Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Many of you who read this Pastor's Corner will be doing so after the memorial of St. Patrick, and many of you have celebrated St. Patrick's Day in a variety of ways, including wearing something green.  Some also celebrate through parades and parties.  This special Feast Day is celebrated by those who have Irish roots and many others who do not.

I hope that ALL of us recognize the importance of the solemnity that we celebrate two days after St. Patrick's Day on March 19, that of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and patron of the universal Church.  We will be celebrating St. Joseph's Feast Day this coming Monday with Mass at 9:00 a.m.  I encourage everyone to ponder this giant among saints who is part of the Holy Family and who is a powerful intercessor before the throne of God.  St. Joseph is the patron saint of a "happy death" probably because there's a good chance that he died with Mary and Jesus standing over him with their love and prayers.

Joseph was a man of few words (and actually of no words as he is never quoted in the small section of the Gospels that mention him), and yet his faith, faithfulness and protection of Jesus and Mary make him a role model for all of us and a worthy "protector" of Holy Mother Church.  By the way, the Mass for the solemnity of St. Joseph is one of only two Masses during Lent that has us sing the Gloria.  It is definitely a liturgy and a day of celebration for people of all ethnic backgrounds who belong to the universal Church.