Founded in 1827

SATURDAY MASS MARCH 23 4:00P.M.

Lector--------------------------C. Chastain
Sp. Min.------------------------B. Sewald,
M. Smythe
Servers-------------------------J. Bach, F. Sewald
Ushers--------------------------T. Snead, L. Willey, K. Dalaviras

SUNDAY MASS: MARCH 24  7:00A.M.

Lector---------------------------J. Smith
Sp. Min.------------------------P. Pace, T. Willette
Servers-------------------------L. & A. Naused
Ushers--------------------------F. Carducci, K. Pace

SUNDAY MASS: MARCH 24  10:00A.M.

Lector---------------------------Mary E. Layden
Sp. Min.------------------------L. O’Neill,
B. O’Neill, Ge. Pratte ©
Servers-------------------------N. Farrell,
C. Chastain
Ushers-------------------------- M. & D. Lukachick, Baker, R. Schwartz

ST. ANNE MASS: MARCH 24 AT 8:30A.M.

Lector-------------------------- Ron Schmidt
Sp. Min.----------------------- R. Basler,
R. Suda, J. Carron
Servers------------------------ C. Knobbe,
M. Schmidt, S. Scmitt

Bingo Figures for March 5, 2002
Gross Profits $1,946.00
115 Players
Workers for March 19 Team #1

For your convenience, opportunities for Confession during Lent are as follows:

March 19: St. James Church, Potosi, Mo. at 7:00p.m.

March 25: St. Joseph Church, Bonne Terre Mo. at  7:00p.m.

The next Marriage Prep.Class will be April 13^th. from 9:00a.m. until 5:30p.m. For more information call the Rectory at 358-2112.

CHRUCH CLEANING SCHEDULE

March 22 M. Steffen, M. Clancy
March 25 Team # 4

March 23 Debbie Lando

St. Joseph St. Anne
Envelopes
Loose
Children’s Env.
Am. Bishops Overseas
Appeal
School Coll.

French Village, Mo.

SUNDAY MARCH 17:

PENNCE SERVICE: Immediately following Mass this morning.

HEAVENLY DUSTERS: Needed for the month of April. Please volunteer to help keep our Church beautiful.

PLEASE NOTE:

Donations are needed for the Country Store.

REMEMBER: Please remember to remove any flowers from the graves of loved ones that you wish to keep. Preparations are being made for the Easter Season. Any arrangements left will be thrown away.

A NEW BEGINNING

The parable of the prodigal son expresses in a simple but profound way the reality of conversion. Conversion is the most concrete expression of the working of love and of the presence of mercy in the human world. Mercy restores to value, promotes, and draws good from evil.

Don’t miss this last session of God’s Merciful Love. If your group would like to continue meeting, contact Fr. John or call the Catholic Education Office at 314-792-7375 for information about additional resources for adult religious education.

For a story about St. Patrick’s Day visit our web site at www.SaintPatricksday.MustBeHere.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 22: This Friday will be the last opportunity to enjoy a delicious fish dinner prepared by the Knights of Columbus. Last Friday was another success. Carry outs are available. Serving begins at 3:30 and the cost of an adult plate is only $6.50. The menu consists of Jack Salmon, Cod, Catfish Fillets, French Fries, Mac. & Cheese, Stewed Tomatoes, Green Beans, Apple Sauce and Cole Slaw. Drink and dessert included. All proceeds will be given to St. Joseph School. Everyone has enjoyed the delicious desserts provided by the parents of the students of our School. This week The Home and School Association have asked that Brian & Linda Abbott, Charles & Darlene Dilbeck, Dick & Lori Kohm, Ed & Lisa Murphey, Frank & Karen Basden, Don & Stacey Finley, Glen & Brandolyn LaChance, Kevin Stegall and Chris & Terri Willette to represent their children in providing the help to clean the kitchen and Church Hall.

We thank Almighty God for the great opportunity of His mercy and grace in Reconciliation Weekend 2002. Let us all frequently come to receive this sacrament that allows us to express our sorrow for sin and receive the assurance of God’s sacramental forgiveness.

Please remember that confessions are heard in this parish of St. Joseph each weekend, Saturday from 3:30-3:50p.m., and at St. Anne before Mass, or by calling the rectory at 358-2112 to schedule an appointment with Father John. May God bless you and your loved ones.

IN SOME WAY HELP A NEEDY MEMBER OF OUR PARISH, BRING A HOMECOOKED MEAL TO AN ELDERLY PERSON OR PARTICIPATE IN THE RICE BOWL PROGRAM.

Lent is a time to pray, do penance and give alms. Your participation in the Archdiocesan Development
Appeal (ADA) is an opportunity to give alms – an act of mercy toward others. More than 100 programs and agencies are supported by the ADA including Catholic Charities, food pantries and the Immigrant and Refugee Support Ministry of the Archdiocese.

