• values and recognizes you as having unique gifts for the service of God and others.
• gives you the opportunity to use your God given talents to help others and make the world a better place.

• follow Christ’s example and serve God and one another. 
• commit to service in the parish each year.  In this way, we give witness that the Church is the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.  
• recognize each other’s gifts, and invite each other to use them for the Kingdom of God. 

The links on the left provide information on the many ways to serve at Saint Joseph Parish. 

Not sure where you fit?  Feel free to email Becky for guidance!  If you prefer to call her, she can be reached at 717-766-9433.

I remember my dear Grandmother always being involved in her parish in Steelton.  She had a huge heart for others, and was one of the pillars of that faith community.  In fact, when she died unexpectedly when I was a senior in college, the church was packed for her funeral Mass.  Her pastor shared with my family that hers was the largest funeral he had in that church.  So many people came to know, love and respect my “Granny” because she had a place in her heart for so many.  And when it came to Christmas and Easter, she and my Grandfather always had a steady stream of visitors to their home.  Granny was a wonderful cook, and this is especially where she shared the gifts God had given her, using her cooking and baking skills not only at home, but most especially with the people of her faith community, be it a fundraising dinner, a bake sale, etc.  As an immigrant from Slovenia, she may not have picked up the English language all that well, but you definitely knew where her heart was.

It was Mother Teresa of Calcutta who said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”  I know that this describes my Grandmother!
To do small things with great love is, for me, what lies at the foundation of why we as Catholic Christians are called to be at the service of each other as we look into the expectation of our Parish Vision Statement, SERVE.
In today’s Gospel for this 5^th Sunday of Lent, we hear the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  Jesus has come to serve this family, these siblings who were among his closest friends, whose home was always open to Him.  Lazarus, Mary and Martha were always willing to serve the needs of Jesus.  They did small things for Him, always with great love.  Now, we see Jesus do something great for them, of course, with perfect love, when he raises Lazarus from the dead.
Our Vision Statement is:  SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH IS A GROWING COMMUNITY OF FAITH THAT WELCOMES PEOPLE TO THE LIVING PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST.  AS DISCIPLES SENT TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD, WE COMMIT TO WORSHIP, GROW, SERVE, CONNECT, AND GIVE.  This is how we can all live out service:

 
Saint Joseph Parish…
¨ values and recognizes you as having unique gifts for the service of God and others.
¨ gives you the opportunity to use your God given talents to help others and make the world a better place.
 
As parishioners, we…
¨ follow Christ’s example and serve God and one another. 
¨ commit to service in the parish each year.  In this way, we give witness that the Church is the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. 
¨ Recognize each other’s gifts, and invite each other to use them for the Kingdom of God. 
 

We have 60 or so ministries in which you can be involved here at the Parish.  How has God blessed you with specific skills and talents?  How is God calling you to serve the Christ who is present in other people with those special gifts you possess?  And when you serve, are you serving the presence of Christ in others WITH GREAT LOVE?

Stewardship Prayer
My parish is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am. It will be holy, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work. It will be prayerful, if I pray.
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring others into worship, if I invite and bring them in.
It will be a place of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith,
of compassion, charity and mercy, if I, who make it what it is,
am filled with these same things.
Therefore, with the help of God, I now dedicate myself to the task
of being all the things that I want my parish to be.
Amen.