In following the papal tradition that designated the Year of Faith, Year of the Eucharist and the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has established the Year of St. Joseph, which began December 8, 2020. In doing so, he has recognized St. Joseph’s 150^th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation (made by Pope Pius IX) as patron of the Universal Church.

Pope Francis did this so “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.”[i]

The current world health crisis prompted Pope Francis to reflect on St. Joseph, who protected Mary and Jesus. He encourages us to be like Joseph and go without pageantry to minister to those in need. Pope Francis also wanted to focus on St. Joseph as a father who served his family with charity and humility, adding, “Our world today needs fathers.”[ii]

During this Year of St. Joseph, Catholics have the opportunity to obtain a special plenary indulgence by doing certain acts such as praying the rosary with their family. Note that confession, Communion, and prayer for the pope’s intentions must accompany these acts to obtain any plenary indulgence.

According to the decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary on Dec. 8, 2020, there are 15 ways to receive an indulgence in the Year of St. Joseph. Here are a few:
- Participate in a spiritual retreat for at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph. 
- Pray for St. Joseph’s intercession for the unemployed that they might find dignifying work.
- Follow St. Joseph’s example in performing a corporal work of mercy. These include feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the imprisoned, visiting the sick, and burying the dead.
- Perform one of the spiritual works of mercy, such as comforting the sorrowful, counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injuries, and praying for the living and the dead.
In a recent publication of the Beacon[iii], Bishop Sweeney mentioned he has already begun to work with diocesan leaders to formulate a plan for ways the Diocese can share in the blessings and graces of this Holy Year. While the plan is being developed, Bishop Sweeney suggests visiting Fr. Don Calloway’s website and perhaps reading his book; “The Consecration of St. Joseph.”

At St. Elizabeth’s, we plan to offer a monthly reflection during this year that will focus on some aspect of St. Joseph that we hope you will find inspiring.

Also, please enjoy the video of Joseph’s Song, performed by Ralph Meola, accompanied by Ann Majewski.

Reflection on St. Joseph (July 2021)

When I was pregnant with my first child, picking out names was very easy--for a boy that is.
Joseph is the Malandrino family name, so one day I told my husband we needed to name the
baby Joseph Anthony if he was a boy. It was very strange that I was the one to pick the name,
as I am only a Malandrino by marriage, and we simply could not agree on a name for a girl at
all. But no matter, because Joseph Anthony Malandrino was born in October of 1992. I used to
call him Joe Tony in utero, but I never used that name after he was born. Not once, because it
just didn’t fit. He was Joseph, especially to his dad, and Joey to the rest of us until, at age ten,
he told us he was no longer Joey. From then on, it was Joe or Joseph. But I began to see over
the years how naming my son Joseph played out.

I always just figured he would be the “Joseph” from our branch of the family, as my husband’s
middle name is Joseph, and the brother he never knew was named Joseph before him. It just
seemed right to name our child Joseph. I chose Anthony for his middle name to pay homage to
one of my family’s patron saints, St. Anthony, and I honestly thought the selection of Anthony
as his middle name had a much stronger religious connection for me. (I cannot say how many
times I have prayed to St. Anthony to help me find something lost!) So, Joseph Anthony it was,
and as good Italians (even though I am half Greek), we bought our Joseph the customary St.
Joseph pastries on March 19 th , and he received cards and well-wishes on his “name day.” But I
never thought beyond these familial reasons for naming our son Joseph until I got a little older.
This year’s honoring of St. Joseph has been eye-opening for me.

One Sunday at 9:00 mass, I was listening to Father John Andrew’s homily as he reflected on the
attributes of St. Joseph. Knowing that I was going to write this reflection myself, I paid extra
special attention. Father discussed St. Joseph’s many roles in life-- as father, role model,
mentor, protector, husband, patriarch, worker/craftsman, guide, supporter, faithful, believer,
subject of the Lord, and uncelebrated hero. He gave examples of St. Joseph in all of these roles,
each time demonstrating how St. Joseph did the right thing in every instance, in every role. As I
listened to Father John Andrew and pondered writing this reflection, I thought back to the
naming of my son in light of these attributes. If you have read the previous month’s reflections,
you know that many of the authors pointed out how little there is written about Joseph in The
Bible. Rather than restate these passages, I focused more on the many questions I reflected on
when thinking about St. Joseph’s attributes and his actions.

