadership Program
• Student Government
• Music Lessons
• Book Club
• Health & Fitness Club
• Computer Club

Test Scores

• 50% of students in grades 3-8 are in the top 5% of those tested across the country – which qualifies them for the special Johns Hopkins University Talent Search Testing Program and can lead to special course offerings and enhanced academic experiences.

Awards

• Sister Marie Antonelli, M.P.F., principal of Holy Spirit School, is the recipient of the Distinguished Principals Award from the National Catholic Education Association

Tuition Assistance

• If you are currently enrolled as a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Parish, contributing to our parish through time, talent, and treasure, we will be able to assist you with your tuition

Contact Information:

• Website: www.holyspiritschoolpequannock.org
• Phone number for Sr. Marie: 973-835-5680; call her for an appointment
• Email for Sr. Marie: mantonelli@worldnet,att.net
• School address: 330 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pequannock, NJ 07440

Final Thoughts

• The teachers I know at DePaul High School tell me that graduates of Holy Spirit School are very well prepared for high school
• I can’t think of a better gift you can give your child or a better way to prepare them for the future than a catholic school education

NEW ALTAR SERVERS

Boys and girls in Grades 4-6 who are interested in becoming altar servers should call Sr. Ellen at 973.696.4411, x17 to inquire about the training schedule.

This is AWESOME ...

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. ‘I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

‘Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.

Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.

Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.


January 22, 2011 marks the thirty-eighth anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. We are still burdened with this grave sin. While we will be doing something at the parish to pray for an end to abortion, here is some prayers from our Bishop that you can pray on your own for an end to this terrible scourge.

Supplications for All Nascent Human Life

Let us pray to God, the Father of Life and Font of all Mercy:
Lord, have mercy on all who have sinned against life.

You knit us in our mother’s womb,
— Preserve all children from bodily harm
From the moment of conception.

Your Son ennobled all human life when he became flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
— Enlighten our minds to see the dignity of every human life
From its earliest embryonic beginnings.
You are author of science and knowledge,
— Bring an end to the destruction of human embryos
In research facilities and IVF clinics.

You are the law-giver and ruler of the world,
Help us to overturn unjust laws that permit the destruction of innocent lives,
And guide our public officials to defend the littlest among us.

You love those who are afflicted,
Help parents of unborn children with disabilities
To cherish the baby you have entrusted to their care.

Your Son, Jesus, healed the sick,
— Guide all doctors to be guardians of life,
Especially the lives of unborn children with serious health conditions.

Lord, you are love and mercy itself,
Draw all who have acted against innocent human life
To repentance and forgiveness,
And heal them through an outpouring of grace.

VOCATIONS. The week of January 9-15, 2011 is designated as Vocations Awareness Week. What can we do to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life?

Pray – no one knows how or why this works, but it does. Keep praying that God will inspire people to take up the joy of a vocation;
Church – we all need to work together to make our church a lively, faith filled place that encourages people to be disciples. Out of this will come one or two that will feel God’s call and follow. Who would be inspired to a vocation in a dull church?
Encourage men and women to consider a vocation to the priesthood and religious life. Sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement. Don’t forget to encourage older men and women – both Fr. Dave and myself are delayed vocations;
People in ministry, clergy, religious, and lay people, need to express joy in their lives, a joy that come from serving God. We need to show people that meaning in life comes from our relationship with God and what we do for others, not what we accumulate for ourselves.

BIBLE STUDY. I just realized that I have been doing the internet bible study for over 6 months now. I have been doing it for 4 reasons; 1) it helps me tremendously in my own homily preparation; 2) I hope it helps you in your faith life and to be a little bit prepared for Sunday Mass; 3) it is a way of reaching out to people who can’t come to the parish for bible study, and 4) I hope it encourages you to read the bible a little more.

Reading the Bible can be a daunting task. You need to do a little bit more than just sit down and read. Do you know what type of literature it is? When was it written? To whom was it written?

We need help to understand what we are reading. It is easy to interject what we think it says, or what we want it to say, but this isn’t bible study. This should only be done after we have a little understanding of what we are reading.

