Greetings St. Joseph Parish!
What a busy July it was! And the fun will only continue into August! We have a great announcement from Pope Francis, Fr. John returns, a ton of information on the annual Treasure Sale, and more! Welcome to the August edition of The Journey!
Praise God!
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Thomas Zinkula as the next archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dubuque! Archbishop-elect Zinkula, 66, has been the bishop of the Diocese of Davenport since 2017. He will be installed as Archbishop of Dubuque on October 18. Thanks be to God!
We are so grateful for the leadership of now-retired Archbishop Jackels and the interim help of Bishop Pates! May they both enjoy their earned rest!
Parish Life
Ann Gibney, St. Joseph Parish Life Coordinator
Summer Cleanup
Thanks to everyone who chipped in to make our buildings and grounds look so spectacular!
Parish Picnic
What a great meal we had! Thanks for bringing such tasty dishes! And how about that great swim?!
And finally, mark your calendars for October 14-15. St. Joseph will again help provide the food stand at Osborn's Heritage Days. More details will come!
St. Joseph Pastoral Council
Claudia McCalley, Chair
Parish Vitality Goals
Since the Town Hall meeting in March, the Pastoral Council has formulated parish vitality goals to guide the work of the council. Goal #1: St. Joseph Parish will encourage liturgical experiences that will deepen the sacramental life of parishioners. The action steps to achieve this goal were reviewed in last month's Journey.
Vitality goal #2: St. Joseph Parish will offer outreach opportunities to the body of Christ serving one another as a community to face the needs of the world. Key action steps to achieve this include annually conducting a time and talent survey of parishioners to build parish ministries. Outreach ministries including Mary and Martha meals and outreach to the homebound and residents at care facilities will continue. Once a year a mission program will be offered and information will be provided to parishioners about community needs and opportunities to serve others.
As you reflect on this goal, feel free to contact parish council members to share ideas about more ways to achieve this goal.
As you reflect on this goal, feel free to contact parish council members to share ideas about more ways to achieve this goal.
Faith Formation
Danielle Becwar
St. Joseph Coordinator of Faith Formation
2023 Archdiocesan Catholic Parenting Conference
Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Catholic Parenting Conference to be held in Cedar Rapids (location TBD). Keynote speakers will be Mike and Alicia Hernon (from The Messy Family Project), and Jonathan and Amanda Teixeira (from Wallet Win: Your Catholic Money Mentors). This conference will be a fun-filled day for parents to connect, hear dynamic speakers, discuss the joys and challenges of parenting, and receive resources, insights, and information to help you strengthen your domestic church! Find more information HERE!
Adult Faith Formation
Fran Zichal, Emmaus Pastorate
Adult Faith Formation Coordinator
Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the Hours (sometimes called the Divine Office) is the Catholic Church's official public prayer (well, besides Mass of course!). Focusing on Psalms, hymns, and scripture, LOH goes back centuries and has been prayed around the world by the clergy, consecrated, and laity! As an excellent form of personal or community prayer, this is a great way to pray throughout the day everyday! There are numerous apps that offer LOH and two versions of official books.
The Emmaus Pastorate will help you begin using this prayer form this fall by demonstrating a couple free smartphone apps and showing you how to use the one-volume Book of Christian Prayer. Watch for a date, time, and location for this workshop in the Sunday bulletin!
A Biblical Walk with Mary
The second of two sessions of this workshop was held at St. Mark in July. Thanks to all who came and to Fran Zichal and Jennifer Fuller for leading!
Impact
Impact is a two-year formation program for adults who desire a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and relationship with Christ. Each Emmaus Pastorate parish will offer a discussion after weekend Masses, so if you're thinking about the program or have questions about it, plan to stick around after Mass! St. Joseph's discussion will be on August 19 in the Parish Hall.
Baptism Class
The first Baptism class of this academic year in the Emmaus Pastorate is scheduled for Wednesday, August 16 at 6:00pm in the St. Joseph Parish Center in Elkader. It is our practice that parents of the Emmaus Pastorate participate in a Baptism class prior to each child's Baptism. If you wish to have your child baptized, please contact the Pastorate Office at 563-928-7200. Classes are open to all parents of the Emmaus Pastorate.
Liturgy & Worship
John Uhal, Pastoral Associate
Mark your calendar for our next holy day of obligation! The Emmaus Pastorate will celebrate Mary's Assumption on two occasions:
- Monday, August 14 @ 5:00pm @ St. Joseph Parish
- Tuesday, August 15 @ 7:00pm @ St. Mark Parish
*Please note there will not be morning or noon Mass or Word & Communion on Tuesday, August 15.
Important Announcement!
The St. Joseph Pastoral Council has decided that the parish's weekend Mass time will change to 4:00pm from Labor Day thru Memorial Day. Then during the months of June, July, and August, Mass will return to 5:00pm. This change only affects Saturday night Mass at St. Joseph. Tell your friends!
Please Note
As Fr. John continues to recover from shoulder surgery, he will not celebrate daily Mass during August. Instead, Word & Communion will be prayed at the usual times.
August Mass Intentions
- August 5: Delores Mangan
- August 12: Corby Gundacker
- August 19: for the people of St. Joseph Parish
- August 26: OPEN
KMCH Sponsors
- August 6: Len & Gaily Froyen of Cedar Falls, IA
- August 13: Mary Sue Quinlan of Lewisville, TX
- August 20: Nancy Smith
- August 27: Samuel Schurman of Carsbad, CA
Thank you to Fr. Dan Knepper, Fr. Dave Ambrosy, and Msgr. Jim Miller for presiding at weekend Masses while Fr. John was recovering! We are so grateful for their continued ministry, even in retirement!
