Why Joseph?
Because, even though he never speaks in the Scriptures, his role is so significant that no saint aside from Mary, his spouse, is mentioned more often in the Church today.
Yet he exists in the shadows—much like the frontline workers in our hospitals, grocery stores, post offices, and everywhere that essential personnel are keeping the needs of our daily lives met.
Artist Kristyn Brown / thesaintsproject.org
This quiet man, who responded to God’s voice coming to him in dreams, who fulfilled the role of earthly father to Jesus, is an excellent person to ponder in these troubling days.
May the following prayer reflection on Pope Francis’s words about St. Joseph open our eyes and hearts to this great guide.
Prayer Reflection (9)
Ministers of Salvation Joseph cooperated in the fullness of time in the great mystery of salvation and is truly a minister of salvation. Pope Francis tells us that Joseph was “called by God to serve the person and mission of Jesus directly through the exercise of his fatherhood.” Not all of us are fathers or mothers, but there is inevitably someone in our lives who looks to us for example and guidance. We don’t have to be geniuses or miracle workers—we just have to be ourselves, performing simple acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion. And if that should yield the title of “minister of salvation,” how fortunate we would be! All we need to do is play the part God calls us to play in this world
PONDER: Have I considered myself equipped to help others?
PRAY: God of wonder and surprise, remind me always that you are with me every minute, helping me to make good decisions and offer good example.
This prayer reflection can also be found in the back of the Gathering Hall under our St. Joseph stained glass window, next to the coat room.
Traveling St. Joseph, Our Guardian ~ Journey with St. Joseph ~ Faith in Action
Why not bring our Traveling St. Joseph in your home for nine days? As an added inspiration for our year with St. Joseph we are offering a special devotion to Jesus’ earthly father.
The “Traveling St. Joseph, Our Guardian” is a statue housed in a special case that makes its way from home to home, staying nine days in each home in a living novena. After nine days the shrine comes back to our Parish for the next family to pick up and begin their Novena.
We have our parishioners Stephen Lewis and Don Somogyi to thank for this beautiful devotion. Steve came to us with the idea and he also purchased a beautiful statue of St. Joseph. Don built the beautiful wooden shrine that houses St. Joseph, and Deacon Scott Wiese blessed the shrine. The front medals on the shrine doors came from a rosary that was blessed by Saint John Paull II!
This devotion begun in Grass Lake, Michigan by Father Leo Joseph, director of the Shrine of St. Joseph, Patron of the Suffering and Dying. “As protector of the Holy Family, who better to invite into our homes than St. Joseph?” according to Father Joseph.
Saint Joseph was a good father and husband to Jesus and Mary. Joseph isn’t just the father of Jesus; he is the spiritual father of the entire church and protects everyone who is a part of it. His role is to guide and protect anyone who is a part of the Catholic family.
Why not invite him home with you and your family?
Accompanying the traveling statue will be suggested prayers, although each family is free to pray however they choose. After nine days the statue moves on to a new family.
Our Journeys start week of March 19th and will go to the end of this year.
Please sign up to bring St. Joseph into your home. The sign-up book with weeks detailed is in the back of the gathering hall.