Welcome Father Len Wenke as Our Moderator for Pastorical Care
St. Joseph Catholic Church welcomes Father Len Wenke and Father Len Wenke to our parish.

Reverend Len Wenke is a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He has ministered in the Archdiocese for 47years. His ministry as a priest has been filled with grace and opportunity. A Cincinnati native, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 16, 1979. In his first assignment as a priest, Fr. Wenke served on the faculty and as chaplain at Carroll High School in Dayton, while a resident associate at St. Agnes Church, from 1979 to 1982.

Father Wenke went on to direct the archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry, living at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Monfort Heights and St. Agnes in Bond Hill, from 1982 to 1991. After serving briefly as temporary administrator of St. Matthias in Forest Park in 1991, he became executive director of the National Federation for Youth Ministry in Washington, D.C. He returned to Cincinnati to serve as pastor of St. Anthony, Madisonville, from July 1997 until May 2010. Father Wenke served as the director of Priests’ Personnel Office from June 2007 until June of 2010. He served as the Director of Pastoral Services for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati from June of 2007 until June of 2016. He served as Parochial Administrator/ Pastor of Holy Family in Price Hill from 2012 until 2022. He served as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish from 2016 until 2022. In addition, he served as dean for the St. Francis de Sales Deanery, as member of the Presbyteral Council/ College of Consulters, ministered to the incarcerated and provided pastoral care to families at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Father Wenke most recently served as Parochial Vicar in the Bread of Life/ Pan de Vida Family of Parishes (Dayton) that includes St. Anthony, St. Helen, St. Mary, Holy Angels and Immaculate Conception. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he has served on several non-profit boards in Cincinnati and Dayton. Parishioners note that Fr. Len is compassionate in times of need. He is an advocate for those who in need – especially those living on the margins of society.

We welcome Fr. Len to lead us and worship with us at St. Joseph.

Reflection for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,

Today would be a good day for us to reflect on the pope’s message for this
year’s observation to pray for the wellbeing of today’s migrants and refugees. Consider what concrete action you could take to offer the “compassion and mercy” St. Paul speaks of in our second reading. To be a disciple of Jesus requires action. Words are insufficient.

Jesus offers today’s parable or teaching because the religious authorities are jealous and angry. How does this man act this way? They question his authority. While the first son initially rejects the command to tend the vineyard, he has a change of heart and goes to work.

Notice that often religious authorities [like the second son] say yes
but do not follow up with action. The words of the Gospel must be lived: Jesus’ teachings on justice, reconciliation, and love must be thelight that guides us, the path we walk, the prayer we make a reality. Discipleship begins with in our hearts, where we realize Christ’s presence in our lives and in the lives of others. We then honor that presence in meaningful acts of compassion and charity.

St. Paul tells the Philippians: “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important that yourselves, each looking out not for his own interest but also for those of others.”

May we have the attitude of Christ, who humbled himself for our salvation.

Have a blessed week!
Father Len Wenke

Upcoming Events: 
Senior Luncheon/Bingo: Mark your calendar:  October 11 immediately following mass. All are welcome to join our seniors during this time of fun, food and fellowship. Senior Luncheon and Bingo is scheduled for the second Sunday each month.

Sacramental Preparation: Are you or your child ready for Sacramental preparation? We are taking registration for Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation or Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA). If so, please stop by the usher table and list your contact information on the registration list. We are also looking forteachers/assistance to lead and/or assist with the preparation classes. Please consider giving your time to help further the Christian journey of others in our St. Joseph family.

Sacrament Preparation Meeting
Sunday October 11, 2026
Immediately after 10:00 mass, at approximately 11:30am
In St.Anne’s Chapel, St. Joseph Church

BAPTISM, EUCHARIST, CONFIRMATION
Sacraments of Initiation: Please join us if you have a child or grandchild interested in preparing to receive any of the of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist or Confirmation. Please bring the children! If you have any questions, please call Peggy Nachtrab 513-312-7841

SJCC Gospel Songfest will be held on Sunday from 3–5 pm,  September 27, in Kyte Theater at Summit Country Day. Cost is $25. Please click here for more details.

