Provides coffee and on Hospitality Sundays, prepares and oversees the Parish social events and receptions for special liturgies.
As members of the St. Joseph Parish Pro-Life committee, our goal is to protect and respect human life from conception until natural death. All our activities will be in accord with he teachings of the Catholic Church.
Parish nurses do blood pressure screenings, educational health programs and referrals.
Parishioners make phone calls, send cards, or visit our home bound parishioners
St. Joseph has a food pantry that is open to St. Joseph Parishioners and folks in the Federal Hill area. A collection of both food and monetary donations is taken up each month. These gifts are used to help offset the cost for the Food Pantry and to support our participation in preparing meals at the Zion Lutheran Church Soup Kitchen. Food baskets are also given out at Thanksgiving and Christmas to our food pantry clients, and other families going through a difficult time.
Teams from St. Joseph Parish cook and serve meals at the Zion Lutheran Church Soup Kitchen on a rotating basis each month.
Bereavement
A group of parishioners who have the skill to listen, nurture and assist through the journey of grief to healing. Training is provided.
Prayer Phone Line
A group of parishioners form a prayer chain to elevate prayers for anyone who may need them, and for specific special intentions at a moment's notice. To activate the prayer line, please contact the Parish Center Office.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The prayer Shawl knitters provide shawls to anyone experiencing a troubling or happy occasion. Knitters pray while knitting for those who will receive the shawls.
For more information on any of our Outreach Ministries, please contact our Parish Center Office at 860-583-1369
CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE TEACHING
Catholic Social Teaching has very strong and clear biblical roots. Jesus begins His ministry of bringing the Good News to the poor (Luke 4:16-19)... "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind to let the oppressed to go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." When the judgment of the Nations comes (Matt 5: 13-16)... "The King will say to those on his right... 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'... 'Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me'."
Purpose and Goals
To follow the command to "love one another as I have loved you".
To enable everyone to enter into a relationship with Christ in such a way, so that everyone can come to know Christ in the same way that the Father knows the Son.
This becomes very clear when we think about the basic human needs. When we are not concerned with obtaining food, clothing, shelter etc., then we are better able to enter into a closer relationship with Christ.
... "Catholic Social Teaching has often been called 'Our best kept secret'. In fact some people astonished when they first hear of the Church's commitment to justice throughout the world" --Living Justice Thomas Massaro, S.J.
Components of Social Ministry
Social Service (Parish Outreach)
Social Action
Corporal Works of Mercy
Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person
- Call to Family and Community
- Rights and Responsibilities
- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
- Solidarity
- Care for God's Creation
For more information about Catholic Social Teaching, click here!
