LENTEN REGULATIONS

1. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence from meat as well as days of fast when only one full meal is allowed. On days of fast, two other meatless meals may be taken according to one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal.

2. The other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

3. The obligation to abstain from meat begins at fourteen (14) years of age.

4. The obligation to fast begins at eighteen (18) years of age and ends at fifty-nine (59) years of age.

5. Although the faithful may excuse themselves for a just cause from these laws of fast and abstinence, there is an obligation to substitute another penance and no Catholic should lightly excuse himself/herself from this obligation in the Lenten season.

LENTEN SCHEDULE Monday

Holy Hour with Rosary 11 a.m. in

church

Daily mass 12:10 p.m. in

church

Confession 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday Holy Hour with Rosary 11 a.m.

in church

Daily mass 12:10 p.m. in church

Confession 11:30 a.m.

Soup and

Spirituality, following the 12:10 Mass.—

Saying yes, discovering and responding to God’s will in your life. Fr. Albert Hess

OFM.

Wednesday Holy Hour with Rosary 11 a.m.

in church

Daily mass 12:10 p.m. in

church

Confession at 11:30 a.m. & 5:30 to 6:30

p.m.

RCIA at 6:30PM

Thursday Holy Hour

with Rosary 11 a.m. in

church

Daily mass 12:10 p.m. in

church

Confession 11:30 a.m.

Friday Holy Hour

with Rosary 11 a.m. in

church

Daily mass 12:10 p.m. in

church

Confession 11:30 a.m.

Stations of the

Cross and Bitter

Lamentations at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Confession 3:00- 3:45

p.m.

Sunday Evening prayer

vespers at 6PM in the North and

South Chapels. This

year’s program

includes a look at the

experience of the early

Church and presentations

by Bishop Robert Barron

and Bishop Fulton Sheen.

ST. JOSEPH MID LENT HAM & BEAN DINNER Saturday, March 17, 2018 from 5 PM to 6:30

PM. Menu includes Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Pea Soup, Roll, Coffee and Desert.

Takeout is available after 5:30 PM. Donation: Adults $12.00, Children 5 to 12 years old $6.00.

Tickets available at St. Joseph Rectory or contact Jack Laviolette, 464-6009. All proceeds go to St.

Joseph Church.

CATHOLIC APPEAL As we approach the Lenten season, the Diocese of

Springfield begins the 2018 Annual Catholic Appeal. Your prayerful contribution combines

with those of other faith-filled Catholics in Western Massachusetts to support services to the

family & elderly, services to those in need, services to young people, and pastoral and spiritual

support services. “In giving, we receive” is an opportunity to thank God for the blessings in our lives and share your blessings with thousands of brothers and sisters in need. It is simple to give.

Send in your one time contribution, or make a pledge using the donation card you received in the

mail, or donate online through Iobserve.org and click on the icon entitled, “In giving, we receive.”

All donations are tax deductible to the extent that the law allows.

Everyone is invited to join in the third annual Mass remembering all deceased alumni of St. Joseph Central High School. The Mass for the Feast of St. Joseph will be celebrated on Monday, March 19th at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, Pittsfield. The 55 alumni who died during calendar year 2017 will be

especially remembered.

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, Pittsfield, MA February 25, 2018

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Sat., Feb. 24th

4:00 PM Sun., Feb. 25th

9:00 AM Sun., Feb. 25th

11:30 AM

Barbara Dalo Pat Keegan Anne Dunham

Paula Dodds Anne Kozlowski Daniel Kochapski

Jim Armstrong Betty Kirby Charles Knappe

Nina Mastrangelo Nancy Nolan J. Weatherwax

Pat Momnie Jack Laviolette Michael Wood

Cheryl Furtek Donna Quallen

Marie Kotowicz Carolyn Rousseau

LECTORS Tom Daly Sharon Vincent Paul Mays

Juliette Ekouah Al Najimy Anna Stack

CCD NEWS February 25th–Regular classes for grades K-9

March 4th– Regular classes for grades K-9. March 11th-Regular classes for grades K-9. Grade 10 meet at the Parish Center 5:00 to

8:00 p.m. Flower distribution to our homebound and nursing home parishioners

with grades 7 to 9 students. Meet in the North Chapel after 9:00 a.m. Mass 10th Grade Confirmation Candidates -

Commitment Sunday is on March 4th at 9:00 a.m. Mass.

THE INAUGURAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS TUITION GALA

Sat. March10, 2018 at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield. Tickets are $50 per person and

include food provided by several area restaurants, live entertainment and a gift bag for each

attendee. The evening will feature a live auction, as well as several silent auction items and raffle

prizes. Please call 413-452-0699 to request tickets. For more information visit http://

diospringfield.org/catholicschoolsgala/

This Friday February 23, 2018, 5 to 6:30 PM, at St. Joseph Parish Center. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus #103, enjoy great dining with fellow parishioners, family and friends or "take out" is available, after 5:30 PM. Friday, February 23rd from 5 PM to 6:30 PM, If you have not obtain your ticket, Donation. Adults $12.00, Children 5 to 12 years old $6.00. Limited tickets at the door, only if available. Please Purchase Tickets early at St.

