Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSSMy dear St. Joseph family,
Some of you asked after last weekend’s Mass if I could place a portion of the homily into this week’s bulletin. I had originally planned to write about two concerns raised by the bishop — unauthorized fundraising and the presence of the Society of St. Pius X — but your request reminded me of something important: sometimes the flock needs the shepherd not to speak about policies, but to speak directly to the heart.
So, here is the message I want to place before you this week — a simple, gentle path for walking with Jesus through the storms of daily life:
1st: Invite Jesus into your morning. Before the phone, before the news, before the rush — pause for one quiet breath and whisper, “Jesus, walk with me today.” That tiny act of surrender sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s like Peter lifting his foot over the edge of the boat — a small movement that breaks the power of fear. When you begin your day with Jesus, you are not walking into the world alone; you are letting Him steady your heart before the waves even rise.
2nd: Bless your storms instead of cursing them. When the bill arrives, when the argument erupts, when the loneliness hits, when the fear rises — say, “Lord, I don’t like this storm, but I trust You in it.” You’re not pretending the storm is good; you’re simply choosing to believe that God is bigger than the chaos. Blessing the storm doesn’t change the wind, but it changes you — your posture, your breathing, your courage. Even shaky trust is still a step on the water instead of sinking beneath worry.
3rd: Hold on to one Scripture line every day. Not ten. Not twenty. Just one. Maybe this one: “Do not be afraid.” Let that line become your anchor. Say it while driving, cooking, waiting, worrying. Scripture is not magic — it is medicine. Every repetition turns your face back toward Jesus when the wind tries to pull your attention away. That one line becomes your steady rhythm in a world that tries to shake your peace.
4th: Let someone walk with you. Storms grow stronger when we hide them. Tell a friend, a spouse, a priest, “I’m struggling — pray with me.” You don’t need long explanations; just let someone stand beside you. God often sends His help through human hands and human hearts. That humility — that willingness to be seen — is you reaching for Jesus’ hand instead of trying to survive alone. And sometimes the storm calms the moment you speak it out loud.
5th: Do one act of love every day. A phone call. A small kindness. A forgiveness. Love doesn’t have to be dramatic to be holy. Even a tiny act of love becomes a step on the water because love is always Jesus’ step toward us. Every time you choose love — especially when you don’t feel like it — you are choosing the path where Jesus is already walking. Love is the strongest step, the step that keeps you afloat even when the waves rise around you.
My dear parish family, these are not grand spiritual feats. They are small, daily movements of the heart — but small steps become holy steps when Jesus is in them. May these simple practices help you walk through your storms with courage, with peace, and with your eyes fixed on the One who never stops walking toward you.
Fr. Joseph
Some of the training information for Extraordinary Ministers (EM) has been updated. For those who were unable to attend the recent session, I am attaching a copy of the handout that was provided.
The Knights of Columbus (KOC) of St. Joseph (#9456) have introduced a new program called "The Holy Family"
The Chalice for Vocations ministry was developed to promote fervent and devotional prayer for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. These specific intentions are raised as the chalice travels within the parish community.
