MARCH 26th Fourth Sunday of Lent

SECURING OUR FUTURE – St. Joseph Capital Campaign Total pledged $243,938.00 Received as of 3/9/17 $196,034.50

Saint Paul gives us a wakeup call. As stewards of the light of Christ, we are to reflect that light with the help of the Holy Spirit. If Christ’s work has transformed and illuminated our lives, there should be a change. The light of Christ’s active presence should be at work in us. And as the light shines within us, we take on the properties of that light and we shine too. We are used by God to shine the light of Christ in the lives of others. A challenging Lenten

reflection: Is the light of Christ shining in our hearts? Is the light of Christ reflecting out from us to others? in word and deed?

Questions of the Week How can I kindle Jesus’ light in my daily life? Who now “outside” should I go out searching for to bring “home” as this Lent unfolds?

We extend a warm welcome to

all who attend our church!

Parish Information P.O. Box 606, 400 S. Lane, Palmyra, MO 63461

Our website: www.stjoepalmyra.org Our FB page: facebook.com/StJosephCatholicChurchPalmyraMO/

Rev. Alexius Ekka, Canonical Administrator/Pastor pastor@stjoepalmyra.org Rev. Alex Ekka 573-769-3247

Robert Leake, Deacon deacon@stjoepalmyra.org Deacon Bob Leake 573-248-7640

Cheryl Hirner, Secretary office@stjoepalmyra.org Cheryl 217-779-2593

Office Hours Monday – Thursday, 8 am - Noon and 1:00 - 4:00pm Office 769-3270 Kitchen 769-4702 Rectory 769-3247

For marriage preparation contact Father at least six months in advance

Judy Trower, Parish Council President jtrower@centurytel.net

Elizabeth Bradley, Altar Society President (573) 769-2972

David Hastings, Knights of Columbus Grand Knight dhastings53@yahoo.com

MINISTRY SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK 5:30 Mass

Ushers – Tom Dodd & Kent Rupp

Greeters – Dale & Cindy Gervais

Servers – Volunteers

Euch Min.– Clint & Linda Reeves

Jennifer Bryan

Lector – Trish Frey

Gifts – Kent & Vaness Rupp

7:30 Mass 10:30 Mass

Ushers – E Boulware & D O’Brien Ushers – David & Tina Baxter

Greeters – J O’Heren/S Lawrence Greeters – Ed & Pam Hess

Servers – N Mudd & D Dames Servers – Rafe Jones & JT Dodd

Euch Min– Ross & Karen Dames Euch Min– R Serbin, C Illa, M Bross,

Mike Wolfmeyer J Jones, E Goodwin

Lector – Philip Mudd Lector – Harla Friesz

Gifts – J O’Heren & S Lawrence Gifts – Steve Bland family

Find a replacement if you are unable to perform your assigned duty. Meet in the Sacristy 15 minutes before Mass

Mass Intentions Confessions are

Saturday at 5pm, Sunday at 7 & 10 am

Or anytime by appointment

Tue 8:00am Lawrence O’Brien +

Thu 10:00am Dwight Franklin +

Fri 8:00am Ilene Ravenscraft +

Sat 5:30pm Mildred Blum +

Sun 7:30am Nick & Stella Thomas +

Sun 10:30am Parishioners of St. Joseph

There will be no Mass on Wednesday, Fr. Alex will be out of town

Parish Support Weekly envelopes $4209, Loose money $238, Children envelopes $7

The ministry volunteer list for Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Easter) is in the back of church. There are many service opportunities for everyone, please sign-up as soon as possible. Thank you

This week we are taking up The Catholic Relief Services Collection to respond to Jesus in

disguise. This collection helps eight Catholic agencies to provide relief and support to

struggling communities and to work toward peace and reconciliation among our mar-

ginalized brothers and sisters here and around the world. Please prayerfully consider how

you can support the collection. Learn more at www.usccb.org/catholic-relief.

First Friday Adoration First Friday of Adoration will be April 7. We will begin at 8am with a Communion Service

and end with Benediction at 5:15pm. The sign-up sheet is in church and there are many time slots to be filled so

please sign up this weekend. When you come in on Friday for adoration there will be a sheet for people to sign in

and sign out. Please fill this out whether you are there for 5 minutes or an hour. We would like an accurate count

on attendance. Please bring your cellphones so if you have an emergency or get sick or if the person for the next

hour does not make it so you can call an alternate. Alternates are at the bottom of the signup

sheet in the binder.

For April, we'll be collecting bar soap, if you wish to help us with

this service project please bring your items and put them in the

clothes basket in the vestibule of the church. Thanks for your help!

Stations of the Cross On March 31st, Stations will be at 7pm and on April 7th, Dwayne Goodwin will lead Stations at 7pm. On April 14th, Good Friday, Stations will be at noon.

Palmyra Ministerial Lenten Study The Ministerial Alliance Lenten studies are on Wednesdays at Noon. Please remember to bring your sack lunch, the hosting church provides drinks and dessert. Following is the schedule of churches: March 29 – 1st Presbyterian April 5 – United Methodist

Next Parish Council Meeting The next combined meeting of the Parish Council and Finance

Committee will be held on April 04 at 6:30 PM. Sr. Kate from the diocese will facilitate this

meeting.

Agenda (given by the diocese):- Parish Viability and Vitality Planning Process.

There will be NO parish Council Meeting in May.

Rite of Lector As a preparation to get Ordained a permanent Deacon in the near future, Luke Mahsman of our

Parish will be installed as a Lector on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the 5:30 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral,

Jefferson City. Together with his family members, Fr. Alex and Deacon Bob are also planning to attend. You are all

requested to pray for him that he reaches his goal successfully. Hence, the weekend Masses will be taken by Rev.