Joseph Rectory, or contact Jack Laviolette, 464-6009. All proceeds go to St. Joseph Church.

Did you know that the Penny Social was a big success for our religious education program? It was held last Sunday, February 18, and many thanks to all the donors, adults, workers, and

children who attended. Everyone had a fun-filled afternoon and God bless all who made this so enjoyable. Did you know that help is needed? The Parish Council will have at least 4 vacancies this year. The meetings are monthly (except December) from September to May on the third Sunday of the month after the 9 AM Mass. In addition to attending the meetings, you would hopefully serve as an active participant in some of the activities at our parish like fundraisers, parish improvement projects, various ministries, or work within the church or CCD program as well. Please submit your name and a phone number to Father Mike as soon as possible. Become involved with our parish, the Mother Church of the Berkshires. It is okay to nominate yourself. Elections will be in April, so we need to advertise early. Pray and consider being a member.

Sacrificial Giving $ 4,249

Thank you for your generosity

Until further notice there will no longer be

distribution of the Precious Blood at

Communion time due to the flu season

Readings for the Week of February 25, 2018 Sunday: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18/Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19 [9]/Rom 8:31b-34/Mk 9:2-10

Monday: Dn 9:4b-10/Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13 [cf. 103:10a]/Lk 6:36-38 Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20/Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23 [23b]/Mt 23:1-12

Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20/Ps 31:5-6, 14, 15-16 [17b]/Mt 20:17-28 Thursday: Jer 17:5-10/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 [40:5a]/Lk 16:19-31

Friday: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a/Ps 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21 [5a]/Mt 21:33-43, 45-46 Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20/Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 [8a]/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Next Sunday: Ex 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 [Jn 6:68c]/1 Cor 1:22-25/Jn 2:13-25

Scrutiny: Ex 17:3-7/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 [8]/Rom 5:1-2, 5-8/Jn 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

Saturday, February 24th Mary & Bill Turner Requested by Family

4:00 PM

Sunday, February 25th Harry C. McCinnis-1st Anniversary Requested by Wife, Linda Rita & Joseph DeAngelis Requested by Family

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

Monday, February 26th Lou & Mary Irene Bolduc Requested by Family

12:10 PM

Tuesday, February 27th Andrea, Andrea, Nathanial & Mikayla Requested by Aunt & Sister

12:10 PM

Wednesday, February 28th Mabel & Louis Gagnon Requested by Family

12:10 PM

Thursday, March 1st For the Parish

12:10 PM

Friday, March 2nd Billy Guinan Requested by Cora & Jack Cooney

12:10 PM

Saturday, March 3rd William R. Mason, Joe Ryan. Requested by Nancy Leone

4:00 PM

Sunday, March 4th Tom Renton Requested by Terry & Ray Costello Jennifer Kickery Requested by Family

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

February 25, 2018 2nd Sunday of Lent How are your Lenten resolutions? By the time week two

rolls around, plenty of well-meaning people have skipped, neglected, or outright forgotten their Lenten resolutions at least once. It can be easy to start excusing our Lenten

commitments altogether. Last week we saw Jesus driven into the desert. This Sunday, we see Jesus leading his disciples to an equally barren place: he "led them up a

high mountain apart by themselves." But what happens there? "And he was transfigured before them and his

clothes became dazzling white." Today's Gospel reminds us of the goal. We don't enter into the desert for the sake

of suffering, but for the sake of transformation. Mountain imagery is prevalent throughout Scripture. The

sacrifice of Isaac, Moses receiving the 10 Commandments, Elijah's revelation of God as a tiny

whispering sound: all these occur on the mountaintop. Mountains are strenuous to hike. To assist the traveler in the assent, trails often involve switchbacks. These lead the

traveler back and forth across the mountainside, sometimes appearing as if hardly any ground is gained. Perhaps Peter, James, and John hiked a similar path as

Jesus led them up the side of Mount Tabor. A climb is difficult. A climb in a barren place leaves you

thirsty, exhausted, and quite possibly frustrated or discouraged. Yet this is precisely how Jesus leads his closest disciples. Why? Because he has something to

reveal to them. Practically speaking, Jesus needed to bring Peter, James and John away from the crowds for this

revelation of glory to remain hidden. There are spiritual truths we will encounter only if we pass through difficulty. So let's persevere this Lent! Today's Gospel invites us to trust that, if we persevere in following Jesus, he'll lead us

to something beautiful and glorious as well.

MOUNT TABOR MASS INTENTIONS