Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

This weekend (February 2nd), the church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord which occurs forty (40) days after Christmas Day and it is often referred to as the Candlemas day since, as you may have noticed, there is a blessing and procession with candles.
According to the Roman Rite, this weekend marks the definite end to the Christmas season as it is practiced in the European region however, in modern times, since some has designated the Feast of the Epiphany or the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord as the end of the Christmas season.
If we listen to the readings of this weekend, we come to a realization that the Lord has sent someone before him to prepare a way for him. That person, whom the Lord has sent as we know is St. John the Baptist since John was born six months prior to the birth of Jesus.
Now, as the Law of Moses was declared, every first born-male must be consecrated to the Lord as such Mary and Joseph were fulfilling this Law. During Jesus' time in the temple, faithful servants of God such as Simeon who had been waiting for the Lord and was assured by God that he would not see death until he has seen the Lord Jesus Christ himself and Anna among others all went and blessed the Lord. It is on this feast (in the West), that the Law of purification for women who had given birth was declared in the Law of Moses.
As we will witness during our weekend masses, we shall engage ourselves in a procession with candles and this is to symbolize Jesus Christ as the 'light of the World'.

Condolences

We are sad to announce that Fr. Gerard Farfan, a Holy Ghost Father, passed away on Tuesday night in West Shore Medical at around 10PM. We pray that his soul will rest in peace and that the family and friends of the lat Fr. Farfan will be comforted during this time of loss. The Funeral is slated to take place on Tuesday February 4th at 9.30AM in Assumption R.C. Church, Maraval.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and Perpetual light shine upon him, May he rest in peace. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen. 

Lenten Activities Announced!

Mark your Calendars because we have just announced some of our activities which we have lined up for this solemn season of Lent:

• Stations of the Cross every Friday in Lent at 6PM on Calvary Hill, St. Joseph.
• St. Joseph Feast Day on Sunday March 16th with a Procession of the St. Joseph statue which starts from the church to the First Capital Park and Holy Mass at 9.30AM by Archbishop Joseph Harris.
• Parish Lenten Retreat on Monday 17th-Wednesday 19th led by Fr. Arnold Francis. 

Stay posted for additional information which will be released in the coming months. 

Special Notice

Dear Parishioners, Please walk with candles for this weekend's Mass as we celebrate the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. There will be a blessing and a short procession with candles. Thanks.

Parish Notices for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1. The Feast of St. Joseph will be celebrated on Sunday 16^th March 2014. Like last year many activities are planned for this grand occasion. Procession with the statue of   St. Joseph through streets of St. Joseph. Mass to be celebrated in the Park by Archbishop Harris. More details in the coming weeks. If you would like to assist please check with Deacon Jeffrey. Adult male and female Polo shirts are now available. 
2. A reminder to parents. Registration for St. Joseph Girls R.C. School and St. Joseph Boys R.C will take place on Monday 3^rd February 2014 at 9 AM. Please check the notice board and the poster on the main door to the church for more information. 
3. A reminder to persons or families who hold leases for burial plots in our churchyard private cemetery behind the church, to come to the parish office to renew the said leases.. Also all those who hold a lease for any plot in the parish cemetery by the King Street (even if the lease is still valid) who have not yet come to renew the lease are kindly asked to do so before Easter. Please help us by sharing this information with all persons who may have such a lease and are not aware we are conducting this renewal exercise. Kindly call the office prior of coming to schedule an appointment. 
4. Tomorrow/Today in Curepe Parish Church from 9 am until 6 pm there will be a healing session led by the R.C. Evangelist from Dubai Aneel Aranha. More information on the flayer which is on the notice board. 
5. All parishioners are invited join our Parish Pilgrimage to the Siparia devotions on Sunday 9^th of February in La Divina Pastora Church in Siparia. We will be leaving at 12.30 pm. Cost of the transportation will be 60 $ per person. Please write your name and contact number on the sheet provided at the Catholic news stand. You can contact the Lynette Taitt for more information.

Blessings to ALL our parishioners this week! 

A Call to Help!

We, the Parish of St. Joseph/Mt. D' or would like to encourage all of our members to lead a helping hand as we aim to fully Air-Condition our St. Jude Chapel in Mt. D'or. We have already obtained some funds during the last year but there is need for some to bring this project to completion. This is where we need YOUR help. After all, the Lord loves a cheerful giver! May God bless you all and bless this project!

