ST. JOSEPH CHURCH
EMAIL NEWSLETTER #15
MARCH 2011




Lent is already here, and it is a good time to become closer to the Lord. We are offering several ways to do this. As usual, we will have Stations of the Cross every Friday evening at 7:30 pm. Meditating on the mysteries of Christ’s death is a good way to increase our spirituality, and it takes less than a half hour. We will have confessions every Monday evening from 6 pm to 6:45 pm, and after the 7 pm mass, if necessary. If you feel that God is far away and you are afraid of losing your faith, my first question to you would be to ask, “When was the last time you went to confession?” The accumulation of sin blocks the avenues if God’s grace, which is when we feel a lack of faith. Being forgiven will open up those avenues and refresh and grow our faith. I would also encourage you to make a firm commitment to mass at least once a week. Here is where we learn about God’s will for us in the readings and the homily, and we get the grace from communion to live out our faith everyday. This is also something we can take with us during the rest of the year. And, if possible, try to go to a second mass during the week. Mornings may not be possible, but we do have mass every Monday evening at 7 pm. WhyCatholic? is a program held in people’s homes to help us learn more about our faith through the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This lent the groups will be discussing such things as the Ten Commandments, making moral decisions, virtues, conscience, and the like. How much do you know about these things? On April 2, we are having a day of reflection with Fr John Catoir, a retired priest of our diocese, the former head of The Christopher’s, and a columnist for the Beacon. Holy Week activities, such as the Chrism Mass at St Philip’s in Clifton on 4/18, Mass on Holy Thursday at 7:30 pm, the Cross Walk on Good Friday, the Good Friday 3 pm Service, and the Living Stations with our Youth Group on Good Friday evening are all wonderful prayer experiences that will draw us closer to God. There are also several ways to live out our faith in practical terms this Lent, such as Operation Rice Bowl, the Homeless Shelter, and the St. Joseph’s Table. I think we have plenty of opportunities to prepare for Easter, and I encourage you to participate in these things as much as you can. Fr. Phil



LENTEN SEASON INFORMATION

With the beginning of Lent, the Church proclaims anew Christ’s call to penance and conversion to life. “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mt. 16:24

REGULATIONS
The entire season, from Ash Wednesday to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, is a penitential season; a time of self-denial, prayer and Christian charity. The specific discipline of the Church in the U.S. is as follows: Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Days of fasting and abstinence are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obligated to fast. By this obligation, the individual is permitted only one full meal in the day. The obligation to abstain begins at age 14. The law of abstinence forbids the eating of meat. The obligation to observe the laws of fast and abstinence “substantially” or as a whole is a serious obligation. Failure to observe any one penitential day in itself is not considered serious; however, it is the failure to observe any penitential days at all, or a substantial number of such days, which must be considered serious.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
The ancient custom of the church to remember Jesus’ passion and death by making the Way of the Cross will be celebrated every Friday of Lent at 7:30 pm.




MARK YOUR CALENDARS - DAY OF REFLECTION

On Saturday, April 2, 2011, we are having a Lenten Day of Reflection led by Rev. John T. Catoir, J.C.D., a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese and former head of The Christophers. The first talk at 10:30 am will be the Theology of Joy, with confessions immediately following. Lunch will be at 12 noon (please bring your own lunch; coffee and... will be provided). The second talk at 1:15 pm will be on the psychology of achieving joy. Fr. Catoir will be offering his publications for sale on that day. Please call us (973.696.4411, x10) and let us know if you will be attending this day.


INTERFAITH HOMELESS SHELTER

The Interfaith Homeless Shelter will be arriving at the Jacksonville Annex on Sunday, March 13. We will provide food that day as well as food and fellowship on Saturday, March 19. Sign up sheets are on the tables in the rear of church. Anyone who would like more information regarding our parish’s involvement in the homeless shelter should call Lois Moeller at 973. 696.4049 or Mary Bono at 973.696.9713.

