The Catholic Church in the Philippines will entrust families to St. Joseph on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said that consecrating the families to St. Joseph “is an act of entrustment to his fatherly care, protection, and guidance”.

“The goal of this consecration is to imitate St. Joseph’s virtue, example, and closeness with Christ,” the CBCP said in a circular issued Nov. 8.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who by that time will be the CBCP president, will lead the praying of the rosary and the act of consecration at the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City.

All bishops of the country are expected to join the event online with the clergy, religious, and families from their homes.

In a circular issued Nov. 8, the episcopal conference also suggested that a Eucharistic celebration be done after the national consecration.

The celebration will be livestreamed through the Facebook pages of CBCP News, Radio Veritas, TV Maria and other Catholic social media platforms.

Diocesan or parish consecration could also be made especially for those that could not follow the national consecration.

The day will also be the closing of the “Year of St. Joseph”, which began on Dec. 8, 2019 in honor of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church.

On May 1 this year, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the bishops also consecrated the nation under the patronage of Jesus’ foster father.