St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 2011 Darling Avenue, Waycross, GA 31501

Fr. Bob Cushing, Pastor: (478) 284-5235 frbobcushing@gmail.com Church Secretary: Barbara Grace Albert sjcwaycross@att.net

Music Minister: Mervyn Humphreys (912) 285-2757 mr_merv47@yahoo.com Religious Education Coordinator: Lacey Gruver (912) 282-0493 lgruver@ware.k12.ga.us Hispanic Ministry Coordinator: Jason Strickland (912) 387-6781 jason@jason.com.mx

Youth Ministry Coordinator: Loretta Coar (912) 390-9116 lcoar@ware.k12.ga.us Loaves and Fishes Outreach: (912)283-5221

Office number: (912) 283-7700/Office fax (912) 283-7929 Office hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00am—4:30pm

https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Joseph-Catholic-Church/117872604905966

May 21, 2017 Sixth Sunday of Easter Dear Parishioners and Friends:

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth…” [John 14: 15-17a]

When we keep the commandments of Jesus, we stay close to him because we love him as our Friend. He is our first “Advocate” or intercessor. The Greek word here is “paraclete” or defense attorney. Jesus wants us to know that we always will have someone to be our consoler, comforter, mediator or spokesman. When we were very small it was our parents who were our advocate and teachers. They told us what was true and taught us how to listen to our own hearts in order to follow God’s ways. Some of us were lucky enough to have an uncle or auntie who really cared about us, maybe a godparent who looked out for us and taught us stories and skills. Some of us found a rare teacher, catechist or priest who inspired us, someone we trusted.

These special people are “other Christs,” who teach us to listen to the Holy Spirit within our own hearts. Confir-mation is for many of us the sign that we “got this” and we are fully initiated into the Christian community. But making ones First Holy Communion is a huge step of initiation too, which says that young people are now ready to walk with Je-sus as their friend who speaks to them in personal ways so that they can choose on their own to love and serve God. These children are no longer totally self-centered babies, but are young people open to share their lives with Jesus and to meet him in communion as their friend, their Teacher, Lord and Savior. What a marvelous and wonderful thing to cele-brate today, youngsters who can receive Jesus on their own and walk by faith! This weekend we thank God for them and this big step in their life!

Questions for the week: When did you realize that God was there for you? How does God speak to you? Are you a faithful friend to Jesus? Do you turn to him and share some-thing every day?

Easter is a season, dear friends! Your pastor -

Fr. Bob Cushing

21 de Mayo, 2017 Sexto Domingo de Pascua de Resurrección Queridos Feligreses y Amigos:

Si me amas, guarda mis mandamientos. Y yo pediré al Padre y él les dará otro Intercesor que este con ustedes siempre, el Espíritu de Verdad…” [Juan 14: 15-17a]

Cuando cumplimos los mandamientos de Jesús, nos quedamos cerca de el porque lo amamos como nuestro Ami-go. Él es nuestro primer “Abogado” intercesor. La palabra en griego es “paraclete” abogado defensor. Jesús quiere que sepamos que siempre tendremos alguien que sea nuestro consolador, alguien que nos conforte, un mediador o alguien que hable por nosotros. Cuando éramos muy pequeños eren nuestros padres los que eran nuestros defensores y maestros. Ellos nos decían lo que era verdad y nos ensenaban a escu-char nuestros corazones para seguir el camino de Dios. Al-gunos de nosotros fuimos afortunados de tener un tío o tía que realmente se preocupaba por nosotros, talvez un pa-drino que veía por nosotros y nos ensenaba historias y habi-lidades. Algunos tuvimos una maestro, catequista o sacer-dote que nos inspiraron, alguien en quien confiábamos.

