Thursday, October 1at 12:00 Noon:An outdoor "Green Mass" for people around the diocese (and our own parishioners) who are enthusiasts of nature or environment ministries in the parish or community. The area around the front door will serve as the altar/ambo space, with some seating and standing space fanning out across the driving lane and grass facing the church. In case of rain, we will worship in the church.
St. Joseph has received an anonymous donation of a young red oak tree, which will be planted on the lawn near the funeral home.Since 1950, the red oak tree (Quercus borealis maxima) has been the official state tree for New Jersey.The tree will be blessed at the Mass. Our pastoral team is working on an exhaustive landscape/hardscape plan for the area around the church, relying primarily on donations for landscape additions.
Sunday, October 4at 5:00 PM:For the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we will celebrate the annual blessing of parishioner animals in the context of an outdoor Mass.The blessing will take place during the Prayers of the Faithful in the Mass, so if your pet friends are getting a little frisky you have the option to receive the blessing, experience the Liturgy of the Word and leave.Parishioners with more contemplative pets are of course invited to remain throughout the Mass, as always.