St. Joseph Catholic Church

Father Rob's Weekly Column

August 14, 2022

Dear Parish Family,

This Monday, August 15, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We will celebrate Masses at 8:00 am & 7:00 pm on that day.  The Assumption means that Our Lady did not have to wait until the end of the world for her body to be gloriously reunited to her soul after death.  This is one of the special privileges she received as the Mother of God.  Mary’s Assumption into Heaven speaks to us of the great hope that, at the end of time, the bodies of the just will be gloriously reunited to their souls in the Kingdom of her Son. We profess this belief every time we recite the Nicene Creed at Mass: “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” 

Even though the dogma of the Assumption was solemnly proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, the Church has firmly held to this teaching for many centuries.  By proclaiming the Assumption to be a dogma of the Catholic faith, Pope Pius XII reaffirmed that our belief in the Assumption is a truth revealed by God.  We meditate on the mystery of the Assumption when we pray the fourth Glorious Mystery of the rosary.  As we pray and meditate on that mystery, it’s good to ask for the grace of a happy death, which means that we hope to die one day in the state of grace, free from all mortal sin and in friendship with God.  But it’s also necessary to keep in mind what the Assumption is not. Some have thought that Mary “ascended” into Heaven by her own power.  This is not true. Only Christ, by His own power, ascended into Heaven.  Mary was assumed or taken up into Heaven by the power of God.

The Solemnity of the Assumption reminds us that the purpose of this life is ultimately to get beyond this life.  Our Lady lived her life with her eyes fixed on Christ and being united with Him one day in Heaven for all eternity.  Imploring the aid of Our Lady in his Angelus Address on August 15, 2003, Pope St. John Paul II said, “One day may we also partake in your same glory in Paradise, where today you were raised above the choirs of angels to lasting glory with Christ. Praised be Jesus Christ!”

Prayer on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life in body and soul.
You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body.
As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the victory of life over death.
You live and reign forever and ever.  Amen.

Faithfully, in Christ,
Father Rob

Contact Us

St. Joseph Catholic Church
11007 Montgomery Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
301-937-7183

Office Hours

Join our parish Flocknote emails to receive regular updates and all the info you need to participate in parish events on Zoom:

To Request a Mass Intention

To request a Mass for your friends and family please come by the parish office during office hours or send us your request by mail. When sending in a request, please mail to St. Joseph Church, 11007 Montgomery Rd, Beltsville, MD 20705 and include:

• The name of the person you would like the Mass offered for (please notate if they are living or deceased)
• If you’d like the first available Mass, or Mass offered on a particular date (the Mass intention book fills up quickly)
• Your Name
• Your Phone number
• Your Email
• Mass stipend (suggested donation is $10)
• The address where you would like the Mass card mailed.

We will contact you to confirm your request.

The Mass Intentions for 2022 have all been reserved.  We are partnering with neighboring parishes to utilize some of their available Masses.  For additional information contact the Rectory at 301-937-7183.

The Mass Intention book for 2023 will open on October 1, 2022 at which time we will accept requests for the following year. 

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (click for flier)
Walking where Jesus walked
October 12-21, 2022.  $4,385.00

Sight & Sound Theater, Lancaster, PA (click for flier)
David
Parish bus tour & lunch, October 29, 2022. 
$157 per person / $103 per child (ages 3-12)
To register, make checks payable to St Joseph Church

Mass & Confession Times

Holy Mass

Saturday:        8:00am (1st Saturdays only)
                             5:00pm Vigil
Sunday:           8:30am & 11:00am 
Monday:         8:00am 
Tuesday:         No Mass
Wednesday:  8:00am;  2:15 pm (School Mass-Students Only)
Thursday:      8:00am 
Friday:             8:00am  followed by Eucharistic Holy Hour at 8:45 am

Monday August 15, Feast of the Assumption, 8:00am & 7:00pm

Only the 8:30am Sunday Mass is livestreamed on Zoom

Parish Bulletin

Click to View the Current Bulletin

If you are new to the area and would like to become a parishioner,  please click here to register.  If you are interested in becoming Catholic or if you are in need of pastoral care, please feel free to email me at:  frrob@stjosephbeltsville.org   

Updated Safety Protocols

 Safety Protocols for Our
In-Person Masses

Confessions 

All confessions take place in the confessionals
Saturdays:  8:30 - 10:00am or by appointment 
 

Eucharistic Adoration

Fridays:  8:45 - 9:45 am (Virtual Zoom Eucharistic Holy Hour)
Immediately follows Holy Mass at 8:00 am

If you would like make a donation to provide assistance to the Church in the Ukraine and surrounding, supporting countries, please visit https://www.crs.org/

click here to visit the larger Calendar for more details
 

Upcoming Events
Fridays
Eucharistic Holy Hour after 8am Mass
Saturdays
8:30am - 10:30 am - Confessions
Sunday, August 7
11:00am Youth Mass & Children’s Liturgy of the Word
August 7 - 21
Online Vendor Fair
Friday, August 12
7:00 pm - Parish Movie Night:  "Babette's Feast"
Sunday, September 25
Bull and Oyster Roast/Silent Auction
Parish Fundraiser.