St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

 Welcome to a very SAINTLY week.  Our Catholic Church, in her wisdom, raises up men and women for us to emulate in our daily lives.  We should practice their holy virtues and pray to them for guidance.  Their intercession is powerful as we strive to be those faithful disciples of our Lord.  So, let us see who we celebrate this week

Monday, Sept. 29^th—Saints, Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels 

These three Saints are those special messengers of God who show us God’s loving presence and care.  Michael, “Who is like God?”, is the one who drove out the fallen angel, Satan, from heaven and is the patron of the police.  Gabriel, “God’s Strength”, appeared to Mary at the Annunciation and is the patron of the postal service and communications.  Raphael, “God’s Remedy”, healed Tobit of his blindness in the Old Testament and is the patron of the blind and those who travel. 

Tuesday, Sept. 30^th—St. Jerome, Priest, Doctor of the Church

 St. Jerome is best known for translating the Bible into Latin and is one of the four great doctors of the Latin Church.  He was a monk who wrote commentaries throughout his life.  He died in 420 in the city of Bethlehem.  He has a famous quote: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

 Wednesday, Oct. 1^st—St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church

 St. Therese is known as the “Little Flower.”  She died at the young age of 24 from tuberculosis in Lisieux, France.  She is best known for inspiring others to live “the little way.”  St. Pope John Paul II elevated her to be a doctor of the Church in 1997.  She is the patroness of missions.

Thursday, Oct. 2^nd—The Guardian Angels

 This Feast Day was given to us by Pope Clement X in the 16^th century.  This observes that God has assigned to each of us an angel to guard us in our life of faith. 

Saturday, Oct. 4^th—St. Francis of Assisi

 St. Francis of Assisi is one of the best-known saints in our history.  As a deacon, he founded the Franciscan Order.  This includes the Friars Minor Capuchins, the Conventual Franciscans, Poor Clares, Secular Franciscan Order, and Third Order Religious.  Francis wrote the “Canticle of the Sun.”  He had the stigmata, the wounds of Christ at the end of this life.  He was canonized just two years after his death in 1226.  Patron of ecologists and Italy.

See how SAINTLY this week is liturgically?  Let us be just as SAINTLY in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Your Pastor, Father Joe