Mission Statement:

Old St. Joseph's strives to live out the gospel message of Jesus Christ through ministries of service that are motivated by love, compassion and mutual respect. Through these ministries OSJ is committed to serving those who are most vulnerable, especially disadvantaged children, the poor, the sick, the elderly, and members of the parish who are in need.

Annual Appeal:

Download the 2011 Annual Appeal (PDF).

Make your Annual Appeal donation online! You will prompted for the donation amount on the next screen. If you are an OSJ parishioner, please enter the parishioner ID number found on the back of your weekly contribution envelopes (larger bold number above your name). Your online donation can then be added to your yearly total for tax deduction purposes.

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Important News and Events

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 blessings. (more…)

When in prison, you visited me. (Mt. 25):  The prison ministry group meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7-9 PM in the second floor of the rectory; (more…)

The OSJ Social Justice Committee in collaboration with St. Joseph’s University presents: Poverty Awareness Week, November 06 thru 11 (more…)

Old St. Joseph’s kicked off its first ever Day of Service on April 16, 2011. As part of the Day of Service some parishioners travelled to the Bevilacqua Community Center and constructed planting beds for the community garden. Other parishioners joined together with students from ACES, an after school program, and with members from Mill Creek Community Partnership, to assist seniors at the St. Ignatius Nursing Home create “living masks.”

The volunteers were the “artists” and helped sculpt masks of the senior’s faces and hands. The seniors were great models and enjoyed the chance to spend an afternoon with the children and visitors. We hope to include these projects again next year along with several others at our Second Annual Day of Service.

Old St. Joseph’s strives to live out the gospel message of Jesus Christ through ministries of service that are motivated by love, compassion and mutual respect.  Through these ministries OSJ is committed to serving those who are most vulnerable, especially disadvantaged children, the poor, the sick, the elderly, and members of the parish who are in need. (more…)

WALK FOR LIFE: The annual Old St. Joseph/Old St. Mary Walk for Life, in solidarity with the next day’s March for Life in Washington, will take place on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 10:45 to 11:20 a.m. (more…)

Day of Service at St. Ignatius Nursing Home, Mill Creek neighborhood - April 16, 2011

Old St. Joseph's kicked off its first ever Day of Service on April 16, 2011. As part of the Day of Service some parishioners travelled to the Bevilacqua Community Center and constructed planting beds for the community garden. Other parishioners joined together with students from ACES, an after school program, and with members from Mill Creek Community Partnership, to assist seniors at the St. Ignatius Nursing Home create "living masks." The volunteers were the "artists" and helped sculpt masks of the senior's faces and hands. The seniors were great models and enjoyed the chance to spend an afternoon with the children and visitors. We hope to include these projects again next year along with several others at our Second Annual Day of Service.

Pen Pal Families for Adopted Kenyan "daughters" 

A portion of the 2010 Annual Appeal funds was used to sponsor the attendance of five orphaned school girls at St. Clare's School in Meru, Kenya.  Five parish families volunteered to be pen pals to the girls. The girls and their pen pals exchange greetings, photographs and letters throughout the year creating a richer family connection for these young girls while expanding the community of OSJ far beyond Philadelphia.    

Prison Ministry:

Mary Mother of Captives Pen Pal Program:
The committee facilitates the parish’s participation in the Mary Mother of Captives Pen Pal program. The program provides a safe and anonymous way for parishioners to offer hope and companionship to someone who is incarcerated through letter writing. The program is 100% safe and anonymous. Parishioners use their first name only and all correspondence is through the MMOC P.O. box.

"I was in prison and you visited me," said Jesus in Matthew 25:36. Pope John Paul II provided witness to Christ’s directive when he visited the man who shot and critically wounded him in prison and stated “I spoke to him as a brother whom I have pardoned and who has my complete trust.″ This program provides a small but important way for our parish to follow this Gospel message and the Pope John Paul’s example.

Interested? Contact Christopher Welsh at cwelsh@philadefender.org or 856-296-3065.

Links:

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - click on Social Justice Issues

Office of Social Justice St. Paul & Minnesota

Catholic Charities