The ending of a marriage is a difficult experience. Many marriages end in divorce in spite of good intentions. We are sensitive to the pain and stress a failed marital relationship brings to those involved. We are here to assist those who want to know more about how to file a petition for an annulment. Annulments The ending of a marriage is a difficult experience. Many marriages end in divorce in spite of good intentions. We are sensitive to the pain and stress a failed marital relationship brings to those involved. We are here to assist those who want to know more about how to file a petition for an annulment. 18+ years old Next Item Previous Item Program Contact Mary Batey Communications & Chapel Manager mbatey@ap.church 832-482-4115 The ending of a marriage is a difficult experience and we are sensitive to the pain and stress that a failed marital relationship brings to those involved. We are here to assist those who want to know more and those who want to file a petition for an annulment. Throughout this journey various questions will arise. I ask that you read through the FAQ’s provided and familiarize yourself with what an Annulment is. Please note…There are different types of nullity petitions. To ensure that you do not complete an incorrect petition form, you must FIRST consult with a Case Sponsor. A Case Sponsor is a priest, deacon or lay person designated by the parish who determines what type of petition you must complete and assists you in the preparation of the petition. (There is no fee associated with obtaining a petition form or for the services of a Case Sponsor.) Your Case Sponsor will guide you in the paperwork and how to answer the questions. Their job is to review the petition and help you finalize the answers so that it is ready to be signed and sent to the Tribunal. A petition will NOT be accepted without a Case Sponsor. The first step in the annulment process is to fill out the request form so we can capture your information and help determine what type of petition is needed for your case. Annulment FAQ's Annulment Meaning & Explanation Annulment Request Form What is an annulment? Does a declaration of nullity make my children illegitimate? I am not Catholic and have no intention of becoming Catholic. Why do I have to petition? How can the Church apply its understanding of marriage on me when I am not Catholic? Why does a Catholic have to be married by a Catholic priest or deacon? I thought the Church respected the integrity of all marriages. What are the consequences if a Catholic is married “outside” the Catholic Church? May I receive the Sacraments if I am Catholic, divorced and not remarried? May I receive the Sacraments if I am Catholic, divorced and remarried? Why does the Catholic Church punish me by not allowing me to receive the Sacraments?

Saint Teresa of Ávila was born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada on March 28, 1515 in Ávila, Spain. At 16, she was sent by her father to be educated in a convent of Augustinian nuns, and she eventually joined the Carmelite Order. After a severe bout of Malaria and a series of striking visions, Teresa founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites, opening more than 30 convents in her lifetime. She is remembered as one of the great mystics of the Catholic faith, and is one of the four women to be named a Doctor of the Church. St. Teresa of Ávila 1515 - 1582 Feast Day: October 15 Location: Spain Identifiers: Doctor of the Church, Carmelite Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone The religious reformer known as Saint Teresa of Ávila was born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada on March 28, 1515 in Ávila, Spain. She was the third child in a family descended from Jewish merchants who converted to Christianity. Growing up, Teresa was captivated by the thought of spending eternity with God, and she soon became intrigued by the lives of saints and martyrs. So infatuated was Teresa, that before she would even turn ten years old, she would try to run away from home to devote her life to Christ as a martyr in a Muslim country, although her uncle found her down the road and sent her back home to Beatrice, her mother. Beatrice would pass away when Teresa was 14, causing a profound grief that would initially prompt a stronger devotion to the Virgin Mary, but by the age of 16, Teresa was more focused on clothes, flirting and rebelling. This newfound interest in worldly matters, along with the strict religious standards imposed by her father, caused Teresa to have a harsh sense of self-judgement, considering herself a “miserable sinner.” It wasn’t long before her father noticed the loss of her childhood zeal for God, and decided Teresa would benefit from a change of scenery. She was sent to be educated in a convent of Augustinian nuns. While Teresa found their way of life dull at first, she grew to like religious life, and when the time came for her to choose between marriage or religious life, she became a nun of the Carmelite Order (a decision which she wrote was “the safest for someone as prone to sin as she was”). This decision though was in direct opposition of the will of her father, who was displeased by the