Saint Joseph Parish: $1,401.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $125.00 from the second collection (plate); $310.00 from the Dues envelopes; $282.00 from the Ash Wednesday envelopes; $74.00 from the Black and Indian Mission envelopes; $161.00 from the Rice Bowl envelopes; $173.00 from the loose. Thank you.

Saint Vincent DePaul Parish: $935.00 from the Sunday envelopes; $62.75 from the second collection (plate); $254.00 from the Building Maintenance envelopes; $341.00 from the Ash Wednesday envelopes; $198.00 from the Rice Bowl envelopes; $54.00 from the Home Mission envelopes; $190.00 from the Easter flowers envelopes; $87.00 from the loose. Thank you.

WE SHARE THE MAIL
From: xxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, 25 February, 2009 12:12 PM
To: ebconnolly@verizon.net
Subject: HA! HA! HA! HA!

Dear Father,
I just saw the funniest thing. Joe Biden was on T.V. and he had ashes on his forehead. He must think he's a Catholic or something.
B-----

From: ebconnolly@verizon.net
Sent: Friday, 27 February, 2009 07:37:55 AM
To: xxxxxxx
Re: HA! HA! HA! HA!

Dear B-----:
I really like ashes. They are so democratic (pun intended). From the point of view of the priest (which, come to think of it, includes my point of view) it is a relief not to have to agonize over whether I should or should not give ashes to the person who presents him / herself for same! Unlike the reception of Holy Communion, there are no criteria (as far as I know) for receiving ashes, other than believing that God exists, that He rewards the good and punishes the wicked, and, of course, being at least vaguely regretful for having offended God — just in case He was offended.
So, if Biden, Pelosi, Durbin, Leahy, Kennedy and other Lords and Ladies of the Democratic Party should ever come traipsing up the aisle of one of my churches in Girardville on an Ash Wednesday, I shall ash them with enthusiastically and generously!
EBC

From: xxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, 27 February, 2009 09:22 AM
To: ebconnolly@verizon.net
Re: Re: HA! HA! HA! HA!

Dear Father,
In that case, I would expect you to dump the entire bowl on their heads.
B-----

GLORIA JOSEPHINE RITA TINARI CHIARETTI,
a member of Saint Joseph Parish, died on Friday, 6 March. Born on 25 September 1924, she was 84 years old.
She is one of the three children of the late Joseph Tinari and Mary (Giovannangelo) Tinari Forlano.
Her brother, Joseph Tinari, and her sister, Mary Tinari Bigioni, are deceased.
Gloria was baptized in St. Joseph Church, Girardville, on 19 October 1924 by Fr. Edward H. Allen. The godparents were Dominic Silvester and Anna Recchione.
(Of interest, perhaps, to those who trace family histories is the fact that the parish baptism register records Gloria’s family name as “Tenaro”.)
On 14 February 1942, Gloria was married to John L. Chiaretti in St. Joseph Church, Girardville, in the presence of Fr. John F. Cullen. The witnesses were Joseph Tinari and Mary Chiaretti.
Her husband, John, died on 20 November 1998.
John and Gloria had five children, all of whom are living: Joseph J. Chiaretti; Mary Jane Chiaretti Rizzo; Diane Chiaretti Kulengosky; Theresa Chiaretti McDonald; Leo J. Chiaretti.
There are eleven grandchildren: Frances J. Rizzo; Mary Jane Rizzo Lindenmuth; Christon M. Kulengosky Henderson; Christopher S. Kulengosky; Eric J. Kulengosky; Matthew J. Kulengosky; Nicholas J. Kulengosky; Kimberly McDonald Osilka; Michael J. McDonald; Coral M. Chiaretti; Caitlin E. Chiaretti.
There are ten great-grandchildren: Brett Lindenmuth; John B. Lindenmuth; Nicholas Rizzo; Anthony Rizzo; Kaileigh N. Henderson; Jordyn M. Henderson; Jonathan McDonald; Hailey McDonald; Megan Osilka; Emily Osilka.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church on Monday, 9 March, at 11:00 am. On Sunday, 8 March, there will be a viewing from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the McDonald Funeral Home.
The interment will take place in the parish cemetery.
We give thanks to God for granting Gloria a long and faithful life, for giving her 56 years with her husband, for allowing her to see her descendants even to the third generation. We thank Him most of all for the assurance He has given that she died in the peace of Christ and is assured of a merciful judgment.

