St. Joseph Catholic Church Online

For the needs of parishioners, their families and friends, and for all who ask for our prayers, especially those in the hospital and at home: William Gause, Kay Edwards, Betty Mulligan, Margaret Hatcher, Beth Barnes, Frank McElrath, Cheryle Bourgeois, Rev. Mr. John Brown, Annie Garcia, Cathy Heider Guffey, Sadie Harder, Claire Green, Milt Williams, Grace Carrington, and Andrew Fortin.

Due to publication deadline, the offertory will be published next week.Collection Counters

Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word

The risen Lord is made manifest this holy day through the proclamation of the sacred word of God. We gather at the table of the word to be reminded that in baptism we become one with Christ Jesus. Just as he was raised from the dead, so too is new life offered to us through the abundance of God’s merciful love. Let us be open to the riches that come forth from the table of God’s word.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME begins on Sunday, April 3^rd. Don’t forget to turn your clocks AHEAD before you go to bed Saturday night! Otherwise you might be late for Mass on Sunday!

Please pray for our armed forces serving overseas and in our own country, especially those of our parish family: MHA Melanie Graybill, Major Beryl M. Clarey, Michael Taylor, Dean Maul, Lance Corporal Matthew Schiltz, PVT Ronald Connick, Sean Less and Martin Schwerzler.

Any parishioner who has received the sacrament of Confirmation who would like to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or any current EMHCs must pick up an application form from the office and submit it for Father Gabe’s approval by April 15th. Two mandatory classes will be held prior to commissioning on Corpus Christi, Sunday, May 29^th.

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the Blessed Sacrament School Science Fair. They are to be commended for a job well done.

All of the mentioned students competed in the Diocesan Science Fair on March 15^th at Summerville Catholic School.

All adults, age 21 plus, who would just love to participate in the Annual Cooper River Bridge Walk from Mt. Pleasant to downtown Charleston with member of Cathedral’s Young Adults’ Ministry Group on Saturday, April 2^nd at 8:30 a.m. following the Cooper River Bridge Run are urged to contact Mr. J. Shannon Hurley at 556-3578 or jshurley@cchat.com

“I place much of my hope for the future in Marriage Encounter.” (Pope John Paul II) It has been said that the greatest gift you can give your children is two parents very much in love each other. Polish up this gift and put a bow on it at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. You deserve the best and your children need to see you reaching for it. For more information, call Bill and Beth Davis 864-220-2864 or Steve and Nydia Burdick 803-798-8296. The next weekend is April 1-3 at the Kinard Retreat Center. Space is limited and filling up fast!

Congratulations to all our basketball teams that participated in the State Basketball Tournament held in Greenville two weekends ago. A special congratulations to the 7^th grade Senior Girls team coached by Bill Collier, Chuck Kornegay and Christine Mullinax, who captured the championship trophy in the consolation bracket of the Senior Girls Division. Team members are: Shelly and Kerry Puckett, Stephanie Collier, Jenna Byrd, Trina Uwinzea, Bridget Barnett, Meghan Pritchard, Madalyn Smith, Rebecca Mullinax, Caroline Clair, and Amanda Jones. Way to go, girls!

The Youth Group is planning an outing to the movies at Citadel Mall on Saturday, April 9^th following Mass. Meet in front of the Family Life Center. If interested, please call Leighanne at 532-7792 by Wednesday, April 6^th.

“On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.”

Overcome with grief from the tragic and disturbing death of the Lord, Mary approached the empty tomb in the darkness of despair. Her heavy heart and confused mind could only imagine that someone had stolen Christ’s body. In panic, she ran to Peter and the other disciples and alerted them. “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.”

It was not until a brief, quiet moment in the garden, that she later began to see differently. When she encountered Jesus, “her gardener,” the truth of the events began to dawn on her. To see Jesus, her Risen Lord, a stone had to be rolled away from her grieving heart.

Like Mary, our disappointments, fears, and griefs keep us from seeing what is truly before us. Without hope, we jump to wrong conclusions, let our imaginations play havoc on upsetting situations, and we assume the worst with clouded minds and raging emotions.

Maybe this Easter you are still in the dark about some situation in your own life. Maybe you are looking through the lens of a broken heart, a painful marriage, a shattered dream, a struggling family situation, a severe illness or chronic pain, or some other hidden suffering. You too are longing for HOPE. You need the Lord to enter the tomb of your own soul and roll away the stone of despair and uncertainty from your floundering life. You need to rise above all that steals your Easter Joy.

This Easter, in the garden of your heart, reach out to your Risen Lord and let Him heal your grieving heart. Let His love enlighten your mind and penetrate your heat. May you see everything in a new way and may His Easter gift of Love bring new life to your soul.

Rev. Michael A. Farano

St. Pius X Church