Moses instructs the Israelites to prepare a tithe of produce as a sign of gratitude to God for freeing them from slavery in Egypt and bringing them to the Promised Land. Paul teaches the Romans that those who believe in their hearts and confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord, will be saved. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is tried and tempted by Satan in the desert.

Next Week) 1) Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 2) Philippians 3:17-4:1 or 3:30-4:1

Liturgical Commission Publishings, Diocese of Lansing, Lansing, MI

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THE GIFTS AT THE MASSES ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE USHERS WHEN YOU ARRIVE FOR MASS.

Jesus turns down the Devil, refuses to give into temptation, and follows the Father’s plan for Him and our salvation. We must keep this in mind when temptation comes to us. With Jesus’ help we too can fight off temptation, and we will have the strength to turn away from sin and follow the Gospel. During these 40 Days of Lent let us try to change the things in our lives which get in the way from being more like Jesus.

In the upcoming weeks we will begin the Parish’s Participation in the New Catholic Ministries Appeal. There is more behind this Appeal than just a name change from the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. Regardless what certain media outlets and personalities may say, the FOCUS of the Appeal has changed. It has changed because the funds collected will no longer go to maintain the Administration of the Chancery Office. Bishop Murphy through his representatives met with the pastors in the Diocese and listened when we expressed the concerns of so many that the funds were not going to the right place-to the ministries that help so many people. While it is true that most of the money collected in pervious appeals did indeed go to the ministries of the diocese and back to the parishes, it is also true that some did go to run the Chancery Offices. Again this will no longer be the case, all of the money collected will go to the various ministries and back to the parish- but not to maintain the administration of the diocese.

The breakdown of the funds raised will look like this: 20.3% will go to Catholic Charities, 7.2% will go to support the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception-which helps prepare people for the Deaconate and the Priesthood, as well as training Lay Leaders in the Church, 18.2% for Education (High Schools and Elementary Schools-like our own St. Joseph’s), 34.3% for Pastoral Ministries (Respect Life Office, the Diocese Mission Parish in the Dominican Republic, Hospital Chaplains, etc.), and 20% is earmarked to going back to the parishes. And with the new formula, we will not have to rise as much as we did in the past before we get a rebate. However, when we meet our goal and go above it we will receive more back-it’s a win-win situation. Win- Win because not only will we be helping our brothers and sisters in need throughout the Diocese, we will also be helping ourselves in an almost painless fundraiser. And as always your donation can be made all at once or you can pay it over time. St. Joseph’s goal for this year has been rolled back to the goal that was set for 2001- $65,900. While at first glance this seems like a lot- I know that we will raise it because it does go to help families and individuals in need, some of them who are members of the parish. We will raise it because the money donated will go to support our school and help educate our children, and help maintain our hospitals and nursing homes, and so much more,

The good people of Saint Joseph’s have always been known for their generosity when it comes to helping those in need. I have seen this at work several times over my almost 8 months here. Please pray about this and be as generous as you can.

If you have received a mailing directly from the Diocese please feel free to use the reply form and send it in. Saint Joseph’s will get full credit for your donation. Or if you like, you can wait about a week or two when we begin the campaign in the parish.

Thank you, in advance for all you will do for this worthwhile appeal and for all you do for St. Joseph’s. Know that you are always in my prayers.

Fr. Mike

The Parish Council is in the process of planning this year’s evening. Seating is limited to 250 people. They need to know how many people are coming. This year we are asking for a $5 donation per person to offset the cost of the evening Please call the Rectory at 588-8456 by March 9^th to make your reservations.

Please continue to remember them in your prayers.

Cpl Jason Bertran -   Cpl. Michael Bruno

      Cpt. Kevin Connolly - Capt Edward Cuevas

Sgt Ryan Delaney - Pvt. Matthew DiNardo

Capt. Keith Flick - SSG Jeremy Garcia

Spc. Tristin Mortensen - Capt. Evan Gotkin

Capt. Jennifer Gotkin - Sgt. Steven Knight

Pfc. Brian Lane - Spc. Adam Mackey

Andy Mezador - Cpt. Gregory Mueller

SSG Joey Napolitano - COP Jonathan Norris

Spc. Brian Pacella - Sgt. Rudy Schoverling

Ensign 3 Lucy P. Padro - Navy Seal Paul M. Padro

PFC Christopher Reid - Sg.t. Edwin Rivera, II

PO2 Roger Schoverling - Pvt. James Stanek

SR. Andrew J. Szynaka - SSG Thomas J. Valentino

 SSG Dusty Williamson

Last week here we mentioned the “5-minute pro-lifer”, an article written in the magazine “Citizen”, January 2003. The author, Scott Klusendorf, suggests that three steps are needed to make one’s case against abortion, and his step 1 was noted. Here are steps 2 and 3.

Step 2: Defend your pro-life position with science and philosophy.

Few people dispute that human life begins at conception. Prior to his abortion advocacy, Planned Parenthood President Alan Guttmacher was perplexed that anyone, much less a medical doctor, would question this. (A. Guttmacher, Life in the Making: The Story of Human Procreation.) Embryos are less developed than newborns, but this difference is not morally significant in the way abortion advocates need it to be.

Also consider the abortion advocate’s philosophical claim that higher brain function determines the value of human beings. Remember: The reversibly comatose, the sleeping, and the Alzheimer patient lack self-awareness. It’s far more reasonable to argue that although humans differ immensely in their degrees of development, they are nonetheless equal because they all have the same human nature.

