St. Joseph's

Catholic Church

 Father,
We come before you to welcome you to our table. We invite you to be an honored part of our celebration. We acknowledge that you are our Creator and Provider. You are the source of all our blessings. We thank you for all the wonderful food that has been set before us this day. We are truly experiencing your abundance as we sit down to eat this Thanksgiving Day dinner. Lord, may this gathering be filled with peace, harmony, and the heavenly kindness as we enjoy one another on this special occasion. May we make loving memories this day that fill us with warmth in the years to come.
This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen

Copyright 2012
Beth McLendon/ Inspirational Prayers

Those who feel in any way sick or who are worried about attendance should not enter the Church .

WE WOULD KINDLY ASK THAT YOU MAINTAIN SAFE DISTANCING AND WEAR A PROTECTIVE FACE COVERING 
WHEN COMING INTO CHURCH FOR MASS.

WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE WEAR YOUR FACE COVERING PROPERLY
COVERING BOTH YOUR NOSE & MOUTH.
 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COOPERATION & UNDERSTANDING

US Supreme Court Blocks Cuomo's NY Coronavirus Limits on Houses of Worship

As coronavirus cases surge again nationwide the Supreme Court late Wednesday barred New York from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas designated as hard hit by the virus.
The justices split 5-4 with new Justice Amy Coney Barrett in the majority. It was the conservative’s first publicly discernible vote as a justice. The court’s three liberal justices and Chief Justice John Roberts dissented.
The move was a shift for the court. Earlier this year, when Barrett’s liberal predecessor, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was still on the court, the justices divided 5-4 to leave in place pandemic-related capacity restrictions affecting churches in California and Nevada.
The court’s action Wednesday could push New York to reevaluate its restrictions on houses of worship in areas designated virus hot spots. But the impact of the court’s action is also muted because the Catholic and Orthodox Jewish groups that sued to challenge the restrictions are no longer subject to them.
The Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel of America have churches and synagogues in areas of Brooklyn and Queens previously designated red and orange zones. In those red and orange zones, the state had capped attendance at houses of worship at 10 and 25 people, respectively. But those particular areas are now designated as yellow zones with less restrictive rules neither group challenged.
The justices acted on an emergency basis, temporarily barring New York from enforcing the restrictions against the groups while their lawsuits continue. In an unsigned opinion the court said the restrictions “single out houses of worship for especially harsh treatment.”
“Members of this Court are not public health experts, and we should respect the judgment of those with special expertise and responsibility in this area. But even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten. The restrictions at issue here, by effectively barring many from attending religious services, strike at the very heart of the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty,” the opinion said.
The opinion noted that in red zones, while a synagogue or church cannot admit more than 10 people, businesses deemed “essential,” from grocery stores to pet shops, can remain open without capacity limits. And in orange zones, while synagogues and churches are capped at 25 people, “even non-essential businesses may decide for themselves how many persons to admit.”
Roberts, in dissent, wrote that there was “simply no need” for the court's action. “None of the houses of worship identified in the applications is now subject to any fixed numerical restrictions,” he said, adding that New York's 10 and 25 person caps “do seem unduly restrictive."
"The Governor might reinstate the restrictions. But he also might not. And it is a significant matter to override determinations made by public health officials concerning what is necessary for public safety in the midst of a deadly pandemic," he wrote.
Roberts and four other justices wrote separately to explain their views. Barrett did not.
The court’s action was a victory for the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Jewish synagogues that had sued to challenge state restrictions announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Oct. 6.
The Diocese of Brooklyn, which covers Brooklyn and Queens, argued houses of worship were being unfairly singled out by the governor’s executive order. The diocese argued it had previously operated safely by capping attendance at 25% of a building’s capacity and taking other measures. Parts of Brooklyn and Queens are now in yellow zones where attendance at houses of worship is capped at 50% of a building’s capacity, but the church is keeping attendance lower.
“We are extremely grateful that the Supreme Court has acted so swiftly and decisively to protect one of our most fundamental constitutional rights — the free exercise of religion,” said Randy Mastro, an attorney for the diocese, in a statement.
Avi Schick, an attorney for Agudath Israel of America, wrote in an email: “This is an historic victory. This landmark decision will ensure that religious practices and religious institutions will be protected from government edicts that do not treat religion with the respect demanded by the Constitution."
Two lower courts had sided with New York in allowing the restrictions to remain in place. New York had argued that religious gatherings were being treated less restrictively than secular gatherings that carried the same infection risk, like concerts and theatrical performances. An email sent early Thursday by The Associated Press to the governor's office seeking comment was not immediately returned.
There are currently several areas in New York designated orange zones but no red zones, according to a state website that tracks areas designated as hot spots.
© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

