April-May
Year of Prayer for Priestly Vocations

Get involved in the Parish Council!
All parishioners are welcome to attend the meetings and participate in the governance of the parish. You can download the minutes from the last meeting here.

REGISTRATION
If you have been attending St. Joseph Parish but have not registered as a parishioner, please consider joining us! You can download a registration form here. Once you have completed it, please drop it into the collection basket at Mass, or send it to the address at the top of the sheet.

Don't forget Daily Mass!
Fr. Mark has reinstated daily Mass in our cluster. Mass is held Monday and Tuesday in Latin, and Wednesday in English at St. Joseph's at 12:10 p.m. Thursday noon Mass is at St. Josaphat's, and Fridays at Sweetest Heart of Mary, also at noon. Take the time for midday worship!

We desperately need more advertisers for our church bulletin! At the present time we are down to one patron. We need 13 to pay for our printing. Suburban parishes are subsidizing the bulletins for St. Joseph & Sweetest Heart of Mary but will not continue to do so much longer. We will soon have a combined bulletin for our cluster. One unit of advertising 1 x 2 1/2 inches is $332.47 per year. A half unit 1/2 x 2 1/2 is $202.54. Please contact the parish office if you know of anyone who will advertise with us

WE STILL NEED USHERS!
Mike Singelyn is the interim captain of the ushers' club. Men and women who are able to usher at our regular Sunday Masses and the monthly German Mass are asked to call Mike at 313-885-5333 to volunteer their services.

Choral Mass schedule

Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 12:00 noon
Orchestral Missa Brevis in G, K. 140, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The music schedule can change, so keep an eye on it for updates and more details.

New choir members -- trained or not -- are very welcome!

News: May 28, 2006
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

A Cluster Blood Drive is scheduled here in our Social Hall from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 11. We need at least 60 people to sign up in order for the Red Cross to come out. As of May 17th, the blood supply for Metropolitan Detroit had fallen to less than a one (1) day supply. Simply stated, people die for lack of blood! Give the gift of life. Sign up sheets are available throughout the cluster after all Masses today. Requirements: No tattoo in the last 12 months, must be 17 yrs old, must weigh at least 110 lbs, ear and body piercing acceptable if done with sterile needles and studs, cannot be pregnant, cannot be undergoing cancer treatments, cannot be at risk of the HIV virus, or have spent considerable time in other countries where mad cow disease or malaria exists.

Catholic Services Appeal
Report as of May 19, 2006
Amount Pledged………………..$7,434.00
Amount Paid……………………$5,434.00
Number of donors………………...…….36
Required goal………………….$10,951.00
So far out of 219 registered parishioners, we have a total of 36 donors. Last year’s goal was met by 76 donors (36% of our parishioners) and we went over our goal by $4,881.00. That amount was returned to the parish by the Archdiocese. Let’s do it again and aim for 100% participation.

June 4, Pentecost Sunday:

Note the change
10:30 Mass in English.
12:00 noon Mass in Latin with orchestra.

Our monthly bake sale is held on the first Sunday of each month along with free coffee and juice. The bake sales were started last October to raise funds for the restoration of one candelabra in the back of the church. Estimated cost of the restoration is $2700. We also hope to raise an extra $500 which was the deductible amount paid to our insurance provider when the other candelabra was restored after an act of vandalism. So far we have raised $2.404.50. Last month’s sale brought $350.60. As usual, we need bakers and buyers next Sunday, June 4th. We will suspend bake sales for the summer and resume in October.

The Mai Fest dinner has come and gone, and it was a great success. (I know we say that about every dinner, but it's especially true this time!) Thanks to Craig Larsen for his energetic leadership. He made sure every detail was nailed down perfectly. Thanks also to all the volunteers who helped put the dinner on. Let's keep up the momentum!

News: May 21, 2006
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

The Parish Council will meet tomorrow night, May 22, in the Social Hall at 7:00 pm. Everyone welcome.

