Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral

On the Feast of the Holy Family, Archbishop Kurtz promulgated a Pastoral letter, Your Parish: The Body of Christ in our Midst, this letter contained an invitation to all parishes in the Archdiocese to enter into a process to discern the future of our parishes.  In response to this invitation from the Archbishop, we will be participating in this process of prayerful discernment in the coming weeks.
The purpose of the parish discernment process is to reflect on the Pastoral letter.  How does God desire us to grow in holiness and vitality as a faith community? We will evaluate the areas of Family Life, Lifelong Formation, and Outreach to those in need.
I invite you to participate in this process over the coming weeks as we listen to each other, share our thoughts, evaluate, and celebrate our existing ministries. A hard copy of the Pastoral letter is available in the back of church or you on online at www.archlou.org on the home page.
 

2018-19
Faithful Citizens is a multi-parish and multi-institutional group of concerned and interested citizens who want to keep apprized of current social issues and situations which need our attention and who want to bring Christian principles to bear on these concerns.  The group meets periodically throughout the year at a host parish from 12:00 to 1:00.  Lunch is included or participants are welcome to bring their own bag lunch with them.  This ministry is part of Catholic Charities outreach in the rural area of the Archdiocese of Louisville.  
Host Parish 2018-19 will be St. Thomas.
Meeting dates will be as follows:
TBD
(Third Tuesday is Thanksgiving week)
Please mark your calendars,  save the dates and plan to join us.  

It is said: “Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”
The church has proclaimed The Risen Christ to be a light shining through the darkness.
There is an ancient tradition of lighting a candle when offering a votive (gift to God). It is a concrete way of thanking God for His blessings, even as we petition His grace for current needs.

Also, the lighting of a candle can initiate a prayer that continues to keep vigil for us, in church, when we must move on.

Whether it is a votive candle in thanksgiving or a vigil light, both sacramentals assist us in our prayer, give witness to those who see the light, and bring that “light” to shine on those in need through our charitable donation (the votive offering).

The renewal of our candle stand makes each light more visible, by way of the marble riser.  It inspires us to light a candle and offer a prayer through the message etched in the metal, as well as, protecting the church from fire and smoke damage.

Proceeds from the offerings will go to our charitable outreach; to those in need. What better way to thank God and witness His light in our world?
Blessings, Fr. Terry