He is risen! Indeed, he has! 
These rejoiceful words echo throughout the season of Easter. Culminating with the celebration of Pentecost Sunday, the Church exalts in the fulfillment of Christ’s mission to free humankind from its bondage to sin through his Passion, death and ultimate resurrection. 
In preparation for this jubilant season, the faithful traveled through the season of Lent. Hints of the joys and hope of the Gospel are contained within this penitential season through the lives of the saints who are honored during this time. The Solemnity of the Annunciation, March 25, highlighted the fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to be the Mother of God: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to Thy word.” (Luke 1:38) We also rejoiced in the heroic witness to the power of Christ by Saint Patrick, whose feast day is March 17, as he lit a Paschal fire for the Easter Vigil on the Hill of Slane in defiance of the druids and their pagan king in the fifth century. 
Two days later, on March 19, the Church granted us yet another solemnity, this one in honor of Saint Joseph. As the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and foster father of Jesus Christ, he is recognized for his commitment and protection of the Holy Family and responsibilities therein. Saying not a word in Scripture, St. Joseph obediently followed the directions of angels in dreams by not fearing to take the expectant Mary into his home (Matt 1:20) and fleeing with the Christ Child and his mother to Egypt for safety (Matt 2:13). Tradition holds that he ultimately was surrounded by them at the hour of his death. Among other titles, he is known as the Terror of Demons and an intercessor for a happy death. Second only to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the hierarchy of the saints, St. Joseph was declared by Pope Pius IX the patron and protector of the Universal Church on Dec. 8, 1870. 
It is believed, that because of his relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Maximilian Kolbe had a deep devotion to St. Joseph, who was the first to “take Mary into his home,” not just in a physical way, but also by loving her and walking side by side with her daily. As he traveled to Bethlehem for the Nativity, to Egypt to escape the terrors of Herod, and finally returning to Nazareth to raise his family, he brought Jesus and Mary to others, as we are also called to do.  As his life in this world ended in their presence, it is with hope that ours will as well.
Among the parishes and missions in the Diocese of Salt Lake City named for the Blessed Mother is Our Lady of the Light in Beaver. IC file photoWithin the Diocese of Salt Lake City, we are blessed to have several places of worship recognizing the great saints discussed above: two Catholic churches named after St. Patrick, one in Salt Lake City and the other in Eureka; and three named after St. Joseph, one in Ogden and one in Eureka, as well as St. Joseph the Worker in West Jordan. Many have Our Lady as their patron saint: St. Mary of the Assumption in Park City; St. Mary in West Haven; Notre Dame de Lourdes in Price; Our Lady of Guadalupe in Salt Lake City; Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Kearns; Our Lady of the Light Mission in Beaver; and two parishes named after Our Lady of Lourdes, one in Salt Lake City and the other in Magna. In addition, Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel is located on the Dugway Proving Grounds. May these champions of our faith continue to encourage and intercede for us during this Eastertide and always.Donna Masek is a Father Kolbe Volunteer of the Immaculata and member of the Militia of the Immaculata (MI) National Council. She supports both its English and Spanish communities in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.