Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Today the Church returns to Ordinary Time, the Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time. The Church in Canada celebrates the Memorial of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700), renowned for her work, her spirituality and her impact on society and the Church in North America. In 1982 Pope St. John Paul II canonized her making her the first canonized woman saint who worked in Canada.

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. This feast brings to an end the season of Christmas. Ordinary Time lasts from the day after this feast to the Tuesday before Lent.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Paul the Hermit (230-342). The West learned of the life of St. Paul from St. Jerome (+ 420); the book, which he devoted to the life of the first Christian hermit, charmed and instructed generations of the faithful and formed the inspiration of many artists. St. Paul is said to have died in 342, in a hermitage in the region of Thebes in Egypt after having received at the age of 113 a visit from St. Antony of Egypt.

We continue our celebration of the Christmas season, with the Church focusing on aspects of the Epiphany.

We continue celebrating the Christmas season, focusing on the Epiphany.

In the USA the Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of Saint André Bessette (1845-1937) was born near Quebec, and entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross as a Brother. He performed humble tasks for over forty years and entrusted all of the poor and sick who flocked to his cell to the care of St. Joseph. During his life he was able to have a chapel built to the spouse of the Virgin Mary. After his death, the shrine grew into the great basilica known as St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.

On the Epiphany of the Lord, after the singing of the Gospel, a Deacon or cantor, in keeping with an ancient practice of Holy Church, announces the Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts following this formula.