Our long awaited Parish Paving Project will be underway soon! Plans are to begin with the main parking lot this year—milling Oct. 6th and paving Oct. 10th (hopefully done by Oct. 15th). St. Joseph Blvd., the driveway on the north side of the buildings, and the lot on the east end of the school building (near the Pavilion) WILL BE accessible. These areas will hopefully be paved next year as funds allow. We thank everyone who donates through our Building & Grounds Maintenance Fund, Giving Tuesday, Lottery Raffle Fundraiser, and aluminum can recycling.

The Catholic Parishes of Portage County are once again sponsoring a monthly Dinner & Doctrine Annual Speaker Series for Catholics of the area to be held at The Overlook, 1519 Overlook Rd., Twin Lakes (formerly the Twin Lakes Country Club). The evenings include a buffet dinner beginning at 6 p.m. (with a cash bar) followed by a guest speaker, from 7 to 8 p.m. The first presentation will be Monday, October 10, featuring Vicki and Terry Vicars.  His/her topic for the evening will be “Living the Gospel Challenge: Solidarity and Community”. Terry and Vicki Vicars have both worked in the Diocese of Youngstown in a variety of capacities for over 34 years. For the past 24 years, Terry has worked at Catholic Charities Regional Agency as a case manager for those who are experiencing homelessness. After 30 years in parish ministry, Vicki has two positions. She works as Lead Community Organizer for ACTION, Inc, a faith-based community organizing collaborative. She is also the Director of Mission, Equity and Resilience for the Ursuline Sisters Mission. They are parents of two adult children, foster parents to a 53-year-old young man, and grandparents to five incredible kids. They have discovered that the principle of solidarity is a gift that guides them in their family life, their daily work and in their interaction with many diverse and beautiful communities. Tickets are $30.00 per person and advanced reservations are required by October 4, with your ticket purchase through Parish Office (330-274-2253) – checks should be made out to Our Lady. Religious Education credits are available.

St. Joseph Cares will be holding Free Clothing Giveaways for the greater Crestwood area on Saturdays, October 8 and December 10, 9 a.m. to Noon, in an upstairs classroom in the school building. This is a collaborative effort of area churches providing free clothing to families in need. You do not need to be a resident, there is no limit, and no questions are asked. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Lynn Kelley (330-990-8912 or lynnkelley3@gmail.com).

St. Joseph’s will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, October 10, from 1 to 6 p.m. in Hughes Hall. Please visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to learn more and make your appointment to give the gift of life.

The Knights will be holding a Reverse Raffle on Saturday, October 29, in St. Joseph’s Hughes Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Ticket price of $80.00 per couple or $60.00 per single includes a delicious dinner, beverages and dessert. There'll be an open bar, musical entertainment and dancing, a chance at $1,000.00 grand prize along with other games of chance all with a Halloween theme. There'll also be a costume contest with prizes! Tickets and more information will be available in the Narthex October 8/9 and 15/16 or by contacting Doug @ 330-618-2552 or Faith @ 216-406-3825.

The Sisterhood of St. Joseph’s will hold the annual Christmas Boutique on Sunday, November 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Hughes Hall. Tables are still available for crafters—$30.00 for an 8 ft. table (2nd table is $25.00). To reserve a table and/or for more information, please contact Nikki Fathauer (937-726-6470 or nmpoppe1@gmail.com). Downloadable applications are also available on the parish website (https://stjosephmantua.com/christmas-boutique). Reservations will be accepted on a first come basis. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Don't miss one of the area's nicest craft shows, hosted by the Sisterhood of St. Joseph. Held in St. Joseph's Hughes Hall, the Christmas Boutique continues the 37 year tradition of a nice show of hand-crafted items, baked goods, raffles, door prizes, and breakfast and lunch items. New this year is a Gift Wrap Room provided by BSA Scouts High Adventure Group (donations appreciated for this service). Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Members of St. Joseph's PSR program will run the kitchen offering snack, lunch and dessert items at this annual fundraiser. Raffle ticket sales will take place in the Narthex after Masses the weekend of October 22/23, 29/30, and November 5/6.