Every year, as Christmas approaches, I think about the strength of St. Joseph and the incredible
feats he undertook to be the earthly stepfather and protector of the son of God and his mother,
Mary. For example, what was his reaction to finding out his betrothed was with child? The
Bible tells us he wanted to quietly break their engagement as to not disgrace Mary. Who would
ever be that considerate? Then, when the angel told him to keep Mary as his wife, what did it
really take for him to take Mary into his home as his wife, although she was pregnant with a
child that was not his. That would be a tough one in the 21 st century, let alone in the time in
which they lived. It would seem to be impossible then, but the angel let him know what he
needed to do, and he did it. What incredible faith did this take? How did he face the incredulity
and ridicule of his family and friends?

When he and a very pregnant Mary later traveled to Bethlehem for the census, and it became
obvious that it was time for Jesus to be born, how did Joseph find a place for Mary to give birth,
even though there were no rooms available? We mere mortals panic on the way to the
hospital to give birth in the present day. Joseph could only arrange for a barn and then calmly
take care of mother and child himself, helping with the birth of God’s son. It was his rock-
steady demeanor and fortitude that guided his wife through the birth of the savior of the world.
How did this fact affect his actions? He really must have been a true believer in what he was
instructed to do.

As if this was not enough, then the angel appeared in a dream to tell Joseph to take Mary and
Jesus into Egypt and stay there until instructed to return. Once again, his extreme faith and
fortitude guided his actions as he protected his family, protected God’s son. How did this last
fact weigh on him—keep safe the Savior of the World? How did this young family manage to
reach and live in a foreign land? How did they later make the journey back safely and live their
modest lives in Nazareth? I’m sure divine intervention does help, but all of this couldn’t have
been easy by any stretch of the imagination. Then, as Jesus grew, he learned St. Joseph’s trade
as a carpenter. He was a craftsman, a worker, a mentor. Jesus learned his trade and continued
with it until Joseph had passed away, and Jesus then began his public ministry. He was
groomed in so many ways by St. Joseph, taking all that he learned into his public life.

When I reflect on these attributes and think of the connection between these and naming my
son Joseph, I truly think something divine guided my hand. It was as if there was no other
name. Now as an adult, I realize that my son Joseph has a chance to share in the same
attributes as St. Joseph, even if he cannot match the very high standards set by St. Joseph. Joe
is a new father of a little girl, and like St. Joseph, he is a protector of his child and a role model
for her. He is a husband and patriarch of his family. He is a supporter of his family and his
church. He is a mentor for his much younger brother who also wants to also become an
engineer. He is a worker and craftsmen, a guide to those who work under him, especially his
company’s interns. He is a believer and a subject of the Lord. He has had many Joseph
Malandrinos who have come before him, and maybe more will come after him. Whether he
becomes an uncelebrated hero remains to be seen, but what a magnificent role model he, and
all of us who do the same, have in St. Joseph.

-Lynne Malandrino
 

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Reflection on Fathers Day in the year of St. Joseph (June 2021)

Father's Day is here once again! May all those who are reading this who are fathers be Blessed
by God in a special way this day. You are more important and vital to your family and children, than you
can possibly know. Fathers teach daughters how a man should treat them and sons how to treat
women. According to research done at the Child and Family Research Partnership at the University of
Texas, Involved Dads Have A Direct Impact On Their Children's Future: "Involved fatherhood is linked to
better outcomes on nearly every measure of child wellbeing, from cognitive development and
educational achievement to self-esteem [or recognition of one's own worth] and pro-social behavior [or
healthy interpersonal activity]. Children who grow up with involved fathers are: 39% more likely to earn
mostly A's in school, 45% less likely to repeat a grade, 60% less likely to be suspended or expelled from
school, twice as likely to go to college and find stable employment after high school, 75% less likely to
have a teen birth, and 80% less likely to spend time in jail." (https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/5-
things-you-should-know-about-importance-fathers)

