November 19, 2021
Marking the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being declared patron of the universal church, Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration from January 1, 2020, to December 8, 2021, as the “Year of St. Joseph.” The commemoration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus—a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family—is meant to recognize and celebrate the creative courage and example of St. Joseph.
To mark this celebration, the Vincentian Center for Church and Society at St. John’s University presents Three Things Talks, a series that addresses issues of Catholic belief and teaching. The talks are intended for adult Catholics who want to know more about their faith, and for those who are interested in what Catholics believe. Each talk emphasizes three important ideas.
On Saturday, November 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in St. Thomas More Church, the Vincentian Center will sponsor an in-person and remote presentation, “Go to Joseph.”
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., John M. Conry, Pharm.D., Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Department Chair, Department of Clinical Health Professions, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, will discuss “Joseph as a Family Man.”
At noon, Sr. Maria Pascuzzi, CSJ, STD, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph who serves as Director of Spirit Alive: The CSJ Institute for Faith Inquiry and Education, will present on “Joseph’s Fiat.”
The Three Things Talk is available via live stream. Register here.
In a December 8 apostolic letter, “Patris Corde” (“With a father’s heart”), Pope Francis said Christians can discover in St. Joseph, who often goes unnoticed, “an intercessor, a support, and a guide in times of trouble.”
“The Holy Family had to face concrete problems like every other family, like so many of our migrant brothers and sisters who, today, too, risk their lives to escape misfortune and hunger. In this regard, I consider St. Joseph the special patron of all of those forced to leave their native lands because of war, hatred, persecution, and poverty,” the Pope said.