Sr Semira Lauds Virtues Of St Joseph As Oblate Sisters Celebrate Feast Day

…First published in March 20

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA.

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Former Superior of Oblate of Nazareth Sisters, Nigeria, Rev Sr Semira Carrozzo, has lauded the amiable virtues of St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of the Oblate of Nazareth Sisters on the feast Day of St. Joseph in Kaduna.

Semira said the invaluable attributes of the foster father of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, cannot be wished away, if we must have a Holy Family and peaceful society.

Speaking to NewsdailyNigeria, shortly after the Thanksgiving Mass and celebration at the Oblate Sisters Convent, Barnawa, Kaduna on Tuesday, Sr Semira, described how it feels ” I am feeling very happy, the truth is this, am feeling happy because we honour St. Joseph, our patron saint, he is the patron saint of Oblate of Nazareth, the Holy Family of Nazareth consisting of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

“So it is this family that we honour today and for this, I am happy, so I advise people to imitate the virtues of St. Joseph, especially his family life, because we know him having the virtues of obedience and patience.

” I tell you honestly, we need to imitate the virtues of St. Joseph, his obedience to the message of the angel to take Mary and take Jesus away from Herod who wanted to kill Jesus, he did not begin to argue with the angel, but simply obeyed.

“So husband and wife need to understand each other and not be quarrelling but imitate and emulate the virtues of St. Joseph” she reiterated.

Similarly, the Acting Rector, Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, Rev Fr Samuel Sakaba, said, ” this day is a joyful day, a day of prayer, a day of celebration, of course, is also a day of sober reflection, because of the virtues of this person, St. Joseph, who was an example of a Father, who was an example of a good Christian Father, who was an example of a good citizen, who was not happy to see anyone in trouble without giving attention.”

According to him, St. Joseph, “wasn’t the kind of person who’s interested in the pains of others, and other people who are undergoing pressure, he was not that kind of person who see others who are under shame, he wasn’t happy to see any body like that and that was one of the virtues he expressed; that he wasn’t judgemental, he was totally merciful, a man of faith, a man of Obedience, and a loving man, who loves his neighbour” he stressed.

One of the co-celebrants of the day, Mrs. Josephine Daudu, shortly after joining in cutting the feast day cake, says,” I feel great, it’s wonderful being associated with such a great man; St. Joseph is a great Man, the spouse of our Mother Mary, and the foster Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; he’s a great man”

She admonished all and sundry to imbibe his virtues such as ” humility and obedience to the voice of God; he listens to God alot and he’s a good provider for his family, these are the virtues that everyone should take from him” she added.

In the same vein, the MD Khemsafe Computers, Dr. Dave Obiora, said St. Joseph, who is the foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has been one of the pillars of the Church, he’s the patron saint of all men and the head of the family, so we thank God for his life and we are celebrating him, adding that as a tradition the Oblate Sisters celebrate the day annually ” and we come here to celebrate with them, we thank God the occasion was good and lovely.”

He further urged men to emulate the life style of St. Joseph ” we have been saying always, we should, as a family emulate the Holy family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus; and as men, the head of every family, every father should emulate the life of St. Joseph” he stressed.

Earlier during the Thanksgiving Mass, the homilist, Rev Fr Anthony Shawuya, while commending the Sisters for sustaining the celebration of feast Day of their patron St. Joseph, admonished all to imitate the virtues of St Joseph evident in his humility, obedience and faith in God.

He observed that St. Joseph though unknown because he was quiet was famous because he resonates very powerfully in institutions as patron, names of persons and character of life of courage, leadership, sacrifice, humility and obedience to God always.