‘St. Joseph, give us your silence’ this Lent
As we journey through Lent, accompanying Our Lord in the desert by fasting and praying in union with Him, it is good to have a saintly companion as our guide.
St. Joseph, whom St. Teresa of Avila called “the patron of people who seek to grow in prayer,” is an ideal saint to accompany us as we seek to grow in holiness.
Carmelite Father Michael-Joseph Paris studied in Avila, Spain for a year. He offered a reflection on St. Joseph and how St. Teresa of Avila teaches us to take St. Joseph as a father and a companion who will help us on the intense journey of the spiritual life.
He reminds us that there are no recorded words of St. Joseph in the gospels. This protector of the Holy Family and protector of the Universal Church is seen as the example of a strong, quiet presence, with a silent receptivity to the presence of God in Jesus.
“He too had a life of deep silent prayer. Always united to the presence of Jesus, nourishing and caring for Him in all of His needs, just like the body, the Church,” Father Paris said. “Because of this, St. Joseph is our model and our guide who makes sure we always stay on the right path in our prayer.”
St. Teresa says in her autobiography that, “Especially persons of prayer should always be attached to St. Joseph. Those who cannot find a master to teach them prayer should take this glorious saint for their master, and they will not go astray.”
For us too, who seek to grow in our spiritual life, we can entrust ourselves to St. Joseph as the best guide on our own unique path to divine union, Father Paris added.
This Lent we can take as our motto, “San Jose dame tu silencio,” which means “St. Joseph give me your silence.”
“We can ask for his intercession for the grace of an inner silence which listens for the will of God, and which helps us serve quietly in love without trying to be noticed or to seek our own glory,” Father Paris said. “This grace of silence will keep us united to Jesus through all the struggles of this life and will gradually transform us into Christ’s very image.”
As we move through these 40 days of Lent, let us walk in silence with St. Joseph, contemplating Christ’s love for us and ultimately His death and resurrection, which will lead us to the joys of Easter.
— SueAnn Howell
More online
Father Michael-Joseph of St. Therese is a Carmelite Friar of the Washington Province who resides at Holy Hill at the Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Hubertus, Wis. His full reflection is available on YouTube at www.discalcedcarmel.org/blog/from-avila-spain-st-joseph-give-me-your-silence.
CHARLOTTE — Catholic Charities’ Elder Ministry is excited to announce an “Aging with Confidence” webinar – a four-part series exploring how our five senses impact aging.
The series will begin Wednesday, March 8, with “Hearing Health and the Brain,” presented by Dr. Kelly Knolhoff, audiologist and owner at Birkdale Audiology. Knolhoff will discuss the basics of hearing, the effects of hearing loss on the brain and cognition, and treatment options and updates in hearing aid technology.
On March 22, the second session, “Adjusting to Changes in Smell & Taste” will be presented by Margaret White, a Centralina Area Agency on Aging consultant.
White will discuss the impacts associated with any loss, identify risk factors, learn proven tips to mitigate loss, and take steps to increase the flavor of your foods.
Details about the third session, “Sense of Vision,” and the fourth session, “Sense of Touch,” will be announced later.
The diocese’s Elder Ministry program reaches out to engage and celebrate with the elderly all year long. They collaborate with private, state and community-based organizations to promote opportunities for advocacy and education while helping raise awareness of aging issues.
To register for the webinars, please go online to www.ccdoc.org/events. Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
For additional information, contact Sandra Breakfield, program director of Elder Ministry, at 704-370-3220 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— David Long
CHARLOTTE — Parishes and retreat centers across the Diocese of Charlotte are offering a myriad of retreats this Lent.
One-day, evening and weekend-long retreats, some free and some with associated fees are available.
Here is a sampling of Lenten retreats across the diocese:
March 3-5
Lenten Retreat, St. Pius X Church, Greensboro
Come be inspired by Karlo Broussard, a native of Southern Louisiana, who is a gifted speaker and apologist for Catholic Answers.
For full schedule of Broussard’s talks each day, check the parish website at www.stpiusxnc.com.
March 5-7
“Prayer” Parish Mission, 6 p.m. nightly, St. Leo Church, Winston-Salem
Father Matthew Kauth, a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte who holds a licentiate and doctorate in moral theology, is an author and serves as rector of St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly. He will also offer the 8 a.m. Mass on March 5 and 6, followed by a talk.
March 11
“Love Letters to God” Journaling Retreat, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., St. James Church, Concord
This retreat on Saturday, March 11, is an opportunity where participants can bring their own journal and enjoy a morning of learning, writing, reflecting and sharing. Linda Beauregard, OSF, will serve as retreat director. To register, call the church office at 704-720-0600.
March 14
True Presence Night, 7 p.m., St. Therese Church, Mooresville
Featuring The Vigil Project, this will be a night of live music, dynamic Lent themed reflections, and a time of Eucharistic Adoration creating the opportunity to pray more deeply into this season and prepare for Christ’s Resurrection at Easter. Information on The Vigil Project is online at www.thevigilproject.com. See event details at www.sainttherese.net. Questions? Contact Peter O’Donnell at 704.609.3881 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
March 17-19
Lenten Women’s Retreat, Living Waters Catho;ic Reflection Center, Maggie Valley
For retreat details, go online to www.catholicretreat.org. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
March 18
A Night of Praise & Worship, Holy Cross Church, Kernersville
The parish will host singer-songwriter Dana Catherine from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 18, in Salesian Hall. Catherine will talk about her personal faith journey while sharing a variety of contemporary Christian songs. Questions? Call the parish's Office at Sacred Music at 336-515-3379.
March 19-21
Family Mission, St. Mark Church, Huntersville
6:30 p.m., Sunday, March 19, Father Kevin Barrett from the Apostolate for Family Consecration (AFC).
The AFC supports and challenges Catholic families to grow in holiness, grow in truth, and grow together so that they can become fully alive in Christ. He will speak on the family and on the Domestic Church.
7 p.m., Monday, March 20, Feast of St. Joseph Mass and Consecration, a bilingual. service. A St. Joseph Table and Celebration will follow in the parish hall.
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 21, Talk by Deacon Peter Tonon, of St. Ann Parish in Charlotte, on the Domestic Church in a hostile world and provide resources for combating the pressures of this age.
March 25
Day of Reflection, Saturday, March 25, “The Cup of Our Life” with artist Peter Strafaci, Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, Maggie Valley.
For more information, go online to the Living Waters Reflection Center website at www.catholicretreat.org or email Deacon Bill Shaw at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
March 31-April 2
Miles Christi Women’s Silent Retreat, March 31-April 2, Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, Maggie Valley.
Contact Miles Christi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 248-596-9677.
— SueAnn Howell