Parish Mission Statement

My Dear Parishioners,

Happy Catholic Schools Week! Thank you to Mrs. Durkin, our principal, and all of her 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.” Our Mission Statement reads: “St. Joseph/St. Robert School Community, with Jesus as our foundation, inspires us to live fully His message of love, courage, and compassion. Our academic rigor and relevance empower us 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 coming to our Open House, Sunday, Jan. 28^th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For the past several months, I have been meeting with a group of parishioners interested in renewing and reviving spiritual and social life at St. Joseph parish. We formed a consolidated Pastoral Council and our first order of business was to come up with a Parish Mission Statement. We voted and came up with the following:

St. Joseph Parish Mission Statement

We are a faith filled family of believers, who are committed to nurturing our relationship with Jesus Christ, as we join together through prayer, sacraments, proclamation of the Word, and service to the community on our journey to God’s kingdom.

The members of the new committee are: Teresa Anastasia, Cathy Cain, Laura De Hennis, Brian Gozdan, Tom Molz, Lisa Sciscio, and myself. Next week there will be an opportunity to meet these members after the Saturday Vigil Mass and the Sunday Masses in classroom 18. There will be some refreshments as well as a chance to get to know who they are and tell them about yourself and what you would like to see at St. Joseph. We are also introducing a “suggestion box” at the church exits. We are looking for ideas or programs you would be interested in seeing and supporting at St. Joseph. Please note we are not looking for complaints, but rather what positives you want to see and participate in.

Next week we will have the collection of the Care of Aging and Infirm priests. Archbishop Pérez asked that the following letter be communicated to all the parishes this weekend.

May God Bless You,
Fr. Bordonaro

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The recently published Synthesis Report of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops – A Synodal Church in Mission underscored the challenges faced by senior citizens and those suffering from physical afflictions. The Chapter, Towards a Listening and Accompanying Church notes that, “the elderly and the sick are often invisible in society. We encourage parishes and Christian communities to be close to them and listen to them. Works of mercy inspired by the Gospel words ‘I was sick, and you visited me’ (Mt 25:39) have a profound significance for the people involved and for fostering the wider bonds of community.”

The Synod’s desire to encourage support for the elderly and ill in a way that upholds their dignity, calls to mind the great gift that retired our retired priests.

During their many years of active ministry, these men devotedly brought the presence of Christ to countless individuals through the celebration of the Sacraments, preaching, teaching, and charitable actions. In retirement, they continue to be a great source of spiritual support, through their prayers, the celebration of Holy Mass, working in various ministries, and their wise counsel.

Today, one-third of our priests are retired. Many continue in some degree of active service to our parishes as much as their health allows. Others, due to advanced age and medical conditions, live quietly and offer prayers for you, the people of our local Church. The annual Collection for the Care of Aging and Infirm Priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be taken in all parishes during the weekend of February 3- 4, 2024. This initiative provides a meaningful opportunity for you to express gratitude for the many sacrifices made by our retired priests in seeking to fulfill the pastoral and temporal needs of those entrusted to their care over many years.

Please remember all our priests, active and retired, in your daily prayers and consider a generous donation to the Collection for the Care of Aging and Infirm Priests this year. May the Lord bless you and your families abundantly. Please be assured of my prayers for you and your intentions.

Sincerely in Christ Jesus,

+Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D.
Archbishop of Philadelphia