Our first PSR Family Mass is on Sunday, October 25th at 1:00 p.m. The Mass is for PSR students and families. All safety protocols will be observed. So, please wear masks and be prepared to observe social distancing. If you don't have a mask, one will be provided for you. All PSR families are expected to attend.  All PSR students are asked to bring your First Step for Change baby bottles or other Baby Drive donations (diapers, wipes, baby formula) for the offertory. Students in our Confirmation Class will be receiving a Bible for your studies this year. The Bibles will be blessed during this Mass. 

St. Joseph parishioner and long time Mantua-area resident, Betty Kwasny, 91 years of age, passed away Wednesday March 4, 2020 at Casa de la Luz Hospice, Tucson, Arizona. There will be a Memorial Mass for Betty on Saturday, October 24th, at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Safe distancing and proper safe environment protocols will be in place. Family members will be present to welcome her friends and fellow parishioners. May our Lord comfort this family in their time of mourning as Betty experiences the everlasting life which Jesus promised. https://www.record-courier.com/obit.../20200315-betty-kwasny

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 36% participation towards our goal of 100% participation with 177 of our parish households contributing $34,003.00 (as of October 21st). 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.

Joann Holka and family invite parishioners and friends to a Memorial Mass for her son, Tim Holka, on Saturday, October 31, at 11:00 a.m. Tim passed away May 11th at the age of 58. Condolences and special memories can be shared with the family online at https://www.heritagecremationsociety.com/obituaries/timothy-holka/

Our “Book of Life” is in the Narthex throughout the month of October for you to add the names of loved ones who have passed away. All deceased of the parish and our families will be remembered throughout the month of November at our celebrations. On the weekend of Oct. 31/Nov. 1, when the Feast of All Saints will be celebrated, there will be a special remembrance in the bulletin of those who have passed away in the past year. On All Souls' Day, Mon., Nov. 2, there will be a simple 8:00 a.m. Mass for the Faithful Departed (St. Ambrose in Garrettsville will have a 7:00 p.m. Mass).

You're all probably familiar with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday but have you heard of Giving Tuesday? It's the Tuesday after Thanksgiving designated to donating to non-profit organizations and causes. Advanced Giving Days are 12:00 a.m. Monday, November 16, through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 30. Giving Tuesday donations may be made on December 1 from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Watch for more details about this day and how you can support St. Joseph's parking lot and driveway paving project. If any individual, group, organization, or business would like to participate as a matching donor or a challenge donor, please contact Kathi Trares at the Parish Office ASAP (ktrares@stjosephmantua.com or 330-274-2253).

St. Joseph's Ox Roast Fair was one of three finalists in the Entertainment & Leisure category for the Record-Courier's Official Community Choice Awards - 2020 Best of the Best. Winners and finalists are given a window decal and a plaque or certificate to display. Although we didn't come out on top, we're proud to receive this distinction as one of the finest in the area. And even in a year when the Ox Roast Fair wasn't able to be held! Just another strange happening in a very weird year. Check out all of the contest's results at https://record-courier.gannettcontests.com/Best-of-the-Best-2020-Winners/

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).

On September 15, 2020, Fr. James-Peter Trares, OP moved to Rome to begin studies in October at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (commonly known as "the Angelicum")! He'll be pursuing a Doctorate in Spirituality, which should take about four years, after which he'll be qualified to teach full time, to work in seminaries, to do spiritual counseling, and assist with the formation of the order's younger brothers. Since his ordination May 20, 2017, he was assigned as a campus minister and theology professor at the University of St. Thomas based in the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN. We congratulate him and wish him well in his new adventure.

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).

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.

Along with our parish website and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stjosephmantua/), the bulletin is the center of our parish communication, and we want to keep you informed. The bulletin has been available on our website at https://stjosephmantua.com/bulletins for quite some time. Thanks to our bulletin company, J.S. Paluch, we are now going to be sending the parish bulletin directly to your email every week. Any registered parishioner who the parish currently has an email address for in our database will receive the bulletin automatically every Saturday (be sure to check your spam folder if you do not find it in your inbox). If you do not receive this email, you can self-signup at https://ebulletin.jspaluch.com/#/ or by texting the word ‘BULLETIN’ to 94090. We will still receive a limited number of printed bulletins to keep on hand in the Parish Office. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to stay connected anytime. Stay kind, be generous, be hopeful, and God bless.