St Joseph's Day | Ms Nikita Bedwell

'With a Father’s heart, that is how Joseph loved Jesus.' - Pope Francis

Tomorrow, we gather as a Terrace Family to celebrate St Joseph’s Feast Day. We are grateful to have Bishop Ken Howell leading Mass with us. Just like God purposefully chose Joseph to guide Jesus in his upbringing, so too were the Christian Brothers intentional in choosing St Joseph to be the Patron Saint of our College and guide for our Gentlemen of Terrace.

Although St Joseph has little dialogue in the Gospels, the gentle silence of his presence allows an insight into what sort of father he was and helps us appreciate the mission entrusted to him by God - to raise Jesus. Pope Francis characterises St Joseph’s service of the young Messiah as being ‘with a father’s heart’. This seemingly simple phrase is in fact wrapped in emotions of tenderness and humility, as well as strength and conviction, emotions that will resonate with the fathers and father figures of our Gentlemen of Terrace.

For Jesus, St Joseph played the role of the earthly image of his Heavenly Father. Throughout his ministry, Jesus referred to God as Abba, meaning father, yet the first person Jesus would have referred to in this way was St Joseph. Jesus saw the tender love of God in his earthly father, Joseph. As Pope Francis describes it, 'a love placed at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home.' Growing up, Jesus looked to St Joseph for guidance, teaching and learning. For our Gentlemen of Terrace, we encourage them to do the same and to embody the characteristics and virtuous qualities of St Joseph. A seemingly ordinary man whose values and receptiveness to serve made him extraordinary.

Over the course of Lent, our Gentlemen of Terrace have been encouraged to consider the question ‘How can St Joseph inspire our way of being and living this Lent?’, specifically exploring the themes of St Joseph as a man of humility, work, deep listening, family and Jesus. St Joseph’s strength was founded in his humble vocation to serve God’s will. Our College motto, ‘To Serve God is to be Wise’ is reflected in the life of St Joseph and is both aspirational and inspirational to how the Gentlemen of Terrace live their lives.

In Hebrew the name 'Joseph' means, 'may God increase, may God give growth'. Joseph’s name reveals an essential aspect of his personality - a man fully trusting in God who is guided by faith, not by sight. Our hope for our Gentlemen of Terrace is for them to have an unshakable trust in the unseen and to find providence in God directing their lives. Like St Joseph, we hope our Gentlemen of Terrace will follow a path of humility, strength, gentleness, courage, faith, service and love.

Saint Joseph, you who always trusted God and made your choices guided by His providence, teach us not to count so much on our own plans but on His plan of love.

You who come from the peripheries, help us to convert our gaze and to prefer what the world discards and marginalises.

Comfort those who feel alone and support those who work silently to defend life and human dignity.

Live Jesus in Our Hearts … Forever.

St Joseph … Pray For Us.

Amen.