St. Joseph the Worker

Dear SJW Parishioners:

It just can’t be the end of July already.  That means the summer vacation time is coming to a quick end.  And in my book, that is not a good thing.  I want the warm temperatures and leisure of these past months to continue.  But, alas…..

As I did last week in the bulletin, so I will do again this week---that of highlighting important SAINTS whose Feast Days we celebrate during these next days.  These are our role models, our faith heroes, our examples of how to live our Catholic faith in the world.  Let us learn from them and model them in our daily lives.

STS. MARTHA, MARY, & LAZARUS---OBLIGATORY MEMORIAL - JULY 29^TH

These three saints were close friends to Jesus in His ministry.  St. Martha was the source of wonderful hospitality when Jesus would visit.  St. Mary was the one who sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His every word.  St. Lazarus was the one who was raised from the dead by Jesus and came out of the tomb.  This day used to be only for St. Martha, but Pope Francis added Mary and Lazarus in 2021.

How do we invite Jesus into our lives?

ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, PRIEST---OBLIGATORY MEMORIAL - JULY 31^ST

St. Ignatius was  a soldier early on in his life.  He founded the Society of Jesus, or commonly called now the Jesuits, of which Pope Francis is a member.  He died in the year 1556.  St. Ignatius wrote a very famous work called the Spiritual Exercises.  The Jesuits today number almost 15,000 worldwide.

Do we do “spiritual exercising” each day to remain faith strong and faith healthy?

 ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI, BISHOP & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH---OBLIGATORY MEMORIAL - AUGUST 1^ST

St. Alphonsus was a lawyer who founded the Redemptorist Order, which today has almost 5,000 members.  He was very learned in moral theology.  He was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church, and is the patron of confessors and moral theologians.  He died in 1787.

Have we checked our “moral compass” lately?

 I hope you all have a holy and “saintly” week!

 Your Pastor, Father Joe