St. Joseph’s

414 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Tel: (413) 445-5789//Fax: (413) 443-5466 Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Web site: www.stjoepittsfield.com

Pastor - Msgr. Michael Shershanovich e-mail: msgrmike@berkshire.rr.com

Priest in Residence - Rev. Geoffrey Deeker, CSS

Most. Rev. Timothy McDonnell in Residence

Coordinator of Youth Religious Education John Arasimowicz

e-mail:johnaccd@gmail.com

Secretary - Michele Madden e-mail: Michelemadden@berkshire.rr.com

Pastoral Minister-Mrs. Patricia Momnie

Superintendent - Jay Meehan Secretary - Nancy Nolan—Tel: (413) 499-1317

Mother Church of the Berkshires Established 1849

ST. JOSEPH’S PARISH

THE STAFF

ST. JOSEPH’S CEMETERY

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday-4:00 PM—Sunday-9:00 & 11:30 AM

Daily Mass-12:10 PM—Holiday Mass-9:00

AM

RCIA-Wed. 6:30 PM

Holy Hour —Monday - Friday 11:00 AM Prayer Group —1st & 3rd Wed. 6:45 PM

Rosary —Monday - Friday 11:30 AM

PRAYER LINE 413-443-1221

20/20 WINNERS Week 15

Mary Tierney

Sally & William Croshier

Congratulations!

When receiving the Body and Blood of Christ the appropriate response is an audible “Amen.” This response indicates his or

her belief that this small wafer of bread, the wine in this

chalice are in reality the Body and Blood of Christ the Lord.

RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)

This is a process for adults who would like to enter the Catholic Church or for those individuals

wishing to complete their sacraments of initiation. The sessions will last

about 1 hour and will begin on Wed., October 17, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the North Chapel. Please call the rectory at 445-5789 to register or speak

to Msgr. Mike after mass.

SACRIFICIAL GIVING $5650 Thank you for your generosity!

ST JOSEPH CEMETERY As Catholics, we hold sacred the ground where our ancestors and our relatives are buried. It is there that we mourn our dead and place our hope in the Lord Jesus’ promise of Resurrection to share in His

glory. St. Joseph’s Cemetery is a place of serene beauty and hallowed ground. It is my hope that our

support will help maintain this sacred space for generations to come.

--Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, Diocese of Springfield

Life is sacred and we know that does not end at death. We honor our loved ones lives when we visit their burial plot – when we bring flowers, when we mourn, and when we pray for them. And we find peace on the hallowed ground knowing that our

hope is in the promise of Resurrection. It is because of our loved ones – our fellow Catholic Community of Faith – whom we hold in high

esteem, that the care, maintenance, and nurturing of their final resting place be our collective priority. St. Joseph’s Cemetery, which has served the burial

needs of Catholic’s in the Pittsfield area for over 165 years, is well-maintained and in good condition

overall. However, there has been a growing problem with drainage in certain areas which has resulted in some flooding and deteriorating roads.

This makes use of these roads difficult during visits and burials during the spring and on rainy

days. This problem needs our attention and care. A Campaign is being planned by all Pittsfield

parishes to join together to raise the funds needed to address the drainage and roads problems at St.

Joseph’s Cemetery. Generations of Catholics before us sacrificed to acquire and maintain the Cemetery

so that we may honor and remember our loved ones. We have that same responsibility as

Catholics living in this community today. Our Campaign to restore and repair our Cemetery will launch soon. At this time we ask you to pray for

the success of this important effort.

CCD REGISTRATION DAY

Grades K-9 and 11 September 9th from 10-11 am in the North

Chapel. The first class is on September 16th. You should have received a registration form in the mail, as well as a

calendar for our classes this year. There are additional registration forms and calendars in the

back of the church. 10th Grade Confirmation Registration/Meeting

ONLY - Sunday, August 26th – Mandatory attendance for students and parents at St. Joseph

Parish Center at 6:00pm. Please bring your completed Confirmation registration form and fee.

Need donations of Lottery tickets, Food for the grocery basket and toys or school supplies for the Kids basket. Please mark the items for SHARING ROOTS FESTIVAL

We are collecting used jewelry and pie fillings

for the HOLIDAY BAZAAR

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Sat., Aug. 18th

4:00 PM Sun., Aug. 19th

9:00 AM Sun., Aug. 19th

11:30 AM Mary Sukiennik Bernadette Scapin Anne Dunham

Kay Tournier Lillian Trzepacz Charles Knappe Joe Tournier Jeff Vincent Jeff Gerard

Jim Armstrong Sharon Vincent Glenna Gerard Marie Kotowicz Nancy Woitkoski Paul Mays Sheila Bouquet John Arasimowicz

Joe Bourquard Terry Costello

LECTORS Cheryl Furtek Al Najimy Anna Stack

Tom Daly John Quallen Juliette Ekouah

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH August 19. 2018

Sharing Roots Kitchen (our Meals on Wheels) needs your help. If you’re able to bake cookies

every 2-3 months please call the Rectory. This is a wonderful ministry that benefits many of our

elderly. Hope you can help.

