ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH

MOTHER CHURCH OF THE BERKSHIRES

ESTABLISHED 1849

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Liturgical Celebrations

Saturday 4:00 PM

Sunday 9:00 AM

11:30 AM

Daily Mass 12:10 PM

RCIA Tuesdays, 6:30 PM

Holy Hour Monday-Friday, 11:00 AM

Daily Rosary Monday-Friday, 11:30 AM

Prayer Group 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 6:45 PM

The Staff

Msgr. Michael Shershanovich, Pastor

Rev. Geoffrey Deeker, CSS, Priest in Residence

Rev. Mr. Pasqual Baldasaro, Deacon

John Arasimowicz,

Coordinator of Youth Religious Education

e-Mail: stjosephccd@berkshire.rr.com

Michele Madden, Secretary

e-Mail: Michelemadden@berkshire.rr.com

Mrs. Patricia Momnie, Pastoral Minister

St. Joseph’s Parish Office

414 North Street. Pittsfield, MA 01201

Tel: (413) 445-5789

Fax: (413) 443-5466

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

e-Mail: msgrmike@berkshire.rr.com

Web site: www.stjoepittsfield.com St. Joseph’s Cemetery

Mr. Paul Guillou, Superintendent

Nancy Nolan, Secretary

Tel: (413) 499-1317

Sacrament of Baptism:

All new parents are expected to complete a course of instruction.

Please consult the parish office for classes.

Sacrament of Reconciliation:

Saturdays, 3:00-3:45PM

Sacrament of Matrimony:

Couples should contact the parish office at least one year prior to the wedding.

New Parishioners should register at the parish office. We look forward to welcoming you to the

parish family and hope you will become involved with your time, talent and treasure.

Ministry to the Sick and Parishioners confined to home have visitations that are scheduled on a

regular basis. Please notify the parish office to make arrangements.

Religious Education Classes are held at St. Joseph’s High School following the 9:00 AM Mass

for all public school students, grades K-11, and parochial students preparing for Sacraments.

LECTORS & EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS D

Saturday 4 PM EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Dave Bouchard, Mary Sukiennik, Joe Tournier, Kay Tournier,

Cheryl Furtek & Carol Gamberoni

LECTORS Marie Kotowicz and Jim Armstrong

Sunday, 9 AM EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Anne Hynes, Pat Keegan, Anne Kozlowski, Betty Kirby,

Jack Laviolette & MaryKay McClintock

LECTORS: Jason Street and Peggy Taylor

Sunday, 11:30 AM EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Anne Dunham, Mary Huska, P. McDonough, Daniel Kochapski,

Jim McNeice and Ron Pelletier

LECTORS: Paul Mays and Anna Stack

K I N D L Y S I L E N C E A L L P A G E R S & C E L L P H O N E S - T H A N K Y O U !

MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, July 18th

DECEASED MEMBERS OF GIANNOPOLO AND

RONCO FAMILIES 4 PM

Requested by Joe & Maria

Sunday, July 19th

JOAN MCNEICE 4th Anniversary 9 AM

Requested by Family

THERESA CHARBONNEAU 11:30 AM

Requested by Msgr. Mike & Cemetery Staff

Sanctuary Candle—Deceased Polish Picnic Workers

Monday, July 20th

JENNIE PASTERCZYK 5TH ANNIVERSARY 12:10 PM

Requested by Ceil & Sue

Tuesday, July 21st

ANGELA MARINARO 12:10 PM

Requested by Stack Family

Wednesday, July 22nd

FRANK KLEIN 12:10 PM

Requested by Carol

Thursday, July 23rd

ANGELA MARINARO 12:10 PM

Requested by Mrs. DiNicola

Friday, July 24th

LINDA HERMANSKI 12:10 PM

Requested by Boc Family

Saturday, July 25th

SANDY SCHOLZ 39TH ANNIVERSARY 4 PM

Requested by Family

Sunday, July 26th

JENNIE CIANNAMEA 9 AM

Requested by Family

JOAN MURPHY 11:30 AM

Requested by Lola Wick

Pope Francis Speaks to Families

The Foundation of Humanity

N ot only would I say that the fam-

ily is important for the evangeli-

zation of the … world. The family is im-

portant, and it is necessary for the survival

of humanity. Without the family, the cultural

survival of the human race would be at risk.

The family, whether we like it or not, is the

foundation.

-Interview, rio de janeiro

July 27, 2013

NEICH BED ZIE POCHWALONY JEZUS CHRYSTUS

ST. JOSEPH PRAYER LINE: 443 -1221

Readings for the Week of July 19, 2015

Sunday: Jer 23:1-6/Eph 2:13-18/Mk 6:30-34

Monday: Ex 14:5-18/Mt 12:38-42

Tuesday: Ex 14:21--15:1/Mt 12:46-50

Wednesday: Ex 16:1-5, 9-15/Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

Thursday: Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b/Mt 13:10-17

Friday: Ex 20:1-17/Mt 13:18-23

Saturday: 2 Cor 4:7-15/Mt 20:20-28

Next Sunday: 2 Kgs 4:42-44/Eph 4:1-6/Jn 6:1-15

Join us in celebration of our 49th Year Event, this fun-packed family event offers free admission and runs from 12:00 PM until 6:00 PM on

July 19, 2015.

