Visitation of the Sick
Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion meet the needs of those who cannot attend the Mass because of age, illness or infirmity in pastoral care visits and bringing the Blessed Sacrament. In bringing Holy Communion those serving in this ministry represent Christ and manifest faith and charity on behalf of the whole community toward those who cannot be present at the Eucharist. Our ministers bring Holy Communion not only to our homebound parishioners but also to Catholic patients and residents of Care One at Oradell Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. In addition to bringing Holy Communion, as a representative of our parish community, our ministers also bring the prayers, support, care, and concerns of the parishioners to those they visit. For more information, contact Fr. John at [email protected].
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry was formed as part of Saint Joseph Parish social interaction. We are a dedicated group of Lay Ministers who knit and crochet prayer shawls and lap robes which are subsequently blessed. The ministry then provides these items to those who are sick, suffering, or losing hope. Many shawls are distributed in the spring when the parish celebrates the Anointing of the Sick Mass. The prayers of the entire ministry go forward with these gifts so that the recipients are comforted and made aware that they are part of a larger community. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Separated/Divorced Healing Ministry
The Separated and Divorced Healing ministry is a Catholic-based program that offers emotional and spiritual support to the Catholic family. The program is led by a trained facilitator. All sharing is confidential. Topics include: Finding Perfect Peace, Getting Your Bearings, Finding Strength and Help, Getting Through Anger, Dealing with Depression and other relevant material all the way to Moving On. Whether you are a practicing Catholic or a non-practicing Catholic, this group is open to those who feel they need support. For more information, contact [email protected].
Food Drives
Saint Joseph’s has three Food Drives each year providing food for the pantries at: Ascension Church in New Milford, Saint John’s in Bergenfield, Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, and Saint Joseph Parish of Jersey City. For more information, contact [email protected].
Bereavement
This program is designed to provide healing to those who have lost a loved one through death. It is a safe place where people can share their grief with others. The program lasts 8 weeks with sessions held in the Spring and Fall. For more information, contact [email protected].
Respect for Life
Recognizing that all human persons are our brothers and sisters, we promote respect and reverence for human life from conception to natural death. We pray the rosary for the voiceless unborn, for their parents and for those who work in the industry as part of the “40 days for Life” campaign, maintaining a prayerful presence outside a local abortuary. Our message is not judgment but the love of Christ and His love for each and every person. We work with the Archdiocese to promote pro-life laws by educating voters and contacting legislators. We provide local pregnancy resource centers with diapers, clothing and other needed items for moms and their babies. In addition, we disseminate information about healing retreats for those who are recovering from an abortion. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Video:
Please watch this beautiful video written by Dan Young, whose faith and love for God are readily apparent.
The pain of abortion never goes away. When we allow ourselves to name and grieve our babies we give them the dignity they deserve.
If you or someone you know is suffering from the affects of abortion, there is hope and healing. www.rachelsvineyard.org
Harrison House
Harrison House is a non-profit group home located on the property of the New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, NJ (formerly Bergen Medical Center) for people who have HIV/Aids. Harrison House is run by the Buddies of New Jersey. We are one of the many churches in the area that provide dinners for the people living there. Each church usually provides the evening meal one day each month. Our assigned date is the third Tuesday of each month. For more information, contact [email protected].
Family Promise of NJ
Family Promise is a nonprofit corporation which helps homeless families become self-sufficient. With the help of our parishioners, we support Family Promise throughout the year.
We participate in the Walk-in-Dinner Program where we prepare and serve dinner for approximately 130 people three times each year at the Bergen County Housing Health and Human Services Center in Hackensack.
We also participate in the Family Promise Shelter Ministry. Saint Joseph’s is a support parish for Saint Peter the Apostle Parish of River Edge, where homeless families with children are hosted three separate weeks each year. We work with people from Saint Peter’s and their two other support Congregations: Temple Avodat Shalom and The First Congregational Church of River Edge to provide a safe, warm, welcoming environment for the families. Lay ministers are needed to help set up the Parish Center kitchen and rooms where the families will sleep, prepare and serve meals and entertain the children (including playing games, arts and crafts, movies, etc.). Two volunteers are needed each night to sleep over for one night to ensure the safety and well-being of the families.
