Happy New Year! That is, Happy New “Liturgical” Year of the Church. With the First Sunday of Advent, we begin the new liturgical year. The Season of Advent consists of four weeks. It is a time of prayerful preparation for the Coming of the Lord. Our first two weeks focus upon the Second Coming of the Lord. The third and fourth weeks offer time for us to reflect upon the first coming of Jesus as we remember his birth in Bethlehem.....Click on the photo to read the complete message.

On Sunday, December 22, at 7:00 PM, we will have a traditional Posada celebration with candles, songs, piñatas and tamales. It will be fun for the entire family. Come join us at Saint Joseph Church. You may also come to the Posada to be held at Our Savior of the Mountains Mission in Lee Vining on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 PM.

Hi Jorge, I hope this e-mail finds you well. I am writing you, to let you know that I will have surgery on Dec. 10 and 11, at Stanford Hospital. The doctors are going to do a Lumbar Laminectomy and Fusion; its going to be a two-day surgery. I am asking for Prayers that all goes well. I would appreciate the prayers and letting the St. Joseph Parish and the Missions know what is happening. I am sorry I missed you when I was there in August. Even at that time, I was having problems. I still have St. Joseph and the Missions in my mind and prayers. I just hope and pray to the LORD and Guadalupe, that I can continue my journeys there. If everything goes well, I will go to my new assignment, Jesuit High School in Sacramento. I am looking forward, and I will be doing duties for the Community, some involvement in the School and Cristo Rey School.   Thank you, for your prayers. I will keep you informed, In Christ, Br. Dann 

Wednesday, December 11, 10:00 PM, Celebration in Saint Joseph Church with songs, dances and prayers in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, followed by Midnight Mass. Thursday, December 12, 10:15 AM, Mass at Our Savior of the Mountains Mission in Lee Vining; 12:00 PM, Mass at the Infant of Prague Mission in Bridgeport; 6:00 PM, Mass (Spanish / English) at St. Joseph Church, Mammoth Lakes.

“Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord” -----Traditionally, the Church has set aside the month of November as a time to remember all who have died; the holy ones on November 1st, All Saints’ Day; and November 2nd, All Souls’ Day, (Dia de Los Muertos) as we remember all the faithful departed.....Click on the image to go to the complete message.

Friday, November 1, is All Saints Day. The Mass schedule is: 8:00 AM at St. Joseph Church (English); 6:00 PM at St. Joseph Church (Spanish) with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; 7:30 PM at Our Savior of the Mountains Mission in Lee Vining (English/Spanish).

In October we will once again celebrate Respect Life Month. This year’s theme, chosen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,is Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life. In this time of ever-increasing attacks on the life and dignity of the human person, we as the people of God need to be conscious of our call to evangelize, to bring Christ, our hope, into every season of life......Click on the image for the link to the complete message.

Beginning on Saturday September 28, the Vesper Mass on Saturdays will be at 5:00 PM.

Registration continues until Wednesday September 18 for CCD from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Parish Office. The Catechetical program is not only to be prepared for First Communion or Confirmation. It should be a continuous education to be a good Christian. We will be taking registrations for RCIA and Adults who need any Sacrament. Classes will begin on September 28.

September 4, 2019 ---- Dear Brothers and Sisters, As many of you have heard, tragedy struck in the form of a devastating boat fire off the coast of Santa Barbara on Monday. We have learned that members of our own Stockton community were among those lost. I wish to express our shared sorrow at this tragic loss of life. I express as well my sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of all the victims. Please keep all those affected by this tragedy in your prayers. May God grant them comfort and strength during this most difficult time. In the Peace of Christ, Bishop Cotta

CCD Signups for the new school year will be from Sept. 1 until Sept. 13 at the Parish Office from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Please bring the Baptismal Certificate of each child and a suggested donation of $50.00 for materials. For more information please call the Parish phone at (760) 934 6276.

THE HOLY ROSARY: A Way to Foster the NEW EVANGELIZATION On Pentecost Sunday of this year, I announced that we, as a diocese, were embarking on the mission of the New Evangelization. I provided to all, the diocesan prayer to launch this endeavor. Please continue to offer this prayer as we begin to better evangelize our families and parishes. Pray it daily as we turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance to be the evangelizers of our day and age......Click on the image to read the complete message.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Resources We continue to pray for those who have been affected by recent gun violence. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has long advocated for responsible gun laws and increased resources for addressing the root causes of gun violence. I, along with the USCCB, wish to continue to call upon the President and Congress to set aside political interests and find ways to better protect innocent life. I also wish to take this opportunity to share with you the link to the USCCB’s Criminal/Restorative Justice section of their website, where you can see what exactly is being done to combat this serious issue. Thank you for your attention to this memorandum. Click on the image to go to the USCCB’s Criminal/Restorative Justice section of their website.

This is a big Festivity of the Church. The schedule of Masses is the same as that of a regular Sunday. Wednesday, August 14 - 6:00 PM in Saint Joseph Church. Thursday, August 15 - 8:00 AM in Saint Joseph Church; 10:15 AM in Our Savior of the Mountains Mission in Lee Vining; 12:00 Noon in The Infant of Prague Mission in Bridgeport, to be combined with the funeral Mass for Nixon Edward Denton; 6:00 PM in Saint Joseph Church, Spanish.

If you want to use the Parish Hall for a reception, banquet, wedding or other event, please contact Veronica Saray at the Parish Office.

In order to raise some money to cover the Parish deficit, we ask for your help bringing all the items, gifts and things that you have in your house that you don´t want anymore. Bring all your donations on August 15 to the Parish Hall to be sold at the Garage Sale on August 17 from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

During Fr. Jorge's absence on the weekend of August 10 and 11, Fr. Nghia Cao, a Missionary of Cross Catholic Outreach, will be celebrating the Masses in our Parish.

We need someone who is willing on helping us to review the Parish finance system, and to give us financial advice and counseling. If you are the one or if you know someone, please, contact Fr. Jorge Román.

The Parish Offertory Program Pastor Committee has concluded that our 35 parishes within the Diocese of Stockton will embark together, As One Church to continue the Offertory Program in 2019. Pastors will soon receive a letter from Bishop Cotta regarding the Parish Offertory Campaign with Parish Offertory Participation Committee forms, Timeline, and RSVP forms for the upcoming Parish Offertory Workshops to be conducted by Bannon and Associates, Inc. All Pastors, Priests, Office Business Administrators, Parish and Finance Council Members and Parish Offertory Committee Members are to attend one of the workshops below. Parish Offertory Workshops: 8/22/2019- 10:00 am, St. Frances of Rome Church, Riverbank. 8/22/2019- 6:00 pm, Church of the Presentation, Stockton. 8/23/2019- 10:00 am, St. Patrick Church, Angels Camp. If you can participate on the St. Joseph Offertory Committee, please call Fr. Jorge or the Parish Office. For additional information or if you have any questions, please contact the Development Office at 209-466-0636.

My Dear People of God, As we began the month of July, we sadly came together, as family, to offer the solemn funeral liturgy for our beloved Bishop Emeritus, Stephen E. Blaire. The Cathedral of the Annunciation was the perfect setting for us to gather to worship and give thanks to God for Bishop Blaire..... Click on the image to read the complete message.