Participants in this year’s program will complete a weekly lesson at home with their families, attend an optional monthly in-person group session with their families and attend monthly Mass exclusively with the PSR community. October in-person sessions: October 4th, 10:00-11:00 a.m. > PreK through 2nd grade October 11th,10:00-11:00 a.m. > 3rd through 5th grade October 18th, 10:00-11:00 a.m. > 6th through 8th grade October 25th, 1:00 p.m. > Mass for PSR Families

Our Children's Liturgy of the Word program will not take place while we are under the COVID- 19 Pandemic restrictions.

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is October 4. Here at St. Joseph's we will have our annual Pet Blessing on Saturday, October 3, at 10:00 a.m. in the pavilion. Everyone is encouraged to bring their pets for this special blessing in honor of our patron saint of animals. Safe distancing and proper safe environment protocols will be in place. 

This year, each PSR Families will be using at-home materials for daily prayers and weekly lessons. For those who did not pick up their family packets for the 2020-21 PSR year the weekend of September 19/20, they will be available for pick-up in the school hallway after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on September 27th. Those of you using paper registration can drop off your paperwork at that time. PSR begins October 4th.

PSR Registration for all returning students continues. Due to health and safety considerations, this year’s registration will occur online. For how to register info., see https://stjosephmantua.com/parish-school-of-religion. Scroll down to PSR Enrollment for 2020-21.

Thank you to everyone who has so generously responded to the needs of our brothers and sisters served throughout our county and diocese by the Annual Bishop’s Appeal for Charity and Church. The appeal also makes a variety of ministries in the diocese possible. Even with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our parish has generously achieved 34% participation towards our goal of 100% participation with 169 of our parish households contributing $33,268.00 (as of September 23rd). There are three ways in which you can participate: PRAY for the success of the Annual Bishop’s Appeal; DONATE to the Appeal; VOLUNTEER your time and talents to any of the ministries of the Church. For more information, please visit www.ccdoy.org/give/bishops-appeal.

Thanks to a partnership with our ParishSoft Online Giving and Ministry One, we now have a new St. Joseph Church mobile app that’s free! You’ll be able to view events, links & sign-ups, give to the parish directly from your smartphone, contact the office, submit prayer requests, view our parish YouTube Channel videos, and receive church news and reminder messages. As the app is enhanced and improved, we’re looking forward to being able to access our My Own Church database plus the development of additional features. On your mobile device, go to https://parishsoft.ministryone.com/landing/LndL (this direct link is also available on our website’s home page under the “Stay Connected” section), download the St. Joseph Church app through Google Play or Apple App Store, open it, and explore! Let us know what you think by emailing Kathi (ktrares@stjosephmantua.com).

If you think you might like to spend a little more time reaching out, teaching and sharing our Catholic Faith with kids and their families, this could be the ministry for you. We are looking for volunteers who could be comfortable in the classroom or online. St. Joseph's PSR Needs You! Contact Peg Haney for more information (330-274-2268 or phaney@stjosephmantua.com).

Following the United States Flag Code, the Mantua Knights of Columbus will sponsor a flag disposal ceremony for all worn and weathered American flags on Sunday, September 13, at the Sentinel Party Center (aka Knights of Columbus Hall, 11845 St. Rt. 44, Mantua). Gather your worn or torn symbols of our nation's courage and bring to church for this reverent disposal (see any K of C member). All Sir Knights and family members are invited to attend this impressive ceremony at 3:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Stan Carlisle (330-283-5609).

Our sidewalks around the parish have been raised and leveled to alleviate trip hazards especially next to the curb. This is step one of our anticipated Repaving Project (the last time everything was paved was 1996!). Fundraising efforts (such as the Lottery Raffle and aluminum cans), donations, and money set aside in our Renovation Fund will allow us to take on this much needed project as soon as funding permits. If you’d like to donate toward this effort, use the green Special Contribution Envelope in your contribution packet and designate it to Building & Grounds Maintenance. You may also give online at https://giving.parishsoft.com/dl/?uid=stj1104203.

If you would like to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please contact Father Ed at 330-575-9105 to arrange an appointment.

This fundraiser that follows the Ohio 3-Digit Lottery both the midday and evening drawings continues in 2020. Tickets are $5.00 each, good for the entire month for both daily drawings, and you may purchase the same number for the entire year. Winning tickets are worth $50.00 (payouts mailed weekly). Proceeds help with our church improvements. For tickets or more information, please call or text Deb Kruis (330-221-0272) or Mary Ann Feddor (330-842-0505). If you provide your name, address, phone number and ticket # you'd like to purchase, arrangements can be made to pull those tickets for you and get them to you. 