Joe Zimmerman OFM

Sacrament of Reconciliation There will be NO confessions heard before all the Masses on Palm Sunday

weekend and Easter Sunday weekend. Hence, if you are still in need to go to the sacrament of reconciliation, then

please take advantage of the 24 hour penance opportunity in Monroe City on March 31-April 01. Please see the

flyer on the back page of the bulletin for details.

Targeted Impact Grant (TIG) program: Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri is happy to

announce the introduction of our Targeted Impact Grant (TIG) program for 2017. Targeted Impact Grants are intended to fill the void between two other typical grant programs: very large or long-term programs for major projects; and emergency assistance such as disaster relief. Targeted Impact Grants are for projects involving between $1000 and $5000, where the needs are important but not immediate. Examples might include equipment or minor remodeling; or perhaps help to get “over the hump” on a larger project. Parish social

concerns ministries, social service agencies, and other groups providing care to vulnerable populations throughout the Diocese are encouraged to apply. For more information or to apply, please visit our website - https://www.cccnmo.org/programs/targeted-impact-grants/

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES If your birthday or anniversary has not appeared in the bulletin and you would like it to, please call the office and leave the information with Cheryl. If it is after hours, please leave a message on the answering machine.

DISHES, DISHES AND MORE DISHES We are, once again, getting a rather large supply of dishes that have been left in the Hall. Anyone who has dishes here at the Hall should try to get them picked up in the next week.

Reminder No CCD on March 26th, CCD will resume on April 2nd.

Mark your calendar for May Crowning on May 7th. We will have

an open house from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. Donuts and Drinks will be

served. The Youth Mass will take place on May 7th at 10:30 Mass

(instead of April 23rd, since the Sacrament of First Communion will

be celebrated then). All are welcome.

Middle School- No Youth Group Scheduled the week of March 26th. Next Youth Group will be on April the 2nd at 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

High School-No Youth Group Scheduled the week of March 26th. Next Youth Group will be on April the 2nd at 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Pray for one another † Jean Harrison, Greg Harrison, Dwayne & Ellen Goodwin, Becky Schmidt,

Arlene & Jim Veit, Evan Mencer and Noah Mencer, Hayden Pegus, Johnathan Bedrosian, Jean Moore Lula Little, Pat Foster, Florence Fohey, Todd Nunn, Tammy Reiff, Sandy Clink, Judy Kirby, Lucille Watters, Janet Schwartz, Clarice Fourari, Pat Murphy, Joyce Wellman, Mary Lawson, Richelle Ahern, Fr. Ken Rosswog, OFM, Fr. Phillip Pavick, OFM, Hannah Wacker, Rita Thompson, Jack & Jean Lewis, Karen & Tom Meade, Bob Wolfmeyer, Bonnie Slates and Jeff Merkel.

The Holy Father’s Prayer intention for March 2017 † Support for Persecuted Christians. That persecuted Christians may

be supported by the prayers and material help of the whole Church. The Holy Father’s Prayer intention for April 2017 † Young People. That young people may respond generously to their vocations and seriously consider offering

themselves to God in the priesthood or consecrated life.

Please pray for those with birthdays this week:

Mason Hudson .. . .. March 27 Linda Corey .. .. . .. March 28 Joe McElvain . .. . .. March 29 Richard Jones .. . .. March 29 Janet Barnes . .. . .. March 30

Jeff Massman .. .. . March 31 Robert Hirner .. .. . .. April 1 Grant R Meyers .. . .. April 1 Phyllis Kroeger .. .. . .. April 2 Case O’Brien . .. .. . .. April 2

Deadline for announcements in the bulletin is Wednesday at 3pm

RESISTING HAPPINESS

– By Matthew Kelly

When Jesus invites us to call God Father, he is inviting us to

a very intimate relationship with God. Jesus is constantly presenting a beautiful image

of God. It is only in the context of this true image that we can truly embrace those 4

words: Thy will be done.

Twenty-Four Hours with the Lord A Lenten Opportunity for the Sacrament of Penance and Adoration of the Most Blessed

Sacrament Friday 31st March 2017 12:00 noon-Saturday 1st April 2017 12:00 noon

Holy Rosary Church

405 South Main Street Monroe City, MO 63456

(573) 735-4718

Schedule of Confessors

Friday 31st March

12:00 noon-3:00 p.m. Fr. Louis E. Dorn, Pastor: St. Joseph Church, Louisiana Mission of Mary, Queen of Peace, Clarksville 3:00-6:00 p.m. Fr. Alexius Ekka, Canonical Administrator: St. Joseph Church, Palmyra 6:00-9:00 p.m. Fr. Christopher M. Aubuchon, Pastor: St. Joseph Church, Canton Mission of Notre Dame, LaGrange; Queen of Peace Church, Ewing Sacramental Minister: St. Michael Church, Kahoka, Mission of St. Martha, Wayland, Shrine of St. Patrick, St. Patrick 9:00 p.m.-12:00 midnight Fr. R. William Peckman, Pastor: St. Clement Church, St. Clement

Saturday 1st April

12:00 midnight-3:00 a.m. No Confessions will be heard 3:00-6:00 a.m. Fr. Michael W. Penn, Pastor: Holy Rosary Church, Monroe City and St. Stephen Church, Indian Creek 6:00-9:00 a.m. Fr. Michael F. Quinn, Pastor: Holy Family Church, Hannibal 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Fr. Patrick G. Dolan, Hispanic Ministry: Holy Family Church, Hannibal; St. Brendan

Church, Mexico; St. Joseph Church, Louisiana