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We have slowly been returning to pre-pandemic routines here at St. Joseph’s. In two weeks (2nd Sunday of Advent) we are going to print the music again for the Sunday Masses.

We’ve been working with a logo designer to create a new logo. We wanted something that both felt like it had been around forever (like our parish) but also didn’t feel dated or antiquated. The result is below. I’ve also attached a letter to our parish from the designer that explains the symbolism of the logo (it’s below).

Because of purgatory we can still help the dead: our prayers can speed their journey through purgatory and help them reach their eternal home in heaven. It’s a spiritual act of mercy to pray for the dead and All Souls Day reminds us of its importance. 

The last Church Council, Vatican II, boldly proclaimed the universal call to holiness: all of us are called to be saints in heaven. Tomorrow’s feast can be ours if we follow God’s grace in our lives– we can be one of the saints we celebrate tomorrow. Let us say yes to God’s call! Let us travel together to heaven.

The construction work is almost done, and it’s currently usable – we’re now holding RCIA, Religious Ed, In Vino Veritas, and a couple other ministries in the new hall. Currently the staff at St. Joseph’s and I are creating rules for the use of the space, and policies to help new ministries start and flourish here.

This Tuesday we celebrate a Memorial to a New York saint – St. Isaac Jogues, SJ. He was a Jesuit missionary in the northern New York area and ministered to the Iroquois, Huron, and other tribes in the early 17th century.

I have a number of people interested in starting various ministries and I’m looking forward to helping these ministries start. There will certainly be more coming and I hope that we can build up the community here at St. Joe’s.

This Thursday we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. As a Dominican parish we are especially united to the rosary – for 800 years Dominicans have been preaching the rosary. It’s a powerful prayer and I encourage all to pray it daily. It’s spiritual power is why Dominicans wear a rosary on their left hand side – the side on which knights would wear their swords. The rosary is our spiritual weapon, protecting us during spiritual battles. 

God created angels as pure spiritual beings, meaning that they don’t have physical bodies. But they are powerful – more powerful and intelligent than humans. They see God directly and can intercede with God for us. They also carry out God’s will, acting as intermediaries between God and man.

Jesus gave His Church this great commission just before His Ascension into heaven. It is His last command to His disciples and is why our parish exists. The Apostles went out to all the world, preaching Christ and building communities founded on the way of life Christ has given us, based on the grace Christ makes available to us. The Church of St. Joseph exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ within our city. We are all called to be disciples– to grow in holiness and to invite others to share in what God has given us.

Today Religious Education for children and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults begin. If your children need religious education (ie: are not going to Catholic schools), it’s not too late to sign up. Also, if you know someone who desires to become Catholic, or you still haven’t received the sacrament of Confirmation, it’s not too late to join RCIA. 

Next Sunday RCIA begins. RCIA stands for the “Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults” and it’s for adults, baptized or unbaptized, who want to enter the Catholic Church. It’s a class that teaches them about the teachings of the Catholic Church and forms them to live the Catholic spiritual life. RCIA meets after the 11:30 am Mass every Sunday and runs to Easter.

We are quickly moving toward the beginning of the parish year when all our ministries restart: soon Religious Education and RCIA will be restarting, as well as full choirs at the 11:30am and 6pm Masses! The printed bulletin will resume after Labor Day (but we’ll continue to email my letters). 

This week is a week of change at St. Joseph’s. As you know, Fr. Pier Giorgio has been reassigned to the Dominican parish St. Louie Bertrand in Louisville, Kentucky. He’ll leave after Labor Day. We will hold a going away party for him on Sunday, September 5th, after the 11:30 am Mass.

Let us live with the hope that the Assumption brings: that we too will pass through the veil between earth and heaven to delight in God Himself. 

St. Dominic is known for his mercy and skill in preaching. He worked tirelessly for the salvation of souls and exuded great charity. For 800 years the Order founded by St. Dominic has continued his mission of spreading the Gospel and sharing Christ's salvation. All of us at St. Joseph's share in that mission!

While God is certainly present everywhere in the cosmos, after all, He is holding everything in existence at every moment, God is especially present where the Eucharist is. The veil between our world and the heavenly realm is thinner, as it were, where the Eucharist is present.

I've run into a number of people who are new to the city and starting to join us at St. Joseph's, as well as New Yorkers who have started attending Mass at St. Joseph's. Let us welcome our newest members of the parish and help them as they begin their journey at St. Joseph's.

This Friday we celebrate St. John of Cologne, who did not enjoy that freedom. During the chaos and violence of the Protestant Reformation St. John of Cologne was caught bringing communion to Catholics captured by the Calvinists in the Netherlands. They hanged him in a barn with many of the Franciscan friars. They are known as the Martyrs of Gorkum.

In our own lives, it is important to remember that the authority we are entrusted with is always meant to be used to serve others, not ourselves. We only finally become our true selves when we give of ourselves out of love for others. What we keep for ourselves always spoils – it's only what we give away that we truly keep.