Serving Boston's West End, Beacon Hill and North Station Communities

St. Joseph Parish

SAINT JOSEPH PARISH

Proudly serving Boston's West End, Beacon Hill, North Station and Government Center Community.

68 William Cardinal O'Connell Way

Boston, MA 02114

MASS TIMES

SUNDAY: 9:00AM and 4:00PM

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY: 12:10PM

TUESDAY & THURSDAY: 12:10PM (is next door in the chapel at Regina Cleri)

ROSARY: Following Wednesday Mass

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Following Friday Mass

RECONCILIATION: Prior to all Masses and anytime by appointment

 

DAILY REFLECTION LINK


 

LENTEN MESSAGE FROM FR JOE:

Communion, Participation and Mission
 
Lent is a time of return, repentance, renewal, and preparation. With the threefold spiritual components of prayer, fasting and almsgiving we journey knowing full well our human condition, our faults, challenges, strengths and hopes. Extending from our personal practices, individual prayer and practices during the Lenten season combine with and for the needs of our community of faith and our civil community, nation and world.
 
As we reflect during this season 2024, we also ask whether (and if so how) we acknowledge the global experiences and hardships of communities of peoples facing injustices.
 
As you/we journey through our forty days of Lent let’s consider the pivotal points on our spiritual journey in life that have helped draw us closer in relationship with our God and others.
 
Lent (particularly an early winter lent) is a good time to slow down the pace, decrease the noise and chaos and reflect on the unmerited gift, the Grace of God. Sit and pray in our church for a moment any of seven days 6:00am-6:00pm!
 
Join us for a 12:10 daily mass and or Stations of the Cross Fridays following mass.
 
Consider attending one of our Sunday morning “conversational gatherings” following 9:00 am mass (or better yet host one in your home). Focusing on God’s Grace and mercy we will break open some prayers of St Augustine especially his morning prayer:
I trust the past to the mercy of God
I trust the present to God’s love
I trust the future to God’s Providence.
We will also discuss the recent Synodality of CPM Communion, Participation and Mission. Finally we will break open our Eucharistic Prayers & wrap it nicely on our parish theme and call to being church, becoming a Eucharistic People.
 
Sunday evening following 4:00 pm mass our “conversational gatherings” will focus on the above material with a direct connection to and with the spirituality of recovery.
 
Fast from something so as to feast on something Grace filled. (see attached fast/feast)
 
Recommit this Lent, be rejuvenated in faith & help our community strengthen and grow in the discipleship, evangelization and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Gigaiag
God is good and I am grateful
Fr Joe

                     


 

 



Disciple Leadership PPP 160 
 
Effective parish pastoral planning requires a shared leadership among clergy and laity which calls forth the gifts of visioning, planning, empowering, and evaluating. These gifts are placed at the service of the community for the fulfillment of the parish mission. Ministers, disciples and ambassadors of the parish are the sustainability of PPP 160 for St Joseph’s. 
 
While the pastor bears the ultimate responsibility and authority within a parish, the gifts of the laity “as each one has received” (1 Pt 4:10) are needed and welcomed in the service of the parish as well. Those who serve the parish exercise your gifts to vision, plan, empower, and evaluate the parishes program and initiatives in light of the parish mission. 
 
Although all members of the parish are called to leadership, each will carry out that responsibility in a unique way, based on his or her own gifts, talents, and style of leadership. “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same spirit” (1 Cor 12:4). Together their gifts are at the service of one another and of the parish community. They do so, however, as servants of the gospel: 
 
You know the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matt 20:25-28) 
    
As pastor and parishioners, we do not work for or under one another, but rather with one another for the Kingdom of God. Together we lead the parish in the ongoing discernment in realization of its mission. 
 
Let us together identify opportunities for our present and future. 

This is our prayer: 

(A prayer used before every session of the Second Vatican Council)

We come before you, Holy Spirit,

conscious of our sinfulness,

but aware that we gather in your name


Come to us, remain with us,

and enlighten our hearts.


Give us light and strength

to know your will,

to make it our own, and to live it in our lives.


Guide us by your wisdom,

support us by your power,

for you are God,

sharing the glory of Father and Son.


You desire justice for all:

enable us to uphold the rights of others;

do not allow us to be misled by ignorance

or corrupted by fear or favor


Unite us to yourself in the bond of love

and keep us faithful to all that is true.


As we gather in your name

we may be temper justice with love,

so that all our decisions

may be pleasing to you,

and earn the reward

promise to be good and faithful servant servants.


You live in reign with the Father and the Son,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

 


 Visit this link for helpful information: https://www.hcrcenters.com/


Serenity Prayer

 


   DAYS OF GIVING & GRAND ANNUAL

Amidst the many trying circumstances and painful losses brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, St. Joseph Parish faced a substantial decline in attendance and a significant reduction in financial contributions. In response, our church community rallied together for a “Day of Giving,” commemorating our church’s 160th Anniversary on November 9, 2022.  We extend heartfelt gratitude to all who recognized our need and supported us during that time and since. Your generosity enabled us to pay our bills as well as sustain our parish outreach mission. For these things we are most grateful!

Presently, decreased offertory persists. We continue to pray as a parish and we keep both the “Day of Giving” and our “Grand Annual Appeal” alive as opportunities for individuals and families to give here at St. Joseph. If you’ve been contemplating making a financial gift please consider the amazing opportunity that Lenten season provides to support our parish community.

