Rev. Thomas J. Whitman, Pastor

Director of Religious Ed:

Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M.

Parish Secretary: Lori Vasconi

Financial Secretary: Carol Koch

Music Director: Nancy Rehner

Maintenance: Brad Goodall

Office Hours

Monday - Friday,

8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed 12:30-1:30 PM)

Mass Schedule

Saturday Vigil - 5:15 PM

Sunday - 8:30 & 11:00 AM

Weekday: M, T, Th, Fri - 8:00 AM

Wed. - 12:10 PM

Confessions Saturday: 4:00 - 4:30 PM or by request.

Religious Education Program Sundays, 9:30 AM. - 10:45 AM

CCD Grades K-10 at Case Avenue Elem.

School, Grade 11 in the church annex.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Every Wednesday after the 12:10 PM Mass in

the Mother’s Chapel.

Shenango Valley

Catholic School System William Lyon, Principal, St. John Paul II:

724-342-2205

Vicki Wagner, Principal, KCMS:

724-346-5531-Ext. 4

Heidi Patterson, Principal, KCHS:

724-346-5531

PARISHIONER REGISTRATION FORM

NAME____________________________

STREET_________________________

CITY & ZIP________________________

PHONE_________________

E-Mail_________________________

New Member Address Change Update Info

Place completed form in today’s collection basket or drop it off in the church office.

Baptism: The first Saturday of the month at

the 5:15 PM Mass and the last Sunday of the

month at the 11:00 AM Mass. Pre-baptism

class required. No baptisms during Advent

and Lent.

Matrimony: By appointment six months in

advance.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

(RCIA): Please call the rectory office at

724-981-3232.

Prayer Line: For intentions, please call 724

-962-5996, 724-347-2527 or 724-981-0377.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2015

Catholic Services Appeal Thanks to those who were able to make their pledges last week to the Catholic Services Appeal! So far we have 55 pledges for $24,235. I realize last weekend was not one where many people ventured out. Please know you can still make your pledge or gift to the Catholic Services Appeal. Our parish goal this year is $50,000, but we are hoping to exceed that goal in order to continue to make repairs and improvements to our parish campus.

Last year the money we collected over our CSA goal was used to put new carpet in the church. This year we would like to designate that the money collected over our CSA goal to go toward some ongoing main-tenance to our church building – particularly there are some issues with the church roof that still need to be ad-dressed, more of the stained glass needs to be repaired, and we would like to address some of the issues with the sound system. I am not sure we will raise enough to do all of those projects, but we will keep working on them from year to year until they are completed.

Bulletin Inserts for Lent The most important aspect of our faith is our celebration of the Eucharist each week. I always promote

Lent as a time for us to read something on the Eucharist in order to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist. I made some suggestions in the bulletin insert last week.

Each week during Lent there will be an insert in the bulletin from Paulist Press that will address some aspect of our celebration of the Eucharist. Hopefully there will be something from these articles that will move you to a deeper understanding of the Eucharist and a richer participation in our celebration of the Eucharist. Having been drawn deeper into the central mystery of our faith, our celebration of Holy Week and Easter will take on new meaning as well.

LENT

The image of this first Sunday of Lent is that of the desert. Jesus spends forty days and forty nights in the desert where he encounters the devil and the wild animals. It is an image of Jesus engaging the evil of the world and the “wildness” of our lives. Lent is an opportunity for us to take some time away from all the things we are so often distracted by – busyness, entertainment, everyday life – and spend some time alone, in silence, in prayer, in reflection on the “evils” and the “wildness” that is a part of our lives. Fr. Ronald Rolheiser de-scribes our evils and our wildness in these terms – “our paranoia, our anger, our jealousies, our distance from others, our fantasies, our grandiosity, our addictions, our unresolved hurts, our sexual complexity, our incapac-ity to really pray, our faith doubts, and our dark secrets.” Too often the busyness of our lives keeps us from ever really addressing this part of our lives. Lent is an opportunity to take some time to enter the desert with Jesus and look more closely at the “evil and the wildness” that is a part of all of our lives."

FUNERAL Our sympathy and prayers to the family of Louis Dunch. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful

departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

St. Joe’s West Hill Ministries Please consider giving us some much needed help by volunteering for our Wednesday

& Thursday programs. We will take as little or as much help as you are willing to offer. We also are in dire need of

help providing simple meals (sandwiches, pasta, hot dogs, sloppy joes, mac-n-cheese, etc.) for our up to 60 children

per session. If you would be able to prepare a meal and cannot deliver to the church we will transport for you. If

preparing a meal is not feasible for you, a monetary donation towards a meal would be greatly appreciated. Please call

Judy Shaffer at 724-962-5297 with any questions, to volunteer and/or to sign up for a day to cook a meal.