easy-going nature of the Carmelite Convent. Indeed, the convent was not the pious, contemplative institution Teresa expected. Many women who had no place else to go would end up in the convent, whether they felt they had a vocation or not, and numerous women were accepted for purely financial reasons. Parties seemed to take priority over piety, and the convent became overcrowded with a steady stream of visitors, which caused Teresa to struggle to grow in her relationship with God or find time for quiet reflection. Shortly after becoming a nun, Teresa experienced a severe case of malaria that would leave her in great pain for years. She was bedridden for a long period of time, endured a four-day coma, and many were convinced she would not survive. However during this period of pain, she began her very first experiences of divine visions. Teresa described the sensation as an inner sense of peace that seemed to transcend the intense physical pain of the body. One of the more striking visions Teresa experienced came in the form of an angel who would appear holding a long, golden spear. The angel was smiling and gentle, so Teresa wasn’t frightened by him, but she was surprised when he thrust the spear into her heart. She simultaneously felt severe pain and sweet ecstasy from the spear, a symbol of God’s love. Writing in her autobiography, Teresa described the experience – “the sweetness of the pain was so surpassing that I couldn’t possibly wish to be rid of it. My soul couldn’t be content with anything but God.” Many clergy dissuaded her from pursuing the visions though, as they felt they were the delusions of the devil. Nonetheless, Teresa grew significantly in mental prayer during her recovery, but once back to health, her prayer life plateaued. Having lost the confidence to pray as she ought, she settled instead to lapse into a more routine prayer life. She would remain an obedient Carmelite, but struggle to establish a close personal connection to God for nearly twenty years. Around the age of 40, Teresa experienced a spiritual awakening, finding herself dramatically called back to the practice of contemplative mental prayer. Furthermore, she felt called to restore the Carmelite spirituality back to its original purpose: to live for God. She plunged back into her faith, emboldened to reform the Church. Teresa desired to found a new convent that refocused on the basics of contemplative prayer and poverty. Around the same time, she became close friends with a Spanish priest named Juan de Yepes y Álvarez, who would come to be known as St. John of the Cross. With his close collaboration, Teresa founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Discalced means barefoot, a term Teresa chose to symbolize the simplicity to which she wished to return the order. The move was met with intense opposition and scrutiny from public officials and religious leaders, who denounced her from the pulpit, started legal proceedings against her, and told her she should raise money for the convent she was already in. The bulk of the hostility came from the fact that the convent existed without endowment, but Teresa stood firm on the focus of poverty, and eventually the opposition waned. In 1562, with Pope Pius IV’s authorization, she opened the first convent of the Carmelite Reform, St. Joseph’s. Teresa would go on to found 30 more convents during her life, as St. John of the Cross was initiating the Carmelite Reform for men, opening the first monastery of the Primitive Rule in Duruelo Spain in 1568. Teresa’s health never fully recovered following her bout with malaria, and the rigors of opening more convents and traveling around Spain left her frail. However she never let her poor health dissuade her from her life’s mission, and she persevered through continued criticism, clashes with the Spanish Inquisition, and even an attempt to excommunicate her order. While traveling through Salamanca in 1582, her health failed her for the final time, and she accepted her illness as God’s chosen means for calling her into His presence forever. A fellow Carmelite described the hours before her passing: “She remained in this position in prayer full of deep peace and great repose. Occasionally she gave some outward sign of surprise or amazement. Her facial expression was so wondrously changed that it looked like a celestial body to us. Thus immersed in prayer, happy and smiling, she went out of this world into eternal life.” She died in October of 1582, at the age of 67. Teresa of Ávila was canonized on March 12, 1622, and in 1970, she received the prestigious title of Doctor of the Church by Pope St. Paul VI. She is only one of two women to have ever been proclaimed as such. Saint Teresa is remembered as one of the great mystics of the Catholic faith, and her writings are heralded as literary canon regarding Christian mysticism and Christian meditation. Her writings Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle have helped generations of faithful Christians grow in contemplative prayer to this day. Teresa lived in a tumultuous time, but was determined to stand on her own two feet, and boldly pursue the call of God. Enthusiastic, courageous, and outgoing, she brought about immense reform despite the opposition of poor health, political turmoil, and her own feelings of mediocrity. Yet she struggled forward, faithful until the end, to found monasteries, share the beauty of mental prayer, and fall into the embrace of the Lord. Next Item Previous Item