Estas personas especiales eran “otros Cristos,” que nos ensenaron a escuchar al Espíritu Santo dentro de nues-tros corazones. La Confirmación es para muchos de noso-tros el símbolo de que “lo alcanzamos” Y que estamos com-pletamente iniciados en la comunidad Cristiana. Pero hacer la Primera Santa Comunión es un paso grande de iniciación también, que dice que los jóvenes ya están listos a caminar con Jesús como su amigo que les habla en una forma perso-nal para que puedan escoger por si mismos amar y server a Dios. Estos niños no son totalmente bebes centrados en sí mismos, pero gente joven abierta a compartir sus vidas con Jesús y encontrarlo en comunión como su amigo, su Maes-tro, Señor y Salvador. ¡Que maravillosa cosa que celebrar hoy, jóvenes que pueden recibir a Jesús por sí mismos y ca-minar en la fe! ¡Este fin de semana damos gracias a Dios por ellos y este gran paso en sus vidas!

Pregunta de la semana: ¿Cuándo realizaste que Jesús esta-ba contigo? ¿Cuándo te habla Dios? ¿Eres un fiel amigo de Jesús? ¿Te acercas a él y compartes algo con él cada día?

¡Pascua de Resurrección es una estación, queri-

dos amigos! Su pastor - P. Bob Cushing

Oracion de la Misión Parroquial Padre de Misericordia, tu Santo Espíritu nos ha llama-do de muchas tierras y culturas para formar la comuni-dad de fe de la Parroquia de St. Joseph. Nos uniste para proclamar tu palabra de misericordia para todos a través de la oración, sacramentos y servicio, O Santísi-mo, muéstranos como alimentar este compromiso a través de la formación de fe, hospitalidad y correspon-sabilidad, para que a través de nosotros tu compasión ellos abracen la cruz de todos los necesitados, por Cristo nuestro Señor. Amen

Parish Mission Prayer

Father of Mercy, your Holy Spirit has called us from many lands and cultures to become the faith community of St. Joseph Parish. You gather us to proclaim your Word of Mercy for all through prayer, sacrament, and service. O Holy one, show us how to nourish this commitment through faith formation, hospitality, and stewardship, so that through us your compassion may embrace the cross of all the needy, through Christ our Lord. Amen

St. Joseph Offertory May 14, 2017

Offertory $ 4,831.00 Children’s Circle $31.00 $4,831.00

Rainy Day Fund $539.00

Knights Serving Breakfast 05/21/2017 (Last Day of PRE) First Communion Luncheon in Parish Hall after 11:00 am Bilingual Mass

Be sure and make your check payable to:

Bishop’s Annual Appeal

Thank You!

The Second Collection this weekend is for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. This is our Mother Church of the Unit-ed States.

La Segunda Colecta este fin de semana es para la Basí-lica del Templo Nacional de la Inmaculada Concepción en Washington, DC. Esta es nuestra Madre Iglesia en los Estados Unidos.

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal 2017: We thank eve-ry parish member who contributed to the BAA recent-ly. As of this printing we had no news since the May 9 report which had receipts from us totaling $16,445 which is 72% of our target of $22,740. 29% of our parish has participated thus far and the In-Pew results are still being counted. Thanks for supporting our Bish-op and the many ministries of the diocese.

La Colecta Anual del Obispo 2017: Damos las gracias a cada miembro de la parroquia que ha contribuido al BAA recientemente. A este día no hemos tenido más noticias desde el reporte del 9 de mayo que tenía recibos nuestros en un total de $16,445 que es el 72% de nuestra meta de $22,740. 29% de nuestra parroquia ha participado hasta ahora y los resultados de lo recogido en las bancas no ha si-do contado. Gracias por su apoyo al Obispo y a los muchos ministerios de la diócesis.

Thank you to all who provided food for the Gus Karle family funeral meal. The Bereavement Ministry is very grateful for your help. A special thank you to all who worked in the kitchen with serving and clean up.

Beverly DeLoach

Warnell Ziolkowski

So you want to play BIN-

GO, do ya—well then be

here on Tuesday, April

25, 2017 at 10am and

play all ya want! The

noise & crowd will draw

you into the Social Hall!

