Black Catholic History Month was established in 1990 through the advocacy of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. During the same year, the first celebration of Black Catholic History Month began in November in various cities in the United States with the celebration of St. Martin de Porres’ Feast Day. On November 3rd of that year, a liturgy celebrated the 150th anniversary of St. Martin’s transition to eternal life. In the world today there are more than 200 million people of African descent in the Roman Catholic Church. The reason for the selection of November to celebrate Black Catholic History is the number of important dates within this month: Nov. 1 – All Saints Day – an opportunity to review the lives of saints of African descent living in the first 300 years of Church history; Nov. 2 – All Souls Day – a time to remember the Africans lost in cruel treatment in the Middle passage crossing the Atlantic Ocean; Nov. 3 – Feast of St. Martin de Porres, the first saint of African descent in this hemisphere; Nov. 20 – the death of Zumbi Palmares in Brazil, the South American founder of a free state for blacks. Black Catholic History Month is a time for us to celebrate the contributions of black Catholics to the Roman Catholic tradition. Source: https://catholicreview.org/black-catholic-history-month-2019

St. Martín de Porres, in full Juan Martín de Porres Velázquez, was born  in 1579 in Lima, .  He died November 3, 1639 in Lima; was canonized 1962; and his feast day is November 3.  Saint Martin dePorres was a Peruvian friar noted for his kindness, his nursing of the sick, his obedience, and his charity. He is the patron saint of social justice, racial harmony, and mixed-race people. He was born a mulatto, his father was a Spanish  and his mother a free black woman, Martín de Porres was raised in poverty and bore the stigmas of both his illegitimate  birth and his mixed race.  He was placed to study with a barber-surgeon, where he learned bloodletting and the administration of medicines. Compassionate and eager to serve, he began to volunteer with the Dominicans at age 15 and helped care for the sick in the monastery infirmary. He became a Dominican oblate, or lay monastic, in 1601. Although it was not customary then to receive a mulatto into a religious order in Peru, Martín was considered an exception and became a Dominican lay brother in 1610. He was known for his devotion to the Eucharis and constant prayer, and he refrained from eating meat as an act of austerity. In addition to his work in the infirmary, Martín distributed food and alms to the poor and needy in Lima and was friends with St. Rose of Lima, another lay Dominican. For the youth of Lima, he established a school, considered by some to be his monument. His funeral was an occasion of public honor, and many miracles were said to have occurred after his death. He was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized by Pope John XXIII.  

Easy Fund Raising and all parishioners can participate! St. Joseph’s is officially registered as a Charitable Organization on Amazon Smile. Each time you make an Amazon purchase, do so via AmazonSmile and select St. Joseph’s as your charitable organization. The parish will receive 0.5% of each purchase from when St. Joseph’s is selected. If you’re an Amazon user, please make your purchases through AmazonSmile and the parish will benefit. More detail appears in the bulletin and you can contact Loretta Young for additional information.

The Wilmington Council of St. Vincent dePaul has automated their assistance request process. Individuals seeking help, must submit their on-line request at www.svdpwilm.org. A SVDP volunteer will respond to the on-line request. St. Joseph's parishioners needed assistance,, should contact SVDP directly through the parish office 302-658-4535.

The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary is hosting their annual bus excursion. A 5 night excursion to Savannah, Georgia Sept 23 – 28, 2019. Limited space - only 43 seats available for this popular trip. Reserve your seat with only a $300 deposit. See attached flyer for more detail and contact Deborah Robinson to reserve your seat.

Beginning Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 6pm we will begin viewing a DVD series entitled The Bible Continued. The sessions will include a light supper, viewing of the DVD and a discussion on the Catholic Take about this series. The session will take place in the parish conference room. Please bring your bibles. Contact Mary Mirabeau for questions and to sign-up

In order to enhance and unify the Music Ministry at Saint Joseph’s, effective immediately, Fr. Paul has appointed Brenda Burns as the Director of the Music Ministry. Brenda is highly qualified for this role. She held this position many years ago and I appreciate her willing to do so again. Brenda has been trained as a liturgist; for decades she has attended annual training sessions to improve her skills as a choir director and choir member. She fully understands current liturgical norms and she serves on the bishops liturgy committee. In this role Brenda will work with the choir directors to coordinate and plan the music for the liturgy. In addition, Fr, Paul has asked Brenda to conduct liturgy workshops, establish routine rehearsals, develop a process for music selection as well as identifying other needs of the choirs. We thank and congratulate Brenda for her willingness to serve.

Celebration will be held at Saint Mary of the Assumption, Hockessin, Delaware at 9:30 am Refreshments will be served in the hall following mass. All are invited to join this spirit-filled celebration and memorial mass as we remember one of the great saints who cared for the poor. Sponsored by the Ministry for Black Catholics

Sept 10 –14, 2018, 5 day/4 night bus excursion to Cape Cod, This all inclusive trip can be reserved with only a $200 deposit. To reserve your seat contact Deborah at 302.494.5709 or Mary at 302.442.3861

Beginning September 9,2017, St. Joseph's will host Bingo every second Saturday of the month. 1:00pm- 5:00pm -- Doors will open at 12 o'clock noon.

Caribbean Mass & A Taste of the Islands. Join us as we celebrate Heritage Month with a Caribbean themed Mass on Sunday, June 18, 10:00 am. After mass, stay to enjoy delicacies from the Caribbean Islands - a taste of food favorites, prepared by our parishioners.

Join us for a great Bingo event and have a chance to win beautiful designer bags such as Coach, Michael Kors, Dooney & Bourke and many more. Tickets only $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Hope to see you there!

Clothes Drive - Saturday January 14, 2017

Parish Office Closed, Dec 26 thru Jan 2 - No weekday mass, Dec 26 thru Dec 30 - Weekday mass and regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Our revivalist is Deacon Gerard Jordan, a Norbertine Monk and a dynamite speaker. He will speak about the Year of Mercy. Join in us and be refreshed with the message from a dynamic speaker.

“Blessed are the Merciful for They Shall Obtain Mercy”