The Polish Picnic will be held at St. Joseph Church grounds and AD-MISSION IS FREE! Bring your lawn chairs and dancing shoes, as we welcome the musical band, "The Rymanowski Brothers." The Picnic

will host a "Kiddie Land" for the younger members looking to partici-pate in some games. For adults, there will be raffles and beer for pur-chase. Perhaps one of the most popular items at the Polish Picnic is the delectable cuisine. Below is all you need to know about purchas-

ing hot meals and frozen stables:

Polish Food: Frozen food will be sold starting at 9:00 AM the morning of the picnic. Hot meal service begins at 12:00pm. On the Menu: kiel-basa, kapusta, golumpki, and peirogi. American Food: Hotdogs, ham-

burgs, and a sweet treat!

J U L Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 5

When the apostles were trying to reflect on their ministry, Jesus asked them to: “Come by yourselves to an out-of-the-way place”. Listening to God in quiet prayer is very important in vocation discernment. Listen to God’s voice in an out-of-the-way place. If you feel the call is genuine, call Fr. Gary Dailey at 413-452-0816 or email: .dailey@diospringfield.org or www.myvocation.com

Cruise Trip Meeting: August 9th at 1 PM in the North Chapel. Cruise tickets are in! Please come to the meeting to pick up your ticket(s)!

CCD CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES: The next step in completing your requirements for Confirmation includes your essay and a meeting with Msgr. Mike. You must make an appointment with Msgr. and have your essay done by that meeting. You MUST make arrangements with him ahead of time. This step should be completed PRIOR to August 1st. Any questions, please call John Arasimowicz at 413-822-1297. Thank you!

New Direction Pregnancy Center is looking for a Registered Nurse for a few hours per week to do pregnancy tests, counseling, paperwork, and to work with our Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS). Please contact Judy Williams, Executive Director, at (413) 346-4291

SARATOGA RACE TRACK - A bus trip for a day at the races! Monday, August 24, $30 per person. Bus leaves St. Joe’s parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and leaves Saratoga after the last race! Please call St. Joseph Rectory for reservations. Hope you can join us!!!!

The PANDA HOUSE RESTAURANT on Pittsfield Lenox Road in Lenox has just offered St. Joseph Church a wonderful offer to raise funds. If anyone dining or ordering take-out men-tions the Church by name, the restaurant will send 15% of the bill to St. Joe’s.

July 19, 2015

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Haiti Plunge Inc., which sends mission teams from the Diocese, eight times a year, has available spots for the Oct 23—Nov 1 adult team and for the Dec 28—Jan 6 college team. A fundraising packet to de-fray the trip cost of $1,650 is set up for individuals who request one. The Plunge is a challenge experi-ence. The team lives without running water and elec-tricity for the ten day period. They travel to and from the worksites in the back of the team truck. For a more visual understanding check out the organiza-tion’s website: www.thehaitiplunge.org. Anyone in-terested can contact Sr. Eunice Tassone at 413-346-3241 or email: thehaitiplunge@gmail.com for more information. Team members will be involved in a va-riety of projects depending on each one’s personal expertise: medical, teaching, building, environmental. The organization has been involved with the develop-ment of a nine village agricultural cooperative in the mountains of the Cabaret region for thirty years.

A celebration in honor of St. Kateri Tekakwitha (whose American Feast Day is July 14) will take place at the North American Martyrs Chapel/St. Kateri Shrine on 151 Old State Rd. (Berkshire Village) Lanesborough on Saturday, July 25 at 5:45 PM, be-ginning with a procession and celebration of Mass followed by a picnic gathering on the lawn (weather permitting). All are welcome to attend!

St. Mark’s is offering a bus trip—”We’re having a bus trip t Auriesville” on Sunday, August 23. Bus leaves at 12 noon & returns by 6 PM. Bring a picnic lunch for yourself and to share with others. $22 per person. Call St. Mark Parish Office to reserve your seat! 447-7510 Monday—Friday 8 AM to 3 PM.

Sacred Heart is sponsoring a two day trip to Maine, September 16 & 17. $289 all inclusive. Reserve by 8/7 with deposit of $75. Balance of $214.00 due by Au-gust 26. Call 443-6960 for more information.

Vinny Flynn, best-selling author of 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, and Fr. Chris Alar, MIC Director of the Marian Helpers Association are teaming up to a lead a Mary, Mercy, & the Eucharist pilgrimage to Italy, October 18-29, 2015! Visit some of the most beautiful churches in the world, four Eucharistic miracle sites, the incorrupt body of St. Clare, the Holy House of Nazareth, the tomb of Padre Pio, and Rome. For more information, please contact Select International Tours: 1-800-842-4842 or Marianne Murphy - mmurphy@select-inti-com

"His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things." Jesus felt pity ... and so he taught? Yes. Jesus gave his teachings out of love and concern. He gave them because he knew that they were what his followers needed. He did not teach in order to control, manipulate, brainwash, or coerce us. He did not teach in order to show his wisdom or prove his superiority. Jesus gave us his teachings as a way of guiding us, protecting us, and walking along-side us--like a good shepherd.

It's important for us to welcome the teachings of Christ and his body, the church, in this spirit. Too of-ten, people misconstrue church teaching as some-thing restrictive or controlling instead of understand-ing that Jesus handed down these teachings to us in order to help us find happiness and fulfillment. When we live according to church teaching, we are doing more than just being "good." We are also staying close to the shepherd of whom today's psalm speaks: "In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside rest-ful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul." These benefits are ours when we follow the voice of the One who loves us.

Sometimes, we may not like what the voice is

saying. Sometimes we may be drawn towards a dif-ferent path or think that the grass is greener else-where. But by humbly acknowledging that the Shep-herd--and his church--have great wisdom and a unique perspective to share, we will be led in the right direction. Though it may feel like a sacrifice at first, ultimately this loyalty to the flock will enable us to enjoy the contentment of those who declare, "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."