SAN DIEGO – In an upcoming presentation to the diocese’s catechists, Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano will share his insights about one of the Church’s most venerated saints.
The bishop’s Lenten reflection, “With a Father’s Heart: This Is How Joseph Loved Jesus,” will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, March 16, just three days before St. Joseph’s feast day. It will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. in English and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Spanish.
The virtual event takes its name from the title of a recent apostolic letter about St. Joseph, “Patris Corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), in which Pope Francis declared a Year of St. Joseph that began on Dec. 8 of last year and will continue through Dec. 8, 2021. The reflection will be one of the first diocesan events held in observance of the special year.
“This event comes at the perfect time as we prepare for Lent and reflect on the virtues of St. Joseph as a husband and father,” said diocesan Chancellor Marioly Galván, who also directs the Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry.
“Now more than ever, we are called to strengthen the bonds of family, to put into perspective the values of family life,” she said. “St. Joseph is the perfect example of how we can be obedient to the Father’s will, to love fully and faithfully no matter the circumstances.”
Bishop Bejarano, whose father and both grandfathers were named Joseph, welcomed the news that the pope was dedicating an entire year to their saintly namesake, though he was disappointed that the ongoing pandemic is likely to limit the diocese’s ability to celebrate it.
Still, he said, “If we are able to learn more about and to be able to practice more of his virtues, I think it will be a great accomplishment.”
Despite St. Joseph’s exalted role in salvation history, Scripture has little to say about him – at least in terms of biographical details.
“We don’t have any recorded words or sayings from him, but still, we have so much to learn from him,” said Bishop Bejarano, whose reflection will focus on the saint’s virtues, which he said include humility, courage and “complete trust” in God.
The bishop also hopes to reflect on how the virtues of St. Joseph make him “a great role model” for men in particular.
“I think that a lot of males are hesitant about their spirituality,” he said, explaining that they sometimes view spirituality as “something that only women do.”
He expressed hope that the Year of St. Joseph and his own Lenten reflection will encourage more men “to embrace the spirituality that each one of us has been called to live.”
For more information, contact the Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry at (858) 490-8232 or lperez@sdcatholic.org.
