CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis has extended the diocese’s “Year of St. Joseph” into 2021 since the pandemic has forced the curtailment of celebratory events that had been planned throughout 2020.
The Year of St. Joseph recognition will continue until Dec. 8, 2021 with a series of outdoor and other safe and socially distanced events – including “The Advent Challenge” in which families spiritually accompany the Holy Family’s 90-mile journey to Bethlehem.
Advent is the time of year when we take up special prayers and devotions with our families to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
During this Advent season, which runs Nov. 29 to Dec. 24, families are invited to participate in a more physical form of devotion in honor of the labors St. Joseph endured for the sake of the Holy Family. In obedience to God, St. Joseph led the pregnant Mary riding on a donkey on the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where the Divine Child was destined to be born.
To learn from his example of trust in God as we journey through our own lives, the diocese encourages individuals and families to take the Advent Challenge by creating their own 9 up to 90-mile journey during the four weeks of Advent. Ninety miles averages to roughly 3.5 miles a day during Advent, a trek that can serve as devotional activity with a holy intention of strengthening your family.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s proclaiming St. Joseph the patron of the Universal Church in his 1870 decree “Quemadmodum Deus.”
The diocese kicked off the Year of St. Joseph in January with a special religious art extravaganza and other events before the pandemic forced events to be scaled back. A closing Mass for the Year of St. Joseph that had been planned for December will be rescheduled; however, Bishop Jugis will continue with plans for Mass on Dec. 27, to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, at the Cathedral of St. Patrick.
How to Take the Year of St. Joseph Advent Challenge
In an effort to draw our hearts and minds closer to God during this Advent season:
• Resolve to walk from 9 up to 90 miles between Nov. 29 and Dec. 24, in honor of the Holy Family’s journey.
• Embrace the trek as a family devotional activity as often as possible each week.
• Consider making the walk a relay in which each family member covers a portion of the 90 miles.
• While walking, pray the Holy Rosary and contemplate the life and virtues of St. Joseph.
• Make a holy intention for this activity: that your family will be strengthened in God’s grace through the intercession of St. Joseph, the patron saint of fathers and families.
• Share your photos and progress on social media with the hashtag #StJoseph2020.
— Catholic News Herald
More online
At https://yearofstjoseph.org/advent: Learn more about the Advent Challenge.
At https://yearofstjoseph.org: find educational resources, prayers and devotions, and event details from across the diocese.
Pictured: Journey to Bethlehem Mosaic. (Photo via wikiart.org)