Given such an enormous impact on children's wellbeing, you would think that people in society
would be focused on this issue foremostly. The truly Good News is, however, that even if you are
without your father according to the flesh or without an adoptive father or father figure on earth, or the
one you have leaves so much to be desired, GOD Will BE Your Father through The Spirit of adoption,
The Spirit of Christ Jesus Calling out, "ABBA", Father. In fact, Jesus Himself told us, "Do not call
[consider] any man on earth your [true] father, for you Have only one Father Who Is in Heaven."
We may or may not have a relationship with our "lowercase f" fathers, but God Will Always Be Our
Father Who Art In Heaven, To Whom, Through Jesus, His Only Son, By the Holy Spirit, we can always
Go for Love, Encouragement, Strength and most of all, Mercy: before committing His Spirit to the Father,
on the Cross Jesus Prayed outloud for all to hear, "Father, Forgive them, for they know not what they
do!" Wow! What amazing, awesome and unfathomable Love Is Poured out upon us!

Protestant Christians take Christ Jesus' Words to the extreme, believing that He Was telling us
not to use the word "father" in speaking to or about a man, for instance, the title "Father" for priests and
the Pope. If that were true, then that means that St. Stephen directly disobeyed a commandment from
The Lord Himself when he declared, when on trial for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court),
"Brothers and fathers, listen to me! ... " and St. Paul, to whom Our Lord Jesus Personally Appeared and
Revealed Himself, when he was defending himself to the Jewish crowd, said, "Brothers and fathers,
listen now to my defense before you." Our Lord Jesus Himself Took a human father, Joseph, which
made the villagers in His hometown grumble at His Wisdom and His Miracles, as they said, "Is this not
Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, 'I have come down
from heaven'?"

There have been many locutions (speakings) of Jesus about God The Father recorded in the
Gospel accounts (many people were so afraid and angry by what He Said that they wanted to kill Him,
and it was ultimately this Singular Intimacy With God and the Revelation of God Being a Father of an
Only Son Who He Always Has Been that led Him to be put to death: "I AM only Doing what I Have
Seen My Father Doing." "I Have only Told you what I Have Heard from My Father." "My Father
Has Been Working up till now [the sabbath] and so must I" (and from that moment on, the priests and
scribes plotted to put Him to death [because He Declared Himself equal to God and Lord of the
sabbath]). "Whoever knows the Father recognizes His Son." "No one can come to Me unless The
Father Draws Him." "God So Loved the world that He Gave His Only Begotten Son, that
Whosoever Believes in Him may not perish but have Everlasting Life." "This is The Father's Will:
that all may Know Him, The One True God and Jesus Christ, Whom He Has Sent." Phillip: "Lord,
Show us The Father and we will be satisfied." "Phillip, how long have I been with you and you still
do not know Me? Whoever Sees Me Has Seen The Father; The Father and I Are One." God
Reveals fatherhood as a Divine, Spiritual and Heavenly reality that Saves the world. Fathers,
Love your children as God Loves you. Amen.

-Michael Meola

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Reflection on Saint Joseph (May 2021)
Admittedly, I was slightly embarrassed that, when the opportunity to write this reflection for the Year of Saint Joseph arose, I realized I knew very little of this incredibly important foster father to Jesus.

When I feel like things are starting to pile up against me and that pressure may soon become overwhelming, I often reflect on Job (Job 1, 13;22).  Despite all of the challenges he endured, he never turned away from God, even when he lost everything. That always struck me as a definition of ‘unshakeable faith.’ When I think about ‘unshakable faith’ in relation to St. Joseph, this reflection immediately means more to me.

