Dear Friends of Mount Angel,

This morning at the Conventual Mass, Fr. Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, gave a beautiful and instructive homily for the feast of the Holy Family. He observed that the Lord chose to be born into a human family where he would grow in wisdom and grace as he learned from and obeyed his parents, Mary and Joseph. He grew up like all human babies grow &endash; formed by his family.

Certainly, Jesus took his human likeness from Mary, but both Mary and his foster father Joseph nurtured his personality and his character. One could imagine Jesus working side-by-side with Joseph as he labored as a carpenter in Nazareth. After all, Jesus was often referred to as the carpenter's son.

God the Father chose Joseph because of what he would give to Jesus as Jesus

advanced through the normal stages of life. Joseph, a descendant of King David, was a just and kind man who showed compassion and great tenderness for Mary. From Joseph Jesus learned what it meant to be a just and kind Jewish man, faithful to the Law and the Prophets.

On March 19, the Church celebrates the solemnity of St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church. In the last decade of the nineteenth century, St. Joseph emerged as one of Mount Angel Abbey's major patrons. Such a development can only be attributed to Divine Providence. For decades now the monastic community has prayed the litany of St. Joseph every evening after supper. We also pray a yearly novena in honor of St. Joseph for our benefactors and those who request our prayers for certain intentions.

Our devotion to St. Joseph has given a unique quality to the monastic life at Mount Angel. One can only speculate what this gentle saint's special intercession and protection has gained for us. We pray particularly for vocations to our community and for the temporal needs of the monastery. When we are in need, we turn to St. Joseph. This has been our practice for decades.

Today, we are praying to St. Joseph for the success of our capital campaign and the financial needs of our Abbey and Seminary. Of particular importance to us are several projects. Among these is the renovation of Aquinas Hall, a 70-year old seminary residence building. This 5.3 million-dollar project is a great challenge for us. However, we are convinced that the work of priestly formation must be a among our highest priorities, and so we have forged ahead, trusting in St. Joseph's help and that of our many benefactors.

Today, our seminary has over 160 seminarians in preparation for priestly service. It is our responsibility to provide for today's seminarians, as well as to ensure a solid foundation for future generations of seminarians studying at Mount Angel for the priesthood.

Please join with us in praying for the success of this and all our projects. Ask St. Joseph to intercede for us so that young and devoted men will seek to join our monastic community and that we will be able to provide adequate facilities and endowments for our Seminary - and do not hesitate to go to St. Joseph for the needs that are dear to your own hearts.

May God bless you.

                                           Abbot Nathan