Be there or be square!

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL THOSE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY: LT. Tim Boyce, U.S. Navy, Rann Howell, and Colonel Mark B. Parker.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE ILL, ESPECIALLY PARISHIONERS: Joyce Bachofner, Ann Inman, Arcelia Saucedo, Eliza-beth Smith, Peggy Thomas, Donna Sturgis, Howard Sturgis, Judy & Lowell VanDruff, Warnell Ziolkow-ski, Carlene Murray, Rose Mary Fulford, Dorothy Gaskill, Bill & Glenda Brewington, Bob & Kathy Odam, Morgan & Ann Marie Hess, Colleen Matich, Maryann Dixon, Cindy Adams, Theresa Spatola, Bob Badger, Joseph Johnson, Debbie Cahill, Leslie Ben-nett, Marilyn Bonacci, Nelda Ballagh, Marisa Chanc-ey, Connie McCarthy, Dorothy Henry, Leighton Vir-ginia Spivey, Harry Roney, Ken Jorishie, Abraham Gomez, Tom DiBiase, Glenn & Shelly Chase, and Kathleen (Billie) Herbert.

PLEASE PRAY FOR FAMILY & FRIENDS OF OURS: Robert Cushing Jr. & Doris Cushing, Pat Marsh, Lisa Dwyer, Hannah Phillips & Family, Elaina Zachary, Gloria Ray, Kelly Popwell, Glynda Gausnaell, Lindsay Joyce, Patricia Carter, Connie McAlpin, Roger Gaskill, Michael McAlpin, Jason McCullum, Dan Cason, Caro-lene Johnson, Kathy Johnson, Albert Gatton, Paul Tang, Michael Driggers, Maurice Hannah, Rebecca Prescott, Earl Black, Tom Grizzaffe, James Kenneth Cox Jr., Lon-ny Joseph Waring Jr., Merinda Mixon, Annie Burns, Toby Foster, Bill Caballero, Harris Lott, Florence Struempler, Lindon Deal, Sr. Francis Ann Cook, James Stokes, Cindy Taylor, Don Gibb, Saturnino Yepez Lu-na, Kris Kruse, Rose Parisse, April Snider, Brett Crews, Robin Johnson, and Thomas Williams, Angel Sinai Gomez, Kim Messenger, William Willis, Sandy Wright, Ashley Hoffman, Sue Rossi, Brittany Alderman, Betty Denyko, and Sr. Chris Cullen, MFIC, David Greg Rus-sell, Denny & Sandra Taylor, Chloe Robinson, William Martin IV, Michelle Rio, Shady Tanner, Bobby Ziol-kowski, Stan Stipe, Sharon Deal Joseph McHendry, and Ron Milkas.

You’re invited to pray the Rosary in English this week at Debbie Cahill’s home.

Please join us in prayer on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 10:00 am.

Her home is located at, 433 Loblolly Lane in Waycross.

Please keep Kathleen (Billie) Herbert in your thoughts and prayers. Mailing Contact Information for our friend, Kathleen (Billie) Herbert No phone calls please, cards are welcomed! Kathleen Herbert c/o Stacey Keaton 3763 Sussex Drive Milledgeville, GA 31061

Easter Evangelization Encounter

During the Easter season, we will present a series of re-flections on the meaning of Evangelization and Hispanic ministry to our entire parish. The fourth session entitled “Bearing Fruits of New Life” will be presented by Fr. Bob Cushing this Wednesday, May 24th at 7 PM, in the Parish Hall.

We will look for the presence of the risen Christ in each one of us as we discuss our common vocation to be missionary disciples. St. Teresa of Avila reminded us “God has no body on this earth but ours and no hands on but ours.” Please join us and discover how you can be the hands of Christ for your fellow parishioners.

