Church guide

St. Francis de Girolamo (1642-1716) was the eldest of eleven children born to honorable and virtuous parents in Naples, Italy. As a child he was drawn to God and a life of prayer. Realizing his vocation to Holy Orders, he was ordained a Jesuit priest at the age of 28. He became a renowned public preacher due to his distinguished and eloquent voice. He was described as "a lamb when he talks, and a lion when he preaches." He had a heart for the missions after his patron St. Francis Xavier, but instead of traveling to distant lands he accepted his hometown of Naples as his India. He went as a missionary priest into country towns and villages for open-air preaching in the streets. He sought to convert sinners wherever they were—in brothels, prisons, galleys, hospitals, and asylums—as well as instructing the pious in their religious houses. He converted Muslim prisoners of war to the Christian faith, rescued chidren from dangerous and degrading situations, and opened a pawn shop for charity. The fruit of his labor was abundant. He converted many souls, even hardened sinners, and made them virtuous. Everyone knew him for his holiness and zeal. He also had a reputation for being a miracle worker during his lifetime and after his death. After spending 40 years in apostolic labor in Naples, he died of an illness from which he suffered greatly without complaint. His feast day is May 11th.

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The light shines in the darkness,/ and the darkness has not overcome it. (Jn 1:5) God is mystery. The maker of the universe dwells in light inaccessible, so bright that it blinds the probing eye, the questioning mind. Yet this awesome God has taken on a human face and a human name in Jesus. O God, hidden in light inaccessible, you have revealed the face of your love in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Grant us the grace to worship you with reverence and to entrust ourselves to you in love, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Tri-Parish Youth Group will be participating in this years event on Saturday May 11. If you would like to donate to this great cause, contact Andrea Perry about how you can donate or participate in the event!

Pray for BCACS, 5-8-19 - https://mailchi.mp/dba882867e36/pray-for-bcacs-371875

Once again, someone is posing as Fr. Chris asking for you to purchase a gift card for him. This has been happening to other priests and parishes. Essentially, the message supposedly comes from a priest asking parishioners to purchase a gift card which the priest will give to X. It’s a scam. Do not respond to the text or email. http://thecatholicspirit.com/news/nation-and-world/online-scam-targets-priests-parishioners/

5-6-19, Third Week of Easter - https://mailchi.mp/c7a09f89ac79/bc-catholic-weekly-9-17-370643

There was plenty of fun and entertainment to go around on Friday and Saturday at the First Cereal City BBQ Fest with Battle of the Bands on place grounds of St. Joseph Church. A good time was had by all that attended.

Saint Francis-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval (1623-1708) was one of eight children born to one of France's most illustrious families. He learned his piety from his mother, and like his namesake desired to become a priest and missionary. This dream was realized when he was appointed by Pope Alexander VII to be the first Apostolic Vicar of New France (Canada). His territory covered all of what is now Canada and the central section of what would become the United States, an enormous frontier which he undertook as a great spiritual work. He landed in Quebec in 1659 when the population was just 500 people. He supported the missions, built a cathedral to the Immaculate Conception, taught devotion to Our Lady under this title, founded a seminary and an industrial school, and began the first Catholic school system in Canada. In all seasons he made long and perilous journeys by land and water to minister to his flock. When Quebec became a diocese he was consecrated as Canada's first bishop. He fought the sinister alcohol trade to the Indian tribes by having it outlawed within his territory and excommunicating those involved with it. He converted and baptized an Iroquois chief who then became a promoter of the Christian faith and won other converts among the local tribes. St. Francis de Laval was a man known for his great influence and holiness of life. His feast day is May 6th.

Gorgeous day for First Communion! Congratulations to all of the students making their First Communion.

What a beautiful day today St. Joseph Church. 31 students will be making their First Communion this afternoon at Noon Mass.

What a beautiful morning for First Communion today at the Noon Mass for 31 2nd graders who have been attending Religious Education. Please prayer for our students, that the Lord Jesus Christ will always walk with them and that they walk with Him!!

There is live music going on all day on the grounds of St. Joseph church! Come on out and enjoy the beautiful day and different bands throughout the day!!

Come one come all!!

