Family of Faith Campaign


   Family of Faith is a historic endeavor that will help to secure the future of the Church for many generations. Up until we reach our goal, twenty-five cents of every pledged dollar will go towards parish needs. When we exceed our goal, 75% of every additional pledged dollar will come back to the parish.  St. Joseph is excited to use these funds for upgrading our sound system, repaving our parking lot and improving access to the parish for those with disabilities by upgrading the entranceways of our parish so that they meet forthcoming government standards on building accessibility.       
General meeting April 3 in the parish hall.
Our Goal is $890,000.00.   So far $844,025.00 has been pledged.
FAMILY OF FAITH CAMPAIGN
What will my gift do?

There are over 400,000 students currently enrolled in post-Secondary institutions across our Archdiocese with just seven campus chaplaincies.  With post-secondary enrolment having increased 36% over the past decade, this campaign will provide for an expanded Catholic chaplaincy on Campus, allowing for the Church to reach students in new and creative ways.

We have raised: $696,000.00            Our Goal: 890,000.00


Let us pray for the success of this campaign.

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Lenten Reconciliation Services

Will be on Tuesday April 8th at 7:00 pm.

Additional Lenten Reconciliation Services:

St. Ignatius of Loyola
Thurs.
April 3rd
7:30-8:30pm
St. Francis of Assisi
Mon.
April 7th
7-9pm
Merciful Redeemer
Wed.
April 9th
7-9pm
St Francis Xavier
Thurs.
April 10th
7-9pm

For a wonderful resource about reconciliation visit
www.archtoronto.org/confession

OUR PROTECTOR ST. JOSEPH



 How does Joseph exercise his role as protector? Discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand. From the time of his betrothal to Mary until the finding of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, he is there at every moment with loving care. As the spouse of Mary, he is at her side in good times and bad, on the journey to Bethlehem for the census and in the anxious and joyful hours when she gave birth; amid the drama of the flight into Egypt and during the frantic search for their child in the Temple; and later in the day-to-day life of the home of Nazareth, in the workshop where he taught his trade to Jesus.
   How does Joseph respond to his calling to be the protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church? By being constantly attentive to God, open to the signs of God’s presence and receptive to God’s plans, and not simply to his own. … Joseph is a “protector” because he is able to hear God’s voice and be guided by his will; and for this reason he is all the more sensitive to the persons entrusted to his safekeeping. He can look at things realistically, he is in touch with his surroundings, he can make truly wise decisions. In him, dear friends, we learn how to respond to God’s call, readily and willingly, but we also see the core of the Christian vocation, which is Christ! Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!
   The vocation of being a “protector”, however, is not just something involving us Christians alone; it also has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone. … It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about. It means caring for one another in our families: husbands and wives first protect one another, and then, as parents, they care for their children, and children themselves, in time, protect their parents. It means building sincere friendships in which we protect one another in trust, respect, and goodness. In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it. Be protectors of God’s gifts!
   Whenever human beings fail to live up to this responsibility, whenever we fail to care for creation and for our brothers and sisters, the way is opened to destruction and hearts are hardened. Tragically, in every period of history there are “Herods” who plot death, wreak havoc, and mar the countenance of men and women.
Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be “protectors” of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment. Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world! But to be “protectors”, we also have to keep watch over ourselves! Let us not forget that hatred, envy and pride defile our lives! Being protectors, then, also means keeping watch over our emotions, over our hearts, because they are the seat of good and evil intentions: intentions that build up and tear down!
   Here I would add one more thing: caring, protecting, demands goodness, it calls for a certain tenderness. In the Gospels, Saint Joseph appears as a strong and courageous man, a working man, yet in his heart we see great tenderness, which is not the virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!

  e  Pope Francis,   Mass for the beginning of the Petrine Ministry March 19, 2013