From the Pastor: 03.27.11

Perhaps like myself, after the recent weeks of “troubles” in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, you’re looking for a reason to savor the beauty of the Catholic tradition and to feel good again about being Catholic.  If so, then I humbly suggest that you couldn’t do better than to go see “Of Gods and Men” – the superb French movie (with subtitles) currently playing here in Philadelphia. But before I tell you why, let me offer a couple of “caveats” up front.  First off, although I ultimately found the film extremely uplifting, be warned that it is not a...

Social Ministries Appeal 2011

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Old St. Joseph’s Church: Each year throughout Lent we conduct our annual appeal to help support our social justice and outreach ministries which are a direct manifestation of our call to be disciples of Christ. Our love for and compassion with our “neighbors” who are hungry, needy, sick, poor and marginalized, inspire us to seek justice for all. Lent is an ideal time to direct our attention to Jesus’ ministry to the poor, to heed his command to “Love thy neighbor,” and to offer sacrifice in acknowledgment of our many...

Bread for the World

Bread for the World, the nation’s largest ecumenical anti-hunger advocacy group, will be holding its annual Offering of Letters workshop in Barbelin Hall on Sunday, April 10 from 2:00 – 5:00 PM.  The issue this year reforming US foreign assistance to provide more effective relief for the one billion people in our world who go to bed hungry each night.  Learn more about this crucial issue and how you can help.  Good information, food and friends will be available. For more information or to help with this effort, contact Nick D’Arecca at 215-284-7010;...

From the Pastor: 03.20.11

And so… on with the pastor’s “super-priorities”…  Four of the five might well be priorities for ANY given parish: engaging more parishioners and attracting new ones; clarifying, streamlining, and improving parish structures; implementing an approach to comprehensive stewardship (time, talent, AND treasure); and collecting more data about ourselves while working to improve internal and external communications.  The fifth priority, however – and the one I will address here today – is more uniquely “Jesuit” and Ignatian.  It deals with the celebration of...

Homily: 03.20.11

We fail really to grasp the impact and meaning of today’s transfiguration narrative unless we recall its context in Matthew’s Gospel.  Immediately prior to this incident, Simon has had his big moment of success, when he correctly identified Jesus as “Messiah” and “Son of the living God.”  As a result, Jesus had praised him before the other apostles and had changed his name to Peter – that is, Rock – promising to use Peter as the firm foundation on which to build his church.  Alas, Peter’s moment “at the head of the class” was painfully...

Homily (Children’s): 03.20.11

I want to tell you a beautiful story.  Some of you may know it.  It is called The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Once upon a time there was a little caterpillar.  (picture)  He was very hungry, and so… He ate…                      … a red apple. .  (picture) The next day he was still hungry, and so, he ate… 12 green pears. .  (picture) The next day he was still hungry, and so, he ate… 3 purple plums. .  (picture) The next day he was still hungry, and so, he ate… 4 red strawberries..  (picture) The next day he was still...

Holy Trinity Young Adult Retreat

Holy Trinity Young Adult Community Spring 2011 Retreat: April 15-17 at the Bellarmine Retreat Center, Blue Ridge, PA. The retreat fee is $100 and includes meals, lodging, and all materials and is intended for young adults in their 20’s & 30’s. For more info, contact Beth at YAC.Retreat@gmail.com.

From the Pastor: 03.13.11

We interrupt our regularly scheduled program – again! – to make room for the arrival of something timely and important.  This time the interruption is occasioned by the season of Lent, with its challenge for us to ponder sin and forgiveness.  (The regularly scheduled series – namely, the continued explanation of the pastor’s top five priorities for OSJ – will resume next week…)  And by the time you read this, Lent will already have begun.  As I have sought to prepare myself for the season this year, in light of recent local news, I have been thinking a...

Your Recipes Needed for Outreach Cookboo...

Calling All Cooks! Old St. Joseph’s Outreach needs your recipes for a cookbook. We already have over 125 recipes from some of your kitchens – thanks! However, we still need more. So dig out that favorite recipe that your neighbor Gary gave you for his mom’s goulash or Aunt Vera’s apple brown Betty and send it to kjaeger@oldstjoseph.org or Kris Jaeger, 321 Willings Alley, Phila., PA, 19106 All contributions will be greatly appreciated. All proceeds will benefit the OSJ Outreach Program.

Centering Prayer: Mon., 3/21/11, 6:30pm

The centering prayer group will meet on Monday, Mar. 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the 3rd-floor conference room. The meeting will include viewing of a DVD on contemplative prayer, some discussion, and Mass with a period of centering. Anyone interested in contemplative prayer is welcome to join us. For further information, contact Christine Szczepanowski at 267-250-3049 or christinesz52@gmail.com.