Parish Transformation Update (6/27/21)

WELCOME TO FATHER KEN ROTH!

This week we welcome our new Parochial Vicar, Father Ken Roth. Father is a native of Littlestown, PA, attended Penn State University, and received his formation for priesthood at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD. He was ordained in 2018 for the Diocese of Harrisburg and just finished his first assignment at Saint Joan of Arc in Hershey. In addition to duties here at the parish, Father will also serve Trinity High School as their chaplain. We are really happy to welcome him to our parish, and our prayers are with him.

SPECIAL LITURGICAL EVENTS
THIS SUMMER HERE AT SAINT JOSEPH’S

All are welcome to attend these special ceremonies as we continue with our re-opening process:

Sunday Evening Mass with and for our 9^th grade Confirmation Candidates at the Gazebo the following Sundays at 5:00 PM:

June 27
July 18
August 15

All parishioners are welcome to attend with us and to pray for these young men and women. We remind every Confirmation student that you are required to attend at least one of these Masses, and, following the conclusion of Mass, should not leave without receiving a handout from Mr. Rebuck. In case of rain, we will then gather in the Church.

Bereavement Ceremonies: We invite those who lost a loved one during the pandemic, since the closures in March 2020, to either or both of these ceremonies to pray with them, and to pray for their beloved deceased:

Holy Hour, Friday, July 16 at 7:30 PM
Mass on Sunday, July 18 at 11:30 PM

Our Parish Picnic will take place on Sunday, July 25. Thanks to our Knights of Columbus family, we are excited to offer something a little different this year. A polka band will provide the entertainment during the picnic, and they will also provide the music for a specially scheduled Gazebo Mass that afternoon. The Mass will be at 2:00 PM, and then enjoy food, fun, music and each other at the picnic immediately after the Mass).

Vacation Bible School will take place Sunday, August 1 through Thursday, August 5. Join us for the Sunday evening Mass to begin the Bible School on August 1 at 5:30 PM in the Church.

Weekend Gazebo Masses: As previously announced, we will plan on offering the outdoor Mass Saturday afternoons at 4 PM and Sundays at 9:45 AM. There may be a few times, when one of the priests is on vacation or needing to assist elsewhere, that only one priest will be available for all or part of the weekend Church Masses. When this occurs, we will simulcast the indoor Church Mass on large TV screens to an outdoor area near the Church (location still to be determined). We are doing this for those who still feel more comfortable being in an outdoor social setting. Holy Communion will be brought by EMHCs during the Rite of Communion.

SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH

Mechanicsburg, PA

Parish Transformation Update (6/27/21)