Dear friends in Christ: Ash Wednesday this year falls on February 26th. In my time here in the Diocese of Springfield, many priests have shared with me experiences of people returning to the practice of their Faith through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I thank you for being ministers of reconciliation and healing, particularly for those who have felt hurt by the Church in any way. The Lenten Season is a great reminder to us of our calling to reconcile and start anew in our relationship with God and our brothers and sisters. I pray for that time of grace for all of us ministering in the diocese of Springfield and am grateful for the efforts of scheduling Penance Services that inspire our people to make use of this sacrament. During Lent, Catholics who are between the ages of 18 and 59 undertake at a minimum two days of fasting: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. To fast means to take just one full meal with two smaller meals and no eating between meals. Additionally, every Catholic 14 years and older is to make Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent meatless days — days on which no meat of any kind is eaten, days of abstinence. Ash Wednesday is a time for acts of penance and alms-giving, helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves. A visible sign of our Lenten practices comes on Ash Wednesday when the ashes mark a sign of the cross on our forehead to remind us that our frail human nature needs the saving power of Christ. The imposition of ashes, fasting and abstinence from meat are outward signs of the work we seek to do during Lent: to make our interior dispositions more of what Christ would have us be. Each of us is asked, as well, to undertake particular prayers, actions, alms giving, mortifications, and self-sacrifice to help us grow in our understanding of all God has done for us. A special undertaking can be the Rice Bowl program — a sacrifice by each of us for those who never have a full meal. May this Lent be for each of us a time of growth in our relationship with Christ and with others and may it be a time that we find ourselves more fully in concert with all that God calls us to be. With every best wish, Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski Bishop of Springfield

A big thank you to all who took the name of a shut-in and sent a Valentine. Your kindness is very much appreciated.

Can you...will you... say “YES!” to God's call? Berkshire Medical Center is in need of dedicated Eucharistic Ministers to bring Holy Communion to Catholic patients and their families. It is truly an honor to bring the comfort of Jesus to those who are in the hospital – worried, anxious and unable to receive Him at Mass. If you are currently a Eucharistic Minister at your church and feel that you would like to help in this beautiful and gratifying ministry, please call the BMC Chaplain’s Office as soon as possible at: (413) 447-2251

The annual St. Anthony thirteen Tuesday night Devotions will begin on March 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the South Chapel. All are welcome to gather for prayer to this beloved saint. A basket will be available for people to place their special intentions.

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 fourteen (14) years of age. The obligation to fast begins at eighteen (18) years of age and ends at fifty-nine (59) years of age. Although the faithful may excuse themselves for a just cause from these laws of fast and abstinence, there is an obligation to substitute another penance and no Catholic should lightly excuse themselves from this obligation in the Lenten season.

During Lent daily 12:10 p.m. Mass will be held in the main Church at St. Joseph.

Ash Wednesday February 26, 2020, Mass at St. Joseph 12:10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Our parish council will meet Sunday, February 16th after the 9 o’clock Mass in the South Chapel. All are invited.

“For those curious about the pipe organ we have here at St. Joseph’s church, here is a little history about the organ and the builders who made our instrument. St. Joseph’s organ is an E&G.G. Hook, Opus 405, pipe organ, completed in 1868. It has two manuals (keyboards), 28 stops, and 26 ranks, and utilizes slider chests with a mechanical key action. It was built in the German organ building tradition. The Hook brothers, Elias (1805-1881) and George Greenleaf (1807-1880), were sons of a cabinet maker and entered the organ business by apprenticing under the organ builder, William Goodrich. The Hook brothers went on to begin their own organ firm in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1871 Frank Hastings joined the firm, and the firm became known as E&G.G. Hook and Hastings. In their era, the E &G.G. Hook, and, later, E&G.G. Hook and Hastings organ company were the elite organ builders in the United States, with their organs serving over 2,000 churches and cathedrals throughout the country. Their largest work is the organ at Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston, which boasts 101 ranks over 3 manuals. Many Hook organs are still in use today, either in original condition, or with alterations over time.” For those parishioners interested in learning more about St. Joe’s organ, or may want to gather at the church for informational meetings, we hope to create an organ committee to discuss, among other things, an organ fund. This new committee, called “Friends of the Organ at St. Joseph’s Church”, or, simply, FOTO, will have its primary goal of establishing an organ fund to maintain the instrument with twice-yearly tunings, and other additional repairs that are needed; for example, the leather on the big, wooden pipes for the pedalboard which are in need of replacing, and the cost for such a procedure is quite high. Again, those interested in learning more, or want to be a part of the FOTO committee, should email their interests to our organist and choir director, Carl Bowlby, at: bowlbycarl@yahoo.com.

We are in desperate need of drivers (on a rotating basis) and someone who can safely lift up to 50lbs. If you are able to help with this Ministry please call the Rectory.

AUSTRIA & SWITZERLAND ~ Sept. 27 to Oct. 6, 2020 ~ Sites include Vienna, Salzburg, Lucerne, Zurich and more. Price is $2950 double occupancy. Additional $495 for single room. Includes airfare, taxes, most meals.

The 2020 Mass remembering deceased alumni of St. Joseph Central High School will take place on the Feast of St. Joseph, Thursday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 414 North Street, Pittsfield. Alumni who died during calendar year 2019 will be honored with their names being read, and the lighting of a candle by a loved one. Celebrating the Mass will be Msgr. Michael Shershanovich. Music will be led by Donald Coudert, Jr. ‘66. All are welcome to attend. For more information call 413-499-4890 or write ssjpine@verizon.net.

Wine & Cheese event in the North Chapel after the 4 pm Mass on Saturday, Feb. 22.

PRAY THE ROSARY - Saturday, February 22, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Park Square, Pittsfield. For more information call Corinne 413-447-7393.

We appreciate all who made our Fundraiser for Persecuted Christians in Iraq a success, the Knights of Columbus Members, the Ladies of St. Anne, Parishioners, our local Catholic Community and Friends. Thank You and God bless you all for caring!

On behalf of Bishop Mitchell Rozanski, the Massachusetts Catholic Conference wishes to thank everyone who participated in the “Let Your Voices Be Heard - Again” campaign. Your voices do matter, and they have been heard. Hundreds of individuals contacted and continue to contact their elected officials expressing opposition to the expanded abortion legislation currently pending at the State House. We are deeply grateful.

CCD classes resume on Sunday, February 23 for grades K through 9. Regular CCD classes continue on Sunday, March 1 for grades K through 9. On Saturday, March 7, at 10:00 a.m. there will be First Penance for all 2nd grade students. Refreshments will be served after. Then on Sunday, March 8, there will be regular CCD classes for students grade K through 9. Grade 10 students will meet in the Parish Center from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Continuing the new celebration of the WORD, Bishop McDonnell will conduct a series on BIBLE QUESTIONS. There is a catch to this series: YOU MUST PROVIDE THE QUESTIONS. The question can be about any person, event, passage, verse or from any Book of the Bible. This is being offered to help us deepen our appreciation of the Word of God. TIME AND PLACE WILL BE ANNOUNCED.

ST. ANNE SOCIETY - Members are reminded that their presence is requested at the 11am Holy Hour and Rosary on Wednesday, February 12th. Please make every effort to attend and pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and lay ministry.

We are in urgent need of Bakers and Drivers once a month. If you are able to help please call St. Joseph Rectory.