Happy Feast Day of Saint Joseph!

This year is especially meaningful for me as I continue to deepen my devotion to him. About six years ago, I began my consecration to St. Joseph through Father Donald Calloway’s book, Consecration to St. Joseph. Wonderfully written, well-researched, and rich with insights from the saints, it has been a guide that helped me come to know St. Joseph not only as the faithful spouse of Mary and the foster father of Jesus, but also as a model for how we are called to live our own lives in obedience, courage, and trust in God.

I went through the 33-day consecration together with my brothers in our community, Couples for Christ, and in our parish, St. Vincent Ferrer. It was truly a beautiful and transformative journey, one that allowed us to know St. Joseph more intimately as a faithful, silent guide and protector. Through daily prayers, reflections, and the witness of the saints, we discovered how his life models courage, humility, and steadfast love, not only for Mary and Jesus but for all who seek to follow Christ faithfully.

Growing in St. Joseph’s Example

Our journey as a community has truly been a blessing. We began to notice the ways we were becoming more like St. Joseph, even in small ways. Just as he faithfully served the Holy Family, we found ourselves growing in our desire to serve our own families.

In my own life, I became more present at home, more involved in daily responsibilities, and more attentive to the needs of my wife and children. I have seen the same transformation in my brothers, how this journey has brought healing, renewal, and a deeper love for family in each of us.

Lessons from Father Donald Calloway

Father Donald Calloway teaches that our Lord is leading hearts, families, and the entire Church to turn to St. Joseph in a powerful way. This conviction is not his alone; it is rooted in the wisdom and witness of countless saints who have emphasized the importance of knowing, loving, and entrusting ourselves to St. Joseph.

As Father Calloway shares in his book, these saints have continually encouraged the faithful to grow in devotion to St. Joseph. Their example reminds us that in drawing closer to him, we are drawn ever more deeply to Jesus.

In his book, Father Calloway highlights many reasons to consecrate ourselves to St. Joseph. I want to reflect on three of them that especially spoke to me personally, adding my own experience and insights to understand their meaning in daily life:

Three Reasons to Consecrate to St. Joseph

1. Spiritual Fatherhood to Protect Marriage and Family

First, we need the spiritual fatherhood of St. Joseph to protect marriage and the family. Marriage and family life have always faced challenges, but today these threats have reached extraordinary levels. Many no longer understand what it means to be a man or a woman, or what truly defines marriage and family. By entrusting our homes to St. Joseph, we allow his example of care, guidance, and faithfulness to inspire and strengthen our own families.

2. Growing in Love and Virtue

Second, we need St. Joseph to help us return to the love of Jesus and live lives of virtue. In my own journey, deepening my devotion to him has taught me to rely on God more fully, especially in difficult times. Through consecration to St. Joseph, I learned to depend not on my own strength, but on God’s providence, trusting that He would provide for my family and guide my path. St. Joseph helps us cultivate virtues such as patience, humility, courage, and faithful service, forming us into people who reflect Christ in our daily lives.

3. Being Instruments of Re-Evangelization

Third, the world is in great need of re-evangelization, including many baptized Christians who have drifted from their faith. St. Joseph can be seen as the first missionary, entrusted with bringing Jesus into the world. Today, he continues this mission, desiring to bring Christ to every nation and culture. Many societies that were once deeply rooted in Christianity have moved away from their foundations and are now influenced by ideologies that remove what is sacred. By following St. Joseph, we too are called to be instruments of Christ’s love, bringing His presence into our families, communities, and beyond.

A Year of Trust and Providence

These truths about St. Joseph are not only meant to be understood, but to be lived. In a special way, this call to trust God and grow in virtue through St. Joseph became very real for me this past year.

In June 2025, I lost my teaching job, and by August, I had also lost my role in my parish, where I had served for 11 years- both of which I truly loved. I was let go unfairly, as I shared in a previous reflection (see here: https://welovethedivinelogos.org/trusting-god-when-doors-close-without-explanation-june-13-2025/). It was a painful and challenging time.