Don't forget the blood drive!
Our Bishop Plagens Council of the Knights of Columbus will host a blood drive for the entire cluster here at St. Joseph Church Social Hall on June 11th from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. At least 50 donors will be needed in order for the Red Cross to come out. Sign-up sheets are available today in all the churches of our cluster. The blood supply for the metropolitan area often falls to only a one-day supply. Give the gift of life and support our Knights in their selfless efforts to make the world a better place starting here with our cluster family!

An Altar Society is being formed here at St. Joseph. Those interested in joining are asked to meet in the Social Hall next Sunday, May 28th, after the noon Mass. Men and women are welcome to join, husband and wife teams, engaged couple teams, singles, widowed and widowers, young or old. Anyone who can operate a washing machine or iron or carefully change an altar cloth is qualified.

COMING UP!
Saturday, June 3rd, 5:30 to 9:00 pm at American Polish Century Club. Tenth anniversary dinner for Fr. Mark. Call the rectory for tickets. $25 313 831-6659

Catholic Services Appeal
Report as of May 12, 2006
Amount Pledged………………..$2,624.00
Amount Paid……………………$2,624.00
Number of donors………………...…….18
Required goal………………….$10,951.00
So far, out of 219 registered parishioners, we have a total of 18 donors. Last year’s goal was met by 76 donors (36% of our parishioners) and we went over our goal by $4,881.00. That amount was returned to the parish by the archdiocese. Let’s do it again!

News: May 14, 2006
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

LAST CHANCE FOR MAI FEST TICKETS
If you plan on attending our Mai Fest dinner next week in the social hall, please get your tickets today after Mass. This is a fund raising event with the food being prepared by the same folks who cook at the Carpathia Club. The Carpathia Society is a German speaking Catholic Society that supports our German Mass here at St. Joseph, and the Carpathia Choir is famous for its many performances at various venues throughout the area. Choir members will entertain at this mouth-watering event. Tickets are $12 for adults and children under 12 are $6.

BLOOD DRIVE
Our Bishop Plagens Council of the Knights of Columbus will host a Blood Drive for the entire cluster here at St. Joseph Church social hall on June 11th from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. At least 50 donors will be needed in order for the Red Cross to come out. Sign up sheets will be available next week in all the churches of our cluster. The blood supply for the metropolitan area often falls to only a one-day supply. Give the gift of life and support our Knights in their selfless efforts to make the world a better place starting here with our cluster family!

LADDERS NEEDED
Among the items stolen from our garage last year was our 40 ft. extension ladder set (2x20). This has never been replaced and if anyone has any type of extension ladder that would hopefully be at least 20 feet (2x10) we would be more than happy to give a tax receipt for this type of donation.

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months originated in the revelations of Mary at Fatima. Mary told the 3 shepherd children that she desired penance for sinners and frequent praying of the Rosary. She promised the conversion of Russia and peace for mankind if her wishes were followed. Pope John Paul II credited our Lady of Fatima for his surviving the attempt on his life.

News: May 7, 2006
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Urgent Restoration Needs
Some of our worshippers never notice the falling plaster and peeling paint all over the church and we suppose that they keep their eyes on the high altar as they rightly should. Our roof repairs were completed last year and all roof leaking into the church has been resolved. The bid to restore the interior is $130,000. Our stained glass window restoration fund has enough money to re-lead two more windows, however there are 13 windows that require this treatment. One storm window fell apart during the winter, and because the storm windows are 60 years old, the rotted wood and rusted steel rods show that they need replacement. The remainder of the stained glass window fund may have to be used for this purpose. Our steeple was struck by lightning about 6 years ago. A hole about 5x5 feet was the result of the strike. The steeple was repaired at that time but is now literally coming apart at the seams and water is pouring in. We are presently in consultation with our insurance company, an architect and a roofing company on the various solutions to this problem. Repairs will be extensive and possibly very costly. The roof on our garage was being rebuilt last week at a cost of $8,000. Mushrooms began to grow inside the garage as a result of all the water pouring in from the rotted roof boards. Some stonework on the church buttresses is in danger of falling. If anyone knows of lottery winners who are looking to donate money for a tax write-off, please direct them to Saint Joseph Church.

