Whether you are local, a seasonal visitor, or someone enjoying a weekend on the Gulf Coast, St. Joseph Parish is a place to encounter Jesus. Join us for Mass, Adoration, Bible Study, social events, or simply stop by to offer a prayer.

If you are new to the area, a returning Catholic, or if you wish to become Catholic you are welcome to attend Mass and to become involved in parish activities. If you require more information We encourage you to speak with the Parish Secretary or the Pastor. Please Call 850-227-1417.

If you wish to donate On-Line  Click HERE! 

Directory Postponed
The directory will not be available for the Anniversary Celebration. It has been postponed until a little later to try and get a few more parishioner pictures in it. If you haven't sent in your picture yet please send it as soon as possible to web@stjosephpsj.com.

Volunteers Needed Like other non-profit organizations we are always in need of volunteers. Please consider the following volunteer needs of our church. Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server, Offertory Counter, Religious Education Teacher, and Choir. If you would like some more information on any of these please contact the office at  850-227-1417 .

Adult Religious Study Please join us on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 for our adult religious study. These classes will cover "Blue Collar Apologetics" by John Martignoni. Come learn how to explain and defend our Catholic Faith! It is all right if you can’t attend every class. Join anytime, each class is a different topic. Come join us and gain a deeper understanding of our faith.

Burse Club Next weekend has been designated as a "Diocesan Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Annual Burse Club Membership Sunday." Membership in the Burse Club involves no meetings. It does, however, involve offering your prayers and financial support for our seminarians. We are blessed to have twenty four seminarians studying for our diocese. God has been good to us. There is not a second collection for this membership so please mark your donation for the Burse Club. Thank you for supporting our seminarians.

Second Collection Thank you to everyone that donated to last week's second collection for Catholic Education. With your generous help we were able to collect $851.00.

CSA Reminder We have only 30 families that have pledged for our Catholic Sharing Appeal and are slightly over halfway to our $25,460.96 goal. Please prayerfully make your pledge. Envelopes can be found at both entrances of the church. Remember if we do not meet this goal then the church has to pay the difference. If we go over the goal our church receives the amount over. Thank you for your support.

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Franciscan At Home We are a partnering diocese so all of our parishes and school are already registered and all parishioners can take courses for free. There are a variety of courses for your convenience:
 » 1. FREE unlimited access
 » 2. Lifelong learners, Parents, Mentors, Facilitators, Leaders, Pastoral Care Workers, Social Outreach, Lay Ministers, and Mentors
 » 2. Diocesan Certification Process for Catechists, Parish Catechetical Leaders, Youth Ministers and RCIA Ministers.

Register Today! Follow these steps:
 » 1. Click Here:
 » 2. Click on the bottom blue button.
 » 3. The Sign Up for Free Through Your Institution page will appear.
 » 4. Choose Country — United States, Diocese — Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and Institution — Your Parish/School.  » 5. Click the Sign-Up box at the bottom.
 » 6. Complete your personal information (look for choice of receiving emails).
 » 7. Start your first workshop!
For more information, contact: Sister Margaret Kuntz at 850-435-3523 or kuntzm@ptdiocese.org

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Can We Help? If you or someone you know needs help with meals, a visit, or anything else, let us help! Contact the church office.

Communion to the Homebound Sacraments are available to all Catholics who would like to receive, but are unable to attend Sunday Mass due to injury, illness or advanced age. If you are in need of a visit, please call the office and request Communion at home, in the hospital, nursing home, or assisted living facility.

Rosary Please take time and join us as we say the Rosary every Tuesday at 10:00am. The group Rosary is powerful and the benefits are endless. Let the simple and repeated prayers of the Rosary allow us to really focus on what Jesus did and said as we receive peace of mind, an increased love for Jesus, unity with our church and understand better the will of God in our lives. There is no better time than during Lent to embrace these mysteries and, with Mary's help, let them transform our lives.

Church Registration We are delighted that you have chosen to become a member of our church family. Please register by stopping in or calling our office  850-227-1417 .

Food Donations Don't forget our food basket at the entrance of the church which is open daily. It is there all year for dropping off nonperishable Food. If you're visiting the area, and have nonperishable food that you didn't use, consider donating these items before you make your trip back home. Thank you for thinking of those in need.  No open parcels please! 

Altar Flowers If you would like to donate altar flowers for a special occasion or in memory of a loved one, please contact the office at least 2 weeks in advance. Call: 850-227-1417

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Spiritual Riches  Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.” Luke 16:19–22

Reflect, today, upon the stark contrast between Lazarus and the rich man. One dined sumptuously every day, was clothed in fine linen and purple garments and then spent eternity in the netherworld where he was tormented. The other longed to eat the scraps from another’s table, had no home, was covered in sores, but spent eternity in Heaven after being carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. Choose to imitate Lazarus rather than the rich man. If you have many material possessions, work hard at being detached from them. Live simply, be generous, and never neglect those in need. If you have very little, do not covet more. Eliminate envy, don’t despair, trust in the providence of God, and rejoice that, like Lazarus, you are able to build up eternal riches within your soul that will remain with you forever.

Lord of true riches, the spiritual wealth of true virtue, charity, faith and hope are all that matters in life. Material possessions mean little in this life and are a source of many temptations. Please free me from the desire for wealth. Free me from greed, selfishness and envy. Fill me with a spirit of detachment and generosity, and help me to build up true treasure in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
 - My Catholic Life

Cover Art: The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus by Jan Steen

Come celebrate Mass with us.