Litany of St. Joseph - Live Concert

Written by Fr. Jonathan Gibson, Associate Pastor of St. Anthony's, Calgary 
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​I would like to invite you to join God Squad Canada and Heroic Men for a one-of-a-kind concert on March 17th. God Squad, a men’s ministry active in Calgary for 28 years, sponsored Canadian composer Carlos Foggin to set the Litany of St. Joseph to music.  

In 1624 St Joseph was declared the Patron Saint of Canada. In 1870 Blessed Pope Pius IX declared him the Patron of the Universal Church. The Pope said of St. Joseph that because of the sublime dignity that was his as the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus, the Church has always “most highly honoured him and praised blessed Joseph next to his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has besought his intercession in times of trouble.”
One of the key expressions of this intercessory prayer is the Litany of St Joseph. Litaniae Sancti Ioseph (Latin) is a formal prayer of the Church and was approved for public use by Pope St. Pius X in 1909. In 2021 Pope Francis added seven invocations to the Litany.

For the first time, the Litany has been set to music for full orchestra, chorus, soloists and organ. The Jack Singer Concert Hall will be the venue for the concert where the Casavant organ will be featured with the orchestral ensemble and singers. This is a work that will draw the audience into a place of deep reverence and prayer as the text in sung in Latin.
The 13 movements of the Litany of St. Joseph will express the full dynamic and tonal range of the musicians and incorporate various musical styles that have a Canadian character to them. Mr. Foggin described the composition this way: “The music captures the essence of rolling hills and gentle rivers, the warmth of summers, the harshness of winter, and the overwhelming majesty of the Rocky Mountains themselves”. So, this universal prayer will have an Albertan character to it inspiring us to a deeper devotion to St. Joseph.

This will be an evening where we will be able to give thanks to God for the patronage of St. Joseph while celebrating the premier of a Canadian composition written for the glory and praise of God.

Please join us at 7 PM on Monday, March 17 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.

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A Month of Blessing: Celebrating St. Joseph

Written by Sean Lynn, God Squad Canada Society.

As February draws to a close and the promise of spring fills the air, we prepare to celebrate the month of March, traditionally dedicated to St. Joseph. This year’s celebrations are particularly special for God Squad Canada, with a jam-packed week leading up to the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19th.

The festivities kick off with the highly anticipated Men's Conference on March 14th and 15th. Held at St. Michael's Catholic Community, this year's theme, "Pilgrims of Hope," promises to inspire and uplift. Attendees will be treated to insightful presentations from two remarkable speakers: Jeff Joaquin and Fr. Dcn. Andrew Bennett. As an added bonus, the conference will feature the always-popular Spolumbo sausages. It is a great opportunity to invite a friend or your sons to build brotherhood and community.

​The celebrations don't stop there! We invite everyone to a truly unique event: the world premiere of The Litany of St. Joseph in live concert. This special Jubilee Year event will take place on Monday, March 17th, 2025, at 7 PM at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.  The concert will feature diverse choirs, including the Vietnamese church choir from St. Vincent Liem, the Nigerian choir, the French choir from Sainte-Famille Church, the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy choir, and the Bishop McNally High School choir. Soloist Michelle Todd, who has performed at other venues such as the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, will grace the stage, adding to the evening's brilliance.

The highlight of the concert will undoubtedly be the performance of the Litany of St. Joseph in song, commissioned by God Squad Canada and composed by the talented Carlos Foggin. This grand finale will feature a full orchestra, four soloists, and a combined choir, making it an unforgettable musical experience.

We also invite you to the Solemnity of St. Joseph Mass with Bishop William T. McGrattan at St Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday, March 19th. Bishop McGrattan will impart his Apostolic blessing for the Jubilee Year, making this a truly momentous occasion. 

This March promises to be a time of spiritual enrichment and community building in the Diocese of Calgary.  With the Men's Conference, the world premiere concert, and the celebratory Mass, there are opportunities for everyone to participate in this Jubilee Year celebration honouring St. Joseph. Don't miss out on these incredible events!

REGISTER FOR GOD SQUAD'S MEN'S CONFERENCE