A Night of Celebration–Faith * Fellowship * Fraternity: The Men of Knights of Peter Claver Council 363 is hosting 2026 New Year’s Eve Party on December 31, 2026, from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. at Father Rivers Hall. A mature crowd of 30 & up is invited. Upscale attire required.For more information or tickets, contact Knight Reggie Lee, 513-652-7122 or Grand Knight Rob Harris, 513-807-8501.

2026 Rosary Rally/Public Square Rosary Crusade: Join us for our 6 annual Rosary Rally on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at Noon in front of St. Joseph Catholic Church. We will pray in public with power guided by the Holy Ghost to call down God’s mercy. All are welcome to join us.

Follow and Pray with Archbishop Casey
Archbishop Casey has launched his own social media accounts! Follow him at: Instgram: @archbishopcasey; Facebook: facebook.com/archbishopcasey

St. Joseph Catholic Church is Inviting you to a Scheduled Zoom Bible Study Every Monday Evening at 6:15 pm.
All are welcome to join us.  Please call the parish office with any questions..  Zoom can be used on your computer, your tablet, or even your smartphone. To get logged in: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/338681613. Meeting ID: 338 681 613. If you are only able to join by phone, call:  312-626-6799. Meeting ID:  338 681 613. (Please log in about 5-10 minutes ahead of time.) (Please log in about 5-10 minutes ahead of time.) Beginning in November, St. Joseph Bible Study is fortunate to have Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu, a seminarian from the diocese of Charlotte,  North Carolina to work with us. He is currently a third year seminarian at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology in Cincinnati. He is one of 16 seminarians from the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina who is training here. Born in Washington D.C., but raised in Nigeria, he is a graduate of North Carolina A&T where he headed their Catholic campus ministry.  He will be ordained a transitional Deacon June 2022. Please welcome this fine man to our parish and consider joining us for bible studies during the month of November.

St. Joseph Mobile Produce Pantry Changed to Walk-up Service
Due to Covid-19, the  St. Joseph Catholic Church Mobile Produce Pantry is now a walk up, outdoor pantry that will be open open on the Second Tuesday of the month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Please pick up your pantry at the front entrance doors to the church. The next Produce Pantry is scheduled for Tuesday, October 12. Come by and receive free produce for your family. First come, first served, for 100 families! All types of fresh produce is available.

Nine New Priests Ordained in Cincinnati

“Relying on the help of the Lord God and of our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose these men, our brothers, for the Order of the Priesthood.”

These words rang out through the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati this morning as nine men stood side by side before Archbishop Casey, their backs to hundreds in the congregation. These nine men, Nicholas Emmerling, Curtis Gross, Kraig Gruss, David Homoelle, Daniel Jasek, Benjamin Klare, Doug Moore, Benjamin Packer, and Jacob Schmiesing, lined up prepared to be ordained priests. Their expressions ranged from stoic to ecstatic as years of intentional discernment, study, and formation culminated.

Each part of the Rite of Ordination holds great significance, the appropriate initiation for the life of service ahead.

You can find the newly ordained priests’ assignments here.

From the Safe Environment Office
We would like to remind all parish/school employees and volunteers of the requirements of the Decree on Child Protection.  All employees and volunteers are required to have completed The Archdiocese of Cincinnati SafeParish™: Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse – Arch. of Cincinnati Edition training or child protection training under the prior child protection platform (VIRTUS).  In addition, employees are required to complete an online background check, manual fingerprint, and B4 form once prior to beginning employment.  Ohio Department of Education licensees may have additional requirements and should check with their school office or athletic departments if there are any questions.  Volunteers are required to complete an online background check prior to volunteering with youth.  Employees and volunteers are required to stay current in completing SafeParish™ quarterly bulletins.  As of July 8, there are 10,000+ SafeParish user accounts that are pending due to lack of compliance in completing the quarterly bulletins.  With the school year beginning, please make sure to complete the quarterly bulletins or you will not be able to work/volunteer with youth until your SafeParish account is approved.  Please direct questions regarding bulletin completion to your parish/school safe environment coordinator.

