Blessing of the new Icon of St Joseph

In order to mark the year of St Joseph, Bishop Mark O’Toole of Plymouth diocese comissioned one of our sisters, Sr Eva Maria to write an icon of St Joseph for his cathedral. Our Sister, a very gifted iconographer laboured for 8 months in silence and prayer to complete the icon.

It was solemnly blessed at Plymouth Cathedral on the 8th December, which marked the close of the Year of St Joseph. We all went to Plymouth for this joyful occasion, and sang the Vespers of the Immaculate Conception at the Cathedral. After Vespers, the icon which had been on the sanctuary was solemnly processed to the side altar where it will be on display. The icon was blessed by Bishop Mark, and we all sang the litany of St Joseph in thanksgiving for all the graces that St Joseph has bestowed upon us during this past year.

The Icon of St Joseph pictured in the cloister garden at the convent before it went to the Cathedral at Plymouth.