Saturday August 25, 2018, starting at 8 AM to approximately noon, Weather permitting. We are planning parking lot fence repairs, painting in several areas and

clean up at several areas. Your volunteering to help is appreciated, to improve our Church and grounds. Kindly let Jack Laviolette know if you could join us, 464-6009.

GREEK FESTIVAL Saturday, August 18th from 11 a.m.to 8 p.m. and

Sunday, August 19th from Noon to 6 PM A taste of Greece without the travel. St. George Greek Orthodox Church

73 Bradford St., Pittsfield, MA

It is that time of year when we think of those in need from our community with a drive to secure funds for purchases of holiday meals. This year, we are once again collecting packets of Turkey

Gravy (either McCormack, Knorr, or store brand and NOT bouillon) as our part of the

Thanksgiving Angels program for all food pantries in the Pittsfield area. The packets are

lighter to carry and easier therefore to transport. Last year over 1400 families were

provided with a turkey and all the fixings. This year our parish is responsible for 1200 packets

of gravy as we are coordinating with St. Charles that is also collecting gravy. Please turn your

gravy in at the baskets near the entrance doors. There is always a need for monetary donations for other items needed throughout the holiday season. Your giving is always appreciated as over 100 families pass through our doors each

Wednesday morning. Please label your envelope "Food Pantry Donation" with cash/

checks payable to St. Joseph Parish. God loves a cheerful giver and we appreciate all

your GENEROSITY both materially and financially throughout the year.

Saturday, August 18th Jim Ziter—Birthday Remembrance Requested by His Sister

4:00 PM

Sunday, August 19th Milton Lopez—1st Anniversary Requested by Family

Marion & Nick Makes Requested by Family

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

Sanctuary Candle Connor Graham

Requested by Lil Quinn

Monday, August 20th Bill Madden Requested by Cathy Sinico

12:10 PM

Tuesday, August 21st Pat McGrath Requested by The Rotti Family

12:10 PM

Wednesday, August 22nd For the Parish

12:10 PM

Thursday, August 23rd Bill Madden Requested by Pat Momnie

12:10 PM

Friday, August 24th Henry Boc Requested by Family

12:10 PM

Saturday, August 25th Mary G. Jacobs-1st Anniversary Requested by Maciora Family

4:00 PM

Sunday, August 26th Carl Flossic Requested by Lacy, Billy, Steve & Jackie

Joseph Blasioli –25th Anniversary Requested by Ginny, Jerry & Family

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF AUG. 19, 2018 Sunday: Prv 9:1-6/Ps 34:2-3, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15

[9a]/Eph 5:15-20/Jn 6:51-58 Monday: Ez 24:15-24/Dt 32:18-19, 20, 21 [cf. 18a]/Mt

19:16-22 Tuesday: Ez 28:1-10/Dt 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30,

35cd-36ab [39c]/Mt 19:23-30 Wednesday: Ez 34:1-11/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 [1]/Mt

20:1-16 Thursday: Ez 36:23-28/Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 [Ez

36:25]/Mt 22:1-14 Friday: Rv 21:9b-14/Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18 [12]/

Jn 1:45-51 Saturday: Ez 43:1-7ab/Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-

14 [cf. 10b]/Mt 23:1-12 Next Sunday: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b/Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23 [9a]/Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-

32/Jn 6:60-69

AUGUST 19, 2018 20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

In this Sunday's Gospel, the conflict escalates in the Bread of Life Discourse. Confusion is mounting in the crowd. "How can this man give us his flesh to

eat?" Their minds were thinking literally, not mystically. Jesus doesn't seem to help, however,

and only drives his point home with more emphasis. "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of

Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." Jesus would later institute the

Eucharist at the Last Supper. There he would definitively establish the sacramental reality in

which bread and wine become substantially his own Body and Blood. We celebrate this sacrament in the Mass. Perhaps we do not always understand what we receive. "My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink." What is the essence of food and drink?

Food nourishes our bodies, providing essential calories for our survival. Water is used throughout

the body to cushion joints, regulate body temperature, and protect sensitive tissues like the brain. When we receive the Eucharist, we receive

the spiritual equivalent of these essential elements. Like water, the Eucharist strengthens the

sanctifying grace moving through us. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me

and I in him." The Eucharist connects us intimately to Jesus and confirms our union with him. That is

why we abstain from the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin. It would be a contradiction and deep disrespect to these words of Jesus. To receive the

Body and Blood of Jesus is not a right but a gift we receive with deep humility. As we receive the Bread

of Life, grace strengthens our love, separates us from sin -- even wiping away venial sins -- unifies

us with the universal Church, and helps commit us to humble service. Together we are nourished for

our mission in the world!