ST. JOSEPH

PARISH

Celebrating 176 Years 1841-2016

Vanderburgh County

www.stjoeco.org

A community of joyful, active, faith-filled people who give thanks to God by generously sharing their

individual gifts and talents to serve the needs of all.

WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday—5 PM Sunday—8 & 10:30 AM

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILATION

SATURDAY 4-4:30 PM

PARISH OFFICE

6202 W. Saint Joseph Road

Evansville, IN 47720

SCHOOL

6130 W. Saint Joseph Road

Evansville IN 47720

Parish Office: (812) 963-3273

School: (812) 963-3335 School Fax: (812) 963-3335

Prayer Requests: (812) 963-3149

Parish Staff Fr. Gene Schroeder—Pastor E-mail gschroeder@evdio.org

Julie Kempf—Secretary E-mail jkempf@evdio.org

Kristan Gilles Director of Liturgy

E-mail kgilles@evdio.org

Melba Wilderman—Principal E-mail mwilderman@evdio.org

Mrs. Becky Dosher School Secretary

E-mail bdosher@evdio.org

Mrs. Jessica Reckelhoff Coordinator of

Religious Education

April 30, 2017 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Dear friends, The letter was dated “April 28, 1960,” and it was addressed to me. I was seven years old at the time and could never remember getting a letter in the mail addressed to me. The letter came from my aunt who was a member of the Passionist Community of nuns living outside of St. Louis. The reason she wrote this letter was to talk to me about making my first communion. I came across

the letter amidst many other papers and letters that mom and dad kept. With the letter she sent me a picture of Pope Pius X, whom, she told me in the letter, “was the pope who gave permission for young children to receive Holy Communion.” She also told me in the letter, “I have never met you so you do not know me, but by your prayers you can give me the best remembrance possible.” One thing about my aunt is that she had beautiful handwriting. And her letter was filled with all kinds of references to loving Jesus and Mary. What heady stuff for a seven year old! Truth be told, I didn’t remember receiving the letter until I came across it as we were going through the things at home. What I do remember about my First Communion was memorizing prayers we said before we received communion and after we re-ceived communion, and practicing the right way to re-ceive communion. And I remember most the dinner with family, cousins, aunts and uncles and grandpar-ents. I’m sure it will be much the same with the twenty-three young boys and girls who are receiving Holy Communion for the first time. I guess that’s understandable. After all, what was I able to comprehend at the age of seven? Truth is that we don’t come to understand everything about being Catholic as much as we come to learn about it by seeing how others live their lives. Made not born, is how one person described the journey of being Catholic.

So our young boys and girls will need to watch the way we live and act if they are to come to understand what receiving communion is all about. In this simple ordinary act of eating and drinking, which is what receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus in communion is all about, we teach them that God is present in the most ordinary of events. And because we be-lieve in the Real Presence, we teach them that this Real Pres-ence is everywhere and in everything. And we teach them that we become what we eat—we become the very life of

Christ for the world. We teach them that when we come to pray at Mass we bring all our the brokenness of our life to be healed. We teach them that when we love one another as Christ loves us we become the presence of Christ revealed to the world. Now that’s a lot to learn and even more a lot to actually live out in our lives. So we’ll give these young boys and girls some time to embrace all of this. In the mean-time, we teach them that even now, when they come to communion, they are being fed with the life of Jesus, the Christ. And that nourishment will help them be Christ to all the people they come into contact in their world today. What’s great about this is that they don’t really have to understand just how this happens. All they have to do is open their hearts and let God’s life flow through them. They don’t even have to know who it affects or even how it affects them. They just have to be willing to let God do great things through them. And they will learn how to do this by watching all of us do the same thing in our lives. All in all, pretty heady stuff! So let’s join in congratu-lating and celebrating with our young first communicants today.

