Click below to view flyer

Holy Mass is OPEN at St.Joseph’s Church in Hanover

 

4:00pm 

6:30pm (Spanish)

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8:00am

10:00am

12:00 noon (Spanish)

‼️Covid 19 Precautions:

🌟Please arrive  no earlier than half an hour before mass

🌟Please wear a mask, enter main door only

🌟Please allow the USHER TO SEAT YOU; do not seat yourself

🌟Please remove your mask for communion and pls do not wear gloves if u are receiving in the hand

🌟Please be patient and understanding if you are not admitted into Holy Mass; as we do have a limited capacity; IF YOU ARE NOT ADMITTED due to full capacity In the church, you may be directed by the Ushers to Social Hall (based on social hall capacity). We will have overflow live-stream projected in social hall. And priest will come to social hall with holy communion.

 Newly ordained Deacon Carlos Pichardo assists at his first Mass as Deacon. Here, Deacon Carlos preaches on the Good News of God’s mercy to the largely Hispanic congregation at the noon Mass.

Please know you are all in the prayers of the priests and deacons here at St. Joseph Parish.  Like your home, our parish expenses continue during this difficult time.  Since some people are not coming to church on a regular basis due to the virus, we have seen a great reduction in giving.  We need your support now more than ever.  You may drop off your contributions at the parish office, under the door is fine.  However, now is a great time to register for “Parish Giving”.  Please see below and register for on line giving.  Thank you for your continued support. 

 

St. Joseph Parish has enlisted Parish Giving to provide its members with the opportunity to use Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) as an alternative method for giving. 

 

Click on Parish Giving logo above to register for the program.

 

Parish Giving allows participants to donate a recurring contribution that is automatically transferred from your checking or savings account, or even credit card, on a monthly basis, and you select your own billing date. This Program can be utilized for your Sunday contributions, as well as any Holy Day Collection and all diocesan collections.

 

The use of EFT is not only time saving and convenient for you, but also allows our Parish to realize a more consistent level of support. By signing up for Parish Giving, you will know that you are doing your part to support the Parish even at times you are not able to be physically present to celebrate with the Parish Community.

 

Novena for Protection in Time of Pandemic

 

Select the above link for the prayer

 

2020 Diocesan Annual Campaign

Update as of October 1, 2020

Saint Joseph Parish, Hanover

 

 

Parish Goal for 2020            $195,500.00
Total Paid                             $147,539.66
Over (under) goal in cash     ($47,960.34)
Total Pledged:                        $30,600.00
Outstanding Pledges:             $10,447.00
% toward goal cash rec'd        77.04%
Average Gift:                            $308.66
Number of Donors:                   340
Registered Households:           2,084
Percentage of Participation:      16.31%

 

 

 

 

As I know many of you are aware, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg filed for c

In support of this effort, I have asked your Pastor (Parochial Vicar) to read this letter to all of you this weekend and again in September to ensure that we reach as many survivors as possible before the claims filing deadline. The claims filing deadline is November 13, 2020. Claims can be made confidentially. Information on how to submit a claim has been posted at every church and school within the Diocese. We have also made this information available on the Diocese's webpage and the webpage maintained by the Diocese's claims and balloting agent, Epiq Restructuring, at https://dm.epiq11.com/case/rcdh/info. Additionally, information will also be published at least twice in your parish's weekly bulletin and you can ask any priest within our Diocese for more information as well. I ask that you please share this information with your family and friends who are not here today. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please be assured of my continuing prayers and I ask that you please keep me as well as all of the priests, deacons, and consecrated religious of our Diocese in your prayers as well.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer

 

 

 

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania In re: Roman Catholic Diocese of            Harrisburg Case No. 1:20-bk-00599 (HWV)

Claims Notice for Victims of Sexual Abuse and Others with Claims Against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania In re: Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg Case No. 1:20-bk-00599 (HWV) If you were sexually abused by any person connected with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, a Roman Catholic parish or Roman Catholic school within the geographical area of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, or have any claim against  the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, you must file a claim by November 13, 2020. 

 For more Diocesan information, visit: https://www.hbgdiocese.org or https://dm.epiq11.com/RCDH

 For U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania information, visit: http://www.pamb.uscourts.gov/

 

 

 

 

 

 

A brief list of resources for the Holy Rosary (you may know of others):

1. A simple guide on "how to pray": http://www.kofc.org/en/resources/cis/devotionals/4772.pdf
2. Apostolic Letter of St John Paul II on the Rosary: http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae.html

3. Meditations from St John Paul II Society: https://www.stjohnpaul.org/rosary-meditations/
4. Meditations by Archbishop Fulton Sheen: https://traditionalcatholicprayers.com/2019/11/14/fulton-sheens-meditations-on-the-15-mysteries-of-the-rosary/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During this challenging time, many of the faithful may be unable to attend Mass.  Magnificat is honored to provide complimentary access to our online version to help people pray from home.  

 

English: http://magnificat.com/free

Spanish: http://magnificat.com/gratis  

 

Also, Formed is now available on Roku devices.

 

 

One is an Act of Spiritual Communion:  https://www.hbgdiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Spiritual-Communion.pdf

 

The second is a Sunday Prayer at Home:  https://www.hbgdiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sunday-Prayer-at-Home.pdf

 

 

Prayer to Our Lady Imploring Her Protection

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

 

Information concerning a prayer app.

 

We know this is an incredibly busy and challenging time. With dioceses across the country (and world) suspending the celebration of the Mass, we can only imagine the stress that you and your parishioners are experiencing. 

I wanted to pass along a note from our friends at Hallow. They've been scrambling to figure out how they can best support you and your parishioners.

