Congratulations, Fr. Shawn Conoboy on your 16th anniversary of priesthood. May God's goodness and kindness be with you on this special day, June 29th, and all the days of your life. God bless you and may He keep you safe in the palm of His hand.
Catholic Charities will hold its annual First Step for Change campaign from Mother’s Day through Father’s Day, honoring the faith, humility and love it takes to raise a child, and recognizing that many parents lack adequate financial resources their children. Funds raised through this campaign assist low-income pregnant women and families with food, formula, clothing, diapers and other items essential to a child’s health, safety and well-being. Each family interested in participating in First Step for Change is asked to pick up a First Step Packet after Mass. Take it home, learn more about the program, complete the participation card, and return it to our parish by June 30. All money collected by our parish will help to meet local needs. Thank you.
Bishop Bonnar has appointed Fr. Joseph Ruggieri as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Mantua, St. Ambrose Parish in Garrettsville, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Aurora, and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Streetsboro, effective July 1, 2022. He will reside at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Streetsboro. Fr. Shawn will be meeting with the Bishop to discuss further the collaboration of parishes in our region. Welcome, Fr. Joe!
We extend our congratulations to Erin Calvey and Patrick Hoyack who received the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on Saturday, June 18. May you two be a blessing to God, to others, and to each other in your marriage together.
Be a part of this year's 5K Run/Walk or 1M Fun Walk at St. Joseph's Annual Ox Roast Fair!!! Race will take place on Saturday morning of the fair rain or shine. Registration is at 7 a.m. in front of the church and the race begins at 8 a.m. Out and back course begins at St. Joe's, heads down St. Joseph Blvd. to Pioneer Trail, onto Bowen Rd. to St. Rt. 82 and back to the church (Fun Walk takes place on church grounds). Spectators are welcome. Awards will be given to the top three overall and the top three in the following age groups: 11 and under, 12-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and over. Features include water stops, timers, t-shirts (first 150 registrations), and refreshments. Pre-registration fee is $25.00 by July 14, 2022. Race day registration is $30.00. Registration forms are available in the church Narthex, by visiting https://stjosephmantua.com/ox-fun-rides-games-events-music or sign up on the website of the race coordinator, Run the Land (runsignup.com/Race/OH/Mantua/RunoftheOx).
On Pentecost weekend, June 4/5, we concluded the first phase of the 2022 Annual Diocesan Appeal – One in Hope, One in Mission. THANK YOU to everyone who has made a gift to support the work of decreasing poverty and increasing the mission of the Church. As of June 16, 105 families from St. Joseph Parish have made a combined contribution to the appeal totaling $29,468.00. Our parish portion of the $4,000,000 diocesan goal is $35,600.00. In celebrating Pentecost, we conclude the Easter season, but more so, continue to give life to the Church as we receive and share the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As disciples of the Lord, part of our work is to support the incredible work of Catholic Charities and the many ministries of the Church. One way we can achieve this is by making a gift to the Annual Diocesan Appeal. Once again, thank you to those who have made a gift, and thank you to everyone prayerfully considering how they may be able to respond in support of all these worth-while activities in the Church. Please use the envelopes in the pews or visit www.doy.org/appeal to make a gift. Again, on behalf of Bishop Bonnar and all who will be served by your generous response, thank you.
A Women’s Renewal is being planned for April 22-23, 2023 at Camp Asbury. There will be informational sessions on Thursday, June 23, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 9, 8 to 10 a.m. in the Parish Center. Come to both, one or the other! All those involved in past Women’s Renewal weekends whether in leadership or a participant are encouraged to attend. Questions/Concerns? Please call or text Jay D'Aurelio (330-569-8156) or Jessica Szoka (440-223-4404).
Bishop Bonnar wrote in a May 27, 2022 letter read at Masses over Memorial Day weekend that Fr. Ed Stafford, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Mantua and St. Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville, has requested and been granted a medical health leave effective immediately. Please keep Fr. Ed in your prayers (cards and notes may be sent to the Parish Office). The Bishop has appointed Fr. Shawn Conoboy, Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Aurora, as Pastor of St. Joseph and St. Ambrose, effective May 28, 2022. Fr. Conoboy maintains his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer, and part-time professor at Walsh University. Fr. Conoboy will be assisted by a parochial vicar, to be named. Together, both Fr. Conoboy and the parochial vicar will work with Fr. Chris Luoni, pastor of Saint Joan of Arc, Streetsboro, to serve the needs of the faithful of all four parishes in northern Portage County. They will prepare the four parishes to share two priests within the coming year.
Did you know that we have a new women’s group called Seeking Soul Sisters? If you have yet to join this gathering for friendship, food and Christ, it’s not too late. Come as you are able. No obligation/commitment needed. No supplies needed, no uniform or fees. Just yourself and love for others. Feel free to bring a friend, sister, mother. Meetings are held each Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Parish Center (All-Purpose Room on first Monday of the month). Any questions or concerns? Please contact Jay D'Aurelio (330-569-8156) or Jess Szoka (440-223-4404). They have 22 people on their roster and would love to add you!
We wish to welcome Marcy Fleming as our new Office Assistant! Marcy was born and raised south of Boston. She graduated from Bryant University with a BS in Business Administration. After getting married in 1996, her husband Don and children took an opportunity to move to Birmingham, Alabama and stayed for 12 years. While in Alabama, Marcy converted to Catholicism and has continued to learn about her faith. Marcy worked in both the PSR Office as Assistant DRE and helped in the Parish Office of the large parish. Her husband's job opportunity took them to Northeast Ohio, where they settled in Akron for three years and then moved to Mantua this past October (2021). They have two children attending college. Marcy and Don stay busy volunteering with the any group helping the homeless or food insecure. Her hobbies include hiking with her two dogs, cycling, gardening, watching Notre Dame football, and attending almost anything with “festival” in the name. She looks forward to getting to know her new community of St. Joseph Parish.
Bishop Bonnar has invited everyone to consider making a donation to provide humanitarian and spiritual assistance to the people of Ukraine and the region, through the U.S. Bishops’ Collection to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. Visit https://doy.org/Ukraine/ to learn more. In addition, eCatholic websites will match donations made through their partners at Catholic Extension.
Along with our parish website and Facebook page, 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, you can signup to have the bulletin emailed to you by visiting https://ebulletin.jspaluch.com/#/ or by texting the word ‘BULLETIN’ to 94090. We will still receive a limited number of printed bulletins for those attending Mass and 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.
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).
To be a registered member of a parish is to have a sense of belonging to a family. Registration is important when it comes to requesting the Sacraments or becoming involved in the life of the parish family. Please do not take for granted that you are registered just because you attend Mass here. Are you on our database? Do your receive envelopes? If not, you are most likely not registered as an active parishioner. Each family member, 21 years of age or older, should be registered separately (parents–encourage adult children to register if they still consider themselves members). If you’d like to become an active registered member of the parish, please contact the Parish Office (330-274-2253 or ktrares@stjosephmantua.com). Also, if you move, change your phone number, would like to add your e-mail address, or have any other family changes, please let us know. We would like everyone at St. Joe’s to feel welcome as a part of our parish community family. Thank you for helping us keep up-to-date.
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