Monthly Reflections
February 2022
Did you know that in the life of the Church, Wednesdays are dedicated to St. Joseph? In this new year, in light of our Diocesan Consecration to St. Joseph, let us keep him before the eyes of our hearts in a special way every Wednesday!
To help us do this, we share with you a beautiful reflection on devotion to St. Joseph, given by one of the religious vocations borne from our Diocese, Sr. Maria Madonna dei Poveri, SSVM!
“Go To Joseph”
Diocesan Advent Mission
As we look to the end of the Year of St. Joseph, we invite you to go to Joseph and prepare your hearts for the consecration of our Diocese to St. Joseph by Bishop Peter Muhich on December 8. Join us live in the Black Hills or virtually on December 1, 8, and 15 for evenings of prayer, reflection on the heart and mission of St. Joseph by our Diocesan clergy, and testimony.
St. Joseph, pray for us!
Mission Dates and Parishes
December 1—Blessed Sacrament Church, Rapid City: 6:00—7:30pm MST
“The Beauty of the Heart of St. Joseph”
December 8—Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help: 5:00—7:00pm MST
“The Power of Consecration to St. Joseph/St. Joseph, Defender of the Eucharist”
December 15—Our Lady of the Black Hills, Piedmont: 6:00—7:30pm MST
“Pillar of Families, Glory of Home Life”
**Please note the video player embeds below may automatically adjust the start time based on your location. All times above are listed in Mountain Standard Time.
December 1 – Mission Livestream
Used with permission and reprinted under One License # A-704310 and with permission of International Liturgy Publications. Streaming License E 20031160 9/30/2021. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the English translation of Lectionary for Mass © 2002, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation, (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2011, ICEL; excerpts from Prayers of the Faithful © 2009, Catholic Book Pub., New Jersey. All rights reserved.
Pre-recorded video reflection by Deacon Josh if the Livestream fails!
December 8 – Mission Livestream
Excerpts from the English translation of Lectionary for Mass ©1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation, (ICEL); Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL; All rights reserved. Psalm Tones © 1973, 1993, Saint Meinrad Archabbey; All rights reserved. Used with permission. All Antiphon and Congregational Refrain settings by Columba Kelly, OSB; keyboard accompaniments arranged by Raymond Henderson, © 2017, St. Meinrad
Archabbey. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Music under ONE License A-704305 and/or CCLI License 3034900. All rights reserved.
December 15 – Mission Livestream
Used with permission and reprinted under One License # A–707889 and with permission of International Liturgy Publications. Streaming License E 20031160 9/30/2021. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the English translation of Lectionary for Mass © 2002, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation, (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2011, ICEL; excerpts from Prayers of the Faithful © 2009, Catholic Book Pub., New Jersey. All rights reserved. CCLI Song #3441008 c.worshiptogether.com songs © sixsteps Music. For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License #3057085
Fr. Mark McCormick live reflection.
Fr. Dillon Testimony – Full
Plenary Indulgences for the Year of St. Joseph
Pope Francis has proclaimed a “Year of St. Joseph” in honor of the 150th Anniversary of his declaration as Patron of the Universal Church, beginning Dec. 8, 2020, and ending Dec. 8, 2021 with a special decree outlining conditions for receiving the indulgences.
The decree signed by the head of the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, said the year would be an opportunity for the faithful to follow St. Joseph’s example and “daily strengthen their life of faith in full fulfillment of God’s will” and outlined several instances in which the faithful will be able to obtain a plenary indulgence in relation to the Year of St. Joseph, provided they meet the usual conditions of going to confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of the pope.
According to the decree, a plenary indulgence will be available under these conditions:
- To those who meditate of the Our Father prayer for at least 30 minutes or take part in a spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph
- To those who perform a corporal or spiritual work of mercy
- To families or engaged couples who recite the rosary together
- To those who entrust their daily work to St. Joseph and those who ask St. Joseph to intercede for the unemployed
- To those who recite a prayer to St. Joseph (the litanies of St. Joseph in Latin rite, or Akathistos to St. Joseph in the Byzantine rite, or any other prayer to St. Joseph) for the relief of Christians persecuted both inside and outside of the Church
- To faithful who recite “any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph,” with an encouragement to do so on the March 19 and May 1 feasts of St. Joseph, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Byzantine celebration of St. Joseph’s Sunday, and on the 19th of every month and on every Wednesday, which has been dedicated to St. Joseph in the Latin rite
- To the elderly, sick, dying and those legitimately unable to leave the house, who recite an act of piety to St. Joseph under his title of Comfort of the Sick and Patron of a happy death, provided they offer their discomfort to God and fulfill the conditions for the indulgence “as soon as possible”
Cardinal Piacenza urged all priests with the appropriate faculties to make themselves available to an extra degree to offer confessions and to administer communion to the sick more often.
Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to St. Joseph
To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holily, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
St. Joseph Defender of the Eucharist Icon
icon written by Alyssa Christine
Prints can be purchased at the Mustard Seed or online at
https://alyssumchristina.wufoo.com/forms/alyssum-christina-studio/
Meditations about St. Joseph by Mother Adela
K of C St. Joseph documentary trailer
Apostolic Letter: Patris Corde
Fathers of St. Joseph Men’s Ministry
Consecration to St. Joseph Book
Consecration to St. Joseph Book
St. Joseph Book