ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH | CLAYTON, MO 63105

Today is

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

Dear Parishioners,

As you know the Archdiocese of Saint Louis and our parish here at St. Joseph are conducting a campaign to raise funds to support our seminary and our parish. In less than two years our parish will be 170 years old and our Church building will be 100 years old. As we look forward to this historic event, several needs have to be addressed both at the seminary and here at St. Joseph.

While our church building is in very good structural condition, there are several improvements that will enhance the safety, esthetics and worship experience at our parish. Through a successful campaign, we will

Install a bathroom in the rear of the church
Improve the Church lighting
Install a needed fire alarm system
Paint the exterior of the church
Replace Church Doors (Doors are splitting and have dry rot)
Enhance Church side entrance plaza
Install an elevator lift for the physically impaired

As we enter into the final weeks of this campaign there are still many that have not responded to my letter. This weekend we will be having a sign up weekend for those who have either forgotten to return their pledge or those who never received a pledge request.

Everyone needs to return their pledge even if you cannot contribute. Next week we will begin phoning those whose pledges we have not received. Again I would ask you to pray about this and to consider if you can make a pledge to help with our needs. Either way I would ask that you return your Letter of Intention even if you cannot make a pledge.

If you have any questions about this campaign, please contact me either by e-mail shamleffer@archstl.org, parish number 726-1221, or cell 606-4181.

Thank you for all your past support both to the Archdiocese, the parish and to me.

God Bless!
Monsignor John Shamleffer

JANUARY 31, 2010

Dear Parishioners,

Pope Benedict has designated Thursday, February 11, as World Day For the Sick. It is a day to remember, pray for and with, those who are ill or infirmed in our world. Jesus is often found in the Gospels healing the sick in body or mind who came before him. It was not a sign of his power but an act of love and compassion.

Pope Benedict states:
Sickness inevitably brings with it a moment of crisis and sober confrontation with one’s own personal situation. Advances in the health sciences often provide the means necessary to meet this challenge, at least with regard to its physical aspects. Human life, however, has intrinsic limitations, and sooner or later it ends in death. This is an experience to which each human being is called, and one for which he or she must be prepared. Despite the advances of science, a cure cannot be found for every illness, and thus, in hospitals, hospices and homes throughout the world we encounter the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are incurably and often terminally ill. In addition, many millions of people in our world still experience unsanitary living conditions and lack access to much-needed medical resources, often of the most basic kind, with the result that the number of human beings considered “incurable” is greatly increased.
Here I would like to encourage the efforts of those who work daily to ensure that the incurably and terminally ill, together with their families, receive adequate and loving care. The Church, following the example of the Good Samaritan, has always shown particular concern for the infirm. Through her individual members and institutions, she continues to stand alongside the suffering and to attend the dying, striving to preserve their dignity at these significant moments of human existence. Many such individuals – health care professionals, pastoral agents and volunteers – and institutions throughout the world are tirelessly serving the sick, in hospitals and in palliative care units, on city streets, in housing projects and parishes.

Our Church is blessed with two healing sacraments; that of Reconciliation and of Anointing of the Sick. Both are grace encounters with our God and signs of His abundant love and compassion. We, as members of this Catholic faith, are called to imitate Christ in word and deed. Thus we are called to have a special care of the ill and infirmed both in mind and spirit. Visiting the sick is a work of mercy and closely aligns us with Christ. If you know of anyone who is sick or in poor health please let us know at the rectory and we will be glad to visit them. I also encourage all of you to also visit the sick when ever possible it is always a great source of comfort.

This Lenten Season, at all of our Masses on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 13 & 14, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will take place. This celebration of the sacrament will be a sign of our Church’s and our God’s care for all the sick.

Lastly I would ask all of us to pray in a special way today for all the sick of our world and especially for those in our parish.

Blessings!
Monsignor John Shamleffer

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