St. Joseph Needs Your Help Today!!
We are in financial distress and we need your support to continue!!
St. Joseph started its walk in 1846. Along the way, we have welcomed members from seven mostly-Black Catholic Archdiocesan churches that have been closed. We helped birth the national Black Catholic liturgical movement. We led the Archdiocesan Catholic church and school integration. We are one of the last inner-city Cincinnati Catholic parishes that proudly identify as Black. We have leaned on the Spirit through it all and today celebrate that we still stand as a tower of faith in the West End. Yet we are in financial distress and we need your help to continue!! We are revitalizing, reorganizing and working hard to keep St. Joseph alive and to bring back a school presence. We are determined to continue being a strong force for good in the West End.We ask for your help today to keep our doors open, to keep doing good. We need your financial support more than ever. Please Click on DONATE  NOW on the home page to make a donation – a significant one if you can – today.  THANK YOU!

Genesis: A Pre-Cana Retreat
The Center for the New Evangelization’s Marriage & Family team hosts Genesis: A Pre-Cana Retreat in English and Spanish throughout the archdiocese. The retreat typically runs 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offers engaging presentations on the sacrament of marriage by teams of married couples, focusing on what it means to say “yes” to each of the questions of consent. The retreat also offers a unique opportunity for couples to pray together in adoration, go to Confession, spend time alone in conversation, and form friendships with other engaged couples. Visit our marriage preparation website for more information and dates of upcoming Genesis retreats at https://www.centerforthenewevangelization.org/marriage-family/marriage-preparation.

Online Giving With myEoffering
Electronic giving at SJCC is here! myEoffering is an easy way to send your offerings online in the same way you might pay bills or purchase products. We are offering this service as a convenience, so you no longer have to write checks or remember to bring cash with you on Sunday. Simply log in to the myEoffering through the St. Joseph Church website (www.stjosephcincinnati.org) and set up your offering. You can set up donations to match your pay periods, and even send a one-time donation to special offerings we may have from time to time. This new service allows you to give any amount, at any time, from home or on the road with your computer, tablet, or mobile device. Online giving is easy way to access and has many benefits for our parish, especially during these difficult times when you may not be able to attend Mass but want to continue your contributions. It is secure, safe, and easy to manage.  Again, signing up is as simple as going to our church website and clicking on “Donate Now” on the menu bar. You’ll register an account, and within minutes, you will be giving your first online donation. If you have any questions about enrolling, please call the parish office. As always, we thank you for your generous sharing of treasure in the spirit and practice of stewardship.

Welcome to Safe Parish: The New Child Protection Platform for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
All volunteers and employees in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati with an active child protection account should have received an email from SafeParish inviting them to register for their new SafeParish account. These emails were sent during the week of July 12. If you did not receive the email, please check your spam or junk mail folders. You can also find a copy of the SafeParish registration instructions by going to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Safe Environment Office webpage at https://catholicaoc.org/offices/safe-environment. Click on “Top Resources” then click on the link for “SafeParish”. All new volunteers and employees should follow the SafeParish registration instructions for creating a SafeParish account. During the registration process, new volunteers and employees will be invited to complete their background check and child protection training online. New employees will also need to complete manual fingerprinting and submit a B4 form for approval. For any questions concerning SafeParish, please go to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Safe Environment webpage at https://catholicaoc.org/offices/safe-environment
Update From the Safe Environment Office We would like to remind all parish/school employees and volunteers of the requirements of the Decree on Child Protection.  All employees and volunteers are required to have completed The Archdiocese of Cincinnati SafeParish™: Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse – Arch. of Cincinnati Edition training or child protection training under the prior child protection platform (VIRTUS).  In addition, employees are required to complete an online background check, manual fingerprint, and B4 form once prior to beginning employment.  Ohio Department of Education licensees may have additional requirements and should check with their school office or athletic departments if there are any questions.  Volunteers are required to complete an online background check prior to volunteering with youth.  Employees and volunteers are required to stay current in completing SafeParish™ quarterly bulletins. As of July 8, there are 10,000+ SafeParish user accounts that are pending due to lack of compliance in completing the quarterly bulletins.  With the school year beginning for most in August, please make sure to complete the quarterly bulletins or you will not be able to work/volunteer with youth until your SafeParish account is approved.  Please direct questions regarding bulletin completion to your parish/school safe environment coordinator. Thank you for all you are doing and please stay safe and healthy!

