On March 19th, the church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patron of Canada and the universal church. On March 25th, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated. In obedience to God’s call, St. Joseph trusted God’s plan for his life, taking Mary as his wife. In his apostolic letter, Patris Corde, Pope Francis describes St. Joseph as a loving, obedient, courageous father, often working in the shadows. He encourages the church to pray to St. Joseph for protection and guidance.