In this Year of St. Joseph proclaimed by Pope Francis, December 8, 2020 – December 8, 2021, many have found themselves drawn to this spiritual father. For Michael Dobbelsteyn of Saint John, it was novena and consecration to St. Joseph that helped him and his family grow closer to this saint. The uncertainty and death brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic can be an opportunity for humanity to reflect on how to build a better world, Pope Francis said in a new book. While homosexual men and women must be respected, any form of blessing a same-sex union is "illicit," said the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.