Note: Bishop Peter J. Jugis has extended the diocese’s “Year of St. Joseph” into 2021 since the pandemic has forced the curtailment of celebratory events that had been planned throughout 2020. Marking the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being declared patron of the universal church, Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus which continues through Dec. 8, 2021.
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis officially declared 2020 as the “Year of St. Joseph” in the Diocese of Charlotte during a Jan. 1 Mass celebrated at St. Patrick Cathedral.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX proclaiming St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, as the patron of the Universal Church, in his 1870 decree “Quemadmodum Deus.” Last fall, Bishop Jugis announced his intention to mark the anniversary by devoting the entire year to St. Joseph.
The Jan. 1 Mass at the cathedral was standing room only as visitors from other parishes, college seminarians from St. Joseph College Seminary, members of the Fraternity of St. Joseph, and local clergy and religious gathered to celebrate the start of the special year.
“We can use this special anniversary year as an opportunity to honor this great and holy man, the foster father of Jesus and the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Bishop Jugis said in his homily, “and in honoring him, draw attention to our own vocation to be holy.”
Every member of the Church – no matter his or her vocation in life – must strive to be holy, the bishop said. Underscoring this universal call to holiness, “Be holy” is the theme he has chosen for the 2020 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress set for Sept. 11-12.
The emphasis on holiness with the Year of St. Joseph and the upcoming Eucharistic Congress is particularly important at this moment in the life of the local Church, in response to the clergy sex abuse scandal and to the challenges of modern life, Bishop Jugis said.
“What does this holiness mean?” he asked. “It means practicing our faith. It means faithfully participating at Mass. It means conversion from sin. Going to confession. Being reconciled with others. Forgiving past offenses.”
“What a great way to start the new year. A new slate, a new page – forgiving past offenses. Being faithful to daily prayer. Practicing charity – the sign of holiness,” he said.
“Why is it so important to be holy?” he asked. “It is more than just something nice to do. To live in God’s love, practicing our faith, it is important to be holy because we are interested in our own salvation. If we want one day to come into the presence of the All Holy One, Almighty God Himself, then we must be living in His presence even now, to be with God forever in the kingdom of heaven.”
It is also important to be holy, he said, so that we may be witnesses to others of the Gospel message – that Christ is alive, He lives in us, and we are His missionaries to bring others to Him.
St. Joseph can be our model in holiness, he continued.
“St. Joseph was with Jesus every day – he lived with God in the flesh every day. He carried Jesus in his arms, he held Him. He took care of Jesus. He clothed Jesus, he taught Him, he fed Him – he did everything any father would do for his son. But this son is the Son of God. This continuous living with Jesus, being in Jesus’ presence constantly, made St. Joseph holy.”
“Just imagine,” he said, “being in the presence of the Holy One in the living flesh and blood at every moment – what holiness would be communicated to you.”
Bishop Jugis marveled at the crucial role St. Joseph was given by God to protect and watch over Jesus as He grew. “What an awesome responsibility. He had a great influence over Jesus, being the man of the house. And Jesus had a great influence on St. Joseph, making him holy.”
“God chose St. Joseph to be the spouse of the Blessed Virgin and to be the legal father of the Son of God. His life with them made him strong in virtue and in God’s graces. He lived with the two holiest, sinless people of the face of the earth. What a blessing God gave to him,” he said.
In conclusion he prayed, “Let us ask St. Joseph to intercede for us, to obtain God’s blessing on us as we make our way in life this year.”
Go online to www.YearofStJoseph.org for details.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
‘Year of St. Joseph’ proclaimed for 2020 in Charlotte diocese
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis will announce 2020 as the “Year of St. Joseph” at Mass offered on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Jan. 1, 2020, at St. Patrick Cathedral.
All are welcome to attend the 9 a.m. Mass at the cathedral, located at 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, N.C. 28203.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX proclaiming St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, as the patron of the Universal Church. “Quemadmodum Deus” was promulgated in 1870.
The diocese has launched a website devoted to the “Year of St. Joseph” complete with educational resources, prayers and devotions, and “Year of St. Joseph” event details from across the diocese, as dates for special events are finalized.
Go online to www.YearofStJoseph.org for details.
One of the first events to kick off the special year will be a sacred art light show that will be projected onto the exterior of the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, located at 1123 South Church St. in uptown Charlotte.
During the Epiphany octave – from Sunday, Jan. 5, to Sunday, Jan. 12 – images of St. Joseph and the Holy Family will illuminate the three-story building from dusk until about 10:30 p.m.
All are welcome to stop by and enjoy the laser show projection, which is being conducted by Highland Mediaworks, a local Catholic-owned business that can be found online at www.highlandmediaworks.com.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter