St. Joseph's Church

A BIG welcome to Rev. Charles Gervas Rufyiriza Fr. Charles will be visiting St. Joseph's Parish for the MCP-2022 on the weekend of August 13th and 14th. Fr. Charles is the bona-fide priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kigoma in Tanzania. Currently, he is the professor at the Tanzanian Catholic University in Arusha Tanzania. This summer Fr. Charles has duo ministries: Helping his home diocese in her mission appeals as well as learning American culture and structure of higher education. Fr. Charles is looking forward to visiting the parish and sharing stories of faith from our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Kigoma, Tanzania. A second collection will be taken up at mass on the weekend of August 13 and 14.

ST. ANNE'S members, you won't want to miss the next meeting! Our annual Ice Cream Social is happening on Wednesday, August 17th at 6:00 p.m. Come to enjoy a cool parish center, the company of friends, and a delicious treat! As always, all women of the parish are invited to join us!

RCIA - The Right of Christian Initiation of Adults is a gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful and is the way of welcoming adults into the Catholic Church. Our spiritual journey will begin this year on October 11th at 6:30 PM in the North Chapel. If you are interested in joining or know of someone who might be, please call St. Joseph's Rectory at 413-445-5789 or speak to either Monsignor Mike or Fr. Michael after mass.

We hope everyone had a great summer and enjoyed all the sunny weather we've had! Now is the time when we are making plans for our CCD school year which will be starting next month. Please be on the lookout for a letter and registration form coming in the mail in the next couple of weeks. If you do not receive this mailing by the end of the month, or if you have any questions, please call Mr. A. at 413-822-1297. We are looking forward to a great year!

Please consider signing up to give your donations to our parish online. It is very easy to do. You can donate either with a credit card or a check and choose how much you would like to give and how often: weekly, monthly, semimonthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. You can go directly to the website at https:// stjoepittsfield.weshareonline.org to sign up. We thank you for your generosity.

We are most grateful to an anonymous donor who matched the proceeds from our Polish Plate take out. We were grateful for the $7,600 that came in but now that $7,600 has turned into $15,200. This comes at a time when collections are down during the summer. This is a great blessing for us. Once again, thanks to all who made the event so successful. Msgr. Mike

Bishop William Byrne is inviting all to a liturgy of thanksgiving for the diocesan synodal effort on Thur. Aug 25th at 6:30 at the Cathedral in Springfield.

Pro-life vigil on Thursday, August 11th at 10 AM at St Michael's Cathedral in Springfield. The vigil begins with Exposition, Recitation of the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet then Adoration. At 12 noon there will be Benediction followed by Daily Mass. Please support our efforts to protect innocent unborn life through prayer. Come for a part of or the whole vigil. For more information call Marilyn at 413-567-6085.

PUBLIC ROSARY At our Lady of Lourdes, Rte. 20, New Lebanon, New York every Tuesday at 6:30PM. Please bring a lawn chair, your rosary & water. All are welcome. If you have further questions call Michael at 413-446-5370.

For the year is the Eucharist: Time spent before the Blessed Sacrament is the perfect time to cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Holy Hour in the South Chapel Mon-Fri 11am-Noon.

A pilgrimage to many holy sites in the Holy Land is planned for May 7-18, 2023. We will fly roundtrip from Boston. An optional bus to and from Logan Airport will be arranged. Msgr. Ronald Yargeau and Deacon George Nolan will be our Spiritual Directors. The cost is $4,449 which includes airfare, comfortable hotels, many meals, buses in Israel between the holy sites, and local tour guides. For more information, contact Trip Coordinator Helen Shea Murphy at 413-824-8733 or elensheamurphy@verizon.net. See the website at www.pilgrimages.com/helensheamurphy

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on September 10th at the Parish Center at St. Joseph’s Church in Pittsfield at 5PM. This dinner is dine-in or take out. The meal consists of pulled pork sandwich on a hard roll, coleslaw, macaroni & cheese and dessert. The cost is $15. Children under 5 are free. Tickets will be sold after masses at all churches beginning the weekend of August 13th and 14th and at St. Joseph’s Rectory—Call 413-445-5789 until the event. All are welcome!