Celebrate 114 years of
Catholic Education
at
St. Joseph Catholic School
It is with deep sadness and indescribable heartache that we announce St. Joseph School will not be open for the 2010/2011 school year. The Diocese of Joliet has announced that St. Joseph Catholic School will close at the end of this school year, Friday June 4, 2010.
On Sunday May 30 2010, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, we will have a special 2 pm Mass celebrating 114 years of Catholic education at St. Joseph Catholic School.
After our celebration Mass, there will be an open house so everyone may tour the school and Ferdinand Hall.
Clay Street will be closed for a block party until 6 pm. There will be refreshments, music by Ray Koncar and the Boys 3:30- 5:30 pm, and plenty of social time for old and new friends to reminisce.
Each building will have books for all visitors to enter their fondest memories of this great school. If you are unable to attend the day’s events, you may send a letter and we will include it in the final book.
During this Mass, we will be honoring our students, alum, past and present parents, teachers, staff, and school supporters from over the years. Selected items representative of these groups will be placed in a time capsule that will then be laid to rest at our children’s final Mass, 9 am Friday June 4, at St. Joseph Cemetery‘s Grotto.
For further information, please call the school office 9am- 2pm.
Please forward this information to anyone who may be interested.
See you on Sunday May 30th!
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Are you looking to be baptized, confirmed, or to receive the Holy Eucharist in Communion?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a special program for those who are looking to be baptized and/or confirmed, and/or receive the Holy Eucharist (called the Sacraments of Christian Initiation), as well as for all who are baptized in other Churches, but look to become Roman Catholic. This program is meant to help candidates in their journey of faith into the community of our Church.
For more information, please call Rob Passehl at 815-722-0676.
If any parishioners are interested in becoming Lectors or Extraordinary Miniters, please contact the parish office so you can be included in the rotation - 815-727-9378
Shut Ins and Nursing Home Residents
Do you know of anyone who would like to receive Communion and a visit on First Fridays? We have resurrected the Service Commission and are searching for those in need. If you know of someone or are willing to help yourself, please contact either the rectory at 815-727-9378 or Larry or Joan Chapman at 815-729-9316.
Choose Life, a Wonderful Choice
Scripture specifies the prohibition contained in the fifth commandment:
"Do not slay the innocent and the righteous."
The deliberate murder of an innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being, to the golden rule, and to the holiness of the Creator.
The law forbidding it is universally valid, it obliges each and everyone, always and everywhere.
Respect Life
From the Womb, to the Tomb
Stewardship at St. Joseph Parish
Hello! My name is Joyce Kraus; I gave this talk in church to many of the parishioners and am pleased to share this with you. I was not born into this parish; I am an immigrant from St. Jude's in New Lenox, where I was educated for the first 8 years of my school career. That education was one of the earliest and probably most lasting gifts, I received.
I was married here at St. Joe's in 1998 to Art Kraus and each of our 3 children were baptized here. We now send our children Jack, 5th Grade, Joe, 1st Grade, and Emily, Preschool to St. Joe's School. And, I have become VERY proud to call this my Parish. My children are 5th generation students and when I'm here I feel like I'm home
This is just the beginning of the blessings which have been bestowed upon our family and the Gifts given to myself and ALL of us are the reason I write this.
You've probably heard by now through Father's talk, seeing it in the bulletin or perhaps by word of mouth about the Planned Parish Offering Program or Annual Stewardship Appeal. I will just restate for you a brief explanation of what stewardship is. We are all given gifts by God. Think for a moment about how you have been blessed. Stewardship is our response of gratitude! The gratitude we express is INTENTIONAL, PURPOSEFUL, AND consists of our time...talent...and treasure.
I would like to focus now on time and talent. The way I thought of stewardship was in terms of family. Being part of a family brings many benefits and much joy. It gives us a sense of belonging, a place to find comfort, love and support, and even a sense of who we are.
What do WE as individuals bring to our family? We bring OUR strengths, talents, uniqueness, time and energy. When someone asks me what the most important thing in my life is, my immediate response is MY FAMILY. It is THE MOST precious gift God has given to me. EACH one of US belongs to God We are members of his family. And we are members of this Parish family. WHAT A MAGNIFICENT GIFT GOD HAS GIVEN US THE GIFT OF EACH OTHER!