The first thing to do is to get a good bible. I use the latest edition of the Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible. This is approved by the Church and is the translation used at Mass. This bible has several aids for studying and learning. It has the Vatican II Constitution on Divine Revelation which tells us what Vatican II says about the bible. It has a section on how to read the bible, which should be the first thing read. There is a historical survey of the lands of the bible. A bible dictionary is included; if you see a word like Kadesh and you don’t know what it means, just look it up. There is a liturgical index of Sunday readings. I don’t include all the reading for that Sunday, so now you know what they are should you want to read them ahead of time. A doctrinal bible index is included; let’s say you want to know what the bible says about anger; just look up anger in this index and it will give you appropriate passages. My bible also has over 100 photographs and maps to help put things in perspective.

My bible also has a preface to each book describing themes, giving outlines, dates it was written, the author, and much other information. There are also copious footnotes, which need to be read along with the passage.

I also think that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a good companion in bible study. Let’s say you look up anger in the doctrinal index in the bible, but need more of an explanation. You can look up anger in the catechism for a fuller explanation, which will be cross referenced to the bible and other church documents. I also think a good dictionary of theology and a bible dictionary can be useful. For more in depth information, a good commentary series, such as the New Testament Message Series can be invaluable. There is also lots of stuff online. Be careful, because many of the non-Catholic bible studies online are going to have different interpretations than Catholics, especially with anything concerning the Eucharist.

This may all seem too much, but try it anyway. You’ll get the hang of it. Let me know if you have any questions.

MINISTRY MEETINGS

Eucharistic Ministers: 1/10/11 @ 7:30 pm in Church following 7:00 pm Mass

ATTENTION ENGAGED COUPLES

Attention all engaged couples: our parish, in conjunction with St. Pius X in Montville, will be holding Pre-Cana on February 11 & 12, 2011. If you are planning on being married in the next year, this will be the only Pre-Cana conducted by our parish in 2011. Registration must be completed by January 31st. Please contact Lorraine at 973.696.4411, x10.


FOOD PANTRY
The item requested for the month of January is solid white tuna in water only. Please leave your donations in the back of church. Thank you.






CONFIRMATION PROGRAM SUBS NEEDED

We are presently in need of substitute teachers for our Confirmation Program. The classes are the first Sunday of each month. If you are willing to help, please call the Rectory or email jenshirkey@hotmail.com and your name will be placed on a list to call in the event a sub is needed. Thank you.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
GRADES K-8

Grades K-4 Classes resume this Sunday at 9 or 11
Grs 7 & 8 will resume on Tuesday, January 11th

Confirmation Program

Check out our Youth Ministry information on Facebook at “St. Joe's Youth Ministry.” The page will host a calendar, service projects and other pertinent info. If you have any digital photos to be added, I will take them.

Questions regarding the Confirmation Program should be directed to our Youth Ministers, Kenneth & Jennifer Shirkey at 973.694.5844 or email jenshirkey@hotmail.com.

MORRIS CATHOLIC HS CLOTHING DRIVE



The Project Graduation Committee of MCHS will be holding a clothing drive on the following dates:
January 15 from 9 am to 1 pm, January 22 from 9 am to 1 pm and January 29 from 9 am to 3pm.

All wearable and usable clothing will be accepted including accessories such as pocketbooks, backpacks, belts, hats, gloves, scarves, ties, baby accessories and briefcases. Household items made of fabric in good condition such as blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillows, quilts, curtains, towels, bath rugs, kitchen and bath accessories made of fabric and tablecloths. Also both soft (stuffed animals, beanie babies, rag dolls) and hard toys will be accepted. All hard toys must fit a box 24” x 24” x 21”. Bicycles are also accepted (as long as they are in working order).

All items should be put in well-tied plastic bags. Shoes and soft toys should each be bagged separately, please.

Drop off is at MCHS, 200 Morris Avenue, Denville (container is located in the back near upper soccer field),
Or please contact Lorraine Thierry in the parish office @ 973.696.4411, x10 to arrange for pick up.


God bless everyone, and I hope you all have a happy and blessed New Year.

Fr. Phil