The traditions of devotion to St. Joseph in Province of Ireland, Wales, Kenya

16/03/2021

The sisters from the Ursuline Convent, Blackrock want to share with us the history of their statue of St Joseph.

This statue of St Joseph has been gifted by our community to the parish of Our Lady Crowned, Mayfield, Cork for the Year of Saint Joseph. The Parish Priest and parishioners have created this shrine to Saint Joseph with the candle stand which incorporates the statue of the sleeping Joseph and a place to put their concerns, worries and petitions for Saint Joseph to sleep on.  Every Friday these intentions will be included in the parish Mass at 9:30am which currently is live streamed.

The Ursuline Sisters came to Cork 250 years ago in May 1771 and then moved to a new Convent in Blackrock, Cork in 1825. The Chapel of this convent was built as an extension in 1827 and completed fully decorated in 1830.  This statue was in this Chapel until the sisters left the Convent in 2003 to move to their current home on adjoining land. On moving here the Oratory was not large enough for the statues so they rested in the old Mortuary Chapel which is incorporated into the new convent as entry to the graveyard.  As this space was more a corridor and little used the sisters this year decided to offer it to Rev Dr Charles Kiely, Parish Priest of Mayfield whose parishioners were looking for a statue of Saint Joseph. The sisters last week visited the Church and were delighted to see the number of people praying and leaving petitions for Saint Joseph.

Fr Charles Kiely, for the last six years has come to the Convent to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacrament of the Sick to the sisters so he is well known to all the sisters.  The Ursuline Sisters will be remembered each week at the Friday morning Mass in the parish in thanksgiving for their gift to the parish for the Year of Saint Joseph.

From Ursuline Community, Saint Joseph’s, Temple Street, Sligo

There is a long tradition of devotion to St. Joseph in Sligo right from the very beginning in 1850. A large statue dominated the front lawn in front of the old convent and the note paper etc. was headed St. Joseph's, Sligo. This lapsed for a time when the Sisters moved to the new building in Temple St. because nearby there was already a nursing home called St. Joseph's. This is now Kingsbridge Private Hospital and so the name has been reclaimed. See the first picture attached which shows the name on the pillar of the house at the entrance.

The other pictures show statues of St. Joseph brought from the old convent- two at least we believe may date back to the 19c. The first two photos of St. Joseph are of the figure in the front hall of Temple St. The other two pictures are statues in different parts of the house.

There was also an old tradition that, once a year, the house was dedicated to St. Joseph and the superior of the day placed the keys of the front door (large ones) at the feet of the statue of St. Joseph during  evening prayer. This custom was discontinued and while some sisters recall it none can say when it was discontinued.

Finally and in continuance of the tradition, the following has been and continues to be said, each Wednesday at Evening Prayer -

Prayer to St. Joseph.

Almighty God, at the beginning of our salvation,
You placed Jesus and Mary under Joseph's watchful care.
At its beginning, our community with its apostolate was placed under the same loving care.
May St. Joseph continue to be our guide, guardian and protector.
May he teach us to love Jesus and Mary and trust in your loving almighty Providence. Amen