Parish Notices for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1. The Feast of St. Joseph will be celebrated on Sunday 16^th March 2014. Like last year many activities are planned for this grand occasion. Procession with the statue of   St. Joseph through streets of St. Joseph. Mass to be celebrated in the Park by Archbishop Harris. More details in the coming weeks. If you would like to assist please check with Deacon Jeffrey. 
2. A reminder to parents. Registration for St. Joseph Girls R.C. School takes place on Monday 3^rd February 2014 at 9 AM. Please check the notice board and the poster on the main door to the church for more information. Also registration for St. Joseph Boys R.C will take place on Monday, 3 rd of February. More information is available (once again) on the posters. 
3. We would like to invite all these who lease burial plots on our parochial private cemetery behind the church to come to the parish office in order to review said leases and receive the document in a new form. Please call the office prior of coming that we may find the most convenient time. Also all these who hold a lease for any plot in the parish cemetery by the King Street (even if the lease is still valid) who did not come yet to review the lease are kindly asked to do so before Easter that we may close the process of registering the plots. Please share this information with all who may have such a lease and are not here. 
4. In this month the Parish Priest will visit the sick on coming Tuesday, January the 21^st. If you know somebody who should receive anointing, please contact Karen Ramlogan. 
5. Please check us in our virtual spaces by visiting our blog or Facebook page.

Blessings to ALL our parishioners this week!

Feast of the Baptism of our Lord

This weekend, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord and the end of the Christmas season. Now it may seem that Christ, a sinless being, submitting himself to St. John the Baptist, and being baptized by water in the river Jordan, though he had no need of it. He did it as an example for the rest of in the years to follow. If we must enter into the family of God, we all must avail ourselves to the very first Sacrament and that is, the Sacrament of Baptism to cleanse ourselves from original sin. This Baptism (by water) is usually done at infant stages and it is the first step in the Sacraments of Initiation. The other steps include the Sacrament of First Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is on this occasion where we see the Trinity intervening, where Christ the Son, submerges himself into the waters of Life and God the Father, announces 'This is my Son, the Beloved, my favor rests on him' and finally, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, rests upon Jesus after raising from the waters.
As we contemplate on our very own Baptism, let us be mindful that the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism is indelible. May the waters of life continue to cleanse us.

Parish Notices for the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord

1. Pledge Envelopes for 2013 are available at the Catholic News Stand. Pledge is a monthly contribution. Pledge funds are used for ongoing maintenance of the church building, particularly for major restoration of the church in the coming years. Our church is our home, and we can be part of its upkeep for future generations. For existing and new contributors you can collect your set 12 envelopes after Mass. 
2. The Feast of St. Joseph will be celebrated on Sunday 16^th March 2014. Like last year many activities are planned for this grand occasion. Procession with the statue of   St. Joseph through streets of St. Joseph. Mass to be celebrated in the Park by Archbishop Harris. Official Polo Shirts will be on sale soon. More details in the coming weeks. 
3. MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH HARRIS. “We have all been shocked at the pictures of the terrible natural disaster that has affected the people of St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I have contacted the respective Bishops of these islands and efforts have already been mobilized through the Youth Commission and persons who are in these islands accessing the situation on behalf of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain. I am authorizing a special collection for the people of St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the weekend of January 18-19, 2014. Please be generous in supporting the second collection.”

Blessings to ALL our parishioners this week!

 

Condolences

Fr. Michel De Verteuil, a man of God that headlined the Lectio Divina movement within the Catholic Church has passed away on Sunday January 5th, 2014. The Parish of St. Joseph/Mt. D'or extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Fr. Michel and may the grace of God console his relatives within the Spiritan order during this time of loss.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and Perpetual light shine upon him, May he rest in peace. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen. 

UPDATE: The Funeral of the late Fr. Michel de Verteuil will take place on Thursday January 9^th at 9.30AM in St. Theresa’s RC Church, Woodbrook. May his soul rest in peace.

Parish Notices for the Feast of the Epiphany

1. Pledge Envelopes for 2014 are available at the Catholic News Stand. Pledge is a monthly contribution, whereby the funds received is used for ongoing maintenance of the church building. Some of the funds are also being set aside for major restoration of the church in the coming years. Our church is our home, and we can be part of its upkeep for future generations. For existing and new contributors you can collect your set 12 envelopes after Mass.
2. There will be an important meeting for all Extra-ordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers) on Monday 13^th January 2014 at 6.30PM in the Parish Hall.  

Blessings to ALL our parishioners this week! 

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The Octave of Christmas end on the first fay of the new year, which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, venerated as the Mother of God. The Gospel reminds us that she "kept all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). So she did in Bethlehem, on Golgotha at the foot of the cross, and on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended in the Upper Room. And so she does today too. The Mother of God and of human beings keeps in her heart all of humanity's problems, great and difficult, and meditates upon them. The Alma Redemptoris Mater walks with us and guides us with motherly tenderness towards the future. Thus she helps humanity cross all the "thresholds" of the years, the centuries, the millenniums, by sustaining their hope in the One who is the Lord of history.

--Blessed Pope John Paul II

New Year Greetings

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