by Joel V. Ocampo
Culmination of the Year of St Joseph
Upon the culmination of the Year of St. Joseph, declared by Pope Francis to be from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines through its new President, His Excellency Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, D.D., Bishop of Kalookan, led the National Consecration of Families to St. Joseph live from San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City at 11:00 AM.
The ceremonies began with the praying of the Rosary during which an intention was offered for each mystery:
1st Mystery – For all bishops, priests, and religious men and women.
May they continue to proclaim the Risen Christ especially to those who live in the darkness of sin assisted by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of St. Joseph, Protector of the Church.
2nd Mystery – For all Christian families.
May they grow together in love and holiness like the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and become conscious of their role as bearers of the Gospel to world today.
3rd Mystery – For the leaders of nations.
May they lead with openness to the Holy Spirit and emulate the humility and faithfulness of Mary and Joseph in serving the people, especially those who live in the margins.
4th Mystery – For all the sick, especially those afflicted with COVID-19.
May they receive God’s healing mercy through the intercession of Mary, Health of the Sick, and of St. Joseph, hope of those who suffer from illness.
5th Mystery – For souls of the faithful departed.
Through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Heaven, and of St. Joseph, the Patron of the Dying, may they be led to God’s kingdom where they will receive the crown of heavenly glory.
National Consecration of Families to St Joseph
In praying and meditating each mystery and a decade of Hail Marys, five families from different St. Joseph Parishes and communities represented Filipino families.
One of the families, the Bularan Family, represented by Mr. Warren Paolo Bularan shared in an interview, “Bilang isa sa mga pamilyang kasama sa nakalipas na National Consecration of Families to St. Joseph, ang mensahe ko po sa lahat ng pamilyang Pilipino ay huwag huminto sa pag-akay ng pamilya sa landas na tinungo ni Kristo, lalung-lalo na sa landas na tinahak ng Banal na Pamilya noong unang panahon. Hindi naging madali lalo na sa panahon ngayon na pilit sinusubukan ang tatag ng pamilya. Alam naman natin na hindi lang pandemyang dala ng COVID-19 ang nilalabanan natin kung hindi ang pagtingin sa ating kalusugan, pang-pinansyal na bagay, mental health at higit sa lahat ang ating relasyon sa Diyos.”
When asked what lessons he learned from St. Joseph, Mr. Bularan said, “Ang mga bagay na natutunan ko kay San Jose ay ang matutong manampalataya sa Diyos – na manalig na hindi ka dadalhin sa kapahamakan bagkus ituturo sa iyo ang tamang gagawin. Isa pang natutunan ko sa kanya ay ang pagiging malumanay. Kahit na may hindi magandang nagawa si Jesus dati (noong nagpaiwan si Jesus sa Templo), kalma lang siya at pinakinggan lang nya ang mga idinahilan ni Jesus sa kanya dati. Ibig ding sabihin na marunong makinig si San Jose.”
After the rosary, Bishop David led the praying of the Act of Consecration of Families to St Joseph. In praying the act of consecration, fathers, mothers, and children united themselves in prayer.
Launch of the Men of St Joseph
After the Act of Consecration, priests from the Oblates of St. Joseph, headed by Rev. Fr. Jason D. Endaya, OSJ, Provincial Superior, Oblates of St. Joseph Philippine Province led the launching of the Men of St. Joseph.
According to Rev. Fr. Erwin S. Mendoza, OSJ, priest-in-charge of the Men of St. Joseph- Philippines (MOSJ-P), “the Men of St. Joseph is a lay Catholic association of men committed to Jesus Christ and consecrated to St. Joseph.”
He added, “the institution of the Men of St Joseph is the Philippine Church’s response to the call of Pope Francis, as contained in his apostolic letter Patris Corde, encouraging us to reflect upon the role of St. Joseph in caring and loving our Savior with the Father’s heart.
The objectives of the Men of St. Joseph include:
to promote the devotion to St. Joseph;
to imitate the virtues of St. Joseph;
to provide opportunities which foster growth in human character, holiness and Christian fatherhood in the family and in the community, following the qualities of St. Joseph;
to sanctify work and promote the dignity of labor in the society; and
to serve the needs of the Church and society through corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
Any man of at least 18 years of age, a Catholic who is willing to learn and commit himself to practice the virtues of St. Joseph, may become a member of the association.
The event concluded with the Prayer to St. Joseph the Workman, composed by Pope St. Pius X, and with a final blessing given by His Excellency Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David.
Prayer to St Joseph the Workman by Pope St. Pius X
O Glorious St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations, to work with gratitude and joy, in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins, considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God, to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties, to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, having always death before my eyes and the account that I must render of time lost, of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thine example, O Patriarch, St. Joseph. Such shall be my watch-word in life and in death.
Amen.