St. Joseph the Worker

Dear St. Joseph Parishioners:

One of the great aspects of our Catholic faith is the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, the Mother of Jesus Christ.  She was the one chosen among all women to be the Mother of the Savior of the world. 

Mary, a young girl of 12 or 13, was called upon by God through the angel Gabriel to accept an invitation to give birth to Jesus.  With this in mind, God kept her free from sin from the first moment of her life.  Thus, the belief by the Church in the Immaculate Conception of Mary.  From the first moment of her conception, Mary was sinless.  Why?  Because she would bear to the world Jesus, both human and divine.  To that end, nothing divine could come from something human (sinful).  So, Mary did not sin.  But, she also was not divine.  She was given that special privilege of being human, but not inclined to sin.

This brings us to the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven.  This Friday, August 15^th, is the celebration of the Assumption.  Again, Mary was given another special privilege of being assumed body and soul into heaven at her death.  Because her womb bore the Savior of the world, Mary’s body was spared decay. 

For us here and now, we will gather this Friday in church for Mass to celebrate the Assumption.  Our Catholic faith says this celebration is mandatory.  We are required by the Church to be at Mass that day.  Our Masses will be at 8:30am and 5:30pm.  Mark your calendars now so that you are able to fulfill the obligation to be at Mass.

Another aspect of our Catholic faith is the presence of the Saints.  These men and women lived prayerful and holy lives, albeit with weakness and failings, at times.  This Monday, August 11^th, is the Obligatory Memorial of St. Clare.  She was a disciple of St. Francis of Assisi, dying in 1253.  She led an austere life and was an abbess for over 40 years.  She was a woman of charity and loving outreach.

On Thursday, August 14^th, is the Obligatory Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, priest and martyr.  He was a Conventual Franciscan who ended up in a concentration camp in Lodz, Poland, during WWII.  He gave his very life while in that camp.  He exchanged his life in place of a man who was a father and was to be killed.  St. Maximilian lived the Gospel in giving one’s life for a friend.

May this week draw us closer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

May this week draw us closer to St. Clare and St. Maximilian Kolbe. 

Your Pastor, Father Joe