Greetings St. Joseph Parish!
Merry Christmas (still!) And happy New Year! Hopefully you're still celebrating the birth of our Savior with family and friends. In between festivities, catchup on the latest edition of The Journey!
St. Joseph Parish Life
Ann Gibney, Chair
St. Valentine needs your help!
Let's spread God's love to the residents at the Elkader Care Center, Kingston Court Assisted Living, and Scenic Acres. Please bring your donations by February 8 to the St. Joseph Parish Center or Church.
Suggested items: individually wrapped candy, miniature candy bars, small cans of pop, individual bags of chips, cookies, or crackers, lotion, lip balm, tooth brushes, liquid hand soap, small stuffed animals, stamps, notecards, rolls of dimes, nickels, or quarters, window clings, bird seed, word searches, coloring books, socks, small packages of tissues.
Thanks in advance for your kindness and generosity!
St. Joseph Pastoral Council
Claudia McCalley, Chair
In the Year to Come
As we begin 2024, here are events and meetings to know.
- All pastoral council meetings are open to all. They are held monthly on the fourth Thursday at 5:30pm in the Parish Center.
- Planning meetings were held for the 175th Anniversary of St. Joseph Parish. Many ideas have been generated, and we hope additional ideas will be submitted. We will be meeting in January to "fine tune," establish task forces, and begin monthly activities. Watch the bulletin, and listen to announcements for specific meeting dates and time.
- Card parties will be held on January 14, February 11, and March 10 from 1:00pm-4:00pm to ease our way through winter. Bring a snack and a friend!
- The Pastoral Council will be holding a Town Hall meeting in March to update the parish on how things are going, and get input from parishioners regarding positives, negatives, and goals for the future.
- Your Pastoral Council members encourage you to contact us with questions or concerns, and we wish all a blessed and joyous New Year.
Faith Formation
Danielle Becwar
St. Joseph Coordinator of Faith Formation
The Christmas Season
In the Catholic liturgical year, Christmas begins on Christmas Eve and ends with the Baptism of the Lord. Celebrate Christmas long after December 25! Celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph on December 30/31 with Mass, a prayer, and this fun activity.
As we celebrate the start of 2024, maybe resolve to see God in new ways?! Happy New Year!
January 22 - Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
This day of prayer recognizes the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. To help your family in praying for the unborn, start a conversation about the importance of life with this pro-life coloring page and prayer log. Learn about the March For Life to be held in Washington D.C. on January 18.
Adult Faith Formation
Fran Zichal, Emmaus Pastorate
Adult Faith Formation Coordinator
The Chosen
Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations, we are delaying the start of The Chosen. This groundbreaking streaming television series about the life of Jesus will be offered at St. Mary Parish in Strawberry Point from 6:15pm-7:30pm beginning January 14, 2024 and continuing on January 28, February 11, February 25, March 10, March 24, April 7, April 28, May 12, May 19, and May 26. Please register by calling the St. Joseph Parish Center at 563-245-2548. Handouts will be available on the date. If you're unable to come to one or more dates, just come when you can!
Beauty in Christ Archdiocesan Women’s Conference
Do you desire to gather with other women of faith long after the Christmas decorations are put away? Join us to hear Mari Pablo and Mary Pedersen as they help us to “Revive Our Hearts.” Attend the 2024 Archdiocesan Women’s Conference, Beauty in Christ, on January 27 from 8:00am-1:30pm. Watch for details about registering with The Emmaus Pastorate.
Baptism Class
The third Baptism class of this academic year in the Emmaus Pastorate is scheduled for February 21 at 6:30pm at St. Mary Apartment in Strawberry Point. 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 St. Joseph Parish Center at 563-245-2548. Classes are open to all parents of the Emmaus Pastorate.
Covenant of Love Marriage Mentors
Do you desire a deeper understanding of God’s plan for your marriage? Are you experiencing a time of difficulty in your relationship? Are you seeking a more intimate relationship with God and each other?
