Author: Fr. Mahoney (Page 16 of 65)

Dear Parishioners and  Visitors,

When visiting with us at St. Joseph’s Church, have you ever noticed how often people pray and light candles at the statue of Our Lady of Fatima? As May, Mary’s month, draws to a close, here’s something interesting about the rich and special history of the famous crown worn by Mary at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.

It was crafted in 1942 by the Portuguese royalty’s own jewelers. Its materials were donated from the jewelry boxes of women throughout Portugal who donated gold and jewels to honor Our Lady of Fatima for her protection during the Second World War. Nearly 3,000 pearls and precious stones encrust the crown.

One gem, however, far outranks all the diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. With its dull, dark gray coloring and a simple almond shape, this gem doesn’t look like much – because it’s not a gemstone at all. It’s the bullet that struck Pope St. John Paul II. One year after the attempt on his life – May 13, 1981 – the Holy Father went to Fatima bearing the bullet as a gift for the Blessed Mother. Uncertain what to do with this unique token, the rector of the Shrine went to the statue of Our Lady of Fatima and examined her crown. At the top, there was an empty space that just so happened to be the exact circumference of the bullet! It is set now as a permanent part of the treasured crown.

Pray for us, O    Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!

With prayerful best wishes,

Fr. John Mahoney

Dear Parishioners and   Visitors,

As the parish budget is  being prepared for the next fiscal year, it is with a  spirit of gratitude on this Pentecost Sunday that I notify you of our sound financial health. Yes, there are some major capital expenditures ahead of us, but, as you can see from the Statement of Financial Position, we are staying ahead of the game. In addition to the routine maintenance of the church buildings, the rectory porch has been reconstructed, the stained-glass windows cleaned and reinforced, the granite steps and railings repaired and realigned, the hydraulic leaks in the elevator fixed, and the residential-grade parking lot doors to the church have been replaced with secure and sturdy commercial-grade doors. The next project is to address the deteriorating frame and the warped and weather-worn front doors of the church edifice. We’ll get there!

 I am ever thankful to the members of the Parish  Finance Council – Steven Babin, Margaret Sweeney, and Marty Nastasia – who offer their  expert guidance with respect to financial matters and the administration of the parish’s temporal goods. (And Mike Iarocci, Buildings & Grounds Chair, is always on hand to offer advice and help with construction and repairs.) Further, we are blessed by the continued generosity of our benefactors, the year-round parishioners, the ski crowd, the summer visitors, and the weekend tourists, all of whom contribute so faithfully to the needs of the parish and permit us to accomplish our pastoral and financial goals. Thank you and God bless you!

Finally, thank you for supporting those businesses that sponsor advertisements in our weekly bulletin. We sincerely appreciate our ongoing and regular sponsors, and welcome our newest sponsors:      Navarra’s Landscaping Services, The Mountain Club at Loon, and Granite State Glass.

With thanks and prayerful best wishes,
Fr. John Mahoney

Wishing God’s blessings on all mothers, living and deceased, on this Mother’s Day.