POLISH PLATE Due to the recent COVID 19 outbreak, St Joseph’s Church had to cancel the annual Polish Picnic. The parish has decided to put together our famous homemade Polish Plate and make it available to go. On Friday, September 25th, BY ADVANCED ORDER ONLY, we will have Polish Plates for pick up from 4:00 to 6:30 at our parish center. The cost will be $15.00 per plate, and will consist of 1 cheese pierogi, 1 cabbage pierogi, 1 golumpki, kielbasa, kapusta and rye bread. Starting September 1st, to place you order please call the rectory @ 413-445-5789, leave your name and phone number and the number of plates you would like to purchase. Orders must be received by September 20th. We will be limiting the number of plates to 300 for this first round, so order early!
Due to the COVID pandemic, the Vatican announced April 2 that the pope approved a proposal to hold the collection in churches worldwide Sept. 13. The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, an administratively autonomous province of the Franciscan order, uses the collection to carry out its mission of preserving most of the shrines connected with the life of Jesus as well as for providing pastoral care to the region’s Catholics, running schools, operating charitable institutions and training future priests and religious. The collection, taken up at the request of the pope, is administered by the Franciscan Custody and the Congregation for Eastern Churches, which uses it for the formation of candidates for the priesthood, the support of the clergy, educational activities, cultural formation and subsidies. At the request of Pope Francis, Good Friday collection for the Holy Land will be taken up the weekend of September 13th. If you wish to make a donation put it in a white envelope and mark it Holy Land.
Registration will be on Sunday, Sept. 27th from 10-11 in the North Chapel. Grades 7-9 can register that evening. Please look for the calendar and registration form in your mailbox around mid-September. There will be a survey going out to you September 16th regarding the re-opening of CCD. Please make every effort to complete the short 4-question survey by Saturday, September 19th.
The Most Blessed Sacrament is still reserved in the church and the candle still burns as a reminder of the real presence of the Lord. Again, you can request a candle to burn for your intention. Call the rectory with your request.
First Communion Ceremony on Saturday, October 3rd at 11:00 am Confirmation Ceremony on Sunday, October 18th at 2:00 pm Families should be receiving information in the mail during the month of August. If you do not receive your letter, please call John Arasimowicz at 413-822-1297.
St. Joseph Church is most appreciative for the restoration of the beautiful fence across the front of the property. Installed in 1873, the cast iron fence is 370 feet long with three sets of working gates and a new arch over the main entrance. The large gates attached to the church sign were at the opening to a driveway onto the old academy/convent grounds which no longer exists, and were found in the church basement after having been there for close to 100 years. The corroded panels were completely restored and rebuilt by John Graney Metal Design and painted by East Coast Refinishing after a three year long process. We are THANKFUL to an anonymous donor who funded this project as a gift to the Parish. Thankfully, this individual absorbed the cost. St. Joseph Church is once again surrounded by this beautiful fence, adding so much to our property and downtown historic properties of Pittsfield. God bless this individual as he has blessed us.