Irish Italian Fest set for March 17 - St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic ...

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THE NEWS ACCORDING TO ST. THOMAS
Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church
By Judy Showalter
Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of Saint
Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
each year on March 19th. On that day, we
honor the faithful carpenter, Joseph, who was
chosen by God to be the husband of Mary and
the foster father of Jesus.
The first two chapters of the Gospels of
Matthew and Luke give us a glimpse at the
life of Joseph. We are told that he was a descendant
of King David. We do not know exactly
when Joseph was born, but historians believe it was 25 B.C., or
perhaps a few years earlier. We don’t know exactly when he died either,
but the last time that Joseph is mentioned in the Bible is in the Gospel
of Luke 2:41-51 in which Joseph, Mary and twelve-year-old Jesus traveled
to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. During that trip Jesus
was separated from Mary and Joseph, and later found in the temple.
Therefore, it is believed that Joseph died sometime after that, but before
Jesus entered his public ministry.
The Scriptures also tell us that Joseph was an obedient man, always
following the commands of God whenever an angel appeared with instructions
for him regarding Mary and Jesus. He is described in
Matthew 1:18 as “a righteous man.”
The physical appearance of Saint Joseph remains a mystery, but he
has been depicted in artwork for over two thousand years as a tall man
with dark hair and a beard. Many artists have used various mediums
such as frescoes, mosaics, stained glass, oil paintings, sculptures and
woodcarvings to capture his spirit. He is often shown either holding the
Christ Child, or gazing lovingly at the Blessed Virgin Mary as she
holds Our Savior, Jesus.
Artwork in which Saint Joseph is shown caring for flowers represents
his protection over the whole Church, and the white lily symbolizes
his role as Guardian of Virgins. (To view images online, go to
the Oblates of Saint Joseph website @ www.osjoseph.org.)
In addition to being the patron saint of the Universal Church, Saint
Joseph is also the patron saint of fathers, families, and workers. A second
feast day is celebrated in his honor on May 1st, when the Catholic
Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
The people of Italy and those of Italian descent in the United States
have a deep devotion to Saint Joseph. They love him because he was
the protector of Mary and Jesus, and the protector of the people of
Sicily many centuries ago during a severe drought and famine. They
honor Saint Joseph (San Giuseppe) each March 19th with altars filled
with food and flowers.
Huch receives Lumen Christi Award
By Carolyn Nation
The Lumen Christi, or Light of Christ Award shines light on outstanding
parishioners who have contributed to their parish.
The 2011 recipient is Mary Huch whose work for St. Thomas is
largely conducted out of the limelight. Mary and her husband, Don,
prefer working behind-the-scenes in the parish. She is a Eucharistic
Minister, and often takes communion to elderly shut-ins, Hospitality
Host, Small Faith Communities, member of the Welcoming Newcomers
ministry, Care and Comfort for the Bereaved, has cooked for Tailgating,
and was the organizer of last Thanksgiving’s meal in the Parish
Hall. She described receiving the Lumen Christi award as “absolutely
humbling.”
Saint Patrick, Patron of Ireland
By Judy Showalter
Saint Patrick is one of the most popular
saints in the world. His feast day is celebrated
not only by Catholics, but by the secular
world as well.
March 17th is the day when everyone
claims they are Irish so they can celebrate
with parades, festivals, and maybe even a pint
of Guinness! But what do we really know
about the life of the man we are honoring
Some people mistakenly think that he was
born and reared in Ireland. Actually, Patricius (Patrick) was the son of
Roman parents who lived in Britain. He was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland,
near Dumbarton in 387, and later declared himself a Roman and
a Briton.
When he was a teenager, he was captured by Irish slave traders and
taken to Ireland where he was sold as a slave. He spent the next six
years as a shepherd. It was during that time, as he suffered greatly
from hunger, cold, and isolation, that he began praying constantly to
God.
One night, he had a dream in which God told him to travel to the
coast and leave Ireland. He obeyed, and after traveling over two hundred
miles on foot, he reached the coast and was rescued by sailors on
a ship. Patrick was ordained a priest, and later a bishop.
He had a strong desire to return to Ireland as a missionary after God
spoke to him in another dream. Eventually he was sent to Ireland, and
the thirty years he spent there spreading the Good News led to the conversion
of thousands of Irish people, the ordination of 350 bishops,
and the building of many churches and monasteries.
It is said that Patrick was a humble man who was embarrassed by
his lack of formal education. However, his gentle and humble manner
is what made him so human and endearing to the people.
Once, when he was trying to explain the Holy Trinity and the people
were having difficulty understanding, he looked down and saw a
shamrock growing near his feet. He picked it, and holding it up explained
that it has one stem, but three leaves just as there are three divine
Persons in one God.
Patrick died on March 17, 461 in Saul, where his first church was
built years earlier. He is buried at Down Cathedral in Northern Ireland.
Pets ministry helps shelter
By Kathy Fleming
The St. Francis People & Pets Ministry began in late August
2011 and has been on a roll since.
Volunteers assist two area animal shelters by providing supplies
during Social & Shelter Days, spreading the word that the ministry
is a resource to help struggling pet owners in the Hattiesburg
area, and by completing a variety of projects. The Treats & Toys
for Toto and Taz event collected 50 toys and 12 bags of treats that
were distributed to four area animal shelters.
Several fun events are planned: In January Towels for Toto &
Blankets for Barney Collection assisted SPAS and the
Spay/Neuter Clinic. There will be a Spring fund raiser, a Social &
Shelter Day, and a Birthday Party. For more information, contact
Kathy Fleming at 601.265.9945 or sfpp_stt@hotmail.com.