St. Joseph
Catholic School

Psalm 89

R. The son of David will live for ever. 

The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. 

R. The son of David will live for ever. 

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.” 

R. The son of David will live for ever. 

“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.” 

R. The son of David will live for ever.

From the Principal

Dear Parents:

After eight wonderful years at St. Joseph and thirty-seven as a Catholic elementary principal, I have let Father McDuffie know that I will not be returning to St. Joseph as principal next school year. When I took the job after Katrina and the trials that it brought, I had no understanding how satisfying and rewarding my experience would be. St. Joseph is a wonderful place that provides a great environment for children to grow in faith and friendship. The children at St. Joseph are a credit to you as parents. They are well behaved, polite, and invest themselves in their work at school.

I leave knowing I have been blessed in life doing something that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I have enjoyed most working with children. I have worked along side educators committed to their craft. Together we have worked to provide effective programs and a positive environment for students to study and play. I will miss the work everyday. But in life there comes a time to step aside. I look forward to spending time with my wife and enjoying some leisure time activities that we share.

Finally, I thank each of you for your kindnesses during my time at St. Joseph. The school has had great support. You have entrusted what is most precious to you to us. I pray that we have made ourselves worthy of that trust. 

-- Dr. Gerard Toups
    Principal

Calendar-at-a-Glance

Thursday, March 20
March Birthdays

Friday, March 21
Fair Holiday
Spring Fair Begins

Saturday, March 22
Spring Fair Continues

Sunday, March 23
Third Sunday of Lent
Spring Fair Ends

Wednesday, March 26
Mass @ 8:30 - All are invited to attend.
Bring bagged, boxed, or canned food item for our area needy.
Crusaders Announced
Report Cards

Thursday, March 27
Spring Pictures

Friday, March 28
Spirit Dress (Spring Fair t-shirts okay)
Stations of the Cross @ 1:45

Sunday, March 30
Fourth Sunday of Lent

March Birthdays - March 20

All students at St. Joseph who have a birthday in March may come out of uniform on Thursday, March 20.

This is the only day students with March birthdays may come out of uniform. There is no make-up day.

Out of uniform guidelines can be found on the WEBSITE.

Fair Holiday - March 21

St. Joseph School will not have school on Friday, March 21.

We will take that day as our fair holiday.

Classes will resume on Monday, March 24.

Spring Fair - March 21, 22, 23

We are ready to start collecting donations of good, clean stuffed animals as fair prizes. They can be sent to the office.

We continue to collect cleaned egg shells for the confetti egg booth for the Spring Fair. Please check the FAIR tab for directions on how to clean the eggs. Those who contribute may qualify for the popsicle party!

All of the Spring Fair news can be found under the FAIR tab on this website.

Fair Sweets Booth

It’s fair time again and the Wild West Spring Fest Sweets Booth is back. We need your favorite desserts, whether it’s cookies, brownies, cupcakes, candy, rice crispy treats, or any treat that might be your special creation. All donations are welcome.

You can drop off your donations at the sweets booth Friday, March 21st through the 23rd during fair operating hours.

Thank you for your support year after year. It’s because of you that this booth is so successful.

5K Run & Ride Bands

Pictured above is Phoenix Lofton with a shipment of 5K/Fun Run shirts printed with his original design. Early registrants for the runs receive one these shirts.

This is a reminder that participants registered in the 5K/Fun Run scheduled for Saturday need to pick up their race packets at Perfectly Fit Performance Sports on Friday, March 21 between noon and 6:00 p.m. They will have race packets, t-shirts, and store specials for race participants.

Pre-ordered/paid all-weekend ride bands went home with oldest students today, Wednesday, March 19. Ride bands may be redeemed beginning at noon on Friday, March 21. The fair, however, does not open until 6:00 p.m.

Silent Auction

We have some new items in the Silent Auction Tent. Be sure to come out and visit it during the Fair!

