Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Matthew (1: 16, 18-21, 24) in which an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because she has conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit’.

Fr Paul says we know nothing else about St Joseph except what is said about him in the Gospels. He was a carpenter; he accepted the will of God; and he supported Mary and brought up Jesus. From the human character of his own son, we can see that he was a good and responsible father. He is widely venerated as a patron saint of artisans who honourably do good work with the gifts God has given them, and of workers in general.

To those who exercise the role of an adoptive parent, whether formally or informally, whether over one child or as the support of a whole family, Joseph is a source of inspiration.

Today, Fr Paul invites us to ask, ‘St Joseph…Pray for us.’