Over the last few months St. Clement Parish was able to acquire and have placed a statue of St. Joseph the Worker.  The statue came from the former St. Edward Church in Shamokin, PA, the site of the current Mother Cabrini Parish Church after a joining of several parishes in Shamokin into one new parish.  We are certainly grateful that this statue can now grace this property in Rosedale, and St. Joseph seems to watch over the church itself.

A few weeks ago St. Andre of Montreal was canonized by Pope Benedict.  Brother Andre had a great devotion to St. Joseph, and was the one who began the great St. Joseph Oratory in Montreal.  I also recently read that a new St. Joseph Garden was added within the Vatican Gardens, perhaps because the Pope Benedict’s baptismal name was Joseph.  At any rate, it seems like a happy coincidence to me. 

St. Joseph is, especially, the patron of the church, the patron of workers, and the patron of a happy death.  As we can imagine the Christ Child going to Joseph, His foster-father, for things like guidance, advice, help and comfort, so we can go to the one who was charged with that important duty by God the Father.  We Catholics continue to use images and statues as a visible help in asking the saints to intercede for us.  In the “new” statue of St. Joseph we have a great image.  Let us also remember the late +Walter Panowicz, for the memorial contributions given in his name have made possible the obtaining and placing of St. Joseph the Worker.