Corpus Christi

My Dear Parishioners,

We welcomed back some parishioners last weekend as we resumed public Masses at St. Joseph, it was good to see them again.  Archbishop Perez has continued the lifting of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice.  We are going to continue posting a video of the Saturday night Vigil on our website www.saintjosephchurch.us and broadcasting it over the radio at WRDV – FM – 89.3 on Sundays at 9:00 a.m.  I realize that times are especially difficult, but I would humbly ask that if possible you keep up with your weekly parish donations, they are needed now more than ever.

This Sunday the Catholic Church celebrates Corpus Christi, that is, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  This year’s celebration, while perhaps somewhat more subdued because of the Coronavirus situation, is all that more poignant for the same reason.  So many of the faithful have been prohibited from receiving Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar because of the quarantine and other restrictions.  Many have been longing to get back to regular reception.  Perhaps the old adage is true, absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Perhaps we can take some time this week to thank God for the tremendous gift He has given us in sharing His Son Jesus with us in such an intimate way.

In November 2018 the Catholic bishops of the United States released a Pastoral Letter Against Racism called, Open Wide Our Hearts. The letter is a powerful invitation for all the people of God to “face courageously the vice of racism, . . . reach out generously to the victims of this evil, to assist the conversion needed in those who still harbor racism, and to begin to change policies and structures that allow racism to persist.” At usccb.org/racism, you can read the entire letter, get new resources and find ideas for how we can respond.

May God Bless you,
Fr. Bordonaro

Archbishop Perez issued a statement regarding the death of Mr. George Floyd and has asked us to communicate the following:

“There is no doubt that our country and our region has been shaken to the core in the last week. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the unjust, unwarranted death of a noble man, George Floyd, and the events that have unfolded over the last week, we can honestly say that we will never be the same. Frankly, we should never be the same when it comes to acts of violent racism and assault on human beings who possess a dignity and rights given by God that must be respected, protected, and cared for. This can never happen again. Yes, we say it every time it does happen, but we must say it again and again. This can never happen again. Racism is a sin and an evil which needs to be eradicated from our midst.”