Diocese to Celebrate '60 Years in the Year of St. Joseph'

Prayer cards, a coloring book for children, a self-guided pilgrimage, catechetical presentations, articles in The Catholic Commentator, shows to be aired on Catholic Life Television and one-minute spots on Catholic Community Radio are some of what is planned as the Diocese of Baton Rouge celebrates its 60th anniversary simultaneously with the Year of St. Joseph, its patron saint.

The theme of the year will be “60 Years in the Year of St Joseph,” Episcopal Vicar Father Jamin David said.

In an apostolic letter Pope Francis proclaimed a Year of St. Joseph to begin Dec. 8. The year 2021 also marks the 150th anniversary when Blessed Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph the patron saint of the universe.

Father David said because of COVID-19 considerations “not too many of us could get our act together that quickly” to start the year Dec. 8.

“Because we are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of the diocese in 2021 we decided to celebrate the two things together,” he said, adding the joint celebrations will begin May 1, which is the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, and conclude St. Joseph Day, March 19.

“St. Joseph tends to be the quiet type,” Father David said. “You don’t hear much about him; he is sort of on the sideline (but) we know he is there. 

“If we can learn a little bit more about the virtues he has enumerated in the Scriptures, perhaps we can learn to be more like him: obedient, faithful, patient, all of those different virtues we think about with St. Joseph.”

A planning committee comprised of representatives of all of the six diocesan secretariats has planned numerous activities, beginning with prayer cards featuring the diocesan logo and a Scripture verse scheduled to be distributed to all churches and institutions by late April or early May so people can begin praying for the intercession of St. Joseph, not only in their own lives but in the life of the diocese as well, Father David said.

Catechetical presentations will be plentiful, spiritually enriching and accessible across a variety of platforms. Potential topics include what is a diocese, what is a papal bull, the architectural explanation of a cathedral, why St. Joseph in the patron saint for the diocese, a series exploring the roots of churches named in honor of St. Joseph in the diocese and catechetical points/curriculum for Catholic schools.

A self-guided pilgrimage of churches in the diocese named in honor of  St. Joseph churches is also being planned. 

The virtues of St. Joseph will be explored via newspaper articles and television shows. Social media will also play an important role as  #StJoeAndTell & Medial Posts/Images is being developed so churches and schools can send in their own images of St. Joseph celebrations.

A St. Joseph coloring book for kids is being developed that will be available on the diocesan website at no cost.

Father David also envisions parishes inviting priests and speakers to give their own presentations.

“We want to have the framework of what we can do realistically and how can we do that pragmatically,” he said “ I think the schools, parishes will be creative in how they celebrate the year.”

A liturgical celebration of the 60th anniversary of the diocese is tentatively planned Nov. 8 at St. Joseph Cathedral. Depending on coronavirus protocols at the time, Father David is hopeful “we will be able to fill the cathedral.

“We are coming out of COVID slowly but we want to be as diligent as we can in gathering large numbers of people.”

He is equally as hopeful the 10-month celebration will provide more of an awareness of St. Joseph’s role in the Holy Family and also his role in interceding for the local church as well as the universal church.

Father David believes the celebration also takes on a deeper meaning, one of optimism and new beginnings after the myriad of challenges of the past year.

“When everybody went into COVID lockdown everybody said we could be out of this in a couple of months and it’s been taking a while,” Father David said. “I think for us not only is it a celebration of our patron saint, not only is it a celebration of 60 years (as a diocese) but hopefully it is a celebration that shows the church is alive and this is the foundation of moving forward and what the post COVID reality is going to look like. 

“For us it marks hope and expectations for the future.”

Pope John XXIII established the Diocese of Baton Rouge on July 22, 1961. Bishop Robert E. Tracy was installed as the diocese’s first bishop Nov. 8 of that year.