There's a certain beauty about a misty day along the ocean, and it didn't dampen the spirits of our group on Ender's Island in Mystic, CT.  A blessing by Fr. Bogdan at the 7:15 a.m. depature time set the day in motion, with a return time of 4:30 p.m. made for a refreshing day retreat. Join us as we revisit the trip to the beautiful 11 acre island.

A sunny morning greeted the congregation and family as we celebrated a new member of the Body of Christ. Join with us a we look in on this beautiful event ! 

It was a beautiful July Sunday for our St. Joseph Parish Cookout !  Everyone gathered outside after the 11:30 a.m. Mass for a delicious variety of summer picninc foods and desserts.  Join us in these photos, and don't forget to circle your calendar, God willing, for next year !

A fond farewell to parishioners Tom & Doris Wilk as they leave us to move up to New Hampshire. Tom and Doris raised 4 children, Doris doing the cooking and housekeeping for the many priests assigned to our parish, as well as a volunteer over the years for St. Helen's Society and the many parish events. Tom, spending 26 years in the Air Force, retiring as Captain, then another 19 years at Aetna in accounting. Tom served for years here at St. Joseph's as Lector, Confirmation teacher, Pastoral Council member, Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph Society Men's Club, serving at the Corner Stone Soup Kitchen & Shelter, delivering our weekly bread & food donations. Tom also pursued the spiritual life, attending the annual CT Catholic Men's Conference and attending various retreats at Immaculata Retreat House and St. Joseph's Trappist Abbey in Spencer, MA. Please keep Tom & Doris in your prayers as they begin their retirement and for those volunteers who will follow in their footsteps. God bless you Tom & Doris !  St. Joseph Abbey video clip. /  Spencer Trappist Ale video

During Holy Week of this past Lenten / Easter Season the CCD students together made lunch packages for the guests at the Corner Stone Soup Kitchen, an opportunity for a practical lesson in the theological virtue of Charity.  
It's the goal of our CCD program to bring our Faith from the lesson page into the student's daily lives. Faith not lived remains just a theory and has no transformative power in our lives or in the lives of those around us. 

A reflection on life priorities through the lens of the financial crisis back in '08. - Video Clip 5 minutes.

Passing on the Faith to our kids, - another look at who we are and what that means -  Video - 8 minutes

Amidst days of humidity and rain we had a beautiful, clear morning for the annual Corpus Christi Mass and Procession. Just before the end of the liturgy the congregation processed outdoors to four altars around the church grounds, young and not-so-young alike !  

What's Corpus Christi All About ?

Early Christian sources, such as The Didache ( Did-uh-kay, Greek: meaning ‘teaching’) an early Church document, written about 100 A.D., include instructions for the Eucharist. Ignatius of Antioch, ( b., approx 50 A.D. – martyred in Rome approx. 98-117 A.D.) a student of St. John the Apostle and one of the Apostolic Fathers, mentions the Eucharist as "the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ", and Justin Martyr (103-165 A.D.) speaks of it as: "the food over which the prayer of thanksgiving, the word received from Christ, has been said ... is the flesh and blood of this Jesus who became flesh ... and the deacons carry some to those who are absent."  ( See Leviticus 17:11, John 6:53, Mt 26:26-27, Mk 14:22, 24, Lk 22:19-20, , 1 Cor 11:16, & 27-29, Acts 27:35).

The Church reminds us in the month of May every year of Mary's role especially in the early Church as well as in the life of Christians throughout the ages. Take time to reflect on the following scripture passages, - Lk 1:26-55, Jn 2: 1-11, Mt 1:20, Mt 2:11, Lk 2:19, Lk 2:51, Acts 1:14.

Join us we look in on Holy Week services, - Holy Thursday (John 13: 12-15), Good Friday, Easter Vigil (John 8:12 ) including Baptism of catechumens, and at last, Easter Sunday, enabling us to carry the Good News out into our world of home, and work, ... where ever our lives and circumstances bring us, 

A beautifully cool and clear day welcomed parishioners arriving for the Palm Sunday Masses. Step inside with us in photos as we join the congregation for this start of Holy Week..

It was a cold but beautifully clear day for the annual Parish Breakfast ! Following Mass, we all convened downstairs in the church Hall for a delicious and hardy breakfast prepared by our own St. Joseph Society Men's Club. Eggs, sausage links, hash-browns, donuts, coffee, tea and hot chocolate awaited a hungry crowd !  Take a moment and visit again with us through the photos, and don't forget to join us next year !

NY Encounter is an annual free three day cultural event in NY which features exhibits, music and photography presentations, interviews, panel discussions along with Mass on Sunday this year celebrated by Sean Cardinal O'Malley OFM Cap., of Boston. Plan on joining us next year, - alwys on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

See the 2018 promo video here. 

NY Encounter 2018 - website

Don't forget, plan to attend next year, - February 15-17, 2019 ! See you there !

We have another centenarian in the parish, Evan Lawn. As an educator, Mr. Lawn spent mos of his professional career teaching Math and History at Elington High School. Having graduated Cornell University at the age of 19, he went on to teach in Saudi Arabia before the outbreak of WWII. Mr. Lawn, a convert to the Catholic Church, with his wife Marguerite, raised four children, later retiring in the late 1970s. He has been a mentor to many, many students and young people here in Ellington, always challenging them to intellectual and spiritual growth in their lives. Until the early 2000's he served as Lector for years at the 6:30 a.m. daily Mass, sharing his knowledge theology and public speaking with the newer Lectors and others serving in the parish. Let's look in on a few photos from throughout the years. 

Join with the young men and women here, their sponsors, familes and fellow parishioners as Bishop Cote anoints and seals these Confirmation candidates with the Gift of the Holy Spirit, the Sacrament of Christian Maturity.  

“All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide.
Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord.”

The Ladies of St. Joseph did it again this year with a delicious Polish dinner. The meal was prepared and hosted by the Ladies featuring an appetizing array of traditional Polish foods, topped off with a selection of home-made desserts. Join in the fun as you look through the photos ! See you there next time ! 

Here's the latest news regarding our parish Bingo !  Stop by for some fun with friends old and new, and don't forget the good food ! 

Life-long parishioner Chester Bloniarz celebrates his 102nd birthday !  Head Usher, Carnival Chairman, Trustee, polish-kitchen worker, St. Joseph Mens Society member, Knights of Columbus, Retreat attendee,  Carnival clean-up Crew volunteer, St. Joseph School parent of nine children, and daily Mass communicant / attendee since 1955 to name just a few. Let's take a moment together and visit with Chet in these photos. Happy Birthday and God Bless you Chet !