Psalm51

R  Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness,                                                                                         
     in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
     and of my sin cleanse me.  R

For I acknowledge my offense,
     and my sin is before me always:
"Against You only have I sinned,
     and done what is evil in Your sight."  R

A clean heart creat for me, O God,
     and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from Your presence,
     and Your Holy Spirit take not from me.  R

Give me back the joy of Your salvation,
     and a willilng spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lipe,
      and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise.  R 

From the Principal

Santana Holland, Trent Vinson, and Courtney Balisteri - Fourth Grade students - flash big grins as they begin their Lenten season with ashes on their foreheads.

Dear Parents,

Today we celebrated Mass for Ash Wednesday. Ashes were distributed and Father an excellent sermon on the meaning of the ashes and the Lenten preparation for the greatest feast day of the Church Easter Sunday. The church was filled to capacity with the children and parishioners.

We were very disappointed that last Friday we missed the parade. That will not be rescheduled. It would not be appropriate because Mardi Gras has passed and it should not be done during Lent.

I remind you again about Monday and the Open House. We need a couple of more volunteers to help as guides for new parents.

We welcome Mrs. Dyer back to the fold. She was sorely missed by all. She looks great and we all most happy to have her back.

It is a long stretch to the next break. Encourage your child to work hard over the next weeks. Have a space and time away from distractions for each to do homework and offer assistance when needed. When we do these things, we demonstrate to the children that we as parents believe this school work is important. 

-- Dr. Toups

Calendar for the Week

Wednesday, February 17
Ash Wednesday
Mass @ 8:30. - All are invited. 
Last day to re-register without late fee charge.

Thursday, February 18
Late fee ($100/student) begins for late registration.

Friday, February 19
NO MASS
Fair T-shirt Order Forms Due
Spirit Dress
Stations of the Cross @ 1:55 in church. Grades 1-8. - All are invited.

Monday, February 22
Open House for Parents of Prospective Students - 10:00-2:00 & 5:00-7:00
New Student Registration Begins.

Friday, February 26
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited.
Crusaders 
Stations of the Cross @ 1:55 in church. Grades 1-8. - All are invited.

Spring Fest T-Shirt Orders Due

A Spring Fest Wild West T-shirt order form was sent home today.

The shirt cost is $10 for youth sizes and $11 for adult sizes. 

Please fill out the order form completely and return to school by Friday, February 19. There will be no orders accepted after that date.

Students will be able to wear the Spring Fest T-shirt every Friday before the Spring Fair.

Free Throw Championship

The Knights of Columbus Council 4874 will host a Free Throw Championship on Sunday, February 21, in the St. Joseph School gym. The competition will begin at 11:00 a.m. and is open to boys and girls ages 10-14.

Entry forms for the competition may be picked up in the school office or you can register on site. For more infomation, please contact Ray Cheek at raycheek@gmail.com.

Calling All Saints

Calling all Students - Grades 3-12

St. Joseph Parish is looking for children to paly the role of saints for the St. Joseph Altar.

The altar will be on Sunday, March 14.

The children will be asked to participate in the rosary procession, Mass, and feeding of the Saints. Each child is responsible for his own costume. There will be a short practice on Monday, March 8, at 6:00 P.M. in the gym.

Anyone interested in participating, please contact Mrs. Fay Murray at 985-386-8151 or call the rectory office at 985-386-3749.

Altar Serving Training

Training for anyone in Grades 4-12 who wishes to become an Altar Server will begin Sunday, February 21st at 1:30 pm. We ask that parents meet us in the Narthex to register their child and schedule their small group training. After that, they are welcome to stay, or they may leave and pick up their child after the training session.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Glen and Michele Ernst

Community News

PONCHATOULA YOUTH BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

Registration for Ponchatoula youth baseball and softball is now underway. Players must be between the ages of 5-19.

The baseball fee is $75.

The fee for Coach Pitch T-ball and Softball players is $60.

There is a $5 discount for each additional sibling.

Registration fees and a copy of the birth certificate must be included with the registration form (if the birth certificate is not already on file).

Walk-in registration dates are January 30 and February 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ponchatoula Community Center in the Second Floor Conference Room.

Registration forms are available in the school office and will be accepted until March 6, 2010.

St. Joseph Parish News

Parish Website

Mass Schedule

Saturday evening at 5:00

Sunday morning at 8:00 and 10:30

Sunday evening at 5:00


ST. JOSEPH ALTAR

St. Joseph Altar Committee will sponsor its annual St. Joseph Altar the weekend of March 13 & 14. Traditionally, all items used for the altar are donated and all proceeds collected from the altar are distributed to the poor of the parish through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The members of the St. Joseph Altar Committee are contacting you at this time to ask for donations of goods, services, and money towards the preparation of the altar. The following items are needed for cookies: all purpose flour, sugar, 3 pound can of Crisco shortening, powdered sugar, evaporated milk, and dried figs. If you can donate any of these items, please bring items to church, place in the box marked St. Joseph Altar. Please contact Fay Murray at 985-386-8151 for additional information.

We will bake cookies on Saturday, February 13, at 8:30 a.m. at Ponchatoula High School cafeteria. Bring a rolling pin and a small knife.

RECONCILIATION SERVICES FOR LENT

At the direction of Bishop Muench the priests of our deanery have been asked to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation more frequently during the season of Lent at two central locations within the Northeast Deanery.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. on the following Wednesdays at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Hammond and St. Helena Catholic Church in Amite on February 24, March 3, March 17, and March 24.

In addition to the abvoe dates and times, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available during the Parish Mission here at St. Joseph on Tuesday, March 16 at 8:00 p.m. Several priests will be available at all three locations.

This Lenten plan offers a wonderful opportunity for all of us to participate ini this very important sacrament. All our parishioners are urged to take advantage of this opportunity dyring this Lenten season.

ARE YOU DISCERNING A VOCATION AS A PRIEST OR BROTHER?

If you would like to explore a vocation as a Dominican friar (Order of Preachers), you are invited to the Dominican Experience Weekend. This weekend of prayer, community, and information sharing is designed to help men explore the possibility of a vocation to Dominican life. College-age and older men are invited February 26-28 to St. Anthony of Padua Priory in New Orleans, LA. For more information, visit the website.


TRAINING FOR NEW ALTAR SERVERS

Training for anyone in Grades 4-12 who wishes to become an Altar Server will begin Sunday, February 21st at 1:30 pm. We ask that parents meet us in the Narthex to register their child and schedule their small group training. After that, they are welcome to stay, or they may leave and pick up their child after the training session.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Glen and Michele Ernst

Prayer for Priests

The Year for Priests 2009-2010

Dear Lord,

We pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around Your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry.

We pray that Mary will guide Your priests to follow her own words,
"Do whatever He tells you." (Jn 2:5)

May Your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary's most chaste spouse.

May the Blessed Mother's own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross.

May Your priests be holy, filled with the fire of Your love, seeking nothing but Your greater glory and the salvation of souls.

Amen

St. John Vianney, pray for us


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