From John Paul II’s Redemptoris Custos: Pope St. John Paul writes that Joseph enjoyed great intimacy with Mary and Jesus in their family. The Pope goes on to say that the true meaning of family is “to guard, reveal, and communicate love.”

Often, we have questions about our Catholic faith. Even lifelong Catholics sometimes have unanswered questions about things like God’s existence, why bother going to Confession and Mass, why we believe that a Consecrated Host is actually Jesus, and more that we know maybe a little bit about or have heard about from other people, but we can’t quite make sense of it all. This creates a kind of “spiritual dissonance” within us. Rather than look up the answers with good, Catholic resources, we often let the questions fester and go about our lives, perhaps afraid of the answers. Understanding more about the existence of God and the divine origins of the Church might have serious implications for how we are living our lives. While ignorance may be “bliss,” as the saying goes, it won’t get you to heaven or give you true peace here in this life.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This gift of time we call Lent has the potential to supercharge our faith, hope, and love…only if we will humble ourselves and open our hearts to Our Lord. If you’re still wondering what to do this year (or if you totally forgot) it’s not too late! Start right now. Some ideas based on Jesus’ words from Ash Wednesday: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Think of one thing from each category and do each thing well. The holy rosary is always a great choice. Perhaps commit to a weekly or bi-weekly Holy Hour of Adoration in front of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Even better, consider daily Mass two or three times a week. Whatever you choose, the important thing is to stop what you are doing and get busy with the affairs of God, giving Him your time. With humility, you can’t go wrong.

From St. Joseph and His World by Mike Aquilina. Joseph knew the history of salvation, so he was able to detect God’s pattern. He knew how to recognize sin and its consequences. He could judge falsehood because he had steeped himself, all his life, in the truth of Sacred Scripture and Tradition.

To think about: Do we “steep ourselves” in Sacred Scripture and Tradition? How can we “steep ourselves” in Sacred Scripture and Tradition?

Pope Benedict wrote: St. Joseph’s silence “is a silence permeated by contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to his divine wishes. In other words, the silence of St Joseph was not the sign of an inner void, but on the contrary, of the fullness of faith he carried in his heart, and which guided each and every one of his thoughts and actions. Let us allow ourselves to be ‘infected’ by the silence of St Joseph! We have much need of it in a world which is often too noisy, which does not encourage reflection and listening to the voice of God."

To think about: “Infected by silence” – what an interesting phrase. How can we cultivate silence in our lives which will allow us to contemplate the mystery of God and to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit?

Pope Benedict wrote: St. Joseph’s silence “is a silence permeated by contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to his divine wishes. In other words, the silence of St Joseph was not the sign of an inner void, but on the contrary, of the fullness of faith he carried in his heart, and which guided each and every one of his thoughts and actions. Let us allow ourselves to be ‘infected’ by the silence of St Joseph! We have much need of it in a world which is often too noisy, which does not encourage reflection and listening to the voice of God."

To think about: “Infected by silence” – what an interesting phrase. How can we cultivate silence in our lives which will allow us to contemplate the mystery of God and to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our annual Church-wide retreat has arrived! All the Baptized around the world enter into the cleansing desert of Lent this Ash Wednesday, February 17. Mass times with distribution of ashes: 6:30am, 8:20am (school), 12pm-noon, 5:30pm (livestream), and 7pm in Spanish. A slight modification this year: In order to limit speaking within a close distance, the priest at Mass will say the penitential phrase only once out loud for everyone just before the distribution of ashes. Ashes will then be imposed on the forehead in silence. Recall that ashes are not a sacrament, so if you are uncomfortable receiving them, there is no obligation to do so. God sees our repentance without ashes.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It’s almost that time again – our annual, Church-wide period of retreat and reflection called Lent. Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, February 17. As long as we’ve celebrated Easter, the Church has set aside a period of time to properly prepare us for it.

Through Lent, we better come to experience what is known as the Paschal/Passover mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. “For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). In Exodus (chapter 12) we read how the blood of a sacrificed lamb spread on the doorpost of the homes of the Israelites caused the tenth plague of Egypt – the death of the firstborn – to literally “pass over” their houses. So now, Jesus, the true Lamb, has been sacrificed. His Precious Blood covers you and me as temples of God in order to forgive us and to save us from the eternal death, which we deserve because of our sins. For so great a gift beyond value, our preparation to celebrate this mystery is a small thing to ask.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“The anniversary of a church’s dedication is celebrated with the rank of a solemnity.” – Roman Pontifical, Rite of Dedication of a Church, 27.

Each year, Holy Mother Church invites us to recall the day our church buildings were consecrated and dedicated to divine worship. So many of you made the building of this marvelous place possible through significant prayer and sacrifice only six years ago. The twelve consecration candles surrounding the inside of the church will be lighted for our Masses. These symbolize the twelve gates of the new and heavenly Jerusalem – the Church as the Mystical Body and spotless bride of Christ. The crosses below them are where the Bishop anointed the walls with the sacred chrism oil, as you and I are anointed at Confirmation.

