Yesterday I returned from 70 degree weather in San Diego to nearly 70 degree weather in Latrobe – who would have thought we’d be rivaling Southern California and its idyllic weather!

While I was in San Diego visiting with friends of Saint Vincent who are contemplating a major gift in support of our new science complex, I went to Mass downtown at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph.

Above the very back of the sanctuary and the crucifix was a lovely stained-glass window that showed the young Jesus standing on a chair or step stool by the side of his foster father, St. Joseph. Even with this aid the young Jesus was much shorter than the man he must have called Dad (maybe Jesus’ use of the term “Abba” stemmed from his childhood experiences in the arms of Joseph?).

This beautifully simple work of art that adorns the Cathedral at 3rd and Beach is also a very eloquent expression of why the Church honors St. Joseph today on his feast day.

St. Joseph was a diligent worker and devoted husband and father, and most important, his life was centered on Jesus and lived in the company of Mary. He was a dreamer – not unlike the Joseph of the Old Testament whose multi-colored coat made it to Broadway – and whether it was when he took Mary as his wife in the face of scandal or when he fled with his family at night at the angel’s urging, St. Joseph was fearless. He was a man of faith in action.

Trivia question: which line in the Gospels is St. Joseph’s most famous quote? Answer: None. There is not a single word of St. Joseph recorded in Scripture. He was a man of silence. In an age when IPods and cell phones are ubiquitous and many students are plugged in to one or the other on nearly a constant basis, we can learn a good bit from the silence and contemplation of St. Joseph.

And even more, we can be instructed by his life of quiet, humble service. He was a man for others, a good shepherd, a servant who put the needs of others ahead of his own. This past weekend on our campus we saw how powerful this language of love is. Saint Vincent celebrated our 25th annual Sports Friendship Day and nearly 100 students spent some or all of the day in the company of some developmentally disabled men and women. Heart spoke to heart, and I know from discussions with students who have volunteered in Best Buddies or at Clelian Heights how the communication barriers they encountered at first always gave way to true friendship.

This phenomenon is true throughout the world and many on campus know it well. Talk to the dozens of students who just returned from spring break in Brazil where they worked with the orphaned or sick who spoke only Portuguese, or with the students who went with me last May to Calcutta to care for the abandoned of India who speak only Hindi or Bengali - silence between souls united through service speaks with its own eloquence.

So I will close this blog with a pitch similar to that I made at the beginning of the academic year. If you can find the time and are willing to leave your comfort zone and become involved in a service project at Saint Vincent, we have staff ready to help you take that important step. It’s not too late. Contact Kelly King or Jarod Trunzo in the Service Learning office next to my office, or drop by the Campus Ministry offices and see Fr. Vincent or Katie Wojtunik.

And speaking of feast days – tomorrow the Saint Vincent College community begins the celebration of the feast of St. Benedict who went home to God on March 21st in the year 537. In a sense he is foster father of all of us here and I hope you find time to connect with your ancient roots by joining the monks on Friday in the Basilica for 4pm solemn vespers, or at the 4:15 vigil Mass in the student chapel.