Page 70 - Reflections on St. Joseph

to all effects its “minister”. As John Paul II stated so well, he participated in the redemptive mystery
as no other human person, with the exception of Mary, the Mother of the Incarnate World; and this
places him the closest possible to Jesus (RC 21).

SPREADING OF DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH
IN THE “NOSSA SENHORA DO ROCIO” PROVINCE (BRAZIL)

The most widespread devotions to St. Joseph in the Province and already traditional among our
faithful are:
 Remembrance of St. Joseph each Wednesday, each 19th day of the month and in the
month of March, with proper songs, litany of St. Joseph and Joys and Sorrows.
 The feast of St. Joseph are preceded by a triduum or novena, as an opportunity to make
the Josephite theology known and deepened, besides nourishing the popular devotion.
 Solemn celebration of the feasts of St. Joseph in March and May. Also growing is the
devotion to the Holy Family (December) and the Holy Spouses (January).
 The first of May, St. Joseph the Worker: gathering of all of the Josephite Laity of the
Province in Apucarana, in the Shrine of St. Joseph (about 500 people each year, coming
from the various cities where we minister).
 CEJM – Center of Josephite-Marellian Spirituality, headquartered in Apucarana: this is the
organ for giving life to and spreading devotion to St. Joseph in the Province. Monthly
publication of the pamphlet “Sementes Josefinas” (each time with a small article on St.
Joseph, distributed through e-mail along with holy cards and texts for the celebration of
the triduums and novenas in preparation for the feasts of St. Joseph). It maintains the
province website www.osj.org.br, created a Josephite website
www.josedenazare.blogspot.com and holds every 3 years the Theological Pastoral Week
on St. Joseph.
 Many of our works (schools and parishes) have newsletters, bulletins and other small
publications on St. Joseph, besides their own website. In general, the make use of and
share the materials provided by the CEJM.
 Josephite Fraternity: in almost all of our works there is a group of laity devoted to St.
Joseph, who get together periodically to pray to and know better their Holy Patron.
 In the Formation Houses and Seminaries the traditional devotions are maintained: daily
prayers, visit to the Blessed Sacrament with the Litany of St. Joseph; Wednesday Joy and
Sorrows; the Oblate feasts are always solemnized. Spiritual Reading and Retreats. In the
Novitiate the Theology of St. Joseph is studied.

46 Reflections on st. joseph