St. Joseph Parish

Be sure to check out the Links page of our website for links to other important web sites, including sites for Catholic news, the U.S. Bishops, the Vatican, and much more!

We can also include links to parishioners' home pages, too! If you belong to St. Joseph Parish, and have a web page that is appropriate for viewing by all ages, and would like a link to it on the St. Joseph Web site, then please email the webmaster.

A special "Thank You" to all who helped make this year's Vacation Bible School such a wonderful experience for everyone. Thanks to our Coordinator, volunteers, parents, and chldren who participated. St. Joseph's parish community is appreciative of all the support and contributions of so many!

The monthly potluck will be held on Wednesday, August 2, at 6:00 p.m. at the Sullivan House. Please bring a dish to share and a dollar to defray the cost of the meal. Call the host and hostess, Lois and George Jirgal at 523-2908 if you plan to come. Join us and enjoy the company of your fellow parishioners.

The next youth night will be Sunday, July 30th from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Discussion will be in the Chapel followed by open gym and snacks. There will not be an August youth night.

St. Joseph 3rd Annual Auction Dinner will be October 6th at the Crowne Plaza. If you would like to be a sponsor or make a donation contact Chairpersons Dave and Michele Dodson at 789-1333.

Come to the St. Joseph Family Picnic on August 4 at 6:00 p.m. in Lincoln Park. A good time to meet new friends, teachers, mingle with old friends, and families before the school year starts. Hot dogs will be provided, please bring a dish to share. It will be in the picnic shelter closest to the playground, so come for the fun.

You may have noticed a new piece of furniture in the Church recently. The new addition is located in the baptismal area, near the Font. This piece of furniture is an ambry, a liturgical cupboard for holding the Holy Oils which are used in the celebrations of the Sacraments. Made from walnut and glass, the design of this hand-crafted piece calls to mind the architectural design of the Church building's windows. Fr. Tom commissioned a local artisan who is a member of the parish to design and execute this work.

The African Ensemble of Central Illinois will be the musicians for the 11 a.m. Mass at Christ the King on July 23rd. This group sings as guests at various churches in Central Illinois and shares their African Catholic Christianity through customized active and joyful celebrations. At the same time, their celebrations are a form of prayer for their native African continent. The celebrant for Mass will be Fr. Emmanuel, who is visiting Christ the King Parish from Jinga, Uganda.

A golf outing to benefit the Clerics of St. Viator will be held on September 22, 2006 at the Den Golf Course in Bloomington, IL. You are invited to join fellow parishioners and alums from Cathedral Boys High School, Griffin High School, and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School and participate in this day to benefit the Viatorians. The cost of the event is $150 per golfer which includes driving range, lunch, golf, cart, dinner, and dinner beverages. The Den Golf Course is a first-rated facility and Bloomington was chosen because of its central location. For sponsorship opportunities or for further information, please contact John Klemm (Griffin '64) 217/483-6537, Rich McDermott (Griffin '71) 217/494-9747, or email viatorianGolf@yahoo.com.

Please check your hearts and shelves for any food, extra towels, sheets, blankets, pots & pans, and school supplies, to help fill the shelves of Holy Family Food Pantry. Donations may be dropped off in the Ushers' Room on Sunday mornings when you come to Mass.

Sister Ann Miller, SFCC (Sisters for Christian Community) is offering to share life and home rental with another Sister or a single/widowed woman who may be seeking residence any time after August 1st. This is a small brick home located on North 5th Street. For more information call 816-3732.

July 26 - September 13

A summer/fall Inquiry will begin on July 26 with eight sessions offered for anyone who might be interested in learning more about the Catholic church. Who comes to Inquiry? Non-Catholics, Baptized Catholics who never completed the Sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation, Catholics who want to return to the practice of the Faith, and any member of the parish who would like to journey with the Inquirers for some weeks.

The areas covered in the inquiry sessions build on each other. Six of the sessions will meet in the Parish Office on Wednesday evenings (6-7 p.m.); two will meet in the Sullivan House on Sunday mornings (10-11 a.m.).

The first session on Wednesday, July 26 will be 90 minutes. At this time the new Inquiry Group will meet Inquirers of the previous group and tour the Church together.

See the July 16 Parish Bulletin (download it from this page) for the schedule of sessions and for a registration form.

The next Pastoral Council Meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2006.

The Liturgy Committee will be meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 in the Parish Office. The primary item on the agenda is "Brainstorming and Envisioning for the Future."