Statue of St Joseph being carried in procession during Mass to celebrate the Solemnity of St Joseph Mar 19 (Background: under the Church Bell, image of St Joseph etched on the wall that was blest on 26 Dec 2020 during the Feast of the Holy Family)
By BSCL SOCCOM
Mar 25 2021
LABUAN – This year, the Solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurs during the Year of St Joseph, the Patron Saint of the Universal Church. The parish of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament Labuan celebrated this special day with an expressive significance by having the procession of the statue of St Joseph, while chanting the Litany of St Joseph.
In preparation for this significant day, the parish, led by the bapa-bapa (fathers) of the parish had on 15 February 2021, began a 33 Day Consecration to St Joseph with Fr Donald Calloway’s Consecration to St Joseph – The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father. The Solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, concluded this 33 Day Consecration to St Joseph.
The 33 days were spent reading and meditating upon the life and virtues of St Joseph, as well as his many titles described in the Litany of St Joseph. The bapa-bapa had virtual and face to face meetings where they shared their new found knowledge and devotion to St Joseph. Forming part of this journey, parishioners recited the rosary to St Joseph every Friday morning at 3.00 am.
Even prior to Pope Francis declaring the Year of St Joseph (8 Dec 2020 – 8 Dec 2021), the fathers in the parish or better known as the bapa-bapa group; with the close guidance and encouragement from Fr Thomas Madanan had already taken St Joseph as their role model and spiritual father. With the declaration made by Pope Francis, the bapa-bapa were further encouraged to emulate St Joseph in his virtues and holiness and thereby lead their respective families, the domestic church into greater love for God and his church.
Bapa-Bapa representing the Parish Family leading the congregation in praying the Prayer to St Joseph
On the final days of preparation before the consecration, parishioners were encouraged to attend a session conducted by Archbishop John Wong via Zoom on the topic of ‘St Joseph – A Father’s Heart’ on Mar 17 as well as to participate in Holy Hour on Thursday, Mar 18, and Stations of the Cross on Friday, Mar 19.
These simple yet meaningful preparations eventually led up to the evening Eucharistic celebration with the consecration of the parish family to St Joseph. On the day of consecration, a group of 12 bapa-bapa led the congregation in reciting the prayer to St Joseph. This prayer was composed locally in line with the needs of the parish and as a symbol of the parish as a family to St Joseph.
A simple fellowship followed immediately after the Holy Mass. The bapa-bapa who were involved in the 33 Day Consecration shared their experience and the knowledge they have acquired about the hidden saint. Some expressed this new found love for St Joseph as a treasure to behold.
Due to the SOP requirements that resulted in the limited number of parishioners being able to attend the Eucharistic celebration on Mar 19, a more simplified form of expression of the event was extended during Holy Mass on the weekend of Mar 20-21. St Joseph, Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
