In this interview, with Carol Ferrao, Andrea D’souza bears witness to the incredibly special role St Joseph plays in the communion of saints.
What were your earliest impressions of St. Joseph?
I was named after Papa Joseph, my middle name is Josephine. But for the longest time I hardly felt any personal connection with him. Much later, I came to know that I was conceived through the intercession of St. Joseph. That realisation deeply touched my heart and sparked a desire in me to know more about him.
What or who first led you to know more St. Joseph?
Once I discovered that he was my patron saint, I felt a growing desire to know him better, though I wasn’t quite sure how to begin. In 2021, I came across the consecration to St. Joseph, and that experience opened many doors for me spiritually.
We, my husband and I, began with the consecration and the novena to St. Joseph. We would also write our prayer intentions and place them under the statue of Sleeping St. Joseph. Each prayer brought us a deep sense of hope and peace, and we experienced many of those prayers being answered.
How was St. Joseph forming your heart and mind or guiding you in any specific way?
These practices drew me closer not only to St. Joseph but also to God in ways I had never imagined. For me, surrendering to God was always difficult because I tend to like being in control. In many ways, that desire for control kept me at a distance from God and made it harder for me to truly understand and accept His will over my own.
During the consecration, I began reflecting deeply on the life of St. Joseph. I often thought about how difficult it must have been for him to travel to Egypt with Mary and baby Jesus, and all the worries, fears, and uncertainties that must have weighed on his heart. Yet despite all of that, he chose to surrender to God. He did not know what the future held, but he trusted that God was leading them on the right path.
This realisation opened my eyes to what surrender truly means—not just saying the words, but living them out in action. I kept trying, little by little, to practice that same trust in my own life. Over time, I began to understand its truth more deeply, and through that surrender I experienced the love of God more closely than ever before.
My understanding of St. Joseph began to deepen, and I realised how present he had been throughout different moments of my life. His example taught me to remain calm, patient, and to trust in the Lord, even when circumstances or situations do not make sense. These are virtues that I deeply associate with Papa Joseph.
What is the most notable way St. Joseph has helped you?
For almost six years we longed for the gift of a child, but we remained childless. The pain of walking through that season was unimaginable. There were moments when I almost gave up hope, and we felt deeply discouraged and helpless. It was during this time that we came across the consecration to St. Joseph in 2021.
With renewed hope, we prayed and consecrated ourselves to him. Through that consecration, I experienced the grace of perseverance and the courage to continue believing in what I could not yet see. Not only did my relationship with God grow deeper through this journey, but within two months we conceived. It was a miracle that I will always treasure in my life!
What does this devotion look like now? How is this relationship enriching your faith and life today?
Today, we have embraced St. Joseph as our family saint. We often share our miracle with others, especially with those who are praying for the gift of a child. Over time, we have witnessed his powerful intercession in many areas of our lives, particularly in strengthening my spouse in his vocation as a father and husband.
Even in my journey through motherhood and parenting, I constantly seek St. Joseph’s intercession. There have been many moments when I felt overwhelmed or when I was trying to find something but simply could not remember where it was. In those moments I would ask for his help, and believe it or not, within seconds I would feel Papa Joseph gently guiding me to a place—and I would find what I was looking for almost immediately.
We also speak to our children about St. Joseph and encourage them to learn from his virtues of love, faith, and hope.
This year we are once again undertaking the consecration to St. Joseph. It is bringing me renewed hope and courage, especially in the current place and situation we find ourselves in here in Dubai.
St. Joseph feels incredibly close to me now. Experiencing his presence and intercession so personally has truly been a blessing and a privilege.
