The year 2020 will forever be remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic for most of us.  For others it will be the year their spouse/relative/friend/acquaintance died.  That passing of our loved one was magnified by the inability to have families and friends gather to comfort and mourn together.  It all seemed surreal.

As 2021 nears I see less New Year’s resolutions on my Facebook newsfeed.  We just want this year over.  Unfortunately, none of this will go away when our grandfather clocks (yes, I said grandfather – we own two) hit 12 AM on December 31.  The vaccine does bring an inkling of hope for what will probably be a new normal.

What did catch my attention for the coming new year was Pope Francis proclaims 2021 the Year of St. Joseph.  St. Joseph?  Don’t we need a heavy duty saint/angel like St. Michael?  Why would Pope Francis pick a saint that never uttered a word in scripture?  Why pick a saint so far in the background that he is all but forgotten?

Then I started to think about who Joseph is.  He married the woman he had not slept with even though she confided in him her pregnancy.  He protected that woman and his step-son from Herod.  He became a role model to his son and a quiet and patient husband to his wife.

If you read the Vatican News article, it relates many of St. Joseph’s qualities.  In my own prayer life, he has quietly and without fanfare, answered my petitions.

Perhaps what used to be known as the “strong, silent type,” is who we all need to intercede on our behalf and help us navigate the year 2021.

If you have been unable to attend Mass and missed getting the prayer card for the year of St. Joseph, this is it:

May you all have a blessed, healthy and safe new year!

Don’t forget to keep the faith!

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