These are difficult times for so many. Please consider spending time in fellowship or supplying food. Anything you can do to help these local families who are truly in need of our assistance will be greatly appreciated.



Friends:

For the past several years we have been distributing bread to you at all the masses for St. Joseph's Day. This year we would like to do something different: we would like to have a St. Joseph's Table.

The idea of a St. Joseph's Table began centuries ago. Many poor people ran out of food after a long, cold, winter, and needed help. There were no supermarkets or other similar places to obtain food, and they were at the mercy of the generosity of other people. It became the custom at many churches to ask their parishioners for food donations so they could help those in need. They did this in conjunction with St Joseph's Day (March 19th).

This tradition survives to this day, although it works a little different. People donate food to the church, the church sells it, and the money goes to the poor. This is what we want to do.

Our St. Joseph's Table will be on Sunday, March 20, 2011, after the 10 am and 12 noon masses in Halloran Hall. We are asking for food donations to be brought in Sunday morning before the 10 am mass. The food will be available for sale after those masses. The proceeds will be donated to the Morris County Interfaith Homeless Shelter and the Lincoln Park Food Pantry.

We are looking for the following or similar items: Pizza-gain, otherwise known as Pizza Rustica, breads (like sausage bread, or any other type of bread), pies, cakes or other desserts, or any other similar type of food that you would like to donate.

Please let us know if you can help. The Hall will be open prior to the 8 am Mass for donations.

Thanks you for helping those in need, in the spirit of St. Joseph. Please let me know if you have any questions. Fr. Phil




WELCOME HOME TO HEALING

"Welcome Home" is a diocesan initiative to invite all Catholics to experience the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession is a wonderful opportunity to set aside our sinful ways and to draw closer to our Lord. Confessions will be held every Monday during Lent, from March 14 to April 11, 2011, in every Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson. Since we have Mass at 7 pm on Mondays, we will hear confessions prior to Mass, beginning at 6 pm and ending at 6:45 pm, and after mass, if necessary. Don't be afraid! Information will be provided. Ask the priest to help you. Experience the gracious mercy of God!
www.WelcomeHomeToHealing.org."



The following is from CONNECTIONS (a homily service) for March 2011.

The dignity of generosity

This happened in a small Virginia church years ago:

A widow with six small children was a long-time member of the congregation. Each month she gave the church $4 - a tithe of her income. Members of the church council were moved by her generosity but concerned that her gift added more to her hardship. They urged the pastor to talk to the poor woman and let her know that, given the weight of her responsibilities to her family, she should not feel obligated to give to the church.

The pastor tells the rest of the story:

"I am not wise now; I was less wise then. I went and told her of the concerns of the [parish]. I told her as graciously and supportively as I knew how that she was relieved of the responsibility of giving. As I talked with her the tears came into her eyes. 'I want to tell you,' she said, 'that you are taking away the last thing that gives my life dignity and meaning.'"

[Gordon Cosby, cited in Context, January 15, 1980.]

Though poor and struggling herself, this woman's life is centered on the "rock" of humility and gratitude that is of God. She understands that the meaning of her life is found in the dignity of Gospel mercy, reconciliation and justice. She realizes that the values of selflessness and compassion that she instills in her children as a parent are as important as the food and clothing she struggles to provide them. Authentic faith is centered in the values of the heart, with an understanding of God's love for us and the irrepressible longing to respond to that love. The faithful disciple builds his/her "house" on the foundation of God's love and seeks to bring that love, with conviction, integrity and perseverance, into the lives of all who call that house their home and all who come to that house's table.


FOOD PANTRY
The item requested for the month of March is coffee, either regular or decaf. Donations may be left in the back of church. Thank you.


Good Perspective on things!


You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up; she was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

This story was sent to me in an email not too long ago, and I include it here because Lent is about change and growth. The strength to be like coffee comes from grace. We can’t do it alone, but God promises to be with us, especially in the difficult times. Let us all grow closer to God this Lent so we can be the best disciples possible.

May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!



Fr. Phil