Liturgy

The Liturgy Ministry is responsible for planning, communicating, and implementing the necessary liturgy associated with the celebration of the Mass and Holy Days, working closely with the Pastor and Director of Music to ensure that the Liturgy is relevant and enriches the community of the faithful. If you are interested in donating your time and talent to any of the ministries below, please contact the rectory office at communications@st-josephs.org

Liturgical Ministries include:

  • Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
  • Usher/Greeter
  • Sacristan
  • Altar Server
  • Hospitality/Coffee Hour
  • Lector (Minister of the Word)
  • Church decoration committee
  • Eucharistic Adoration/Sign-Up
  • Fr. Chris Begg’s Bible Study

Adult Faith Formation

Adult faith formation facilitates continual spiritual and catechetical growth of parish adults.  As the US Bishops explain: “The Church’s Pastoral ministry exists to sustain the work of the Gospel…To grow in discipleship throughout life, all believers need and are called to build vibrant parish and diocesan communities of faith and service.”

We seek to form adults who actively cultivate a lively baptismal and Eucharistic spirituality with a powerful sense of mission and apostolate. Nourished by word, sacrament, and communal life, they will witness and share the Gospel in their homes, neighborhoods, places of work, and centers of culture.

The Office of Adult Faith Formation attempts to foster a Parish environment that helps the believer to flourish and constantly be challenged; as such, feel free to request or suggest future programs. Please let us know how we can serve you better.

Important Links & Aspects of Adult Faith Formation:

Youth Faith Formation

The Youth Program is inspired by a model that incorporates catechesis and ministry. It is a comprehensive program that includes, but is not limited to, Confirmation preparation. Within the program, teens learn how to pursue an active Christian lifestyle in all areas of life, including: spirituality, knowledge of the faith, service, and fellowship. During the program, teens experience Christ in a variety of opportunities.

Youth Faith Formation includes:

Sacred Music

Please contact Maria Balducci, Director of Music & Organist, if you are interested in becoming involved with the St. Joseph’s music program. (music@st-josephs.org)

“Indeed, through this form [sacred music], prayer is expressed in a more attractive way, the mystery of the Liturgy, with its hierarchical and community nature, is more openly shown, the unity of hearts is more profoundly achieved by the union of voices, minds are more easily raised to heavenly things by the beauty of the sacred rites, and the whole celebration more clearly prefigures that heavenly Liturgy which is enacted in the holy city of Jerusalem.” (Musicam Sacram, 1967)

Concert Series: 2022-2023

  • Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 7pm: Requiem Mass by Claudio Casciolini. The St. Joseph’s Choir offers the sung requiem Mass of Italian Renaissance composer Casciolini, in memorium of the parishioners, family members, and friends of St. Joseph’s who died in the past year.
  • Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 4pm: Advent Lessons & Carols. Join us for readings and music to reflect on the Advent season.
  • Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 7:30pm: Lenten Reflections: A Choral Offering. The acclaimed Notre Dame Folk Choir visits Washington, DC and joins with the St. Joseph’s Choir to offer choral works and hymns for the Lenten season.
  • Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 4pm: Marian Concert. The second annual concert offered by the St. Joseph’s Choir, with motets and hymns in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mother.

PAST Concert Series: 2021-2022

  • Sunday, October 24, 2021 at 3pm: Maria Balducci, organist. Works of Buxtehude, Vaughan Williams, Franck, and Demessieux.
  • Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 4pm: Advent Lessons & Carols. Join us for readings and music to reflect on the Advent season.
  • Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 4pm: Marian Concert. The St. Joseph’s Choir presents motets and hymns in honor of Mary.
  • Friday, May 27, 2022 at 7:30pm AT St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill: “King David” by Arthur Honegger. The St. Joseph’s Choir joins the St. Peter’s Choir to present the charming concert work of the life of David- his anointing by Samuel, his slaying of Goliath, and his glorious years as the archetypical king of the chosen people. For choir, instruments, soloists, and narrator.

The St. Joseph’s Choir

The St. Joseph’s Choir sings for the Sunday 10:30am Masses. Rehearsals are Thursdays from 7:30pm-9pm. The music encompasses the entirety of the Church’s rich history of sacred music, from centuries-old a cappella Gregorian chant to Renaissance polyphony to new works by living composers.  We are looking to grow our choir, as well as add a women’s and/or men’s schola.  Consider joining if you have a background in music, enjoy singing, and are looking to find a wonderful community within the parish. (Contact: Maria Balducci, Director of Music: music@st-josephs.org)

The St. Joseph’s Choir after singing for the Rite of Election at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, spring 2022.

