Saint Joseph - Our Patron Saint

Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus Christ, was a descendant of King David, according to the genealogy presented by the Gospel. Betrothed to Mary, he decided to divorce her quietly when he found she was with child, but an angel of the Lord told him to take her as his wife, since the child to be born was the “Holy One of God.”
Joseph assisted at the birth of Jesus and became his support and guide through childhood. In a dream he was told by an angel to flee from Bethlehem with the infant and his mother, lest Herod kill the child. He accompanied them to the temple where Jesus was presented to God. With Mary, he sought the boy Jesus when he was lost on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In his work as a carpenter he shared the many hours of his trade with his young son.

Joseph, a man of faith, a just man, was a worthy successor to the great patriarchs – Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. He followed the call of God through the mysterious circumstances that surrounded the coming of Jesus. God entrusted this silent, humble man with the unique privilege of raising his only son as a growing child.

A Saint close to God, he is honored as the patron of the universal Church.

Source: Hoagland, Victor, C.P. The Book of Saints. New York: The Regina Press, 1986.

"Certain saints were given the privilege of protecting us in particular circumstances, but St. Joseph was charged with interceding for us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking."
- St. Thomas Aquinas

The Feast of Saint Joseph is March 19th

Pope Francis Proclaims “Year of St Joseph”
December 8, 2020 – December 8, 2021


In a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.

The Letter marks the 150^th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021.

St. Joseph had a “creative courage” in that he could take a problem and turn it into a possibility by trusting in divine providence.

Saint Joseph presents himself to us as an exemplary figure in a world that “needs fathers”.  He is that gentle, faith filled, loving father who knew how to love with extraordinary freedom.  He teaches us much, regardless of who we are or where we find ourselves being at this point in time.

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), can be found at  http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html

At the conclusion of his letter, the pope offers a prayer to Saint Joseph which he encourages all of us to pray together.
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil.  Amen