An Interesting Coincidence on March 19, 2021

Two events will coincide this Friday March 19.

First, a global march for climate action will take place, marked in our region by an afternoon demonstration on Parliament Hill (rally at 3:30 p.m., corner of Elgin and Sparks).

That same day, the Catholic Church will mark the beginning of a special year consecrated to Saint Joseph, a source of special joy for us in the diocese of Gatineau. Indeed, Saint Joseph is the secondary patron of our diocese and the titular saint of our cathedral.

You might think that these two events have nothing to do with each other. However, Pope Francis pointed to an important connection between these two realities eight years ago as he inaugurated his ministry as universal pastor on this feast day. In his homily, he underlined the special mission that God entrusted to the husband of Mary: that of being custos, protector, the one who oversees and cares. He invited his listeners to take Saint Joseph as a model, as they watch over one another and take care of each other.

He also added these important words: “The vocation of being a “protector”, however, is not just something involving us Christians alone; it also has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone. It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world… It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live.”

My friends, to celebrate Saint Joseph is to commit to being protectors as we watch over ourselves, our families, our communities ... and over creation as a whole! That’s why those parishes that can do so will ring their bells this Friday at 5 pm, as the protest on Parliament Hill comes to an end. We will thus mark our solidarity with a global movement that calls for concrete actions to reverse the climate changes that threaten us all.

And in the evening, we will meet - online - to mark the feast of Saint Joseph with a time of reflection, song and prayer (in French). Here is the link for this activity, to which everyone is welcome:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839315101?pwd=Z3h6aG5PV2lYaGducTBNWVB6Q1NYZz09

Let’s take Pope Francis’ invitation seriously: let’s celebrate Saint Joseph and be protectors of creation!

 

+ Paul-André Durocher