Social Concerns Commission

Bereavement Ministry

The St. Joseph Bereavement Ministry is a ministry of consolation for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. The Church offers the GriefShare ministry as a support network, and individual counseling is available. GriefShare is a Christian support group series with videos and group discussion to help participants recognize they are not alone and learn new ways to cope and experience healing on their unique grief journey. The series lasts 13 weeks and is offered weekly several times during the year. Anyone can come to any or all sessions. GriefShare is offered at many parishes and churches throughout our area. To view the schedule for parishes or for more information, visit www.GriefShare.org or call our Parish Office at 440-238-5555.

• Rosanne Radziewicz, 440.238.9477
• Deacon Bob Lester, Turn on JavaScript!, 440.238.5555 x110

El Salvador Sister Parish, San José Villanueva

In 2004, our parish entered into a partnership with San José Villanueva in El Salvador. This partnership is primarily a spiritual joining of two equal parishes praying for each other and learning from each other. St. Joseph parishioners are invited to join in solidarity with the people of San José in any of the following ways: become a Prayer partner with a San José family; become an Education partner by sponsoring a child in grade school, high school, or university; become part of the planning committee to assist with promotion and development of the partnership; or visit San José as part of a parish group. More details are available by clicking on the title of our partnership.

• John Novak, Turn on JavaScript!

Fair Trade

Our parish is proud to host a Fair Trade Shopping Boutique every year, usually in the month of November. It is held in our Holy Family Center and is open to the public. So, please invite your family and friends to shop and to learn more about this. Supporting fair trade means supporting the artisans and small farmers who produce such wonderful products in economically and environmentally sound ways.

 What is Fair Trade?

The Fair Trade Resource Network provides a succinct explanation of what “fair” means:  “The word ‘fair’ can mean a lot of different things to different people. In alternative trade organizations, ‘Fair Trade’ is about more than just paying a fair wage. It means that trading partnerships are based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect; that prices paid to producers reflect the work they do; that workers have the right to organize; that national health, safety, and wage laws are enforced; and that products are environmentally sustainable and conserve natural resources.” This reinforces the idea that Fair Trade is about justice.

Is this more than simply supporting a charity?

Better than the “haves” giving to the “have-nots” tone that much charity takes on, fair trade transactions offer positions of respect and appreciation to both the producer and the consumer. Most of the time when we make a purchase, we know nothing of the people who made the item. Fair trade purchases often offer us a bit of education about the artisan and a peek into the life of the worker who made the item. The economic act brings producer and consumer closer together.

FAIR TRADE SHOPPING BOUTIQUE 2023

Saturday, November 4th 3p-6p, and Sunday, November 5th 8a-1p

OUR FAIR TRADE SHOPPING BOUTIQUE IS ALMOST HERE.  Please join us for the Fair Trade Shopping Boutique.  It is open to the public, so please encourage your friends and family to attend.  Besides handicrafts and clothing, fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolates, perennial favorites, will be available.  As always, supporting fair trade means supporting the artisans and small farmers who produce such wonderful products in economically and environmentally sound ways.   Plan on stopping by after Mass to get started on your Christmas shopping or find a special something for yourself.

The Fair Trade Boutique 2023 will feature the following vendors:

• Canaan Fair Trade
• Revy Fair Trade, LLC
• Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative
• Inter Religious Task Force
• Joyce's Boutique and Hair Salon
• One World Shop
• Shema Global

Gail Lalli, Turn on JavaScript!

• Parish Office, 440.238.5555

Feeding Our Family

• Allen Weaver, 440.667-5094, Turn on JavaScript!

Habitat for Humanity

Follow the above link to Habitat for Humanity's own Registration System. Once on Habtiat's page, you should first create an account, then follow the leads to sign up to help. Make sure to use the code JOSEPH.

St. Joseph Parish is once again partnering with Habitat for Humanity on the 2023 Faith Build. St. Joe’s is scheduled to help on  Saturday July 15 and Thursday August 10. No skills needed. Habitat will teach you everything you need to know.  Must be 16 years or older for onsite volunteer. For more information and for other ways to volunteer go to sjohio.org/habitat or contact Michelle at 440-781-4161.