St. Francis de Sales wrote: Truly, I doubt not that the angels, wondering and adoring, came thronging in countless multitudes to that poor workshop to admire the humility of him who guarded that dear and divine child, and labored at his carpenter’s trade to support the son and mother who were committed to his care.

To think about: Angels are always all around us. When you attend Mass or make a visit to church, the church is full of angels adoring Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Spend some time pondering that next time you are in the church.

One of the titles of St. Joseph is "Savior of the Savior." That title is almost shocking; it refers to the very real protection St. Joseph lovingly and faithfully rendered to Jesus from the earliest moments of his life in the womb, including making the long journey to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod’s soldiers.

To think about: Can you think of some ways that you can imitate Joseph by ‘protecting’ Jesus? For example, only use the name of Jesus in prayer. Talk about that at home this week.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, just a liturgical note that next week our parish will celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of our parish church at all Masses in place of the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This annual celebration is a great solemnity for a parish and allows us to renew our local mission as disciples of Jesus Christ.

By now, you hopefully have heard that the Pope has proclaimed the Year of Saint Joseph. Here are a few questions and answers from a Catholic News Agency article you might find helpful in understanding what this means and how to take advantage of it. Saint Joseph, pray for us! – Fr. Wilson ———

Pope Francis announced a Year of St. Joseph from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021. The Pope said he was establishing the year so that “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.”

Why did the Pope declare a year of St. Joseph?

Pope Francis noted that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the Saint’s proclamation as Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1870. Pope Francis said the coronavirus pandemic has heightened his desire to reflect on St. Joseph, as so many people during the pandemic have made hidden sacrifices to protect others, just as St. Joseph quietly protected and cared for Mary and Jesus.

“Each of us can discover in Joseph -- the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence -- an intercessor, a support, and a guide in times of trouble,” the pope wrote. He also said he wanted to highlight St. Joseph’s role as a father who served his family with charity and humility, adding, “Our world today needs fathers.”

What special graces are available during this year?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Recent events in our nation’s capital have been difficult for everyone to comprehend. I’m sharing a few words with you from Steve Bollman, founder of That Man Is You (TMIY). His observation, “There won’t be a political solution to a spiritual problem,” I think zeros in on our true problem. We have a spiritual sickness. The cure is the same as it always has been – saints. The antidote for what ails us is for you and me, disciples of Jesus Christ and true members of His Body, to become holy – to become real saints. Let us begin by praying and truly endeavoring to die to ourselves and to conform our lives to the life of Jesus Christ. – Fr. Wilson

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“…As I watched the events unfold, I clearly remembered words I spoke 15 years ago when TMIY was first founded: ‘There won't be a political solution to a spiritual problem.’ Those words are more true today – especially in our current political environment – than they were 15 years ago.

“God has made it abundantly clear to me that He expects us to follow the same path Don Bosco followed. Although Don Bosco lived during incredibly tumultuous times, …God clearly told him: ‘I only want you to speak the truth of the Gospel and help poor boys that are in need.’ …

Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of St. Joseph in an apostolic letter titled Patris Corde, which means “With a Father’s Heart.” Pope Frances writes: “With a Father’s Heart: that is how Joseph loved Jesus, whom all four Gospels refer to as ‘the son of Joseph’… We know that Joseph was a lowly carpenter (cf. Mt 13:55), betrothed to Mary (cf. Mt 1:18; Lk 1:27). He was a ‘just man’ (Mt 1:19), ever ready to carry out God’s will as revealed to him in the Law (cf. Lk 2:22.27.39) and through four dreams (cf. Mt 1:20; 2:13.19.22). After a long and tiring journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, he beheld the birth of the Messiah in a stable, since ‘there was no place for them’ elsewhere (cf. Lk 2:7). He witnessed the adoration of the shepherds (cf. Lk 2:8-20) and the Magi (cf. Mt 2:1-12), who represented respectively the people of Israel and the pagan peoples.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we celebrate Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan, let us reflect on the glorious teaching of Christ through His Church about this all-important Sacrament. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission. “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the world.”

1223 … Jesus begins his public life after having himself baptized by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan. After his resurrection, Christ gives this mission to his apostles: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christmas continues with our celebration of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Our churches and chapels are decked out in holiday splendor, all for the birth of this singular Child who would change – and has changed – everything.

I would be remiss if I didn’t offer my deepest gratitude to each and every person who helped make our somewhat-modified Christmas celebrations so outstanding and spiritually enriching. Thank you to all our musicians in both English and Spanish languages, who helped make our music so spiritually uplifting. Hours and hours of practicing go in to bring us such beautiful music. Thank you to our St. Joseph Altar Guild, working diligently behind the scenes to keep our churches spotless and ready for worship. Likewise, we are grateful for all our Mass coordinators, who are our volunteers who set up for Masses. Many thanks to our lectors who proclaim the word of God, our extraordinary ministers who help the priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion, our ushers, and those who clean and prepare behind the scenes so well that you and I never know the amount of work it takes. What looks so effortless is far from it! And thank you to the best altar servers a priest could ask for!