In performing some rudimentary reading of St. Joseph, I realized I may not be alone in my lack of knowledge of him. There is not a single word written on what he said, as I am told in every article I read. Admittedly, that does bring some selfish comfort in my lack of knowing Joseph, but also begins my deeper reflection. So, he was just a good Dad, an upright and a righteous man; that’s about it.

Except that is not all of it. One of my favorite things I watched last year, other than the University of Alabama football, was “The Chosen” television series. What was so striking for me was the reality it sparked of these people in the Bible. We know so many of the passages by heart, but that series demanded that we understand that these were just people like you and I. That is how I see Saint Joseph; he was just a Dad and tried to love God and Mary with all of his heart. If I learn nothing else about him, that might be enough.

Now the amount of sacrifice, humility, and patience that Joseph must have had becomes clear. As a parent myself, I sympathize with the large demand for those qualities. The striking image I begin with is the terror that he and Mary must have had for three days looking for Jesus and finally returning to the temple and discovering Jesus still there and safe. As a Dad to three girls, I do not even want to think about that occurring with any of my children, let alone imagine how I would react. Taking a moment now, how do you feel as Joseph and Mary search for your lost Jesus?

Another part that speaks to me is Joseph’s original thoughts to save Mary’s life and reputation upon finding out she was pregnant before their marriage. This was just Joseph being himself and probably gives us some insight as to why God chose him. He loved Mary so deeply that he was willing to lose her, wiling to “divorce her quietly” in order to save her life and honor their love.  How humble! In fact, when I looked up the word “humbleness” to confirm the meaning, it frames Joseph perfectly:

 “Humbleness is a quality of being modest or unpretentious. True humbleness is characterized by humility and a certain quietness or reserve.” https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/humbleness

Joseph’s incredible inner turmoil must have been significant, as I can only imagine the rest of the town community must have also known Mary was with child. What do you think must have gone through Joseph’s mind as he was making his decision? For a moment, let’s think about the immense love for God that Joseph shows here. Even before the angel appeared to him in a dream, Joseph chose love over hate. I cannot help but think of how we can adopt that choice in our decisions, especially during these unprecedented times, can you?

The final point that strikes me in reflecting upon my very limited knowledge of Joseph is that huge additional leap of faith he takes after dreaming and speaking with an angel. The Gospel tells us Joseph immediately accepted the direction the angel provided. Sure enough, that seems very accurate, but I can only imagine the thoughts that must have been racing through his mind. I often speak and reflect on the critical and amazingly difficult step of letting go of myself to accept God’s will, whatever that may be. That is exactly the point of no return here for Joseph too. In our daily lives, it is so hard to ‘let go’ of ourselves and simply say ‘Yes’ to following Jesus. How do you see this critical juncture? I find comfort knowing Joseph was human and struggled too, but also I find a model to lean on in Joseph during my much smaller struggles. Does reflecting on Joseph’s leap of faith help support you in your struggles at all?

In my life, it gets so much easier after those first steps of letting go. In a short period of time, it has transformed me into almost never holding on. That is also a bit scary, but I could never have dreamed of the peace and overwhelming showers of gifts God provides for me and my family. Do you truly let go of control over your life? How does it make you feel? Where do you think you can experience more letting go within your life?

I have to thank Saint Joseph and Jesus for leading my thoughts yet again and for this fantastic opportunity to share with you my ever-improving process of letting Jesus have complete autonomy over everything in my life. I truly pray you can experience the same euphoria and love in your life, and then ten-fold, and another hundred-fold on top of that.

~Ray Martinelli

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St. Joseph – A Father in the Shadows
Not much is written in the Gospels about St. Joseph except in the infancy narratives of Matthew
and Luke. Luke also mentions St. Joseph in the account of the finding in the temple, when the
Lord Jesus was 12 years of age. The Gospels are silent about the Holy Family’s life in Nazareth
and St. Joseph’s presence during the public ministry of Jesus. However, during Jesus’ public
ministry, people who refused to believe him and his works tried to put the him down by
referring to him either as the carpenter, the carpenter’s son or Joseph’s son.

