Liturgical Celebrations

Saturday 4:00 PM

Sunday 9:00 & 11:30 AM

Daily Mass 12:10 PM

RCIA Tues 6:30 PM

Holy Hour Mon-Fri 11:00 AM

Rosary Mon-Fri 11:30 AM

Prayer Group 1st & 3rd Wed 6:45 PM

Holidays 9:00 AM

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 Web site: www.stjoepittsfield.com

PRAYER LINE 413-443-1221

St. Joseph’s Cemetery Superintendent - Jay Meehan

Secretary - Nancy Nolan Tel: (413) 499-1317

The Staff Pastor - Msgr. Michael Shershanovich e-mail: msgrmike@berkshire.rr.com

Priest in Residence - Rev. Geoffrey Deeker, CSS

Deacon - Rev. Mr. Pasqual Baldasaro

Most. Rev. Timothy McDonnell in Residence

Coordinator of Youth Religious Education John Arasimowicz//e-mail:stjosephccd@berkshire.rr.com

Secretary - Michele Madden e-mail: Michelemadden@berkshire.rr.com

Pastoral Minister-Mrs. Patricia Momnie

Sacrament of Baptism - New parents are expected to complete a course of instruction. Please consult the parish

office for classes. Sacrament of Reconciliation - Saturdays 3:00-3:45 PM Sacrament of Matrimony- Couples should contact the

parish office at least one year prior to the wedding. New Parishioners - Register at the parish office. We look

forward to welcoming you to the parish family. Ministry to the Sick - Parishioners confined to home

have visitations that are scheduled on a regular basis. Please notify the parish office to make arrangements.

Religious Education Classes - 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.

20/20 RAFFLE

WINNERS

Rita Laviolette

James McNeice

OKTOBERFEST Saturday,

October 8th at Colgate Park, Route

9, Bennington, VT. Food, Beer,

Music, Vendors from 11 am to 5

pm RAIN or SHINE!

THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS will begin

at St. Joseph’s Church on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. in

the North Chapel behind the Church. Anyone interested in becoming

a Catholic Christian is invited to attend the sessions which last about

1 hour. Please call the rectory to register at 445-5789.

A DAY OF RETREAT ON ENDERS ISLAND IN MYSTIC, CT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20TH The bus leaves from St. Joseph parking lot at 7:30AM and will leave Enders between 4 & 4:30PM. The day consists of a coffee reception on arrival, a talk, hot lunch, time to

reflect and wander on your own and Mass. The cost of the trip is $85. For reservations please call the rectory 445.5789.

September 25th—Class for all grades

October 2nd—Class for all grades

October 9th—NO CLASS MARK YOUR CALENDARS— The date for

Confirmation is Sunday, October 30th at 11:30

a.m. Mass CONFIRMATION STUDENTS—Reminder

service at Cathedral of the Night Sunday,

September 25th starting at 12 noon (in lieu of

class). Please bring baked goods.

The Dominican Nuns of West Springfield

cordially invite all to take part in their

annual Rosary Sunday Devotions at 1:00

p.m. on Sunday, October 2, 2016. This

will include the blessing and distribution

of roses, recitation of the rosary, and

benediction of the Blessed

Sacrament. The monastery is located at

1430 Riverdale Street.

The Diocese Cursillo programs are celebrating their 50th year of providing laymen and women a three day weekend of encountering Christ in a personal way. A men's weekend is scheduled for the Columbus weekend Oct. 7 — 10. Applications must be submitted ASAP. If you think you would like to be considered, contact the parish office, Msgr. Michael Shershanovich, to see if a Cursillo is the right fit for you.

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, PITTSFIELD, MA September , 25 2016

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

Sat., Sept. 24th

4:00 PM

Sun., Sept. 25th

9:00 AM

Sun., Sept. 25th

11:30 AM Sr. Jean Bostley Judy Sayers Charles Knappe

David Bouchard Ron Sayers Daniel Kochapski

Sheila Bouquet Bernadette Scapin Anne Dunham

Joe Bourquard Jeff Vincent Ron Pelletier

Sheila Christiana Sharon Vincent J. Weatherwax

Michael Collins Lillian Trzepacz Michael Wood

LECTORS

Sharyn Fresia Al Najimy Anna Stack

M. Fezzi Nancy Prezenik Robert Bouquet

HOLIDAY POPS – Sunday,

December 11th. We have a

bus going to Boston for a

HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE

BY THE POPS at Symphony

Hall. The cost for the trip is

$105. This is for the bus and the concert

ticket. The bus leaves St. Joe’s at 11:30AM.

