The Feast of St. Joseph

The Feast of St. Joseph - March 19, 2024

As a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, I want to sing the praises of this humble carpenter whom we name the Patron and Protector of our Community.

Joseph was a humble man who rose every morning to work under the same sun that warms our lives.  Almost nothing is written about Joseph the carpenter of Nazareth.  However, anyone who is familiar with what we call ‘negative art’ can appreciate our Joseph by painting a picture of who surrounds him.

The Creator fashioned a woman in His own image to be Second-born of the Father and to have the dignity of the spouse and Mother of God and Queen of Heaven. In the womb of her mother Anne, the flesh of Mary gathered around her soul that continues to love and show mercy as long as she exists. She is second after the Son of the Father, Jesus, who is First-born of the Father.  Imagine the beauty of this woman who is created to bear the Son of the Father and who is the delight of the Holy Trinity.

Joseph is the man chosen to provide the love and protection of a husband for this woman chosen to be the Mother of God. 

Scripture tells us that Joseph was a just man, an upright man, a righteous man.  Mary would no longer be an orphan in the Temple nor would she be fearful of entrusting her virginity to Joseph.  She also trusted that God would reveal to Joseph all about the miracle growing within her and of the need for the protection of her reputation.  Joseph knew Mary for what she was when it was time for him to know.  For Mary, Joseph was the head of the family, and he was her protector and chaste guardian of her virginity.  Together they would anticipate hearing the voice of the Son of God calling them ‘father and Mother.’

Joseph’s arms were to become the cradle for the Redeemer.  When danger was imminent, it was Joseph, in tune with God’s design for the child Jesus and his mother, who fled with them to safety.  It was Joseph’s task to open the Son of God to knowing that he, Jesus was FROM the Father and that he was FOR the salvation of humankind—that he was the longed-for Messiah.  And didn’t Jesus say as a twelve-year-old boy that he had to be in his Father’s house? (Luke 2:43-49)

You would think that Joseph would be rewarded with the blessing of never having sorrow in his life.  In such a proximity to Mary, and to Jesus, tiredness, worries, troubles would likely challenge but not overwhelm him and never would hinder prayer; it would be a priority.  Prayer is said to blunt the weapons of Satan and Joseph is called ‘the terror of demons.’

We are privileged to have St. Joseph as Patron and Protector for our Community of women religious.  And as we decline in numbers and our active ministries decrease, we call on Joseph to intercede for us and to console the poor, give hope to the sick, and to accompany the dying on their final journey.  St. Joseph, pray for us.

- Sister Elaine Cole, csj

5th Sunday of Lent

5th Sunday of Lent 2024

As we get ever closer to the Easter Triduum the readings greet us with welcome, the reality of suffering with purpose and ultimately hope.

The first reading (Jeremiah 31:31-34) tells us that God is making a new covenant with us, that we will all know our God, that our iniquity will be forgiven. Welcome to the fold!

Hebrews 5:7-9 reminds us of our call to be faithful, as Jesus was, to the unique individual we are called to be. Sometimes answering that call tests our faith. Suffering with purpose!

Are we brave enough to accept this invitation?

For me the Gospel (John 12:20-33) brings it all home. Jesus proclaims the need to “die so as to rise and bear much fruit”. He is troubled knowing the future for him will be beyond difficult but also acknowledging “it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father glorify your name”.

Do I know who I am called to be? Am I brave enough to accept that invitation? How will I live through the challenges knowing I am ultimately glorifying God’s name.

Given the time of year I am deeply aware of the acknowledgement that “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains a single grain; BUT if it dies it bears much fruit. (John 12:24-26)

May you bear much fruit!

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

St. Patrick’s Day 2024

“Did your Mother come from Ireland?”  

Well, mine did and so St. Patrick’s Day was always a cause for celebration. Lots of music, corn beef & cabbage, Irish stew with lamb, warm soda bread, maybe a wee nip & company with whom to share stories made the whole day a prayer of thanksgiving for our Irish heritage.

St. Patrick (actual name-Maewyn Succat) wasn’t Irish. He was born in 385 A.D. in either Scotland or Wales to Roman parents. As a teen he was sold into slavery in Ireland but escaped to a monastery in England. He later became a priest then bishop and returned to Ireland as a missionary taking on the name Patrick. He is best known for his use of the three leafed shamrock to explain the blessed Trinity, three persons in one God. He is the patron saint of engineers based on the number of churches he built throughout Ireland and is said to offer protection from snake bites.

On reflection, what I think is most wonderful about this feast is that it is an occasion not only for the Irish to come together in joy but the world to celebrate together. There are parades all around the world, lots of green attire, laughter, music and merriment. I wonder if St. Patrick ever considered that he would become the patron saint of unity in joy.

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit - Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

IMAGES: Yan Ming, K. Mitch Hodge/Unsplash