Summer 2010

Dear Parishioners,

As another academic year will soon conclude, there are many things to be done. Yet our minds naturally turn to the summer and graduations, family cookouts, travel and relaxation. As your pastor, I would like to reflect with you on some of these things.

Our Religious Education Programs have ended for the academic year. The Office will close for the summer on June 30th and will reopen on August 16th. Please continue to send your registrations so that we may be prepared with adequate supplies and catechists when classes begin again in September. Visit the parish website, www.stjosephsdanbury.com to download registration forms and for more information. Volunteers are the backbone of our program! If you would like to be part of this rewarding ministry as a catechist or an aide please contact Mrs. Sherry Morris at (203) 778-1920 or by E-mail: morris.sherry@sbcglobal.net.

The academic year will end at Saint Joseph School on June 23rd, but the main office will be open all summer. The hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Please stop in the school office to see the School Secretary, Mrs. Elaine DeOliveira, or call the school at (203) 748-6615 if you have any questions, or wish to register. Information is also available on our website: www.sjsdanbury.org. Our school is proud to sponsor a Summer camp experience for those entering Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and First Grade during the months of July and August. Each themed week will be filled with arts and crafts, musical activities, play time and much more. Spaces are still available. Camp will run from 7:30 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., Mondays through Fridays for $200 per week. For more information, please contact our principal, Mrs. Lisa Lanni, at (203) 748-6615.

The Saint Joseph Youth Group will be hosting their annual Vacation Bible School camp. Participants will be exploring the parables and teachings of Jesus. The camp will begin on Monday, July 5th and end on Friday, July 9th. The hours will be 8:30 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. daily. The cost will be $60 per child. For more information, please contact Dr. Kimberly Withka at (203) 733-9872 or by E-mail: musicladyk@gmail.com.

At summer's end, we will be recruiting for our parochial music programs. This past year our adult choir grew tremendously. But we are still in need of volunteer singers. We welcome all voices, at any level of musical skill. It is a fun, challenging and welcoming group under the leadership of Music Director, Mr. David Baranowski. Our Hand Bell Choir and Children's Choir are seeking new members as well. Children's Choir members have rehearsal during the Saint Joseph School day. Rehearsal is after school for our public school children. Please telephone David Baranowski directly for information on these programs at (914) 217-9234 or E-mail: baranowski73@yahoo.com.

Preparations for the Saint Joseph Tag Sale (September 16, 17, 18) are ongoing. Come search for treasures! We will begin accepting donations in the Parish Hall in early September. For more information, please contact Jeanne Burns at recstjoseph@yahoo.com.

We have something else exceptional to look forward to in the fall: a new adult theology class to be offered in our Parish Center by Dr. Joan Kelly at (203) 778-1920 or E-mail: DrJoanKelly@aol.com.. The fall course Dr. Kelly will develop and present here at Saint Joseph will cover the Old Testament and will be offered on Wednesday afternoons in the fall without charge.

The summer will disperse us all in many different directions. I would hope that these words may serve as a symbolic reminder of our shared, special commitment to God and to the Parish. Please continue to include the Parish in your philanthropy during the summer months. I am always heartened to receive kind notes from you and with donations for weeks when you have been out of town or feeling under the weather. The Eucharist is the center both of God's faithful commitment to us in Christ and of our commitment to God and to one another in Christ. Weekly Holy Communion - an expectation for any serious disciple of Christ - should be a special time when our hearts reach out to Jesus. Wherever our summer weekends take us, we should not forget to attend Holy Mass at Saint Joseph or at a guest parish where we are visiting. This is particularly important today for our children who received First Holy Communion and for teenagers who received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Have a blessed, safe and memorable summer!

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Reverend Michael F. Dogali, Pastor