Author: Fr. Mahoney (Page 21 of 65)

January 18-25, 2024

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a worldwide movement among Christians to pray together to promote     dialogue among Christian communities. The theme for 2024     is “You shall love the Lord your God…and your neighbor as yourself” Luke 10:27.  This theme reflects the connection     between love of God and love of neighbor with a particular   concern for challenging the boundaries of who is considered “neighbor”.  In this pericope, Jesus is questioned as to the path to eternal life.  His answer is not to only observe the commandments, but to also imitate the love of God in the giving of self for another. It is a call for charity, mercy, justice, and unity in inter-communal relations.

SAINT JOSEPH PARISH DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE LEGAL
PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN 2024

Although the official Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children falls on Monday, January 22,2024, as a parish community there is much we can do
prayerfully to foster the pro-life initiatives of the Diocese of Manchester and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The following events are scheduled here at St. Joseph Church
for Wednesday, January 24, 2024:
8:00 A.M. – Pro-Life Mass
8:30 A.M. – Pro-Life Rosary
8:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to Respect Life

A charitable donation will be made on behalf of the parish community to Haven Pregnancy Center in Plymouth to support, educate, and equip men and women to make life-affirming choices relative to pregnancy, parenting, relationships, and God.

Please join us as we pray for the sanctity of all life.

Home Blessing
20 +CMB+24

Epiphany(also known as Twelfth Night, Theophany, or Three Kings Day) marks the occasion of a time-honored Christian tradition of “chalking the doors.”  The chalking of the doors is a centuries-old practice throughout the world, though it appears to be somewhat less well-known in the United States. It is, however, an easy tradition to adopt, and a great practice whereby we dedicate our year to God from its very outset, asking His blessing on our homes and on all who live, work, or visit them there. The chalking of the doors of a home encourages Christians to dedicate their life at home to God and to others. Seeing the symbols over our doors can help to remind us, while passing in and out on our daily routines, that our homes and all those who dwell there belong to Christ. It also serves as a reminder of the welcoming the Magi gave to Jesus. We should strive to be as welcoming to all who come to our homes to visit us!  For more information and instructions on how to bless your home, visit www.catholicnh.org/worship-and-sacraments/faith/liturgical-calendar/christmas/epiphany.

Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

Please take home one of the calendars available   at the church doors. Fr. Leo Burchel terms the new year “a gift from God and a special year of prayer.” What a gift we have as Catholics in the liturgical calendar! Mother Church proposes for us times and seasons in which we attune our  sentiments to the sentiments of Christ: repentance and expectation during Advent, humility and joy at Christmas, penance and   mercy in Lent, and a grand celebration during the Easter season. We can thus walk step in step with the Church, living the principal mysteries of our faith throughout the year in an atmosphere of communion and solidarity with our fellow Christians.  Through the liturgical seasons – and our faith-filled living of them – hearts are united, the Church is built up, and charity increases.

Abundant blessings to all of you in the Year of Grace 2024!

Fr. John Mahoney