The performance is at 3PM. There will be free

time after the show and we should be back in

Pittsfield in the area of 10PM. Please call the

rectory for reservations. $50 deposit with your

reservation with the balance paid by

November 30th.

ST.JOSEPH RCIA BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER Sunday October 23, 2016, 8 AM to 11 AM , for

RCIA Media equipment at St. Joseph Parish Center, Pittsfield. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Bishop

Conaty Assembly #395. Serving Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, Home Fries, Orange Juice, Coffee. Tickets for Adults $10.00,

Children 5 to 10 Years $ 5.00. Tickets must be pre-purchased at

St. Joseph Rectory or contact Gabe Starczewski at 413-394-0123, or Jack Laviolette at 413-464-6009.

PAINT & SIP EVENT

There will be a Paint & Sip Event

to benefit the Pittsfield Irish

Sister City Program on Thursday,

September 29 at 6:30pm at

Berkshire Paint and Sip, 305

North St., Pittsfield. Learn to

paint the iconic image of " Cliffs of Moher, Ireland"

with professional art instruction. All materials and

light snacks included. BYOB. To reserve seats at

$35 pp call (413)205-8346 or go to

berkshirepaintandsip.com

We will be making cabbage and cheese pierogi

on Tuesday, Oct 11th and 25th so we can sell them

by the dozen at the Holiday Bazaar, which will be

held Nov. 19th from 9 to 2. Many hands make

light work. Your help would be appreciated.

Readings for the week of September 25, 2016 Sunday: Am 6:1a, 4-7/Ps 146:7-10/1 Tm 6:11-16/Lk 16:19-31

Monday: Jb 1:6-22/Ps 17:1-3, 6-7/Lk 9:46-50 Tuesday: Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23/Ps 88:2-8/Lk 9:51-56 Wednesday: Jb 9:1-12, 14-16/Ps 88:10-15/Lk 9:57-62

Thursday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12a/Ps 138:1-5/Jn 1:47-51 Friday: Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5/Ps 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14/Lk 10:13-16 Saturday: Jb 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17/Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130/Lk

10:17-24 Next Sunday: Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4/Ps 95:1-2, 6-9/2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14/

Lk 17:5-10

And let us not forget the spiritual works of mercy: to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear patiently those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead. Misericordia Vultus, no.15.

Saturday, September 24th

John Skumin

Requested by Family

4:00 PM

Sunday, September 25th

Virginia Denault

Requested by Family

Carroll Kane—2nd Anniversary

Requested by Family

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

Monday, September 26th

Maria Paralta

Requested by Family

12:10 PM

Tuesday, September 27th

Bernard Levesque

Requested by His Wife

12:10 PM

Wednesday, September 28th

Robert Connelly

Requested by Family

12:10 PM

Thursday, September 29th

Tony Simeone–Birthday Remembrance

Requested by Mr. & Mrs. John D’Amore

12:10 PM

Friday, September 30th

Deceased Members of Children of Mary

of Notre Dame Parish

12:10 PM

Saturday, October 1st

Joseph Blair—10th Anniversary

Requested by His Sister

4:00 PM

Sunday, October 2nd

Claire Massaconi

Requested by Anne & Fr. Mike

Rita & Joseph DeAngelis

Requested by Loving Daugther Sue,

Dave & Family

Sanctuary Candle—Joseph Blaire

Requested by Sister

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

CYCLE C SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time "'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad.'" Today's Gospel reading is Jesus' parable about a "rich man," whose name

we do not know, and a "poor man," named Lazarus. The story shows both men after death,

the rich man in torment, and Lazarus enjoying the comfort that he was deprived of during his earthly

life. It's important to understand that this teaching does not imply that having wealth leads

to eternal punishment. Rather, we look at how the rich man USED his wealth and see there the cause of the problem. As Jesus says, this man

"dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day." Clearly, he had

abundant wealth and focused it all upon serving himself. To further the accusation against him, all

the while "lying at his door was a poor man ... who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table." But the rich man paid Lazarus no heed, and THIS is why he

now suffers. Because he would not deign to "suffer" at all during his life by sharing his linen clothing or feeding his poor neighbor covered with sores. This selfishness became the rich

man's SELF-condemnation. He put himself in torment because he blatantly disobeyed God's law

to love his neighbor. This challenging parable urges us to examine our own behavior and ask

how WE use our wealth--whatever size our bank account may be. Are we willing to assist our

neighbors in need? Or do we walk by the poor, excusing our own comfort? Let us heed Christ's warning today that such earthly comforts are, in

the long run, short-lived.