St. Joseph Catholic ParisH

DOWNTOWN

201 Church Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
 

SOUTH

5353 S. Roosevelt Road
Stevensville, MI 49127
 

Sacramental Emergencies Only

If you have a Sacramental Emergency only. Please call the emergency phone number at 269-985-7331. Please leave a message at this number only. Your message should contain your name and phone number. Someone will get back to you, as the phone is always monitored. 

PARISH OFFICE and Mailing Address:

220 Church Street
St. Joseph, Michigan 49085
(269) 983-1575 
 

OFFICE HOURS:

8:00 am to 3:30 pm
Monday - Thursday
8:00 am to 3:00 pm Friday

Listen to the Mass in your car on Radio 96.5 FM at the South 9 am Mass. This Mass is now outdoors weather permitting. Please bring your own chairs. 

Caretel Mass Every Thursday at 10:30 AM.

Whitcomb Mass on 2nd Monday of the Month at 9:00 AM. 

• Daily at our Downtown location Monday - Saturday before the 8:00 am Mass (approximately 30 minutes before).
• Wednesdays at our South location before the 9:30 am Mass (approximentaley 30 minutes before).
• Zoom Rosary Monday-Saturday is at 9:30 am and 7:00 pm. 
• Call the Parish Office for the Meeting ID and code
• First Sunday Rosary prayed at 2:00 pm at our South location.

Please use the link below to view Father John's letter regarding the new assignments. 
Congratulations to Father Aurl & Father Tran!

Priests New Assignments 2022

It’s the beginning of a 'New Era' in Our Catholic School. We are becoming Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School – a new name born from our unwavering dedication to Catholicism and a stronger-than-ever commitment to Education, Faith, and Citizenship. #Lakers Forever
Please click on the links:

• Father John’s Presentation - Part 1
• Father John's Presentation - Part 2
• Father John's Presentation - Part 3

• Father John's Presentation - Part 4

• Father John's Response

Catholic Bishops in Michigan Release Statement Celebrating Life, Reaffirm Support for Mothers in Need Following Dobbs Decision

‘Every pregnant woman should know there is a community of compassion and support waiting to help her and her unborn or infant child.’

(Kalamazoo, Mich.) JUNE 24, 2022 — Following today’s momentous and historic ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturns the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision — which to this day has resulted in the tragic loss of some 63 million unborn children nationally and more than 1.5 million children in Michigan — the eleven Catholic bishops in the state of Michigan have released a joint statement that expresses joy with the Court’s majority opinion while reaffirming the Catholic Church’s compassion and support for mothers in need.

In joining with his fellow bishops, Most Rev Paul J. Bradley, bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, added, “Today’s historic Supreme Court decision overturning the unconstitutional Roe v. Wade decision of 1973 is a reason for all who value human life to rejoice.  In union with my brother bishops in Michigan, I call upon all Catholics, along with all people who value human life, to prayerfully reflect on the significance of this decision.  Let us ask God, the Source of all Life, for the grace to help us continue restoring a Culture of Life, and refusing to promote death for those who are the most innocent and vulnerable among us.”

 In their statement, the bishops proclaim that life is a God-given right while reaffirming the Catholic Church’s commitment to supporting mothers during and after their pregnancies. They further clarify that the work to build up a culture of life must continue, particularly considering efforts to impose unregulated abortion in Michigan and across the country have already begun. 

Catholic Bishops in Michigan Statement Following Dobbs Decision 
  Nearly fifty years after the unjust decision in Roe v. Wade, our country draws closer to a society that recognizes the God-given right of life for all persons, at any stage or in any condition. While today’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturns Roe is a cause for joy, we must remember that life is and always will be a gift from our Creator; it cannot be given or taken by governmental structures, judges, or elected officials.

  We are saddened by the fear and anger that has reverberated across our land since a draft of this opinion was leaked to the public. In light of these concerns, we wish to make clear that no woman should face pregnancy alone. With safe-delivery laws, adoption, pregnancy resource centers, and assistance from Catholic and other agencies that provide necessities for mom and baby, every pregnant woman should know there is a community of compassion and support waiting to help her and her unborn or infant child. We empathize with women who struggle with daily challenges that may affect their decision to carry their baby to term: financial insecurity, food insecurity, medical care, lack of relationship and/or family support, coercion, and homelessness, just to name a few.

  The pro-life movement must redouble its efforts to ensure every woman has the support she needs throughout her pregnancy and beyond, whether she chooses to parent or create an adoption plan. We affirm that the Church must prioritize this work, through our Catholic Charities and parish-based support networks, to meet the physical needs of mothers and children as well as offer the emotional support and love new mothers need. We also implore men to be respectful of women and responsible when they father a child. We are all called to walk with moms in need, and we encourage all Michiganders to join us in this effort.

