An Archdiocesan Day of Eucharistic Adora...

An Archdiocesan Day of Eucharistic Adoration – Monday, Jan. 10, 2011: Cardinal Justin Rigali has asked for all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to be united in prayer before the Most Blessed Sacrament for an increase in priestly vocations for the benefit of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. There will be Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament in every Parish of the Diocese from 9am to 5pm. The Cardinal invites you and your family to a special Vicariate Holy Hour at 7pm at the following parishes: Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter & Paul,...

Sacrament of the Sick & Pray for th...

A reminder to all that the Sacrament of the Sick is administered on the first Saturday of every month as part of the 12:05 Mass. All who have a serious illness or who are expecting serious surgery in the upcoming month are invited to receive this Sacrament. One doesn’t always have the sacramental services of the Church at a non-Catholic hospital; or a priest may not be available should an emergency arise, so receiving the sacrament ahead of time is always well-advised. Priests can be available to minister to the homebound at pre-arranged times; please advise your...

Gesu School – Outreach

Thank you Old St. Joseph’s for bringing a little Christmas magic to the Gesu School!

Music Ministers Needed!

Music Ministers Needed: Are you interested in joining the parish music program?  If you feel called to serve as a cantor or in the Schola Cantorum (11:30 a.m. Mass), the Choir (9:30 a.m. Mass), or the Liturgical Choir (6:30 p.m. Mass), please call me at (215) 923-1733, ext. 111, or e-mail me at ngouin@oldstjoseph.org.  Thank you.       —Norm Gouin

Liturgical Ministers Needed!

Liturgical Ministers Needed: Do you feel called to serve at the altar of the Lord as a lector, a Eucharistic minister, a hospital minister, an altar server, an usher, a leader of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, or a sacristan?  Please call me at (215) 923-1733, ext. 111, or e-mail me at ngouin@oldstjoseph.org.  Thank you.      —Norm Gouin

OSJ Holiday Mass Schedule: 01.01.11 and ...

SOLEMNITY OF MARY: Saturday, Jan. 1 Not a Holy Day of Obligation this year: Mass at 12:05pm NOTE: The 5:30pm Vigil Mass on Jan. 1 is for Epiphany Sunday EPIPHANY SUNDAY: Jan. 2 Regular Sunday Mass Schedule: 5:30pm Sat. Vigil, 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am & 6:30pm

From the Pastor: 12.26.10

FROM THE PASTOR: December 26, 2010 I have a Christmas confession to make:  I am nuts for “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.  I actually read it aloud with friends every year.  I own and have watched many times the film versions starring Alistair Sim (the 1951 classic), Albert Finney (the musical), George C. Scott, Patrick Stewart, and Jim Carrey.  (I have even watched quite a few of the freer and less faithful adaptations: “Scrooged” with Bill Murray as a misanthropic TV producer, “Ebbie” with Susan Lucci as the Christmas-hating owner of a department...

Organ Notes

Organ Notes: We are pleased to announce that we have recently signed the contract — fully vetted by the Legal Services division of the Archdiocese — with Emery Brothers, Inc. of Quakertown, PA, the new firm who will complete the restoration and installation of our historic Skinner pipe organ. The firm comes highly recommended; they are knowledgeable about Skinner organs, and they maintain the instruments at the Curtis Institute, at Princeton University, and at St. Peter’s Episcopal down the street from us. A new custom-made blower is on order; and Steve...

The Liturgy of the Word

The Liturgy of the Word “Attend to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13).  The Liturgy of the Word is made up of the readings from Sacred Scripture together with the responsorial Psalm and other chants that come between them.  The homily, the Profession of Faith, and the Prayer of the Faithful develop the message of the Scriptures apply it to our lives, turn it into prayer, and conclude this part of the Mass.In the readings and in the responsorial Psalm God speaks to the community of believers.  When God speaks God communicates...

Parish Library

Thanks to any and all who donated books to our Parish Library. The Library Committee catalogued a large number of new additions in December among which are lots of Jesuitica and other interesting topics. There are now several works by George Aschenbrenner, S.J.  (Contemplating Jesus and Becoming Whom You Contemplate; Forgiveness, An Inner Journey; Active and Contemplative, Two Apostolic Lifestyles; and Prayer, A Personal Response to God’s Presence).  Lots of biography: Jesuits Peter Faber (Purcell); Edmund Campion (Waugh); Francis Borgia (Dalmases); Claude de la...