Thank you

 

 

 
 


                                                                                                       ANNUAL COMPARISON

                                                                                                                                         

 

 


 

On Tuesday, April 25, A Faith That Does Justice is holding a Fireside Chat by Zoom called Understanding Homelessness in a Post-Covid Environment. Father Peter will be joined by Jim O’Connell, MD, President of Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, for a Fireside Chat exploring issues of homelessness in today’s post-Covid environment. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the challenges and root causes of homelessness, and what can be done to pro

vide better care and support for those experiencing homelessness.


 

 


PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.


OUR LADY OF BOSTON

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF BOSTON

Glorious Mother of God and powerful patron of all human endeavors, protect the city of Boston and all who dwell in it.

Intercede with your Divine Son to bless it’s blue bay and rising hills; to bless its ancient streets and historic monuments; to bless its newest arteries an ever-changing face.

Within its boundaries ask him to sanctify those who live and labor here; cause their works to prosper and bring happiness to those whom they love.Ask him to give guidance to all who are called to provide leadership in this community and grant them an honest intelligence and far seeing wisdom.

For our city, O Holy Mary, be a Morning Star lighting the daybreak; a Tower of Ivory guiding those who wander; House of God giving shelter to all who are troubled.

As we pass through our fair city and elsewhere be for us a Refuge of Sinners and a Comforter of the Afflicted and then our last hours, O Mary, be the Gate of Heaventhrough which we may pass to eternal life.

Intercede with your Holy Son, our Redeemer, that his Providence may watch over Bostonand its people; let his grace strengthen, guide, defend and protect it’s every venture-oldand new; and finally in all our aspirations and actions, “as He was with our fathers, so may God be with us.”

Amen

Archbishop Richard J. Cushing

December 12, 1957                                                                                                                                                                                                          

PRAYER FOR OUR NATION – PRAYER FOR BOSTON

Oh God of mercy, understanding, and peace

help our beloved countryand the city of Boston:

to grow in harmony, to reject all violence

to strive for understanding.

Let each of us realize our need for you,

and our need for one another.

Let there be peace on earth:

let there be peace in our hearts;

let there be peace in our city;

let this peace begin with me.


 

St. Joseph The Worker


Thirty Days’ Prayer to Saint Joseph 

IN HONOR OF THE 30 YEARS HE SPENT WITH JESUS AND MARY

For Any Special Intention

Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and helpful friend of all in sorrow! You are the good father and protector of orphans, the defender of the defenseless, the patron of those in need and sorrow. Look kindly on my request. To you, loving guardian of the Family of Nazareth, do I go for help and protection.

Listen, then, I beg you, with fatherly concern, to my earnest prayers, and obtain for me the favors I ask.

I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which moved him to take our nature and to be born into this world.

I ask it by the weariness and suffering you endured when you found no shelter at the inn of Bethlehem for the holy Virgin, nor a house where the Son of God could be born. Then, being everywhere refused, you had to allow the Queen of Heaven to give birth to the world’s Redeemer in a cave.

I asked by the loveliness and power of that sacred name, Jesus, which you conferred on the adorable Infant.

I ask it in that painful torture you felt at the prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared the Child Jesus and His holy Mother future victims of our sins and of their great love for us.

I ask it through your sorrow and pain of soul when the angel declared to you that the life of the Child Jesus was sought by His enemies. From the evil plan you had to flee with Him and his Blessed mother to Egypt. I ask it by all the suffering, weariness, and labors of that long and dangerous journey.

I ask it by all your care to protect the Sacred Child and His Immaculate Mother during your second journey, when you were ordered to return to your own country. I ask it by your peaceful life in Nazareth where you met with so many joys and sorrows.

I ask it by your great distress when the adorable Child was lost to you and His Mother for three days. I ask it by your joy at finding Him in the Temple, and by the comfort you found at Nazareth, while living in the Company of the Child Jesus. I asked by the wonderful submission He showed in His obedience to you.

I ask it by the perfect love and conformity you show in accepting the Divine order to impart from this life, and from the company of Jesus and Mary. I ask it by the joy which filled your soul, when the Redeemer of the world, triumphant over death and hell, entered into the possession of His kingdom and led you into it with special honors.

I ask it through Mary's glorious Assumption, and through that endless happiness you have with her in the presence of God.

Oh good father! I beg you, by all your sufferings, sorrows, and joys, to hear me and obtain for me what I Ask. (Here name your petitions or think of them.)

Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers everything that is useful to them in the plan of God. Finally, my dear patron and father, be with me and all who are dear to me in our last moments, that we may eternally sing the praises of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

JESUS, Mary and Joseph

“A blameless life,

St.  Joseph,

May we lead ,

 by your patronage

 from danger freed"

_______________

 


 

St. Joseph's NIN NID outreach program and use of Livestreaming Services

were recently recognized in these Beacon Hill Times Articles:

Parish Program Offers Helping Hand To Neighbors In Need

St. Joseph's uses Technology to remove Geographic Constraints

 


 

St. Joseph Parish wishes to thank our neighbors at the WestEnd Museum, especially for the great work they did in providing us these facts about the origin of our beloved church: St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church. The West End Museum is a non profit, neighborhood museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of the West End of Boston.  Visit them today at :  thewestendmuseum.org/.

 


 

AARPSS - Archdiocesan Addiction Recovery
Pastoral Support Services

Click this link for information and resources to assist in recovery and prevention for those struggling with the disease of addiction, and their loved ones.

Staff

 

 

Find Us Here:

St. Joseph Parish

68 William Cardinal O'Connell Way
Boston, MA 02114

Phone: 617-523-4342

Office Hours: Mon. Wed. Fri 10am-12pm

St Joseph’s Website Link