OSJ EVENTS

For our Calendar of Meetings and Happenings

please click on the following link:

OSJ Calendar: March - June, 2010

Week of March 8th:

Monday, March 8: 3:30pm: PREP Class; 7:00: Meeting Christ in Prayer; Knitting Group; 8pm: Catholic Univ. American Chamber Choir Concert

Tuesday, March 9: 12pm: Al-Anon Mtg; 7pm: Choir rehearsal; Parish Council Mtg.

Wednesday, March 10: 12pm: Coalition of Hope Mtg; 4pm: PREP Class; 7-8pm: Lenten Reconciliation in Church

Thursday, March 11: 7pm: RCIA

Friday, March 12: 5pm: Wedding reh: Maribotti & Slaven

Saturday, March 13: 2pm: Wedding: Maribotti & Slaven

Sunday, March 14: 9am: Spirituality Comm. Mtg; 12:30pm: Augustine Fellowship Mtg; 1pm: Adult Ed Comm. Mtg; 1:15pm: Four Key Meditations w/ Fr. Dan

Week of March 15th:

Monday, March 15: 3:30pm: PREP Class; 6:30pm: Centering Prayer; 7pm: Meeting Christ in Prayer

Tuesday, March 16: 12pm: Al-Anon Mtg; 7pm: Choir rehearsal; Social Justice Comm. Mtg.

Wednesday, March 17 – St. Patrick's Day: 4pm: PREP Class; 6:30pm: CLIA Mtg. 7pm: OSJ Study Group w/ Fr. Dan; 7-8pm: Lenten Reconciliation in Church

Thursday, March 18: 7pm: RCIA

Friday, March 19: 9:30am: St. Mary's School Mass; 6pm: St. Joseph's Day Mass & Dinner

Saturday, March 20: 9am: RCIA Retreat

Sunday, March 21: 12:30pm: Augustine Fellowship Mtg; 3pm: Longing & Lamentation : A Lenten Music Program; 4:30pm: Four Key Meditations w/ Fr. Dan

What are the Spiritual Exercises, Anyway? Find out This Lent!

Four Key Meditations, a Lenten Series by Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J.,

(Note: All sessions will take place in OSJ's Barbelin Hall and

A light meal will accompany all four sessions.)

Sunday, February 28: 1:15- 2:30 p.m.

The Principle and Foundation

Sunday, March 7: 7:30 - 8:45 p.m.

The Call of the King

Sunday, March 14: 1:15-2:30 p.m.

Contemplating the Incarnation

Sunday, March 21: 4:30-6:00 p.m.

The Examen/Discernment

Longing and Lamentation: An Afternoon of Reflection and Song on the Lamentations of Jeremiah, Sunday March 21 at 3:00 p.m. at Old St. Joseph's Church. A prelude event to Tempesta Di Mare's March 27th performance of Jan Dismas Zelenka's "Lamentations of Jeremiah"; the program will include plainchant settings of the lamentations sung by the OSJ Schola Cantorum as well as works by Tallis and Couperin. The program is a collaboration between Tempesta Di Mare, Old St. Joseph's Church, and St. Peter in the Great Valley. This event is free and open to all.

Communal Penance Service: Our joint Lenten Penance Service with Old St. Mary's will take place here at OSJ at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10. Several confessors will be available.

Extra Opportunities for Reconciliation: In accord with Cardinal Rigali's wishes, the priests of Old St. Joseph's, in collaboration with Msgr. Paul DiGirolamo at Old St. Mary's, will hear private confessions in the OSJ confessional every Wednesday during Lent from 7 to 8 p.m. Please consider taking advantage of this added opportunity to celebrate the miracle of God's reconciling mercy in a personal way.

For 35 years Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl has offered Catholics in the United States a way to connect with our brothers and sisters overseas. This Lenten season, Catholic Relief Services invites Catholics to pray with their families and faith communities; fast in solidarity with those who hunger; learn about our global community and the challenges of poverty overseas; and give sacrificial contributions to those in need. We believe that through solidarity we can transform the world. Please consider taking home one of the paper “rice bowls” located in the back of the church and in the entryways. Thank you.

A reminder to all that the Sacrament of the Sick is administered on the first Saturday of every month as part of the 12:05 Mass. All who have a serious illness or who are expecting serious surgery in the upcoming month are invited to receive this Sacrament. One doesn't always have the sacramental services of the Church at a non-Catholic hospital; or a priest may not be available should an emergency arise, so receiving the sacrament ahead of time is always well-advised. Priests can be available to minister to the homebound at pre-arranged times; please advise your family and friends to be proactive in this regard.

ECUMENICAL/INTERFAITH: Winter/Spring 2010 Series: Holy Days: Personal Reminiscences II: Following up on our fall series of holy days, this three-part series will engage participants in sharing personal significance, memories, and rituals during the spring holy days of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The series begins on Wed., Feb. 10 with a discussion of the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. The second session will be a discussion of the Jewish holy days of Passover and will be held on Wed., March 24 and led by prominent speaker/writer, Rabbi Sussman of Keneseth Israel, Elkins Park. The third session follows on April 14 with a discussion of the Christian season of Lent preparing for the holy day of Easter. Each session will meet at OSJ from 7-9 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Participants are also welcome to bring a “brown bag supper.”

ADULT EDUCATION

The Old St. Joseph's Adult Education Committee meets on the second Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. in the rectory front parlor. All parishioners interested in joining are welcome.

PARISH LIBRARY

The Parish Library is open during regular rectory hours and all are welcome to make use of its large and interesting collection. To view the entire library collection, please click on the links: OSJ Library List May 2009

PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN

It is obviously of the utmost importance that as a parish faith community, we exercise due diligence to insure a safe environment for minors here at Old St. Joseph's. To that end, our pastor, Fr. Dan, has sent his annual letter to the Parish Pastoral Council assuring them that the Jesuit clergy and the parish staff and volunteers who work with children on a regular basis continue to be in full compliance with the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Program. This means that all involved have a current criminal background check and a current child abuse clearance on file and have attended the Archdiocese's Protecting God's Children training program. In addition, all Jesuits in residence at Old St. Joseph's remain in full compliance with Maryland Province requirements, which include additional background checks and safe environment training. Fr. Dan thanks the Council for their continuing vigilance on behalf of our children, including their request that the pastor report to them in writing each year regarding our compliance with these prudent and necessary measures. We all share responsibility for the care and protection of our children.

PRAYER & SPIRITUALITY

Feeling a desire to pray more? You may wish to join a small group of parishioners for an hour of quiet prayer in the presence of the Eucharist in the OSJ house chapel (2nd floor of the rectory) on the third Thursday of every month from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. For more information, contact Cornelia Farrell or the parish office at 215.923.1733.

THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST

Pope Benedict XVI has asked the entire Church to participate in the Year of the Priest which began on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and will conclude on the same date next year with a worldwide meeting of priests with the Holy Father. The year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars. Cardinal Rigali, in a letter dated Sunday, June 21, officially announced the observance of the year in the Philadelphia Archdiocese as a new opportunity for priests to grow in holiness and for all members of the Church to celebrate the essential role of priests among us. His Eminence invites everyone in the Archdiocese to observe the Year of the Priest as an opportunity to reflect on the gift of priesthood which Jesus shared with the whole Church, especially by praying for our priests. If you would like a copy of the Prayer for Priests , you can find copies in the courtyard entrance pamphlet rack or click here for a copy Prayer for Priests. May our observance of this year truly provide the Archdiocese with holy priests for a holy people. Note: The Year of the Priest runs June 19, 2009 through June 19, 2010.