The Diocese of La Crosse is encouraging members of the congregation to participate in a novena to St. Joseph from Nov. 29 to Dec. 7 as a celebration in concluding the Year of St. Joseph.

Pope Francis declared Dec. 8, 2020, through Dec. 8, 2021, the “Year of St. Joseph," according to Vatican News.  Pope Francis dedicated the year in honor of the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX declaring that St. Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church, while Dec. 8 marks the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

“A novena is nine days of prayer focused on a particular theme. This novena to St. Joseph is a fitting conclusion to the Year of St. Joseph declared by Pope Francis for the Universal Church and celebrated by the Diocese of La Crosse. Each day, you will reflect on a particular title given to St. Joseph. Parishes, families and individuals are encouraged to begin on Monday, Nov. 29, and conclude on Tuesday, Dec. 7, with the consecration to be made on Wednesday, Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the closing of the Year of St. Joseph.  As you pray, begin with the reflection, consider what intention(s) you would like to offer and conclude with the Memorare to St. Joseph," said the Diocese of La Crosse in a Facebook post on Wednesday. 

According to Blessed is She, “novena” comes from the Latin word for “nine” and typically refers to praying for nine consecutive days. The purpose of choosing nine days could signify the nine months that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, or possibly when the Apostles and Mary had prayed for the nine days between Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven and Pentecost.

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception states that Mary was conceived without original sin, with Dec. 8 marking the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation, according to Britannica.