24 Halsted Street - Newton - New Jersey - 07860 - (973) 383-1985
As a Catholic worshipping community of faith here at Saint Joseph Church, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on a weekly (not weakly) basis is the "source and summit" of our faith (Lumen Gentium 36). Because of this truth, participation in the holy Mass is the central requirement of being part of our Faith Formation Program (this includes the parents and children as a family).
If the essence of our Catholic Faith is found in the Eucharist, it then makes logical sense that being a regular and weekly part of this celebration is a requirement not only to being part of our Faith Formation Program, but in being a faithful and "practicing" Catholic. While we understand that people work many different hours and even for some, more than one job, that is why we offer a range of difference Mass times from evening Masses on Saturday to morning and evening Masses on Sunday to accommodate your varied schedules.
As parents/guardians, you have been entrusted with the first obligation (which you made at the baptism of your child/ren) of assuring your child is "raised in a catholic home and according to the catholic faith." The basic kernal of this "catholic" faith means coming to church!
The obligation of attending Mass (or keeping holy the Sabbath), comes to us from God the Father on Mount Sinai in the Fourth Commandment given to Moses:
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy" (Exodus 20:8-11).
Therefore, the requirement of coming to Mass or "keeping holy the Sabbath" is part of God's Divine Law, NOT that of a particular church or even a particular priest.
We welcome each and every family to the "Table of the Lord" where "All Are Welcome" and encourage you to make this an important part of your weekly schedule. We are firm believers in the old cliche that "The family which prays together, stays together." Come join our family of faith as we celebrate the Lord's love for us in the Eucharist, where we are fed by the Lord Himself, build up each other in our faith and nourish the hungry hearts of our children for the love of God in their lives.
Jesus told us that "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you do not have life within you" (John 6:53) and many found this to be a "hard saying" (John 6:60) and "walked with Him no longer" (John 6:66) [interesting number do you not think?] And so it is with our Faith Formation Program here at Saint Joseph Church. If you choose this requirement of coming to Mass on a weekly basis to be a "hard saying" then in love, we will have to allow you to "walk with (us) no longer."
We pray that you embrace your faith, you take on the challenge and you accept and agree to this "Covenant Commitment" with the Lord, with your local church here in Newton and most importantly, with your child/ren.