Leaning into the journey of life

Fr. Gene Schroeder

Ella Anderson

Harper Atherton

Maggie Back

Will Bippus

Rio Burk

Jensen Burk

Reese Condi

Laney

Fehrenbacher

Cassidy Filbert

Wyatt Filbert

Heidi Forcum

Landon Gaiser

Evan Hillenbrand

Ashley Jung

Sadie Kassenbrock

Cloey Lamble

Lexa Meredith

Louis Meredith

Silas Nisley

Gavin Schu

Jaxson Vickers

Chase Waninger

Eli Wargel

APR. 30: Cody Miller MAY 1: Debbie Dewitt, Sophia Fehrenbacher, Taylor Kempf, Gail Maurer MAY 2: Abby Elpers MAY 3: Allyson Angermeier, Emma Brown, Margaret Coomes, Kristie Elsner, Danielle Schmitt MAY 4: Parker Dossett, Brian Elpers, Braedyn Humm, Lee Kissel, Austin Polk, Olivia Polk, Schelly Weidner, Brett Willis MAY 5: Michelle Kirk, Patti Wittgen MAY 6: Robert Angermeier, Harrison Manger, Joshua Price, Matt Singer APR. 30: Terry & Julie Fehrenbacher, Dave & Charlotte Schlichting, Matthew & Mercedes Gumbel, Joe & Julie Greubel MAY 1: Clarence & Julie Keller, Mark & Nancy Schmitt MAY 3: Bill & Linda Steiner MAY 4: Larry & Henrietta Happe MAY 5: Bob & Imelda Woodward, Brad & Autumn Dick MAY 6: Zach & Jennifer Fehrenbacher, Vince & Judy Werner, David & Barbara Whalen

CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST

SATURDAY, APRIL 29 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

5:00 PM MASS Justina and Edward Weiss, Leroy Weiss, Sebastian and Francis Weiss, Violet Weiss, Leo Gumbel, Joe and Katie Weiss, Maria Schili (1888), Bertha Gerteisen (1955)

SUNDAY, APRIL 30 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

8:00 AM MASS Alberta Elpers, Paul & Marlene Hasselbrinck, Dorothy and Frank Eckert, Harold and Emma Wargel, Mark Folz

10:30 AM MASS Hilda and Ora Nix, Bob McIntosh, George and Beulah Beaujean, Jonathon Koester, Bonnie Beveridge, Beverly Sylvester and Joyce Postleweight, George, Tom and

James Beaujean. MONDAY, MAY 1 EASTER WEEKDAY

6:30 PM MASS John Goebel (1963), Marcia Adcock (1972), Elizabeth Woods (1994), Patricia Fleeger (1997), Benjamin Mossberger (1997), Bill Knight (2014)

TUESDAY, MAY 2 SAINT ATHANASIUS

7:30 AM MASS Beth Hoefling (1955), Joseph Scheller (1981), Dale Titzer (1982)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES

11 AM MASS AT PARKVIEW CARE CENTER Joseph Frank (1880), Fr. John Urich (1939), Susan Gardner (2009)

THURSDAY, MAY 4 EASTER WEEKDAY

NO MASS Rose Stoott (1936), Joseph Botzum (1964) FRIDAY, MAY 5

EASTER WEEKDAY 8:15 AM MASS Infant Seibert (1862), Eva Freppon (1867), Infant Freppon (1867), Martha Gumble (1931), Robert Englert (1986), Mark Folz (2015)

SATURDAY, MAY 6 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

5:00 PM MASS Bob Blesch, Leroy Weiss, Nellie Jane Gau-ger, Lee Werner, Louis Swain, Helen, Edward & Jim Lehr, Jerry & Drex Sr. Brothers, Marty, Buddy, Linda Kissinger, Mossberger Infants, Kaysie McGehee