We need volunteers this coming Saturday, May 13th, to help with the annual clean-up of the church property and surrounding areas and planting of flowers. There is no age limit. We welcome helpers from toddlers to old-timers and everyone in between. Pointed sticks for spearing trash will be provided. Bring any garden tools that will be helpful. We will plant Marigolds all along the wrought iron fence surrounding the church. Anyone wishing to donate a flat of Marigolds or bags of Cypress mulch, please notify Patrick Degens at 586 463- 6178 or call the rectory and leave a message so that we don’t get more than we can handle. We will need at least 3 flats of Marigolds and 3 bags of cypress mulch. Lunch will be provided. Bring your favorite drink. Trash bags and gloves will be provided.

News: April 30, 2006
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

This season's final Faith Formation gathering will be 7:00 PM, this Thursday, May 4. We intend to discuss everyone’s ideas for next season’s program of study. Come and delight in some of the best pizza in town at the original Buddy’s Pizzeria, 17125 Conant Street at 6 Mile, Hamtramck.
This invitation is for all in the cluster.

The Easter Season refers to the Great Fifty Days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of resurrection from the death of sin to life of grace. The 50th day (pente) is seven ( the perfect number) squared, plus one (the first day of the New Life). The last 10 days, Ascension Thursday through Pentecost, focus on the promise of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It was the time when the Apostles remained in the upper room and prayed with expectant faith for the Paraclete. The “novena” prayer form originated from this first 9-day period of prayer in the Church, the 9 days between Christ’s ascent and the Spirit’s descent. The Christ Candle that was lit from the new fire during the Easter Vigil was formerly extinguished on Ascension Thursday, representing the physical departure of Jesus from the earth; now it remains through Pentecost for the entire Easter season.

Easter Duty, the act of confessing serious sins at least once a year and receiving Holy Communion can be performed at any time during the Easter Season. St. Bonaventure Monastery located on Mt. Elliot between Kercheval and Jefferson has priests available for confession six days a week, Monday through Saturday at 10, 11, 12 noon and 2, 3 and 4 pm. Confessions are available here before the 12:10 Mass on Monday and Wednesday, on Saturday 3 to 4 pm at Sweetest Heart of Mary, and before the 9:30 Sunday Mass at St. Josaphat.

SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL! You first heard it from Bill Haley and the Comets. The first line was, “Get out in that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans.” Next Sunday, is Bake Sale Sunday, time to whip up some of those great recipes and help raise funds to restore the candelabra in the rear of the church. We need bakers and buyers. Free coffee and juice!

You might want to skip a Tiger game on June 3rd, folks! That’s the 10th anniversary of Fr. Mark’s ordination to the priesthood and the cluster will host a dinner at the American Polish Century Club on Maple Lane between 14 and 15 Mile road in Sterling Heights. Cost is $25 per person. Cash bar. Sit down dinner. Tickets are available from our cluster office secretary, Chris Hubbard.

News: April 23, 2006
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

The First Observance of Divine Mercy Sunday in Detroit took place 23 years ago at Saint Joseph Church and has continued every year since. What a delight to see it spread to more and more churches throughout the Archdiocese so that this time of extraordinary grace gains more and more momentum.

Irish Festival at St. Patrick's
St. Patrick Church, 58 Parsons just behind Orchestra Hall on Woodward north of Mack is having it annual Irish Festival next Sunday, from 1 to 9 P.M. Hear the best in Irish Music on 3 different stages and enjoy Irish Sausage and games for kids.

In the charity of your prayers, remember the sick

New stories in Patrick's History Corner

More thoughts posted on the Meditations page

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