Welcome to the Churches of St. Joseph - Our Lady of Fatima - Holy Family

From the Pastor's Desk

Dear Parishioners,

As we enter into this most sacred week for us as Catholic Christians, I would encourage you to redouble your efforts to set this week as a time of prayer, dedication to the Lord and preparation for the great celebration of the Easter Season which begins at the Easter Vigil on this coming Saturday (8th at 8:30 PM).

The most suitable way to set this week apart as the holiest time of our year is to take part in the Triduum services. Holy Thursday will be celebrated at SJ at 6:30 PM, Good Friday will be at both OLF 3 PM and SJ 6:30 PM. The Easter Vigil at SJ on Saturday at 8:30 PM will be a long but beautiful celebration. We will not have a 4 PM evening Mass at OLF, instead the 8:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass will be at OLF (no 8:30 AM at SJ), and the 10:30 AM will be at SJ on Easter Sunday. Please note these changes so you can plan accordingly.

The Triduum celebrations are meant to be celebrated as one liturgy over the course of three days. Therefore, you should try to be a part of all three days, but if you can only be present at 1 or 2 of the days please do so. Our Lord will be pleased if you take some time this week to be with him and to walk with him on the journey of these special events of his life.

The Chrism Mass will be held this Monday (the 3rd ) at the Cathedral in Duluth at 5 PM. Anyone is welcome to attend this special Mass. At this Mass the priests renew the priestly promises. The sacred oils are blessed which will be used in our diocese for anointing the sick, as well as the Chrism oil used in baptism, confirmation, and ordination, as well as the oil of the catechumens which is also used in baptism. This really is a diocesan event, and I would invite you to come if you are able to. I find it always a special event that helps me remember we are part of a much bigger church then any one parish cluster.

People will sometimes ask if they need to keep their Lenten fast through the Triduum since it is technically a season onto itself. I would say Holy Thursday is a special Day where we are meant to feast (we have the institution of the Eucharist, and the Priesthood). Good Friday and Holy Saturday should remain days of fast until after the Easter Vigil.

Speaking of the Vigil, I hope you can come to the Easter Vigil and stay afterwards for the resurrection party. It is a chance to celebrate together this great and exciting event of the resurrection. Please plan on coming even just for a little bit if you will be at the Easter Vigil.

A few things to note: There will be no public Monday Masses unless Fr. George is able to return. He continues to work on his rehab, please keep him in your prayers.

We will have a going away/thank you party for Deacon Dan and Julie Goshey after the Sunday Masses at SJ on May 21st . We’ll have refreshments after the 8:30 AM Mass, and a more prolonged celebration after the 10:30 AM.

This summer Phil Stokman who is currently a transitional deacon will be ordained a priest. He will be home to celebrate some Masses of thanksgiving Sunday July 30th . Put it on your calendar if you want to be there. I know the summer gets busy. Phil will be the first priestly vocation from our parish, which is pretty exciting (it’s about time). Phil will be serving in Italy as part of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo. People often ask what is an appropriate gift for a priest? Speaking from experience, I’d say more then trying to buy something, cards and financial gifts are always easy to travel with. Since he will be living in Rome, he will have access to more liturgical goods at a cheaper price then we would here. That’s my two cents.

In Christ,
-Fr. Eli

Note From Deacon Dan

Dear Parishioners,

Last Sunday I announced that my wife, Julie, and I are planning to relocate to the Grand Rapids area. This week I want to give you a little more information about how that decision came about. This was a personal decision that Julie and I made. The first person I spoke to about it was the bishop, to make sure we had his approval and permission. The second person I spoke to was Father Eli. This was a more emotional conversation for us because of the love Julie and I share for him. It will be difficult to say goodbye to him...again. The third person I spoke to was Father Blake Rozier, the pastor of Saint Joseph Church in Grand Rapids, and Saint Augustine in Cohasset. Having received the permission and blessing of these three men, I had to check with mom. That was another tough conversation. After that, we began to notify more of our family, my brother deacons in both clusters, and other close friends.

The reason for this move is complex. Some of it is private and personal to our family. Some of it is practical. All of it, we believe, is a “yes” to what God is asking of us. We plan to sell our home here and purchase one in the Grand Rapids area along with our daughter, Nellie, who is a teacher at the Catholic School there and will become principal this June.

Initially, this was a plan we thought we would put into motion about ten years down the road when Julie and I retire. Recently, however, we have felt drawn to pursue this sooner rather than later to take advantage of some of the beneficial opportunities more immediately. In addition, it will be an easier move now than it will be when we are ten years older. Therefore, this seems like the right season in life to move forward. Our hope is to make a move this spring. Timing is tough to predict since so many variables are in play. We need to find a home there, sell our home here, and find employment for Julie, etc. As for my employment, the plan is to continue with my two current jobs: Working for Hubbard Radio in Brainerd, and for the Diocese of Duluth as the Director of the Permanent Diaconate. This may mean some long commutes for me on occasion, but much of the work I do for both employers I do from home.

This decision came after many prayers and with many tears. The tears and prayers still flow, by the way. While a fresh start might be nice, it is hard to say goodbye. It is especially hard to move away from certain members of our parish...specifically, the ones who share our last name. It is also painful to think of being further away from our son, Joe, and granddaughter, Willow, who live in Brainerd. However, we really do feel that this is a call from God...and we want nothing more than to be obedient to Him. Doing so assures us of our greatest opportunity for happiness and peace.

 My wife and I have had several conversations over the last couple of years about a feeling we had that God was about to do something major in our lives...that something was coming...that He was preparing us for some kind of a big change. We were at once excited and afraid of what that might be. Our prayer was that God would make us ready to accept His will and that we would embrace it. Those are neither easy prayers to make, nor easy actions to take. It helps to know that God does all things from love and with love, and for our good and His glory. My advice to others has always been, “Do what God is asking of you and you will be happy.” We truly believe He is calling us...and we desire to follow Him in faith and trust.

Know of our love for you and our prayers for you. Please pray for us as well. May the healing, hope and joy of Jesus be abundant in all of us.

God bless,
Deacon Dan Goshey

Weekly Homilies

DIOCESE OF DULUTH
A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Daniel Felton

Click to read the Letter

Or listen to the audio version below.

Building Update Meeting Video

Restored Retreat

ONLINE GIVING
OUR LADY OF FATIMA, GARRISON

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Go to https://engage.suran.com/olfg

WEEKLY BULLETIN

Bulletins are available at weekend Masses or access the digital version. Call the office if you wish to have it emailed to you or fill out this online form. 

Click here to access this week's and past bulletins.

ST. JOSEPH MESSENGER

Nov/Dec - Volume 3 Issue 6

Sept/Oct - Volume 3 Issue 5

Past Issues

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES:

Eucharistic Adoration
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is 7 a.m. Monday through 7 a.m Friday. The Adoration Chapel is in the old St. Joseph school building in Crosby.  Enter through the side door.

Prayer Line Ministry
If you would like part of the Parish Prayer Line ministry or make a prayer request, send an email to: [email protected] 

DIVINE MERCY INFORMATION:

Prayers for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (Click Here)

Video and Audio of the Divine Mercy Chaplet (Click Here)

Special Indulgence granted by Vatican for Divine Mercy

The Special Graces of Divine Mercy and the Indulgence (clarification) 

Divine Mercy Talk (Fr. Michael Gaitley)