Welcome to St. Joseph's Church

Dear Parishioners,

Today we have the annual combined second collection to benefit both the Catholic Home Missions and the Church in Latin America. Thank you for your generosity in supporting these worthy efforts to assist our Catholic brothers and sisters in the Home Missions in the US, and the Church in the various countries of Latin America.

Sunday June 14th is Flag Day which commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Our flag symbolizes the Union of our 50 States which began with the 13 colonies. As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we honor all those who have served our country under the Red, White and Blue banner.

Monday June 20th is the observance of Juneteenth, a Federal Holiday. There will be only one Mass at 7 AM. The church will close after Mass. The rectory office will be closed. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of African American slaves in the former Confederacy. Juneteenth's commemoration is celebrated on the anniversary of the June 19, 1865 announcement of General Order Number 3 by Union General Gordon Granger in which he proclaimed freedom for enslaved people in Texas, which was the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery. Happy Juneteenth!

June 18th is the last day of school for our students at St. Joseph’s School. We wish them a restful and enjoyable summer!

Next Sunday will be Mission Cooperative Sunday here at St. Joseph’s. Each year the Archdiocese of New York asks the parishes to host a missionary at all the Masses and to take up a collection. Sister Maria Missionara de Esperanza, SSVM, a missionary sister from The Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (www.ssvmmissions.org), will be coming to speak at St. Joseph's parish on June 20-21.  She is a missionary sister in Central Asia.  She is looking forward to sharing about how the sisters care for abandoned children, feed the poor, educate girls and much more, serving God's most needy in Central Asia.  

God Bless you!

Fr. Gerald E. Murray, Pastor