Eternal rest grant unto Gloria, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

OUR NATION IS UNDERGOING A POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL UPHEAVAL.
Unless there is a dramatic turnaround, we are likely to witness the end of the United States of America as we know it. Here are three tidbits of wisdom that might help us to discern what is happening and, perhaps, take action before it is too late.

“No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist.”

Pope Pius XI (Quadragesimo Anno)

"Wherever politics tries to be redemptive, it is promising too much. Where it wishes to do the work of God, it becomes not divine, but demonic."

Pope Benedict XVI

"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."

George Bernard Shaw

OUR MOLE IN THE VATICAN was able to obtain for us this exclusive photograph from the special private audience granted to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. There is only one other copy of this photo. It has been filed away in the Vatican’s Secret Archives. Notice the earnest appearance on the Pontiff’s face as Mrs. Pelosi instructs him on Scholastic Theology, in particular on matters having to do with the fine points of Catholic doctrine about the time of the ensoulment of the embryo. Mrs. Pelosi explained to His Holiness that, from her extensive reading of the Summa, she had learned that Thomas Aquinas considered the human embryo to be a blob of undifferentiated tissue until approximately the fortieth week of gestation, at which time the mother would go into labor and the tissue would start to become human, becoming fully human a few days before starting kindergarten. His Holiness was reportedly overcome with gratitude to Mrs. Pelosi for enlightening him on this delicate matter. He gave her his blessing and invited her to come back for another visit at her earliest convenience, at which time he promised her either an exorcism or an excommunication or both.

THERE WILL BE A TRIDENTINE MASS in St. Joseph Church on Monday, 9 March, at 7:00 pm.
The “Tridentine Mass” — also known as “the Mass of Pope St. Pius V” — is the Mass as it was celebrated for centuries throughout the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church until the reforms of 1965. Pope Benedict XVI has given permission to all priests of the Latin Rite to offer the Tridentine form of the Mass — which he designated “the extraordinary form” — as they see fit, after taking into consideration the pastoral advantage of the people.

WE ALL KNOW THAT the re-configuration of parishes that has been taking place in the Diocese of Allentown is not likely to leave Girardville unaffected.

WE ALL SUSPECT THAT the time for a decision on the matter will come sooner rather than later.

WE ALL SUSPECT THAT it is unlikely that the Bishop will announce the establishment of a third parish in Girardville to relieve the burden on the two parishes already there.

WE ALL SUSPECT THAT it will happen that either both parishes will be consolidated or merged into some other parish or that one of the parishes will be consolidated or merged into the other.

WE ARE ALL RESOLVED to hang tough and to be big boys and girls and, if the decision goes the way we prefer, not to be triumphalistic about it and if it does not go the way we prefer, not to slide down the tubes about it.

IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN THAT both parishes were to close and a new parish were to be established somewhere outside the Borough, we would expect that all members of both parishes would join and support that new parish.

IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN THAT St. Joseph Parish were to close and St. Vincent dePaul Parish remain open, we would expect that all members of St. Joseph Parish would join and support St. Vincent dePaul Parish.

IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN THAT St. Vincent dePaul Parish were to close and St. Joseph Parish remain open, we would expect that all members of St. Vincent dePaul Parish would join and support St. Joseph Parish.

WE ARE ALL RESOLVED to die to self and to live for Jesus and for His Holy Catholic Church.