As members of this family I challenge you to contemplate your talents and strengths and ask yourself if you've shared them with your Parish family. Would you like to start? The way I started was by baking at the request of a parishioner calling and asking for help for one of the church fundraisers. Baking is sort of a talent I have, and when I saw how important it was in supporting our Parish, it inspired me to do more. (Although, honestly, I don't need much of a reason to make cookies and cupcakes!) I meant something to me knowing it would benefit something I felt a PART of.
When my oldest son started school here, I was reluctant to get involved; it was all new and there was a little bit of fear of the unknown, unfamiliar people, not knowing exactly what I could do? But I was invited to help in small ways and with the nomination by another parent to participate in the PTO, I was soon off and running. I had ambition and a passion that wasn't about myself, it was for the benefit of others. I now had a connection to the school, which brought me closer to my new Parish family.
Here's a little story: I have a very special connection to the statue of the Blessed Mother at the front of our church. On my wedding day during a beautifully sung solo of Ave Maria, I presented a rose to Mary and prayed that I would someday become a mother myself. Every time I come to Mass, I think of that moment; it's a part of the connection I feel and what helped to develop the special bond I feel with this Parish.
I would like for my children to have the opportunity to experience this Parish family for as long as they so choose and THAT is why I give of myself, and our time and treasure to God.
It's not always easy to make time and financial commitments. I know we are all stretched thin these days. Sometimes, I have to take inventory of all the things I have on my plate. Many times I find that I have bitten off more than I can chew. There are days that I need to slow down and remember to reciprocate in my relationship with God. This is when I need to take a closer look at what I am doing: Is my energy being wasted somewhere? Are there empty calories on my plate that would be better replaced with something more substantial and nourishing? Yes, there are times when this is the case!
Every morning in school the kids gather in the main hall for prayer and morning announcements and at the end the principal would ask the kids: who comes first? And the students answer: GOD! And who is second? Others! And what do we say? I am third! This year? theme is saying YES to God and the children all give a thumbs up to Heaven and God! I think that sort of goes along with the idea that everything you need to know in life you learned in Kindergarten!?
As I gave this talk in church I couldn't help but think of how a person is proud of their family. That is how I feel when I am at St. Joe's for Mass. I want to show others, Look: here is our Father, listen to how he teaches us, encourages us and shows us how to live like Christ. Look at our children of the school and parish: Aren't they beautiful, smart, and see how brightly their light shines? And Look at my brothers and sisters in Christ, see how talented and special each one of them is!
I hope you will accept the challenge to identify all of the positive things in your life, your gifts, strengths, and talents. Consider how you express your gratitude. A few weeks ago I listened to Fr. Tim talk about coming to Mass and being an active listener and taking what is said and turning it into action. We need to be doers when we walk out of these doors, in our everyday life. I see many of you every Sunday, (more often than I see my own relatives!). I look forward to that. It's a part of the gift I feel God has given me. It strengthens my desire to give of my time and talent because I see the faces of those who will benefit. I think about this song we sang in Bible school, This little light of mine...Do we let our lights shine? Has your light been covered or in the dark? I believe everyone has their light, has yours been allowed to shine?
In the mail you received Time and Talent volunteer forms. If you look at them you will see the areas of need are numerous and vary greatly. Please consider where your talents lie and how you could help fill these needs.
I believe that God's gifts to us transcend our human life situations. They are always with us, just sometimes get buried by schedules, responsibilities, illness and day to day things. So too, does our expression of gratitude get buried, or put on the back burner. We may not always have control over situations that come our way, but we do always have, if we choose, God in our lives and the choice to live a Christian life every day.
A ministry fair was held the weekend I gave this talk. Many of the organizations associated with our Parish were available in Ferdinand Hall after Mass. There are many opportunities available within our parish for you to become involved as a way to express your gratitude for the gifts God has given you. If you take that small step, I hope you will feel the bond you have with our church strengthened. I pray you will search deep in your heart and with courage and strength realize all YOU have to offer! God bless you!