St. Joseph the Worker

Dear SJW Parishioners:

Welcome to another week of living our Catholic faith!  How fortunate we are to be those modern day disciples of the Lord, carrying out His mission on earth as did the Apostles and Saints in our Church’s history.  Let us commit ourselves each day to living up to that call.

Speaking of saints, let us reflect on several of them whose Feast Days we celebrate liturgically during these next days.

MONDAY, JULY 24---ST. SHARBEL MAKHLUF

St. Sharbel lived in the 19^th century in northern Lebanon.  He was a monk in the Maronite Rite, being ordained a priest in 1859.  He lived as a hermit during the last several decades of his life and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother.  He was canonized in 1977, and is called the “Hermit of Lebanon.”

TUESDAY, JULY 25---ST. JAMES, APOSTLE

This Feast commemorates one of the Twelve Apostles, St. James the Greater.  He was called “the Greater” because the Lord called him before the other apostle named James.  He was the brother of St. John.  James was the first apostle to be martyred.  He is the patron of pilgrims and of Spain.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26---STS. JOACHIM AND ANNE

This Memorial celebrates the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Anne is the patron saint of women who are childless.  Joachim is the patron saint of fathers and grandparents.

SATURDAY, JULY 29---STS. MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS

This Memorial calls to mind the three faithful siblings who followed Jesus closely during His lifetime.  Martha showed Jesus hospitality.  Mary listened at the feet of the Lord to His words.  Lazarus is the one Jesus raised from the dead.  This date was the original memorial for Martha, but in 2021 Pope Francis added St. Mary and St. Lazarus.

Have a SAINTLY week!

Your Pastor,

Father Joe