The Feast of St. Joseph is March 19 and our parish will celebrate this feast in a very special way. The music for the Mass was written by Fr. Steven Bell, a former parishioner and now Pastor of Holy Spirit parish at the University of California at Berkley.

Come celebrate the feast of our Patron Saint and the rededication of our Church.

THE YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH
How to Celebrate  - The St. Joseph Table

Pope Francis on December 8, 2020 declared 2021 as The Year of St. Joseph. It was a year to commemorate the life of the Patron Saint of our Parish.

In the foyer, you will see a table adorned with various religious items associated with St. Joseph. This is our inspired version of the St. Joseph Table which will be on display until the end of the year.
     
Ordinarily, the St. Joseph Table is filled with an array of food for the community to share after Mass. Due to the restrictions of the pandemic, our table in the foyer will have no food. However, we will have several objects, including pictures, a display of the Holy Family, and other item that are symbolic of St. Joseph.

History of the St. Joseph Table.  According to legend, the people of Sicily prayed to St. Joseph during a devastating drought. Much rejoicing took place when the abundant rains came and ended their woes. To show their gratitude for answered prayers, the people prepared a table with special foods to honor St. Joseph and to share with the poor. After thanking and honoring the saint, they distributed the food to the less fortunate.

How Can I Celebrate at Home?  The St. Joseph Table became a tradition in many countries, including the United States. It is intended to be a communal affair.  Therefore, this year we are encouraging  the parish community of St. Joseph  to have your own St. Joseph Table at your home. You may display it with food and/or objects symbolic of the life of the Patron Saint as  a simple centerpiece or as elaborate as  an entire table.  We also encourage you to share your creation with other members of the parish.

Share Your Love for St Joseph. Please take a photograph of your St. Joseph Table and send to [email protected]  Photographs will be displayed on the bulletin board in the entrance foyer, Facebook, the Parish Web page and in the bulletin, space permitting. Please include your name, email address and contact information. Be creative!

What Else Can I Do? St. Joseph’s Feast falls within our Lenten Journey. We can always spend time praying for the intercession of St. Joseph, practice almsgiving by donating to St. Vincent de Paul Society or Catholic Charities, and when we fast, make sure our St. Joseph Tables are creative and fun but also are moderate and follow our Lenten guidelines. More importantly, share the love of St. Joseph with family and friends in a safe COVID-19 aware environment.