Worship Aid

1st Sunday of Advent


ProgAdventCycleB

Please join us during the 4 Sundays of Advent for an Advent Holy Hour.
4:00pm- 5:00pm
in the Church



There will Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament along with Solemn Vespers- Evening Prayer, spiritual reflection concluding with Benediction.
Fr Kenny will be leading the advent reflections each week.

Sunday- November 29<sup>th

Program
ProgAdventVespers</sup>


Sunday- December 6^th
Sunday- December 13^th
Sunday- December 20^th

            Christmas Mass Schedule- Attendance Limitations

In light of the restrictions and limitations which we have in place because of the Corona Virus, we are limited to the number of people who can attend each Christmas Mass this year for safety and social distancing purposes.

Please be advised that each person attending Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Mass must obtain a ticket from the parish office.

A limited number of tickets will be available for each Mass

You may pick up your tickets at the parish office during regular business hours beginning Tuesday- December 1.

^{Each family may request a maximum of 6 tickets per household for the specific Mass which you plan to attend.
Please note that no one will be admitted to Christmas Mass without presenting a ticket for the Mass you selected because of safety and health restrictions.}

Christmas Mass- 2020- Schedule

Christmas Eve- Thurs- Dec 24th
4:00pm, 6:00 pm, 8:00pm, 10pm

Christmas Day- Fri- Dec 25th
8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12 Noon

ALL MASSES WILL BE IN THE CHURCH

For those parishioners who are homebound and unable to come to Christmas Mass we will live stream the 10 am Mass on
the parish's You tube site Christmas Day!
Our You Tube site can be accessed on our parish website
top left corner link!


Parishioners attending these Masses must enter and exit only through the front doors of the Church as other doors will not be opened.

Everyone attending Mass must wear a face covering over both nose and mouth.

Everyone must be seated at all of the Masses since no one will be permitted to stand in the Church, the parish center or the narthex. Further, families may sit together without separation in the pews. 


^{As you are aware, St Joseph’s Church depends on the continued generosity of our parishioners each week. Your generous financial support of our parish helps us to keep “the doors open” and to provide the many services and programs which we offer to our parishioners. We cannot stress enough how important our Christmas collection is each year for the financial stability of the parish. Collection boxes are at the entrances of the Church. You may drop your donations in these boxes before or after Mass. You may also mail in your donation. You may also prefer to make a donation with our on line giving
 “We Share”- stjosephsomers.churchgiving.com}


We thank you for your support and understanding as we look forward to solemnly and safely celebrate the Birth of Christ with you and your families.

Fr. Lagiovane 

Feast of the Immaculate Conception  
Tuesday- December 8th
Holy Day of Obligation

7:30 am, 9:00 am, 12 Noon , 7:00 pm


 

The mission of St. Joseph's Church is to be a welcoming, caring, Christ-centered Catholic community.  We desire to experience and share God's unconditional love.  Inspired by the example of Jesus, we strive to lead all people to wholeness and fullness of life.

The Church is open: 
Mon thru Fri- 7:00 am- 5:00pm
Sat- 7:00 am- 6:00pm
Sun- 7:00 am- 7:00 pm 

Parish Office Hours

Monday thru Friday
9:00 am- 4:30 pm

Parish Cell Phone
Sacramental Emergencies
914- 719- 3045

Click below to make a donation

O Blessed Joseph, faithful guardian of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, protector of thy chaste spouse, the virgin Mother of God, I choose thee this day to be my special patron and advocate and I firmly resolve to honor thee all the days of my life. Therefore I humbly beseech thee to receive me as thy client, to instruct me in every doubt, to comfort me in every affliction, to obtain for me and for all the knowledge and love of the Heart of Jesus, and finally to defend and protect me at the hour of my death. Amen.