St. Joseph is a great patron of the Academy – in particular of our trades programs. The entire life of St. Joseph was an unreserved and wholehearted giving of himself in every moment – as the foster father of the son of God – as the guardian, guide, and leader of the Holy Family, and as the chaste spouse of the most pure Mother of God – the Queen of Heaven.

Scripture tells us very little about St. Joseph – not a single word of his is recorded – a great silence surrounds St. Joseph – he was a man of quiet strength – a man of contemplation. Contemplation has been described as “the attainment of loving awareness,” “the highest human activity”, and the “everlasting perfection of our joys.” St. Thomas tells us that that “contemplation will be perfect in the life to come, when we shall see God face to face, [where] it will make us perfectly happy.” It is easy imagine St. Joseph holding the Divine Child – gazing on the face of the infant Christ – with a gaze that reached out to the heart of all things.

Although scripture is silent regarding the words of St. Joseph, it does speak of what Saint Joseph did – Saint Matthew records Jesus being referred to as the carpenter’s son. In the litany of St. Joseph he is given the title “Model of Artisans.” There is a mysterious connection between work and contemplation. In the first light of creation, man was given the task to cultivate and tend to the garden of Eden – and in this way to participate in, and continue the work of God – the work of Creation.

On March 19th, faculty, students, family, and friends gathered to celebrate the great feast of St. Joseph at a banquet held in his honor. A four course meal prepared by our talented chef was served by the Freshmen class, and the evening was filled with much poetry, music, laughter, and fine fellowship.