Dear Friends,

I have been asked by Fr. Jonathan Gaspar, Secretary to Cardinal Sean, to have St. Joseph Parish host a program for the entire South Region of the Archdiocese called 24 Hours with Jesus.  It will take place on Friday, March 9 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and on Saturday, March 10 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.  During this 24 hour period there will be opportunities for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, there will be scripture readings, talks, hymns and an opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance, as there will be many priests from the region to hear confessions.
 
I will be inviting every Ministry group, Staff, Councils, Catechists, Haiti Missionaries, Youth Group, Ushers, Altar Servers, Musicians and Cantor, Children’s Choir, Mater Dei Guild, Daily Mass Goers, the Knights of Columbus Members, and the Members of the St. Vincent De Paul Society.  Also, an invitation will be extended to the entire Parish as well.  I will  extend an invitation to Fr. Joe McCarthy, the pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Plymouth and through him to the parishioners of St. Mary’s to come and pray with us.
 
I want to thank everyone who has made a contribution to the Grand Annual Collection. The amount donated is now $65,867. I mentioned in last week’s bulletin that the Folan Water Proofing Co. has reduced that cost of their work by $5,000 so that the total cost of the work to restore the stained glass window and to water proof the front of the church is now $24,000 instead of $30,000.  Therefore the goal of the Grand Annual Collection has been reduced to reflect the cost of the repair.  The goal is now $74,000 instead of $80,000.  The good news is that we are within $10,000 of the goal. A special thank you to those who have made a contribution to this appeal and a friendly request to for the rest of the parish family to help us reach our goal.
  
God bless,
Fr. Wally