Homily given by Archbishop Anthony Randazzo
Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts & Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay
St Joseph’s Catholic College, East Gosford
Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
26 March 2026
Today we gather with joy to celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph, a quiet yet powerful figure in the life of the Church. In him, we see a man who did not seek attention, yet whose faithfulness shaped salvation history.
Joseph was the husband of Mary, the foster-father and guardian of Jesus, and the faithful servant who trusted God even when the path ahead was uncertain. His life speaks not in grand speeches, but in steadfast love, courage, and obedience. In the first reading we hear of God’s promise to King David: a promise of fidelity that will endure through generations. It is a reminder that God is always faithful. Even when circumstances change, even when we feel unsure, God remains constant. The question for us, then, is how we respond to that faithfulness. How might we, in our own lives, be faithful to God?
The Gospel gives us a beautiful moment from the childhood of Jesus. When Mary and Joseph find him in the Temple, he says, “Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?”
These words gently but firmly remind us of what matters most. At the centre of our lives is not success, not popularity, not even our own plans, but our relationship with God, our loving Father. To be “busy with the Father’s affairs” is to live with purpose, guided by truth, love, and a desire to do good in the
world.
Saint Joseph understood this deeply. His life was ordered around God’s will. He
listened, he trusted, and he acted. He cared for Mary with tenderness and
respect. He protected and nurtured Jesus. In doing so, he shows us that holiness
is found not only in extraordinary moments, but in everyday faithfulness.
And here is where this message speaks especially to you, the young women of
Saint Joseph’s Catholic College.
Each one of you is deeply valued, deeply loved, and uniquely gifted. Your dignity
does not come from what others say about you, but from the truth that you are
created by God and loved into being. For those who are baptised, this dignity is
sealed and strengthened in a special way through your life in Christ. For those
who are not baptised, know that the call to live a life of virtue, truth, and love is
already written on your heart. It is a call that finds its fullest expression in Jesus
Christ, who shows us what it means to be truly human.
The Church needs you. Not in some distant or abstract way, but here and now.
Your voices, your insights, your compassion, your strength, your leadership,
your creativity, your courage, your compassion, your intellect, all of these are
essential. You are not on the margins of the Church; you are at its heart. The
world, too, needs you, women who are thoughtful, generous, and grounded in
what is truly important.
To follow Jesus Christ is not to become less yourself, but more fully yourself. It
is to discover the person God created you to be and to offer your gifts for the
good of others.
Like Saint Joseph, you are invited to live with quiet strength and deep trust. Like
Mary, you are invited to say yes to God in your own life. And like Jesus, you are
invited to keep your hearts centred on the Father’s affairs.
This college has a rich and living heritage, entrusted to you by the Sisters of Saint
Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Their founder, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop,
believed deeply in the dignity of every person and in the power of education to
transform lives. She faced challenges with courage and remained faithful to God’s
call, even when it was difficult. That same spirit lives on here, not only in the
history of the school, but in each of you.
You are the custodians of this patrimony now. The future of this story, in part,
rests in your hands. So, I encourage you: be brave in your faith, generous in your
service, and confident in your worth. Do not be afraid to aim high, not just in
your studies, but in your character and your commitment to what is good. Stay
close to God, who is always faithful to you. Seek what truly matters. And never
doubt that your life has purpose and meaning.
May Saint Joseph watch over you, guiding you with his quiet strength.
May Mary inspire you with her courage and trust.
And may you always know that you are loved, valued, and called to be a light in
the world. Amen.