About the Men of St. Joseph
Purpose Statement
"The Men of St. Joseph is an association of Christian men, united under the Catholic Church, who meet weekly to pray together and encourage each other to be the spiritual leaders of their families. The purpose of the Men of St. Joseph is to instill holiness in men and facilitate spiritual leadership in family and community life."
 A Men of St. Joseph group can be started by a group of men in any Catholic parish. The group should attempt to grow in prayer life, in commitment to reading the Word of God, and in learning more about the Catholic faith. The weekly meetings provide the framework in which these things can happen, and each member is encouraged to, and is hopefully inspired to pray and read Scripture daily, and to read books that will lead to a further knowledge of our Catholic faith.
The Men of St. Joseph is open to men of all ages. However, it is critical to have a core of active men who are involved in their work, communities, and families. Ironically, because today's men's lives are so hectic, it is sometimes difficult to develop a deep relationship with God. The Men of St. Joseph should be comprised of regular, everyday Catholic men who are attempting to lead extraordinary spiritual lives. It is this pursuit of saintly lives, by ordinary men, that will attract others to do the same.
The weekly, one hour meeting is the focal point of the Men of St. Joseph. The meeting consists group prayer, a reading from the Gospel, and discussion of how the Gospel affects our daily lives. Meetings are held in mornings, early in the week, with the intent that such scheduling will provide a spiritual stimulus for living a Christ-centered life throughout the week. By convention, and as an effort to make common our offering to God of the prayers of all Men of St. Joseph groups, it is recommended that meetings be held on Tuesday mornings, preferably following an early morning Mass.
 Meetings are structured in a "prayer, read, discuss" format. The Catholic daily prayer book, The Magnificat, is followed as a guide for prayer by the group. The Gospel, usually for the coming Sunday, is then read, and an individual volunteer gives a presentation and interpretation of the reading. Group discussion of the Gospel, and how the word of God speaks to our daily lives, then follows. All are encouraged, though none are required, to participate in the discussion.
Remembering that it is the mission of the Men of St. Joseph to "put the family in the hands of the Father", and to become the spiritual leaders of our families,the purpose of using the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday is so that members can share the Gospel with their families before or after attending Mass on Sunday.
In order to fulfill the mission of furthering our knowledge of the Catholic faith, the "MOSJ" recommends that one meeting each month be dedicated to discussion of Catholic apologetics or any subjects of the Catholic faith that are of interest to the group. Adherence to the teachings of the Church is critical, and guidance by your pastor may be needed.
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