Encuentro de Evangelización de Pascua de Resu-rrección Durante esta estación de Pascua de resurrección, esta-remos presentando una serie de reflexiones en el signi-ficado de la Evangelización y el Ministerio Hispano a toda nuestra parroquia. La cuarta sección titulada “¡Dando Frutos de Nueva Vida!” Será presentada por el p. Bob Cushing este miércoles 24 de mayo a las 7:0 PM, en el Salón Parroquial. Buscaremos por la presencia de Cristo resucitado en cada uno de nosotros mientras discutimos nuestra co-mún vocación de ser discípulos misioneros. Santa Tere-sa de Ávila nos recuerda “Dios no tiene cuerpo en esta tierra sino el nuestro y no tiene manos sino las nues-tras.” Por favor acompáñennos y descubran como pue-de usted ser manos de Cristo entre sus compañeros de parroquia.

This Week at St. Joe’s

05/22 Monday 9:45 pm Mass at Ware State Prison; 6:15 pm Parish Council Meeting

05/23 Tuesday 10:00 am BINGO; 12:10 pm Mass

05/24 Wednesday 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Adoration; 6:00 pm Mass; 7:00 pm Evangelization Encounter

05/25 Thursday 12:10 pm Mass; 6:00 pm Choir Practice; 6:15 pm Finance Council Meeting

05/26 Friday No Mass; Office Closed

05/27 Saturday 5:00 pm-5:45 pm Confession; 6:00 pm Mass-Welcome Fr. Minch

05/28 Sunday PRE perfect Attendance Awards at 10:30 am Mass; 2017 Graduates; 5:00 pm-5:45 pm Confession

6:00 pm Mass in Spanish Bulletin Deadline: All announcements and news items for the next Sunday's bulletin need to be given to our parish secretary (Barbara) .[sjcwaycross@att.net] by Monday morning.

Congratulations 2017 Graduates

May 20, 2017 6:00 pm Mass in English Lector: Wanda Peterson EM: Lucy Todd and Linda Robison Usher: Mike Frawley and Joe Robison Server: Lee Tipps Intention: None May 21, 2017 11:00 am Bilingual Mass Lector: Socorro Martinez and Bill Brewington EM: John Chancey, Anna Saucedo, Loretta Coar, Eloise Purdom, and Ron Yon Usher: Vicente Rodas and Francisco Velez Server: Marisol Calvillo and Gissell Rodriguez Intention: Pro Populo May 27, 2017 6:00 pm Mass in English-Fr. Minch Lector: Ann Johnson EM: Louise Walker and Linda Robison Usher: Mike Frawley and Joe Robison Server: Lee Tipps Intention: None May 28, 2017 10:30 am Mass in English Lector: Barbara Miller EM: Ron Yon, Joy Yon, Socorro Martinez, Connie Barefield, and Eloise Purdom Usher: Jim Craig and Michael Hackett Server: Lauren Hackett and Emma Hackett Intention: Pro Populo May 28, 2017 6:00 pm Mass in Spanish Lector: Lucia Rios EM: Ana Velez, Montse Diaz, y Vicente Rodas Usher: Francisco Velez and Abel Rodriguez Server: Valentina Diaz and Brayan Rios Intention: None

Making out your Will? Have you considered including your

Parish in your will? Please see Fr. Bob about details.

Such eternal benefits, wow!

Office for the Protection of Children and Young Peo-ple, toll free reporting hotline: (888) 357-5530

COME, HOLY SPIRIT, COME! First Holy Communion is

TODAY! At the 11 AM Bilingual Mass Sunday, May 21. Please come and share in the celebration by bringing a side dish for the parish pot-luck Dinner immediately after the Mass. Congratulations to our young people who have come to the Ta-ble of the Lord: Yuvia Badillo, Dulce Maria Baza-Vargas, Karla Calvillo, David Cerón, Hector Espinoza, Jayce Figueroa, Luke Gardner, Jose Goméz, Aria Harwood, Angel Hernandez, Oscar Martinez, Kevin Perez, Jesus Rios, Daniel Sandoval, and Gus-tavo Sandoval.