As a quick introduction - Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that guides users in deepening their relationship with Christ through audio-guided contemplative prayer & meditation sessions. It launched in Dec-2018 and as of now have over 150,000 downloads in over 50 countries, 750,000 prayers completed, and are now the #1 Catholic app in the US.  

The app comes recommended by a number of Bishops, priests, families, and teachers across the country (see endorsements below).  You can see a video walk through of the app here.  

 

  

Advocacy for People with Disabilities

 

The Diocese of Harrisburg is committed to working toward full participation of people with disabilities and their families in all aspects of the life of the Church.  The Diocesan Office of Ministry for People with Disabilities initiated the Parish Advocacy Program in 2007 to enable parishes to better respond to the gifts and needs of their parishioners with disabilities. 

 

Fran Stringer has been appointed by Monsignor Lyons to serve as our Parish Advocate.  A Parish Advocate works with the pastor and also the Office of Ministry with People with Disabilities in the diocese.   This person strives to assist parishioners with disabilities to become full participants in the life of the church – spiritually, physically and socially. 

 

If you or someone you know is limited in participation at St. Joseph Parish and this could be improved by special accommodations please let Fran know how we might work with you to remove roadblocks to full inclusion in our parish life.  She can be reached by calling the Parish Office at 637-5236.   Please leave your name, contact information and the most convenient time for a call back.  

 

From Fr. Lyons.   Respect Life Sunday A 20         10-4-20              Phil 4: 6-9   I        The following statement comes from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  “Each October the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday.  As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between.  During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life.”   Also, every year the month of October is dedicated to Mary with the theme of the Holy Rosary because the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is on October 7.  Consequently, every October the Church reminds us of the dignity of human life from conception to natural death and the Church also rightly leads us to Jesus through Mary, by praying the Holy Rosary.  These two themes, the dignity of human life and prayer are meant for each other.    A.      Let us not doubt the power of prayer.  Brother Lucien was a Franciscan Friar.  Years ago he prayed every day for the conversion and consecration of the Soviet Union to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Members of his religious community laughed at him because they thought there was no way such a powerful enemy as the Soviet Union could possibly collapse.  Brother Lucien did not live to see its collapse.  Perhaps in heaven he was in a better position for his prayers to be heard.  The Soviet Union finally did collapse.  Some might say it was coincidence that Brother Lucien and millions of others prayed about the conversion of the Soviet Union and that it collapsed.   Believing and practicing Catholics would say that it is the power of prayer that changes wrongs to rights.  B.      Remember David and Goliath.  David was up against a better armed, more experienced and much stronger opponent in Goliath.  But David used something better than violence and strength.  He told the Philistine, “I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts.”   He did not just use his slingshot.  He came at Goliath in the name of the Lord.   C.      Jesus and his disciples were in a similar situation.  They were up against the religious establishment of their day and even more so against the power of the Roman Empire.  The religious authorities wanted to stop Jesus from doing the good he was doing by throwing rules and regulations at him.  Jesus fought back with the power of the Cross.  The Cross brought a greater victory than could ever have been imagined by the people of that time.  D.     Today and all this month we pray for respect for life, but especially for the protection of unborn children.  This is what the U.S. bishops have recently said about abortion.  This statement is from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, and the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee of Pro-Life Activities.   “Last November, the U.S. bishops affirmed that ‘the threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority, because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed.’  While we noted not to ‘dismiss or ignore other serious threats to human life and dignity such as racism, the environmental crisis, poverty, and the death penalty,’ we renewed our commitment to protect the most fundamental of all human rights—the right to live.”  The archbishop goes on to say, “This past January, I shared with Pope Francis that the bishops of the United States had been criticized by some for identifying the protection of the unborn as a preeminent priority.  The Holy Father expressed his support for our efforts observing that if we fail to protect life, no other rights matter.” E.      Prayer is primary.  St. Paul encourages us to believe in the power of prayer.  St. Paul says “Have no anxiety at all but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”  This is a very clear statement.  “By prayer and petition” we are to let God know of our concerns and requests.  If we are anxious that progress is not being made fast enough in the pro-life work against abortion we are further told that when we do make our prayer requests known “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.”  We have taken it to God and placed in God’s hands.  We can be at peace.  F.      That does not mean we take no other action.  40 Days For Life is now in progress and visible witness is always needed at abortion sites.  As one director of 40 Days For Life said to volunteers outside of Planned Parenthood, “I always encourage volunteers by telling them that they are the last sign of hope for the baby and the mother as she goes inside the facility to have the abortion.  And they are also the first sign of mercy to the woman after the abortion.  By simply peacefully praying outside, we are witnessing to the hope that the woman might change her mind and not go through with the abortion.  Our presence tells such women that they are not alone in this decision.”  G.     We know that the enemy before us is a modern day powerful Goliath.  It is filled with laws and regulations more sophisticated than that of the Pharisees.  We fight to protect the unborn, not with human weapons or hatred.  We fight for unborn children with prayer and witnessing to hope and mercy that can only come from God.                                -

 

 

We are starting a new column from SJS alumni giving testimonials about how attending St. Joseph school has impacted them.

Why Saint Joseph’s school worked for me:

-Loved wearing uniforms because I didn’t have to figure out what to wear each day. (It also taught me appropriate attire for appropriate settings)

-Learned not only academics but the work ethic and critical thinking necessary to be successful

-Enjoyed community atmosphere where I felt safe and loved by peers and faculty 

-Respect, responsibility and discipline were an integral part of the learning experience 

-basketball program was competitive, fun and coached very well

Andy Redding 

Saint Joseph graduate 1998

Delone Catholic graduate 2002

Penn state BS finance 2006

Current occupation- Business owner