Weekend at St. Joe’s

SEPTEMBER 14-15, 2024

UNITY IN DIVERSITY. Nationality may be an identity but this diversity is the very same reason of the gathering-together exemplifying how faith builds up many parts into One Body -the Church.

HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION. “Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum, habitare fratres in unum.” (Psalm 133:1). This Sunday, September 15, 2024, the Hispanic Heritage Mass was celebrated at the  after the 1:45 PM Mass at St. Joseph Parish, North Plainfield, New Jersey. At the Eucharistic celebration, different images of Our Lady was brought into procession inside the Church witnessing to the great example of devotion that our Hispanic Community has for Our Lady.

The parish also hosted an afternoon of celebration of the Hispanic Heritage after the Holy Mass. Parishioners were gathered at the parish garden. It was a collaborative effort by the different communities from different countries that we have in our parish (Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru). Each group set up their respective booths bringing foods and some cultural items from their countries.

A GREAT COMMISSION. Fr. Mauricio gave a special blessing for the Catechists during the celebration of the 10:00AM Mass at the occasion of Catechetical Sunday.

BLESSING OF CATECHISTS. On the occasion of the Catechetical Sunday, September 15, 2024, our parish priest, Fr. Mauricio Tabera-Vasquez, gave a special blessing for Catechists at the celebration of the 10:00am Mass.

CCD Classes commenced on the 8th of September 2024. There are two hundred and twenty-eight (228) students belonging to eighteen (18) different classes. This year, we are fortunate to have 18 catechists and seven assistants.
ALL EARS. Altar servers listen intently to the discussion of the Eucharistic Miracles which was discussed to help them develop a good understanding of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist.

ALTAR SERVERS’ RETREAT. Thirty-seven altar servers from our parishes of St. Joseph and St. Luke in North Plainfield, with a participating parish (St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish of Scotch Plains) attended a weekend retreat for altar servers. There were occasions for Eucharistic Adoration, reflections, testimonies, and games. The aim of this retreat is to form the hearts of younger ones into an ever-deeper love for the Eucharistic Lord as they continue to serve Him at liturgical celebrations.