SRHS Hospital/Church Policy Has Changed St. Joseph Church and all churches of the valley have been notified by

Sharon Regional Health System that their policy has changed. The staff at SRHS will no longer be able to notify the

church if you have been admitted into the hospital. If you or a loved one has been admitted at SRHS, it is now the

responsibility of the patient or the patient’s family to call the church office to notify us of your hospital stay along

with your room number. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Rosary Please join us every Saturday at 4:45 p.m., prior to the 5:15 Mass in the Mother’s Chapel to pray the

Rosary. The Rosary helps us to recall the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Savior. Let us pray this beautiful

gift together.

First Communion Parent Meeting

7:00 PM, Thursday, February 26 - Annex

Mending Fences Retreat

9:00 AM, Saturday, February 28 - Guild Hall

First Penance

10:00 AM, Saturday, March 7 - Church

CURSILLO: Men’s - March 19-22 at Our Lady of

Mercy in Harborcreek, Erie County. Anyone inter-

ested in making a Cursillo, please contact Mary Beth

Jones at 724-346-5050 for an application.

FEATURED FOOD PANTRY ITEM

“Pancake Mix” Next week’s featured item - pancake mix. Please place your

donations in the shopping cart located in the Gathering Space. Thanks for checking the expiration date!

UPCOMING FEATURED ITEMS Paper Towels - Toilet Tissue - Jelly

Volunteers are always welcome. If you’d like to volunteer, please report to the church’s lower level at 8:30 AM on our next distribution day, Friday, March 6.

PLEASE PRAY FORPLEASE PRAY FORPLEASE PRAY FOR Mike Stockan, Rosalie & Bob Miller,

Tina Sanson, Tyler Branca, Eugene Bianco, Jr., Sally White,

Simon Jacobson, Helen Gett, Ruth & Anthony Perry, Lydia

Ghirardi, Betsy Moore, Chris Gavin, Sonya Bianco, Patricia

Reardon, Beverly Redmond, Bill Flecher, Paul DeJulia, Lisa

Rosa, Joyce Reardon, Brian Karing, Vivian & Grace

LaCamera, Natalie Olson, Julia Gagliardi, Sam Negrea, Elmer

& Karen Mensurati, Ed L., Linda Voytko, Anne Jofery, Jane

Leyde, Elizabeth Donnelly, Kelly Heinze, Jackie Negrea,

Debbie Blank, Sally Stephenson, Anthony Vitullo, Leland

DeAnglis, Robert Dach, Edward D’Onofrio, Marie Borawski,

Jim Flickinger, Piper Anderson, Eugene & Mary Ellen

Zreliak, Marie Zurko, Francis Niehaus, Audrey Lacey,

Brigitte Wetzel, Tammy Stiendurf & Marian Smith.

UPCOMING CCD NEWSUPCOMING CCD NEWSUPCOMING CCD NEWS

TTThe Mercer County Women’s Retreat League is host-

ing a Day of Recollection on Sunday, March 8 at St.

Joseph Parish. Doors open at 12:30 PM. Luncheon

will begin at 1:00 PM and the day will close with the

celebration of Mass at 4:00 PM. Tickets are available

until February 22 for $10. Tickets will not be sold at

the door. To purchase your tickets, please contact

Anna Guster at 724-646-2351. All women of the par-

ish are invited.

Altar Servers Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Baptismal Class Deb Nevant Molly Bundrant Fr. Tom Whitman (724) 981-3232 Catholic Daughters of America Pauline Radasevich (724) 962-2001 Choir / Music Ministry Nancy Rehner (724) 962-2587 Christian Associates James Goodwin (724) 347-3552 College Care Packages Andrea Davidson (724) 962-0643 Mary Ann Weiner (724) 981-4751 Cursillo Liaison Mary Beth Jones (724) 346-5050 Eucharistic Ministers Bob Poerstel (724) 981-2395 Food Pantry TO VOLUNTEER ONLY (724) 877-4171 Garden & Grounds Committee Fr. Tom Whitman (724) 981-3232 Hospitality/Greeters Bryon Anzevino (724) 962-0801 Knights of Columbus Tom Rookey (724) 347-7224 Lectors Mary Pass (724) 979-4359 Liturgy Committee Sandy Swogger (724) 981-6456 Liturgy for the Hearing Impaired Lois Kilbert (724) 981-5470 Liturgy of the Word for Children Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Money Counters Parish Advocate for the Disabled Catherine Holl (724) 347-4423 Vivian LaCamera (724) 962-1388 Parish Building & Maintenance Committee Frank Connelly (724) 346-5247 Pastoral Council Andrea Kopta (724) 342-9489 Prayer Chain Gerrie Derr (724) 962-5996 Pre-Cana Dennis & Mary C. Rubano (330) 448-1935 Prince of Peace Soup Kitchen Jo Burke (724) 342-9939 Prison Ministry Lois Kilbert (724) 981-5470 Pro-Life Catherine Holl (724) 347-4423 Quilters Joann Sangregorio (330) 448-8733 R.C.I.A. Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Religious Education Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Repast for Funerals Anna Guster (724) 646-2351 Sacramental Prep. Sr. Sandy Pedone (724)981-3232 Sacristan Stephen Pass (724) 301-0618 Sister Parish David U’Halie (724) 983-1998 Small Christian Communities Kay Stockan (724) 347-3830 St. Joseph Parish Finance Committee Jim Black (724) 981-7510 St. Joseph School Alumni Carolyn D’Amore (330) 651-1263 St. Rose/St. Mary Cemetery Jenny Summers (724) 346-3711 Thomas Merton Group Peggy Heldorfer (724) 346-5152 Ushers Fr. Tom Whitman (724) 981-3232 Vacation Bible School Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Widows’ Group Mary Manilla (724) 347-1822 Margaret Conti (724) 962-7029 West Hill Ministries Judy Shaffer (724) 962-5297 Women’s Guild Barbara LeMon (724) 981-5589

