St. Joseph Parish

Please help replenish the pantry shelves! Please check your hearts and shelves for any food, extra towels, sheets, blankets, or pots & pans. The most needed items are: canned fruits, jelly, spaghetti noodles, baked beans, tuna and canned meats, mushroom and vegetable soup, canned pasta, sugar, juice, coffee, tea, snacks, chips, cookies, boxed potatoes, dish soap, bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, laundry soap, diapers, wipes, etc.

The Catholic Charities Crisis Assistance and Advocacy Office has provided case management services to more than 45 families afflicted by the tornado. Catholic Charities, along with many local community service programs and ecumenical organizations, is working with three families to help rebuild their homes due to the destruction during the tornado. These services are only made possible through the generous support of individuals, families, and businesses. Thank You!

September 12 & 26, October 10 &24 are the dates of the Autumn sessions for Evenings for Women. The topic for these sessions will focus on how physical, emotional, and spiritual health depends upon the ability to manage stress in our lives, and to recognize and deal with various forms of addictions and addictive behaviors. For more information about registration please call Benincasa Ministries 217-787-6927. All sessions are held at Siena Hall on the grounds of the Dominican Motherhouse, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL.

We are called to be compassionate as God is compassionate. (Luke 6:36) What does the compassion of Christ look like in the modern world? What is my responsibility toward the poor? How do I become someone who really cares for and acts on behalf of the poor and the vulnerable? This fall, a new and challenging thirty-week program called Just Faith will be offered for the first time in our area that helps to answer these questions through reflection, study, prayer, and community. The program is designed to empower and transform participants so that they can become voices for the voiceless and agents of God's good news to the poor. If you are interested please call Sr. Maureen Ivin at 522-3386, Sr. Mary Ellen Backes at the parish office at 544-7426, or Vicki Compton at 321-1120.

The Sacred Heart-Griffin Fall Junior Cheerleading Camp will be held on Saturday, September 2nd from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the SHG West Campus. The camp is open to all students in grades K-8. For more information, please call 553-1131 or 899-4888.

Catholic Charities will be holding a Scrap-Booking Day on Sat., Sept 30th to benefit the "Crisis Assistance Office." It will be held at St. Cabrini Parish Center from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 3020 N. Milton. Lunch and dinner and snacks will be provided. During the fiscal year 2006, the Crisis office served 3,971 families (11,729 individuals) through assistance with rent, utilities, food assistance, advocacy, case management, medications, gas vouchers, personal identification cards, and tornado relief. For more information, or to register, call Janet at 523-2450.

A reunion is being planned and we are looking for lost alumni of St. Agnes Grade School classes of 1979 and 1981. The reunion will be on Saturday, October 7, 2006. Please contact Brigit Leahy at 217-698-0383.

Volunteers are needed to help with the gardens and grounds at Jubilee famr, as well as assisting with activities, projects, and events. This is an excellent opportunity to earn service hours. If you or a group can give a bit of time, please contact Jubilee farm at 217-787-6927 or email: jubilee_farm@sbcglobal.net. Snacks will be provided.

The Riverton Knights of Columbus, Council 3914, wish to announce that their First Friday Fish Fries are back. The first fish fry of the new season will be held September 1 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Carry-outs are also available.

Please mark your calendar for October 1, for 2:30-3:00 p.m in Springfield and come out and join in this prayerful, peaceful witness to the truths that "Abortion Kills Children," "Adoption: the Loving Option," "Jesus Forgives and Heals."

On September 30, Koinonia of Springfield will mark its 30th anniversary with a celebration to be held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. This one-day event starts at 11:00 a.m. with a greet and mingle in the fellowship hall (basement) and continues until 8:00 p.m. Everyone is invited. Many activities are planned, including Mass and dinner. For details, call 522-2634 or 522-0595.

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.

The Brinkerhoff Home Foundation Annual 2006 Ice Cream Social will be held Friday, July 14 on the Brinkerhoff Home Lawn at 1500 North Fifth Street from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Rain or Shine! Tickets are $3.50 or three for $10.00 for ice cream, cake or pie, and drink. Brats and drink are $2.50, and hot dogs and drink are $1.50. The Springfield Municipal Band will play from 6:00-8:00 p.m. All proceeds go to the maintenance and restoration of the Brinkerhoff Home.

A Service of Remembrance will be held in honor of all United States Veterans on July 4th at 10:00 a.m. in Oak Ridge Cemetery south of Lincoln's Tomb. This remembrance is sponsored by the Bishop McNicholas Catholic War Veterans Post 1916 and Staab Funeral Home. Please bring lawn chairs for your comfort. In case of rain the service will be held at the Oak Ridge Cemetery Chapel.

The Annual Sacred Heart-Griffin Mostaccioli Dinner will be held on Sunday, March 5th, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the SHG west campus. You can eat in or carry out; $8 for adults and $4 for children. You can also purchase chances to win a 2006 Ford Focus or $10,000 in cash, as well as two $500 cash prizes.