Please don't think we've forgotten! Keep an eye out for a fall date!

ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY - The Cemetery Commission has established an exciting new volunteer program, The Friends of St. Joseph Cemetery, to carry out certain work projects that will enhance the appearance and history of St. Joseph Cemetery. While many of the activities will focus on beautification projects, another major component will focus on restoring the old historic section of the cemetery founded in 1853, that has some of the most beautiful monuments in the cemetery and gravestones dating back to 1854. But it shows signs of its age and the lack of upkeep by family members. But few direct descendants are actually around to maintain the area and gravestones. Membership in the Friends program is open to men and women over age 18. Potential members must fill out an application which includes a liability waiver. People will be asked to check off the types of projects they are interested in from a list provided. No specific skills are needed for many of the projects but volunteers must be physically able to perform the tasks required for projects selected. Volunteers will be able to sign up for specific projects when the projects are announced and there will be no required minimum number of volunteer hours. All applications will be reviewed and must be approved by a Commission committee. Possible work projects include the following: Spring and fall cleanup projects, removal of untended flower pots, maintenance of Cemetery-owned flower containers, statue cleaning and painting, other small painting projects, pothole patching, restoration work in historic section of cemetery, historical research on old gravesites and possible writeups about them, and other projects as identified. If you are interested taking advantage of this opportunity and signing up for this Friends program, or would like more information, please call Nancy at the Cemetery Office at 499-1317. She will mail out an application to you or refer you for additional information. Thank you for your possible interest in this new Friends program. This is a chance to spend some quality time helping with worthwhile projects, learn new skills, work with other committed volunteers and make a big difference in the improved appearance of the cemetery. Respectfully, St. Joseph Cemetery Commission

We are looking for card tables and a man’s bike. If anyone has these things that they would like to donate, please call the Rectory.

We will be making our last batch of pierogi on Wednesday, June 5th, (from 2:00 to 4:00). Many thanks to all who have helped over the past weeks. Once again, we are accepting donations of cooking spray (Pam), wax paper, canned soda (Coke and Pepsi products) and bottled water. For the raffle basket, we are accepting Cheer (both liquor and beer). Please bring your donation to the Rectory. Please be sure to save the date - July 21 - for the Polish Picnic!

Msgr. Eugene F. Marshall, Knights of Columbus Council #103, Annual Father's Day Breakfast Fundraiser, Sunday June 16, 2019, 8 AM to 11 AM at St. Joseph Parish Center. We are raising funds for scholarships and other worthy charitable causes. Serving pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, orange juice, coffee. Donation: Adults $10.00, Children 5 to 12 years old $6.00. Treat Dad for Father's Day. Kindly purchase tickets early (limited tickets at the door if available) at St. Joseph Rectory or through members of the Knights of Columbus Council #103.

Did you know that as of January 2020 the City of Pittsfield will no longer allow plastic bags? BAGSHARE Pittsfield Chapter is looking for people to sew bags for food pantries, churches, senior centers and senior living. Materials and thread will be supplied. If you have an interest or love to sew, the Chapter could use your help. The Chapter is asking for a commitment of 120 bags. A meeting will be set up to demonstrate how to make the bags. This is an opportunity to work as team. Perhaps you and a fellow parishioner can work together to cut material and sew the pattern to create a bag. If you are interested call Josie at 443-0876. Thank you!

COMING EVENTS July 26 - RAGTIME at Mac-Haydn Theatre. Bus leaves here at 5PM, dinner at Yianni’s and then on to the show. Cost of the trip is $85. August 29 – SARATOGA – Race track or the Casino. Bus leaves here at 9:30. Cost is $35. October 7 – ENDERS ISLAND DAY OF RETREAT – Bus leaves at 7:30 from St. Joe’s and we leave Enders to return home about 4-4:30. Cost for the day is $100.

We are very pleased to report that the Capital Campaign for St. Joseph Cemetery has reached its fundraising goal of $1,200,000! This has been accomplished through the generosity of parishioners of the four Pittsfield parishes, former Pittsfield residents, families of those buried at the cemetery and other supporters. All shared a common desire of wanting to see the drainage and road problems corrected and the cemetery grounds preserved for generations to come. The Campaign literature explained that the high-water table and clay-type soil in the upper section of the cemetery caused serious drainage, flooding and road erosion problems in the upper and lower sections. The project engineers estimated total costs of $1,800,000 to correct the drainage problems, rebuild the washed-out roads and repave all the other paved roads in the cemetery. The fundraising feasibility study completed in 2017 estimated that $1,200,000 could be raised in a fundraising capital campaign. The balance would need to be raised from future donations or operating surpluses. The $1,200,000 pledged to date is payable over the next 3 to 5 years. These funds will enable the cemetery to correct all the drainage problems and rebuild the most deteriorated roads. This summer, the drainage work will be done and the initial road repair will get underway. The remaining road repair work will take place as the pledges are paid. Those who made pledges are free to pay their pledges ahead of schedule to make funds available faster for the road work. The Cemetery Commission thanks you again for your generosity. While we have reached our capital campaign goal, we will continue to seek out additional funds so we can accomplish our long-range plan to repave all the currently blacktopped roads in the cemetery. So, if you have not made a pledge or wish to make an additional gift, please contact Nancy at the cemetery office at 499-1317 or send in a pledge to the Cemetery at 222 Pecks Road. Thank you

Memorial Day Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Cemetery on Monday, May 27th at 11:00 AM, in the Mausoleum area, rain or shine. Please bring a chair.

The many dedicated volunteers have now made 2,620 cheese and 876 cabbage pierogi for this year's Polish Picnic. We will take off Wednesday, May 29, but will get together again on Wednesday June 5, from 2:00 to 4:00, to make our last batch of cabbage pierogi. Many hands make many pierogi. All are welcome to help! Many thanks to all who have helped over the past weeks. We are also taking donations of cooking spray (Pam) and wax paper. Thank you for your generosity.

Anointing of the Sick at Mass, Sunday, May 19, 2019 - 11:30 a.m. - St. Joseph Church Prayer, Praise and Healing - A light luncheon will be served for all participants after Mass in the St. Joseph Parish Center. If you or a loved one plan on attending, please call Carolyn Rousseau at 413-443-5401 on or before May 12, 2019.

The next St. Joseph Parish Council meeting will be held Sunday, May 19, after the 9AM Mass.

Thanks to the many volunteers that have made 862 cabbage and 1,707 cheese pierogi over the past several weeks. We will continue making pierogi from 2:00 to 4:00 in the parish center on the following Wednesdays: May 22 (if necessary) and June 6. We are also taking donations of cooking spray (Pam) and wax paper. Thank you!!!

Flower Regulations - Two movable containers of live flowers are allowed on cemetery lots from Mother's Day, May 12th until Labor Day, September 2nd. Artificial decorations, shepherd hooks, solar lights, statues, glass containers and containers with prongs are not allowed. The planting of flowers, trees and shrubs is not allowed. Existing trees and shrubs must be trimmed and maintained by lot owners or they will be removed. Cemetery gates are open everyday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.