Servants of Charity

Dear Confreres, 

In the Old Testament, Pharaoh ordered his people, “Go to Joseph; do whatever he says to you” (Gn 41,55). In the same way, the Lord also tells us: “Ite ad Joseph! (Go to Joseph),” who is the foster father of Jesus Christ, the spouse of the Virgin Mary, the patron of the Universal Church, and our congregation.
Fr. George Boronat, the Prelature of Opus Dei from London, gives a beautiful description: 

“If you want to find Jesus, go to St. Joseph – he found Him after three painful days; if you want to always be close to Jesus and Mary, to St. Joseph – no one has ever been closer to them; if you want to pray, go to St. Joseph – he spent his life in dialogue with God. If you encounter difficulties, turn to St. Joseph – he knows everything about suffering. If you want to be obedient, chaste, generous, humble, joyful, sincere, holy … go to Joseph.”  

These are the characteristics that made St. Joseph a holy and just man. For this reason, God entrusted him with the greatest treasures: Jesus and Mary. In fact, simple and humble people are God’s best instruments for His kingdom.
Mother Theresa of Calcutta had a statue of St. Joseph under which she used to place a piece of paper with what she needed for her home and for her children. Almost all the benefactors invariably shared that they suddenly felt the need to donate to Mother Teresa. Therefore, when we are in need of God’s providence, let us go to St. Joseph; he will certainly intercede for us.
St. Joseph is the head of the Holy Family; he will always understand the difficulties and struggles of the family. He will not leave any family without rendering his helping hand. Don Guanella affirmed it, saying, 

"St. Joseph was chosen by the eternal Father to be the head of the Holy Family. Thus, the great saint, whom Jesus and Mary obeyed, must be enthroned in all the houses of the work.” 

DON GUANELLA WENT TO ST. JOSEPH, THE PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
Devotion to St. Joseph was born and developed in Fr. Louis Guanella from his childhood. Later it was transformed into his congregation, permeating together with his mission. Therefore, the Guanellian family has its own deep roots of devotion to St. Joseph. On December 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph the patron or protector of the Universal Church. St. Joseph was the protector of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. What better patron can a Church have? However, when St. Joseph was announced as a patron of the Church, Fr. Guanella was at Savogno. He wanted to establish the devotion of St. Joseph at Savongo. A few months later, in April 1871, he blessed the image of St. Joseph and placed it in the renovated parish church.

As a founder, Fr. Guanella named many of his houses after St. Joseph. Included are the Pious Union of St. Joseph and the Basilica of St. Joseph at Trionfale in Rome.
As we begin the season of Lent, I would like to conclude with the message of Pope Francis,  

"Let us journey together in hope.”

While reflecting and participating in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, make an inward journey that results in personal conversion, fraternal love, and hope. I wish you a blessed and fruitful Lent.

Fr. Gnanaraj, SdC

Provincial Superior