St. Joseph the Worker

Dear SJW Parishioners:

Another opportunity to look at the Saints in our liturgical week, this week being the 2^nd one of the Advent season.  May these holy people inspire us to prepare ourselves to live worthily in expectation of the Lord’s Second Coming. 

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, DECEMBER 12^TH

This Feast commemorates the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1531 at Tepeyac in Mexico.  She appeared to a young man, Juan Diego, from December 9-12 of that year.  Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Americas.  This Feast is celebrated especially in Mexico, and it shows that our Lord continues to be part of our lives through his Blessed Mother.

OBLIGATORY MEMORIAL OF ST. LUCY, VIRGIN & MARTYR. DECEMBER 13TH

 St. Lucy died in the country of Sicily in the year 304 under the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian.  She is the patroness of those with eye problems, since her name means “light.”  St. Lucy has a special connection to any festivals of light, especially in the Scandinavian region.  She is pictured with a wreath of candles on her head.

OBLIGATORY MEMORIAL OF ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, PRIEST & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, DECEMBER 14TH

 St. John of the Cross was born in 1591 in Spain.  He was a contemporary of St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila, as well as being a poet and a mystic.  He was the founder of the reformed Discalced Carmelite Friars.  He was put in prison by those who opposed his reformation.  His famous work is “The Dark Night of the Soul.”  The Discalced Carmelites number around 4,000 worldwide.

May you all have a SAINTLY week of Advent!

Your fellow Advent journeyer,

Father Joe