Saint Joseph Adult Faith Formation Newsletter
In This Issue
Parish Fair
Year of Mercy
Prayer/Meditation Groups
Meditation Workshop
Learn more about your faith
Cursillo
Book Club
Marriage Encounter
Esther Ministry
Young Adults
Multi-Parish Adult Faith Opps
Senior Ministry
Social Media
There's An App for That
Web Resources
Sharing Your Gifts
RE Office Hours
Quick Links
Join Our List
May 2016

 

Here is my prayer for this month:

Dear God,

Let me reflect your great love!  
Let me seek you in everyone and everything I see! 
More of you, Lord and less of me!
Let people see You in me!

Amen!

What is your prayer this month?


Be blessed as we celebrate a month of Mothers, Mama Mary, Sacraments, and the church's Birthday - Pentecost!  Be filled with the Holy Spirit!  Reflect God's beautiful love!

Nancy Longo
Thank you for Helping make this Year's 
St. Joseph Parish Fair a success!   
 

It takes many hands to make light work - and it helps us build a stronger community in Christ!
Thank you for all you did!
Jubilee Year of Mercy - 
How have you experienced Mercy this past month?

God's mercy never ends!  We reflect God, when we are merciful to ourselves and others!  

What can we do?  Well, 2 things come to mind!
  • First, let's take advantage of God's Great Mercy - by going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a family.
    • Each Saturday from 4-4:45 we offer this beautiful Sacrament.
  • 2nd - who are you angry with?  Forgive them!  It's what God asks of us during the Lord's Prayer:
    • Forgive us our trespasses - as we forgive those who trespass against us!
  • Free app: 365 days of mercy at www.osv.com/yom
Prayer Groups and Meditation
  • Meditation every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m in the School Library. ALL ARE WELCOME! "Be Still And Know That I Am God" Newcomers please call Marie Mitchell (310) 490-4012 for directions.
  • Tuesday- at 9am or Thursday - at 7pm Bible Study continues with Bible Study on Gospel of John in the Parish Life Center- All are welcome!
  •  Mom's Prayer and Fellowship group
    • Chris Serrano meets with women at her home once a month to study scripture and share faith!  Please join them!  Call Chris  at 562-243-6959 for more information.  To be held at St. Joseph- Parish Life Center
      on Sundays at 4 pm First meeting to be held on February 21, 2016
      (following dates to be determined by the group)  See Flyer for more information

RCIA News     If you are thinking about being a Catholic or know someone who is, please call Sr. Eva at the parish office, 562- 594-4657. 

Stephen Ministry News Now that St. Joseph has become an enrolled "Stephen Ministry Parish," training will commence for those who feel a call to provide one-to-one Christ-centered care to hurting people. A special invitation goes to all our bereavement group, especially those who wish to be involved in a weekly prayer support way. Call Sr. Eva for more information.
Changing the World, Changing Yourself: Contemplation Today
Fr. Laurence Freeman OSB
Please join us for a great evening about Christian Meditation.  
Free will donations will be accepted.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 -  7pm - 8:30pm
Flyer 
Do you want to Learn more about your faith?
Basic faith "formation" is the first step in developing ourselves as one who lives and proclaims the message of Jesus christ.  If you are pursuing certification as a Catechist or RCIA member or Liturgical Minister this course will fulfill the basic requirements.  
It is also open all who are seeking adult faith formation and enrichment!

We begin this Thursday, May 5th  

Thursdays, May 5 - June 23 from 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Saturdays May 21,June 4 & June 25 from 9 am - 4
$50 for the course.

In the Parish Life Center - St. Joseph Room

Topics include Images of God - God's self revelation/ our response to God
Revelation-Scripture-Introduction to the Bible - Hebrew Scriptures, Christian Scriptures, The Gospels, Christology-Jesus of History, Christ of Faith; Trinity, Ecclesiology - Church as people of God, Role of Mary and the Saints, Liturgical Life/ Calendar - Liturgy Mass, Overview of the Sacraments, Conscience Formation, Moral Formation, Moral Decision Making, The Social Mission of the Church, discipleship-Ecumenism, Growing in Maturity and Spiritual Growth

FLYER
Retreats
CURSILLO Weekend Retreat   - So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away: behold new things have come.  2 Corinthians 5:17  

Men and Women of St. Joseph ParishIs your heart on fire for Christ?  Is it filled with the Holy Spirit?  Or is your heart like a candle in the wind, flickering and barely alive?  If you want to experience what the disciples felt on the day of Pentecost, then give yourself the gift of a Cursillo and light your heart on fire!  
  See our Cursillo page on the website.    Contact Dcn. Shane @ [email protected], or OCCursillo.org  
The next Cursillo weekend begin July 14 (Men), and  and July 28 (Women).
St. Joseph Book Club - 

We will be reading "Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. They will be available for $15 each.

We will be selling the books after mass for the next two Sundays.

We will have our discussion on July 27 in the PLC.
Everyone is Welcome!

Retreats

Marriage Encounter Weekend
Husbands, give your wife a special gift! Plan a weekend just for the two of you! Enrich your marriage by attending a Marriage Encounter Weekend . Weekends fill up quickly, so we encourage signups . Apply online at www.ilovemyspouse.net or contact Sarah & Jacob Flores, 562-923-7335, or Ginny & Boon Hazboun, 562-861-7562.  
Esther Ministry  
ESTHER MINISTRY - We are fortunate in Long Beach to have a wonderful task force dedicated to the cause of eliminating human trafficking in our area, as well as bringing about awareness and education on this devastating crime against humanity.

