St Joseph, Patron of “The Regular Guy”

March 19, 2025

When I was elected the General Superior of the Brotherhood of Hope 12 years ago, it was not something I ever remotely expected to happen to me. Who grows up thinking I will be a leader of an order of Religious Brothers one day? I think I was so surprised because I have always seen myself as a “regular guy”. To me a General Superior is a superhero who is brilliant and holy.

So how did I accept this call from the Lord and not take the first flight out of town a la Jonah? I discovered a new friend and now a personal patron, St. Joseph. He has become my patron for “regular guys” whom God has called to serve in ways that exceed their natural gifts.

Just think of what Joseph had to face! He was a regular guy that was hoping to have a regular marriage and a regular family. Instead he got a divine virgin birth, an immaculately conceived bride, visits from angels, gifts from the magi and fled to escape an angry king!

There are no records of Joseph complaining or trying to get out of these immense responsibilities. He quietly, courageously and steadfastly does his job. This is one reason why we brothers recently decided to take St. Joseph as one of our patrons.

We Brothers are very much cut from the cloth of ordinary men. We are not famous or remarkably talented and yet God, like Joseph, has called us to an extraordinary mission.

This mission is to reach thousands of college students and young adults with His Love and the love of His Church. The full scope of this mission potentially reaches millions of young people through the ripple effects on others. Clearly this is impossible for ordinary men with ordinary resources alone.

To be an earthly father to Jesus and prepare Him for His mission was also beyond Joseph’s natural abilities. But grace builds on nature. And so Joseph embraced his mission to Jesus and the Holy family, trusting that if God called him, then he was indeed the right man for the job.

So to any of you out there who are in over your head, like me and the other Brothers, turn to St. Joseph and get some inspiration and help from the patron of “Regular Guys”.

St. Joseph pray for us!

-Br. Ken Apuzzo BH