What about Joseph?

My dear Friends in Christ,

As we enter the Fourth Week of Advent, the Gospel focus is on the role of St. Joseph in salvation history. As we focus on the mystery of The Birth of The Infant Jesus, our attention is often moved toward Mary, Our Blessed Mother, and the way God prepared her for her role as Mother to Our Lord Jesus Christ, to the Church, and to all of us. So what about Joseph? He remains more mysterious like a shadow in the background of these events when the Son of God took on human flesh, became fully human, and united us to the divine life forever. God invites Joseph’s cooperation in his plan of salvation. This must have been difficult for him. The woman whom he loves and respects so much has become pregnant and he knows it was not by him. Out of respect, he plans to secretly divorce Mary. He doesn’t want to cause her any shame. God intervenes and Joseph has a mysterious experience of assurance that he should take Mary into his home as his wife. Joseph is a powerful model for us at this time of year. He is a model of adult commitment which our culture desperately needs and a reminder to us to renew those commitments that shape our life and our soul.

Since Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, we will follow the normal Sunday Mass Schedule: Saturday Christmas Vigil at 4:00 PM, Sunday Christmas Day Masses at 9:00 AM and 11:00AM. There will be no confessions on Christmas Eve. A Christmas prelude will begin at 3:30 PM.

May God Bless You All,

Father John