Announcements

The scriptures today affirm that God is concerned with the world. In the first reading God looks at the oppressed people of Israel and wants to do something. "I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering.” God reaches out to Moses and directs him into action. God is concerned with history. (God is the God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and all the particular people in history – even people today.) God calls Moses out of the desert and into action - into the divine plan for liberation. God wants something to happen to relieve the oppression of the people. God is concerned with justice.
In the gospel, Jesus is asked about those who were killed by the political activity of the Romans or by the accidental collapse of a building. Jesus does not see these acts as a punishment from God for some evil deeds. Rather Jesus seems to focus on a “reform” by all of us and a transformation in all of us. Jesus says “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
Jesus is concerned with liberation and freedom for all men and women. Jesus is looking for “fruit” or “results”. Don’t focus on judgment. Get focused on action and liberation. That is what God is about. That is what the Christian community is about. We are called to be concerned with justice and the plight of those who are oppressed. God wants us to focus on environmental justice, economic justice, just international relations, and a commitment to peace.
Have a good week! Peace, Father Bill

ST JOSEPH SCHOOL FISH/SHRIMP/CRAB LEG DINNERS EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT
FEBRUARY 19TH TO APRIL 2nd  4 PM TILL 7 PM 
ADULT - $7.95 CHILD - $5.95 PRESCHOOL – FREE ALL CRAB LEG DINNERS - $10.95 CHOICE OF FISH (BAKED OR FRIED), 
SHRIMP OR CRAB LEGS, CHOICE OF POTATO, COLESLAW, ROLL, DESSERT AND DRINK  
TAKE-OUT LUNCHES 11 AM TILL 1 PM $6.00 FISH SANDWICH, COLESLAW, AND FRIES

When have I needed mercy and when have I given mercy? In the process of transformation (“conversion” if you prefer), as we learn to face the contradictions that we ourselves are, we become living icons of both/and. We find the hidden wholeness of God underlying our weaknesses. Once we can accept mercy, it is almost natural to hand it on to others. (See the story of the unforgiving debtor in Matthew 18:23-35.) We always become conduits of what we ourselves have received. If we have never needed mercy, and do not face our own inherent contradictions, we can go from youth to old age, dualistically locked inside of a mechanistic universe of counting merit and measuring worthiness—at which no one ever wins! That, in my opinion, is the “sin against the Holy Spirit.” Jesus says it “cannot be forgiven” because in that state there is a refusal to even need mercy or forgiveness. “We are doing quite well by ourselves, God, but thanks anyway!” Make sure you are always in need of mercy. My daily attempts at contemplation convince me of that. I never fully succeed at prayer. Fr. Richard Rohr

We will once again be selling CharVal candy. If you would like to order please see a St. Joseph School student or pick up a form at the back of the church. The forms are white only. Please be sure to put your name and phone number on the form. If you are paying by check please make it out to St. Joseph PTU. Please give your order to a student or place in the collection basket in an envelope marked CharVal. Orders are due by Thursday, March 11th and delivery will be on Friday, March 26th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Fye at St. Joseph School.

A Penance service will be held on Sunday, March 7 at 3:00 for Religious Education students in grades 3-11. This is considered a class and all students are expected to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Judy or Norm Wolbert 226-8399 or email stjoercd@yahoo.com

Quilt Sneak preview March 17th. at 6:30p.m. everyone welcome, more details later.

RUMMAGE SALE As you do your Spring Cleaning, please save things for the Rummage Sale, which will be held this Spring, The date will be announced later. If you have any questions, please call Mary Gabler, PTU President.

2009 Donations for Income Tax are available. If you would like your copy, please contact the rectory office.

SCRIP Gift Cards are always available at School and in Church after the weekend Masses.

Soup Supper at Leeper Fire Hall, Saturday, March 13. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Menu includes: all you can eat soup, bread, dessert, and drink; $5.00 a person, 4 and under eat free. Benefits Farmington Township Volunteer Fire Co. 

Welcome to John Esposito who recently joined our parish.

Our condolences to Rev. David Poulson and his family upon the loss of his father Richard D. Poulson. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

On every journey we take, we are met with options. These are the decisions that shape our life. Mike DeWine 

How does one incorporate imperfection? In a Navajo rug there is always one clear imperfection woven into the pattern. And interestingly enough, this is precisely where the Spirit moves in and out of the rug! The Semitic mind, the Eastern mind (which, by the way, Jesus would have been much closer to) understands perfection in precisely that way. The East is much more comfortable with paradox, mystery, and non-dual thinking than the Western mind which is formed by Greek logic. Perfection is not the elimination of imperfection, as we think. Divine perfection is, in fact, the ability to recognize, forgive, and include imperfection!—just as God does with all of us. Only in this way can we find the beautiful and hidden wholeness of God underneath the passing human show. It is the gift of non-dual thinking and seeing, which itself is a gift of love, suffering, and grace. In fact, this is the radical grace that grounds all holy seeing and doing.
Fr. Richard Rohr

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Dr. Kirk W. Chadwick, Chiropractor. Please patronize those who advertise in our bulletin.

St. Joseph School Scrip Gift Certificate Program:
Scrip is a term that means "substitute money."  When you purchase scrip, you're purchasing negotiable gift certificates and prepaid cards that are used just like cash.  For each scrip purchased, St. Joseph School earns two to fifteen percent or more in profit.  Participating businesses are:

Merchant Denom. Advance Auto Parts $25 Aeropostle $25 American Eagle $25 Applebees $25/$50 Arby's $10 Bass Pro Shops $25 Bath & Body Works $10 Bob Evan's $10 Bon Ton/Elder Beerman $25 Boscov's Dept. Store $25 C & A Trees $20 Cabela's $25 Captain Loomis $20 Claire's $10 Comet $25

Merchant Denom. CVS Pharmacy $25 Destinta Theatres $6.50 Domino's Pizza $10 Dunham's $25 Eat 'n Park $10 Game Shop $25 Home Depot $25 iTunes $15 J C Penney $25 Jerry's Grocery $10 JoAnn Fabrics $20 Kentucky Fried Chicken $5 Kmart $25 Kohl's Dept. Store $25 Long John Silvers $5

Merchant Denom. Lowe's Home Improvement $25 Marshalls/TJ Maxx $25 Old Navy/GAP $25 Pizza Pub $10 Pizza Hut $10 Radio Shack $25 RRR Roadhouse $25 Red Lobster/Olive Garden $25 Sears $25 Sheetz $25 Staples $25 Starbucks Coffee $10 Subway $10 Toys 'R Us $20 Walmart $25/$100 Wendy's $10

Announcements | Events | Schedules | Mass Intentions | Contact Information