Greetings St. Joseph Parish!
Goodbye Summer and hello Fall! It's been an eventful September, so read up on the latest right here in October's edition of The Journey!
Parish Life
Ann Gibney, St. Joseph Parish Life Coordinator
By virtue of being a parishioner of St. Joseph, you're part of the Parish Life Committee! Please play your part, and contribute to the many events that happen around the year here at St. Joseph. The second of two Fall meetings is this Thursday, October 5 at 6:00pm in the Parish Hall.
You might not see these guys around for a while, so say a quick prayer for them! Our seminarians, including Steven Kessler from St. Joseph (pictured center) are hard at work in their formation and education at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago. If God wills it, they'll be priests in a few more years!
St. Joseph will be selling food at Osborne's Heritage Days again this year on October 14-15. Watch for information on how to signup in your email and at church. You can also contact Ann Gibney directly if you would like to help. Proceeds will help fund NCYC trips and Catholic Relief Services.
St. Joseph Pastoral Council
Claudia McCalley, Chair
The St. Joseph Pastoral Council includes several elected and at large members. Our elected members are Jay Farmer, Claudia McCalley, Carla Clark, Cody Mueller, Bill Erickson, and Nancy Schmelzer. Our at-large members are Diane Erickson, Kevin Roys, and a member of the Faith Formation Commission. Chairpersons from other committees also participate in the monthly meetings providing updates and reports about other areas of the parish. Council meetings are held on the fourth Thursday at 5:30pm in the Parish Center, and they're open to all parishioners. Everyone is encouraged to attend and/or share questions or concerns with any council member. This body represents the interests of parishioners and wants to be responsive to any concerns at St. Joseph. We welcome your interest and participation!
Faith Formation
Danielle Becwar
St. Joseph Coordinator of Faith Formation
So It Begins!
A new year of faith formation has begun for grades 1-12. Thanks to all of our catechists for dedicating their time and talents! We are still in need of more catechists though. If you have time and energy to donate, please call Danielle at the Parish Center soon.
Thanks to everyone who helped kick-off our new year of faith formation at St. Mark on September 6!! It was a great celebration with people from every parish!
2023 Archdiocesan Catholic Parenting Conference
Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Catholic Parenting Conference to be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. 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 is for parents of all ages and stages and will include breakout sessions, Mass, and vendors. Child care will be available. Join us to connect with other parents, hear dynamic speakers, discuss the joys and challenges of parenting, and receive resources, insights, and information on various aspects of parenting to help you strengthen your domestic church! Online registration is now open. Find more information at www.dbqarch.org/parenting-conference.
Adult Faith Formation
Fran Zichal, Emmaus Pastorate
Adult Faith Formation Coordinator
Calling All Men!
That Man Is You is a new men's group in the Emmaus Pastorate aimed at helping men be chasers after God's own heart. Come to discover...
- the scriptural vision of man and the overwhelming scientific evidence
that supports this vision, - the four leadership roles that have been entrusted to men, and
the five personal traits necessary for fulfilling these leadership roles, - how and why Satan always attacks the union of man and woman,
- the three main obstacles to living as authentic men and the means for overcoming them, and
- the wonderful renewal God is offering to men and their
families through the Church!
Every Saturday from 7:00am-8:30am at St. Mary's Apartment in Strawberry Point. Can't come this week? Come next week! Breakfast is included!
Grief Share: Grief Recovery Support Groups
Our next session of Grief Share began last week, and there are two 13-week classes being offered. The Tuesday night class is being led by Kandi DeShaw at St. Joseph Parish Center from 5:30pm-7:00pm. The Thursday afternoon class is being led by Fran Zichal and Steve Billhorn (welcome to the team, Steve!) from 1:00pm-2:30pm at St. Mark Parish Hall. Please contact Kandi at 608-306-2558 or Fran at 563-880-0873 if you'd like to register for either class; it's not too late!
IMPACT Has Begun!
Congratulations on all those from the Emmaus Pastorate beginning the IMPACT formation program this Fall! You're in our prayers!
Baptism Class
The second Baptism class of this academic year in the Emmaus Pastorate is scheduled for Sunday, November 19 following the 10:00am Mass at St. Mark Parish in Edgewood. 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 John Uhal at the Parish Center at 563-245-2548. Classes are open to all parents of the Emmaus Pastorate.
Liturgy & Worship
John Uhal, Emmaus Pastorate
Director of Liturgy & Worship and Webmaster
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Prayer Service and Fellowship
The Behold Your Child Ministry will be hosting a prayer service followed by fellowship on Saturday, October 14 at 8:00am at St. Mary Parish. The service will be a time of prayer, healing, remembrance, and support for all those who have been affected by the death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, or a life limiting prenatal diagnosis. For more information about the service or the Behold Your Child Ministry, contact Kathy Riniker at 563-245-3775 or visit www.dbqarch.org/beholdyourchild.