St. James the Lesser (1st c.), also called St. James the Just, was one of the Twelve Apostles and the cousin of Jesus. Both James and his brother, St. Jude, began to follow Jesus in the second year of his ministry. St. James the Less was the first of the Twelve Apostles to whom the risen Christ appeared. After Jesus' ascension into heaven, James was given charge as bishop of the Church in Jerusalem, making him an important leader of the early Church. He was well-known for his prayer life and holiness. It is described that his knees and forehead were calloused due to long hours spent prostrate in prayer. His sanctity was such that he was respected by the Jews and considered by many to be a holy man. James the Less is the author of the New Testament epistle that bears his name. He was martyred by being thrown from the roof of the Jerusalem temple and then stoned and beaten to death as he prayed for his murderers. He died in the year 62 A.D. during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. St. James the Less is the patron saint of pharmacists and the dying. His feast day is May 3rd.

St. Joseph (1st c.) was born in Bethlehem in Judea and later settled in Nazareth. By Divine command he became the husband of the Virgin Mary and adoptive father to God Incarnate. We know from Scripture and Tradition that St. Joseph was a virtuous man and a carpenter by trade. It was he who was entrusted with the great mission to guard, protect, and provide for the temporal needs of God's most precious gifts, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus, in the role of husband and father within the Holy Family. St. Joseph's mission continues from heaven as the patron saint of the Catholic Church. He is also the patron of many causes including fathers, laborers, and families. His feast days are: St. Joseph the Husband of Mary on March 19th, and St. Joseph the Worker on May 1st. Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of St. Joseph the Worker in 1955 to emphasize the dignity, meaning, and value of human work in the eyes of God, and to give all laborers a model of virtue as well as a heavenly intercessor and protector.

Pray for BCACS, 5-1-19 - https://mailchi.mp/741476857976/pray-for-bcacs-365183

Pope St. Pius V (1504–1572) was born as Antonio Ghislieri to a poor yet noble family in Bosco, Italy. He worked as a shepherd until the age of 14, after which he joined the Dominican Order and was ordained a priest at the age of 24. He taught theology and philosophy, spent long hours in prayer, and fasted regularly. Due to his great intelligence and reputation for holiness he rose to a number of prominent positions in the Church, including Inquisitor and Bishop. In 1565 he was elected Pope and took the name Pope Pius V. As Supreme Pontiff he was a great reformer and worked to implement the decisions of the Council of Trent following the Protestant revolt. He reformed the clergy, supported the foreign missions, published a catechism, revised the breviary and missal, and named St. Thomas Aquinas a Doctor of the Church. In his alliance with Venice and Spain, and with the aid of a rosary crusade among the faithful, he defeated the Ottoman Turks in the famous and decisive Battle of Lepanto in the Mediterranean sea on October 7, 1571. This miraculous victory saved Europe from being ruled by the Ottoman Empire. The Holy Father afterwards instituted the feast of Our Lady of Victory (now Our Lady of the Rosary) in thanksgiving to Our Lady for leading the Christian forces to victory, and to encourage a greater devotion to the Holy Rosary throughout the universal Church. For this he is known as the "Pope of the Rosary." His feast day is April 30th.

Sunday April 28 was Divine Mercy Sunday and the day 50-60 members of the Catholic Community Consecrated themselves to Divine Mercy. A personal consecration to Divine Mercy is a self-offering to God (a setting of oneself apart for God) that anyone can make — whether the person is a member of the clergy, consecrated religious, or laity — and they do it for the specific purpose of glorifying God's mercy.

The Monday evening adoration for tonight is canceled. Fr. José is away on retreat.

The lucky guy who knocked the piñata open!!

Bishop Bradley blessing our St. José Sanchez del Rio chapel in St. Joseph middle school.

Here is a little tour of our garden. On Thursday we will be live streaming the bishop blessing the new chapel in our school, so tune back in at around 10 am on Thursday!

Today’s Sister Camp Vocation is the Priesthood. Here’s a clip from Mass. Fr. Chris went through the prayers of vesting with one of our helpers. Jeremy Robert Gallaway.

Our Sister camp Video is ready! What a wonderful week!

Not a great picture, but it's a sweet sound of the organ!!

Father Derda relays Pope Francis' message live at the Capitol! Watch and share!