St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

Welcome to Ordinary Time once again!  Our Christmas season ended last weekend.  Now, for several weeks until Ash Wednesday, we begin Ordinary Time.  This is not a time to be “ordinary” in living our faith, but to celebrate our journey as Catholics through the liturgical year. 

How will we challenge ourselves to live our Catholicism during these weeks before Lent?  We should not wait until we enter one of the four main seasons---Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter---to practice being the best Catholics we are called to be. 

What will be our “faith agenda” until we begin Lent?  What needs to happen to draw us closer to our Lord?  How is the Lord calling us to express our faith?  Like---being more active in helping the poor; being more prayerful during our days; being a better steward for St. Joseph the Worker; being a better example of a true Christian at work or school; being braver to stand up for the Lord.  Please get busy on the agenda that is so important for us to put into practice.

This Monday, January 19^th, is the remembrance of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  He was one of the most visible and effective speakers in the area of racism.  Due to his life of activism, so many people of color have been given their due respect, love, and equality.  Dr. King’s fervent desire to see all treated with love has shaped our country over the past 60+ years. 

How will we keep his dream alive of all races getting along?  How do we treat people who are different than we are?  Where can we let go of some racist attitudes in our own lives?

This Thursday is the unfortunate anniversary of Roe vs. Wade decision decided in 1973 that said that abortions were acceptable and legal.  Since then, millions and millions of children in the womb have died because they weren’t given a chance to live.  They were and still are considered by many as “problems” or “inconveniences.”  How sad!  How sinful!  I wonder what God thinks of our country and all the abortions performed each day.  As I say about many instances:  How did we get there?

How do we respect all life?  Where can we grow in seeing the Lord’s presence in each other?  When is the last time we prayed for an end to abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, racism, hatred, war, and many more life issues? 

May this week of Ordinary Time be anything but ordinary.  Let us make it EXTRAORDINARY!

Your Pastor,

Father Joe