Father Joe's Letters

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Dear SJW Parishioners:

Welcome to the 5^th week of Lent! These days of reform and renewal are sure passing by quickly. Let us continue to use this season to be better disciples for our Lord, who gave of Himself for each of us.

This coming Tuesday, March 24^th, is a very important day for all of us. Why is that, you may ask? That evening is the Restored Order celebration at the Cathedral in Springfield. That is when our Faith Formation 3^rd graders and others who need to complete there initiation into the Catholic Church will be confirmed and receive 1^st Holy Communion. What a glorious time for all of them. Please pray for each of them as they continue to journey in faith. May our Lord draw them closer to Him each day.

Their celebration should inspire each of us to reflect on our faith journey. Where are we as to our relationship with Jesus Christ? Are we growing as Catholic Christians in the faith into which we were baptized? How would we assess our commitment to living out the Gospel in our neighborhood, school, workplace? 

Confirmation. When we experience this sacrament, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives in a special way. Our faith is confirmed, made stronger. We are infused with the gifts of the Holy Spirit---Wisdom, Knowledge, Fortitude, Understanding, Piety, Fear of the Lord, and Counsel. These gifts enable us to go forth and bear witness to the values of our Savior.

Eucharist. The source and summit of our Catholic faith is the Eucharist. When we receive the Lord in His Body and Blood, we are the closest we can be to Him this side of heaven. Our Lord gave us this very special sacrament to remember Him and to celebrate our faith in Him. As Catholics, we are privileged to be nourished with the Savior of the world.

This Tuesday is a time for all at SJW parish to renew ourselves in the sacramental life of the Church. It is a time for us to confirm our love for Jesus and to rededicate ourselves to Him.

This Tuesday is a time for all at SJW parish to make sure that we hunger and thirst more and more each day for the Body and Blood of Jesus. It is a time for us to appreciate the very special opportunity we have in partaking of the Eucharist.

May all of us be renewed in our Catholic faith. May all those who are confirmed and receive Communion for the first time this Tuesday evening appreciate their faith and their Lord.

Lastly, a special thanks to all those who prepared our young people for the Restored Order celebration---Anna Barham, our Restored Order Coordinator; the FF catechists; MC Garriott, our OCIA Coordinator; the youths’ parents and sponsors; and all others who have brought them to this wonderful evening at the Mother Church of our diocese.

Your Pastor,

 Father Joe

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

This Sunday is the Ides of March. We are halfway through this month already. We are beginning the 4^th week of our Lenten season. These are precious days to be reforming ourselves, getting rid of any sin that impedes us from being the best disciples of Jesus that we are called to be. How are we doing? Are we closer to the Lord this day than we were when Lent began? Jesus sure hopes so!

This coming Thursday is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus. This is one of the great Solemnities celebrated during Lent; the other one is the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25^th. During these Lenten days of sacrifice, reform, and renewal, we pause on these two days to give honor to St. Joseph and to remember that great call of Mary to be the Mother of God. Let’s look at these two Solemnities:

ST. JOSEPH, MARCH 19

1)     How do we continue to live the faith that our patron saint had?

2)     When we are called by God, as was St. Joseph, do we respond favorably as he did?

3)     Where do we need to open our hearts more to be obedient followers of God, as was

St. Joseph?

THE ANNUNCIATION, MARCH 25

1)     Mary said “yes” to God always. Do we?

2)     Mary had total trust in God. Do we?

3)     Mary never wavered in her faith. Same for us?

May we live this next week of Lent as St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary would. 

Your Lenten Pastor,

Father Joe

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Dear Parishioners of SJW:

Welcome to the 3^rd Sunday/Week of Lent! How did this past week go for you as to reforming and renewing your spiritual life? These glorious days of Lent are given to us so that we can emerge come Holy Week and Easter as new creations in the sight of our Lord. Let us keep trying to be faithful to our Lenten resolutions that we made weeks ago on Ash Wednesday.

In the Gospel for the 3^rd Sunday of Lent, we have Jesus meeting the woman of Samaria at the well. Their interchange is the highlight of the scene. Jesus calls her to thirst for God, for faith, for refreshment. He is asking her to drink of His Presence, His salvation, His invitation to eternal life.

As we journey this week, let us thirst more and more for Jesus Christ. Let us drink in His Presence day after day. Let us find our relief in following Him, so that one day we can immerse ourselves in the freshness of eternal life.

T   Do we give ourselves TOTALLY to the Lord?

H  Do we open our HEART to change?

I    How do we IMITATE the love of Jesus?

R  How much REVERENCE do we have in our life?

S  Do we SAVOR the Eucharist more and more?

T  Do we take TIME to be with Jesus in the silence of our hearts?

May we have always a thirsting to be the best Catholics. May we continue to feel those

life-giving waters of our baptism. May we wash away all that stains our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Your Lenten Pastor,

Father Joe

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

Welcome to another week of Lent! How fortunate we are to have this special season during which we have the opportunity to change more into the Lord of our faith. These days of reform and renewal call us to work on the condition of our souls. Have we thought about that lately? How do our souls look to Jesus Christ, who gave His very life so that our souls could go to heaven and be with Him forever? Something to reflect upon these days of our 2^nd week of Lent.

S     How does my speech SOUND to others around me?

O    How OFTEN do I pray during the day?

U    How will I USE my time before Mass to focus on the Eucharist?

L     Do I LOVE being a Catholic?

S     Do I spend SACRED moments in Adoration during the year?

Please don’t forget our Parish Mission which will be this Sunday, March 1^st and Monday, March 2^nd, both evenings beginning at 6:00 pm. Please come and have your souls enriched. 

Please make these evenings a priority in your schedules. Your SOULS will be deepened in the ways of the Lord!

May the Lord of the Passion bless you and all of us as we continue our journey of change this Lent.

Your Lenten Pastor,

Father Joe

pastor

Very Reverend Joseph Molloy

pastor@stjoschatham.org