 Today’s momentous decision would not have occurred without fifty years of prayer, action, and witness from innumerable women and men who promote the sanctity of human life. These people of goodwill laid the foundation for a future of love, compassion, and support toward women and their unborn or newborn children. Though Roe is no longer relevant to abortion policy, we must remain vigilant against future attempts to promote abortion as help for women, which in reality are attacks on human life itself. Some of those attacks have already started here in Michigan through the legislative process, at the ballot box, and in the courtroom, signaling that the work to build up a social order that respects human life is not finished.

  Let us, as the Body of Christ here on Earth, pray for all pregnant women and continue to proclaim that human life is sacred from conception to natural death and at every point in between, and commit ourselves to build a society grounded in that essential God-given right.

  Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron
  Archbishop of Detroit

  Most Rev. Earl A. Boyea
  Bishop of Lansing

  Most Rev. Paul J. Bradley
  Bishop of Kalamazoo

  Most Rev. John F. Doerfler
  Bishop of Marquette

  Most Rev. Robert D. Gruss
  Bishop of Saginaw

  Most Rev. David J. Walkowiak
  Bishop of Grand Rapids

  Most Rev. Jeffrey J. Walsh
  Bishop of Gaylord

  Most Rev. Gerard W. Battersby
  Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

  Most Rev. Arturo Cepeda
  Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

  Most Rev. Robert J. Fisher
  Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

  Most Rev. Donald F. Hanchon
  Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

Bishop Bradley has written a pastoral reflection entitled, "The Sanctity of Human Life." Please use the link below to review his reflection. 

A pastoral reflection entitled, "The Sanctity of Human Life."




Please use the link below for DOBBS VS. JACKSON RESOURCES

Life Resources from Diocese of Kalamazoo

 

Use link below to help Ukraine:

Urgent Needs in Ukraine

Prayer From Pope Francis 

Lord God of peace,
hear our prayer!
We have tried so many
times and over so many years
to resolve our conflicts
by our powers
and by the force of our arms.
How many moments of
hostility and darkness
have we experienced?
how much blood has been shed?
how many lives have been shattered?
how many hopes have been buried?
But our efforts have been in vain.
 
Now, Lord, come to our aid!
Grant us peace, teach us peace;
guide our steps in the way of peace.
Open our eyes and our hearts,
and give us the courage to say:
"Never again war!";
"With war, everything is lost".
Instill in our hearts the courage
to take concrete steps
to achieve peace.
 
Lord, God of Abraham, God
of the Prophets, God of Love,
you created us and you call us
to live as brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace;
enable us to see everyone
who crosses our path
as our brother or sister.
Make us sensitive to the plea
of our citizens who entreat us
to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace,
our trepidation into
confident trust, and our
quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within
us the flame of hope,
so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation.
In this way may peace
triumph at last, and
may the words
"division," "hatred," and "war"
be banished from the
heart of every man and woman.
 
Lord, defuse the violence of
our tongues and our hands.
Renew our hearts and minds, 
so that the word which
always brings us together
will be "brother," and
our way of life will always be 
that of Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen.
 

 

The Bishop's Annual Appeal 2022: This year's theme for the Bishop's Annual Appeal is "Inspired by the Holy Spirit: Sharing God's Gifts in Love and Service." Bishop Bradley's letter (found here) as well as the explainer video above (also found at this link), illustrate some of the many ministries, programs, and services that are made possible by your generous support of the Appeal.


More information on the Bishop's Annual Appeal can be found here: https://diokzoo.org/bishops-annual-appeal

Click and listen to Bishop Bradley’s latest Pastoral Letter, “Let Our Hearts Be In-Spired for Mission: A Reflection on the Holy Spirit.”

The purpose of this special Year is to prayerfully beseech the Holy Spirit to pour out His abundant, powerful Gifts upon our Diocese, all our parishes, and on each member of the Clergy and Faithful.  Strengthened by the most Holy Eucharist, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we fervently pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire and enflame all of us with the “Fire of His Love”.   We also pray that all of us will demonstrate readiness and enthusiasm to do what Jesus asks of us: to love God and Neighbor in word, indeed, and in fact.  Then, mindful of the Mission Jesus gave to His Apostles and the Church and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, we will renew our commitment to being courageous and joyful witnesses to Jesus and His Church in the world, to strengthen our Faith, and to sharing our Faith with others. 

Jubilee Year of the Holy Spirit Prayer Card English
Jubilee Year of the Holy Spirit Prayer Card Spanish