ST. JOSEPH PARISH ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMITTEES

Beginning Wednesday, February 25 we will have

Stations of the Cross every Wednesday during Lent.

Everyone is welcome to join us as we walk the

journey of Christ’s life. After Stations we join in the

Guild Hall for fellowship and a bowl of soup!

Anyone interested in providing soup should call

Debbie Nevant at 724-866-2465.

We look forward to seeing you!

WEEKDAYS SUNDAY 3/1

Tue. 2/24 - P. Emery SRHS - G. Pacsi Wed. 2/25 - T. Cole Nugent - B. Poerstel

Thur. 2/26 - P. Radasevich Clepper - D. Ranelli

Mass Intentions

+Indicates Mass Time

Monday, February 23-Lv 19: 1-2, 11-18 / Mt 25: 31-46

+ 8:00 Robert Wiesen (Family) * 7:00 Fund Raising Committee Meeting/Choir Room

Tuesday, February 24-Is 55: 10-11 / Mt 6: 7-15 + 8:00 All Deceased Members of St. Joseph Parish

Wednesday, February 25-Jon 3:1-10 / Lk 11: 29-32 +12:10 Jessie Evans (Jerry & Kathy Bullano)

* 2:30 West Hill Ministries * 6:00 Stations & Soup

Thursday, February 26-Est C: 12, 14-16, 23-25 / Mt 7: 7-12

+ 8:00 George Giroski (Paula & Ron Uber) * 2:30 West Hill Ministries * 7:00 Choir Practice * 7:00 First Communion Parent Meeting/Annex

Friday, February 27-Ez 18: 21-28 / Mt 5: 20-26 + 8:00 Peter Colla, Jr. (John & Laura Miklos)

Saturday, February 28-Gn 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 / Rom 8:31b-34 /

Mk 9:2-10 Second Sunday of Lent * 9:00 Mending Fences Retreat-Guild Hall + 5:15 Erma Koch (Charles Pacsi Family)

Sunday, March 1-Gn 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 / Rom 8:31b-34 /

Mk 9:2-10 Second Sunday of Lent + 8:30 Charlotte Follmeyer (Janet Follmeyer) +11:00 M/M David Goodwin (William & Patricia Altiere)

Ministry Schedule for February 28 / March 1

"

Lector S. McLaughlin

Eucharistic

Ministers

E. Anderson, T. Cole, N. Alexander, D. Dach,

J. Paulitz, M. Scanga

Altar Servers C. Duffy, H. Duffy, N. Alexander

Greeters GS: J. & K. Scanga

C: B. Glencer F F. & B Smeraglia 5:1

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Lector S. Cleary

Eucharistic

Ministers

J. Schupp, S. Swogger, B. Poerstel, M. Rubano,

A. U’Halie, D. U’Halie, J. Vukovich

Altar Servers A. Necastro, C. Nevant, S. Pass

Greeters GS: D. & A. U’Halie

C: J. Burns F: R. Vukovich

Lector M. Dutcher

Eucharistic

Ministers

P. Mulligan, C. Murcko, D. D’Amore, R. Donnelly,

U. Goda, M. B. Jones, J. Kaibas, L. Kilbert,

V. Mulligan, G. Pacsi, P. Piccirilli, D. Yao

Altar Servers I. Bianco, A. Djakovich, T. Djakovich, A. Samoros

Greeters GS: V. Galardo

C: J. MacPherson F: A. Ward

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TTThis past Tuesday we enjoyed a feast set for a king at

our annual Mardi Gras dinner. The recipients for the St.

Joseph’s Appreciation Awards are pictured below.

Thank you again for your outstanding dedication.

David U’Halie

Cecelia Alter

Bonomo Family

Mardi Gras

2015!

1899 East State St.

Hermitage, PA 16148

Joseph &

Rhonda Yarzab

In Memory of:

Dr. Joseph Conti

Thomas Conti Peter Messina

Thomas Conti, Jr. Mary Messina

ST. ROSE / ST. MARY CEMETERIES

Beth Kelly / Sales

(724) 301-0686

Pre-Need Sales Available.

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