Yet, despite everything, by God’s grace, I remained faithful, and in the midst of it all, my relationship with Saint Joseph deepened even more. We know that he is the patron saint of workers and the unemployed, and during this time, my devotion to him grew on a different level. I learned, more deeply, how to depend on our Lord Jesus.

It was not an easy road. It was long, uncertain, and at times heavy. But I did not walk it alone. Together with my wife and children, we journeyed through it as a family. I was blessed by their understanding, their support, and our shared reliance on the intercession of St. Joseph. During this time, I continued to send applications to Catholic schools in a neighboring diocese, trusting that God would open the right door.

A Pilgrimage of Faith

Out of this season of trust and surrender, a new opportunity arose. About three weeks ago, we made a last-minute decision to travel to Italy for a short pilgrimage. My wife suggested I take our daughter Sofia as a special gift, since she will soon be entering high school. We traveled with my good friend Alex and his daughter, who also happens to be named Sofia, they are very close friends. Alex’s daughter had just turned 15 and chose to celebrate with a pilgrimage to Italy instead of a traditional quinceañera party, which made the trip even more meaningful.

We were initially hesitant to go, especially since I was without a job at the time, but a part of us felt that God was calling us to trust Him and take the step. The day after my job interview at the school where I had long desired to teach, we purchased our tickets at 11 a.m. and by 2 p.m., we were on our way to the airport for our 7 p.m. flight. We chose to follow that path, believing that the Lord would provide, and He did. It was a special opportunity to spend time with Sofia, share a spiritual experience, and witness firsthand how God’s providence works when we place our trust in Him, guided by the intercession of St. Joseph.

St. Joseph’s Providential Care

It was a beautiful journey, but one of the highlights for me was visiting the Holy House of Loreto, believed to be the home of the Holy Family- Mary, Jesus, and Joseph. As I entered that sacred place, I felt a deep sense of God’s presence and holiness. In that moment of prayer, I experienced a kind of personal conversion and a quiet assurance in my heart that God would take care of my future and provide for my family.

The following day, we traveled to Siena and visited the Basilica of San Domenico. Inside a small chapel, I was drawn to a statue that I could not clearly recognize. The sunlight was shining on its face, making it hard to identify, but I felt moved to sit and pray there. In a simple and honest prayer, I said, “Whoever you are, please help me find a job.”

Then I realized, it was St. Joseph. At that moment, I felt a deep peace and a strong sense that God was already at work. And sure enough, the very day after I returned home to the United States, I received a call from a Catholic classical school offering me a position to teach theology- a school where I had long hoped and desired to serve.

And the name of the school? St. Joseph Academy. How good and faithful God is! It was a beautiful reminder of His faithfulness and of St. Joseph’s intercession, confirming once again that when we place our trust in the Lord, He guides our steps and provides in ways we could never have imagined.

Reflections and Lessons

This journey has taught me that consecration to St. Joseph is not only a devotion, it is a path of discipleship. Through his example, we learn how to trust in God’s providence, embrace our responsibilities with courage, and lead our families in faith, hope, and love. St. Joseph, the silent guardian of the Holy Family, shows us how ordinary obedience and humble service can become extraordinary instruments of God’s plan. Just as he protected and guided Jesus in His hidden life, he continues to intercede for us, offering wisdom, courage, and providential care in our own lives.

Today, more than ever, I realize that true reliance on St. Joseph is a reliance on Christ Himself, for in following Joseph, we follow the path that leads to Jesus. May we, like him, become faithful servants and loving protectors of our families, our communities, and the one, holy, Catholic Church.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.” (Psalm 37:5)
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”(Romans 8:28)

Happy Feast Day of St. Joseph once again! I encourage you to consider consecrating yourself to him, allow St. Joseph to guide you, increase your virtues, and intercede for your life, family, and work. You will see how beautifully God works through his faithful servant.

St. Joseph, Model of Workers and Pillar of Families, pray for us.