The "Theme of the 2002 Festival" contest is over. The winner has been chosen. Our Festival theme will be " UNITED THROUGH FAITH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS." Congratulations to Patricia Murphy, wife of Ray Murphy for the winning entry. She will be presented with a gift certificate by Father John and Tom Willette, Festival Chariman that she may use on any item or at any booth on the day of the Festival.

Thanks to all who that entered the contest. It was a difficult job to pick a winner because all of the entries were good. Please try again next year!

PLEASE HELP: The Festival is in need of a "DUNKING BOOTH." If anyone has any information where one can be located please call Tom Willette at 358-7516. This booth is enjoyed by the young and old.

The Festival is only 14 weeks away! Please be ready to work when asked or better yet be willing to offer to work. We do not want to leave anyone out!

You are invited to attend "A Life in the Spirit Seminar" that will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Bloomsdale, Mo located at Highway 55 and Highway "Y"

The Seminar will be held in the basement of the Grade School.

The first session "God’s Love" will be held on Wednesday, April 3^rd from 7:30p.m. until 9:00p.m. Meetings will be held weekly starting with "God Saves"on Thursday, April 11^th, "New Life" on Thursday, April 18^th, "Ongoing Conversion" on Thursday, April 25^th, "Growth in Adult Faith" on Thursday, May 2^nd, and "Transformed in Jesus and Mass" on Thursday, May 9^th.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME! NO FEE! PLEASE REGISTER!

For more information or to register please call Frances X. Hastings: Daytime: 573-483-2577 or 1-800-662-7538, Deacon Jim Basler: 573-483-2615 or Rita Aunspach: 573-517-0297

As you move around in your daily world, please pray that God will grant your servants an awaking of the spirit in our lives during this Season of Lent; may your servants receive from their family and friends the support they need to meet the challenges of every day life, and let your servants Bernard Vallo, John Valleck, Gary Adkins, brother of Karen Spruell, Shirley Watson, secretary of St. Joseph Church in Farmington, Joe AuBuchon, Bernice Chamberlain, Vivian Vogel and Rosemond Moore return to our prayer community.

Stations of the Cross will be held on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8:30a.m. except Good Friday, March 29^th.

The scrutinies, which are solemnly celebrated on Sundays and are reinforced by an exorcism, are rites for self-searching and repentance and have above all a spiritual purpose. The scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good. For the scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. These rites, therefore, complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all. 

This Sunday, during the 10:00a.m. Mass, we will have the third of four scrutinies for those individuals called, during the season of Lent, to a journey of faith. After the readings, the celebrant will explain why they are called to carefully inspect in their lives, God’s Word. The elect will come forward and the celebrant will invite them to pray in silence and as that the spirit of repentance, a sense of sin, and a true freedom of the people of God will be given them.

In the rite of exorcism, which is celebrated by a priest or a deacon, the elect who have already learned from the Church as their mother the mystery of deliverance from sin by Christ, are freed from the effects of sin and from the influence of the devil. They receive new strength in the midst of their spiritual journey and they open their hearts to receive the gifts of the
Savior. 

Last weekend (March 9 – 10) we had our annual second collection for St. Joseph School. This is the only second collection all year that goes totally to benefit our children. This helps the parish, and all of us, to help with the cash flow of our school

expenses. If you overlooked your envelope last weekend for this important collection please try to bring it next weekend. Your generosity as always will be greatly appreciated.

Palms will be blessed next weekend and distributed.

The annual Knights of Columbus breakfast will be in the Church Hall immediately following the 10:00a.m. Mass.

Have you noticed the Banner that hangs on the west side of the altar? It was designed by the late, Frank Deck, a liturgical artist in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Deck was hired by several individual parishes in St. Louis to design mosaics for stain glass windows. He was contracted by St. Simon’s Parish to design several Banners to be used in the Church. The original designs were 4 inches by 14 inches and were enlarged to scale. The Banner you see today is 42 inches by 13 feet and is on loan from St. Simon’s Parish in St. Louis. The Banner was made several years ago by ten ladies who attended St. Simon’s including Mary Lou Smythe and Mary Clancy.

The ‘P’ with the cross bar represents the Greek letter P and X, or Chi Rho, the Greek letters for Christ used by the early Christians. By extending the letter ‘P’ to the base of the Banner and adding branches in the middle and roots at the bottom, the PX symbolizes Christ, the Tree of Life. It also becomes a cross to remind us that Christ was raised upon a tree, a cross of wood, and died so that we might have life everlasting.

After Jesus was scourged, they place a crown of thorns on Him and a purple robe. This was to mock Jesus because the color purple was reserved for royalty. The Church uses this color during Lent to reflect on Christ’s suffering, and also to remind us to do penance, and to turn our lives toward God.

Please take a few minutes after Mass to admire the beauty of "Our Lenten Banner." The next Banner will be displayed the during Easter Season.

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