Reflection on the message of Pope Francis for the year dedicated to Saint Joseph.

Pope Francis has decreed a special year (from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021) to marking the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.

Five facets from which Pope Francis presents Saint Joseph:
1. A father beloved, tender and obedient
2. A father who welcomes the will of God and the call of neighbor
3. A father, courageous and creative, an example of love for the Church and the poor
4. A father who teaches the value, dignity and joy of work
5. A father discreetly present in the shadows for love of Mary and Jesus

I reflected on the second facet: Joseph, a father who welcomes the will of God and the call of neighbor. This facet speaks to me more precisely because it is part of the spirituality of the Institute to which I belong (The Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate), a spirituality that I have lived daily for 60 years: Total availability to the will of God and an unconditional and universal welcoming of others.

This facet of Saint Joseph challenges me. He accepts God's plan, he trusts without really knowing where it will lead him. I too, following the example of Saint Joseph, I try to discern what God wants to tell me on a daily basis.

Currently, we are living with Covid-19 on a global scale. I think the Lord asks me to be more attentive to people who need help and encouragement in the face of this scourge. I reach out them by phone and sometimes the conversation goes on longer than expected. Taking the time to listen and to read between the lines can bring comfort and make a difference. They feel loved for who they really are. I strive to bring them further down their own path.

This is what humble Joseph teaches me in his way of collaborating with all his being with the Will of God.

Réjeanne A.
Drummondville

Pictures: FleuryLou