Dear Friends in Christ:

As you know, our Holy Father has called this the Year of St. Joseph (Dec. 8, 2020 – Dec. 8, 2021). In anticipation of the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19, I am asking all the faithful of the archdiocese to join me in a novena to St. Joseph, starting on Wednesday, March 10, and ending with the celebration of the Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Friday, March 19, at 12:10 p.m. For the novena, we will use the Litany of St. Joseph, available here. During the Mass on Friday, March 19, I will consecrate the Archdiocese of Atlanta to the intercession and protection of St. Joseph. The Mass will be available via livestream or on the archdiocesan Facebook page. Please pray with me during these days and participate in the Mass as you are able.

Following the novena and consecration, I encourage all parishes to consider including in your Prayers of the Faithful during Mass the following prayer (or adaptation thereof):

Father in Heaven, You called St. Joseph to be the first guardian of our Lord Jesus Christ in the tabernacle of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s womb. Grant us, by his intercession, a renewed love of Jesus in His Most Blessed Sacrament and the grace to care for Christ’s body by caring for our brothers and sisters. We pray to the Lord…

An adapted form of the prayer of consecration will be added to the website, and holy cards will be made. I encourage families and all individuals to pray this prayer and to consider other ways to observe the Year of St. Joseph, keeping in mind the special indulgences attached to the Litany of St. Joseph and other prayers during this year. See the website for more information.

Please be assured of my prayers for a blessed Lent. St. Joseph, pray for us!

The Most Reverend Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv.