St. Joseph's Church

Sunday, July 17th from 3-6 PM. Preorders only. Call the rectory at 413-445-5789. Offered this year: Polish dinner $16.00, quart of kapusta $6.50, ½ dozen golumpki $16.00. Cheese or cabbage pierogi baker’s dozen (13) $13.00. We will start making pierogi in the parish center on Wednesdays at 2:00 May 25th, June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th. More cooking dates and times to be determined. __________________________ We are looking for cash donations, donations of wax paper, flour, Pam, bottled water, and soda.

St Joseph's will be sponsoring a “Baby Shower” to collect baby items for them! Bethlehem House, Inc. Pregnancy Care Center is a non-profit, faith-based organization (located in Easthampton, MA) that provides free confidential services to pregnant women and men in need that have chosen life for their babies. Specific items needed include plastic baby bottles, bottle washers, unscented baby wash/baby lotion/baby wipes, shampoo, terry hooded towels, receiving blankets, quilts, disposable diapers (sizes 4,5,6) diaper bags; and any size new or gently used non stained onesies, sleepers, sleep sacks, socks, sweaters, Tshirts/pants, knitted hats, bibs, and crib sheets. Walmart gift cards are desperately needed to purchase large items. Any monetary donations may be made payable to “Bethlehem House Inc.” ALL donations are 100% deductible. Our Pro Life Parish Coordinator, Sharon Vincent will collect and deliver all donations to Bethlehem House. Items will be collected after Masses on the weekends of May 14 -15 and May 28-29. If you have any questions about this or about items needed, please call Sharon at 413- 358-7011, or Bethlehem House at 413-262-8517.

St. Anthony devotions will continue Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. in the chapel. On Monday June 13th, we will conclude and celebrate the devotions with a Mass at 6 p.m.

Pick up a hanging plant for Mother's Day, this Saturday at the church!

Important dates - Sunday, May 1st Banner Workshop at 10:00 a.m. in Parish Center (following Mass) for students with parents/guardians. Friday, May 13th - Rehearsal at 5:00 p.m. in the church for students with parents/guardians. Saturday, May 14th - First Communion Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. Students to meet in the North Chapel at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, May 24th (Divine Mercy Sunday) the Knights of Columbus will say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in church at 10AM.

Holy Thursday: No noon mass. Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. Chapel to remain open until 10 p.m. Night prayer at 10. Good Friday: Morning prayer 9 a.m. Stations of the Cross at the Cemetery at Noon. Stations of the Cross in church at 3 p.m. Passion Service at 7 p.m. Holy Saturday: Morning prayer at 9 p.m. Blessing of food at 11 a.m. in the Parish Center, Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday: Mass at 9 & 11:30 a.m.

Pope St. John Paul II rightly taught, “To believe in Jesus is to accept what he says, even when it runs contrary to what others are saying. It means rejecting the lure of sin, however attractive it may be, in order to set out on a difficult path of Gospel virtues.” Acceptance, rejection, suffering, betrayal, fear, reluctance, persecution, and painful, undeserved and unjust death are all played out in dramatic fashion today. Jesus spoke of God’s unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness. Who doesn’t like hearing about love, especially God’s? Jesus did not have backs turned on him, face intense suffering, and succumb to a horrific death because he spoke of God’s love. All of those things occurred because of the implications of actually believing in God’s love. God’s love comes with an intimate and equal bond with love of neighbor. This moves the believer outward to truly see their brothers and sisters as equals and compels them to work for a world that mirrors God’s kingdom: a world based on justice, peace, mercy, and forgiveness. Sometimes, people want to keep God’s love to themselves and use it solely for their own benefit. When they only want to use God’s love to justify their own intentions and for their own projects, problems occur. Sin makes something hurtful, destructive, and self-serving look very attractive and justifiable. The lure of sin creates friends who begin to believe the lie that the sin expounds. This is what happened on Calvary. When you begin actually doing what Jesus is saying and translate love into action, it inevitably will upset popular and longstanding conventions and structures. Many of these serve to protect status, foster personal gain and success, and further divide those who have from those who do not. Most people who hear the Gospel are attracted to what they hear, at first. When they realize that it means standing apart from popular opinion, even if that opinion is against the Gospel and sinful, they cower back in fear and join the throngs shouting, “Crucify him!” There is an ambivalence found in many believers as they struggle with whether their belief is strong enough “to set out on the difficult path of Gospel virtues.” It takes a lot of courage to admit that the system is broken. It takes even more courage to point out the sin. And it takes an unbreakable love of God to then accept the consequences of doing so.

Livestreaming will be available on Holy Thursday at 7 p.m., Good Friday at 7 p.m., Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m. and Easter Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

CAN YOU HELP WITH OUR PARISH BABY SHOWER? At the Diocesan Pro Life Commission Meeting, Pam Hibbard from Bethlehem House indicated that they have had many babies born recently, and their supplies are low. St Joseph's will be sponsoring a “Baby Shower” to collect baby items for them! Bethlehem House, Inc. Pregnancy Care Center is a non-profit, faith-based organization (located in Easthampton, MA) that provides free confidential services to pregnant women and men in need that have chosen life for their babies. Qualified clients receive supplies once a month until their baby is 18 months old. Specific items needed include plastic baby bottles, bottle washers, unscented baby wash/baby lotion/baby wipes, shampoo, terry hooded towels, receiving blankets, quilts, disposable diapers (sizes 4,5,6) diaper bags; and any size new or gently used non stained onesies, sleepers, sleep sacks, socks, sweaters, T-shirts/pants, knitted hats, bibs, and crib sheets. Walmart gift cards are desperately needed to purchase large items. Any monetary donations may be made payable to “Bethlehem House Inc.” ALL donations are 100% deductible. Our Pro Life Parish Coordinator, Sharon Vincent will collect and deliver all donations to Bethlehem House. Items will be collected after Masses on the weekends of May 14-15 and May 28-29. If you have any questions about this or about items needed, please call Sharon at 413-358-7011, or Bethlehem House at 413-262-8517. Bethlehem House is supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal, Diocese of Springfield. *This event is Diocesan and not connected to any individual parish activities.

HOLY WEEK Palm Sunday Weekend: Palms will be blessed at all masses. Monday and Tuesday: As usual, plus St. Anthony Devotions at 6 p.m. Wednesday: As usual, plus Adoration & Confession 5:30 to 6:30pm. RCIA @6:30pm. Holy Thursday: No noon mass. Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. Chapel to remain open until 10 p.m. Night prayer at 10. Good Friday: Morning prayer 9 a.m. Stations of the Cross at the Cemetery at Noon. Stations of the Cross in church at 3 p.m. Passion Service at 7 p.m. Holy Saturday: Morning prayer at 9 p.m. Blessing of food at 11 a.m. in the Parish Center, Easter vigil at 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday: Mass at 9 & 11:30 a.m.

Ash Wednesday through Pentecost Sunday, June 5th. Our goal is $35,000. The 2022 Annual Catholic Appeal is underway in Western Mass. As you consider a gift, sacrifice, you should take time to know how your donation is used. Read the brochure and learn about the service agencies and ministries of the diocese that rely on support from the ACA to do the work of Jesus Christ in the world today. It helps to feed the hungry, protect the unborn, to educate: children, adults, and future priests. It supports our youth as they grow in faith, cares for the dying and those who grieve. Your gift puts your Catholic faith into action in western Massachusetts. Please prayerfully consider giving. Thank you.

Sunday: Evening Prayer with Benediction 6:00pm followed by “A Biblical Walk through the Mass” and discussion in the North Chapel. This video is being used to celebrate the Year of the Eucharist. Come discover the beauty, the riches, and the profound meaning of the Mass. Monday through Friday: Eucharistic Holy Hour at 11:00am. Confession at 11:30am Wednesday: Adoration & Confession 5:30 to 6:30pm Wednesday: RCIA 6:30pm Friday: Stations of the Cross and Bitter Lamentations at 6:30pm

YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST “Come to me in adoration, and I will make straight your path before you. I will remove the obstacles that loom in the distance, and I will provide for every need as it arises. Listen to Me and write My words, for I am speaking to you as I have done in the past and as I shall continue to do, for you are the friend of My Heart, and I have chosen you for this work which is Mine. (March 6, 2012) Pg 292 In Sinu Jesus. For more information and videos check out www.yearoftheeucharist.net