My Dear Parishioners,

Happy Catholic Schools Week!  Thank you to Mr. D’Andrea, our principal, and all of his teachers, staff, and volunteers.  Thank you also to our parishioners.  Without your support of Catholic education, we could not fulfill this part of our mission as church. Our school is a real blessing to our families.  It is a true community where we are, “Focused on Faith and Learning.” We continue to celebrate that SJR was named a National Blue Ribbon School of excellence.  This is quite an accomplishment.  Our Mission Statement reads:  St. Joseph/St. Robert School (SJR), with Jesus as our foundation and inspiration, prepares students to live fully His message of love, courage, and compassion. Our philosophy of academic rigor and relevance prepares our students to be contributing members of the Church and the global community. All are invited to check out the good things happening at our school by registering for a private tour.

Believe it or not, we are two and a half weeks away from beginning our celebration of Lent.  Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 17th this year.  In preparation for our celebration, I am asking that you bring your old palm from last year to Church where we can collect it and use it for the ashes.  You can deposit your palm in the basket by the crucifix in the back hallway.  Please take the palm out of any bags or containers and just leave the palm in the basket.  The extra bags only add to the clutter.  While I am on the subject it would be good for me to address a few housekeeping items.  I have noticed that some people like to leave certain items from home on our back tables.  I imagine that they do this with the idea that if they can no longer use them, perhaps someone else can.  I am asking that you please do not do this.  This simply adds to the clutter and it detracts from the items that are approved to be there.  I know that some people receive religious items, literature, and other things that they don’t want to throw away, but please do not leave them on the tables!  Also if you have something that you feel should be placed on the tables, please check with me first.

As part of the Year of St. Joseph announced by Pope Francis, he is also announcing the following indulgence:

Granted by the Holy See from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021

The plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the intentions of the Holy Father) to the faithful who, with a spirit detached from any sin, participate in the Year of Saint Joseph on the occasions and in the manner indicated by this Apostolic Penitentiary:

  • Meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Our Father
  • Participate in a spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on Saint Joseph
  • Perform a corporal or spiritual work of mercy
  • Recite the Holy Rosary in families and between the husband and wife
  • Entrust their work daily to the protection of Saint Joseph and to all believers who invoke with their prayers the intercession of the worker of Nazareth
  • Pray the litany of Saint Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to Saint Joseph, in its entirety or at least part of it (for the Byzantine tradition), or some other prayer to Saint Joseph, typical of the other liturgical traditions, for the persecuted Church and for the relief of all persecuted Christians
  • Pray any lawfully approved prayer or act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph, for example “To you oh blessed Joseph,” especially on: March 19th (Solemnity of St. Joseph), May 1st (Feast of St. Joseph the Worker), December 26th (Feast of the Holy Family), The Sunday of Saint Joseph (according to the Byzantine tradition), the 19th day of every month, every Wednesday (a day dedicated to the memory of the Saint according to the Latin tradition)
  • The gift of plenary indulgence extends particularly to: the elderly, the sick, the dying, all those who for legitimate reasons cannot leave their home – who, with the spirit detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions, in your own home or wherever the impediment holds you, pray an act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph, consolation of the sick and patron of good death, confidently offering God the pains and difficulties of his life.

May God Bless You,
Fr. Bordonaro

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