SUNDAY, MAY 7 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

8:00 AM MASS Don Baumgart, Rebecca Rose Scheller, Wil-liam Martin, Dolores Hoefling, Francis Maurer, Dolores Elpers, Mark Folz, August Kraft (1988), Gilbert (2000) and Alberta Fehrenbacher 10:30 AM MASS Floyd Titzer, Joseph and Caroline Titzer; Dale Titzer, Harold, Arnold, Lee and Raymond Titzer, Evelyn Boink, Valeria and Lawrence Hartweck, Eunice Wright, Alvis Wright, Barbara Cooke, Ne i l Long. Ros Brack (1986), Pat Effinger (1945), Thomas Kelle (1980)

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOMES

ST. VINCENT’S Peggy Dossett PARKVIEW NURSING CENTER: Walter Weis PINE HAVEN: Jean Johnson HERITAGE CENTER: Brenda Koester, Mabel Blythe SOLARBRON TERRACE: Mildred Rexing CYPRUS REHABILITATION CENTER (NEWBURGH): Larry Hoefling, Steve Hasselbrinck WESTPARK REHABILITATION: Mark Fleeger

OASIS CARE CENTER: Gus Bender RIVER POINTE: Barbara Shurtleff

STEWARDSHIP: The Lord’s Way

The disciples on the road to Emmaus walked and talked with Jesus all day long, but it was not

until they offered Him hospitality and He blessed and broke the bread that they recognized Him. Simple acts of loving kindness still reveal the

presence of God in our midst. APRIL 23, 2017 $ 8,989.00 WEEKLY BUDGET $ 20,297.00 TOTAL INCOME TO DATE $ 814,532.27 BUDGET TO DATE $ 872,771.00 MAINTENANCE COLLECTION $ 10.00 CHILDRENS COLLECTION $ 38.88 YOUNG STEWARDS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE COLLECTION LAST WEEK: Joe & Maggie Back, Kurt, Paige & Trent Denning, Chase & Troy Gerteisen, Samuel, Sierra & Theodore Heldt, Braydn & Briley Jones, Max & Quinn Lay-man, Lexa & Louis Meredith, Caleb & Chloe Stock, Grant & Lauren Voelker, Suzanne Weiss, Adalyn & Alice Wilkinson,

RAISING THE CEILING PLEDGED TO DATE $220,528.00 RECEIVED THIS WEEK $ 210.00 RECEIVED TO DATE $221,215.61

MISSION OUTREACH HAITI $ 105.00 HAITI HIGHER EDUCATION FUND $ 200.00 VLADIVOSTOK MISSION $ 5.00 HOLY LAND $ 5.00 HOME MISSIONS $ 5.00

St. Anne’s Altar Society invites the ladies of the parish to their annual Spring Dinner on Wednes-day, May 11 at 6 pm at the Log Inn. Res-ervations are due no later than May 7. Please call Jan Hermann at 812-480-5710 to make your reservation.

Please remember in your prayers Floyd “Dutch” Titzer, the wife of Monie Titzer and

father of Debbie Gries, and Nancy Mal-strom, the aunt of Tracy Duncan who died last

week. May they now share in the fullness of life with God in His Kingdom.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE (EM=Eucharistic Minister, L=Lector, S=Servers, GB=Gift Bearers)

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 6 & 7 5:00 PM (EM) Bob & Mary Kay Fehrenbacher, Dolores Sudholt, Eric & Karen McDonald; (L) Jan Hermann; (S) Hunter Gillenwater; (GB) Don & Alice Weis 8:00 AM (EM) Chick Duncan, Marcia Frey, Terry Drone, Tom & Dolores Folz; (L) Tom Folz; (S) Ansley Singer, Nicole Mayer; (GB) Dan & Esther Kelley 10:30 AM (EM) Angie Will, Dan & Kathy Schenk, Diane Bassemier, Darlene Appler; (L) Mandy Elpers; (S) Olivia Cody, Bella Duncan; (GB) Homer & Doris Taylor

Attention St. Joe families! On Saturday, May 6th we will be volunteering at Leisure Living. Many of the residents are in need of help cleaning, washing windows, repairing simple things, and just friendly faces to visit with. If you are inter-

ested in volunteering for the day, please c o n t a c t J e s s i c a R e c k e l -hoff: jreckelhoff@evdio.org or 813-598-1151 It will be a great day to serve with other families and friends! There is no age requirement, just a desire to serve. Lunch

will be provided and we will conclude the day with mass at St. Joe. Thanks!

