Saint Joseph Parish

Saint Joseph Parish Office
567 Saint Joseph Lane                           
Manchester,  MO 63021                         
E-Mail: info@stjoemanchester.org                         

Parish Office Number; (636)227-5247
PSR Office: (636)391-1404
School: (636) 391-1253

Parish Office Hours
7:30AM-4PM  Sunday   @ Office inside Church
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM   Mon-Thu  @ Parish Office
6:30PM - 9:00 PM  Mon-Thu  @Education  Ctr 
Parish Office is Closed on Fridays

*IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE PARISH OFFICE IS CLOSED IF ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL IS CLOSED

Saint Vincent DePaul Helpline: 636.227.5247

Sunday Mass Schedule
4:00 PM Mass (Saturday Vigil)
7:00 AM Mass 
9:00 AM Mass*
11:00 AM Mass* 
1:00 PM Mass (Spanish)
5:00 PM Mass
*Children's Liturgy of the Word & Little Church offered during school year

Weekday Masses
6:30 AM Mass (Monday - Friday)
8:30 AM Mass (Monday - Saturday)

Reconciliation
Wednesday 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Saturday 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Holy Days of Obligation
6:30 AM Mass     8:30 AM Mass
12 Noon Mass     5:30 PM Mass
7:30 PM Mass (Spanish)

RCIA: ARE YOU SOMEONE OR DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO…
• has expressed an interest in becoming Catholic?
• has a child over the age of seven who has not been baptized?
• was baptized Catholic as a child, but has not celebrated the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation?

We offer an opportunity to learn more about our Catholic faith and prepare individuals to celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. There is a separate process for children or youth.

For more information on becoming a Catholic, click on the image above or contact Susan/Jack Burke or Marianne/Vince Burkemper at RCIA@stjoemanchester.org. The doors are open . . . We invite you to join us!

We take seriously the challenge of Pope Francis call to "always be a place of mercy and hope, where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven."  You will discover that St. Joseph Parish is a vibrant parish where each person in our parish community and each guest that visits us are seen as a gift from God.  

St. Joseph Parish encourages each of its members to participate fully in the amazing liturgies and the inspiring Sacramental life of the parish.  Come and listen to our lectos proclaim the Scriptures boldlyand our music ministry in spire us in song.  Watch our altar servers serve with servant hearts, our ushers assist people cheerfully, and our deacons and priess lead our parish with hearts modeled after Jesus Christ, the Good Sheperd.  If you feel a call to be a minister at Mass, do not hesitate to ask one of the clergy or parish staff how you can help serve our parish as a minister.

St. Joseph has emolden its members to be leaders in the world and to selflessly give of themselves.  Our parish St. Vincent DePaul Society helps the poor, not only finacially, but also spiritually by reminding each of them is made in the image of God.  Some members of our parish have answered the call to feed the hungry by assisting at different food pantries and area soup kitchens.  Still other parishioners assist thehomeless through a program called "A Room at the Inn".  We provide assistance to our brothers and sisters in the inner city through our "Giving Sunday" program and at Christmas time we ensure an entire small rural town has a blessed Christmas.

We all know that we cannot do this without Jesus, and so we are a parish that also strives hard to help each memember improve his or her own personal relationship with the Lord.  We have many adult faith opportunies including ACTS retreats, the Stephen Ministry Programs, and other Bible Studies.

Finally, we are a parish that takes passing our faith to the next generation seriously.  Our Parish Early Childhood Learning Center, Full-Time School, and PArish School of Religion, all excel at helping children grow in their faith.  Our High School youth ministry program provides teens an encouraging faith community to help guide them through their exciting high school years. 

If, after exploring our website, you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the parish office form ore information.

“Let us remember the past with gratitude, live in the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.”
- St. John Paul II

On Sunday November 4th, Fr. Pastorius addressed the parish at all the Masses explaining the parish the challenges faces.  Fr. Pastorius, using the above quote from St. John Paul II outlined how we as a parish could address the challenges that lay ahead.  

Fr. Pastorius's Talk 

You have to fastforward to the 30 minute mark to hear Father's remarks

Fr. Pastorius's Letter to Parishioners

Let us therefore as a community remember the past with gratitude by... 

1. Realizing that St. Joseph parish has seen its times of crisis before and our ancestors succeeded to build up this wonderful parish.
2. By knowing that spending the time blaming the past or talking about the way things were will not help the future or even the present.
3. Finally in this week’s bulletin you will find some note cards labeled “Gratitude”.  I invited everyone to write down one or two things that you really love about St. Joseph’s parish and drop those papers in the collection basket in the weeks to come.

Let us live in the present with Enthusiasm by…

1. Our parish, PSR program, and school will have another great year filled with many activities.  Please make every effort to participate in these events. 
2. Come and join us each week for Mass on Sunday.  Better yet, invite someone to come with you.  If they had issues in the past or are struggling, know that Fr. Tim, Fr. Ricardo, and myself are willing to listen and our parish council and parish staff also desire to assist you as well.
3. Knowing that the challenges we face are both complicated and filled with emotional energy, Fr. Pastorius will be hosting a new series of listening sessions. 

Let us therefore look forward to the future together with confidence…

1. By having trust in God and the great things that He is doing in this parish by prayerfully considering increasing your Sunday offering knowing that any increase is appreciate but an increase of 2% would be extremely appreciative.  Larger donations will also not be turned down.  God is never outdone in generosity.
2. By having faith in each other, I have faith in all of you and I ask you to have faith and trust in me.  Please do not give into the temptation of gossiping and spreading fake news.
3. Finally by letting people know what a great and amazing parish we at St. Joseph have.  Invite a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker.  I give you all permission to brag about the great things going on here.

Listening Sessions
In regards to the listening sessions, three things. 

1. First remember back to when Fr. Pastorius held listening sessions in the spring in regards to the possibility of building a new rectory.  Remember how he listened and I listened and learned that now was not a good time to build a new rectory. He truly want to hear from every one. 
2.  The second thing, Fr. Patorius want to know not only how to address our current financial challenges but also the ideas that you have in regard to how to help St. Joseph Parish grow.
3. Finally remember last momth that Fr. Pastorius attended a workshop called the Amazing Parish and at the conference He was reminded that NOW can be an exciting time to be a Catholic and that it is also good to try to do new things.  Just recently one parishioner started a play-date program for preschoolers and another parishioner is starting a Bible study for young adults.