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Church
Ministries
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Fellowship
to and by People of the Parish
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The new millennium, with its high
hopes and expectations, fits this Parish like a glove. The Parish is
best described by one word, dynamic. We are dynamic in three major
ways: our people, our facilities, our programs.
Our People: multi-cultural, diverse, a blend of young (University and
High School) and old, growing at about a 5% rate each year, gifted and
talented, involved and optimistic, and very much God and Church
centered.
Our Facilities: with our new Church and Parish Hall completed, we are
ready to meet the many challenges and demands we could not meet
earlier. Our Church accommodates twice the number of worshipers as
before, and our Parish Hall is a multi-purpose facility, equipped with
a state-of-the-art kitchen and flexible space which can accommodate
groups of varying sizes, from classes to parish dinners. Our Church has
become a setting of choice for musical concerts and community
celebrations, all of which enhance our visibility and acceptance in the
community.
Our Programs: internal and external programs abound within and for our
Parish, and within and for our community. Our challenge is that there
is so much more we could be doing for both audiences, if we had the
leadership to marshal our parishioners and assist them in the many
opportunities available, such as ministering to the teenagers, the
senior citizens, the jail bound, those in elder-care homes, adult
singles, and those in grief. our parishioners use their talents so well
in many existing programs, such as the liturgies, the music, C.C.D.,
R.C.I.A, and the work of the Parish and Finance Councils and their
sub-groups. If we could employ one or two people, our impact,
particularly within the community, would reach new heights. It could
begin to enjoy the same success we now have in our youth ministry,
where vibrant leadership has led to greater participation,
quantitatively and qualitatively.
This, then, is what we are….a growing, dynamic, essentially young
Parish, filled with idealism and possibilities. Our influence is most
positive, as is our outlook for the future. Our goal is to become even
more effective as agents for God and His kingdom!. |
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Parish
Finance Council
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| In
each
parish,
a
Parish
Finance
Council
is
to
be
established
by
the
pastor
and
the
parishioners.
Although
the Parish Finance Council is a separate entity
from the Parish Pastoral Council, one member of the finance council
serves on the Parish Pastoral Council for a term of one year. The
Parish Finance Council member updates the pastoral council on the
financial standing of the parish. This member also seeks advice from
the council on particular issues of the parish. In addition to the
parish finances, the Parish Finance Council is also responsible for the
hiring of parish staff, supervision of stewardship for the parish, as
well as general upkeep and maintenance of the church property. If
anyone is interested in learning more about this position or how you
can share your talents, please contact the church office @ 323-2257. |
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Worship:
Ministries Supporting Worship Services
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Liturgy Committee:
Meets as a steering committee to plan liturgies to enhance the parish’s
worship services and to correspond with the liturgical year. For more
information, please contact Father John Bohn @ 323-2257
Ushers/Greeters:
Training sessions are provided as needed, usually each Fall. If you
would like to add your name for the next training session, please
contact Jeff Artigues @ 323-2257.
Lectors/Commentators:
Training sessions are provided as needed, usually each Fall. If you
would like to add your name for the next training session, please
contact Jeff Artigues @ 323-2257.
Eucharistic Ministers:
Training sessions are provided as needed, usually each Fall. If you
would like to add your name for the next training session, please
contact Jeff Artigues @ 323-2257.
Altar Servers:
Training sessions are provided as needed, usually each Fall. If you
would like to add your name for the next training session, please
contact Jeff Artigues @ 323-2257.
Choir Members:
To join the 9:00am Mass choir, please contact Rose Sisson @ 324-5679.
To join the 11:30am Mass choir, please contact Tom Hannigan @ 324-6064.
To join the 5:30pm Mass choir, please contact The Church @ 323-2257.
Altar Care:
Volunteers are needed to assist in clean up of the church area on a
rotating basis. For more information, please contact Kathie Parker @
323-3895.
Altar Decorations:
To donate flowers in honor of special occasions, please call the church
office. To help in the artistic creations of the floral and altar
arrangements, please contact Jennifer Simmons @ 324-2277. For further
information, please contact Gerry Orgler @ 323-2257.
Prayer Chain:
If you are interested in being contacted to pray for others’ needs, you
may call Dawn McGinley @ 615-0353.. |
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Office of
Campus and Youth Ministry
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(Pastoral council representative is Fran Lavelle @ 323-2257)
St. Joseph is staffed with a full-time Campus Minister, Fran Lavelle,
who works with our college students.
The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) meets on Wednesday's in the
Parish Hall for LIFT, a Teen Prayer Group. The CYO participates in
various activities including the annual CYO convention held in Jackson
in January, service projects, Fall Faith Fest and other events. The Jr.
CYO meets periodically throughout the year. Watch the bulletin for
meeting dates and times. The CYO and Jr. CYO help support the youth of
St. Joseph as they grow in their faith and continue their walk with the
Lord.
