ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH

MOTHER CHURCH OF THE BERKSHIRES

ESTABLISHED 1849

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Liturgical Celebrations

Saturday 4:00 PM

Sunday 9:00 AM

11:30 AM

Daily Mass 12:10 PM

RCIA Tuesdays, 6:30 PM

Holy Hour Monday-Friday, 11:00 AM

Daily Rosary Monday-Friday, 11:30 AM

Prayer Group 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 6:45 PM

Holidays Mass 9 AM

The Staff

Msgr. Michael Shershanovich, Pastor

Rev. Geoffrey Deeker, CSS, Priest in Residence

Rev. Mr. Pasqual Baldasaro, Deacon

John Arasimowicz,

Coordinator of Youth Religious Education

e-Mail: stjosephccd@berkshire.rr.com

Michele Madden, Secretary

e-Mail: Michelemadden@berkshire.rr.com

Mrs. Patricia Momnie, Pastoral Minister

St. Joseph’s Parish Office

414 North Street. Pittsfield, MA 01201

Tel: (413) 445-5789

Fax: (413) 443-5466

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

e-Mail: msgrmike@berkshire.rr.com

Web site: www.stjoepittsfield.com St. Joseph’s Cemetery

Jay Meehan, Foreman

Nancy Nolan, Secretary

Tel: (413) 499-1317

Sacrament of Baptism:

All new parents are expected to complete a course of instruction.

Please consult the parish office for classes.

Sacrament of Reconciliation:

Saturdays, 3:00-3:45PM

Sacrament of Matrimony:

Couples should contact the parish office at least one year prior to the wedding.

New Parishioners should register at the parish office. We look forward to welcoming you to the

parish family and hope you will become involved with your time, talent and treasure.

Ministry to the Sick and Parishioners confined to home have visitations that are scheduled on a

regular basis. Please notify the parish office to make arrangements.

Religious Education Classes are held at St. Joseph’s High School following the 9:00 AM Mass

for all public school students, grades K-11, and parochial students preparing for Sacraments.

Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers

Sat., February 27th

4 PM

Eucharistic Ministers

Josie Daviau Nina Mastrangelo

Pat Momnie Cheryl Furtek

Carol Gamberoni Marie Kotowicz

Lectors

Jim Armstrong Sr. Jean Bostley

Sun., February 28th

9 AM

Eucharistic Ministers

Lillian Trzepacz Jeff Vincent

Bernadette Scapin Joe Ryan

John Arasimowicz Edward Boehm

Lectors

Peggy Taylor Sharon Vincent

Sun., February 28th 11:30 AM

Eucharistic Ministers

Michael Wood P. McDonough Anne Dunham Mary Huska

Charles Knappe Daniel Kochapski

Lectors

Anna Stack Robert Bouquet

St. Joseph News

February 28th

Regular class for all students.

March 6th

Regular class for all students. Stations of the Cross for all grades.

RSVP due for Communion Breakfast.

LENTEN VESPERS - Evening Vespers continue this Sunday evening at 6 p.m. in the Chapel. This is the third Sunday of lent, but it’s never too late to spend time in worship to our Lord. If you can’t make the service, you are welcome to come to the video presentation and discussion in the North Chapel immediately follow-ing Vespers.

BIBLE BASICS with Bishop McDonnell will be held tomorrow evening, Monday, February 29, and will be held every Monday evening during Lent from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the North Chapel. All are invited to attend! The schedule will be as follows:

THE OLD TESTAMENT THE NEW TESTAMENT February 29 - Prophecies, March 7 - Son of God and son of Mary promises and prayers March 14 - Followers, disciples and apostles March 21 - Then, now and always

SOUP & SPIRITUALITY will continue at St. Joseph’s this Tuesday, March 1, following Daily Mass and will be held in the Parish Center every Tuesday during Lent (A Retreat with Pope Francis).

STATIONS OF THE CROSS and LAMENTATIONS on Friday evenings will continue throughout Lent begin-ning at 6:30 PM.

Monday through Friday: HOLY HOUR WITH ROSARY 11 AM AND CONFESSIONS at 11:30 AM

Wednesday evenings: MERCY DEVOTIONS, CONFESSION AND MASS AT 6 PM

1ST & 3RD Wednesday of each month—PRAYER GROUP at 6:45 pm

RCIA—Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM

SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH PRAYER LINE: 443-1221

Gluten Free hosts available to those who cannot tolerate gluten.

