St. Joseph's Church

Because of the Priest Convocation 2023 from October 18th to 20th, RCIA will begin on October 25th at 6:30 p.m. in the North Chapel. Anyone wishing to join or who would like to complete their Sacraments of Initiation is asked to call the rectory at 413-445-5789 to register or speak to Msgr. Mike or Fr. Rob after mass.

As fall approaches, the Thanksgiving Angels Committee turns their attention to the annual Thanksgiving distribution serving 2000 families in Pittsfield . Once again, St Joseph’s Church is partnering with St. Charles’ Parish to provide gravy for the meal. We have secured gravy in bulk and are asking for monetary donations to offset this cost. Our target of $2,500, is our portion of the overall cost of the gravy ordered. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of this community project!

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process by which individuals are welcomed into the Catholic Church. Our sessions, lasting about 1 hour, will begin this year on Wednesday, October 18th at 6:30 p.m. in the North Chapel. Anyone wishing to join or who would like to complete the Sacraments of Initiation are asked to call the rectory at 413-445-5789 to register, or speak to Msgr. Mike or Fr. Rob after mass.

In honor of the 2023 Priest Convocation in the Diocese of Springfield, Masses will be canceled October 18-20. Scheduled Mass intentions will be said by me during convocation. Please consider gathering during the normal Mass times to pray a rosary for the priests of our diocese as they gather in fellowship and prayer, as well as engage in continuing formation.

Holy hour will take place on the Last Sunday of each month which is September 24th immediately following the 9 o'clock Mass. The St. Anne Society will lead the recitation of the Rosary.

BERKSHIRE DYSLEXIA LEARNING CENTER INC. All students with C's, D's, or F 's - Home schooling offering free 21St century education. Internet-based classes are available at any time, and place to fit your schedule! Our programs can advance your knowledge to grade level proficiency to advanced. We cater to underperforming students and dyslexic individuals. Information meeting Wed,. Sept. 13th At 6:00 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum, Athenaeum Room. [email protected]

Get your tickets now! ITALIAN IN-HOUSE DINNER Scheduled for Saturday, October 14 from 4:30 to 6 pm. The meal will be pasta with meat sauce, homemade meatballs, chicken parm, Italian bread and dessert. A cash bar for beer and wine will be available. For tickets, you must call the Rectory on Monday through Wednesday from 10 -3. Take out will be available, but you must indicate when you call for tickets whether you want eat in or take out. The dinner price is $18.

Our next St. Anne's meeting is scheduled for Wed., Sept. 20th at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Center and is a much anticipated favorite. We will enjoy our yearly Pot Luck Supper with all the delicious dishes brought by our members. If you plan to attend and haven't yet signed up with your specialty, give me a call so we can fine-tune our menu. (Elaine, 443-5592) Our business meeting will follow the dinner. As before, all women of the parish are cordially invited! Hope to see you on the 20th of September!

September 17th – Classes begin for grades K through grade 5. All students will meet their teachers in the Parish Center from 10:00-11:00 am. Classes for grades 6 through 9 from 5:00-7:00 pm. September 24th – Classes for grades K through grade 5 from 10:00-11:00 am. October 1st - Classes for grades K through 5 from 10:00-11:00 am. Classes for grades 6 through 9 from 5:00-7:00 pm.

ST. EDMUND'S - 1 Enders Island, Mystic, CT 06355 - A Catholic Community offering welcome and hospitality to all. Come walk our grounds or join our upcoming programs. WE ARE GOD'S INSTRUMENTS: How God works through us September 27, 2023. Sister Theresita Donach CSFN: Member of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Program Price: $65. Take a day to pause and reflect upon the call of Our Lord. A Day of Recollection gives us the time in our busy lives for a quiet moment on prayer. ____________ ACANTHUS LEAVES, WATERCOLOR AND 24K GOLD LEAF September 17 - 22, 2023 Dan Mooney: Intercontinentally recognized, featured in the Boston World Trade Center and Fidelity Art Space. Program Price: Twin Double Shared – $1,235.00. Twin Single – $1,385.00. Commuter – $910.00. Join us in our Sacred Art studio for a week of fun and learning, creating Acanthus leaves with watercolor and gilding in gold leaf. Acquire the necessary skills for integrating gold and acanthus into any art piece, while strengthening your watercolor technique. All participants will take home a beautiful masterpiece of their own. Sign up now at enders.is/programs or call 860-536-0565.

VISITING MISSIONARY - Fr. Tomy Elias, V.C., and all the Vincentian Missionaries thank you for your prayers and generous mission offering last weekend. Your offerings will help them to carry out their many missionary, educational and charitable activities in their missions and will help them educate young men studying for priesthood. If you did not have an opportunity to make an offering or would like to make an additional offering you may make your offering trough the general parish collection in a specially marked envelope. Thank you very much for your generous support. If you like to sponsor a seminarian and help him to become a priest, you may write: Fr. Francis Cheruparampil V.C , Mission Procurator, P. O Box 45, Hazlet, NJ 07730 . ([email protected]) . The Vincentian Missionaries keep you and our parish in their prayers and Masses.We are pleased to report that our Missionary guest collected $1,940 for his home mission. Thank you so much for your generosity.

The Parish Family of Saint John Paul II will continue the Polka Picnic tradition on Sunday, September 10th at the Polanka Grounds on Mill Street in Adams. Gates open at noon with the Eddie Foreman Orchestra performing favorite dance tunes from 1-5. Traditional Polish foods will be available for purchase. The Adams Lions Club will be selling cookout fare and Crumb Bakery will be selling homemade treats. Free games will be provided for children. Admission is $5.00/adult, free for children 12 and under. On-street and limited grounds parking will be available.

It's a Brazilian Dinner on Saturday, September 9th in the Parish Center. Please join us. The meal is Brazilian steak or chicken, dessert. You can dine in or take out. The cost of the dinner is $20. Please call the Rectory for reservations at 413-445-5789.

I know times are difficult and we keep asking and asking, but the need in the world is great. Next Sunday we will be collecting donations for the people of Maui who have lost so much. If you would like to donate, please put your donation in a plain white envelope and mark it “Maui.” Please keep them in your prayers. Thank you for your support.