Year of St. Joseph
With the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021.
The image “Joseph and the Child” is by Saskatchewan artist, Gisele Bauche, for official use by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops throughout the Year of St. Joseph. The image evokes the extraordinary qualities of Saint Joseph as a beloved, tender and loving, obedient, accepting, creatively courageous, working father hidden in the shadows as described in Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Patris Corde. (cf. No 1-7 PC)
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,
and defend us from every evil.
Amen.
Resources for the Year of St. Joseph
| Vatican |
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Patris Corde - With a Father's Heart, 2020. |
| Prayer Card |
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This prayer card was produced by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
The “Prayer to St. Joseph” is taken from Patris Corde and the image “Joseph and the Child” is by Saskatchewan artist Gisele Bauche for official use by the CCCB throughout the Year of St. Joseph. The image evokes the extraordinary qualities of Saint Joseph as a beloved, tender and loving, obedient, accepting, creatively courageous, working father hidden in the shadows as described in Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Patris Corde. (cf. No 1-7 PC).
Click Prayer Card for the Prayer to St. Joseph for the Year of St. Joseph in English and French.
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| Prayer for the Year of St. Joseph (Vatican) |
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
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| Diocese of Peterborough Office of Spiritual Affairs |
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Resources from the Office of Spiritual Affairs Email Fr. Joseph Devereaux, Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs Email Robyn Henighan, Vice Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs St. Joseph Coloring Printable – Year of St. Joseph colouring page
Simple ways to incorporate the Year of St. Joseph into your family life - Teaching Catholic Kids for families
Year of St. Joseph with Fr. Calloway - YouTube Father Calloway on Year of St. joseph
Welcome to the 2021 Virtual St. Joseph Altar • The Virtual St. Joseph Altar |
| St. Joseph Parish, Bowmanville |
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| St. Joseph Parish, Bracebridge |
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| St. Joseph Parish, Douro |
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| St. Joseph Parish, Powassan |
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| Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph |
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WEBSITE for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph
The Sisters of St. Joseph began in Le Puy, France in 1650 when Father Jean Pierre Médaille S.J. gathered six courageous women together to form a religious community. Their purpose was to offer their lives in ministry to the most vulnerable in their area. They were among the first women religious to live and work among the people doing “any work of which women are capable” just as Father Médaille had envisioned. These women cared for the sick, the aged, the orphans, and the imprisoned; they instructed young girls, guided devout women in their faith, and worked tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of the poor.
The Congregation flourished and spread during the seventeenth century, but convents were suppressed during the French Revolution and the Sisters had to disperse. Many were imprisoned and some died as martyrs. Mother St. John Fontbonne was imprisoned during this time, but was saved from the guillotine by the fall of Robespierre. After the French Revolution, most communities of Sisters had disbanded and in 1808, Mother St. John Fontbonne was selected to re-establish a branch of the Sisters at Lyons, France. In 1836, at the request of Bishop Rosati, the Sisters were sent for the first time to North America to the diocese of St. Louis. Among these missionaries was Mother Delphine Fontbonne, a niece of Mother St. John. Fifteen years later, she was sent to establish the first English Canadian foundation of the Congregation in Toronto, Canada in 1851 and went on to establish the Hamilton Congregation (1852), the London Congregation (1868) and the Peterborough Congregation (1890). The Peterborough Congregation in turn founded Pembroke in 1921 and Sault Ste. Marie in 1936. On November 22, 2012, a new chapter began for the Sisters of St. Joseph. Four of the six Canadian Congregations - Hamilton, London, Peterborough and Pembroke - joined together to become one new congregation, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada.
The Sisters of St. Joseph have exercised and continue to carry out a rich ministry which benefits the Diocese of Peterborough. The Sisters founded hospitals, worked as nurses, taught in schools, and most recently respond to the needs of the time - that is to welcome refugees, to carry out faith development sessions, to raise awareness about ecological issues, to pray for the needs of others, to support the establishment of other religious communities in the Diocese, and to pastorally accompany those seeking their help and support. We are grateful for the legacy which has supported our community and for the abiding presence of the Sisters who witness to the Faith with the gift of their presence and living.
ARCHIVES of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph
Some pictures from the Archives thanks to Sr. Joyce Murray, CSJ and Joe Keast, Archivist.
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| Consecration to St. Joseph |
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If you’d like to do the consecration but cannot purchase the book, Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Father Donald Calloway, MIC, you can simply recite the Litany of St. Joseph for 33 days and conclude on the final day with the Prayer of Consecration to St. Joseph. LITANY OF ST. JOSEPHLord, have mercy on us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Joseph most just, pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, V. He made him the lord of His household, Let Us Pray PRAYER OF CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPHO Glorious Patriarch and Patron of the Church! O Virgin Spouse of the Virgin Mother of God! O Guardian and Virginal Father of the Word Incarnate! In the presence of Jesus and Mary, I choose you this day to be my father, my guardian, and my protector. O great St. Joseph, whom God has made the Head of the Holy Family, accept me, I beseech you, though utterly unworthy, to be a member of your “Holy House.” Present me to your Immaculate Spouse; ask her also to adopt me as her child. With her, pray that I may constantly think of Jesus, and serve him faithfully to the end of my life. O Terror of Demons, increase in me virtue, protect me from the evil one, and help me not to offend God in any way. O my Spiritual Father, I hereby consecrate myself to you. In faithful imitation of Jesus and Mary, I place myself and all my concerns under your care and protection. To you, after Jesus and Mary, I consecrate my body and soul, with all their faculties, my spiritual growth, my home, and all my affairs and undertakings. Forsake me not, but adopt me as a servant and child of the Holy Family. Watch over me at all times, but especially at the hour of my death. Console and strengthen me with the presence of Jesus and Mary so that, with you, I may praise and adore the Holy Trinity for all eternity. Amen. |
| Novena to St. Joseph |
Daily Novena to St. JosephO Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O Saint Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, so that having experienced here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. O Saint Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Hold Him close in my name and kiss His fine head from me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen. |
| Pilgrimages |
Year of St. Joseph PilgrimagesAs a spiritually fruitful way to celebrate the Year of St. Joseph, we encourage the faithful to make a pilgrimage to the parishes named for St. Joseph across the Diocese of Peterborough.
St. Joseph Oratory, Montreal, Quebec
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| Plenary Indulgence for the Year of St. Joseph |
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The Church has granted a plenary indulgence for Year of St. Joseph
The Apostolic Penitentiary issued a Decree granting a plenary indulgences for the Year of St. Joseph proclaimed by Pope Francis. The special year will last from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021.
The Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree granting special indulgences for the duration of the special year to celebrate the anniversary and “to perpetuate the entrustment of the whole Church to the powerful patronage of the Custodian of Jesus.” During the Year of St. Joseph, the faithful will have the opportunity to commit themselves “with prayer and good works, to obtain, with the help of St. Joseph, head of the heavenly Family of Nazareth, comfort and relief from the serious human and social tribulations that besiege the contemporary world today.”
CONDITIONS FOR THE PLENARY INDULGENCEThe plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions) to Christians who, with a spirit detached from any sin, participate in the Year of St. Joseph on these occasions and manners indicated by the Apostolic Penitentiary:
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| Art |
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There are many images of St. Joseph. Send in your favourite and we will post it for others to share. Seek the true, the good, and the beautiful - art mirrors the beautiful.
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