‘”In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.” Psalm 138
‘COME AWAY AND REST’
When you feel that you have done your best to amend your life according to the laws of the Church, give yourself in earnest to the contemplative work. And if the memory of your past sins or the temptation to new ones should plague your mind, forming an obstacle between you and God, crush them beneath your feet and bravely step beyond them. Try to bury the thought of these deeds beneath the thick cloud of forgetting just as if neither you nor anyone else had ever done them. If they persist in returning, you must persist in rejecting them. In short, as often as they rise up you must put them down… When distracting thoughts annoy you, try to pretend that you do not even notice their presence or that they have come between you and your God. Look beyond them-over their shoulder, as if it were-as if you were looking for something else, which of course you are. For beyond them, God is hidden in the dark cloud of unknowing. Do this and I feel sure you will soon be relieved of anxiety about them. I can vouch for the orthodoxy of this technique because in reality it amounts to a yearning for God, a longing to see and taste him as much as is possible in this life. Desire like this is love, which always brings peace.
The Cloud of Unknowing
The Cloud of Unknowing was written in Middle English by an unknown mystic of the fourteenth century.
February 7th Week Announced Masses:
Saturday, Feb. 6th (St. Paul Miki, martyr)
5:00pm 1st Anniv. Madeline Manco, req., Lynn McElroy
Sunday, Feb.7th (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
9:00am 43rd Anniv. John E. Hickey, req. Dr. Daniel Harrop
11:15am Month’s Mind Alice M. MacManus, req., family
Monday, Feb. 8th (St. Jerome Emiliani, priest, St. Josephine Bakhita, virgin)
8:00am For the Deceased Benefactors of St. Joseph’s
Tuesday, Feb. 9th
8:00am For the Intentions of the Parishioners of St. Joseph’s
Thursday, Feb. 11th (Our Lady of Lourdes)
8.00am For the deceased victims of the Earthquake in Haiti
Friday, Feb. 12th
8:00am For all the Priests in the Diocese of Providence
Saturday, Feb. 13th
5:00pm 1st. Anniv. Norbert Schecher, Jr. req., family
Sunday, Feb. 14th
9:00am Available for Intention
11:15am Memorial Edith Welsh, req. Msgr. Bastia and Parish Staff
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FINANCE COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH AT 7:00PM IN THE RECTORY. PLEASE CALL IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
THURSDAY, MARCH 4TH IN THE RECTORY. PLEASE CALL IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND.
January 31st Sacrificial Giving Report
2010
2009 2010
Envelopes 64) $1653.00 (86) $1814.00
Loose $ 987.50 $ 833.00
Children $ 18.50 $ 16.00
TOTALS $2643.00 $2663.00
Thank you for your generosity!
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Small locket found in rectory meeting room on Sunday, January 31st.
Call rectory to claim Monday-Friday 9-3:pm.
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Altar Server
Sat: Feb.13th
5:00pm Milton,(MC), Savannah, M
Sun: Feb.14th
9:00am Benny, (MC)Allie, Catherine, Thomas
11:15am Lachelle, (SS), Jeffrey, Nicholas, Makayla
Ash Wednesday: Feb: 17th
8:00am Benny, (MC)Thomas, Catherine, Olivia
6:30pm Nicholas,(MC), Milton, (MC), Savannah, Makayla
LECTOR
Sat: Feb13th
5:00pm Jonathan Samit
Sun: Feb. 14th
9:00am James Vandermillen
11:15am John Donnelly
Ash Wednesday: Feb.17th
8:00am Arthur Sears
6:30pm Carolyn Piatek
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS
Sat: Feb 13th
5:00pm Janet Jaquinto
Sun: Feb.14th
9:00am Mitch Robbins
11:15am Lorraine Beaudoin
Ash Wednesday Feb:17th
8:00am Jane Carey
6:30pm Pat O’Hara
ST JOSEPH’S ANNUAL FEAST DAY BRUNCH WILL BE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY, MARCH 21ST 2010, FOLLLOWING THE 11:15AM Mass. We are in need of prizes. If you would like to help make our raffle a huge success you can do so by donating a prize. Please call the rectory 421-9137 and leave your information with the secretary, Patricia. Everyone’s help makes this once a year celebration a huge success.
