Your Lenten alms through CRS Rice Bowl make a global difference for millions of our sisters and brothers experiencing the greatest need. Rice bowls are located in the rear of the church. To donate online go to crsricebowl.org.
Dear friends in Christ, God calls each of us to a loving relationship with Him. During Lent, we focus on turning away from sin and toward the Lord to grow in His love. The Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving help us to do this while others benefit from our sacrifice. As we use Catholic Relief Service’s Rice Bowl this year and approach the Catholic Relief Services collection itself, we are part of faith-in-action programs that invite us to reflect upon how we can actively respond in love to support our needy brothers and sisters worldwide. Through CRS Rice Bowl, families learn about how our brothers and sisters across the globe overcome hardships like hunger and malnutrition, and how through Lenten alms, we have the power to make the world a better place for all. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable, motivated by the Gospel of Christ to cherish, preserve and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life, foster charity and embody Catholic social and moral teaching. They promote human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies. They serve Catholics in the United States as they live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world. As part of the universal mission of the Catholic Church, CRS works with local, national and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organizations, to assist people on the basis of need. Your use of the familiar Rice Bowls and financial support of the collection for Catholic Relief Services makes a difference for so many around the globe. Please consider prayerfully how you can support Operation Rice Bowl and the CRS collection this year. To learn more about the Rice Bowls, please visit crsricebowl.org or crsplatodearroz.org. To learn more about the CRS collection and the people who benefit from it, please visit www.usccb.org/catholic-relief. With prayerful wishes for a truly fruitful Lent, I am, Your friend in Christ, Most Rev. William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield
We wish to extend a sincere thank you to all parishioners who continue to support our pantry. With your help, we provide well balanced, nutritious food to our clients. Your non-perishable food donations are greatly appreciated by our clients. Here are a few statistics showing the importance of our work here at St. Joseph’s Church Food Pantry. The number of clients utilizing our pantry has increased 34% in the first quarter of 2024. We average 140 families walking through our door every Wednesday. In January, our client sign-ins equated to 1000 adults, children, and seniors being served. Donation recommendations include any non-perishable food: pasta, rice, canned chicken or tuna, canned fruits or vegetables, sauces in plastic jars, cereal, and soup. Personal care items are helpful as well: Soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioners, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dish soap, and laundry detergent (small size only please). Thank you once again for your continued support of our mission to combat food insecurity in Berkshire Country! God Bless you all, Pantry Volunteers & Clients
All women from Berkshire County are invited to join us on the second Tuesday of each month from 6-7 pm in the St. Ann Family Center (134 Main St. Lenox) for conversation, reflection, and prayer. Contact Marya at 413-440-9381 for more information.
There will be an informational meeting held in the North Chapel on Sun., March 10th at 1:00. Central Europe (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). The cities we will visit: Arrival in Vienna; Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich, Altotting, Lucerne, Einsieldeln and depart from Zurich. Oct. 6 to 15, 2024 (10 days) $5,299/pp includes air and land from Boston.
Picnic planning meeting will be Wednesday, March 13th @ 6:00 in the Parish Center. Please come and share your thoughts and ideas, July will be here before we know it.
March 3rd-Classes for grades K through 5 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Classes for grades 6 through 9 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. March 10th-Classes for grades K through grade 5 from 10:00-11:00 am March 17th-Classes for grades K through 5 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Last classes for grades 6 through 9 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A Valentine Thank You! Thank you very much to everyone who took names out of the Valentine mailboxes and sent a card to our shut-ins. A huge thank you to those who visited and brought a little gift to a resident in a nursing home. I am overwhelmed by your generosity and want you to know just how happy you made their Valentine’s Day.
In looking over the offertory, it is obvious that our collections are way down. We appreciate all that you do for the Parish. I would ask you, especially during lent, as you pay your daily bills at home to remember that we do the very same at church and your support is greatly needed and appreciated. Please remember St. Joseph's Parish.
My dear friends, During lent, we follow the example of our Lord Jesus, as he went into the desert for those 40 days. As we follow his example we enter our own kind of desert. Will we find space and time to be with God to talk to him? There is much peace to be found in silence. Don’t be afraid this lent to look for the space and time, a few minutes each day just for you and for God. I suggest that you look at the following websites: dynamiccatholic.com—best lent ever, hallow.com and goodcatholic.com. These offer good Lenten materials.
Central Europe (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). The cities we will visit: Arrival in Vienna; Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich, Altotting, Lucerne, Einsieldeln and depart from Zurich. Oct. 6 to 15, 2024 (10 days) $5,299/pp includes air and land from Boston. There will be an informational meeting held in the North Chapel on Sun., March 10th at 1:00.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence from meat as well as days of fast, when only one full meal is allowed. On days of fast, two other meatless meals may be taken according to one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. The other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. The obligation to abstain from meat begins at age fourteen (14) and does not cease. The obligation to fast begins at age eighteen (18) and ceases at age fifty-nine (59). Please note: Although the faithful may excuse themselves from fast and abstinence, for a just cause, there is an obligation to substitute another penance in its place. No Catholic should lightly excuse him/herself from these Lenten obligations.
From February 14th through March 24th, you’re invited to join Christians [and other people of good will] for 40 Days for Life – 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. You’re also invited to stand and peacefully pray during a 40-day vigil in the public right-of-way outside Planned Parenthood at 3550 Main Street, Springfield, MA, and also to help spread the word about this important community outreach. There will be sign up sheets to pledge hours of prayer for the unborn in St. Joseph’s Church as of 2/14/24. If you’d like more information, especially if you’d like to volunteer to help, please contact: Sharon Vincent at [email protected] or Tim Biggins at 413-342-0340 and/or [email protected].