PLEASE NOTIFY PRIEST BEFORE MASS.

Please join us in completing One Million acts of Mercy during this Holy Year. Example for those working in the Food Pantry and/or Eucharistic Ministers attending to the spiritual needs of homebound parishioners. As many

as you visit is that many acts of Kindness. Please fill out the cards in the front of the Church.

On February 16, 2016, Bishop Emeri-

tus Timothy A. McDonnell blessed the New Direction Pregnancy & Sexual Health Resources Center and the new Ultrasound Machine. Many thanks for the funding provided by donations from people in Berkshire County and beyond and the Knights of Columbus Bishop Conaty Assembly #395, the six K of C Councils in Berkshire County and the Supreme Council of the K and C providing half the cost of the Ultra-sound.

Thanks to Judy Williams, Executive Director of New Direction and her staff and volunteers, who are operating the Ultra-sound medical facility to save lives. God bless You All.

As we begin the third week of the Lenten season, we begin to look forward to Easter Cele-brations --and the prep work that goes along with it! One Easter Polish tradition is the Butter Lamb, baronet wielkanocy. For you vegetarians out there have no fear - - this is a lamb made out of butter to decorate your Easter table (and to butter those hot rolls). We invite you to join us in our annual Butter Lamb making/crafting event scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at 10 AM in the Parish Center.

St. Joseph’s first ever Penny Social was held last Sunday and was a wild success! The event was held to benefit the CCD scholarship fund. Many community members came out for their chance to win great raffles in support of our church pro-gramming. We would like to thank those who came to test their chance at luck, as well as thank members who volunteered the day-of to make the Social run smoothly. A special thanks to the confirmation candidates, who served as “runners” dur-ing the event. Start saving your pennies, St. Joe, because we can’t wait to throw another Social!

Fish Fry ,sponsored by St. Joseph Knights of Columbus, will be held Friday, February 26. Dine in or “take out” from 5 PM-6:30 PM. Limited tickets at the door, IF AVAILABLE. For tickets: Please call St. Joseph Recto-ry at 445-5789 or contact Jack Laviolette at 464-6009. All proceeds go to St. Joseph Church.

ST. JOSEPH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL—Students from St. Joseph & St. Agnes schools will be presenting “Meredith Willson’s

The Music Man” on April 1 & 2 at 7:30 at Barrington Stage. In order to finance this undertaking, we are holding special fundraising events and would greatly appreciate community support! FEBRUARY 27: Arizona Pizza “Dining to Do-nate” (Pittsfield Road in Lenox) 11:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. Please mention the St. Joseph Musical to the server and 20% of the check will be donated to the musical account. No voucher required. MARCH 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Chicken Parmesan Dinner, buffet style, held in St. Joseph Parish Center! Tickets available at St. Joseph Central High School or at the door: $14 adults / $10 seniors & children under 12 (free pasta only plate for children under age 5). Please call ahead for take-out meals: [413] 447-9121. EAT BREAD TO RAISE DOUGH to be held at Panera Bread on March 23 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A percentage of its sales during the event will be donated to the musical account.

BOY SCOUT TROOP 8 4th ANNUAL PIZZA PLAY-OFFP March 5 from 5 PM—7 PM held at St. Charles Church. Tickets availa-

ble after all three Masses this weekend, February 28/29.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST to benefit all basketball programs at the Boys and Girls Club. March 6 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Lighthouse Cafe . Tickets available at the door. Questions? Please call [413] 448-8258.

PINK MASS - St. Joseph Church is sponsoring the Second Annual Pink Mass on Sunday, March 6 at 11:30 with Bishop Timo-

thy McDonnell as the main celebrant. There will be a reception with light refreshments following this Mass. All those with any type of cancer, those in remission, cancer caregivers, and those who have lost friends to this illness are encouraged to pray together. In addition, all from the parish are welcome to participate as well.

Sacrificial giving for last week: $5,543.00. Thank you for your generosity!

CYCLE C FEBRUARY 28, 2016 3rd Sunday of Lent

"But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!"

