On Tuesday, March 18th, the Holy Cross community came together to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Not only was St. Joseph the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but he is also the patron saint of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Mr. Edward Burns ’84 P’ 19, our Vice President of Mission, addressed all who gathered saying:
“St. Joseph was an ordinary man, a carpenter by trade, and was a descendent of the royal house of David, as was Jesus. About him, Sacred Scripture has little more to say than that he was a just man, an expression which indicates how faithfully he fulfilled his high trust of protecting and guarding God’s greatest treasures upon earth, Jesus and Mary.”
We welcomed back Father Jean-Pierre (JP) Seon ’98, the Parochial Vicar of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, as our celebrant who was joined by Deacon Ernesto Avallone ’78 P’07 ’09 ’14 ’24. We also welcomed back home Mr. Evan Katsefes, class of 2018, who served as our Cantor.
We also had the privilege of hosting several guests from Holy Cross-sponsored schools across the country as we commemorate the upcoming Feast Day of St. Joseph. In honored attendance was:
Teresa Billings
Principal, Holy Cross School in New Orleans, Louisiana
Rene Escobedo
Principal, Holy Cross of San Antonio, Texas
Sal Chavez
Retired Campus Ministry, Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California
Jurenne Belanio
Director of Campus Ministry, Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California
Terry Lee
Director of School Sponsorship, Moreau Province
During his homily, Father Seone spoke about the selflessness demonstrated by St. Joseph, and how every time he visits Holy Cross, he witnesses the same sense of selflessness in the actions and attitudes of our faculty, staff and students. Father Seone discussed that regardless of where someone may be in life, we are all challenged to make right and just decisions, not only for ourselves but for others too, and encouraged us to look to St. Joseph for inspiration and guidance.