The Catholic Student Association (CSA) is a recognized organization on
campus at Mississippi State University. The CSA provides a critical
connection for the Catholic students at MSU with fellow Catholics. They
gather together weekly to pray and play! Events include: Student Mass
at 5:30pm on Sunday night, Tuesday night dinner at 6:00pm in the Parish
Hall, rosary groups, intramural sports, service programs, and much more!
Other opportunities for spiritual growth and good fun include: retreats
(both Fall and Spring semesters), a mission trips each spring break, a
mission trip over winter break, and other service and spiritual
opportunities.
If you are interested in any of the campus programs at St. Joseph,
please contact Fran @ 323-2257 or falavelle@hotmail.com. For High
School activities contact Jeff Artigues @ 323-2257 or
officejeff@hotmail.com
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Faith
Enrichment
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CCD: Religious
Education is offered for Kindergarten through 12th grade
students at St. Joseph during the regular school semester. Class times
are Sunday morning from 10:15am until 11:15am, except for holidays.
Gerry Orgler is the Director of Religious Education. Please sign up in
the church office, or contact Gerry @ 323-2257 for additional
information.
Adult Education:
Continuing adult education is offered periodically
throughout the year. Call the Church office @ 323-2257 for additional
information.
RCIA: The Rites of
Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is an
initiation process designed for those preparing to join the church. The
preparation classes begin in the Fall semester and include initiation
at the Easter Vigil service. Please contact the church office @
323-2257 or Ray and Kathy West @ 494-7190 if you are interested in
being a candidate/catechumen or a sponsor in this program.
RCIC: The Rites of
Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) is designed
to prepare young children to join the church. Please contact the church
office @ 323-2257 for information regarding this program.
Marriage Preparation:
Classes are offered during the Fall and Spring
semesters. Please call the church office @323-2257 for additional
information.
Baptismal Preparation:
Please call the church office @ 323-2257 to
schedule an appointment and get more information.
Natural Family Planning:
For classes or information, please call Karen
McFadyen @ 320-9504. |
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Knights of
Columbus
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The Knights are a Catholic
men’s service organization with over 2 million members and 10,000
councils dedicated to doing God’s work on earth. The Father John P.
Egan Council serves St. Joseph parish and includes over 50 members.
These men called Knights uphold the society’s four ideals of charity,
unity, fraternity, and patriotism through a variety of activities at
the parish, community, state, and national levels. Knights actively
support St. Joseph parish through hundreds of hours of volunteer
service as needs arise. They lend a helping hand for the sick and
disabled, provide charitable donations, and assist with blood donation
programs. They are staunchly pro-life and are major supporters of the
Bishop’s Pro-Life Education Campaign. They also provide special support
and programs for family life and for character building in young people.
The Knights are united as Catholic men of good will. They have a
special devotion to the Blessed Mother, sponsor prayer hours, pray the
rosary, and provide financial support and education to foster religious
vocations. As a fraternal organization, the council sponsors a variety
of social activities, dances, and parties for members, their spouses,
and families throughout the year. They provide financial security for
members’ dependents with insurance, annuity and scholarship programs.
Finally, the Knights support patriotism by promoting responsible
citizenship and volunteer service and civic events.
The Knights of Columbus meet regularly on the second Thursday of each
month in the Parish Center. To learn more about membership, please
contact Richard Sowers, Grand Knight @ 323-9584.
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Witness
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Social
Community
Outreach:
Helping Hands- is an Inter-Faith organization supported by many local
churches that provides outreach coordination to those in need. Helping
Hands assists with getting people back on their feet so they can get
permanent housing. They provide food and assist with the paperwork
necessary to get people the financial assistance that they need. Please
call 323-1173 for additional information.
Habitat for Humanity-is a Christian organization that helps low income
individuals who live in substandard housing. This group builds houses
for those that have good credit, but don’t have enough income to
qualify for a regular bank loan. Contact Habitat for Humanity @324-7008
for additional information.
Publicity: Each member of St. Joseph receives a copy of Mississippi
Catholic. Information from St. Joseph is included in this newspaper
periodically. A Church directory is also available for all new members
of St. Joseph.
Hospitality: It is our goal that each new member or family at St.
Joseph will be welcomed by our welcoming committee. Denise Kidd @
324-3859 and Elaine White @ 338-9341 will call and/or visit newcomers
to the parish.
Vocations: The Catholic church is in dire need of people interested in
the vocations. St. Joseph has formed a committee that will specifically
address the needs in this area and suggest ways that our parish can
support regular vocation advocacy programs. If you are interested in
becoming involved in this movement, please contact Yvonne Thaxton @
325-8431.
Evangelization: The RCIA period of inquiry (first several weeks of the
program) is an opportunity for those who are unchurched or those who
have fallen away from the Catholic Church to learn more about our Faith
or reconnect with the church. Call Ray and Kathy West @ 494-7190 or Fr.