Trained Covenant of Love marriage mentor couples are available throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque to help equip married couples with practical tools for everyday life. If you are looking for help to strengthen your marriage, you can sign up to meet with a marriage mentor couple to receive support and guidance for you as a couple. To learn more, visit: www.dbqarch.org/marriage-mentors.
2024 Archdiocese of Dubuque Men’s Conference
You’re invited to the 28th Annual Archdiocese of Dubuque Men’s Conference on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids! The keynote speaker will be John Edwards, the founder and director of Pew Ministries, a Catholic apostolate with the mission of bringing the person of Jesus Christ to the person in the pew. John is also the host of the popular “Just A Guy in the Pew” podcast. The day will also include Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Zinkula and breakout sessions presented by local speakers. If you're unable to attend in-person, the conference will also be livestreamed.
Disability Inclusion Ministry and COVID Update
The holiday party with residents of RISE and Fr. Peters was postponed in December due to a COVID outbreak. A new date will be set soon...so stay tuned! The faith formation class geared toward people with disabilities has also been pushed back due to COVID. Stay tuned on when it'll start!
Liturgy & Worship
John Uhal, Emmaus Pastorate
Director of Liturgy & Worship and Webmaster
Welcome!
Congratulations to Nathan Patrick Uhal, son of John & Patti, who was baptized into the Christian faith on December 9! Nathan, we hope and pray that you grow in age, wisdom, and grace before God!
Please hold in prayer the family and friends of Mike Moyna and Don Grove.
KMCH Sponsors
- January 7: Michael & Brenda Landwehr of Guttenberg, IA
- January 14: Robert & Anette Myers of Dunkerton, IA
- January 21: Michael & Brenda Landwehr of Guttenberg, IA
- January 28: Robert & Anette Myers of Dunkerton, IA
January Mass Intentions
- January 5: Patricia Roach
- January 6: Jack Dittmer
- January 12: Connie Thornton
- January 13: for the people of St. Joseph Parish
- January 19: Jane Griffith
- January 20: Francis Whittle
- January 26: Msgr. Francis Freidl
- January 27: Joe Hosch
Merry Christmas!
Thank to these great kids for presenting the sheep for our creche on Christmas Eve! L-R: Vivian Heavens, Connor Becwar, Patrick Burns, Xander Warpinski, Devryck Clark, Max Oberbroeckling, and Jack Vorwald
Social Justice Committee
Colleen Moore, Chair
Clayton County Food Shelf
In December, St. Joseph collected 56lbs of food! Thank you!! Our next collection will be Saturday night, January 6. The annual Spud Fund was also a big success this year! At each Thanksgiving and Christmas, $600 was spread between 250 families through the Clayton County Food Shelf. Thank you so much for your generosity!
So many gifts were donated to needy boys and girls ahead of Christmas! Thanks to everyone who gave a gift, thought, or prayer!
Knights of Columbus
John Uhal, Grand Knight
Free Throw Championship
St. Joseph's Knights of Columbus will host their annual Free Throw Championship on Monday, January 15 during Central Community's basketball games. Any boy or girl age 9-14 can compete; need not be a parishioner or a member's child! Registration will begin at 5:30pm in Central's small gym, and winners advance to the regional level.
More Things to Know
Thanks to everyone who came a day early to clean the church! It was spotless for Christmas Eve Mass!
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!
Upcoming Events
- January 6, 13, 20, 27: That Man Is You; 7:00am-8:30am @ St. Mary Apartment
- January 14: card party 1:00pm-4:00pm @ Parish Hall
- January 14: watch The Chosen; 6:15pm @ St. Mary Parish
- January 25: St. Joseph Pastoral Council Meeting; 5:30pm @ Parish Center
- January 15: Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest @ Central Schools
- January 27: Lenten Catechist Inservice
- January 27: Archdiocesan Women's Conference
- February 8: deadline for St. Valentine Project
- February 21: baptism class; 6:30pm @ St. Mary Apartment
- March 9: Archdiocesan Men's Conference
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.