A message from one of the soon-to-homeowners for everyone “Thank you so much for all your time. Your help is not in vain.  I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to have all this help. God bless everyone.” She also shared that she is looking forward to knowing that this is her home and to have a sense of stability. Toni has been learning a lot about home construction and finds this to be an awesome opportunity. When asked what her favorite project has been so far, she stated, “I liked doing the roof of the garage. It was the hardest I ever worked in my life but it felt really good. I also liked doing the front porch on the house down the street.”  She considers herself to be a lucky family and wants you to know that all her children are very excited about their new home. 

All of these opportunities are available for sign-up through the link at the top of the page. Those who are working, on-site, need to be at least 16 years of age. If you're between 16-18, you'll need to be accompanied by a parent. All volunteers to sign up using: http://faithbuild.clevelandhabitat.volunteerhub.com/. We hope that you'll consider joining us as there's an opportunity for everyone to get involved in one of these ways! For more information, please see the contacts below:

• Fr. Joe Mamich, 440.238.5555, Turn on JavaScript!

Meals at Westside Catholic Center, Women’s Shelter

Perfect opportunity for families and individuals who have limited time or just want to get an introduction to social concerns. Each session is just a few hours, and most volunteers serve just a few times each year.

On the first and fifth Saturday of each month, six to ten parish members travel to the Westside Catholic Center located across the street from St. Ignatius High School near the Westside Market. The volunteers prepare and serve breakfast to over 100 clients. A similar group of two to four parishioners prepare and serve dinner for up to 30 women and children on the third Sunday evenings at WSCC’s Women & Children Shelter. Volunteers can participate several times a year. Please see the attached schedule for the volunteer opportunities and let Tom know the dates you are interested in.

• Tom Miller, 440.238.9439, Turn on JavaScript!
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Women's Shelter Dinner Procedures

Westside Catholic Breakfast Guidelines 2019

Westside Catholic Center Breakfast & Dinner Volunteer Schedule : 2023

Ministry of Assistance

The Ministry of Assistance (MOA) works to provide temporary person-toperson assistance to St. Joseph Parishioners and Strongsville residents in need. It handles calls to the church office requesting material assistance due to unanticipated circumstances, such as food insecurity, housing issues, job loss and other unexpected events that temporarily strain a family's finances. These services may include providing emergency food or other resources as appropriate and/or providing referral information to agencies that handle such situations for the long term. MOA seeks members who desire to work with its clients to help address unexpected needs through the client visit process.

Each MOA member commits to active participation in several of its several activities. In addition to client visits, these activities include providing assistance to those in need in the Strongsville Community as well as the Greater Cleveland area in many ways. MOA provides, in conjunction with partner churches, donated clothing and household items, ongoing financial support and numerous volunteer hours to two SVDP Ozanam Food Pantries, the Southwest Pantry and St. John Paul II Pantry. At the Church it also collects and delivers weekly identified food items needed at the Strongsville Emergency Food Bank.

Lastly, MOA holds four major resources drives at St. Joseph’s each year; Food – March and November, School – August and Blankets and Beyond – October. Resources collected in these drives are shared with the needy within the parish community, Strongsville community and/or through distribution to those served through the two SVDP Ozanam Pantries supported.

All MOA resources and financial support are generously donated by St. Joseph parishioners as well as community businesses. In conjunction with its outreach partners, MOA members strive to commit to improve the lives of those it serves on an ongoing basis.

• Parish Office, Turn on JavaScript!, 440.238.5555

Mission of Hope

A journey in discipleship, the Mission of Hope Ministry, seeks out and responds, in community, to need existing from either a natural disaster or poverty. Our work may include cleaning, building, replacing and/or rejuvenating homes and communities. The week-long trip provides an opportunity to learn and act on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. During our time together, we focus on building community, fellowship, faith sharing, Scripture, daily Mass and devotional periods, finding balance in life, and learning the joy in living more simply. We invite anyone, especially families wishing to serve together to join us. All are expected to participate in trip planning and fund raising activities. No experience is necessary - only an open heart and a willingness to learn and serve. Beginning in 2014, local service opportunities will be offered through Hands of Hope.

• Kathy McConnaughy, 440.238.6390, Turn on JavaScript!

