Liturgy Commission seeks to prepare and enrich all aspects of the liturgy to include the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Ministry of Music, Ministry of Art and Environment, Ministry of Hospitality and Ministry of the Altar. Meetings are open to all. Check the bulletin for the schedule.
Ministry of the Word. The Lector's Ministry is to make the Word of God come alive by proclaiming the Scriptures to the assembly at each liturgy. The proclamation of the Word of God is an opportunity for all to encounter the Lord. It is the lector who is called to facilitate that encounter. New lectors from high school age and up are invited to the ministry of the Word of God.
Ministry of the Eucharist. The hospitality that God calls us to is the foundation for those who feed and nurture our Church community with the Body and Blood of the Lord. Ministers serve at the Liturgies regularly. Many, also, respond to this call by bringing Communion to shut-ins, the hospitalized, and the sick. God and the Church call ministers to be disciples of Christ's invitation to eat and drink.
Ministry of Hospitality. Open to all members of the parish, this ministry serves the Parish community at worship services by assistance in seating worshipers, collecting the offerings, distributing the Parish bulletin at the conclusion of Mass, and help in any emergency situation. As ministers of hospitality, they are to lend a spirit of warmth and welcome to the gathering community.
Ministry of the Altar. Altar servers assist in prayer and in action at Sunday Liturgy and on special occasions. The ministry is open to children in the fourth grade and older.
Ministry of Music. The Music Ministry enables all people of St. Joseph Church to participate fully and actively in Liturgy and prayer. The Music Ministry invites and prepares all parishioners to sing acclamations, psalms, hymns and prayers for all Sunday liturgies, feast day celebrations, liturgies of the hours, funerals, weddings, and reconciliation services. Some members of the Congregation are called to membership in one of the choirs at St. Joseph Church. These choirs include The St. Joseph Choir, The Gospel Choir, The St. Joseph Youth Choir and The St. Joseph Festival Choir.
Youth Group. Membership is open to any junior high or high school student, or any adult who wishes to work with the Youth Group as an advisor. The Youth Group is in existence to help young people of the Parish or those in the area who do not have a Parish Youth Group, to become an active part of the Parish family.
Social Concerns Committee. The Social Concerns Committee strives to translate Works of Mercy into a ministerial life style through education, advocacy, and direct service. Its function is to develop projects and programs to increase the awareness and participation of the Parish community in reaching out and caring for the world and its people. The committee is active in sponsoring educational symposiums for parishioners and the community, evaluating social issues and their causes, and advocating change when necessary. It acts as a referral service for those needing immediate assistance. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at 8:00 PM in Jeremiah House.
Pastoral Ministries. The Office of Pastoral Care includes Pastoral Counseling, HIV/AIDS Support Group, Separated and Divorced, Bereavement, and Prayer Groups. This is a welcoming, non-judgmental ministry, who welcomes all with open hands and hearts, knowing that we are all made in the image and likeness of God. This ministry provides active compassionate listeners to the poor, the marginalized, the bereaved, the sick, always aware that we are wounded healers without judgment on others.
Pastoral Leadership Council (PLC). The mission of the PLC is to be an instrument of common counsel for the definition of goals, the determination of policies, and the execution of programs in all matters concerning the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Parish Community. The Council acts as a channel through which the insights and concerns of the community can be discussed openly and in which all parishioners can assume ownership. The main goal of the Pastoral Leadership Council is to become the comfortable response network between the parishioner, ministries, and clergy of the parish. The Council is interested in increasing communication within St. Joseph's, as well as with the community at large. The council meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month at 8:00 PM in the Jeremiah House.
St. Vincent De Paul Society. This society is a Catholic lay organization inspired by the Gospel values of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. This organization leads men and women to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering, in the tradition of its founder. For those who need food or financial assistance our society is ready to help. Every call is confidential. Our confidential Help Line is 732-290-1878.
Altar Rosary Society. This group of parishioners promotes awareness of the role of Mary in the life of the Parish community and provides funds toward liturgical needs.
Catholic Daughters of America (CDA). The Catholic Daughters of America is a national Catholic women's organization. Membership is open to Catholic women eighteen years and older. The purposes of the organization are to participate in the religious, charitable, and educational apostolates of the Church. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas engage in creative and spiritual programs that provide its members with the opportunity to develop their God given talents in a meaningful way to positively influence the welfare of the Church and all peoples throughout the world. Catholic Daughters strive to embrace the principle of faith, working through love in promotion of justice and the advancement of human rights and dignity for all humankind.
Respect Life. The mission of the Respect Life Office is the articulation and promulgation of the Catholic Church's teaching on the transmission of human life. The Office promotes the care and protection of life on the whole continuum of human existence ranging from conception to natural death. Respect Life provides cogent and coherent but sensitive presentations, of the Church's teachings on human sexuality and life issues. The Office is responsible for the review of Family Life Education Programs. It makes recommendations and provides appropriate material which will accomplish the Church's teaching mission in this area. Respect Life promotes those ethical and moral values that create the climate in which healthy Christian families will be supported and nourished.
Senior Citizens Club. Seniors come together for a social, informative, and sharing time. They collect food and donate it to the needy. They give financial support to the Church and are involved in the school milk distribution program. Anyone over the age of fifty is eligible to join. It is not necessary to be a Catholic. Meetings are held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the first Tuesday of every month, except July and August, in the school cafeteria.Saint Joseph School Parent Teachers Association (PTA). The purpose of the St. Joseph School PTA is to give support to the school. This comes by way of the financial support, through fund-raising efforts, that directly benefit the children, and way of familial support to promote a unified education environment.
Knights of Columbus Assembly 3402 is a Catholic organization recognized by the Diocese of Trenton and supports many charitable causes and Pro-Life issues.
Renew 2000. This group responds to the call of Pope John Paul II for the Church to enter the Third Millennium with revived faith, spirituality, and community.
Stewardship. The committee organizes the Parish community to meet Parish needs through talent and donations.
Fund Raising. This program assists Parish leadership by planning and organizing events to raise funds for Parish projects.
Youth Sports. The Athletic Council of Saint Joseph provides during the Winter months of November through March a basketball intramural program for boys and girls ages five to thirteen and during the Spring months of April through June a baseball/softball intramural program for boys and girls ages five to thirteen.