SOUP KITCHEN SUNDAY—April 30 Sunday, April 30 is our day to help serve the meal at the Soup Kitchen at St. John’s Church on Bellemeade Avenue. Help is needed to prepare the meal (10:30 am-12:30 pm) and serve the meal (1:30-3:30 pm). If you can help, contact Brad Ruminer 812-499-3636.

MONDAY: 7 am-7 pm Eucharistic Adoration TUESDAY: 6 pm SPRED Catechists 7 pm Choir Practice FRIDAY: NOON Senior Citizens Lunch at St. Joe Inn 1 pm Senior Citizens Gathering in the Cafeteria SATURDAY: 4-4:40 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation SATURDAY & SUNDAY: Haiti & Food Pantry Collections SUNDAY (May 7): Coffee & Donuts after 8 am Mass 9:15 am Family Religion Class & RCIA

Do you hear God’s call to love and serve others? Consider joining St. Joe’s JustFaith Group. JustFaith is a program that engages participants in Jesus’ life and witness…and our Gospel call to love and serve others. More information about our JustFaith program will

be presented to the parish at Masses the weekend of May 6-7. There will be an information session following each of the weekend Masses. Come and learn more about JustFaith!

THANKS TO THE

FOLLOWING PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETURNED THEIR

PLEDGE CARD TOTAL PLEDGED TO DATE

$404,900.00

Clay & Denise Allison Brent & Carol Barnes Matt & Jenni Bishop

Steve & Theresa Doyle Steve & Lea Elliott Greg & Amy Elpers

Leonard & Linda Elpers Deloris Gentry

Charlie & Doris Head Paul & Joan Hillenbrand

Pat & Shari Kempf Dan & Dosey Lehman

Harry & Donna Lincoln Ken & Cynthia Maasberg

Eric Reffett Dave & Sandy Schmitt Josh & Jessica Stock Homer & Doris Taylor

Bruce & Theresa Woodward

APRIL LOTTERY WINNERS: ST. JOE: $750—Dick Fehren-bacher, $300—Don and Carolyn Hutchinson, $200—Rodney and Paula Baehl, $100—Theresa Chapman MATER DEI TRADI-TION: $10,000 - Toni Weinzapfel, $1,500 - Gregory Yeker, $1,000 - Joe Lloyd, $500 - Andrew & John & Angela Effinger

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER—MAY 4 Your are invited to join in an Interfaith Day of Prayer on Thurs-day, May 4 at 12 Noon at the Four Freedoms Monument in Evansville. Leaders of Jewish, Muslim and several Christian faith

traditions, along with Bishop Thompson, will lead this prayer. Come join in prayer for our nation, our state and our city, and all who are called to leadership

One of the things we discovered is that quite a few people no longer use a land line for their phone service but instead use their cell phones. That’s not a problem except that, unless people have told us their new number we only have their old number which they no longer use. So, if you have changed your

phone number recently, or no longer use your land line, let us know so we can update our records. You can call the parish office (812-963-3273) and leave us a note, or just text me (812-499-9074). Thanks

We believe in a God of extravagant love who dwells within us, rejoices with us in our blessed selves and who weeps with us

in our struggles, losses and sufferings. We believe that we are one with all creatures

great and small in a dynamic, evolving cosmos. We believe in Jesus, whose life, death and resurrection

shows us how to live fully and joyfully and to serve others especially the outcaste and heavy burdened. We believe in Your Spirit, who works through us

for justice and peace and to overcome oppression of all kinds whether based on gender, sexual orientation, race or class.

We believe that we are called to live in mutual respect as disciples and equals

in inclusive communities of empowerment. We believe that we are forgiven,

healed and whole in the heart of divine mercy. We believe that we are united forever

with all who have gone before us in the communion of saints.