St. Joseph, a Man “in touch with reality, doing what was needed, without shortcuts”: Catholic Bishop in South Sudan

Rumbek, 22 March, 2024 / 8:04 PM

Bishop Christian Carlassare of South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Rumbek has described St. Joseph as “a concrete man” that was in touch with the reality of his time.

In his homily at Holy Mass for the  Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary that was marked March 19, Bishop Carlassare urged the people of God to seek the intercession of St. Joseph to obtain the grace of listening.

“We can rightly say that Joseph was a righteous man,” he said during the Eucharistic celebration at Holy Family Cathedral of Rumbek Diocese.

The Italian-born member of Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ), who has been at the helm of Rumbek Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration on 25 March 2022  said St. Joseph was “a man that listened to the word of God, not one that spoke much, but one that certainly listened, and a concrete man that was in touch with reality, that was doing what was needed all the time without shortcuts.”

Echoing the message of Pope Francis who, at the start of his Petrine Ministry described St. Joseph as a “faithful guardian”, Bishop Carlassare said St. Joseph lived “for the well-being of others, to protect the life of others, to uphold the life of others.”

“I think Pope Francis, as he started his ministry with that spirit, he was ready to put himself at the service of the church like Joseph put himself at the service of the Holy Family and to protect the presence of Jesus within the community,” Bishop Carlassare said.

He continued, “We can ask today for the intercession of St. Joseph that not much of what we say, but what we listen and what we understand and what we do, may really protect the presence of Jesus within our community that we never put ourselves first but we may put Jesus first in all things.”