The One Stop Resource Center 
The Hamilton County One-Stop Resource Center was created to eliminate barriers to accessing supportive services for all Hamilton County residents, including those with criminal convictions.. Their goal is to offer our community access to service providers each month at the same location for assistance related to vital records, personal identification, substance abuse and mental health care, child support concerns, housing, record sealing or expungement, and health care. When you visit the One-stop Resource Center, you will learn more about a local organization, begin the intake process, resolve issues, or meet service related conditions of release. Open on the Final Friday of each month from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Hamilton County Justice Center Lobby, 900 Sycamore St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 . For more information, go to  http://www.reentry.com/

Heart of Mary  Respite and Companion Services
This service provides non-medical support in the home from reliable, trained volunteers so caregivers can take care of other responsibilities or have time to relax or pursue other interests. This service helps caregivers take a needed break to revitalize, so they can continue caring for their loved one in the home. Volunteer duties primarily depend on the level of activity of the client. Some volunteers provide safety and security for clients who are homebound; others provide companionship, emotional support, and a caring presence; and others will do an activity for those clients who like to stay busy. Currently they are only providing Phone Reassurance for homebound clients. These phone calls provide a friendly voice to those who may feel isolated and cut off from their community and friends/family. To become a volunteer please visit the link at Better Impact: http://bttr.im/bm17f or contact Stephanie Slack, Senior Community Engagement Coordinator at Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, 513.535.2291.

Help Support SJCC with your Kroger Plus Card You can support our parish while you shop at Kroger just by connecting your Kroger Plus Card to our Kroger Community Rewards account EU886. Our parish will earn a portion (3-5%) of every dollar you spend at Kroger! Invite your friends, relatives and neighbors to link their cards to our parish as well. Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com to enroll. Follow the screen prompts.

1. Click on I’m a customer and want to enroll in community rewards.
2. Sign in to your existing Kroger account with your user name and password.
3. Enroll in the program under search with our rewards account number EU886.
4. Confirm your preference of St. Joseph to receive the parish support (Click Enroll)
5. On the screen you will see your status as “Currently enrolled,” the date of your enrollment, and the organization’s name and number. To enroll, you must have a Kroger Plus Card and an email address.
   Please call the parish office if you have any additional questions or need help with your enrollment (513-381-4526). Thank you for supporting our parish!

NAMI is offering, free of charge, an 8 week, evidenced based training for All!!
2020 has created so many challenges that have forced us to make so many changes to our normal lives. Under ordinary circumstances one in five (1 in 5) are living with a mental illness. This pandemic has increased those numbers within our community. What can you do? How can you help? Education is the answer! NAMI Urban Greater Cincinnati Network on Mental Illness is offering during 2020/2021the NAMI evidenced basis practice, Family to Family. Family to Family is a great offer by NAMI Family-to-Family, FREE, 8-session educational program for families, significant others, friends and concerned leaders in our community people with mental health conditions. This designated evidenced-based program helps us to understand: Explanation of major brain disorders; the latest information about medications (including side effects and strategies for promoting medication adherence); information about the most effective treatments available; what to do in a crisis; handling your loved one’s hospitalization and relapse; problem solving and communication skills; advocating for your loved ones; how to work with professionals; and taking care of yourself. By the end of the 8-week session, participants will have a packet of materials to keep for ongoing reference. This class has proven to make a positive impact on family members and their loved ones. Information really is power and in this case it’s free! Want to give back? Become a NAMI member. Membership information available at all NAMI meetings and classes or join online. “It takes a village!” Will you be part of our village? Let us know by calling (513-238-7788). If they are not able to answer immediately, please leave a message including your name, phone number, email and they will get back to you. Or, san email to nami@ugcnomi.org.

