So, it's St. Joseph's Feast Day- a Saint who is so dear to me and a feast day that I love to celebrate with my students. But amid the world pandemic right now, I can't celebrate in person with my students or even attend Mass. But we can pray together, and there is no better Saint to ask for the intercession of right now. Not only is Joseph the patron of the Universal Church and Protector of Families, but he is the patron of the sick and of a holy death. And that "Terror of Demons" title sure couldn't hurt us with everything going on.
I have quite a lot of St. Joseph resources on the blog, but I have a few new ones to share, so I thought it would be worth it to round them all up in one post. Some of these links (the ones toward the top) will open right into the printable/file. Others will open to other blog posts with the details that you need.
No matter how you celebrate today, let's all call on the intercession of St. Joseph for the world as a whole as well as the individual needs of each household and person.
Social Distancing makes it a perfect time to send some cards to let people know you are thinking about and praying for them! Click here for a printable card with the Pure Heart of St. Joseph and the Memorare to St. Joseph.
St. John the XXIII wrote this beautiful prayer for fathers, and you can use it with these prayer cards:
Click here for a version of the Litany of St. Joseph that is easy to pray in a group- set it to full screen either on your computer, TV, or smartboard:
Click here for a fun five question scavenger hunt in Google forms. It will make a copy for you, so you can edit it to fit the needs of your kids/students.
Easy St. Joseph Shrines You could make these shrines as simply or as detailed as you like using a favorite coloring page or St. Joseph or have your kids draw their own!
Holy Family Coloring Page
Holy Family Coloring Page
A few years ago while visiting the Philippines, Pope Francis wove his love for St. Joseph into an address on prayer and family. Specifically, he spoke about a statue he has on his desk of the Sleeping St. Joseph. From the Gospels, we know that St. Joseph listened to God in his dreams and then rose to act on His will. Pope Francis shared with his audience that he asks St. Joseph to pray for his intentions by writing them down and slipping the paper under the statue of St. Joseph.
This sweet devotion has been spreading slowly across the world. A dear friend was the first to introduce it to me, and I just love this new connection with one of my very favorite Saints. How comforting to think of St. Joseph caring for the Church, for us and our concerns, while resting in God. Go check out this post for all kinds of ideas and activities about the devotion to the Sleeping St. Joseph.
Wooden Sculpture or Mural
Today it would be fun to build something from wood, even if it is Lincoln Logs, popsicle sticks or toothpicks! The collaborative mural was made of wooden popsicle sticks representing Joseph's work as a carpenter. Each student took one and wrote a title or role of St. Joseph (mostly those from the Litany of St. Joseph) and we assembled them into this bulletin board.
St. Joseph's Day Bread:
One school I worked at had a tradition that fresh bread was blessed on his feast day and passed out to everyone. Each class shared a loaf while thanking St. Joseph for his provision and protection, and each student took a small loaf home to share. Today would be a great day to bake bread together as a family!
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Novenas are powerful- well, they are powerful if you are seeking God's will and are prepared for his answer. You can read this post about the most obvious answer to a novena I have received, when I started praying this novena to St. Joseph the Worker, which resulted in a job I loved at a school named for St. Joseph. It was kind of crazy amazing at the time, and looking back, I can see God's hand in it even more clearly.
If you would like to join in praying the St. Joseph novena for his March 19th Solemnity or leading up to May 1st for St. Joseph the Worker, you could use this color-a-novena printable. There's one lily to color in for each day you pray. You can begin this novena any time and for any length to increase your devotion to St. Joseph and ask his powerful intercession.
St. Joseph also has a feast day on May 1st, celebrating his work and provision and protection for the Holy Family and for the Church. This quote from St. John Paul II has long been one of my favorites, and I lettered it as a reminder to pray for the work of the leaders in our lives and homes.
"St. Joseph was a just man, a tireless worker, the upright guardian of those entrusted to his care. May he always guard, protect, and enlighten families." ~St. John Paul II
St. Joseph Holy Saturday Coloring Page***
Click here for some resources for Holy Saturday and a couple of printables with a line about St. Joseph from a favorite poem:
St. Joseph Memorare Prayer Cards***
Click here for some resources for Holy Saturday and a couple of printables with a line about St. Joseph from a favorite poem:
St. Joseph Memorare Prayer Cards***
Similar in wording to the original Memorare, this one asks for the intercession of St. Joseph.
I hope you have a blessed St. Joseph Day!
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