Page 86 - Reflections on St. Joseph

St. Joseph Devotional Activities in the “St. Thomas” Province

“The Congregation has St. Joseph as its Patron. Therefore, all its members are called Oblates of
St. Joseph and make a special effort to honour and love him as a father by imitating his virtues
and promoting his devotion” (First Rules; GD art.1).

Devotion to St. Joseph is part and parcel of the faith tradition of the Catholic families in India.
In all the houses of our province, there is the daily recitation of the Litany of St. Joseph and the
prayer to St. Joseph after the Rosary, there is also the weekly devotion of the “Sorrows and Joys
of St. Joseph”.

On Wednesdays, when the Liturgy permits, the votive mass of St. Joseph is celebrated in
communities and parishes. To this we add, the ‘novena of St. Joseph’ usually together with the
lay people.

In various ways the Month of St. Joseph is celebrated. In families and parishes we have special
prayers during the whole month of March. We call it ‘Masa Vanakkom’.

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The Feast of St. Joseph on March 19 is celebrated and prepared for by a Novena or Triduum.
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March 19 is celebrated solemnly in almost all the parishes. Besides the celebration in our
parishes, our confreres go around for preaching and for the Eucharistic celebration. We are also
invited in other parishes to preach novena in preparation to the feast.

The Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1 is celebrated solemnly in our houses and parishes.
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In the province it’s also the day of first profession of novices. On this day in some parishes we
have grand celebration organized by the construction workers.

Recently we introduced particular celebrations for the Feast of the Holy Spouses together with
the Josephite-Marellian Laity. The Groups of Josephite-Marellian Laity have periodical meetings
and formation programmes. There are formation classes on the spirituality and devotion to St.
Joseph.

Every year we print and circulate Calendars with the image of St. Joseph, which people
appreciate much. Through the quarterly publication “Samrakshakan”(Guardian), we
propagate the knowledge and devotion to St. Joseph.

Of course, together with what we do in order to spread the devotion to St. Joseph, as Oblates of
St. Joseph we should always examine personally our life to see how we imitate our Patron, “who
was the first model of the religious life, having always had his eyes fixed on the Divine
Exemplar, whom the Eternal father mercifully willed to send into the world to teach us the way
to heaven”(GD art. 2).

Deo Gratias!

62 Reflections on st. joseph