After the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, her spouse, is a saint who exemplified excellence in all virtues and is the model for fatherhood the world over.

Despite his critical role in the Holy Family, St. Joseph is curiously silent in scripture, being spoken of but never actually speaking. Therefore, what we know about St. Joseph (other that what is directly mentioned of him in Scripture) has been left to Tradition, devotion, and deduction.

Much like the way he appears in the Bible, St. Joseph has been a quiet and supportive saint for our church. However, we should not confuse this humility with weakness. He was chosen for a reason to be the head of the Holy Family and earthly father to Jesus.

While his story may not come with the gusto of some other well-known saints, his role in the Church and for all Christianity surpasses even these and the support he can give us as a spiritual father, guide, and protector is incomparable.

In fact, many of the Church's most holy men and women had a huge devotion to St. Joseph. Even though we may think much of them today, such saintly individuals (many of whom are canonized saints as well) would be the first to redirect you to St. Joseph as a model of holiness.

At a time where the Church has seen so much change and instability, it is of little wonder, then, that Pope Francis--on the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph's being proclaimed the the Protector of the Holy Church--declared December 8, 2020 through December 8, 2021 as the Year of Saint Joseph.

The image to the left is of St. Joseph in this role of Protector originally painted by Giuseppe Rollini in the nineteenth century. Accompanied by the Blessed Virgin Mary and holding the Christ Child and lilies (traditionally associated with him as symbols of purity), Saint Joseph is being handed the Church (depicted as St. Peter's Basilica) by an angel. Other angels in the background hold up a banner that in English translates as "Go to Joseph."

Our Bishop, the Most Rev. John O. Barres drafted a letter for our diocese with the same title that was released just prior to the start of the Year of St. Joseph. That letter can be read or downloaded HERE.

In addition to this special year, Saint Joseph's regular Feast Day is March 19 and has a devotion among Italians in a similar way to how the Irish venerate St. Patrick. Catholics also venerate St. Joseph the Worker on May 1. Given that one of his many attributes is as the Model of Workers, he gives dignity to workers of all background as a man who worked hard to support the Holy Family. This day commemorates this and pays homage to the inherent dignity of honest labor and those who perform it. When Saint Joseph is not depicted with lilies or an infant Jesus, his other associated symbols include tools such as a carpenter's square, indicating his trade.

Since, thankfully, so much has already being said and written about this great patriarch (including within the Holy Father's Apostolic Letter proclaiming the Year of Saint Joseph and the aforementioned letter from Bishop Barres), rather than recreate his biography here, the rest of this page will redirect to helpful resources for more information about and growth in devotion to St. Joseph.

Saint Joseph Resources

• Consecration to Saint Joseph (scroll to bottom for details)
  

• Pope Francis's Apostolic Letter "Patris Corde" for the Year of Saint Joseph
  

• Bishop Barres Pastoral Letter "Go to Joseph"

• Compilation of Year of Saint Joseph Resources by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

• The Litany of Saint Joseph

• Bishop Barres Pastoral Letter "Go to Joseph"

• Articles about St. Joseph for the Year of Joseph by the National Catholic Register

Do you have a particular devotion to St. Joseph or know of a good resource not represented here? Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to share your testimony, prayer request, or resource be added. With your help, this page (and entire website) can be a tool of intercession, not just information.

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Possibly the most comprehensive contemporary resource on St. Joseph, which includes details biographical and devotional information and many prayers to this significant saint, is the the book Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC. Originally published in 2019, it is a beautiful compilation of St. Joseph resources. It is also available as an e-book, audio-book. and also as a special, expanded hardcover commemorative edition for the Year of Saint Joseph. More details on the book, Consecration, and suggested dates to undergo it are available HERE.

As a parish under the special patronage of Saint Joseph, we try to seek his intercession in all our endeavors. In particular, the staff and clergy join the below prayer of Daily Act of Consecration to Saint Joseph to our noontime communal praying of the Angelus. This prayer is one of several suggested by Fr. Calloway in his book and is an excellent way to maintain devotion to St. Joseph in between consecration experiences.

O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to you honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love for the interior life.

After your example, may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.