O’Neill Family Hall: Chapel of St. Joseph the Worker

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.” (Matthew 1)

Our Gospel today tells the story of Joseph’s dilemma. Joseph, a faithful man, is uncertain of what to do with the strange news of Mary’s pregnancy. In this visit from the angel, the angel tells him: “do not be afraid.”

In this chapel of O’Neill Family Hall, dedicated to Joseph the Worker, we call to mind the faithful witness of Joseph. Even though it didn’t always make sense, Joseph was faithful to God’s will.

Joseph is a witness of the courage it takes to do the hard thing and say yes to God in the big and small moments of each day. In saying yes to God in these small, simple actions—in the daily grind of staying faithful to Mary, of working in the carpentry shop, of loving a young boy as his own son— Joseph worked not only for his own holiness, but rather his faithful work prepared Christ for his mission and bore fruit in our salvation.

Even though we may not receive visions from angels, how is God calling us to remain faithful to those we love and to the work in front of us today?