The St. Joseph icon is unfinished. By the end of this year it is hoped to have two panels which will make it similar to the St. Bride’s icon. Like that icon, the panels will tell us something of the life of Joseph. 

The reason that an icon was commissioned for St. Joseph was because many people in the Church have a great devotion to this saint. We already had an existing statue of Joseph but it was thought that this was a bit lifeless and didn’t convey anything of the importance of the figure of the one who was the husband of Mary and guardian of the child Jesus. 

The icon shows us a different image than we are normally accustomed to seeing Joseph. He is pictured holding the child Jesus. You might say, it is as of he is presenting the child Jesus to the viewer and of course to the world. Jesus is in the forefront and he (Joseph) is in the background – conveying who is most important but also indicating Joseph’s role, he is to look after Jesus and to prepare him, in the obscurity of the house of Nazareth, for his great public ministry.

There is a Latin inscription at the top of the icon which simply refers to Joseph – He who carried Him, carries the one who carried all. This is a phrase that Sister Petra Clare said came into her mind as she prayed and worked on the image. The icon is done in greens and gold's. St Joseph’s robe is done in a light green while the child Jesus is pictured in a shimmering gold – he who was ‘light from light’. It is as if his robe is covering Jesus, providing all the care, shelter and love that he needs.

In the hand of Jesus is a scroll and not a closed book. Images of Christ after he has risen often picture him with a book which symbolise the completion of the preaching of the Gospel. Here the child Jesus is seen with a scroll of the Gospel yet to be delivered and preached.

It is hoped that the icon increases devotion to Joseph and strengthens the love that people already have for him. Jesus, when he came on earth, respected the laws of this world. He was born of a woman and lived in a family in which Joseph was his father on earth. He blesses all families by his coming on earth into the human family, he blesses all mothers and fathers. In a similar way all fathers are called to provide the love, support, strength, moral education, spiritual life, teachings of the way of God that filled the heart of Joseph. What a vocation to be a father like St Joseph!

In this icon both Joseph and Jesus stare out at the one looking in. They both fix us with their gaze. The child Jesus’ hand is lifted in blessing for the one who comes to look at this icon. We are assured of the blessing of God and the protection of St. Joseph as we look at this image.