The SJCA: St. Joseph’s Chorus Angelorum (Children’s Choir)

The fall of 2022, St. Joseph’s added a children’s choir to our sacred music program. The Chorus Angelorum- choir of angels- has a two-fold mission: first, to teach the children proper singing technique, chants, hymns, motets, and the Mass ordinary and propers; second, to be exposed to Gregorian chant notation and Latin pronunciation and translation. The Chorus Angelorum is a part of Pueri Cantores, the international student choral organization of the Catholic Church, and participated in their regional festival Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral on March 2023. Rehearsals are every other Thursday from 6:30pm-7:30pm. (Contact: Maria Balducci, Director of Music: music@st-josephs.org)

St. Joseph’s Chorus Angelorum at the at Pueri Cantores 2023 Mid-Atlantic Youth Choral Festival at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, March 4th.

The St. Joseph’s Pipe Organ

Hook & Hastings (Opus 1487, 1891)

Nave, Gallery, and Pipe Facade: Photograph by Len Levasseur. Taken November 2010.

FALL 2022 UPDATE: St. Joseph’s is in the process of receiving bids for a restoration of our historic Hook & Hastings pipe organ. As one of the few remaining original and unaltered Hook & Hastings organs in the world, St. Joseph’s is committed to its preservation and restoration, so that it will continue to serve the parish and its liturgies for many generations to come.

The pipe organ at St. Joseph’s is a treasured piece of its history.  The 3-manual, 29 rank tracker action organ was built by Hook and Hastings in 1891, during the construction of  the present church.  It is the oldest unaltered tracker action organ in Washington, D.C.

Specifications (Manuals, 58 notes; Pedal, 27 notes)

  • GREAT
  • 16 Open Diapason
  • 8 Open Diapason
  • 8 Doppel Flute
  • 4 Octave
  • 3 Twelfth
  • 2 Fifteeth
  • 1 1/3 Mixture III (174 pipes)
  • 8 Trumpet
  • SWELL (enclosed)
  • 16 Bourdon Bass
  • 16 Bourdon Treble
  • 8 Open Diapason
  • 8 Stopped Diapason
  • 8 Viola
  • 4 Flauto Traverso
  • 4 Violino
  • 1 1/3 Dolce Cornet III (174 pipes)
  • 8 Oboe & Bassoon
  • Tremelo
  • CHOIR (unenclosed)
  • 8 Geigen Principal
  • 8 Melodia
  • 8 Dulciana
  • 4 Flute d’Amour
  • 2 Piccolo
  • 8 Clarinet
  • PEDAL
  • 16 Open Diapason
  • 16 Bourdon
  • 8 Violincello

About the Musicians

Young Adult Ministry

The Young Adult Ministry at St. Joe’s serves those between the ages of 18-39 in a variety of ways. The Young Adults come together monthly for Adoration and Fellowship on First Fridays, Third Sunday Coffee Hours, and our YAM Speaker Series.

The Young Adults also offer small groups for men and women, in addition to other prayer and social activites.

In recent years, we have welcomed Sr. Alethia Noble to speak to our parish, traveled to the Shrine of St. Anthony for a day of recollection, challenged other local Young Adults in trivia, and more! 

To find out more about upcoming events like us on Facebook or sign-up for our emails!

Upcoming Events

  • Third Sunday Coffee Hour – March 19th after the 10:30am Mass
  • Stations of the Cross at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land – March 25th

Social Justice

If you want peace, work for justice

—Pope Paul VI

From Genesis through Revelations “justice” is mentioned prominently throughout the bible. Justice is the underpinning of how we are to relate to each other.

He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows his love for the alien by giving him food and clothing

–De 10:18

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving kindness and truth go before You

–PS 89:14

Thus has the Lord of hosts said, Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother

—Zec 7:9

As Catholic Christians we are called to stand in solidarity with the oppressed, the poor the vulnerable, to love thy neighbor as thy self, to be good shepherds of the earth. We are called to respect the dignity of work, the rights of all people, and life from natural conception to natural death. We are called to both prayer and action, for what is faith without justice or what is action if it is not rooted in our Catholic faith? Love consists of sharing what one has with those one loves. Love ought to show itself in deeds more then words.–Ignatius Loyola

Different Activities Social Justice Ministry involves:

  • Pro-life Ministry
  • Community Service Projects
  • Food Bank

For more information contact Carolina.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is a ministry of compassionate presence in imitation of Jesus’ care of people, especially those who are hurting and in need.

Areas in which Pastoral Care serve:

Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministry

The ecumenical and inter-faith ministry challenges Catholics to develop deeper and better relationships with people in other religious traditions, especially with other Christians.

Important Links to Learn More:

Serving the Parish

The Parish Service Ministry helps keep the parish running smoothly, united as community, and looking it’s best.

Ways in which to serve the Parish:

  • Parish Council (TBD) | Guidelines
  • Finance Council
  • Annual Parish Picnic Planning Committee
  • Saturday Field Day Activities (Parish Beautification and Maintenance)
  • Pilgrimage and Retreat Planning Committee