Who wants to repent? Who wants to change habits, make sacrifices, or chart a more challenging course? Re-pentance isn't the easy road. Few of us are naturally drawn towards it. Perhaps that's why Jesus had to speak with such boldness in today's Gospel. Repent, or perish. Change, or suffer and die. Not what we like to hear. Not what we like to do. But we would be foolish not to listen. The entire Gospel message is certainly one of mercy and compassion. Jesus was the first to show forgiveness to sinners, and he always called others to do the same. He suf-fered and died so that WE wouldn't have to suffer eternal death. But the fact remains that we can still CHOOSE to "perish." We can choose to stay rooted in our favorite sins and to cling tightly to the comfortable vices that stifle a vir-tuous life. When we won't let go of them, then we don't tru-ly repent. But Jesus urges us to change so that we can enjoy the eternal benefits of his mercy. He doesn't want us to perish! As we hear in today's psalm, "He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compas-sion." Repenting--turning back to God--puts us in the right position for this spiritual coronation. Lent is a time especially built for repentance. It is a season that calls us not only to recognize where we need to change, but to actually set those changes into motion. Lent isn't just a pious liturgical ritual. These forty days are a re-sponse to Christ's stern warning that we need to repent in order to save our souls. Let's not pretend to be exempt from the message. Lent is meant for ALL of us.

Readings for the Week of February 28, 2016

Sunday: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15/Ps 103:1-4, 6-8, 11/1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12/Lk 13:1-9; Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab/Ps 42:2-3; 43:3-4/Lk 4:24-30; Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43/Ps 25:4-9/Mt 18:21-35; Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9/Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20/Mt 5:17-19; Thursday: Jer 7:23-28/Ps 95:1-2, 6-9/Lk 11:14-23; Friday: Hos 14:2-10/Ps 81:6-11, 14, 17/Mk 12:28-34; Saturday: Hos 6:1-6/Ps 51:3-4, 18-21/Lk 18:9-14; Next Sunday: Jos 5:9a, 10-12/Ps 34:2-7/2 Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Family Promise Mentoring Program - Volunteers are being recruited for the FAMILY PROMISE MENTORING PROGRAM to provide advocacy for individuals or families in need of support to become more self-reliant. Assistance for participants includes identifying goals, stable housing, managing budgets with limited resources, and connecting to community resources. The program is actively enlisting the help of volunteers to become mentors for families with varied dynamics—one or two-parent households, with one or more children. Mentors will receive training and ongo-ing support to fulfill their role with a willing family. A com-mitment of one to two hours each week is required. The program offered in partnership with Berkshire Housing Development Corporation and the Berkshire County Re-gional Housing Authority. If you think you can be a positive influence and make a difference for a local family, contact

program coordinator Ida Patella (413) 344-4803.

Saturday, February 27th

RICHARD BROWN 4 PM

Requested by Yukie Robinson

Sunday, February 28th

CONNIE DUDA 9 AM

Requested by Lucy Flossic

FOR THE PARISH 11:30 AM

Monday, February 29th

MARIA PARALTA 12:10 PM

Requested by Pat Momnie

Tuesday, March 1st

CONNIE DUDA 12:10 PM

Requested by St. Anne’s Society

Wednesday, March 2nd

THERESA GRANDE 12:10 PM

Requested by Phil Kirsimagi

Thursday, March 3td

AUGUST ADALBERT KIRSIMAGI 12:10 PM

Requested by Family

Friday, March 4rd

STEVEN ANDRUSIAK 12:10 PM

Requested by Lillian Elmehrath & Maria Sanchez

Saturday, March 5th

JIM FISHER 30th Anniversary 4 PM

Requested by Pat & Family

Sunday, March 6th

WANDA BRITTON & JENNIFER KICKERY 9 AM

Requested by Family

PINK MASS 11:30 AM

Mercy: The initiative of “24 Hours for the Lord,” to be celebrated on the Friday and Saturday preceding the Fourth Week of Lent, should be implemented in every diocese...Let us place the Sacra-ment of Reconciliation a the centre once more in such a way that it will enable

people to touch the grandeur of God’s mercy with their own hands. For every penitent, it will be a source of true interior peace.

M iser icor d iae Vul tus , no . 17 Be Merciful During the Jubilee Year of Mercy

Practicing mercy in our lives actually does take practice . Read John Paul II’s “Dives in misericordia” bit-by-bit

through the year.

www.stjoepittsfield.com