St. Joseph R.C. Church

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Welcome to St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Our Saturday @ 5:30PM Mass can be viewed weekly via livestream by clicking on the link to the right: YouTube: Parish Livestream

e are a Roman Catholic community of believers in Jesus Christ in Lincoln Park and surrounding areas, located in the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey. Our Bishop is Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney. Please feel free to visit the pages of our Parish site, learn about who we are as a community of faith and the services our parish provides. If you are thinking about moving to the Lincoln Park area, we cordially invite you to make St. Joseph's your parish.

The First Sunday of Advent

November 28, 2021 Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

Caravaggio Doubting Thomas As we enter the Advent season, we move liturgically from the darkness that will precede the end of the world to the darkness that hovered over the world at its beginning. It is a time for us to listen again to God's promise of deliverance and reconciliation. It is a time for us to be reassured of His relentless love for each and all of us, and for our planet.

Advent should be a time for us to be filled with new hope, new courage. It is a time for us to be reassured that the darkness that overshadows the present moment, whether from sin, sickness, poverty, sorrow, weakness or failure, will be dissipated and driven away by the Son of God.

We listen, and wonder and pray, while we get caught up in the flurry of activities that accompany our preparation for Christmas. We know this holy season is important for us. We hear the words of promise and of exhortation.

Advent is not a season of false hope, but one of preparation. We are not getting ready for some improbable, imagined event that exists only in fantasy. Our hope is based on the assurance that our God is coming. He has already come among us in our own flesh, and ready loves us beyond death, has overcome sin and evil, and has seeded us with the hope of Eternal Life.

And so we use these Advent days to stir up this hope in a fearful world, to cultivate that seed of hope to full bloom. We know that the Lord has come... we are certain that the Lord will come again. And for us that does not mean waiting in fear and dread for doomsday. We do believe in the second coming of Jesus, and we try to live each day in readiness for that stupendous event. But we also try to live every day embracing His presence in our ordinary, day-to-day, life experiences.

Especially as this year comes to a close, we reaffirm our belief in all that Jesus has already accomplished in us, and we see in that a promise, a reason to hope for so much more.... for a deepening of our own faith and love... for the power to overcome evil in ourselves and in our world... for the spread of the gospel... for the healing of hatred and the banishment of terrorism and war... for peace and justice.

Advent is a sacred time to deepen our understanding of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We need to realize again how fully He has entered into the very fabric of our lives. We want to allow Him to transform every facet of our human existence, so that in all things we think, speak, choose and act as redeemed children of God.

This is the challenge - and the precious opportunity - of Advent.

http://www.ecatholicism.org/index.php/11-lectionary-cycle-c/335-1st-sunday-of-advent-be-vigilant

Parish News & Updates

Parish News

Nursing Home Gift-Giving
The Christmas season is fast approaching, and once again through the generosity of the parishioners at St. Joseph’s Church, the Christian Service Committee will be able to provide gifts to the residents of the Lincoln Park Nursing Home. Most of these residents would otherwise not receive any gifts at Christmas.

Our list of gift suggestions are:
Men: socks, slippers and Tee-shirts
Women: socks and slippers

Miscellaneous: toiletries, i.e., deodorant, dental items, moisturizer, hand cream, etc.

Gifts should be returned wrapped and labeled (man or
woman and what’s inside) and placed on the windowsills
in church. All gifts should be returned by Sunday, December 12th. Any questions, call Meg Williams at
973.696.7090.
Christmas Giving Tree
Our “Giving “Tree” Christmas project will begin this weekend, November 20th & 21st. We will provide gift cards for adults and adolescents, and focus on gifts for younger children.

Ornaments will be available on display boards in the rear of the church. There will be display boards and sign-out books on both sides of the church to enable us to maintain social distancing. Please sign your name and phone number in the book next to the corresponding gift number on the ornament you choose.

We ask for all gifts to be returned with the ornament attached to the gift the weekend of December 11th & 12th. It is helpful to return gift cards in a small gift bag, if possible. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Mary Bono (973.696.9713) or Lois Moeller
(201.572.1646). Cash donations are also welcome.

Thank you and God bless you for your continued generosity.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
R.C.I.A., the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is a process for anyone wishing to know more about the Roman Catholic Faith and the reception of the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation). By our baptism, each of us is called to share the good news. Each of us may know someone who, if asked, would consider becoming a Catholic. The invitation needs to be extended.

As a member of the faith family, have you extended the invitation? If you want to become a Catholic or know someone who may be interested in becoming a Catholic, please come to the Parish Center room 6 for classes on Sundays at 11 AM or call the office at
973.696.4411.
Religious Education Program: Updated November 27, 2021
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION INFORMATION FOR GRADES K-8

Nov 28               No Classes           Thanksgiving Recess
Dec 5                 Pageant Sign-up K – 4th
Dec 8 Feast of Immaculate Conception
Dec 12              Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dec 19              4th Grade Class Mass
Dec 26              No Classes – Christmas Break

For more information or to request forms, please call
973.696.4411 x10.

CONFIRMATION PROGRAM: GRADES 7-8

Dec 1           Classes in School
Dec 8           Feast of the Immaculate Conception;
                     Classes Attend Mass
Dec 15         Classes in School
Dec 22         No Classes – Christmas Break

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For more information, please call 973.696.4411 x12.
Polish Masses to Be Celebrated at St. Joseph's on the Third Saturday of Each Month
Polish Masses are now being celebrated at St. Josephs on the 3rd Saturday of every month at 7 PM.
Parish Registration
If you are new to the parish or have not previously registered in the parish, please do so by calling the office at 973.696.4411 x 101 for a registration form. Also, if you are not receiving collection envelopes, we can arrange to have them sent them to you.
First Friday Benediction
Please join us for our regular First Friday services with a monthly Eucharistic Holy Hour from 7 to 8 PM, featuring Exposition of the

Blessed Sacrament, Adoration, and Benediction, provided by our Deacons. Please note that Mass will only be available in the morning at 8 AM.
Visiting the Sick and Shut-Ins
If you have a famly member or know of someone who is in the hospital or homebound and they would like to receive Holy Communion, please call Sr. Ellen at (973) 696-4411, etx. 3.

Because of privacy laws, the hospital does not contact us when a parishioner is admitted and therefore, we have no way of knowing. Notifying us will enable us to visit our parishioners and bring them the sacraments.
Parish Email List: Great Way to Stay Informed!
If you would like to be added to the parish email list or to update your email address with us, to receive notifications of funerals and parish events, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know. As of now, we have over 500 people on our email list. What a resourceful way to keep up to date on our parish happenings! Thank you.