Lent begins Ash Wednesday is February 17, 2021. Please remember the importance of fasting and abstinence on this day and a strong spirit of prayer, fasting, and charity throughout Lent. The guidelines for Catholics on fasting and abstinence are as follows: Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to each one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years or older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on all Fridays of Lent. The determination of certain days as obligatory days of penance should not be understood as limiting the occasions for Christian penance.

Congratulations and best wishes to Nicholas Comeaux and Bailee Carroll who are now one as Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Comeaux. They were married at St Joseph Church & Shrine Saturday February 13, 2021 at 6:30pm.

If you struggle with infertility you may feel like you’re on a lonely, desert pilgrimage. But you are not alone! During this season of Lent, the Springs in the Desert Team invites you to reflect with us on the Seven Last Words of Jesus during His pilgrimage of suffering. Beginning on Feb. 18, each Thursday evening during Lent we will meet virtually to pray, listen to a reflection on Jesus’ words, and build community through small group sharing. This FREE event is a chance to enter more deeply into the Lenten spirit while gathering in prayer with others on this same path. Free registration and more infor-mation at www.springsinthedesert.org.

Travis Guillot and Brooke Cavet -- Married January 30th 2021 At St Joseph. If you are thinking about getting married at St Joseph, please contact our Wedding Coordinator, Ms Debbie Swiler, in Parish Office and we will be happy to set everything up for your and your future spouse.

If you are not a Knight of Columbus, or if you have let your membership wain, consider becoming a member On-line. All Catholic Gentlemen are invited to join the Knights of Columbus and all former Knights encouraged to re-join. Visit KofC.org/Join Enter promocode: MCGIVNEY2020 And you will receive free Online Membership for all of 2021! (Regular price is $30). Our local KofC Council is 1905 Archbishop Blenk Council located on Franklin Street. Meetings are first Wednesday of the Month. Dinner is usually provided. There is a separate auxiliary for the ladies. We also have a Family Night on third Friday of the Month. Please consider joining.

You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers (Mt 23:8) Interpersonal relationships built on trust as the foundation of the holistic care of the sick This verse establishes a clear definition of the field of care. With this background, caring is not only a professional activity, something done out of a spirit of service, a duty; it becomes instead something natural, physiological, in helping the other, who is a brother. Furthermore, caring is not only physical, but also psychological and spiritual, because it is addressed to the entire personhood of the brother. The verse also includes a just reiteration of the quality among those who need care and those who provide it. Thus, caring becomes a witness of the brotherly relationships that should exist within the Church, in order to heal. In the field of health pastoral care, even where there is no expectation of bodily recovery, you may still work and hope for healing. This is because healing does not simply mean physical health, but also psychological reconciliation, faith, inner strength, courage and moral strength; that is, the ability not to drift even when the body is crumbling.

What is CBIB? CBIB, Compassionate Burials for Indigent Babies, is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2007 to ensure that unclaimed and aborted babies receive a proper burial. What is the mission of CBIB? 1. To hold dignified burials for abandoned or indigent babies 2. To bring comfort to their families 3. To raise awareness of the Safe Haven Law

Beginning on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, January 10, 2021, the local Catholic Church has entered into the Year of the Eucharist, a time of renewal, healing, and communion. This year is dedicated to helping all of us, clergy, religious, and laity, grow in our relationship with Christ. We begin this important year on this feast because baptism marks the beginning of our initiation into Jesus Christ, a lifelong journey toward union with Christ and one another.The Eucharist is communion with God. Christ nourishes us with his very Body and Blood so that we can be joined more closely to him and to all humanity. Throughout this year, we will join with Catholics around the world to call upon the prayers and patronage of St. Joseph to help us more fully understand the meaning of the parts of the Mass, the theology of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the obligation we have as Catholics to participate in Mass on Sunday. As the universal church observes a special Year of St. Joseph as proclaimed by the Holy Father, we in the Archdiocese of New Orleans call upon St. Joseph’s powerful intercession to bring us closer to Jesus in the Eucharist. A PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSION OF ST. JOSEPH To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our afflictions, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities. O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence;O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness. As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of usby your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

Our national and international news continues to be filled with reports surrounding the approval, availability, and arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. In many respects, this is indeed good news which brings with it a great sense of hope and optimism as the world continues to face a health crisis. With these recent and ongoing developments, the worthy question of the ethical nature of such vaccines along with whether or not it is morally permissible to receive them, has already been and continues to be raised. This is both a complex and highly delicate issue as it generally focuses on whether or not the vaccines were developed in such a manner that utilized cell lines from aborted babies. A thoughtful, detailed evaluation and analysis of this question has been completed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committees on Pro-Life and Doctrine stating that the two vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna only are found to be “morally justified.” Their extensive conclusion is offered below: “The world is currently facing a health crisis. The number of deaths from COVID-19 is now almost one and a half million worldwide. In the United States, the toll is approaching 300,000. Given the urgency of this crisis, the lack of available alternative vaccines, and the fact that the connection between an abortion that occurred decades ago and receiving a vaccine produced today is remote, inoculation with the new COVID-19 vaccines in these circumstances can be morally justified. For our part, we bishops and all Catholics and men and women of goodwill must continue to do what we can to ensure the development, production, and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine without any connection to abortion and to help change what has become the standard practice in much medical research, a practice in which certain morally compromised cell lines are routinely used as a matter of course, with no consideration of the moral question concerning the origins of those cell lines.” As individuals consider whether or not to receive these vaccines, we remind the faithful to exercise prudence while consulting with their personal health care professional. The full statement may be found on the USCCB’s website: https://www.usccb.org/moral-considerations-covid-vaccines