October Mass Intentions
- October 6: Pat Keleher
- October 7: for the People of St. Joseph Parish
- October 13: Pat Finley
- October 14: for all children who have died in the womb or as infants and their families
- October 20: Lylina Dittmer
- October 21: John Moyna
- October 27: Patricia Roach
- October 28: John Nikolai
- October 31: Pat Fitzgerald
KMCH Sponsors
- October 1: Samuel Schurman of Carlsbad, CA
- October 8: Brenda & Michael Landwehr of Guttenberg, IA
- October 15: Robert & Anette Myers of Dunkerton, IA
- October 22: YOU!
- October 29: Your Friend!
We remember in prayer Pat Fitzgerald who entered eternal life in August. May he and all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ!
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 September, St. Joseph collected 101lbs of food and $388! Thank you!! Our next collection will be Saturday night, October 7. Thanks for your generosity!!
Knights of Columbus
John Uhal, Grand Knight
Thanks for coming to our annual Belgian Waffle Breakfast! The Council made over $2,800!
Did you catch us last weekend giving out Tootsie Rolls?! Through our annual Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities, about $2,000 will be given to local non-profits who serve this population.
Pancakes!!
Mark your calendar for our pancake and sausage breakfast on Sunday, October 29! We'll be serving pancakes, sausage from Edgewood Locker, applesauce, and drinks. Tickets are available from any St. Joseph Knight and at the Parish Center. Adult tickets are $9 in advance and $10 at the door. Kids 6-12 are $5, and kids 5 and under are free. Oh, and be sure to come check out all the wonders our St. Joseph Crafters will have for sale, too!!
More Things to Know
Thank you to everyone who purchased our NCYC stocks! We were able to raise over $3,000 to put towards our registration and fees. Stocks will be delivered in the mail in the next couple of weeks.
Never miss an issue of our Sunday bulletin! Catch it on our website as early as Thursday or in one of our five churches on Sundays!
Do You Listen?
Did you know the Emmaus Pastorate has a podcast where you can listen to over 200 Sunday homilies and special musical episodes? Click here and start listening today!
Disability Inclusion
Our Pastorate Diversity and Inclusion Ministry & Advocacy program (DIMA) received an award from the Archdiocese of Dubuque for their activities. A monthly birthday party is held at St. Mary's Upper Room, often with musicians from across our Pastorate. St Joseph holds an annual Christmas party, and many parishes include handicapped or limited-able individuals who help with hospitality, too. Masses on October 14 & 15 will highlight inclusion in our parishes, and Lynne Chapman from the Archdiocese will be at St Mary's 5:00pm Mass to present the award. Our next adventure into DIMA is to begin a faith formation program just for these folks starting this month! If you're able to help with this ministry, please contact Fran Zichal at 563-880-0873 or Jane Sparrgrove at 563-933-6235!
It's Lasagna Time!!
Orders are now being taken for St. Joseph's taken 'n' bake lasagna, featuring Fr. John's sauce! Find an order form online or in the Parish Center, and get it back by October 8. Orders are also being delivered now, too!
And if you have ground beef or pork, or vegetables, we'll take any and all donations until further notice! Thanks to everyone who has already donated!
Upcoming Events
- October 7 - That Man Is You meets at the St. Mary Apartment in Strawberry Point from 7:00am-8:30am. Open to any and all men any time!
- October 7/8 - Annual Time & Talent Survey weekend at all parishes
- October 12 - Grief Share meets at 1:00pm at the St. Mark Parish Center in Edgewood.
- October 14 - That Man Is You meets at the St. Mary Apartment in Strawberry Point from 7:00am-8:30am. Open to any and all men any time!
- October 14 - Annual Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Service at 8:00am at St. Mary Parish in Strawberry Point; fellowship to follow
- October 14/15 - Annual Time & Talent Survey weekend at all parishes
- October 17 - Grief Share meets at 5:30pm at St. Joseph Parish Center
- October 18 - Installation of Archbishop-Elect Thomas Zinkula at Nativity Parish in Dubuque; by invitation only; livestream available
- October 19 - Grief Share meets at 1:00pm at the St. Mark Parish Center in Edgewood.
- October 21 - That Man Is You meets at the St. Mary Apartment in Strawberry Point from 7:00am-8:30am. Open to any and all men any time!
- October 24 - Grief Share meets at 5:30pm at St. Joseph Parish Center
- October 26 - Grief Share meets at 1:00pm at the St. Mark Parish Center in Edgewood.
- October 28 - That Man Is You meets at the St. Mary Apartment in Strawberry Point from 7:00am-8:30am. Open to any and all men any time!
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.