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Pope Francis declares a year-long observance and celebration of St. Joseph
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April 1, 2021
On Dec. 8, 2020, Pope Francis issued his apostolic letter “Patris corde” (With a Father’s Loving Heart), declaring a year-long observance and celebration of St. Joseph (December 2020 to December 2021), on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. The Apostolic Letter can be found at: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html.
In his Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis identified the admirable qualities of St. Joseph as husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster-father of Jesus. Pope Francis invites all to learn and use these qualities as ways to grow in the faith and to witness to the Gospel (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-12/pope-francis-proclaims-year-of-st-joseph.html).
Unfortunately, the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic prohibits many of us from gathering together and celebrating this special year of St. Joseph. Nevertheless, there are some opportunities that you can do on your own and/or with your families and friends that will honor St. Joseph.
What can you do to observe and celebrate the Special Year of St. Joseph? Fifteen ways can be found at: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/fifteen-ways-to-gain-an-indulgence-in-the-year-of-st-joseph-81304.
A plenary indulgence (removal of all the temporal punishment) has been granted during the Year of St. Joseph provided the following conditions are met: 1) sacramental confession, 2) participation at the celebration of the Eucharist and reception of holy Communion, and 3) praying for the pope’s intentions.
In addition to the 15 ways mentioned above, here are some other ideas to observe the Year of St. Joseph.
a. Create your own little Altar of St. Joseph with his statue or picture and decorate around it. Add pictures of your grandfather, father, brother, husband, son(s), and other men in your life and pray for them that through the intercessions of St. Joseph they will receive God’s blessings now and hereafter.
b. Use the Litany of St. Joseph and meditate on the Litany as a means to focus your mind and heart in prayer: (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-st-joseph-247).
c. Using Father Donald Calloway’s Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father as a guide, make a personal or family consecration to St. Joseph. Go to: https://www.ncregister.com/features/it-takes-a-father-new-book-highlights-consecration-to-st-joseph. This book and related materials are available at God’s Precious Word and Gifts located at St. Mary’s Street in Thibodaux.
d. Visit churches named after St. Joseph. In addition to our Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, we have two other churches in our diocese that honor St. Joseph as their patron: St. Joseph Church in Galliano and St. Joseph Church in Chauvin. You can check their activities and schedule by going to our diocesan website at www.htdiocese.org, choose “Churches,” then “Church Parishes Search” and click on these church parishes.
e. Finally, here is a link for all resources available on observing the Year of St. Joseph: ::https://catholic-link.org/the-resources-you-need-for-the-year-of-st-joseph/.
(Very Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz, M.C.L., J.C.L., V.F., V.C. is the pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral parish in Thibodaux.)
