THOUGHTS ALONG THE JOURNEY

I was taught by the Sisters of St Joseph, I went to primary school at St Joseph’s and I received the sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion, Confirmation and Ordination at St Joseph’s Belmore. To spend the Feast of St Joseph in “THE’ Church of St Joseph was a real buzz.

St Joseph wears so many hats all of which, except for one, I like. He is the Patron Saint of Foster Fathers, Apprentices and the Catholic Worker Movement and (thanks google) the Patron Saint of the Universal Catholic Church. In Australia Catholic hospitals all have a picture or statue of St Joseph with a white lily. Why? Because St Joseph is also the Patron Saint of a happy death.

For this reason I have always associated lilies with death. You can imagine my horror when I discovered that the local tradition is to present every female parishioner with a lily as they leave the church. They repeatedly tried to give me one (because I’m a lady??) and I steadfastly refused. I took a stack of pics, check them out.

PS. Happy Birthday mum