Corpus Christi Catholic Parish A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR
A Month and Year to Honor St. Joseph Dear Parishioners,
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ur Lord and Savior Jesus Christ chose an intercessor, a support and a guide in to enter the world through the human times of trouble,” the pope wrote. family. He came as an infant born into the At the end of the First Vatican Council marriage and home of the two holiest huin 1870, Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph man creatures who ever lived — Joseph the patron of the Universal Church. He and Mary. At a time when our world and is also the patron of carpenters, workour Church needs family and faithful disers, fathers, and a happy death because ciples now more than ever, could there be a he died in the presence of Mary and Jemore fitting time to venerate the man who sus. The title of Joseph’s March 19 feast gave his life and his love to the Blessed day is “Husband of Mary.” Pope Pius XII Mother and the Son of God? later declared May 1 to be the feast of St. Pope Francis has declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph the Worker to counteract the Communist Joseph in honor of the 150th anniversary of the May Day holiday. saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal As Catholics pray and reflect on the life of St. Church. Our pope said he established the year so Joseph this year, they also have opportunities to that “every member of the faithful, following his gain a plenary indulgence or remission of all temexample, may strengthen their life of faith daily in poral punishment due to sin. An indulgence can the complete fulfillment of God’s will.” be applied to oneself or to a soul in purgatory. As Christians, we are blessed to have Mary as An indulgence requires a specific act, defined by our spiritual mother and Joseph as our spiritual the Church, as well as sacramental confession, father. Just as Mary guides us from heaven with Eucharistic Communion, prayer for the pope’s inloving devotion, St. Joseph also diligently protentions, and full detachment from sin. vides for the needs of the family of God, the Holy Special indulgences during the Year of St. JoCatholic Church. seph can be received through various prayers and Because of his special role as foster-father of the actions, including praying for the unemployed, enChild Jesus, St. Joseph has merited singular privitrusting one’s daily work to St. Joseph, performing leges in heaven unmatched by any saint aside from a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, or meditatthe Blessed Virgin Mary. ing for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer. To give some modernAs we devote 2021 to St. day perspective to the sigJoseph’s honor, we will unTo read more about Pope Francis’ nificance of this special doubtedly unlock many spedeclaration on the Church granting year, Pope Francis has said cial graces — not only for our plenary indulgences for the Year of the coronavirus pandemic St. Joseph, visit www.bit.ly/StJoseph2021 parish, but for each of the heightened his desire to refaithful who increase their dePope Francis’ Prayer to St. Joseph flect on St. Joseph, as so votion to him during this speHail, Guardian of the Redeemer, many people during the pancial year. There is no greater Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. demic have made hidden model than St. Joseph from To you God entrusted His only Son; sacrifices to protect others, whom we can learn how to in you Mary placed her trust; just as St. Joseph quietly live virtuously in imitation of with you Christ became man. protected and cared for Mary Jesus and Mary. Blessed Joseph, to us too, and Jesus. show yourself a father “Each of us can discover Sincerely yours in Christ, and guide us in the path of life. in Joseph — the man who Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, goes unnoticed, a daily, disFr. Thomas Thakadipuram, and defend us from every evil. Amen. creet and hidden presence — Pastor
