At Saint Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street) feast day Mass on March 19, presider Cardinal William Goh described the church’s patron saint as a model of faith, fatherhood, and fidelity to God’s will.
The Mass was attended by some 700 faithful and was concelebrated by Monsignor Marinko Antolovic, Chargé d’affaires (ad interim) of the Apostolic Nunciature, Rector Father Joe Lopez, and Opus Dei priests.
It was followed by a procession of the statue of St Joseph around the church compound, during which the Rosary was prayed, and concluded with the litany of St Joseph and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the church.
A link in salvation history
The faithful took part in a rosary procession with the statue of St Joseph around the church compound following Mass as part of the parish’s feast day observance.
In his homily, Cardinal Goh described St Joseph as a pivotal figure in salvation history.
“Without Joseph, we could not trace the genealogical root of Jesus to David,” he said, explaining that St Joseph, from the Tribe of Judah with lineage from the royal house of David, established Jesus as the promised Messiah in fulfilment of Scripture.
Through St Joseph, the promises God made to King David for an eternal kingdom were fulfilled in Christ, whose kingdom is not earthly but eternal, he said.
A model of faith and fatherhood
Parishioners gathered in personal prayer around the statue of St Joseph after the feast day liturgy.
Cardinal Goh observed that St Joseph’s significance lies not only in theology but also in the example he offers to Christians today.
“He [St Joseph] was always attentive to the voice of God and was a man of deep faith and trust,” he said, pointing to Joseph’s willingness to accept his role as guardian of the Holy Family despite uncertainty and hardship.
“Children silently observe how their parents live their faith. How you pray and how you conduct your Christian life will anchor their hearts and minds and influence how your children come to see God as Father,” said the Cardinal.
A silent but lived faith
Mr Noel Torno with his personal statue of St Joseph
Although St Joseph speaks no recorded words in Scripture, his life remains a powerful example of faith expressed through action.
That emphasis on quiet fidelity was reflected in the outdoor procession of parishioners with families, young and old, following closely behind the statue of St Joseph while reciting the rosary.
Some walked alongside young children, guiding them in prayer, while others clasped their hands or bowed their heads in quiet devotion.
Mr Noel Torno, from the Church of the Holy Trinity in Tampines, said he attended the feast day Mass out of devotion to the saint. He had recently begun a personal consecration to the saint, which helped him reflect more deeply on St Joseph’s life and example.
“He does not speak, but you can see his faith in what he does,” said Mr Torno, adding that it was this quiet example that he hopes to follow in his own life.
At the end of the Mass, Fr Lopez informed the congregation that the church was awaiting confirmation from the Singapore Land Authority on the terms of its land lease renewal.
He added that the community had been “praying a lot to St Joseph” for this intention with weekly novenas, and also thanked parishioners for their continued support.