St. Joseph Oratory in Detroit celebrated its patronal feast day on Monday, March 20, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a daylong St. Joseph Day of Prayer. It was a grace-filled occasion not only for clergy and parishioners of the Oratory, but also for visiting clergy, religious, seminarians, and faithful from around the Archdiocese of Detroit and beyond, including pilgrims from other Institute apostolates.
The day commenced at 7:05 am with the chanting of Lauds, followed by the first of three Masses. Confession was available throughout the event. The morning hours also included Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, St. Joseph Novena Prayers, and Benediction; and a St. Joseph Table in the social hall served breakfast to the community. A noon High Mass with chant schola and choir was followed by the blessing of St. Joseph Day Bread in the church, a delicious Italian Dinner in the social hall, and a guided tour of the church. At 3:00 pm was the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Stations of the Cross. Then Music Director Mr. Michael Semaan gave a beautiful organ recital of the Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ by John Huston, with alternating meditations on the Seven Last Words by St. Alphonsus de Liguori read by Deacon Jonathon Fehrenbacher.
In the evening, the faithful gathered in front of the church to begin a St. Joseph Public Procession through the streets of Detroit to nearby Eastern Market. The walk was accompanied by hymns and the Rosary, and then at an altar set up under the Market's historic Shed 2 (built in 1891), Canon Michael Stein led the faithful in Novena Devotions and veneration of the St. Joseph relic. The procession returned to St. Joseph Oratory in time to prepare for the 7:00 pm Solemn High Mass with Palestrina's Missa Aeterna Christi Munera. A spirited crowd then enjoyed a Dessert Reception in the social hall, and returned to the church for the perfect ending of the day, chanted Compline. Thank you to the many generous volunteers, altar servers, singers, and sponsors. Deo gratias! Ite ad Joseph!