John Bohn @ 323-2257 for more information. |
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Parish
Life
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Youth
Activities:
Children's Church- is provided each Sunday for the 9:00am Mass. Contact
Gerry Orgler at 323-2257 for additional information.
Parish Celebrations:
- St. Joseph Day- In March, A St.
Joseph altar is erected and Mass is
held, followed by a meal.
- First Holy Communion- In April,
First graders hold a reception for the
second graders receiving the sacrament of First Communion.
- RCIA Easter Vigil- A reception is
held after the Saturday Easter Vigil
Service for the new initiates of our Parish.
- Confirmation- Every other year, 9th
and 10th graders parents’ hold a
reception for the 11th and 12th graders following the Confirmation
Service (in May).
- Parish Picnic- Lunch and family
activities are planned by the Knights
of Columbus and other parish groups (in the Summer).
Family
Life
Activities:
Renewal of Wedding Vows-
Around Valentine’s Day a Mass is held to renew
wedding vows. It is followed by a dinner party.
Thanksgiving Dinner-
A family dinner is planned during the Thanksgiving
season.
The Giving Tree-
Each Christmas, St. Joseph adopts families who are in
need. Parishioners can select a tag from the giving tree that indicates
which item is needed. The gifts are distributed to the needy families
the week of Christmas.
Parish Outreach:
Meals for funerals-call
the
church
office
@
323-2257
to
volunteer
to
prepare
food.
To Accommodate Special
Needs/Requests...
- Physically Challenged: A wheelchair
is available for those who might
have difficulty walking. Please ask ushers/greeters for assistance.
Handicapped parking is also available.
- Hearing Impaired: A specially wired
section of the church has been
designated for those with hearing difficulties. A person may utilize
his or her own hearing aides or request specific hearing amplifiers.
Please ask ushers/greeters for more information.
- Visually Impaired: Large print
missalettes are available. Please ask
Ushers for assistance.
- Transportation and Visiting Shut-ins:
Contact Barbara Engelland @
338-9037 or Jeff Artigues @ 323-2257 .
- For Visitors of other Christian
Denominations: We welcome you as
brothers and sisters in Christ to worship with us. We share the one
Lord and one Baptism. You are welcome to join in all our prayers and
hymns; however, please understand that the Catholic Church does not
have Open Communion. Communion for us is one of the three Sacraments of
Initiation into the church. At communion time, we encourage you to
invite Jesus to come into your heart (spiritual communion). If you
would like to come forward for a blessing, please cross your arms as
you approach the priest or Eucharistic Minister. Thank you for your
understanding.
- Communion : For hospitalized or
homebound parishioners who desire
communion, please contact Fr. John Bohn or Jeff Artigues at the church
office @ 323-2257 (emergency # 323-9149).
- Masses in Neighboring Towns:
Saturday Vigil Mass times for neighboring
towns are listed in the weekly bulletin.
- Parish Library: It is located in
the Lounge of the Parish Center. Books
and tapes are available for your use.
- Weddings: Please contact Fr. John
Bohn or Gerry Orgler in the church
office @ 323-2257 for information and guidelines regarding wedding
arrangements and/or use of the Parish Hall.
- Babysitting: In addition to the
"Cry Room" located in the rear of the
church, babysitting is occasionally available in the Parish Center
during the 9:00am Mass. Babysitting is often available for other parish
sponsored events and activities. For further information, please
contact the church office.
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Society
of
St.
Vincent
de Paul
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Mission
Statement:
Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a
Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow
spiritually by offering person to person service to the needy and
suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and
patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
As a reflection of the whole family of God, members, who are known as
Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age
group and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international
society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing,
which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive
gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.
Organized locally, Vincentians witness God's love by embracing all
works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other
people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making
no distinction in those served, because in them, Vincentians see the
face of Christ.
Essential Elements of the
Sociaty:
Element I:
Spirituality
To bear witness to Christ and to His Church by showing that the faith
of Christians inspires them to work for the good of humanity.
Element II: Faith
Community
To bring together men and women of good will and to assist them by
mutual example and true friendship in drawing nearer to the Divine
Model by fulfilling His essential precept; the love of God in the
person of others.
Element III:
Service
To establish a personal contact between its members and those who
suffer and to bring to the latter the most efficacious and charitable
aid possible.
Core Values of the Society
of St. Vincent de Paul:
Holiness of Life
Service of the Poor
Humility
Simplicity
Community of Faith
Charity
Mission Areas:
Food Pantry:
Free food will be distributed on the 1st and 3rd
Saturday
of each month from 9 to 11am at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church Parish
Hall (607 University Dr.) to needy families. New families should bring
Social Security cards for all in the household and proof of income.
After registration, food may be picked up once a month. Quarterly
certification of need is required.
Home Visitation-Society of St. Vincent de Paul devotes itself to the
visiting of poor and/or lonely people and families in their own homes.
Groceries are provided. This program is primarily directed at the
elderly and the infirm.
For further information, please contact the Church Office at 323-2257. |
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