Program teaches faithful to see saint in ‘new, deeper light’

On Dec. 8, 2020, the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic letter entitled Patris corde (With a Father's Heart). The Holy Father said that the intention of the letter was “to increase our love for this great Saint.”

He also announced that “the Year of St. Joseph.” would b e celebrated from Dec. 8, 2020, to Dec. 8, 2021.

Many dioceses, parishes and other catholic organizations began developing and implementing programs and other ways to honor the foster father of Jesus Christ and husband of our Blessed Mother. For one parish in the diocese — Mary, Mother of God, Hillsborough — the year provided an opportunity to implement a program that had already been discussed.

Building on the consecration to Mary that they had completed the previous year, the parish council introduced a consecration to St. Joseph program that celebrated St. Joseph in preparation for his feast day on March 19 — the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Once the decision was made to have the consecration, Father John M. Rozembajgier, pastor, Mary, Mother of God Parish, reviewed a number of resources that were available and selected “Consecration to Jesus through St Joseph” by Dr. Gregory Bottaro and Jennifer Settle, published by CatholicPsych Institute.

Explaining his choice, Father Rozembajgier said, “I was studying in Rome during the pontificate of St. Pope John Paul II and he has been a great inspiration in my life and my priesthood.”

He added that he was influenced especially by the series of Wednesday General Audiences that the pope delivered over a period of years. These instructions eventually became known as his “Theology of the Body.” This particular program was selected because, “The book and its devotions are completely in keeping with the teachings of St. Pope John Paul the Great,” stated Father Rozembajgier.

The 44 days of preparation for the consecration began with a Holy Hour on Feb. 4. More than 100 parishioners attended and another 40-plus people participated virtually. All of the sessions throughout the period were livestreamed on the parish website.

The program ended and the Consecration to St. Joseph occurred March 19.

For each of the six weeks of the program there was a specific theme along with reflections and prayers for each day. The stated goals of the program were: to increase love for St. Joseph; 

to encourage those who participate to implore his intercession; and to seek to imitate his virtue and zeal.

In his homily at the Holy Hour, Father Rozembajgier noted then-Pope John Paul II had reminded everyone of the uniqueness of St. Joseph in the life of our savior and his Church; St. Joseph, the Pope proclaimed, “was the first communicant in the Church, having received Jesus into his own hands from the tabernacle that was the Blessed Virgin.”

“A beautiful progressive journey to help us see St. Joseph in a new and deeper light, as a protector, and as a father,” is how Marybeth Taratino, a member of the parish, described her hopes and expectations for the experience.

Mary and John Von Nessan, also members of the parish, both believe, “This experience will build upon the success of the parish’s earlier consecration to Mary and contribute to an increase in the evangelization of the participants.”

John said he hopes, “a major outcome will be a greater appreciation on the importance of the family in our daily lives.”

Marie Christina Antonio echoed the importance of the family and said that to the Hispanic members of the parish, “The role of St. Joseph as a husband and father in the Holy Family underscores the strong emphasis of family in the Latino community.”

In addition to the Consecration on March 19, the parish has commissioned a new statue of St. Joseph holding the Child Jesus that will be placed in the sanctuary. The blessing and dedication of the statue will also be a major part in the parish’s yearlong celebration to honor the great saint and to serve as a visual reminder of true fatherhood.

Deacon Cline exercises his ministry at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater