St. Joseph Parish Finance Council

The Parish Finance Council works closely with the pastor in the administration of the parish and its finances. 

The Finance Council’s responsibilities include:

·         Review monthly parish financial reports prepared by the parish accountant

·         Prepare and publish quarterly financial reports to the parishioners

·         Establish policies for the handling of money at the parish

·         Work with the parish accountant to provide approved parish and school budgets

·         Personnel policies

·         Payroll and Benefits including salary negotiations with the school teachers

·         Work with the school principal to provide a financially strong school

·         Preservation of endowment and restricted parish funds

·         Consulting on and approving all parish capital projects

·         Provide regular reports to the Pastoral Council as to the financial situation of the parish

·         Responsible for the stewardship of time, talent and treasure for the parish

The Finance Council meets on the 4^th Tuesday of every month.  

Parish Finance Council ByLaws

Stepping Stones Brochure

Catholic War Veterans

Our Lady of Lourdes Post 1325

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Higgins founded the Catholic War Veterans, one of the greatest and most noble patriotic organizations within the entire history of our country and our Church.  He was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 15, 1890 and attended St. Stephan’s and St. Mary Star of the Sea School, graduating in June 1903.  He was given an eight-year scholarship to St. John College and graduated with a BA degree in 1912. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn on May 19, 1914.

Msgr. Higgins entered the Army and saw duty as a lieutenant-chaplain with the 152^nd Depot Brigade and General Hospital No. 13.  Next to his love for Christ and the Church came his love for country.  In 1925 he realized that Catholics who served in our Armed Forces should continue to live their lives for the preservation of these beloved United States of America against all its enemies.  In May 1935, he received permission from Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy to found the Catholic War Veterans.  In June of that year he visited Rome and received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Pius XI for the new organization.  There are over 200 Posts located throughout the United States.

In 1947, a post at St. Joseph was formed and was named for Our Lady of Lourdes.  The first Commander was Robert Wise.  Father Bertram spoke at the first meeting.  The core of his message was a warning that, “What one generation fails to do is only left for the next generation to do.”

One of the main activities of the CWV was the operation of the weekly Bingo game at St. Joseph School, which they did for 36 years. They successfully raised funds that they donated to the school.     In 1998, they gave the Bingo operation to the school parents as mentioned in Chapter Two.

The Lourdes Post #1325 is responsible for the beautiful memorial on the Grotto grounds and honors all who have or will serve in the Armed Forces. 

A main focus of 2002 was the building of the Grotto Store.  The walkway of bricks leading to the Grotto is a new project with a two-fold purpose:  to raise funds and to beautify the grounds. 

The CWV is currently concerned with the day-to-day maintenance and the long-term preservation of the Grotto structure.

Meetings are held monthly.

For more information, please contact George Berger or the Parish Office

Knights Of Columbus Council 2039

St. Joseph Knights Of Columbus Council 2039 held its first meeting on Oct. 5, 1919 in the old frame St. Joseph School building.  During the ensuing years, the Council was very active.  In 1956, property was purchased adjacent to the parish and the building project was started with members being the masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and laborers.  In 1971, an addition nearly doubled the size of the hall.  Complete remodeling took place in 1984, and numerous updates and improvements have been made in the years since then.

The K. of C. Hall may be rented for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, and other functions.  It is available for funeral dinners at a nominal charge.

The Knights have continued their mission of fraternal and benevolent activities serving parish and community.  The current Council holds three major fundraisers each year:  the Reverse Raffle in February, a golf outing in June, and a dinner in September.  These events help with expenses plus any donations going to various groups like Happy Day School/MRDD.  Other activities the Council sponsor include Special Population bowling and free throw contests.

Meetings are held at the K. of C. Hall, 2697 Waterloo Rd, on the first and third Tuesdays of each month beginning at 8:00 P.M.  We would like to invite anyone interested in joining to contact Pat Hanratta or the Parish office.

We look forward, also, to seeing more brother Knights becoming in our activities.

