Religious Education

St Joseph the Worker 

St Joseph was a significant yet humble figure in the life of Jesus. As His “earthly father,” he faithfully raised Jesus alongside Mary. 

Joseph accepted his role with understandable trepidation when the angel of the Lord told him that Mary was to have a son and that He would be the son of God.  

It must have been a terrifying and frightening experience; to become an unexpectant parent is a huge undertaking.

Matt 1:20-21. “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.” 

Once Joseph accepted his fate, he embraced his role with great responsibility. We do not know a whole deal about Joseph but he was a hard worker and provider for his little family.  Joseph was a carpenter and he passed on these skills to Jesus.  

I particularly love this image of Joseph and Jesus in the barn, working, and Jesus lovingly looking up at Joseph with respect and appreciation. 

Saint Joseph is held up as a model of great work. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work”

Our school, Holy Family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus), honours St Joseph in a special way as he is part of our charism.  The feast day of St Joseph, 1 May, also known as May day in other countries, is a celebration of labourers and the working class. 

Take some time to reflect on the important part St Joseph played in Jesus’ life and our lives.  He is the parton saint of fathers, families, workers and a happy death because he cared for Jesus and Mary with fatherly devotion and is especially honored as the protector of families and homes. He is also the patron saint of the universal church, a title which reflects that just as Joseph protected the Holy Family, he now watches over the entire Church. 

Vicky Pejic

Religious Education Leader

O glorious St. Joseph, 

To you God committed the care of His only begotten Son amid the many dangers of this world. We come to you and ask you to take under your special protection the children God has given us.

Through holy baptism they became children of God and members of His holy Church. We consecrate them to you today, that through this consecration they may become your foster children.

Guard them, guide their steps in life, form their hearts after the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

St. Joseph, who felt the tribulation and worry of a parent when the child Jesus was lost, protect our dear children for time and eternity. May you be their father and counsellor. Let them, like Jeus, grow in age as well as in wisdom and grace before God and men. Preserve them from the corruption of his world, and give us the grace one day to be united with them in Heaven forever.

Amen