St. Joseph the Worker

Dear SJW Parishioners:

Let’s once again see what SAINTS are celebrated during this liturgical week---

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8:  ST. DOMINIC, PRIEST

 St. Dominic was born in Spain and died in the year 1221.  He founded the Order of Preachers, which today number over 5,600, and they are devoted to contemplation, study, and preaching.  He was canonized is 1234.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9:  ST. BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS, VIRGIN & MARTYR

 Edith Stein was born in Germany in 1891 of Jewish parents.  She was enthralled by the writings of St. Teresa of Avila, and was baptized in 1922.  She then entered the Carmelites, taking the name Benedicta of the Cross.  In 1939 she moved to a convent in Holland, where in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of Holland, she was arrested and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, being killed there in August.  She was named co-patroness of Europe by Pope John Paul II.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10:  ST. LAWRENCE, DEACON & MARTYR

 Lawrence died in the year 258.  During his lifetime, he cared for the temporal welfare of the Roman church.  He was martyred by being burned alive over a gridiron.  Lawrence is the patron of Rome, after Sts. Peter and Paul.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11:  ST. CLARE, VIRGIN

Clare was from Assisi, dying in the year 1253.  She was a dedicated disciple of St. Francis of Assisi.  She found the Poor Clares, a religious order of nuns who ministered with love and in charity.  She was the abbess of the Assisi convent for over forty years.

So, let us live our lives as Catholics this week in memory of those inspiring SAINTS listed above.  May they challenge us to be holier each and every day.

Your Pastor, Father Joe

P.S.  WOW!  What a wonderful celebration for my 40^th.  I thank you all for the reception, cards, prayers, gifts, and other remembrances.  Special thanks to all those who served, worked and made food for the party.  I thoroughly felt appreciated due to your kindness and outreach.  Now, on the #41!