Step 3: Challenge your listeners to be intellectually honest.

Ask the tough questions. When people say that birth makes the unborn human, you can ask, "“How does a simple change of location -–from the inside of the womb to outside the womb – change the nature of the unborn?” If they say that brain development or higher consciousness makes us human, ask if they would agree that those with an IQ below 40 should be declared nonpersons? If not, why not?

True, some people will ignore the scientific and philosophic case you present for the pro-life view and argue for abortion based on self-interest. That is the lazy way out. Remind your critics that if we care about truth, we will courageously follow the facts wherever they lead, no matter what the cost to our own self-interests.

About the author: Scott Klusendorf is director of bioethics at Stand to Reason and author of the book Pro-Life 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Case Persuasively.

DID YOU KNOW/

It took only twelve Apostles to spread the word of Christ, and today there are over two billion Christians in the world. Just think what two billion Christians, united in prayer and effort, could do to end abortion.

The 2003 Pro-Life Corner

Court St. Joseph 975 will meet on March 4^th at 7:30 pm in the gym of the Old School. At this meeting we will host the annual Birthright Baby Shower. Court St. Joseph invites all the ladies of the parish to join us for this event.

A representative from Nassau/Suffolk Birthright will speak and accept baby gifts. Some of the most-needed items are: diapers, formula (Similac is the most popular), receiving blankets, onesies, bibs and stretchies size 3-6 months. Do NOT wrap your gifts.

For more information about this baby shower, call Marie at 588-0168.

Refreshments will be served. C. West, Regent ~ 585-1719

FOOD SUPPORT—Your donations of food and staple items is always appreciated. Kindly leave them in the front of Mary’s statue in the Church before or after Mass.

Thanks! Because you are concerned...This is a note of appreciation. Our thank you is a simple but a sincere statement. You are being thanked by the poor and the needy for food, clothing, medicine, and other needs you are supplying. The St. Vincent de Paul Society thanks you for allowing us to be a channel of your almsgiving. “The Poor Boxes are the Bread Boxes of the Needy.”

Last Sunday’s collection $ 17,145

Same collection last year 15,827

Poor Box last weekend 440

Subscription cost 9/1/03 thru 01/31/04 $7,164

Less Collection to date 2,831

Parish Subsidy to date is 4,333

If you no longer wish to receive the L.I. Catholic, please call the Rectory Office at 588-8456.

Feb. 15 $50 #538 Catherine Anello

Feb. 16 $25 #025 Margaret Johnston

Feb. 17 $25 #489 Anne J. Murtha

Feb. 18 $25 #155 Anthony Misa

Feb. 19 $25 #595 Elaine & Joseph Mazziotti

Feb. 20 $25 #820 Leona Bogacki

Feb. 21 $25 #636 Ed & Helen Penna

Paid to date: . 982,401

Scrip sales last week $ 15,630

Same period last year 13,320

Gross Profit 752

Until further notice Wal-Mart is not available.

St. Joseph Troop 272’s 4th Annual Pancake Breakfast will be on March 21, 2004 from 8 am to 12 noon. All are welcome. Please support our Troop and enjoy breakfast out. Free Raffle for advanced ticket sales available on March 7 & 14th after Mass $3 for children, $5 for adults . The funds raised from this event are used to provide a quality year round program of service and fun. We thank you for supporting us as we strive to build today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.

For more information please call the Alumni Office at (631) 587-8000 x125 or e-mail the office at alumni@sjbdhs.org

To find out more call 631-321-6057 or visit us on the web at www.WWMELI.com

You can now communicate with the parish

Ever wonder how to continue the useful life of that inkjet cartridge that just went dry? We have found a way to help St Joseph and keep those complicated pieces of plastic, metal and printed circuit boards out of the land fill. Drop them off (in a plastic baggie) when you come to mass. We will send them to a company who reuses them and gives the parish a bounty for each. One note, to clear confusion, if it is larger than a fist, it is not an inkjet cartridge!!!

Please include the following in the bulletin sick list:

______________________________

Name of person who is ill:

_____________________________ ____________________

Person making this request: Relationship to ill person

Your Phone #: _____________________

( ) I/we would like to pledge to St. Joseph’s Parish Restoration
Campaign.

( ) I/we would like to increase our current Pledge Amount

___ $5,000 ___ $4,000 ___ $3,000 ___ $2,000 ___ $1,000

I/we would like to make payments

___Annually ___Semi-Annually ___Quarterly ___ Monthly

I/we would like to spread the payments over

___One year ___ Two years ___ Three years ___ Four years

ADDRESS:

PHONE:

AMOUNT ENCLOSED NOW: $ ________

I/we would like to register in the parish of St. Joseph’s.

NAME(s): ____________________________________________

ADDRESS:__________________________________ _________

PHONE:

I/we would like become members of the parish. ( ) Yes

I/we would like to receive contribution envelopes.

( ) Yes ( )No. ( ) Weekly ( ) Monthly

I/we would like to receive the LI Catholic newspaper.

( ) Yes ( ) No.

( ) I would like to become a lector.

( ) I would like to become an altar server.

( ) I would like to become a Eucharistic Minister.

( ) I would like to become a choir member

( ) I would like to offer my following talents to the parish

( ) I would like to help maintain the parish plantings

DEPOSIT BOTTLES AND CANS—Please place them in the blue truck that is located on the school side of the Church on weekends (when it works) or behind the rectory during the week.

CELL PHONES—Please bring your no longer used or needed cell phones and deposit them at the Scrip table in the Church lobby.