We are familiar with the vital role given to St. Joseph in God’s plan for our salvation. When
Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child
of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, unwilling to put her to shame, planned to send her away quietly. But
the angel of the Lord said to him in a dream not to fear to take Mary as his wife for the baby
she conceived is of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18-20). By taking Mary as his wife, St. Joseph
became the foster father of Jesus and the protector of the Holy Family. We can glean from the
accounts of Matthew and Luke that St. Joseph provided Mary and Jesus with the selfless love,
devotion, care and protection of a husband and a father.

Fathers and mothers are both essential to the development of their child’s total well-being. Our
parents not only influence who we will become, but how we relate to others and the world as
well. A father is instrumental in shaping the character of his child. This is probably the reason
why God selected a righteous man like St. Joseph to become the foster father of his Incarnate
Son. Jesus’ human qualities of humility, integrity, living by his principles and values, self-
discipline, accountability, industry – must have been influenced in a major way by St. Joseph.

Similarly, St. Joseph along with Mary would certainly have been the primary model for the child
Jesus in the spiritual qualities of holiness, righteousness, obedience and faithfulness to the Law.
Luke 2:51-52, Jesus is described as being obedient to his parents – the obedience of love, and
that he “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

In Mark 6:3, people from Nazareth where the Holy Family lived referred to Jesus as a carpenter.
Since St. Joseph was also described in Matthew 13:55 as a carpenter, we can say with
confidence that Jesus learned the trade from his foster father. Before his public ministry, Jesus
was presumably engaged in building physical structures using the carpentry skills he learned
from St. Joseph. Starting with his public ministry and continuing until now, the work of Jesus
moved to the spiritual realm of building his Church (Matthew 16:18). Recognizing that Jesus is
the Master Builder, Paul uses the construction metaphor to describe this work in Ephesians
2:19-22 and 1 Corinthians 3:10-14. Even in this, we can also detect the influence of St. Joseph,
the builder Jesus learned from.

I had a St. Joseph figure in my life: my paternal grandfather. I am the eldest child in a single-
parent home headed by my Mom. My Dad was practically absent when I was a child. My
paternal grandfather, sensing his grandchildren’s need for their father, provided the paternal
love and attention I and my siblings craved for in his son’s absence.

My happiest childhood memories have to do with times I shared with my Mom or with my
grandfather. My saddest memory was the day my grandfather died when I was 10 years old.

I don’t remember much of my toddler years, but old family pictures tell some of the story. In
one, I was teary eyed with my grandfather carrying me in his arms. I must have fallen and hurt
myself, and my grandfather picked me up to comfort and reassure me. Another picture showed
me beaming in cowboy attire standing next to a wooden horse. My Mom said that the clothes
and toy were my grandfather’s gifts. Still another picture was of my grandfather and me with
several of his friends seated around a table in a restaurant. I was right next to my grandfather,
with an ice cream cup in front of me, the only child in a gathering of elderly men.

I do have vivid memories of the times I spent with my grandfather when I past toddler age. By
then, he had retired from his public service office. He gave me the weekend task of feeding the
chicken layers in his backyard poultry farm. Thus he taught me about work and responsibility.
As his eldest grandchild, he also gave me the responsibility for keeping my younger siblings and
cousins safe and well-behaved while playing in the backyard - by being a good example to
them. Thus he taught me about leadership.

I recall accompanying my grandfather to his downtown meetings with friends over coffee. All
along the way, he would be stopped by well-wishers who wanted to say hello or shake his hand.
I was mystified by this, until I learned later on that those people were appreciative of his record
of integrity in public service.

As I grew older, I recall that my grandfather would speak to me about the importance of
developing a good character, of honesty and hard work, and of the value of developing
friendships based on trust and respect. He believed in having a good Catholic education. He was
instrumental in the decision to send me to the Catholic school that he himself attended from
grade school to college.