Social Justice Committee
Colleen Moore, Chair
For Your Information & Planning
The Social Justice Committee hopes this listing of collections will help you plan your giving and maybe look for some sales throughout the year! These are great ways to practice the corporal works of mercy (including feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, and clothing the naked)!
- 1st Saturday - food shelf collection
- 3rd Saturday - loose change from collection goes to Pay-It-Forward Fund
- Souperbowl Sunday - same weekend as Superbowl
- March - cash collection for Easter hams
- May - summer snack collection
- July - school supplies, underwear, sock collections
- September - hats, mittens, scarves, and glove collections
- October - spud fund for Thanksgiving
- November - giving tree setup in church for Christmas gifts; gifts go to Shepherd of the Hills Christmas Giveaway
Clayton County Food Shelf
In July, St. Joseph collected 52lbs of food and $229! Thank you!! Our next collection will be Saturday night, August 5. Cereal, dry dinners (i.e., Hamburger & Tuna Helper), and mini boxes of raisins are most needed. Thanks for your generosity!! Thanks for your generosity!!
Back-to-School Collection
Thanks to everyone who donated school supplies for Shepherd of the Hills' back-to-school drive! A total of $585 was collected from St. Joseph Parish in addition to lots of supplies!
St. Joseph Treasure Sale
August 12 from 8:00am-2:00pm
Many hands make light work, and we're so glad we have lots of hands because we have lots of work! As in years past, we need your help to make this so successful! We're trying the signup differently this year - right here! Please select one or more options to donate some of your time to make this sale a great fundraiser for St. Joseph Parish!
Did you see us in the Sweet Corn Days parade??
Raffle tickets for this year's handmade Crafter's quilt will also be available at the Treasure Sale!
Important Notes on Donations
If you or someone you know has anything to donate, please bring it to the Parish Hall during these times:
Sunday, August 6 between 9:00am-12:00pm
Monday, August 7 between 7:00pm-9:00pm
Tuesday, August 8 between 7:00pm-9:00pm
Wednesday, August 9 between 7:00pm-9:00pm
If you or someone you know has items too big for one person to carry or transport (i.e. furniture), please call a committee member by August 7 so we can add your name to the list of places to stop; their contact information is below. Please have those items ready for pick up on Thursday, August 10 between 7:00pm-9:00pm. Someone from St. Joseph will pickup those items during that timeframe.
Remember to put August 12 in your calendar! There's something for everyone, and the price is always right!! And don't forget those delicious cinnamon rolls will be served all day with coffee!
Please contact any committee member with questions. Committee members are as follows:
Mike Rentschler - 563-880-1316
Marjorie Finley - 563-245-2408
Joan Wangen - 563-245-2130
Becky Gundacker - 563-880-4025
Madonna Hosch - 563-245-2350
Karen Koehn - 563-880-2390
More Things to Know
Thank you for your interest in supporting our NCYC students. There are three options to participate in the NCYC Stocks sale, Board of Directors, Stockholder, and Supporter.
Board of Directors - $100.00 per stock. Board members will be listed on our communication, be sent live photos and information from the event, and be invited to an annual stockholder meeting with a meal on January 13, 2024, after Mass at St. Joseph Parish.
Stockholder - $50.00 per stock. Members will be invited to our annual stockholder meeting with a meal on January 13, 2024, after Mass at St. Joseph Parish.
Supporter - $20.00 per stock. Supporters will be invited for a viewing of the NCYC presentation with appetizers before Mass on January 13, 2024.
Please send your payment to St. Mark Parish - PO Box 365 Edgewood, IA 52042 or drop in a collection basket labeled NCYC Stocks. If you would like to designate which student(s) you are sponsoring, please check their name at the bottom of the form. If no option is selected, it will go toward group fundraising.
Once we receive payment you will receive a stock certificate and invitation to the stockholder meeting or presentation premier after the event.
Once we receive payment you will receive a stock certificate and invitation to the stockholder meeting or presentation premier after the event.
Missing our weekly bulletin? Never fear! With Fr. John's return, we'll resume receiving a bulletin every Sunday starting on August 6! Remember they're available outside all churches in case you didn't get one at Sunday Mass, and you can find them on our website!
Disability Inclusion
Our monthly birthday parties are still going strong with many people attending! Contact Jane Spargrove at 563-933-6235 if you'd like to attend or help!
Also, we continue to develop a faith formation program for people with disabilities. We're working with Mosaic of Northern Iowa, a whole-person healthcare organization based in Waukon, to help bring programming to this population. Contact Fran Zichal at 563-880-0873 if you'd like to help.
Upcoming Events
- August 1: Fr. John returns!! Welcome back, Father!!
- August 5: food collection for Clayton County Food Shelf
- August 12: St. Joseph Treasure Sale and lasagna sales start (see above)
- August 14/15: Solemnity of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (holy day of obligation this year; see Mass schedule above)
- August 16: Baptism class at St. Joseph Parish Center @ 6:00pm
- August 19: loose change from Mass' collection goes to Pay-it-Forward fund
- August 19: IMPACT discussion after 5:00pm Mass
- August 19: St. Mark's Famous Rodeo Fried Chicken Supper @ 4:00pm-8:00pm @ St. Mark's Parish Center
- August 28: Disability Inclusion monthly birthday party
- August 30: Catechist Inservice @ St. Mary's Upper Room
- September 2: St. Joseph's weekend Mass times changes to 4:00pm
Do you have something to add to this newsletter? Please send any articles and/or pictures to John Uhal at the Parish Center, by calling 563-245-2548, or by email at j.uhal@dbqarch.org.