St. Joseph Parish thanks their catechists – Sandra Flores and Elisa Urbieta – for the wonderful job they have done in guiding the children to their First Holy Communion. We also recognize Paula Fales who made such a difference in the lives of our Con-firmation students this year. Well done, faithful catechists!

¡Ven, ¡Espíritu Santo, Ven! ¡La Primera Comunión es HOY!

En la Misa Bilingüe de las 11 AM 21 de mayo. Por favor vengan y

compartan en la celebración trayendo un plato para la comida de

compartir después de la Misa. Felicitaciones a nuestra gente joven

que ha venido a la Mesa del Señor Yuvia Badillo, Dulce Maria Baza

-Vargas, Karla Calvillo, David Cerón, Hector Espinoza, Jayce Figue-

roa, Luke Gardner, Jose Goméz, Aria Harwood, Angel Hernandez,

Oscar Martinez, Kevin Perez, Jesus Rios, Daniel Sandoval, and

Gustavo Sandoval.

La Parroquia de St. Joseph da las gracias a sus catequistas -–

Sandra Flores y Elisa Urbieta por el maravilloso trabajo que han hecho en guiar los niños a su Primera Santa Comunión. Reconoce-mos también a Paula Fales que ha hecho una gran diferencia en las vidas de nuestros estudiantes de Confirmación este año. Bien hecho, ¡fieles catequistas!

Important Message:

Our parish will not have Vacation Bible School this summer.

Thank you to Valerie Hurtado and the U.S. Postal Service for donating a truckload of canned goods from its annual food drive to Loaves and Fishes. We were one of the local recipients. Thanks also to Mike Frawley and Keith Fullenkamp for picking up and hauling over 100 bags and 5 boxes of food to the Loaves and Fishes office on Saturday, May 13th.

¡Gracias de Panes y Peces! Gracias a Valerie Hurtado y al Servicio Postal de EE.UU. por donar un carro lleno de latas de comida de su donación anual a Panes y Peces. Fuimos uno de los recepto-res. Gracia también a Mike Frawley y Keith Fu-llenkamp por recoger y cargar más de 100 bolsas y 5 cajas de comida a la oficina de Panes y Peces el sábado 13 de mayo.

The word from Pope Francis: "Whoever accepts the Good News of Jesus is able to acknowledge the vio-lence within and be healed by God's mercy, becoming in turn an instrument of reconciliation." (50th World Day of Peace Letter, para. 3).

Palabras del Papa Francisco: "Cualquiera que acepta la Buena Nueva de Jesús esta cierto de darse cuenta de la violencia dentro de él y ser sanador de la Misericordia de Dios, tornándose a su vez en un instrumento de re-conciliación.” (Carta del Cincuentenario del Dia Mundial de la Paz, para. 3).

The New Catholic Answer Bible: NABRE. This is our par-

ish favorite bible with RCIA Catechism inside, as well as the

best translation. Leather bound with larger print, $35. We

expect the new order in this week. See Barbara in the office.

A Suggestion for On-line Bible Studies: If you have not tried it, I would suggest that Lumina http://lumina.bible.org/is a wonder-ful site for individual Bible study. You can use several different translations of the Bible, and you simply go to the book you want to study, and the chapter, and scroll to the appropriate verses. On the right hand screen is a section with language translation and my favorite, Constable’s commentary. Dr. Constable is a professor emeritus of Bible Studies at Dallas Theological Semi-nary, and he writes understandable, clear commentary on the Bi-ble, which is well referenced, and which has easy to use links to allow you to cross-check other verses. It has been very helpful for me, in conjunction with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops http://usccb.org/ daily Mass readings. -Adrienne Butler

Biblia Catolica de la Familia:

Esta es una biblia ganadora: excelente traducción, lugares apro-piados para poner los momentos sacramentales, mapas, fuerte unión y no muy cara $25. Tenemos una docena de ellas en venta

en la oficina. Pídasela a Bárbara Albert o al P. Bob.

