Dear Parishioners,

Here are some things to be aware of in these next weeks. If you are a regular giver to one of the parishes in our cluster, you 

should receive a giving statement from the parish for tax purposes sometime between now and the end of the month. Thank you to all who give to the parishes financially. It is a blessing to get such good support here. We made our goals for the Ministry Appeal (this supports the diocesan ministries). I am really happy about that! 

This weekend’s bulletin is a 2 week bulletin. This coming Wednesday (21st) is our ENCOUNTER Night for faith formation. Anyone is invited to join on these nights of adoration, prayer ministry confessions and testimony or teaching. The evening starts at 6:15 and ends at 7:15 PM. It is a chance for families or individuals to come and spend some time together at the church praying together. There are confessions available during the hour, and at about 6:30 there is usually a short testimony or sharing by someone. There is also prayer ministry available if you would like someone to pray with you. This could be as simple as going to the prayer team and asking them to pray for your friend or family member who is sick. We encourage you to come for the whole time, but if you can only join for part of it, we welcome that too. 

January 22nd is a day to remember the unborn and those who are struggling with the effects or trauma due to abortion. In our 

country Roe vs. Wade was overturned and so we can now focus on trying to celebrate life, and put into place a culture that supports life and makes it easier for mothers and parents to choose life for their children. Many people are still choosing to abort their children. We could try to make them see the error of their ways, by talking about the evils of abortion. However, I think at this time in our culture we need to show that choosing life is attractive, and beautiful. The sacrifices of parenting and giving birth are real, but they are also a great gift. We can show by our lives that family life is a great good. It is challenging of course, but it is also a way to grow in holiness. A woman who has no support or who is not married will find it hard to choose life. How can we make that choice for life easier? If we know someone who is in a situation that a pregnancy is challenging pray for them, encourage them, and help them however you can. This is what a culture of life looks like. 

We will have our monthly Spanish Mass on January 24th Saturday 8 AM at SJ. This is a cultural experience. Come learn to experience the Mass in a different language. It is a reminder that the Mass is universal. I am trying to learn Spanish and these monthly Masses are a way for me to grow in my use of the Spanish language. If you would like to be involved as a lector (reading the first reading, let me know). 

You may or may not know, we have a parishioner who is studying for the priesthood and will be ordained as a deacon next fall. Zavior Franck has been in seminary and this coming October he will be ordained in Rome. Then after the next academic year he would come back to the diocese to be ordained as a priest (summer of 2027). The Franck family is planning to bring all their children for the diaconate ordination in Rome. This is a bit of a financial strain. So, I am going to be inviting the parish to help support them. If you are willing to help with this that would be great. I’m hoping we can raise $10-14,000 to help get the Franck family there. I plan to give $2,000 to this effort, if you can join me in offering assistance please talk to me, or drop off a check or donation at the office or in the collection. You can make the check out to St. Joseph and label it Franck Fund. I know we have a lot of causes to give to, but I think this is something special we can do to help one of our families be a part of this special event. Zavior will be serving in our diocese as a priest, and so it is a nice thing we can do to provide for his family. 

Looking ahead, mark your calendars, Lent begins Wednesday February 18th . We have some weeks of ordinary time until then. 

In Christ,

Fr. Eli