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1329 East Moyamensing Avenue                                Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone:   215-462-4129                                              Fax:   215-462-9429







Dear Parents and Guardians,

This month we celebrate the special feast of St. Joseph. In the
Scriptures St. Joseph comes across as a man who was attuned to the
word of God. He took what God had to say seriously and prayed
about it. He prayed not only in the synagogue but also in his
carpenter's shop and at home. And he let God's word guide not only
his thoughts but his actions. St. Joseph was ready to obey God even
when it didn't all add up...like taking Mary as his wife when she
was already with Child. So many people let their emotions and their
impulses dominate their life. They have made the world a
self-centered place.

  After reflecting on St Joseph's life, it appears that Joseph put his
whole life on the line for us. After 2,000 years it's easy for us to
minimize the risks he took.   Mary conceived the Child Jesus by the
power of the Holy Spirit but to a casual observer it looked
otherwise. In taking Mary into his home St Joseph risked complete
humiliation. But he took the risk of love not only for Mary and her
Child but also for us. Listening to the Word of God, St. Joseph
accepted his unique vocation to be the foster-father of Jesus and the
guardian of the Holy Family.

  If we are attuned to the presence and voice of God in our lives,
then, sooner or later, we will hear God's call in our lives. We will
hear the Lord calling us to serve him and to serve others in a
particular way. Every vocation is a call to love in a particular way-
priesthood is about giving your life to bringing Christ to people and
people to Christ; religious life is about consecrating your life to
Christ and serving others as he asks; marriage is about joining with a
spouse to create and love a family, as the most fundamental building
block of a strong and healthy society.

  May St. Joseph always teach us the value of work as we think
about constructing a better world. St. Joseph shows us that work
isn't just about producing things. It's about cooperating with God,
the Creator of the Universe. We are called to be God's co-workers in
our daily work. Let us follow St. Joseph's lead by having a real life
of prayer, so that we will grow both as a person of reason, faith, and
love. God bless you!

                                                 Prayerfully,

                                                 Sister Patricia