Stations of the Cross Meditation Benches:

There’s a quiet movement going on as people are enjoying the Stations of the Cross. Families are pur-chasing “meditation benches” at Lowes for $54

each. You can see one just outside the south side door of the church at Station #1. Check it out. Does your family want to contribute a prayer bench?

Please turn in a copy of your receipt so that we can give you credit for it as a tax deduction.

Bancas para Meditar las Estaciones de la Cruz: Hay un movimiento callado de la gente que es-tá disfrutando de las Estaciones de la Cruz. Fa-milias están comprando “bancas de meditación en Lowes por $54 cada una. Pueden ver una justo afuera de la Puerta al lado sur de la iglesia en la Estación #1. Véanla. ¿Quería su familia contribuir con una banca de oración?

A word about Parish Finances: Thank you all who have been so faithful and generous sharing your tithes with the parish. Painfully, we have had so many second collections that it is an embarrassment to endure for me as your pastor. I have turned away several that I could. The rest have left us all somewhat depleted or “tapped out.” We are grateful for the burst of enthusiasm for the “Rainy Day Fund” so at least our parish is secured for the impending breakdown of the air-conditioners. But we are also running a deficit of around $14,000 on our simple day to day operational ex-penses. Remember, we missed two collections in Decem-ber ($7,000) because of the calendar this year and we have been slowly drifting downhill since then, collections lower than usual. Now with the summer holidays and vacations approaching, we would remind you that our bills will be even higher in the heat of summer. We need you to re-member us even with your small donations during the summer months. I am grateful for your faithful steward-ship!

+ Fr. Bob

Una palabra acerca de las Finanzas de la Parroquia: Gracias a todos los que han sido fieles y generosos en sus dadivas a la parroquia. Tristemente, hemos tenido muchas segundas colectas lo cual me avergüenza a mí como su pastor. He dicho que no a las que he podido. El resto nos dejan a todos un poco agotados o “desinflados.” Estamos muy agradecidos por el entusiasmo por el “Fundo para el Dia Lluvioso” para que por lo menos nuestra parroquia esté asegurada para un futuro daño en los aires acondicio-nados. Pero también estamos en un déficit de más o menos $14,000 en las operaciones de día a día. Recuerden, per-dimos dos colectas en diciembre ($7,000) debido al calen-dario este año y hemos estado lentamente cuesta abajo desde entonces, con colectas más bajas de lo normal. Ahora con el verano y las vacaciones acercándose, quiero recordarles que nuestras cuentas serán aún más grandes con el calor del verano. Necesitamos que ustedes nos re-cuerden aun con sus pequeñas contribuciones en los meses del verano. ¡Estoy muy agradecido por su fiel servicio!

+ Fr. Bob

Requirements for the Sacrament of Baptism

1. Register family with St. Joseph Church. 2. Copy of birth certificate. 3. One Godparent must be a practicing Catholic. 4. Certificate of completion for out of town Godparents. 5. Parents and Godparents complete Baptism workshop. 6. Schedule Baptism with the priest after attending workshop. 7. Be a practicing Catholic & active in the Parish. 8. Celebrate the Sacrament of Confession Before the Baptism

Require- ments for the Sacrament of Marriage:

Register in the Parish and become a member of the Sunday worshipping community for at least 3 months before contacting the priest. Then con-tact the priest at least 5 months prior to the date of the wedding. No wedding date is guaranteed until ALL Diocesan and Parish requirements have been fulfilled.

The Parish Pastoral Council will meet in the Parish Hall on Monday night, May 22 at 6:15

PM.

El Consejo Pastoral de la Parroquia se reunirá en el Salón Parroquial el lunes en la noche, 22 de

mayo a las 6:15 PM.