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LENT BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH ASH WEDNESDAY
Mass and Distribution of Ashes
8:00AM -6:30PM
Preparing for Lent
Lent is a season of being invited by God in a deeply personal way. “Come back to me, with all of your heart,” our Lord beckons. It is an extraordinary invitation to each one of us.
1: Fasting means eating a lesser amount of food.
A: While fasting only one full meal is taken.
B Two other smaller meals are usually eaten, but the two smaller meals do not exceed the amount of food taken at the full meal.
C. While fasting, food is not eaten between meals.
2: Catholics who are eighteen and not yet sixty years old are asked to observe the fast days established by the Church.
3: There are only two fast days established by the Church: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
4: Abstinence means not eating any meat. Dairy products as well as fish and sea food are taken.
5: All Catholics over the age of fourteen are required to abstain on the abstinence days established by the Church.
6: The Church has established Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent as days of abstinence.
7: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we both fast and abstain. We do not eat any meat, we only eat one full meal, and we do not eat between meals on these days.
8: The Church still maintains Friday as a day of abstinence from meat: the faithful are permitted to substitute an alternative penance if they so desire
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The 2010 Catholic Charity Fund Appeal will take place this year during Lent. The first in-pew weekends will be February 27th -28thand March 6th -7th. During these two weekends pledge cards will be placed in the pews and we ask that you fill them out and place them in the collection basket. Please be as generous as possible. We thank you for your continued generous support.
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Dear Members of the Christian Community of St. Joseph’s:
Bishop Thomas Tobin,Bishop of Providence and Monsignor Raymond B. Bastia, Pastor of St. Joseph Church, has requested that parishioners do their utmost to aid the people of Haiti. UNICEF estimates that there are 250,000 people dead. The city of Providence has a population of 174,000. UNICEF estimates that there are 1 million children orphaned without family or friends. The population of the state of R.I. is 1,056,000.
Pain, Suffering, Hunger, Thirst, Fear, No Housing, No Government. These are your realities if you are a Haitian citizen. Our community of St. Joseph’s has chosen two organizations one big/ one small to help both the immediate and long-term needs of the people of Haiti. Catholic Relief Services has committed over 5 million dollars, has 340 staff people in Haiti, and is a world-class leader in providing food, water, shelter and medical supplies to people. Please visit their web site to see what they are doing to aid the Haitian people (CRS.org).
The second organization is much smaller but equally as important. The Haitian Project (Haitianproject.org) is the Haiti Mission Project that we parishioners at St. Joseph’s support every month. THP is a R.I. charitable 501 C3 corporation established by St. Joseph’s parishioners over twenty-five years ago to help the people of Haiti help themselves by educating young men and women to be future leaders. Its main program, Louverture Cleary School is widely considered to be one of the best schools in all of Haiti. TODAY, THP and its students and graduates are assisting international relief organizations including Catholic Relief Services, Doctors Without Borders, Food for the Poor, Save the Children, and the U.S. military among others with logistics and translation services. In fact CRS has established its distribution headquarters in Port-Au_Prince with the help and generosity of the current chairman of the THP board, Patrick Brun. Learn more about your wonderful organization by visiting its web site. Please consider making additional donations to these and other worthwhile organizations aiding the people of Haiti. Be aware that direct contributions may be eligible for matching contributions by your employer. Please pass this information on to family and friends. Thank you for your continued support of the Haitian Mission Project.
Sincerely,
Charles H. Wharton
Trustee and Founder—The Haitian Project
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (January 31st, 2010)
“NO PROPHET IS ACCEPTED”
God usually affirms, teaches, and promises many things, not so that there be an immediate understanding of them, but that afterwards at the proper time, or when the effect is produced, one may receive light about them…
By order of him who spoke, everything will be understood at the opportune time; and he whom God wills shall understand clearly that so it was fitting, since God does nothing without cause and truth. But, believe me, a person cannot completely grasp the meaning of God’s locutions and deeds, nor can he determine this by appearances without extreme error and bewilderment.