For more information or to be added to our contact list, you may email Marianna Wescott at: [email protected].
We welcome all young adults, ages 18-39, to join the Long Beach Catholic Young Adults, a ministry serving Long Beach parishes. LBCYA seeks to reinvigorate the Catholic young adult ministry in faith and love of Jesus Christ through service, spiritual development, and social fellowship. 




   Monthly Young Adult Mass & Fellowship at St. Bartholomew
  Save the date! Monthly Young Adult Mass!
The next 3rd Sunday Monthly Mass is May 15, 2016 at 5:30pm at St. Bartholomew. More information please contact Kelsey at [email protected] g.  Dinner Follows!
 
Ongoing Events for Young Adults through Christus Ministries - "Bridging Young Adults and the Church"  http://www.christusministries.org , Email:  christusministries.org.  Christus Offers the following:
  •  Weekend Retreats
  • Conversations & Prayer
  • Leadership Training
  • Service & Justice
  • Faith Formation
  • Amazing Fellowship with other young adults
Please feel free to submit prayer intentions through the prayer box on the website.

Contact Information
Website:  www.lbcya.org
Please feel free to contact us at anytime, we are here to serve and don't forget to like us on Facebook!
  or contact Jason Pillon at [email protected].


 Follow them on    facebook  - Long Beach Group   Facebook - Los Angeles and 
 
Multi-Parish Adult Faith Opportunities!
 
have gathered together to share our calendars for Adult Faith Formation Opportunities with you, our parishioners and neighboring parishes.
 
Feel free to find the opportunities that interest you and fit into your schedule.  
 
  May Calendar for Multi Parish Adult Faith Formation
For more information about AFF - contact: Adult Faith Formation Team

Introducing... St. Joseph Social Club 
Your host: St. Joseph Senior Group 

1st & 3rd Mondays from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm.  - 
Parish Hall - Bring a Friend!
St. Joseph Social Club Hosted by the  St. Joseph Senior Group 
    •  Join now for a fun 2016 $10 a year,
    •  Come for a fun time with friends. 
    • Bring a friend along to meet our Senior Group. 
    • All regular meetings: 11:30 to 2:30. 
    • Bring your brown bag lunch. Drinks & dessert provided. Free bakery items to members. Join us for fun and games, including Bingo, Poker, Mexican Train, Sequence, Bridge and much more. For information call: Marilyn North 562-429-8891.
Social Media for St. Joseph Religious Education
and St. Joseph Youth  Ministry - Let's Share Faith!

Religious Education Social Media:


Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook

 

 

Websites:

 

 St. Joseph Religious Education Website link:


 http://www.stjosephlb.org/religious-education/

 

It's really for all adults - Let's share faith together - keep connected the other 167 hours a week!

There's an App for that!
 
What if we treated our Bibles like we treat our cell phones?
  
You Can!  It's on your Smart Phone!  Either IOS or Android!
 
Check it out!  Download the App for Free!   Laudate!  two versions of the Bible - New American, Douay-Rheims.
Laudate also has Daily Mass Readings, Liturgy of the Hours, Order of the Mass, Calendar with daily readings, Rosary and Chaplet, How to go to Confession, Stations of the Cross, Basic Catholic Prayers,Latin Prayers, Catechism, Catholic Media, EWTN & Vatican Documents.  Everything you wanted to know about being Catholic but were afraid to ASK!  You are now smarter than a 5th Grader!!!

Free app: 365 days of mercy at www.osv.com/yom
Web Resources for Adults

I have created a new webpage just for Adult Faith Formation - It has articles, videos, and other websites to learn more about your faith...check it out!




Is Your Faith Stale?  Does the Catholic Faith confuse you?  Are you bored?  Check out this website:  

Want some help Integrating your Faith with your everyday life?  
Check out  Integrated Catholic Life
 
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
 
Articles about Marriage and family -  (Balancing Family and Work, Stages of Marriage, Marriage Resources, Try a 5-point Tune-Up for your Marriage)
 

  Check out the For Your Marriage Website for issues on Marriage.
Find out more on   Synod on Family.


GREAT Christian MUSIC in the CAR!
 
 KFSH 95.9 FM is a great station and you never have to worry about what is going to be said!   FAMILY FRIENDLY!  Great Christmas Songs about JESUS!
 
AIR1 - 90.3 FM is another Christian Station in LA.  Enjoy!


Do you want to do something worthwhile? Try passing on our Catholic Faith to the younger generation! It is so rewarding!
Liturgy of the Word for Children -  9am Mass & 12:30 mass- you help young children understand the Readings once a month! 
ChildCare during 9am-10:30 or 12:30 mass

Email Nancy Longo for more information. [email protected]

Faith Formation Office 

We are here to serve you!  

Monday-Friday - 8:30-3:30pm -  

Michelle Johnson
Administrative Assistant
Nancy Longo
Director of
 Faith Formation

 If you need to reach us - try emailing us at:

rel[email protected]    or leave a message at (562)598-0519  - We will get back to you as soon as possible!  It is always best to call before you drop by - to make sure we are there! 

   

It is probably easiest to contact us via email.  My personal email is [email protected] - you can always reach me there.  Also, my cell phone number is (562)822-8779 - you can always contact me at this number!  

faith sign
St. Joseph Faith Formation Department is here to empower and support Adults and families in their ministry to form and teach their children about God and the Catholic faith. 

This is a life-long process that includes us as adults, too!  We never stop learning and growing in our faith!  

If you have any questions or needs that we can help you with, please feel free to email us or call us!  We are here to serve you!

May God bless you with His abundant Love, Peace and Joy as we grow more like Him every day during our journey of faith!
 

Nancy Longo
Director of Faith Formation