Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, 
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
To you God entrusted his only Son; 
in you Mary placed her trust; 
with you Christ became man. 
 
Blessed Joseph, to us too, 
show yourself a father 
and guide us in the path of life. 
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, 
and defend us from every evil. Amen.

An effective means of obtaining special graces through the intercession of St. Joseph is to honor his seven sorrows and seven joys by the practicing the Seven Sunday’s devotion.
The Seven Sundays in honor of St. Joseph are observed by receiving Holy Communion in his honor on seven consecutive Sundays, and on each Sunday the prayers in honor of the Seven Sorrows and the Seven Joys of St. Joseph are recited. This devotion may be practiced at any time of the year, but especially on the seven Sundays preceding his solemnity on March 19th.
So that you can participate in the Seven Sunday’s devotion before March 19^th, begin this devotion on Sunday, January 31^st and end on Sunday, March 14^th.

To sign up for Mass, please go to https://stmichaelmaine.org/signup-for-mass

For those unable to attend Mass in-person, we invite you to participate in our 9 AM live streamed Mass on Sundays, and then to proceed to either St. Denis Church, Whitefield, St. Francis Church, Winthrop, St. Mary Church, Augusta, or Sacred Heart Church, Hallowell between 10-10:30 AM to receive Holy Communion. There is no need to sign up, just head to the church between 10-10:30 AM to receive Holy Communion. Be sure to wear a mask and to sanitize your hands before and after receiving Holy Communion.

Prayers in Honor of the Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of St. Joseph
Composed by Ven. Januarius Sarnelli, C.S.S.R. (d. 1744)

First Sunday, January 31^st

First Sorrow: The doubt of St. Joseph. (Matt. 1:19)
But Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wishing to expose her to reproach, was minded to put her away privately.

First Joy: The message of the Angel. (Matt. 1:20)
But while he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit.

O chaste Spouse of Mary most holy, glorious St. Joseph, great was the trouble and anguish of your heart when you wert minded to put away privately your inviolate Spouse, yet your joy was unspeakable when the surpassing mystery of the Incarnation was made known to you by the Angel!

By this sorrow and this joy, we beseech you to comfort our souls, both now and in the sorrows of our final hour, with the joy of a good life and a holy death after the pattern of your own, in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Our Father . . .  Hail Mary . . .  Glory be . . . 

December 8, 2020 – December 8, 2021 
 
On December 8, 2020, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter, Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), for the 150^th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the pope proclaimed a year dedicated to Mary’s husband, Joseph, foster father to Jesus. The special “Year of St. Joseph” will be held through December 8, 2021. 

In his apostolic letter, Pope Francis explains that the aim of this special year is “to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal,” describing St. Joseph as a “beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.” 

Throughout this year, our parish will be celebrating the Year of St. Joseph through special prayers and feast day celebrations. 

Read the Vatican News Announcement
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-12/pope-francis-proclaims-year-of-st-joseph.html

Read the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde
http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html

Read about the Special Plenary Indulgence for the Year of St. Joseph
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-12/apostolic-penitentiary-plenary-indulgence-year-st-joseph.html