Please email [email protected] for more information.
Ministry of Motherhood
This ministry started as a small group of mothers to meet monthly and pray together. It has grown into a larger group where moms support and encourage one another while deepening their personal relationship with God. It is aimed to all mothers (expectant, new, experienced and grandmothers) with opportunities to grow in faith and friendship and to be consistently renewed in the love of Christ. We use our Catholic feasts, seasons, prayers and devotions as gifts to draw us closer to God throughout the year. This is a flexible group, understanding the many demands on mothers today. For more information, contact [email protected].
Advent Giving Tree
The Giving Tree brings our parish together to help bring the joyous Spirit of Christmas to families in need. In the recent years we have worked with our sister parish, Saint Joseph’s in Jersey City, families supported by Catholic Charities in East Orange, adolescent residents of the Covenant House in Newark, disabled senior residents of the Towers of Linden, and the Several Sources Shelter in Ramsey. Our generous parish helps our Catholic brothers and sisters ranging in age from infants to senior citizens. In the past, we provided wrapped gifts (clothing, boots, books, toys and crafts), but our current focus is gift cards. For more information, email [email protected].
Catholic War Veterans
The Catholic War veterans is a non-profit veterans organization dedicated to nourishing returning veterans in their love of country and their Catholic faith. We are dedicated to a program of united action to promote the wellbeing of all veterans, joining forces with other veteran service organizations whenever and wherever possible, to influence public opinion, promote good laws, and to improve the lot of the veteran, especially those in most need. The CWV offers camaraderie with other veterans and other Catholics to help sustain active duty and veteran members. An applicant for membership in the CWV must be a citizen of the United States of America, a practicing Catholic, and a former, retired, or active duty member of any of the branches of the United States Armed Forces, including their respective Reserve and National Guard components. If someone is not eligible for membership, he or she may qualify for the Auxiliary. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Knights of Columbus
Saint Joseph Council #3814 of the Knights of Columbus was founded in 1954. Our council hosts many activities throughout the year for the church, youth, family and our community. For more information check out our website.
New Hope for Children
New Hope for Children is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing care, education and basic needs to underprivileged and disadvantaged children in our world with or without disabilities, regardless of their race, religion or national identity. In response to the special needs of refugee children in the war torn countries of East Ukraine, we are concentrating efforts mainly on the orphaned and abandoned children living homeless on the streets, facing each day the horror of human trafficking and forced enslavement. Our current project is the expansion and restoration of the residential boarding school where children can receive education and job skills training and a future of self-support under the care of The Holy Eucharist Sisters. The help, support and generosity of many dedicated volunteers and donors makes it possible to provide basic necessities and direct aid for hundreds of homeless children, as well as those in orphanages and other child-care facilities.
For more information, contact [email protected].
Saint Joseph Care Corner
Saint Joseph Care Corner (SJCC), located in the basement of the Retreat House, provides “Helping Hands for Health and Home” to organizations who require essential household and personal care items not covered by food stamps. Items include: laundry detergent, paper towels, lunch bags, storage bags, paper napkins, shampoo, conditioner, diapers, etc. During the year we collect, stock the SJCC, and distribute. We are always in need of volunteers to work with the surrounding communities to get the word out! For more information, please contact Peg at [email protected].
For an article about Peg Kohli and her work with SJCC, please click HERE.
March 20, 2023 UPDATE: The local community has been very supportive of the SJCC and all donations are greatly appreciated. To donate at any time, please leave your items in the bin marked “SJCC”, which is located on Grand Street behind the church next to the Parish Retreat House. Currently the most needed items are Diapers – sizes 4, 5, 6, & pullups and laundry detergent. Any questions please contact Peg Kohli – [email protected] or 201-391-0224.