The prophets, entrusted with the Word of God, were well aware of this. Prophecy for them was a severe trial because, as we affirmed, the people observed that a good portion of the prophecy did not come true according to the literal meaning. As a result
the people jibed and mocked the prophets excessively…
Why, then, should we be surprised if God’s locutions and revelations do not materialize as expected? Suppose God affirms or represents to an individual some promise (good or bad, pertaining to the person himself or to another); if this promise is based on certain causes (devotion or service rendered to God, or offense committed against him, now or in the future) and these causes remain, the promise will be accomplished. But since the duration of these causes is uncertain, the fulfillment of the promise is too. One should seek assurance, therefore, not in understanding but in faith.
Saint John of the Cross
Saint John of the Cross (1591) is called the Mystical Doctor
January 31st Week Announced Masses:
Saturday, Jan. 30th
5:00pm Memorial Berthe M. Bolduc, req., Steve & Deirdre Donovan
Sunday, Jan. 31st (Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
9:00am For the deceased of the earthquake disaster in Haiti and all those suffering.
11:15am 3rd Anniv. Joseph Soprano, req., children
Monday, Feb.1st (The Presentation of the Lord)
8:00am For the Intentions of the Parishioners of St. Joseph’s
Tuesday, Feb. 2nd
8:00am Memorial Anthony Roperti, req., Maria & David Gardiner
Thursday, Feb. 4th (St. Agatha,virgin)
8:00am Memorial Madeline Gallagher, req., Gloria Radway
Friday, Feb. 5th (FIRST FRIDAY)
8:00AM Memorial Patricia Alger, req., Friend
8:30AM-12:30PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday, Feb. 6th (St. Paul Miki, martyr)
5:00pm 1st Anniv. Madeline Manco, req., Lynn McElroy
Sunday, Feb.7th (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
9:00am 43rd Anniv. John E. Hickey, req. Dr. Daniel Harrop
11:15am Month’s Mind Alice M. MacManus, req., family
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION INFORMATION:
The attendance policy established is that there are to be no more that (3) absences from Religious Education Classes. After the (4) absence the student and parent will meet with Monsignor Bastia to be readmitted to the program. All students not attending Catholic School should be enrolled in the Parish Religious Education Program. Please contact the rectory, or Ginny DiMasi 401-258-4558, if your children are not enrolled or attending.
January 24th Sacrificial Giving Report
January
2010
2009 2010
Envelopes (77) $1931.00 (75) $2064.00
Loose $ 739.00 $ 958.75
Children $ 24.00 $ 16.25
TOTALS $ 2694.00 $3039.00
Thank you for your generosity!
Latin America Total: $973.00
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Altar Server
Sat: Feb. 6th
5:00pm Nicholas, (MC), Ben, , Olivia
Sun: Feb.7th
9:00am Benny, (MC), Milton, (MC) Savannah, Mason
11:15am Lachelle, (SS), Jeffrey, Jenna, Makayla
LECTOR
Sat: Feb. 6th
5:00pm Carolyn Piatek
Sun: Feb. 7th
9:00am James Vandermillen
11:15am Patricia McWilliams
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS
Sat: Feb 6th
5:00pm Brian Medeiros
Sun: Feb. 7th
9:00am Ginny DiMasi
11:15am Lorraine Beaudoin
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ST JOSEPH’S ANNUAL FEAST DAY BRUNCH WILL BE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY, MARCH 21ST 2010, FOLLLOWING THE 11:15AM Mass. We are in need of prizes. If you would like to help make our raffle a huge success you can do so by donating a prize. Please call the rectory 421-9137 and leave your information with the secretary, Patricia. Everyone’s help makes this once a year celebration a huge success.
THE HAITI MISSION FUND DUE TO BE COLLECTED AT THE WEEKEND MASSES ON JANUARY 30TH & 31ST WILL BE COMBINED THIS MONTH WITH THE EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND. PROCEEDS WILL BE SENT TO BOTH THE HAITIAN PROJECT AND CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICE THAT IS ORGANIZING CATHOLIC RELIEF EFFORTS.
INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE DONATION TO BENEFIT CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES EFFORTS IN HAITI MAY SEND A CHECK MADE OUT TO “CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES” AND MAIL TO:
DIOCESE OF PROVIDENCE
HAITI RELIEF
ONE CATHEDRAL SQUARE
PROVIDENCE, RI 02903
THOSE SENDING DONATIONS ARE ASKED TO NOTE “HAITI” ON THE CHECK.
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT WILL BE HELD ON FIRST FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 5TH 2010, FROM 8:30-12:30PM IN THE CHAPEL.
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LENT BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH ASH WEDNESDAY
Mass and Distribution of Ashes
8:00AM -6:30PM
Preparing for Lent
Lent is a season of being invited by God in a deeply personal way. “Come back to me, with all of your heart,” our Lord beckons. It is an extraordinary invitation to each one of us.
1: Fasting means eating a lesser amount of food.
A: While fasting only one full meal is taken.
B Two other smaller meals are usually eaten, but the two smaller meals do not exceed the amount of food taken at the full meal.
C. While fasting, food is not eaten between meals.
2: Catholics who are eighteen and not yet sixty years old are asked to observe the fast days established by the Church.
3: There are only two fast days established by the Church: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
4: Abstinence means not eating any meat. Dairy products as well as fish and sea food are taken.
5: All Catholics over the age of fourteen are required to abstain on the abstinence days established by the Church.
6: The Church has established Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent as days of abstinence.
7: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we both fast and abstain. We do not eat any meat, we only eat one full meal, and we do not eat between meals on these days.
8: The Church still maintains Friday as a day of abstinence from meat: the faithful are permitted to substitute an alternative penance if they so desire.
“YEAR OF EVANGELIZATION” THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF ST. JOSEPH WILL HOLD A SERIES OF EVENTS TO KICK OFF THE YEAR OF EVANGELIZATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO WELCOME TO OUR PARISH FAMILY, THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO OUR FAITH AND TO WELCOME HOME THOSE WHO FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS HAVE FALLEN AWAY.
. More information to follow in the coming weeks, or you may use the web site::www.catholicscomehome.org
The 2010 Catholic Charity Fund Appeal will take place this year during Lent. The first in-pew weekend’s will be February 27th -28thand March 6th -7th. During these two weekend’s pledge cards will be placed in the pews and we ask that you fill them out and place them in the collection basket. Please be as generous as possible. We thank you for your continued generous support.
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (January 24th, 2010)
“YOUR WORDS, LORD, ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE.” Psalm 19
‘WHEN HIS RELATIVES HEARD OF THIS’
One day while Jesus was preaching, his Mother and his brethren came to talk with him. Just like any mother, his Mother was probably worried about his health, because the lines preceding recount that he could not even eat because of the crowd (see Mk 3:20). A small detail to note: Mary, his Mother, had to beg even for the right to see him and talk with him. She didn’t take advantage of being his Mother to push her way through the crowd. Instead, she remained standing outside, and it was others who went to Jesus and said, “Your Mother is outside asking for you.” But here too, the important thing is what Jesus said: “Who are my Mother and my brethren?” (Mk 3:33). We already know what he then went on to say. Let us place ourselves-let the Mother of any priest whatever place herself-in Mary’s shoes, and we shall be able to sense the humiliation and suffering these words caused her. We now know that they were words of praise rather than reproach for his Mother, but she didn’t know it, or at least, she didn’t know it at that moment. For her they held only the bitterness of refusal. There is no mention of Jesus going out to talk to her. More likely than not Mary had to go away without seeing her son or speaking with him…
Mary’s kenosis (self-emptying) consisted in the fact that instead of asserting her rights as the Messiah’s Mother, she let herself be deprived and appeared before all as a woman just like any other woman. The fact that he was God’s Son didn’t spare Christ all kinds of humiliations, just as the fact of being God’s Mother didn’t spare Mary all kinds of humiliations. Jesus said the Word is what God prunes with and cleans the branches: “You are made clean by the Word” (Jn 15:3), and this is the way he “pruned” his Mother. Was this not, perhaps, precisely the sword that would one day pierce her heart, as Simeon had predicted?
Father Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap.
Father Cantalamessa is the preacher to the papal household.