Feast of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

For the first time in many years, a Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) was held at St Madeline's parish in Ridley Park, PA.  The Mass was held to honor St. Joseph on his feast day.  As part of the Year of Faith declared by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Father Louis P. Bellopede, pastor of St. Madeline's, desired that his parishioners assist at a Mass in the Extraordinary Form.  The celebrant priest was Father Gerald P. Carey, pastor of St Paul's Church in South Philadelphia.  Father Matthew Phelan, O de M of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Overbrook, Pa, served as Deacon with Seminarian Christopher Moriconi serving as subdeacon

The setting for the Mass was the Missa de Angelis, sung by St. Madeline's choir.  The church was filled nearly to capacity with the faithful who came to honor St Joseph,  whose feast day held special significance this year since it was chosen as the day for the Inauguration Mass of Pope Francis.

What follows are some photos taken before, during and after the Mass.  You may be able to observe that the statuary of St. Madeline's is shrouded in purple in observation of Passiontide, with the exception of St. Joseph, whose altar is adorned by both candles and food offerings from the faithful.