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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 Third Sunday in Lent: March 7, 2021

John 2:13-25

Hope Today’s Gospel gets our attention immediately. Jesus has just arrived in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. He immediately goes to the temple. When he arrived at the temple, the situation he found there infuriated Him. Yes, there were many people in the temple. However, most of there were not there to pray. There were an astounding number of money changers and also people selling animals for sacrifice!

Jesus absolutely “lost” it! He took a length of cord, made a whip and began driving all these people out of the temple! They were desecrating this beautiful and sacred temple. How dare they? The temple was built and dedicated to be a place for prayer and worship. It was not built to be a market place! Jesus was infuriated! Yet he also was saddened that the people would desecrate such a holy, beautiful and sacred place.

Today may be a day to ask ourselves: what and where are our sacred places? What are the places that are sacred to us? It might be a church, a forest, the mountains, the ocean or simply a swing in our backyard or special chair in our house. We all need sacred places in our lives. These sacred places enable us to experience and open ourselves to God’s presence in the beauty, the silence, the peace – be that in nature, the quiet space in your house or a church.

Sacred places and spaces help to ground us in God. And thus, we may experience God’s presence in that place more intensely and more tangibly. A sacred place as well as a sacred activity (such as simply sitting quietly in a chair) also may help us open ourselves more deeply to God’s presence, word and grace.

Today I invite you to deliberately sit quietly with God for 5, 10, or 30 minutes. We may receive many gifts and deep peace as we quietly and peacefully simply sit with God! God longs for us and God is waiting for us! Will we come?

http://ferdinandbenedictines.blogspot.com/2015/03/reflection-john-213-25.html

Parish News

Annual St. Joseph's Table Bake Sale on Sunday, March 21
Our Annual St. Joseph's Day Bake Sale will be on Sunday, March 21st.

In keeping with “social distancing guidelines”, the Bake Sale will run continuously from 8 AM – 1:30 PM to avoid crowds. Donations are needed to sell and buyers are needed for us to exceed our fundraising target. Donations should be dropped off in the Hall on Saturday morning after 9 AM, March 20th or in the Hall on Sunday, March 21st before the 8 AM Mass. Donations can include: cakes, pies, breads, cookies, Stromboli's, Calzones, pastries, soda bread, etc... Please make sure items are individually wrapped. If you are not able to donate a baked item, please stop by and purchase one or two of the delicious products that will be available. All proceeds from the bake sale will go to the Lincoln Park Food Pantry and the poor.
FSP Calendar Raffle
The annual Calendar Raffle for the benefit of the Franciscan Sisters has begun. The suggested donation is $10 for 1 ticket, or 3 tickets for $25. Tickets will be available in the back of church during this month, if you wish to support this fundraiser. Due to COVID restrictions, the Sisters will not be there to receive your donations, but ask that you mail your returns as indicated on the ticket. Thank you for your support!
"Sharing Jesus" at St. Joseph's!
The Year of St. Joseph
Lenten Stations of the Cross Schedule
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 Classes: UPDATED March 6, 2021
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GRADES 1-4
* * * * NEW * * * *

Mar 7              Classes for Group A        Grades 1-4
Mar 14            Classes for Group B        Grades 1-4
Mar 21            Classes for Group A        Grades 1-4
Mar 28            Classes for Group B        Grades 1-4

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GRADES 5-7

Mar 9              Classes for Group B        Grades 5-7
Mar 16            Classes for Group A        Grades 5-7
Mar 23            Classes for Group B        Grades 5-7
Mar 30            Classes for Group A & B Grades 5-7
                             (Stations of the Cross)

For more information, please call 973.696.4411 x10.

CONFIRMATION PROGRAM

Mar 14            Classes for Group A        Grades 8-9
Mar 21            Classes for Group B        Grades 8-9

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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.
RECENT CATHOLIC NEWS: Updated March 6, 2021

Cardinal Tobin will now help Pope Francis pick bishops
We need to make space and time for God.
All Vaccines are Morally Acceptable

http://www.ecatholicism.org/
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.