Saturday-4:00 PM

Sunday-9:00 & 11:30 AM

Daily Mass-12:10 PM

Holiday Mass-9:00 AM

RCIA-Wed. 6:30 PM

Holy Hour —Monday - Friday 11:00 AM Prayer Group —1st & 3rd Wed. 6:45 PM

Rosary —Monday - Friday 11:30 AM

PRAYER LINE 413-443-1221

414 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Tel: (413) 445-5789//Fax: (413) 443-5466

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Web site: www.stjoepittsfield.com

THE STAFF Pastor - Msgr. Michael Shershanovich

e-mail: msgrmike@berkshire.rr.com

Priest in Residence - Rev. Geoffrey Deeker, CSS

Most. Rev. Timothy McDonnell in Residence

Coordinator of Youth Religious Education John Arasimowicz//e-

mail:stjosephccd@berkshire.rr.com

Secretary - Michele Madden e-mail: Michelemadden@berkshire.rr.com

Pastoral Minister-Mrs. Patricia Momnie

ST. JOSEPH’S CEMETERY Superintendent - Jay Meehan

Secretary - Nancy Nolan Tel: (413) 499-1317

ST. JOSEPH’S PARISH

The Knights of Columbus Bishop Conaty Assembly #395

is sponsoring an 11:30 AM Mass for the Unborn on

Sunday, January 21, 2018 at St. Joseph Church, Pittsfield. Followed by a March for Life from the Church around St. Joseph High School to the

North Chapel (weather permitting), then a light reception in the North

Chapel. All are welcome to join us for this worthy event supporting all Life.

MEATBALL & PASTA DINNER FUNDRAISER Knights of Columbus Council #103

Guest speaker to share experiences in the Middle East. Persecuted Christians have faced genocide and were forced to flee their homes. Knights of Columbus responded with the Christian Refugee Relief Fund, which directs 100% of all donations to benefit persecuted Christians, and those in their care, especially in the Middle East. Knights of Columbus Council #103 , Meatball & Pasta

Fundraiser for the Persecuted Christians, Thursday January 25, 2018, 5 to 6:00 PM, at St. Joseph Parish Center. Takeout is available. All proceeds go to the Knights of Columbus Christian Relief

Fund. Limited tickets at the door if available, kindly purchase tickets early. Adults $12.00, Children $6.00, 5 to 12 years old. Tickets at St. Joseph Rectory or contact Jack Laviolette at 464-

6009. If you are unable to attend and are able, donations would be appreciated.

CCD News January 7th - Resume classes for grades K -9 January 14th - Regular classes

for grades K - 9 Grade 10 - meet at the Parish

Center – 5:00-8:00 pm January 21st - Regular classes for grades K - 9

HOLY LAND MEETING at St. Joseph Church on Sunday, January 7th at 1 p.m. in the North Chapel. At the meeting you will receive your final documents. $100 per person for airport transportation is due. Please make checks

payable to St. Joseph Church.

SPECIAL INTENTIONS

The trip to the Holy Land is fast approaching. We leave Jan. 23rd. Anyone who would like us to pray for a special intention, please write it down and place it in the collection basket labeled Holy Land. Cities that we’ll be

visiting include Haifa, Jerusalem, Nazareth,

Capernaum, Galilee, Jericho, Bethlehem, Cana, Jordan

River. As we celebrate mass in these places that our Lord

walked, we will remember your intentions.

4 Freedoms Coalition presents SONGS & SOUNDS OF SOLIDARITY An interfaith celebration of compassion,

justice and respect for all peoples Free and open to all. Sunday , January 7th,

1PM Open House, 2 PM Concert First Church of Christ, Park Square 27 East

Street, Pittsfield, MA

This seems like an unlikely topic to address in the

bulletin. Unfortunately, many have forgotten that

we are in our Father's house when we are in

church. Not many of us would go into our parent's house, chewing gum, and then when it had lost its

flavor, stick it under a table or put it on the floor. Unfortunately ,we are finding gum stuck under

the pew seats. Please be respectful of God’s house. We thank you for your cooperation!

