Saint Joseph Parish: $1,031.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $80.00 from the second collection (plate); $95.00 from the Dues envelopes; $142.00 from the loose. Thank you.

Saint Vincent DePaul Parish: $990.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $71.80 from the second collection (plate); $181.00 from the Campaign for Human Development envelopes; $385.00 from the Christmas Flowers envelopes; $145.00 from the loose. Thank you.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE WITH GRATITUDE the following donations to the St. Joseph Parish Memorial Fund:

WE SHARE THE MAIL

Hi, Uncle Edward:
I hope you are doing well. My sister sent me this email. Are you aware of this book? Though you might be interested in knowing about it.
Take care!!
Love, Rita

[Note: Rita is my niece-in-law. She is a convert to the Catholic Church.]

Rita, my niece-in-law, attached an article about a book entitled Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch. The following is the article. I am editing it slightly.

If you have children or grandchildren, work with children at church, or you have neighborhood children whose parents you know, please take note of the information below and pass it along to others. Schools are distributing this book to children through the Scholastic Book Club.
The name of the book is Conversations with God. James Dobson talked about this book twice this week. It is devastating. Parents, churches and Christian schools need to be aware of it.
Please pay special attention not only to what your kids watch on TV, in movie theaters, on the internet, and the music they listen to, but also be alert regarding the books they read.
Two particular books are: Conversations with God and Conversations with God for Teens, written by Neale D. Walsch. They sound harmless enough by their titles alone. The books have been on the New York Times best-sellers list for a number of weeks, and they make truth of the statement, "Don't judge a book by its cover or title."
The author purports to answer various questions asked by kids using the "voice of God". However, the "answers" that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the Word of God. For instance (and I paraphrase): A girl asks the question "Why am I a lesbian?" “God’s” answer is that she was 'born that way' because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with brown eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and "celebrate" her differences.
Another girl poses the question "I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?" “God’s” reply is, "Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong."
Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply: "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people.
People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged."

Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God.
And the list goes on. These books (and others like it) are being sold to schoolchildren through (The Scholastic Book Club), and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children.
Our children are under attack. So I pray that you be sober and vigilant about teaching your children the Word of God, and guarding their exposure to worldly mediums, because our adversary, the devil, roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We know that lions usually prey upon the slowest, weakest and YOUNGEST of the herd.

Dear Rita: Many thanks for the information about Conversations With God. No, I had not been aware of it but I appreciate the fact that you made me aware of it. I’m going to get myself a copy of this book, so that I can examine it more closely. However, the excerpts from the email you sent me are actually sufficient evidence that this book is meant to sabotage the Truth. It’s a tough world out there! God help all parents who try to keep their kids on the right path. Much love – your uncle Edward

POSTSCRIPT TO THE ABOVE
I went on Amazon to buy myself a second-hand copy of the book. (I specify “second-hand” because, in those rare cases when I buy a book of which I don’t approve, I prefer not to provide the author with any additional income!) I bought a second-hand copy of the trilogy of Conversations With God. It is really bad!

So often one hears someone say:
It doesn’t matter what religion you are. The important thing is that you believe in God.
That cliché is SO NOT TRUE!
It matters VERY much “what religion you are”.
“What religion you are” determines whether or not the God you believe in is THE ONE TRUE GOD or some demon posturing as God.
There are a zillion demons out there, all of whom would be delighted to have you call him “God”. These demons look for devotees and worshippers.
If you ask him whether or not he is God, he will tell you that, of course he is!
That is why it is both unintelligent and dangerous to say, “It doesn’t matter what religion you are. The important thing is that you believe in God.”

PLEASE NOTE Fr. Connolly will be celebrating a wedding next Saturday (6 Dec) in Harriman, New York. This requires that he conduct the rehearsal on Friday evening. So, he will be away from Friday evening to Saturday night. He will be back for the Sunday Masses. Fr. Brennan and Fr. Drucker will fill in on Friday evening and on Saturday.

ROAST BEEF DINNER [RBD]
SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL [IHES] BUILDING
SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER
4:00 TO 7:00 PM

Q — ARE WICKED PEOPLE INVITED TO COME TO THE ROAST BEEF DINNER?
A — No! Absolutely not!
Q — WHY NOT?
A — Because, as everyone knows, THERE’S NO ROAST FOR THE WICKED!

So, then, there are two qualifications if you want to come to our RBD:
#1 — You must not be numbered among the wicked.
#2 — You must have a ticket.

This, of course, prompts these two questions:
Q1 — How will we know whether or not you are numbered among the wicked?
Q2 — How will you get a ticket?

Let’s take these one at a time:
A1 — You are on your own on this one. It’s the honor system. We will not ask you at the door whether or not you are numbered among the wicked. But, if you are sure that you are numbered among the wicked, it would be best for everyone concerned if you just don’t show up. Wait a minute! Listen up! I just had an idea! Go to Confession! Then you won’t be numbered among the wicked and then you can have some roast beef and, better yet, go to Heaven. That’s a sweetheart deal, if I ever heard of one!
A2 — You can purchase a ticket for the paltry sum of seven dollars ($7.00). You do this by showing up in the Sheridan Room after the Masses on Sat 30 Nov, Sun 1 Dec, Sat 6 Dec or Sun 7 Dec. Checks, currency and money orders accepted. Sorry, no plastic. OR ELSE you can put an envelope into the collection basket with the appropriate amount of money and a note telling us who you are, plus your phone number, plus how many tickets you want. We will hold these for you at the door. OR ELSE you can call the lady at 276-6289 and tell her Connolly sent you. All tickets must be paid for no later than 8 December.

Is there anything else we want to tell you?
Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. We want you to know that there will be a BAKE SALE the evening of the Beef Roast Dinner. All donations of cakes, pies, cookies and pastry are gratefully accepted.
And there’s one more thing and then we’ll let you go:
There will be a meeting of the Fundraising Committee on Tuesday, 9 December, at 7:00 pm in the parish hall.

FIRST FRIDAY OF DECEMBER: 5 DECEMBER
8:00 am — Mass [St. Joseph Chapel]
7:00 pm — Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, Holy Hour [St. Vincent dePaul Church]

FIRST SATURDAY OF DECEMBER: 6 DECEMBER
8:00 am — Mass [St. Joseph Chapel] followed by Exposition of Blessed Sacrament and First Saturday prayers