St. Joseph Announcements
MEN! The Church needs priests and deacons! Fr Joseph will meet with those interested in exploring a vocation next Sunday, December 7 at Noon.
FAMILY CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN: February 13-16 at YMCA Camp Cullen -- a CSR weekend with the whole family with speaker Fr Michael Nasser. Cost: $200 per adult, $100 per child (5-17), $50 per child (4 and under). A 25% non-refundable deposit will be required at the time of registration, use the promo code "DEPOSIT" to pay it, otherwise you will be charged full price. Registration and more info in eblast.
OCPM EVENT: Be a part of the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry of Houston’s Annual Advent Celebration to bring love and joy to more than 130 children of incarcerated parents who live in our community. OCPM of Houston serves families with an absent parent in prison, as they are the silent victims – economically, socially, and spiritually. Without some intervention, most of the children will be incarcerated in their lifetime. A party will be held for the children with a meal, games, gifts, and goodies Saturday, December 13 in the St Joseph Hall. Please consider how you may help! May the Lord bless your generosity! Signup in eblast.
THE NATIVITY FAST continues and is divided into two periods: (A) November 15 through December 19 when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil) is observed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with katalysis for wine and olive oil (some also permit fish) on Tuesday and Thursday, and for fish, wine, and olive oil on Saturday and Sunday, and (B) the period of the Forefeast, December 20 through 24, when the traditional fasting discipline is observed Monday through Friday, with katalysis for wine and olive oil on Saturday and Sunday.
A GOOD CONFESSION in the Nativity Fast is encouraged. Confessions will be heard during Vigil through December 20. Fr Joseph also hears confessions by appointment during office hours.
FOOD PANTRY: Please bring bags of peanut butter, pasta (mac n cheese, spaghetti noodles), canned tomatoes, jelly, canned corn, boxed cereals, and hygiene products to the Hall during office hours or around service times. Donations may be left in the bins across from the Secretary's office.
LOOKING AHEAD...
ST NICHOLAS PARTY - Saturday, December 6; Liturgy at 9AM, party to follow!
BISHOP THOMAS visiting February 1
FR JOSIAH TRENHAM retreat March 7
The weekend with Fr Josiah falls during Spring Break for many. Please plan accordingly.
PROSPHORA VOLUNTEERS: Thanks to all who have been signing up! Please consider signing up. The link is in the member’s section.
2026 MEMBERSHIP FORMS are available in the hall or online 
. A new form must be on file each year for members to be in good standing. Our General Fund, which pays the operating expenses of the parish, does not receive money from the archdiocese, festivals, dances, or galas. The members of St. Joseph Church are the sole source of parish income. Occasional fundraising events are for non-budgeted items, building projects, or special ministries. The work and ministry of St. Joseph Church is made possible by tithing and pledging members. May God bless your generosity!
BURIAL: St. Joseph is one of the contributing parishes making possible an Orthodox Cemetery in Houston; we have a section reserved for Orthodox Christians at Forest Park, Westheimer. Please help sustain this ministry by making your arrangements in advance; see Fr. Joseph for information. May God rest the souls of our faithful departed – and grant you and yours long life!
KROGER: If you have a rewards card with Kroger, please add St. Joseph's to your rewards program through the online community rewards! This can only be done at www.krogercommunityrewards.com. Thank you!
DEADLINES: The deadline for Monday’s eblast (other than Sunday pics) is Noon on Friday. The deadline for Sunday's bulletin is Noon on Monday.
HEALTH & WELLBEING: To better know about the people on our parish prayer list, Fr Joseph has assigned a Prayer List Coordinator, Susan Barry, to keep track of parishioners requests and keep the list up to date. To add a name, please email the Parish office and include your name and number.
Please pray for:
With Child: Rebecca Murthy (4/19), Mary Judah LeBlanc (4/19), Daria Pino (3/16), Danielle Morgan (1/23), Nicole Ortiz (1/11), Liza Simon (12/8)
Health & Wellbeing: Shelby & Mike Butts, Bob & Gayle Born, Georgia Gerkey, Jennifer Myres, Ray Connell, Olivia Hinkle, Helena Baumbach, Nikolas Klimkowski, Zechariah Hall, David Trippon, Sarah Stieglitz, Jeff Anderson, Margaret Vranesevich, Katie Hire, Don Ghiz, Gerry Smit, Natalia Randel
Supported Ministries: The Saint Constantine School/College, Fellowship of St Moses the Black, East Spring Branch Food Pantry, Monastery of the Life-Giving Trinity, Holy Archangels Monastery, St Paraskevi Monastery, Orthodox Christian Mission Center/the MacDonalds in Albania, FOCUS/The Nest
Catechumens: Stewart Skinner, Trent Newton, Ryan O'Byrne, Ethan Perry, Samuel Robinson, Bell Doan & Aria Robinson, Dulce Landin, Jonathan Hernandez, Rodrigo Pereira, Alan Arce, Cody Gil, Juan Navarro, Sterling McCrevey, Alyssa Sanchez, Jamie Porier, Matthew Castillo, John Paul Carlson, Vincent Maradiaga, William Villena, Collin Chen, Matthew, Leslie, Renata & Luka Guzman, Andres Blanco, Brian Wood, Christine Stevenson, Zoe Hughes, Keller Deal, Emma Smith, Sharon Padilla, Anthony Walker, Alexy Umanzor; Tif & Evelyn, Jason Dean, Elizabeth Tirmizi; Daniel McGovern, Stacy Hanson, Freyja & Reagan McGovern; Christopher Jenkins, Mason Keller, AJ Knapp; Jade, Gloria, Jude & Yves Crouch; David Messenger, Christian Groff, Andrew Donahue, Justin Smith, Steven White, Larry Delarosa Sr, Steven Salinas & Mirian Serrano, Alex Shevchenko, Katie Hire
Preparing for Baptism (12/13): Dan, Danielle, Octavia, Constantine, Bjorn, Maximilian Morgan
Departed: Wendy Parrish (Katie Hire’s mother, 11/11), Kh Carol Alberts (11/10), Melba Moses (Shelby Butts’ mother, 11/8), Robert Walenta (10/30), Samir Nourieh (Roua’s father, 10/28)
If you are currently a member of St. Joseph and would like to add an announcement to the bulletin and website, please .