Advent Book Study

This Year’s Focus

Last year we focused our attention on the Blessed Virgin Mary. This year we will focus on the person of St. Joseph, the Head of the Holy Family. Among his many titles, St. Joseph is the Foster Father and Protector of Jesus; Spouse and Guardian of St. Mary, the Mother of God; Patron of the Universal Church; Terror of Demons; The Man of Dreams; Patron of Artisans . . . and more.

Who’s the Study For? 

Indeed, St. Joseph is a multi-dimensional man! And he is a holy exemplar for Christian men and women who are themselves striving to become more holy, more surrendered to God and His purposes for our lives. Like St. Joseph, God is an artisan who is crafting us to resemble Himself in uniquely glorious ways. God has called each of us by name, and he invites us to consider how St. Joseph embodied both the Active and Contemplative Life.

What’s the Book?

We’ll be ably-guided by the masterful Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB whose book Through the Heart of St. Joseph  has been praised as a “gracious accompaniment…an extended lectio divina of St. Joseph’s portrayal in the Gospels.” The book is “packed with insights, wisdom, and application” and reads in a way that is “perfectly contemporary — and yet always grounded in tradition.” This study will be a rich, accessible, and inspiring study for individuals, spouses, and small groups. 

A Special Opportunity for Men

Although St. Joseph is a guide for all Christian men and women, his life is perhaps most especially a model for Christian men. For this reason, Divine Mercy Parish will be offering FIVE Advent sessions for the men of our parish — and beyond! Entitled, “Where are you? An Advent Study for Men,” we are inviting men of ALL ages and states of life (single, married, religious, retired, faith-seeking) to join us as we meditate upon what it means and looks like to receive and embrace our Identity; how to possess and embody Authority; how to understand and cultivate Intimacy (friendship and romance); and how to humbly and confidently live and act in the world with personal Agency. Weaving in themes of the book, our sessions will gather around special teachings focused on exploring the nature & purpose of men in our cultural moment, all the while cultivating dialogue, authentic presence, inspiration, encouragement, renewal, and hope.

Advent Men’s Study Session Details
Location: St. Maria Goretti Parish Hall | 6:30 p.m.
Session Days: The Following Tuesdays and Thursdays

• Session 01 | Tuesday, November 24
• Session 02 | Thursday, December 3
• Session 03 | Thursday, December 10
• Session 04 | Thursday, December 17
• Session 05 | Tuesday, December 22

Suggested Reading Schedule for Individuals,
Spouses, and Small Groups

Pre-Advent Preparation
Forward, Table of Contents, Introduction

Advent Week 1, November 29–December 5
Chapter 1, St. Joseph’s Protection

Advent Week 2, December 6–12
Chapter 2, A Friend in Silence

Advent Week 3, December 13–19
Chapter 3, A Father to Little Ones 

Advent Week 4, December 20–Nativity
Chapter 4, Hidden with St. Joseph

Christmastide, December 27–January 2
Chapter 5, Steadfast in Suffering

Epiphany, January 3–9
Chapter 6, Joseph Option; Conclusion

FAQs

How do I get a copy?

Books are available in all three Divine Mercy Parish churches for pickup. 

Do I have to pay for it?

We kindly request $10 for a suggested donation. Thank you! 

Can women read this, or is it just a study for men?

Yes, women can read this! Through this meditation on St. Joseph, women and men can gain insight into the harmony of call and response between masculine and feminine hearts — particularly, the heart of God the Father whom St. Joseph modeled. This study reveals what we might call the “masculine genius” and offers us all a vision of what integrated, whole, and holy masculinity looks like — an essential thing for both men and women to recognize! Although we are offering a set of focused sessions for men, Through the Heart of St. Joseph is a book for all Christians. 

Who is Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB? 

Fr. Boniface is a Benedictine monk (OSB is “Order of St. Benedict”) of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He is the Director for Spiritual Formation for Saint Vincent Seminary and is a widely-respected spiritual father and guide. You can get to know him (and the book) a little more through the following videos: 

https://youtu.be/kvHAzLIsoOg?si=8mBx-00xpj4Rl7oI 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsAltwPwsFA

https://youtu.be/QlEC-n043aU?si=ngn4g-sY1O-KoDU7 

What if I have more questions? 

Contact Matthew Farrelly, Evangelization & Formation Coordinator, at matthew.farrelly@divinemercymadison.org.