AUBURN - Palm Sunday is among the most celebrated and honored days within the church. While Sunday did mark Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week, it was also held as a day to celebrate the feast of St. Joseph.
This Mass, which was held this year at the Holiday Inn in Auburn, for the past 25 years has been a mutual effort by the Italian Heritage Society, chaired by Joseph Camardo, and the parish of St. Francis of Assisi. This has been a tradition that Camardo's son, John, grew up with.
“I have to give my father so much credit,” said Camardo, president of the parish council. “He puts in a great amount of work on this and he has really made it into a great success.”
The Rev. Eugene Dobosz, of St. Francis, was on hand to celebrate the Mass. Dobosz took time in his sermon to reflect on the meaning of St. Joseph, who has historically filled many rolls.
St. Joseph was the husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. In this capacity he took on a great responsibility.
“It was not easy what he did,” Dobosz said. “He was chosen by God and he was given special gifts, but it was not easy what he did. Like Mary he had to be ready to say yes to God and accept his mission.”
Joseph saw the young Jesus through some of the most crucial times in his life. Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem where Jesus was to be born, shepherded the Holy Family to safety in Egypt when King Herod called for the death of the baby Jesus and saw Jesus through the early rites of passage prescribed by the Laws of Moses.
It is through all that Joseph did and came to be symbolized that he has earned so many roles to so many people.
“He is known by many names,” Dobosz said. “Joseph, Giuseppe, Yusef. He is known by many names and he is the patron saint of so many people. He is the patron saint of Italians, of the Polish, in Mexico. He is the patron saint of husbands and fathers.”
It is through his example that Dobosz said Joseph may have the most to offer.
“Joseph can help us understand,” Dobosz said. “He can help us understand what our mission is in the world. How we can do the will of God, how we can be a good example, how we can do God's will and accept Jesus Christ and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Like Joseph, who was faithful to the end, we can be and Joseph can show us the way.”
Keeping the feast day alive and well celebrated has long been Joe Camardo's and the rest of the volunteers from the Italian Heritage Society and St. Francis' main goal.
“We are trying to keep the tradition going,” (John) Camardo said. “We are trying to preserve this for the future. My sons are here with me. We want to keep this going and educate the younger generation so they know the tradition and can keep it going into the future.”
After the Mass, guests gathered in the Holiday Inn banquet hall for an evening of food and music provided by the Sons of Frank (Mucedola) with Gilda Brower. Bags of St. Joseph's bread were also blessed and distributed along with a variety of pastries.
“I think the main thing is St. Joseph,” Camardo said. “But it is also an excellent evening of good food and good friends and good music and dancing for all of us to gather together to celebrate.”
“I have to give my father so much credit,” said Camardo, president of the parish council. “He puts in a great amount of work on this and he has really made it into a great success.”
The Rev. Eugene Dobosz, of St. Francis, was on hand to celebrate the Mass. Dobosz took time in his sermon to reflect on the meaning of St. Joseph, who has historically filled many rolls.
St. Joseph was the husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. In this capacity he took on a great responsibility.
“It was not easy what he did,” Dobosz said. “He was chosen by God and he was given special gifts, but it was not easy what he did. Like Mary he had to be ready to say yes to God and accept his mission.”
Joseph saw the young Jesus through some of the most crucial times in his life. Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem where Jesus was to be born, shepherded the Holy Family to safety in Egypt when King Herod called for the death of the baby Jesus and saw Jesus through the early rites of passage prescribed by the Laws of Moses.
It is through all that Joseph did and came to be symbolized that he has earned so many roles to so many people.
“He is known by many names,” Dobosz said. “Joseph, Giuseppe, Yusef. He is known by many names and he is the patron saint of so many people. He is the patron saint of Italians, of the Polish, in Mexico. He is the patron saint of husbands and fathers.”
It is through his example that Dobosz said Joseph may have the most to offer.
“Joseph can help us understand,” Dobosz said. “He can help us understand what our mission is in the world. How we can do the will of God, how we can be a good example, how we can do God's will and accept Jesus Christ and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Like Joseph, who was faithful to the end, we can be and Joseph can show us the way.”
Keeping the feast day alive and well celebrated has long been Joe Camardo's and the rest of the volunteers from the Italian Heritage Society and St. Francis' main goal.
“We are trying to keep the tradition going,” (John) Camardo said. “We are trying to preserve this for the future. My sons are here with me. We want to keep this going and educate the younger generation so they know the tradition and can keep it going into the future.”
After the Mass, guests gathered in the Holiday Inn banquet hall for an evening of food and music provided by the Sons of Frank (Mucedola) with Gilda Brower. Bags of St. Joseph's bread were also blessed and distributed along with a variety of pastries.
“I think the main thing is St. Joseph,” Camardo said. “But it is also an excellent evening of good food and good friends and good music and dancing for all of us to gather together to celebrate.”
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