Author: Fr. Mahoney (Page 1 of 15)

Pope Francis has dedicated this year to St. Joseph!  One way to do something special this year to honor St. Joseph, patron saint of our parish, is to welcome an Unbound priest.  In the spirit of St. Joseph, who dedicated his life to care for a  child, please welcome to St. Joseph’s on the weekend of June 19 and 20 Fr. John Kirwin and hear his invitation to respond to the Gospel Call to serve the poor by sponsoring a child in need. 

Father Kirwin will tell us about the work of Unbound, a lay Catholic sponsorship ministry that helps children and elderly in 19 developing countries. To learn more, call (800) 875-6564 or visit Unbound online at www.unbound.org.

As a priest of the Diocese of Albany, New York, Father Kirwin not only worked for people in Catholic education as a high school teacher and campus minister but also in parishes a pastor. As a young man apprehensively embarking on a year of service, he had coffee with Servant of God Dorothy Day and was encouraged by her. Now, as a retired diocesan priest, he helps other priests in weekend parish support and serves where needed.

The “Anima Christi” is a prayer found at the beginning of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s handbook, the “Spiritual Exercises,” which is designed to help spiritual directors as they guide retreatants through the major events of Jesus’ ministry. In doing so, their understanding about God’s boundless love for them is deepened at multiple levels. Al-though this prayer was not composed by St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, it is a useful tool for finding God in all things and for understanding how His Divine Will is operational in our daily lives.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds conceal me.
Do not permit me to be parted from you.
From the evil foe protect me.
At the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come to you,
to praise you with all your saints
for ever and ever.

On this Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), may you be engraced to appreciate deeply the boundless love of God in your life and the true presence of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist!

With prayerful best wishes,
Fr. John Mahoney

Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

On April 22, 2021, the Parish Finance Council (PFC), members of the Diocesan Finance Office, and I convened via teleconference to review the current financial status of St. Joseph’s Parish, especially as it relates to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Despite the statistics showing the understandable diminished attendance at weekend Masses, and the fact that we’ve had to utilize $55K of parish savings, your customary and long-term generosity has helped us to meet operating expenses of the parish during this trying term.

WEEKEND MASS ATTENDANCE REPORT

2019 – 15,626 attendees

2020 – 5,786 attendees (no Masses in March, April, May, June, July)

2021 – 2,359 attendees (YTD January, February, March, April)

FINANCIAL REVIEW REPORT

Current Assets as of 4/15/2021

Parish Operating Account       $  8,818
Parish Capital Campaign Savings $ 13,508 
Central Fund – Savings $ 92,156

(.5% Interest)
Central Fund – 12 mo CD $ 51,487*

(1.25% Interest)
Central Fund – 24 mo CD $ 52,094* 

(1.50% Interest)
Central Fund – Pooled Invest. $ 85,612*

(Annual 4% return)

*Transferred from Capital Campaign savings to higher-yield investments.

As an additional note, please be aware that the Capital Campaign, initiated in September 2017, will expire on July 31, 2021.  If you are in a position at this time to honor your pledges, please do so by that date.  Thank you!

Members of the PFC have recommended the following:  1) that the parish increase awareness of the weekend Mass schedule among visitors to the Lincoln area, 2) that the parish plan fundraising events to recoup financial losses, and 3) that the passing of collection baskets at weekend liturgies be restored.  I am thankful to the members of the PFC for their dedication to St. Joseph’s, and express my gratitude in a special way to Steven Babin for his willingness to organize, schedule, and train a new staff of Collectors, and important ministry in the parish community. 

Finally, it is with prayerful gratitude that I thank each of you for your faithful spiritual witness and financial support to the Church and to the charitable endeavors of St. Joseph’s Parish.

With prayerful best wishes,

Fr. John Mahoney