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

Sat., Jan. 6th

4:00 PM Sun., Jan. 7th

9:00 AM Sun., Jan. 7th

11:30 AM

Concelebrant Paul Guillou Anne Dunham

Concelebrant Lillian Trzepacz Daniel Kochapski

Barbara Dalo Jack Laviolette Charles Knappe

Jim Armstrong Sharon Vincent J. Weatherwax

Carolyn Rousseau Nancy Woitkoski Michael Wood

Bernadette Scapin Jeff Vincent

John Arasimowicz Betty Kirby

LECTORS

Bob Cancilla Jason Street Robert Bouquet Elaine LaPierre Peggy Taylor Anna Stack

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, Pittsfield, MA January 7, 2018

January 8th

Readings for the Week of January 7, 2018 Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 [cf. 11]/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12

Monday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 55:1-11 or Acts 10:34-38 or 1 Jn 5:1-9/Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 [3]/Mk 1:7-11

Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:9-20/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [cf. 1]/Mk 1:21-28 or 1 Sm 1:1-8 and 1:9-20/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [cf. 1]/Mk 1:14-20 and 1:21-28

Wednesday: 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20/Ps 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [8a and 9a]/Mk 1:29-39 Thursday: 1 Sm 4:1-11/Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25 [27b]/Mk 1:40-45

Friday: 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a/Ps 89:16-17, 18-19 [2]/Mk 2:1-12 Saturday: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1a/Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 [2a]/Mk 2:13-17

Next Sunday: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19/Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 [8a, 9a]/1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20/Jn 1:35-42

Saturday, January 6th

Twelfth Night

4:00 PM

Sunday, January 7th Roes Blasioli-1st Anniversary Requested by Ginny, Jerry & family Matthew C. Demastrie Requested by Gram Demastrie

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

Monday, January 8th Elizabeth J. Putnam—10th Anniversary Requested by Nieces & Nephews

12:10 PM

Tuesday, January 9th Special Intention

12:10 PM

Wednesday, January 10th For the Parish

12:10 PM

Thursday, January 11th Martin & Margaret Keegan Requested by Family

12:10 PM

Friday, January 12th Maxine White Requested by Nancy Prezenik

12:10 PM

Saturday, January 13th Charles Trzcinka Requested by Pat Momnie

4:00 PM

Sunday, January 14th Rodrigo Santamarina Requested by Robert & Barbara Conway Joseph A.A. Terek Requested by Family ______________________________________

Sanctuary Candle—Virginia H. Boivin Requested by Family

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

January 7, 2018 The Epiphany of

the Lord "Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." What a wonderful example the Magi give us in

their visit to the infant Jesus. First of all, they demonstrate

profound faith in God's word, spoken through the prophet

Micah: "And you, Bethlehem ... from you shall come a

ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel" (cf. 5:2). Embarking on a long and difficult journey, they trust that they will find this newborn king of the

Jews in Bethlehem as the prophecy announced. On their arrival at the home of the Holy Family, the

Magi also give us an example of profound humility. These important men, to whom kings look for

guidance and advice, do not hesitate to bow down, to "prostrate themselves" and give homage to a tiny babe. Putting their own position out of their minds, they reverently worship the infant Lord even as he

sits on the lap of his mother. The generosity of these three "kings" is also evident as they open

their treasure boxes and give to the poor child the richest of gifts. Traditionally, we understand the

gold to symbolize the earthly kingship of Christ, the frankincense to represent his divinity, and the

myrrh to stand as a symbol of the anointing he will receive upon his death. Finally, the wisdom of

these men is evident in their decision to return to their country "by another way." Understanding the

threat that King Herod posed to Jesus, they followed a plan that would help keep the divine

child safe even though it meant inconvenience to themselves. Faith, humility, generosity, and

wisdom. These gifts are the real legacy of the Three Kings. Today, let us ask God for the blessing of

having these gifts in our lives.