A number of you have informed me that you have received unusual requests from me, via email or text, asking for your assistance or for gift cards. Unequivocally, these are scams. In my communications with you, I will only reach out to you from known email addresses. And, as a rule, I do not use texting from my personal phone for parish ministry.  [click on message to read more]

The Portage North parishes (St. Ambrose, Garrettsville, St. Joseph, Mantua, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Aurora, and St. Joan of Arc, Streetsboro) are looking for an individual to serve as a Communications Coordinator. In this part-time position, the coordinator will report to a specific pastor and will work with the priests, deacons and parish staffs to ensure that communication among the four collaborating parishes is consistent, engaging and timely. Through effective communication, the coordinator will help with the harmonization process of the four parishes in the initial startup phase and work to effectively move them towards a cohesive plan that will meet the pastoral needs of all four parishes. He/she assists with media management, design, and social media. While the preferred candidate will have a degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or an equivalent field, and a minimum of two years professional experience, relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of an educational degree. Excellent written, verbal, and public speaking skills, proficient with Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, etc.) and familiar with a variety of communication technology, including social and digital media are expected characteristics. Candidates must be practicing Roman Catholics who uphold the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church and who possess a sound working knowledge of the Catholic faith. Interested individuals should submit their qualifications to: cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org.

As we continue to work together throughout our diocesan community to decrease poverty and increase the mission of the Church, a primary source of funding for both endeavors is the Annual Diocesan Appeal – One in Hope, One in Mission. Over the past months, our parish has joined with every other parish across our six counties to support the work of Catholic Charities and the many ministries which extend the mission of the Church. To date, St. Joseph Parish has received pledges totaling $31,390.00 from 117 households. Our parish portion of the $4,000,000 diocesan goal is $35,600.00. If you have not made a gift to the appeal, we ask that prayerfully consider making a response very soon. Pledges may be made via the diocesan website at www.doy.org/appeal. Thank you again to all who have made a generous response to help get us to where we are today, and to everyone who will consider making a pledge to get us even closer to our parish goal. God bless you all.

In honor of our patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi , we will also have a collection of pet items for the Portage APL (October 1-16). Items from their wish list, found at https://stjosephmantua.com/ blessing-of-pets, can be dropped off at the Pet Blessing, in the Narthex before Masses, or during PSR Classes. You can also donate by ordering items from Amazon.com or Chewy.com by visiting the PAPL website at https://portageapl.org/donate-supplies/

For anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, OCIA could be for you. The OCIA is a process of spiritual growth and learning leading up to initiation into the Catholic Church. It is also a great refresher for those Catholics who want to know more about their faith. This year’s group is forming now. If you are interested in joining in, please contact Peg Haney (330-274-2268 or phaney@stjosephmantua.com). WHAT IS THE OCIA? For those not previously baptized as Catholic, initiation means Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist (Communion), all of which are usually received the night before Easter (the Easter Vigil). For those previously baptized as Catholic, but who have not completed their initiation, this means receiving Confirmation and First Eucharist (if not received already), at the Easter Vigil. For those previously baptized in another Christian church, this means making a solemn profession of faith and receiving the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

Check out our slideshow of this year's incredible Ox Roast Fair. The crowds on did not disappoint showing up to enjoy the Fair on Friday & Saturday. Although Sunday was a rainy one, folks still came out to enjoy the food and entertainment. A huge thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who work hard but have fun, too.  

On April 21, 2022, the United States announced a key step toward fulfilling President Biden’s commitment to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion: Uniting for Ukraine. Uniting for Ukraine provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily in a two-year period of parole. For more information on providing financial support, becoming a sponsor, or making a connection, visit: https://www.ccdoy.org/2022/07/29/uniting-for-ukraine/

From Sister Rose Anne Krantz: I have been comforted and humbled by all your prayers and support as I journey with my diagnosis of cancer. I recovered amazingly fast and well from both my hysterectomy (July 6) and breast surgery (July 25). I credit not only my doctors but even more all those who have lifted me up in prayer. I  feel encircled in love. The next step in my journey is chemo which will begin August 18 and continue for 18 weeks in three week cycles. I cannot put into words my gratitude for your continued prayers.  May God bless you as only God can.    Sr. Rose Anne Krantz, CDP, our Pastoral Minister Sept. 1, 2006 - June 30, 2010, has asked for prayers as she faces cancer. If you wish to send a card, her address: Sisters of Divine Providence, 9000 Babcock Blvd., Allison Park, PA 15101.

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.

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.

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.  

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).

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.