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From the beginning of the Year, various celebrations were planned and events
promoted that showed our love and devotion to the Saint of silent activity. In this
regard, there did not lack days of study and gatherings to emphasize some of the
themes linked to our Josephite spirituality: annual retreats based on the theology
of St. Joseph, meetings for prayer and reflection, pilgrimages and appropriate
liturgical celebrations. There were also initiatives on behalf of the poor.

If it is difficult to evaluate this past Year, and list all the manifestations that took
place in the Provinces, but among the more significant events celebrated we should
remember the Centenary of the presence of the Oblates of St. Joseph in Brazil. All
of us were joined in the giving of thanks by the Province Nossa Senhora do Rocio,
remembering the witness of the confreres and the apostolic works there.

The International Symposium on St. Joseph and the 5th International Congress of
the Josephite Marellian Laity celebrated in Curitiba, followed by the publication of
the Charter of Communion, has reinforced the bonds of our charismatic family.

Further, the taking effect of our Constitutions and General Directory on the Feast
of the Holy Spouses clearly put together the close connection between St. Joseph
and our vocation, which asks us to reproduce in our lives and apostolates the ideal
of service as lived by him (Cf. Const. 3). This requires a profound personal love
for Jesus Christ and for His Church, the accompaniment of youth, the capacity to
perceive the presence of God in history and a style of service marked by simplicity
and fortitude before the challenges of life.

Finally, looking to more recent plans, we were able to have the 3rd International
Symposium with the theme: St. Joseph Marello and the Spirituality of Communion
through an online format.

The Mission Continues: Ite cum Joseph
It is important to consider the Year of St. Joseph not as an episode nor as a self-
contained event, but rather as a step towards reawakening our love for our great
Patriarch. Let it not be, that once we celebrate the closing Mass, we turn the page,
put everything away and declare that we have done enough. Our Founder gave us
a precise and constant mission: “to live like St. Joseph “in an intimate relationship
with the Divine Word” (Letter 37), learning from him “to care for the interests of
Jesus” (Letter 83) in the Church. Further, with him we are called to realize “those
things which from day to day Divine Providence points out to us to do” (Rule of
1892), “open to the signs of the times, with special attention to the various forms
of poverty, whether of persons or the places of greatest need” (Const. 4).