This year, the solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19) falls on a Friday. As a solemnity, the requirement to abstain from meat on the Fridays within the season of Lent is dispensed for that day (see canon 1251). If they chose to make use of this special dispensation, the faithful are encouraged to choose another day during the week March 15-20 to abstain from meat as part of their Lenten observances.
On the solemnity of St. Joseph, it is the custom in some places to bless bread, pastries and other food and give a large portion of it to the poor. A family ritual for this St. Joseph’s Table blessing may be found on the Office for Worship website. We encourage all the faithful to use this solemnity as an opportunity to practice charitable almsgiving, living out the Lord’s command to love our neighbor.