ALTHOUGH the Bible says little about him, much can be learned from St. Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth who responded to God’s call for him to foster the Holy Family.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday challenged his flock to emulate St. Joseph in shepherding their families.
“God entrusted to Joseph the Holy Family. May fathers imitate St. Joseph in nurturing their families.
“Amid problems that confront families, may husbands and wives receive the grace to be true to their promise to love each other for better or for worse, for richer or poorer,” said Palma in his homily during the feast of St. Joseph in Mandaue City yesterday.
The 62-year-old prelate officiated the Pontifical Mass that was attended by about 50 clergy members led by parish priest Msgr. Adelito Abella.
Local government officials led by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia were among the churchgoers who filled the National Shrine of St. Joseph in the heart of Mandaue.
Palma said Cebuanos, time and again, have showed their faith in God by praying to St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus.
“We should also take this occasion to thank the Lord for the gift of faith. If there is a thing we can be proud of in Cebu, that would be our faith,” he said.
The St. Joseph’s Church in Mandaue City was declared a national shrine in 2001 and has been the center of devotion in the country for the patron of the universal Church.
Msgr. Abella, the parish priest, plans to build a smaller shrine beside it where people could light candles before the image of St. Joseph.
The shrine houses the oldest image of St. Joseph in the country, which is placed in a retablo in the main altar.
The church also features the Señor de Cena or life-size statues of the 12 apostles and Jesus during the Last Supper.