Funeral Dinner Committee

The Funeral Committee provides the family and friends of deceased parishioners with a meal following the burial of their loved one.  This service is provided at the Knight Of Columbus Hall (there is a $100.00 rental fee) or the St. joseph School Hall, depending on the availablitlty.

Initial contact with the committee is made through our pastor or the parish secretary.  After consulting with the family, committee mebers purchase the meat, bread and beverages for the meal.  Parish members will be contacted to donate side dishes and desserts.  The family will be charged the cost of the meat plus a $20.00 replacement fee for paper products, etc.  The remainder of the food and the service is a donation from the parish.  We hope this service will help you in your time of sorrow and need.

If you are interested in helping with the funeral dinners, please contact Patricia Jordan or Joanne Krantz or the Parish Office.

Senior Thyme

Senior Thyme is a parish senior citizens organization that sponsers the Euchre Card Group.  They play on the LAST Wednesday of the month at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 1:00 PM.  It is a great occasion to meet your friends or make new friends.  They play ten - 10 minute games with a break after 5 games for refreshments and visiting.  The price is right - only 50 cents.  Come and join in for a fun afternoon.

Pro-Life Committee

We are dedicated to the truth that all human LIFE, from conception until natural death is a sacred gift from GOD.  We are - by prayer, education and witness - committed to building a culture of LIFE within our families, parish and the community.

Meetings are held every other month on Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

Further Information on Natural Family Planning (NFP) can by obtained by clicking on the link.

For more information contact Adrianne Scalera at thescaleras@sbcglobal.net.

Three Simple Activities

by Rev. Frank A. Pavone

                What simple pro-life activities can almost everyone do with very little effort,

                which bring the pro-life message to a large numger of people who are not

                going to go out of their way to hear it, and which cost next to nothing?

                Answer: the precious feet pin, pro-life bank checks, and a pro-life bumper

                sticker.

              1. The Precious Feet.  Some 90% of abortions in the United States occur in the

                  first twelve weeks of pregnancy.  Most people still have no idea how well developed

                  the preborn child is at the time when these abortions occur.

                        The Precious Feet pin shows the exact size and shape of a pre-born child's feet at ten

                        weeks after conception.  It is an attractive and instructive pin, showing people, in a single

                        glance, that the victim of abotion is one of us.  The pin provides an excellent  discussion-

                        starter.  Children also love to wear it, and in this way can bring the pro-life message to

                        their parents.

                   2.  Pro-Life Bank Checks .  Each time you write a check, about 15 people see it by the time

                        it is returned to us.  By using pro-life checks, we are therefore making numerous people

                        aware of the message, without any extra time of trouble for ourselves.  Order them  at

                        www.promisechecks.com or call them at 1-800-977-6647.

                   3. Bumperstickers.  People read bumperstickers.  While they will make your car look less

                       attractive, the lives that can be saved as a result will be a benefit that far outweighs the

                       importance of the car's appearance.

                       Pro-life bumper stickers come in a wide variety of messages, colors and sizes.  Some of the

                       messages include, " Love them Both" (showing a mother and her baby), "We Can Live

                       Without Abortion,"  and If It's Not a Baby, You're Not Pregnant!"  Some bumperstickers also

                       contain the phone numbers of local or national hotlines either for alternatives to abortion, or

                       post-abortion counseling.

                 Hearts have been changed and lives have been saved by means of each of these simple

                 activities.  None of them cost very much, and once you start to use them,  they have an

                 "automatic" quality to them: they keep speaking to people while your mind is on other things!

                  They speak to them in a quiet and non-threatening way, and the people they speak to include

                  those who do not want to hear the message!  Yet unless the tragedy is faced, it cannot be

                  ended!  Help break the silence about abortion by using these three simple activities, and by

                  encouraging others to use them as well.

     To obtain these resources, contact Priests for Life at PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314 or call 1-800-PFL-3448.

Website Committee

The website Committee is responsible for developing and updating the parish website with information for daily Catholic life along with current and future parish activities. 

To volunteer, contact Becky Wohlwend or Paula Drope at administrator@stjosephrandolph.org.