Partial list of new items:
Front row seats for 8th grade promotion
Front row seats for Kindergarten promotion
Front row seats for PreK promotion
Individual class keepsakes
Two sets of braces (teeth)
Fish fryers, crawfish pot
Autographed Jimmy Graham football
Several golf packages
Pelican & Zephyr tickets
State park weekend stay
Two night stay in New Orleans
Many restaurants & shopping gift cards. 

Spread the word about these great items and many others that weren't mentioned. There's something for everybody at the Silent Auction.

Sports Physicals - April 5

Mark your calendars!

Tangipahoa Free Physical Day will be on April 5, 2014.

Only 7th and 8th graders of elementary schools are invited to this day.

Forms will be distributed at a later date to present 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

Stations of the Cross

SJS students in grades 1-8 will participate in the Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent.

The Stations will be in the church beginning at 1:45.

Our first Stations of the Cross will be on Friday, March 14. All are invited to attend us with.

For those who can't join us in person, Stations of the Cross are also featured at STATIONS.

Rice Bowls

St. Joseph School is participating in CRS Rice Bowl again this year. Your child will receive a cardboard Rice Bowl to collect Lenten alms. Also, included with the Rice Bowl is a Lenten calendar to provide inspiration for your Lenten journey.

More information can be found at: RICE BOWLS. Please use the Rice Bowls and return them on Monday, April 14th.

Cheerleader Tryouts

Anyone student in grades 4th-7th grade wishing to tryout for the 2014-2015 Cheerleading Squad must have a parent attend a MANDATORY meeting that will be held Thursday March 27th at 5:30 in Mrs Bankston's room.

At the meeting all information for the year will be given out as well prices and contracts.

Any student wishing to try out must stay after school Tuesday April 1st to 5:00 for the try-out clinic to learn a cheer and dance routine.

The actual try-out date will be after school Friday April 4th.

Rest in Peace, Sister Roselle

Sister Mary Roselle Orso, O.P., the first Principal of Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School, passed away peacefully from the care of her Dominican Sisters to the loving arms of our Lord on Feb. 7, 2014. She served STA as Principal from 1986-1992.

“Sister Roselle, St. Thomas' first Principal, worked tirelessly with parents, students, and community leaders to bring out the best in each of us and to ensure the support of the community,” said current Principal Jose Becerra. “She left a thriving high school with a firmly established reputation for Christian service and academic excellence.”

The STA community will offer a Memorial Mass in her honor on Wednesday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the STA Commons. STA Chaplain Father Randy Cuevas will be the Celebrant. All are welcome, especially those who knew Sister Mary Roselle, to gather with our Falcon family to remember a beautiful lady who was so important to continuing the tradition of Catholic educational excellence in Tangipahoa Parish. A brief reception will follow the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sister Mary Roselle OP Scholarship fund at STA, 14520 Voss Drive, Hammond, LA 70401 or to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe, Springfield, IL 62704.

Lenten Penance Services

“The Light is ON For You” Lenten Confessions

The priests of the Northeast Deanery of the Diocese of Baton Rouge are once again making the special sacrifice of their Wednesday evenings during the season of Lent to be available for confessions in our local area. On every Wednesday evening of Lent beginning March 12th, through Wednesday, April 9th, confessors will be available at Holy Ghost Church in Hammond from 6:00 PM until the last penitent’s confession is heard.

In addition, confessors will also be available at 6 PM at the following locations until the last penitent’s confession is heard:
Wednesday, March 19th at Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence
Wednesday, March 26th at St. Joseph Church in French Settlement
Wednesday, April 2nd at St. Joseph Church in Ponchatoula
Wednesday, April 9th at St. Margaret Church in Albany

Parish News

Personnel
Fr. Paul A. McDuffie, Pastor
Larry J. Melancon - Deacon
Mike Agnello - Deacon
Dr. M.J. "Dutch" Schanzbach - Deacon

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil Mass - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Mass - 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m.

Weekday Mass Schedule
The week day Masses on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday will be at 8:30 a.m. Reconciliation (Confessions) will be available before all week day Masses at 8:00 a.m. in addition to Confessions on Saturday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Contact Information
Address - 255 North 8th Street (P.O. Box 368), Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Phone - 985.386.3749
Website - www.stjosephsonline.com