Category: From the Pastor’s Desk (Page 28 of 76)

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

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With deep joy and gratitude, I extend to you – parishioners and visitors alike – my prayerful best wishes for a holy and blessed Christmas Season and New Year!

Several years ago, I received a Christmas card with this message: “This Christmas, I wish you Jesus.” On the inside it read: “Isn’t it nice to have everything!” Miracles come to us in all shapes and sizes during the Advent Season, but the perfect  gift is always the miracle found in the manger on that first Christmas morning – a perfect gift because it keeps on giving and giving and giving.

The Christmas Season has a way of bringing back to church individuals and families who, for various reasons, have not been to Mass for a while. What a wonderful and grace-filled opportunity to put aside past differences and old habits and to begin anew into 2024 that prayerful relationship with the Lord. Over the year to come – and amid all our current challenges and concerns – may we grow together in strength and grace to know and celebrate God’s presence in our lives.

May our Lord Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, bless you, your families and loved ones at this holy time of hope and grace, and may Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, watch over you always.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Fr. John Mahoney

Third Sunday of Advent

The word “Gaudete” is Latin for “Rejoice”. In times when the focus of our anticipation is often on the negative and fearful, this celebration is a reminder that God who loves us is still in charge and that we await His coming not with fear, but with tremendous joy.