BRIDGEPORT— Yesterday evening, March 10, began the diocesan Novena to St. Joseph. During this nine day devotion, the faithful of the diocese implore the intercession of St. Joseph in preparation for the consecration of the diocese to his patronage, which will be celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano at a special Pontifical Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral on March 19.
The Novena will continue at 7 pm every evening via Zoom and the diocesan YouTube channel. The faithful will also be able to access the novena through the diocesan website and social media.
“Every evening we will invoke different levels of this venerable saint’s powerful intercession; asking for his protection, care and guidance upon us, so that we may open our hearts more fully to receive the love of the Lord and to embrace the advancement of the Gospel in the world in embarking on invitational ministry, especially during this extraordinary moment in history,” said Father Peter Lenox, episcopal vicar for liturgy and worship, and the host of this Novena. Father Lenox will be joined by various members from around the diocese throughout the coming days, but for this very first day he was accompanied by Bishop Caggiano.
Bishop Caggiano addressed the faithful, “I am grateful that you have taken time out of this evening to join me in this prayer and to commit ourselves to continue this journey towards the consecration.”
The bishop asked that those gathered leave aside the busyness of the day, and to use this half hour or so to rest and reflect in faith about “this remarkable man, who Sacred Scripture records not a single word spoken, and yet to him was instructed the protection and care of the Holy Family.”
“St. Joseph had a tremendously important and noble vocation,” said the bishop, “but he accomplished it with his steadfastness, his perseverance, his fidelity, his quiet courage. And so, we ask St. Joseph to accompany us and to guide us, to protect us and to intercede for us.”
The Novena begins with the Litany of St. Joseph and includes this prayer, “O God, who in your inexpressible providence were pleased to choose Saint Joseph as spouse of the most holy Mother of your Son, grant, we pray, that we, who revere him as our protector on earth, may be worthy of his heavenly intercession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.”
In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis proclaimed a special “Year of Saint Joseph” with the release of his Apostolic Letter Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”).
On March 19, at 7 pm, Bishop Caggiano will consecrate the Diocese of Bridgeport to the patronage of St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church, at a Pontifical Mass live-streamed from St. Augustine’s Cathedral in Bridgeport. Pastors throughout the diocese will also celebrate Mass at the same time to link the diocese together in prayer and purpose.