THIS WEEK

• Monday, May 12th:  St. Joseph Finance Committee at 6:00 PM, in the friary meeting room.
• Tuesday, May 13th:  St. Brigid Finance Committee at 6:30 PM, in the school library.

DISCIPLES IN MISSION

On Saturday, May 17th, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon, St. Joseph parish will sponsor a reflection day at the Fr. Hayes Center as part of our commitment to Disciples In Mission.  All are invited.  Come to help set the direction of our parish as we try to follow Jesus more effectively.

ST. BRIGID SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

St. Brigid School will hold an open house for interested families next Sunday, May 18th, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Fr. Hayes Center.  This will also be an opportunity for all parishioners to tour the school to see the many renovations and changes that have taken place since the opening of the new St. Brigd School last August.  Come to see the wonderful facilities of St. Brigid School!

BISHOP’S APPEAL – 2008

St. Joseph’s Parish Family welcomes Barbara Smith, Director of the Department of Pastoral Services of the Diocese of Portland.  She will speak at each Mass this weekend to prepare us for our participation in this years’ Bishop’s Appeal which will be launched next weekend.  St. Joseph’s Parish Appeal goal is $50,000.00

Prayerful congratulations and good wishes from St. Joseph’s Parish Family to all Mothers.  We thank the Lord for your goodness.  We also thank God for all of our mothers, living and deceased.

FREE CLINIC

Cheverus High School will offer a free girls basketball clinic on May 17th and 24th, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, for girls in grades 3 – 8.  For more information or to sign up, call

774-6238 or www.cheverus.org.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES – 2008

St. Joseph’s Parish annual celebration of wedding anniversaries will take place on Sunday, May 18th.  Parishioners who are observing a 25th, 40th, 50th, or 60th wedding anniversary at any time during 2008 will be invited to renew their marriage vows during the 8:00 AM Mass.  Following the Mass, a festive breakfast will be served by the Knights of Columbus in the Fr. Hayes Center.  Each couple may invite ten (10) guests to the breakfast.  If you are a registered parishioner and your special anniversary occurs this year, please register by calling Julie Cannon at the friary office 797-7026, ext. 201, before the May 11th deadline.

A VOCATION VIEW

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.”  Send forth workers into your vineyard.  If God is calling you, call

Msgr. Marc Caron or Fr. Andrew Dubois at 689-2033

or e-mail: vocations@portlanddiocese.net.  If you are interested in the Capuchin Franciscan way of life, please speak with one of the friars here at St. Joseph’s or log onto: www.franciscanvocation.org.

SILVER AND GOLD MASS

Bishop Richard J. Malone and Catholic Charities Maine Family Life Institute invite couples that are celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th, 60th, and 70th wedding anniversaries to celebrate a special Silver and Gold Mass on Saturday,

June 28th, at 4:30 PM, at the Cathedral in Portland.  Couples planning to attend, please RSVP by June 13th, to 871-7664.  A light reception will follow the Mass.

WANTED – INTERESTED TEENAGERS

Elizabeth DeWitt, teen parish council member, would like to get together with other teens to share common interests, ideas, ambitions, and goals.  For more information, contact Elizabeth at beth90@maine.rr.com.

Among the intentions remembered at the Masses during the upcoming week are:

Monday May 12th

              8:00 AM             Mother’s Novena

Tuesday May 13th

              8:00 AM             Mother’s Novena

Wednesday May 14th

              8:00 AM             Mother’s Novena

Thursday May 15th

              8:00 AM             Mother’s Novena

Friday May 16th

              8:00 AM             Mother’s Novena

Saturday May 17th

              8:00 AM             Mother’s Novena

              4:00 PM              Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Casale, Sr.

Sunday May 18th

              8:00 AM             Mother’s Novena

           10:00 AM            For Our Parish Family

              5:00 PM              Luther Johnson &

                                          Clarence Olsen

MAY CROWNING

All are invited to the annual May Crowning of the statue of the Blessed Mother:  Friday, May 16th, at 1:00 PM, in the church.  The students of St. Brigid School, especially the First Communicants and 8th Graders, will participate in this wonderful event.

FROM ST. JOSEPH’S FINANCE COMMITTEE

A total of 717 individuals attended our four weekend Masses last week.  Offertory collections totaled $8,520.  The average amount received was $11.88 per attendee.  One year ago over this same weekend, offertory collections totaled $7,686.

Last weekend’s special 2nd collection for the Flood Victims in Aroostook County totaled $3,449.  Saturday’s Confirmation / First Communion collection totaled $1,041.

Our church’s fiscal year runs from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.  Through April 30th, our weekly offertory collections totaled $387,605.

2.7 % behind where we need to be for us to maintain a balanced budget.  Your continued financial support is both critical and much appreciated.

Our offertory collection goal for the month of May totals $33,855.  We are off to an excellent start!

We will keep everyone updated on our progress in future bulletins.

E-DROP STILL ALIVE

St. Joseph’s Parish Council has met with a new manager of E-Drop at 630 Forest Avenue, Portland.  E-Drop has been resurrected and continues to be available to financially assist St. Joseph’s Parish.  Bring in saleable items for auction through E-Drop.  Parishioners make a tax deductible donation of items; St. Joseph’s Parish receives the proceeds from the sale less a 35% fee.  Spring cleaning season is upon us, so take advantage of this innovative program to help

St. Joseph’s.  Contact E-Drop for more information at

221-5772, www.edropmaine.com.

Pax Christi Maine, an affiliate of Pax Christi USA, the Catholic Peace Movement, is seeking a volunteer website administrator to set up and manage its website (paxchristimaine.org) and listserv. Candidates need not be Catholic, but must possess website administration experience.  Contact: search@paxchristimaine.org.