Parish Service Day

Join us for our Eighth Annual Parish Service Day on Saturday, October 14, 2023. We hope to get parishioners of all ages to assist in making a difference in our local community. There are opportunities for people of all ages and skills to assist in our local community. Our day begins with a short prayer and gathering at 9am in the church followed by most work shifts beginning shortly after and ending around 1:30pm. There is bound to be something that would interest you. Families and people of all ages are invited to participate!

Required Release Form: All Volunteers

Service Day Photos since 2016

See some before-after pictures of our Inagural Parish Service Day 2015 Projects

• Parish Office, 440.238.5555

Respect Life

Promoting respect for the dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. Our purpose is to help members of our parish live in accord with the truths about human life made known to us through natural law, human reason, and our Catholic faith. Committee members are involved in planning and executing activities which are intended to educate and engage all parishioners in building a culture of life beginning in our families and extending into the community. Activities include: the January Mass for Life, First Friday Rosary for Life, bi-annual Baby Bottle Collection, and legislative and community action against the death penalty, abortion, assisted suicide, and other direct threats to human life. Sign up to provide leadership, contribute new ideas and plan activities or to join us for 40 Days for Life each spring and fall to pray, fast, and keep vigil at a local abortion facility.

• Patsy Brodie, 440.237.2239, Turn on JavaScript!

Sharing Tree

Our Annual Sharing Tree goes up each year in mid-November. Tags are put on the trees from various groups and individuals that need assistance at Christmas time. The focus of the tree has been shifting to helping out people in the Strongsville area. The food bank clients receive many gifts from our generous parishioners. The Sharing Tree is run completely on the kindness of the parishioners. The tags are taken and then then gifts are brought back wrapped. The gifts are then sorted and delivered to the many organizations in need. This is a great service project for individuals as well as families.

• Parish Office, 440.238.5555

Uniting for Ukraine

Our parish, along with members of the Strongsville United Church of Christ and other community organizations, have formed a Welcome Circle in support of a family of five. Read an article about us and other parishes in the area welcoming Ukrainian families. Our family is the Polianchuk family, consisting of a father who is skilled in driving a truck and carpentry, a mother who was a teacher, and 3 young children.

Update 8-5-2023

We are past our 6-month mark since Mykola, Yevheniia and their children arrived in Cleveland. The family has settled in for the summer. The children have been great, enjoying hoverboard, a new pool, parties with their school friends, and time in daycare. Baby Mykola is in "kindergarten" at the Ukranian school as well. The girls will start school at the end of August. Diana is entering kindergarten and Sasha in entering 5th grade. Their vegetable garden is wonderful, growing peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and beartiful flowers. 

Mykola completed his CDL and is employed at a trucking firm where he drives delivering cars to other destinations. The work takes him long distances. A couple of weeks age, he was in Los Angeles! Yevheniia is looking for work, too, and is starting to do housecleaning.

We are coming upon the time when the Matching Grant and some benefits are going to stop, so we are working with the family on preparing for this part of their journey. They are finding more resources on their own and it's been great seeing them be more independent. They are so grateful for the peace and opportunities that we have been able to offer them as they learn our culture. 

There are now 16 committed Welcome Circles between 15 parishes in the Cleveland Diocese, and 2-3 more have information meetings coming up to discern involvement. Thank you for your prayers and ongoing support!

Here is a letter the family wanted to share with everyone who has helped along the way:

Dear Team of Sponsors,
We are very grateful for the opportunity to visit and live in America, that you have given our family. We are pleased to meet such wonderful, friendly, beautiful people. We sincerely appreciate the time and resources you have devoted to helping us at a time when Ukraine is in a complicated situation. Your active public position, concern, and tireless work add faith in an excellent Ukrainian people's future because the unity of the civilized world is one of the main conditions for Ukraine's success. You are a model of humanity and charity.
May your kindness return to you a hundredfold. We wish you optimism, health, inexhaustible energy, and peace. A low bow to all who help Ukraine overcome Russian aggression and give Ukrainians a chance for a happy life.
Best wishes,
The Polianchuk family

If you have any questions or wish to learn more, please contact our coordinators:

• Rosanne Radziewicz, Turn on JavaScript!
  
• Angela Weerasuriya, Turn on JavaScript!