Letter from Father Rudy on school closure
click here

Wish List for the Church and WEEC&P

CHURCH: (New Items) gift cards($10.00 to $15.00)—White Castle Restaurant, Subway, Skyline, Frisch’s etc.; Kroger gift cards ($25.00-$50.00); copy paper and card stock (white); disposable coffee cups; disposable napkins; creamers; plastic: forks and spoons; AA batteries.

Wish List for the West End Emergency Pantry:

Special Needs: Hand Sanitizers, Toilet paper, Cleaning supplies Paper Towels. Also: dish detergent, shaving cream and disposable razors, canned meats, baby food.

• Meats (Please place in the cooler next to the donation barrels.)—one lb. ground beef rolls, hot dogs, bacon, sausage
• Canned goods and non-perishables—soups, fruits and vegetables, drink mix, coffee, tea
• Household items, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, bleach, fabric softener
• Paper products—bathroom paper, paper towels, paper napkins, tissue
• Personal hygiene items—shower gel, deodorant, lotion, feminine hygiene items, soap
• Clothing— men’s clothing, children’s clothing, socks, shoes
• Linens—bath towels, wash clothes, sheets ( all sizes)

Safe Environment for Children and Youth
(The Archdiocese of Cincinnati)
Please join us in maintaining vigilance regarding the safety and protection of all people. If you see something, say something. Please report any suspected abuse on the part of any agent of the Archdiocese to the appropriate  civil authorities, as well as to the Coordinator of Ministry to Survivors of Abuse in the Archdiocese.  This can be done by calling 513.263.6623 or 1.800.686.2724 ext. 6623 or by submitting a report online, here. One of the greatest responsibilities adults ever face is the protection of children under their care. That is a duty that falls heavily upon those who minister in the name of the Church because children are entrusted to us in so many ways – in schools, in religious education, in Scouting, on field trips and in sports. Parents have a right to expect that their children are as safe as humanly possible in all of these situations. For more information and for the Archbishop’s Statement on the sexual abuse crisis, please click here.

Remembering Our Parish in Your Will
As many of you know, every year St. Joseph receives bequests from parishioners’ estates. We are most appreciative for these generous gifts to our parish. Gifts such as these help us to continue to share God’s word through our various worship programs and ministries. We are often asked how to make such a bequest, and it is very simple. When you call or visit your attorney, discuss adding the following language to your will or codicil: “0.00 or 0 % of estate to be distributed to St. Joseph Catholic Church, currently located at 745 Ezzard Charles Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45203. If the church is not in existence at my death, the distribution to it shall be made to the successor institution into which it was merged. If there is no successor or merged institution, the bequest shall lapse.”

Wylie Gene Howell: An Extraordinary Life (February 7, 1950—July 13, 2020)
“When we all sing with one voice, the world will stop and listen. The arts are not simply skills: their concern is the intellectual, ethical, and spiritual maturity of human life.” (Robert Shaw, conductor, friend, and mentor of Wylie Howell)
God certainly smiled on us when he brought Mr. Wylie G. Howell to the doors of St. Joseph Church over thirty years ago! Through his music and by his steadfast example, he gave each of us the tools to live a better and more purposeful life in service to the Lord. He was the true embodiment of what it means to love the Lord, love his fellow man, and most importantly, to use his earthly gifts to make the world a better, brighter, and more beautiful place. Of course, he was one in million and irreplaceable in every sense of the word; yet his story, his legacy, his music, and his brilliance will live on in our hearts as we move forward in these challenging days. Let us offer a prayer of thanks to our Lord for giving us the treasure and talents of the incomparable Mr. Wylie G. Howell. May he rest in peace.

Prayer: We Are One With You
O God, we are one with you. You have made us one with you. You have taught us that if we are open to one another, you dwell in us. Help us to preserve this openness and to fight for it with all our hearts. Help us to realize that there can be no understanding where there is mutual rejection. O God, in accepting one another wholeheartedly, fully, completely, we accept you, and we thank you, and we adore you and we love you with our whole being, because our being is your being, our spirit is rooted in your spirit. Fill us then with love, and let us be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways, united in this one spirit which makes you present in the world, and which makes you witness to the ultimate reality that is love. Love has overcome. Love is victorious.– Thomas Merton (1915-1968)