This week I have been fortunate to spend some time at the Josephite Mission and History Centre with the Sisters of Saint Joseph (SOSJ). The SOSJ founded our school in 1938, for more information on this visit our website, as one of the many schools established in Tasmania. You will also be aware that the SOSJ were co-founded by Saint Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop) and Father Julian Tenison Woods. Julian Tenison Woods had visited Tasmania, before the SOSJ established schools here and during his visit he called Tasmania, St Joseph’s Island. You may not be aware, but Pope Francis has named this year the Year of St Joseph, in his Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde. When reading this letter I can understand why Mary MacKillop and Julian Tension Woods built the order of SOSJ on Joseph’s example. Joseph was called by God to be the Guardian, protector and provider for Jesus and Mary. And as the Guardian of our Church, he is the Guardian of us. As Pope Francis states.

Consequently, every poor, needy, suffering or dying person, every stranger, every prisoner, every infirm person is “the child” whom Joseph continues to protect. For this reason, Saint Joseph is invoked as protector of the unfortunate, the needy, exiles, the afflicted, the poor and the dying.  Consequently, the Church cannot fail to show a special love for the least of our brothers and sisters, for Jesus showed a particular concern for them and personally identified with them. From Saint Joseph, we must learn that same care and responsibility. We must learn to love the child and his mother, to love the sacraments and charity, to love the Church and the poor. (Patris Corde, 2021)

We can learn a lot from St Joseph. How do we show love for the least of our brothers and sisters?

God Bless,

Shayne Kidd