It had to be good Saint Joseph who was behind Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Cooke coming on March 19, 2025 to celebrate the Eucharist and enjoy dinner with our Chaplain, Father James Sullivan, and the Residents of Holy Family Home. What a joy for those of us Little Sisters who knew Bishop Cooke as a seminarian and newly ordained priest! He said it was a special blessing for him to receive the invitation from Mother Celine Thérèse. It was likewise a special blessing for us, especially those of us who had watched him grow in his vocation.
Bishop Cooke seemed right at home celebrating Mass at Holy Family Home. He smiled from ear to ear as Barbara, a new apartment Resident and 94-year-old Dorothy proclaimed the Readings for the day. Likewise, he received the offertory gifts from Patti, AJJ and Apartment Resident Joey with a great big warm smile.
In his homily, Bishop began with his personal story, giving exact details like the street where his grandparents lived, to connect with all the Philadelphians in the pews. Then he mentioned by name Father McKay, Mother Paul, Sister Elizabeth Teresa, Sister Veronica, and several others from whom he learned the real meaning of hospitality when he would come on Thursdays as part of his preparation for priestly ministry. “Yes,” he said, “This is where it all began! This is where I received the basics of pastoral care.” By the way, Sr. Elizabeth Teresa became a little spiritual mother for “her seminarian.” They have kept in touch all these years.
In his homily, Bishop Cooke gave us three ways to consider Joseph of Nazareth:
- Saint Joseph was a righteous man. He was far from being self-righteous. Joseph was righteous because he was in right relation with God.
- Saint Joseph was a kind and caring man. When the Son of God was born into an inhospitable environment, Joseph was there to provide and protect. “St. Joseph is a model of hospitality,” remarked Bishop Cooke, “It is no wonder that Saint Jeanne Jugan had a great devotion to him and that the Little Sisters of the Poor take to heart the celebration of his feast day.”
- Saint Joseph was more a man of action than a man of words. Bishop compared Mary’s annunciation to Joseph’s annunciation. Both were visited by a heavenly messenger. Mary responded with wonderful words: “Be it done to me according to your word.” Joseph responded not with words, but with deeds: he got up and took Mary . . . Bishop said that his own grandfather had been a Saint Joseph figure for him. He had memories of learning from Grandpop how to hammer nails into little homemade benches. Before he was able to hold the nail straight, his Grandpop would hold it for him. Often enough, young Christopher would hammer his grandfather‘s thumb rather than the nail. His patient instructor never said a word. He would simply shake his hand to relieve the pain and let him try again. Like Saint Joseph, he reacted not in words, but in deeds.
To conclude, Bishop invited all to praise our Great God’s generous Providence on display in our beautiful new Home. We lifted up grateful hearts as we participated in the Eucharist and afterwards, in the feast day meal. Bishop Cooke was most gracious, greeting each and every person with a handshake and taking interest in each one’s few words. When distributing little goodie bags, he said: “This is a gift from the Community of Little Sisters.” Bishop Cooke himself was certainly a gift for the Little Sisters’ Community from St. Joseph on his feast day!
