News: “The whole Church recognizes St Joseph as a patron and guardian. For centuries many different features of his life have caught the attention of believers. He was a man ever faithful to the mission God gave him. He protects those who revere him and accompanies them on their journey through this life – just as he protected and accompanied Jesus when he was growing up. As you get to know him, you discover that the holy patriarch is also a master of the interior life – for he teaches us to know Jesus and share our life with him, and to realize that we are part of God’s family. St Joseph can teach us these lessons, because he is an ordinary man, a family man, a worker who earned his living by manual labor – all of which has great significance and is a source of happiness for us.”The Seven Sundays Devotion is a long-standing tradition of the Church in preparation for the feast of St. Joseph on March19. The devotion begins on the seventh Sunday before March 19 and honors the seven joys and seven sorrows that St. Joseph experienced as husband of the Mother of God, faithful guardian of Christ, and head of the holy family. The devotion is a prayerful opportunity to “help us find out what God is telling us through the simple life of Mary’s husband” (St. Josemaria Escriva; Christ is Passing By, no. 39). The first is his sorrow when he decided to leave the Blessed Virgin; His joy when the angel told him the mystery of the Incarnation. The second his sorrow when he saw Jesus born in poverty; His joy when the angels announced Jesus’ birth. The third his sorrow when he saw Jesus’ blood shed in circumcision; His joy in giving him the name of Jesus. The fourth his sorrow when he heard the prophecy of Simeon; His joy when he learned that many would be saved through the sufferings of Jesus. The fifth his sorrow when he had to flee to Egypt; His joy in being always with Jesus and Mary. The sixth his sorrow when he was afraid to return to his homeland; His joy on being told by the angel to go to Nazareth. The seventh his sorrow when he lost the Child Jesus; His joy in finding him in the temple. Dear St. Joseph Patron of the dying…Protector of the Church…Pray for us. Joseph appears almost discretely and never mentions a word in the Gospels, but his silence is felt very strongly like any father, he is always there. St. Joseph is also the patron of the dying, and who have died in a better state than St. Joseph, in the loving arms of Jesus and Mary. They were by his side while they walked the earth holding his hand as he passed over to the next life. What a beautiful thought to contemplate or to meditate on. We invite all you to join us at the shrine this month in honor of St. Joseph as our guide through the lenten season.
March 6th: First Friday Mass at 7:00 pm. Followed by all night Eucharistic Adoration. The sorrowful mysteries, chaplet of divine mercy, confession and more. Rev. Joseph Akilo will say the Mass.
March 7th: First Saturday Devotion at the shrine, starting at 9:00 a.m with Holy Mass, Rosary, Confessions. Followed by refreshments, come and enjoy. Rev. Ronald Tacelli S.J. will preside. The Spanish Rosary Community will meet on the First Saturday at 3:00 pm at the Shrine for song and fellowship.
March 21th: The Pro-life Mass at 10:30 am. Following Mass there will be a pro-life rosary. Rev. Mike McNamara will preside and give a 1hr reflection for lenten observance after the rosary.
St. Anthony’s in Allston once again is collecting items for the homeless at Pine St. Inn as a Lenten Service project. The item will be put together in a care package and distributed to the homeless. The shrine has a bin in the back to help collect and contribute. The following items that are being sought will be included in the care package if you wish to donate: $5 gift cards to Dunkin or McDonalds, socks, wrapped snacks such as granola bars, travel sized toiletries, individually wrapped toothbrush, men’s white crew socks. Thank you in advance!
