Celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

The primary purpose of the Church in instituting and promoting this feast is to present the Holy Family as the model and exemplar of all Christian families.

The devotion to the Holy Family was born in Bethlehem, together with the Baby Jesus. The shepherds went to adore the Child and, at the same time, they gave honor to His family. Later, in a similar way, the three wise men came from the East to adore and give honor to the newborn King with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that would be safeguarded by His family.

Scripture tells us practically nothing about the first years and the boyhood of the Child Jesus. All we know are the facts of the sojourn in Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the incidents that occurred when the twelve-year-old boy accompanied his parents to Jerusalem. In her liturgy, the Church hurries over this period of Christ's life with equal brevity. Looking at the Holy Family, we see the love, the protection, and the diligent care that they gave to the Redeemer.

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This is also the patronal feast day of the former Holy Family Parish, consolidated with the Cathedral in 2010. We remember in a special way her living and deceased parishioners, wherever they may be. The photo shows the grouping of the Holy Family which was originally housed on the main altar in Holy Family Church and a pencil rendering of the church.

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O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.