Pope proclaims a year dedicated to St. Joseph: Celebrating the Year of St. Joseph: December 2020 – December 2021

On the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Dec. 8, 2020, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter, Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), for the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as patron of the universal Church. To mark the occasion, the pope proclaimed a year dedicated to Mary’s husband, Joseph, foster father to Jesus. The special “Year of St. Joseph” will be held through Dec. 8, 2021.

In his apostolic letter, Pope Francis explains that the aim of this special year is “to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal,” describing St. Joseph as a “beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.”

More information visit:  https://grdiocese.org/pope-francis-announces-year-of-saint-joseph/

Year of St. Joseph - August 2021 Prayer and Plenary Indulgence

There are many new ways to receive an indulgence including through prayer, retreats, entrusting one’s daily work to the protection of St. Joseph the Worker, acts of piety and service to the poor. For each upcoming month through December, the Office of Pastoral Services will share a highlighted prayer and plenary indulgence opportunity along with suggested areas of special focus for that month. The customary conditions for indulgences apply (sacramental confession, receiving the Eucharist and prayers according to the Holy Father’s intentions).

Visit https://bit.ly/GRDioceseYearofStJoseph for resources and to learn more.

August

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Aug. 6)

• The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord honors when the apostles had their first real glimpse of Jesus in his ultimate glory. Learn more about the Transfiguration: https://bit.ly/FAITHGRJulyAug2021SpiritualFitness  La Fiesta de la Transfiguración del Señor honra el momento en el que los apóstoles, por vez primera, ven realmente a Jesús en su máxima gloria. Infórmate más acerca de la fiesta de hoy: https://bit.ly/FAITHGRJulyAug2021SpiritualFitness
• August 7-8 Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith! Take time to talk to your kids about how they are called to reach out and to build relationships of love and justice. https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/upload/catholic-social-teaching-handout-for-children-digital.pdf   ¡La enseñanza social católica es un elemento central y esencial de nuestra fe! Toma unos momentos para hablar con tus hijos sobre cómo están llamados a extender una mano a los demás y construir relaciones de amor y justicia. https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/upload/catholic-social-teaching-handout-for-children-spanish-digital.pdf

• Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug. 15) – Since the holy day falls on a Sunday this year, it is only necessary for Catholics to attend Mass once to fulfill their Sunday Mass obligation. On Aug. 15, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Dogma states that at the end of her life, the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken, body and soul, into Heaven. Learn more: https://catholiccurrent.org/fact-of-faith/the-solemnity-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin/ ¡El 15 de agosto, la Iglesia celebra la Solemnidad de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María! El dogma afirma que al final de su vida, la Santísima Virgen María fue llevada al cielo, en cuerpo y alma. Infórmate más en: https://catholiccurrent.org/fact-of-faith/the-solemnity-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin/
• August 21 - Feast of Our Lady of Knock.  St. Joseph also appeared next to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Irish apparition of Our Lady of Knock. According to the Knock shrine, alongside Mary, St. John the Evangelist and the Lamb on the altar, St. Joseph appeared, standing to Mary’s right, with his head bowed as if in prayer. 
  
  • “There at Our Lady’s side, was her spouse, his head bent in prayer and support. St. Joseph, in his own quiet way, points each of us in the direction of Our Blessed Mother. He invites us to place all our prayers and intercessions in Her care, as She intercedes for us with Her Son. In these unprecedented and challenging times, that message is as relevant to us today as it was in 1879,” the Knock Shrine in Ireland said in a statement following the announcement of the Year of St. Joseph. (source: Denver Catholic, https://denvercatholic.org/the-many-marvelous-feasts-of-st-joseph/)
• August 28-29  The new school year is underway! Please pray for students, faculty and staff of the Catholic schools in our diocese as they begin this academic year.   We are excited to welcome back our students, faculty, and staff! Please join us in praying for each of them.  ¡El nuevo año escolar está en marcha! Por favor oren por los estudiantes, profesores y personal de las escuelas católicas en nuestra diócesis al comenzar este año académico.  ¡Estamos muy contentos de dar la bienvenida de nuevo a nuestros estudiantes, profesores y personal! Por favor, únase a nosotros para orar por cada uno de ellos.