Our mission/object is to unite all women of the parish in religious, educational, and social activities; to assist the pastor in spiritual and material undertakings for the welfare of the parish; to serve as the agency through which women of the parish shall participate in the diocesan program of Catholic Women, and the National Council of Catholic Women; and to further spiritual and material undertaking of the members. 

Our membership includes all women of the parish, 18 years of age or older, married or single, or the wife of a Catholic man of the parish.  We have no dues. Regular meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month from September to May.

Yearly functions:

Other activities include:

A&R provides funeral luncheons to bereaved family of parishioners.

Baby quilts are made to give to 1st Way Life Center.

Mary's Mantle:  Spiritual support for new brides.

Religious goods are sold by volunteers.

Ink cartridges are collected for recycling to raise money.  Please turn any cartridges into the Parish Office or in the box in Fr. Blake Hall.

*If interested in volunteering or if you would like more information about the Altar & Rosary Society please contact the parish office at 815-678-7421 or saintjosephchurch@gmail.com..

Special events:

The Altar & Rosary Society, CCW (Council of Catholic Women) of St. Joseph Catholic Church, of which every woman parishioner is a member, is supported by volunteers, good will, and fundraising events which normally are the Pie and Plant sale in May, the Rummage Sale in September, and the Poinsettia Sale/Cookie Walk in December.  This year, however, the pandemic restrictions interfered with “normalcy” and we were unable to hold any of our normal fund raising events at church. However, your help and commitment in the past still allowed us to provide financial support to St. Joseph’s and the community in the following ways...                                        

Richmond Community Food Pantry $ 1,450.00

St. Vincent DePaul Society $ 1,350.00

Bingo game for Parish Picnic $ 100.00

NIU Newman Center $ 50.00

Re-Usable grocery tote bags  $ 300.00

Donation to St. Joseph Church $ 955.00

Total Contributions $ 4,205.00

Congratulations to Denise Sheets—St. Joseph’s 2024 Woman of Inspiration!

Denise has been a lifelong member of St. Joseph’s parish.  Many know that she is a very active choir member, adding her gift of song to Saturday and Sunday Masses, or funerals, whenever needed.  What everyone might not know is that cooking and baking are her specialties, and she has helped in that regard with many fundraising efforts for past parish youth groups, Altar & Rosary bake sales, and parish auction committees.  Denise also willingly provides a main dish or dessert for funeral luncheons as needed.  When Monsignor celebrated his 25 years of ordination, it was Denise who took the helm of organizing and preparing food for that festive occasion.   When St. Joseph’s hosted PADS on the 4^th Thursday of each month, Denise and her family helped cook and serve the PADS guests on Thanksgiving Day.

When not in the kitchen, she is an avid gardener.  She is the one that sees to it that the two giant planters at the front of church are always maintained with seasonal flowers or liturgical displays.  (She is also among the ‘angels’ who deadhead Msgr.’s planters and hanging baskets).

Denise always makes herself available to be of service to our parish, whether singing, cooking, cleaning up, organizing or decorating.  Her service is truly inspirational and a blessing to all of us.

Photos of Activities

To see additional photos go to our website home page and click on the Photos tab at the top of the screen.