Fr. Ed’s email continues to have issues with hackers that pop up every few months. If you receive a suspicious email or text that looks like it’s from him, please do not respond and report it as phishing and/or mark it as spam. Please pay close attention to the email address or number it’s coming from (you’ll notice it’s not from estafford@stjosephmantua.com). In fact, Fr. Ed most likely won’t send out emails or texts but rather will communicate with a phone call or in person. Thank you for helping to deter these fraudulent attacks. For information on how to recognize and avoid phishing scams, go to https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams.

Not able to attend Mass? Don't forget that the church still has bills and ministries that need funding. If you'd like to support your parish, simply mail your contribution to the parish office. Or better yet, sign up for online giving (https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/stjosephmantua). It can be done as a one time donation or recurring. Check it out all the details on our website (https://stjosephmantua.com/parishsoft-giving). Thank you for your consideration.

The Free Clothing Giveaway at the old Mantua Center School has been going strong for six years. During the COVID outbreak, it had to close down. The next giveaway is on Saturday, August 8. Unfortunately, the current space is not working out as organizers would like. They are trying to find a new venue as they feel Portage County has a great need for this ministry. Not a lot of space is needed—just one or two rooms to sort, leave the clothes, and use for the giveaway. In the past, this event was held four times a year. Funds to rent a whole building are not available, but the hope is to find somewhere close to Mantua to hold these in the future. If you know of any place that could be used for this event, please contact Lynn Kelley (330-990-8912). Thank you in advance for any help. God Bless. —St. Joseph Cares

Although the 2020 Ox Roast Fair had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, plans are to have the Main Raffle still take place with the same prizes & tickets at next year’s event. Tickets are on sale through next year's Ox Roast Fair, July 16, 17, 18, 2021. Ticket sellers are reminded to continue to turn in their sold tickets and money. For anyone who would like a refund for purchased tickets because of the cancellation of the 2020 Ox Roast Fair, please contact Cindy Olesh (colesh@stjosephmantua.com or 330-221-2694).

The Fundraising Committee is starting an easy way to generate some funds for parish improvements through recycling aluminum cans. Collect your clean cans in plastic bags, crushing if possible, and deposit in the designated containers in front of the church or in the All-Purpose Room. They will be picked up every weekend after Sunday Mass. Thank you in advance for your participation. If you would like to assist in any of our fundraisers, please contact John or Debbie Kruis (330-618-3604 or 330-221-0272).

We truly appreciate Fr. James-Peter Trares, OP, & Fr. Vincent Davila, O.P. for presiding at our Sunday, July 5th Mass. Fr. James-Peter, who grew up in the parish, and his Dominican classmate, Fr. Vincent are both in the Central Province of the Dominican Order. What a blessing to have them share their time & talents with our parish.

Dear St. Joseph Parish Community ..... After consultations with my religious community, I have made the decision to retire from active ministry. I related this to Fr. Ed in mid-May and he was most gracious in his response, for which I am very appreciative. Now I wish to inform the parish at large and to express my appreciation for the privilege of ministering among you for the past 10 years. I have been part of the joy and the pain in many of your lives. I have been a teacher of the faith among you. You have been teachers as well to me in your devotion to St. Joe’s, in the incredible summer Ox Roast, and in your fidelity to our Catholic faith. Thank you. There is no opportunity to “celebrate” at this time of COVID. You cannot even celebrate the life of so many loved ones who have died during these times of safe social distancing. And, I’m not going anywhere, but will remain at my Mantua residence at least for the coming year, so you will see me round about and available as a friend, confidant, visitor, and one who cares about you. If I were to consider the highlight of my time here, it would be this: that God in his provident goodness allowed me to complete my formal ministry life as a Sister of Notre Dame in this wonderful parish and in this wonderful town. With love, Sr. Joyce

The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 Eagle of the Cross Award. The Eagle of the Cross, created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and introduced to the diocese in 1999, is given each year to a group of extraordinary high school juniors and seniors who model the dedication, integrity, values and promise for Church and society. The award is presented to teens in the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown who model Christian discipleship and exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayer, good works and Christian leadership in their school and parish communities. We are pleased to announce that St. Joseph parishioner, Connor Rowe is among the 2020 recipients! Due to the novel coronavirus situation, the Awards Mass and Banquet scheduled for April 29 has been cancelled, however the diocese did want the public to be aware of these amazing teens. Certificates & gifts were delivered to parishes who will recognize their teens in their own way.