Like all growing boys, I had my share of misbehavior that required the application of discipline. I
recall being disciplined in love by my grandfather whenever I did something wrong, and
affirmed whenever I did something good. He emphasized that good deeds are a good way to
honor and love God and parents.

I now realize that it was through my grandfather’s love and attention that I first experienced
the love of God the Father. It was my grandfather who helped me develop my earliest
relationship with Father God.

I thank you, Lord Jesus, for the gift of my grandfather, who reminds me of the fatherly love and
care that St. Joseph provided you, while remaining “in the shadows.” My grandfather was
always Grandpa to me, but he loved me just like a son. Thank you, Father God, for my
grandfather whose heart overflowed with your love.

-Richard de la Fuente

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St Joseph: A man of humility and courage
I’ve always thought it strange that the Gospels say so little about St. Joseph. Luke and John each
mention St. Joseph only once. Mark doesn’t mention Joseph at all. I think about Joseph’s role in Jesus’s
life and feel that perhaps these writers could have told us a little more about him. It’s Matthew that
tells us the most about Jesus’s adoptive father, and from Matthew we see the great humility of St.
Joseph.

Matthew tells us that Joseph was a righteous man, and we learn that he was a caring and respectful
husband to Mary. And we see that Joseph listened to God’s messengers, the angels, and did as he was
told when first he was told to take Mary into his home, then to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt, then to
return to Israel and finally to go to Galilee. What tremendous faith, what incredible trust Joseph had, to
hear and act on instructions that come from an angel in a dream. Joseph humbly accepted and acted
on instructions that came from God through a messenger, an angel, and not directly from God
appearing before him, like Moses and many of the prophets. We are not told, but I think Joseph did not
have the “big picture;” that is, he did not know that this baby he was caring for was the Son of God, and
our Savior.

I imagine Joseph had a rich prayer life that prepared him to hear the will of God, and increased his faith
so he could act according to God’s will. Joseph was prepared and open to hearing God’s message
through the angels. I want that for myself, to have the humility hear the messengers God sends me,
and act according to His will in all things. Who are God’s messengers in my life? I have not seen an
angel that looks the way we usually think, with wings and light, and all. But there are people in my life
and people I meet daily who by their words and actions show what God wants for me. I pray to St.
Joseph to become humble and open to God’s message and to have the courage to act on it.

I’m grateful for St. Joseph’s humility, faith and courage – he shows us how to be open to God’s will for
us and act with trust and confidence.

By Phil Lamoureux

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St Joseph: A Man of Patience
I was planning to take early retirement at the end of 2008 and was going to take some time off before I looked for another job. I had it all figured out but when I start looking for that job the economy was not doing well and every firm I contacted about employment was not hiring. This unfortunately went on for close to two years. My frustration was mounting and my patience was wearing quite thin. I thought what am I doing wrong. Why can’t I find a job?

Well after two years I was approached by an acquaintance who asked if I was ready to back to work. I said of course. He told me about a position related to the water & sewer industry and asked that I send him my resume.  After several interviews, I was hired and spent seven years working for that utility.

When I reflected on this situation, I finally understood that my plan was not God’s plan. I wasn’t patient enough to wait. There were other missions that God wanted me to participate in before I rejoined the work force. That was His plan.

Now St Joseph was a man of great patience.  He waited for God’s revelation about Mary’s pregnancy, becoming Jesus’ step-father and going to Egypt to protect Mary & Jesus. He patiently awaited God’s revelations affecting his life with Mary & Jesus. St. Joseph responded each time to God’s directions and waited for the plan to be revealed to him. St Joseph trusted in God’s care for him.

With God’s grace, when we practice patience, we can handle the daily problems both big & small and the minor inconveniences that face us. During this year of St Joseph, ask for his intercession to help us be patient, merciful and trusting in God’s plan for us.

Peace,
Mike Pucilowski