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In recent years on this feast of St. Joseph it has been clear that this central fatherly figure in the early life of Jesus has also been a favourite of Pope Francis.

Six weeks after he was elected pope in 2013 he made a change to the text of the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass: after the naming of the “Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God” we now (at the pope’s insistence) include “blessed Joseph, her Spouse”.

Then in 2020 to mark the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being named as patron of the Church Francis wrote an inspiring letter titled “With a Father’s Heart” commenting “I would like to share some personal reflections on St. Joseph, this extraordinary figure, so close to our own human experience.”

Last week Pope Leo offered his own reflection in preparation for today’s Feast of St. Joseph. You might like to read his complete text at this link, but the central part which I quote below is about Joseph.

So in Pope Leo’s words, on this Feast of St. Joseph, let’s ponder Leo’s reflection:

Each of us has lost someone or something to whom we were deeply attached. In that moment, we realized how precious that presence was.

This also happens in the life of faith: we take Jesus’ presence in our lives for granted, until suddenly it seems He is no longer where we left Him. We feel a sense of loss. In reality, it is not He who is lost, but we who have distanced ourselves. When this happens, we are called to seek Him with trust, with the courage to travel unexplored paths, looking at the world with new eyes, full of hope. In this way, we will stop seeking a God who is tailor-made for us and instead encounter Him where He dwells. Seeking Jesus, therefore, means moving from the security of our convictions to the responsibility of encountering Him, learning to see and welcome the presence of God who is always “beyond.”

This is precisely what Saint Joseph did, protecting the family entrusted to him by the Lord. In him, we recognize that welcoming, as well as being present, is also protecting. Protecting means being attentively close to others, respecting their choices, and caring for them. This attitude belongs first and foremost to God, whom the Bible shows as the guardian of his people. Let us remember the psalm that says: “He will not slumber or sleep, / the guardian of Israel. / The Lord is your guardian” ( Ps  121:4-5). From this perspective, we understand that the human family is also called to preserve what has been entrusted to it: relationships, creation, the lives of our sisters and brothers, especially those who suffer and are most vulnerable. Thus, Joseph shows us that presence and protection are inseparable dimensions: one cannot protect without being present, and one cannot be present without assuming responsibility for others.

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Cafe Gatherings

Take an initiative – send me your first name with a cafe location, date and time, turn up and with whoever else turns up chat about your experience of Christ in your life. Write FFF on a serviette and place in the centre of the table so others can find you. Send your initiative to john@fff.org.nz

Thursday 19 March 2026 10.00am, Stumble Inn, 200 Mangorei Road, New Plymouth Joan .