Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSSMy dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Again, I was asked by one of the parishioners to put into the Bulletin the part of my homily last weekend. This time it’s about the part that tackles the “how” of handling the cross. Many people know that we must carry our cross — but very few know how to carry it in a way that brings healing, holiness, and hope. Here are the three invitations I shared:
First, carry your cross by choosing love over pride. Many of our heaviest crosses do not come from tragedies but from relationships —
misunderstandings, old wounds, stubborn pride. When conflict arises, choose humility before victory, reconciliation before resentment. Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is to say, “I’m sorry,” even when you feel justified. That small surrender becomes a large cross offered to Christ. And every time you choose love over pride, you loosen the grip of the enemy and allow Christ to reclaim the space where division once lived.
Second, carry your cross by staying faithful to your duties even when they feel heavy. The cross often hides in the monotony of daily life — raising children alone, caring for an aging parent, showing up to a job that drains you, loving a spouse who is struggling. Holiness is rarely found in dramatic gestures; it is found in quiet perseverance. When you remain faithful in the small, hidden sacrifices of your calling, you unite your daily toil to Christ’s daily carrying of His cross. And in those unseen moments of fidelity, God is shaping your soul in ways you may not notice now but will one day recognize as grace.
Third, carry your cross by refusing to suffer alone. Christ did not carry His cross alone — He allowed Simon of Cyrene to help Him. Your cross
becomes unbearable when you isolate yourself. Seek the community of the Church, ask for prayers, talk to someone, let others walk with you. A shared
cross becomes lighter, and a shared suffering becomes a shared grace. And when you finally allow another heart to step beside yours, you discover that
God has been trying to reach you… through them… all along. And when you let someone help you, you give them the privilege of becoming Christ’s
hands in your life — a gift that blesses both hearts.
My dear parishioners, the crosses we carry are not punishments — they are invitations. Invitations to love more deeply, to persevere more faithfully, and
to walk more humbly with one another. May every cross you carry lead you closer to Christ, and may every step you take remind you that you never walk
alone.
Fr. Joseph
Attention Parishioners -
Some of the training information for Extraordinary Ministers (EM) has been updated. For those who were unable to attend the recent session, I am attaching a copy of the handout that was provided.
The Knights of Columbus (KOC) of St. Joseph (#9456) have introduced a new program called "The Holy Family"
The Chalice for Vocations ministry was developed to promote fervent and devotional prayer for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. These specific intentions are raised as the chalice travels within the parish community.