Please check out the article on Deacon Thomas posted on Gretnaglance.com

Ways to remove the temporal punishment due to sin for yourself or for a soul purgatory. Please click on title for the 15 additional ways for 2021.

Please read Catholic News Service Article about what may happen if Xavier Becerra is named Head of Health and Human Services during Biden Administration

Year Round HVAC, upon further inspection of the vertical duct, has found that the internal liner has been compromised with moisture from splits in the duct from recent past breaks. To insure a complete, reliable working system, we are replacing the entire supply duct from the 40-ton package unit to tie in on roof at the point the duct penetrates the building wall. The quote for replacing just the horizontal duct on the roof was $5,829.00. To do the additional work with all demo, haul away, bracing and sealing is an additional price of $8,321.00 Previously the down time was going to be one full long day, however to complete the job doing both the vertical and horizontal supply ducting will take a 3 day down time utilizing 4 men each day. Year Round is proceeding with the fabrication on the roof top ductwork and will need to get more accurate measurements to fabricate. Again to clarify, the total cost of the new duct work installed would be $14,150.00. We are awaiting parts, so please dress warmly for Church since we will not have heat until project is completed. Please remember to give to our Maintenance Fund.

We are beginning to repair the Garden House in our Holy Family Garden. Original estimates put the repair at $30,000 and the Gretna Historical Society has blessed St Joseph with a substantial grant to help us in our repairs. However, as the roof is being removed and walls taken down, the damage is much more severe than first anticipated. Years of termite infestation have caused extensive damage. If you would like to help us in our repairs, please remember to donate to our Maintenance Fund to help defray the costs of repairs. Thank you for your generosity.

Father Gary's emails are gcmetairie@hotmail.com (personal) and gcopping@arch-no.org (Church). Beware of an email that has no subject and is coming from churchonline4real213@gmail.com. This is a scam.

Thank you Eli Cannon and Blade Schneider for assisting the poor and needy.

The Society of St Vincent dePaul (SSVdP) for both St Joseph and St Anthony Churches in Gretna held its annual reverse food drive this month. Over 1,000 food items were collected and distributed to 22 households, where 70 family members were treated to variety of meats, fruits, vegetables, and pasta non perishable food items. The reverse food drive works like this. Selected food items are written on a slip of paper and parishioners would randomly choose which item we request they donate. This method would bring in an even amount of different canned meats, vegetables, and fruit. For example, the slips of paper would list tuna, corn, chili, peanut butter..etc. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was started in 1833 in Paris, France by Frederic Ozanam. As a student at the School of Law at the Sorbonne, University of Paris, Ozanam was part of a group that met on Saturdays to discuss various topics, except politics. During one particular meeting, he and his other fellow Catholics were questioned about what good the Catholic Church is doing in the community now. This inspired Ozanam to create the “Conference of Charity” to assist the poor. Later, the name was changed to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in honor of their patron saint. The group wanted to show their faith by caring for those in need while deepening their love for God. The mission of the Society inspired others across the world to join the organization. Today, there are over 800,000 members and the Society is present in five continents. The St. Joseph SSVdP Conference meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month in the St Joseph Social Room at 3 p,m. Membership is open to all.

Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng issued an emergency proclamation on Monday, June 29th. The public is required to wear masks inside all businesses and public places within Jefferson Parish. The order will begin on Wednesday, July 1st, and has no end date. People in Jefferson Parish must wear face coverings when they are in the high-risk situations listed below: Masks are required inside any indoor public space, including but not limited to restaurants, retail, spas and places of worship. Masks are required upon entering and exiting a restaurant or bar but not while sitting at a table. Masks are required upon entering and exiting a gym but not while exercising. Masks are required in any room or an enclosed area where other people are present and unable to physically distance. Masks are required while walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities. Masks are required while riding on public transportation or paratransit. The following individuals are exempt from wearing a mask or face covering: Children younger than two years old. Individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. This order also excludes schools, summer camps and daycares, as they should follow the guidance set forth by the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Education.

God our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people. Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will. Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. (Contributed by Father Michael Gilligan, American Catholic Press, Copyright 1992. Used with permission.)

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