Letter from Our Pastor

Dear Parishioners,

When the Covid-19 pandemic first started to invade our world, there were three saints that I immediately felt inclined to lean upon more intensely: Our Blessed Mother Mary, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Joseph. For many years, the statue of St. Joseph had been in our hallway near the main entrance into the building, but truthfully, I would often forget he was there. However, I appreciated it very much when I would see parishioners making a simple bow towards his statue as they walked out after Mass. It reminded me that I should do the same. Early on in the pandemic I moved the statue into the sanctuary next to the tabernacle. I not only wanted people to see the statue on video for livestream Mass, but I also felt a need for his fatherly protection over our parish in a time of such unease. He is our adoptive father, the foster father to Jesus, and caring husband of Mary. He protected his wife and child and led them with wisdom and love, and I wanted to ask God for the same care and guidance for our parish through the intercession of St. Joseph. Though there is very little about St. Joseph in the Holy Scriptures, what we DO have about him shows a man of faithfulness, gentleness, courage, dutifulness, and wisdom.

When I heard that Pope Francis wanted to dedicate the next year to St. Joseph, I was happy as my mind pondered the possibilities of how we can use this year to draw closer to St. Joseph.

I am especially grateful for this Year of St. Joseph because it gives the Church an opportunity to focus on the spirituality of fathers and husbands. For some reason, when it comes to the role of our husbands and fathers in the spiritual life of the family many of them are impotent. There is plenty of research that shows that when a father practices his faith there is a dramatically higher chance that his children will continue the practice and that overall fathers who go to church have healthier family relationships. Research also shows that when a father knows how to express masculine affection it has a powerful benefit in the overall emotional development of a child. Our men need to be encouraged and empowered to be men, to be confident in the Lord, to be humble leaders, to be prayerful and discerning in their ways, and men of temperance and virtue. Father and husbands are urged to use this year to enkindle a devotion to St. Joseph and learn from his ways.

Of course, all of the characteristics above are not just for husbands and fathers, but for us all. Children, women, and single men, divorced, etc., are all children of St. Joseph. I am convinced that developing a devotion and a love for St. Joseph will yield surprising and beautiful graces in our daily lives.

St. Joseph, Protector of the Family, pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Eugene.

Monthly Devotional

Prayers to St. Joseph 

St. Joseph Statue Home Visitation Program

Each family will have custody of the statue for one week. During the week the family is encouraged to pray to St. Joseph, and ponder how he can be a role model for Christian discipleship and especially Christian fatherhood.

Each family is asked to hand the statue to the next family on Sunday between the 9:30 am Mass and the 11:30 am Mass. Meet in front of the outside Statue of Mary.

The Spiritual Life Committee of the Pastoral Council will be maintaining this program. If you have any questions, please contact: Paul Lee sanglee1957@live.com.

Please handle the statue carefully. On Saturday evening, please carefully place the statue, the prayer frame, and the instruction sheet back into the case and bring on Sunday.

When first receiving the statue, families are urged to wipe down the carrying case, the Statue, and the prayer frame carefully to prevent COVID-19 spread.