St. Joseph Catholic Church

TO REACH OUR PASTOR, PLEASE CALL HIM AT THE NEW NUMBER:  903-246-3426

 

CONFESSIONS 

Anyone wishing to go to confession should contact Fr. Marcus via e-mail (frmarcus.stj@gmail.com) to make an appointment.
 

Perfect Contrition

Recently the Holy Father, in light of the crisis caused by the coronavirus and the inability of many to seek the Sacrament of Confession, has spoken about “perfect contrition.” The Holy Father said on March 20, 2020: “You do what the Catechism says. It is very clear: if you do not find a priest to hear your confession, speak to God, he is your father, and tell him the truth. Enumerate your sins, ask the Lord for forgiveness with all your heart, and make an act of contrition. Promise him: ‘Later I will confess, but forgive me now.
While this may sound novel to some, this notion of contrition (known as “perfect contrition”) being a means of returning to God’s grace has always existed in the Church, and the Holy Father was merely expressing a longstanding principle of the Church. 
 If you feel you are suffering under grave sin:
• Speak to God, express your love for him and his son
• Pray for genuine, loving contrition for your sins
• Enumerate your sins
• Ask for forgiveness for your sins
• Say an Act of Contrition
• Promise with true intention to confess your sins to a priest, whom God has placed here for you, as soon as you are able, so that you might be healed and fully reconciled. 
While we might not have the immediate assurance of the Sacrament at this time, of the priest’s words: “I absolve you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” we do have the assurance of Christ’s words: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.”

The Diocese has published a resource on Perfect Contrition that should be helpful to the faithful who are unable to seek the Sacrament of Confession. It is located under the "Additional Decree" by Bishop Burns on the www.cathdal.org website.   
Perfect Contrition, as articulated by the Catechism in paragraph 1452 and most recently by the Holy Father, “arises from a love by which God is loved above all else” and especially in cases where sacramental confession is not immediately available “obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.”

 

Please keep Nancy Druda in your prayers.  She has been very ill and passed away last week. 
 

Temporarily Cancelled Due to Coronavirus
ADORATION will be held every

Thursday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

RCIA is a journey of conversion to God and what He intends for us. The Catholic Church warmly welcomes new members and tries to provide appropriate spiritual formation according to each person’s needs. If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, please contact Fr. Marcus at 903-886-7135.  And please join us for meetings to discuss our faith through RCIA at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.
 

BINGO
Temporarily Cancelled Due to Coronavirus  

There will be bingo held in the parish hall on Thursday evenings (except holidays).  A light meal will be served beginning at 6:00 pm for $5, and bingo will begin at 7:00 p.m.  It will last approximately one hour.  We would love to see you there!
 

EDUCATIONAL CENTER NAMED IN HONOR OF NATALIE SALISBURY