Peregrine Laziosi was born in Forlì, Italy in 1260. As a teenager, Peregrine became a ringleader of rebels opposing the Pope. In 1283, Forlì was placed under a spiritual interdict by Pope Martin IV, who sent Philip Benizi, from the Order of Servites to Forlì. One day while Philip was preaching, Peregrine knocked him off a platform. Immediately remorseful, Peregrine cast himself down and begged the bloodied priest for forgiveness. Philip Benizi forgave Peregrine, who eventually converted to Catholicism and joined the Servites. Peregrine became known for his preaching in the area, earning the nickname “Angel of Good Counsel.” St. Peregrine Laziosi 1260 - 1345 Feast Day: May 1 Location: Italy Identifiers: Confessor Relic located in the: Left Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Peregrine Laziosi, a rebellious soul who would one day attain sainthood, was born to a wealthy family in Forlì, Italy in the year 1260. In his teenage years, Peregrine joined an anti-papal party, soon becoming a ringleader of a group of rebels opposing the Pope in his hometown. In 1283, the residents of Peregrine’s town of Forlì were placed under a spiritual interdict (a ban prohibiting persons or groups from participating in certain Catholic rites) by Pope Martin IV, which closed the churches in the city, hoping to bring the citizens to their senses. The Pope sent Philip Benizi, from the Order of Servites (also known as the Servants of Mary) to Forlì, as his personal ambassador to try to preach the Gospel and bring peace to the angry rebels. One day while trying to preach, a group of the Peregrine-led rebels were heckling Philip, and the moment became so heated that Peregrine knocked Philip off the platform on which he was standing, with a strong blow to the face. While this could have easily been a turning-point down a dark and violent path for young Peregrine, instead, it was a wakeup call. Peregrine was so overcome with remorse for his actions towards Philip, that he repented, cast himself at the feet of the bruised and bloodied priest, and begged for forgiveness. Not only did Philip Benizi forgive Peregrine, but he would help him convert to Catholicism. Peregrine began engaging in good works, distancing himself from the rebels, and praying regularly in Our Lady’s chapel in the nearby cathedral. It was in the cathedral that he had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding out a black habit like those the Servites wore, and telling him “Go to Siena. There you will find devout men who call themselves my servants. Attach yourself to them.” The Servites welcomed him with open arms, with Philip Benizi himself ceremoniously handing Peregrine his new religious habit. He soon went on to be ordained a priest, before returning to his hometown to open a new Servite house, founded to care for the sick and the poor. Peregrine quickly became well known for his preaching in the area, earning the nickname “Angel of Good Counsel” for all of his wise advice which he freely gave to the people. He was also known for his personal penances, which he took on in reparation for the sinful ways of his past. To atone for his misdeeds, of his penances was standing whenever it was not necessary to sit. Peregrine would hardly ever be found in a chair, instead supporting himself on a choir stall when tired. By the age of 60, he had developed severe varicose veins in his leg from all the standing, and in turn, cancer in his foot. His leg rapidly deteriorated, with the severe pain leading him to visit a doctor, who solemnly told Peregrine that his leg needed to be amputated. Peregrine had no choice but to accept the diagnosis. The night before the scheduled surgery, Peregrine spent many hours in prayer before a crucifix, asking for God to heal him if it be His will. Eventually falling asleep, Peregrine had a vision of Jesus descending off the cross, to touch his leg. The vision startled Peregrine awake, only to look down at his foot and find it completely healed of the cancerous growth. The doctor who arrived to perform the amputation could find no sign of the cancer, and news spread of the miraculous cure throughout the town. Peregrine would go on to live another 20 years. He would pass away on May 1st, 1345, from a fever. Many who traveled across the countryside to honor his death were healed through his intercession. His body resides, still to this day, in the Servite church of Forlì. Pope Paul V declared him blessed in 1609 and Pope Benedict XIII canonized St. Peregrine in 1726. He was the patron saint for individuals suffering from cancer, AIDS, foot ailments, or other illnesses. St. Peregrine experienced a miraculous healing of his foot, but more importantly, a healing of his heart following a violent clash. He entrusted his life to the will of God, and was richly rewarded for his faith. Next Item Previous Item

St. Desiderius was a Bishop and Martyr, he was also called Dizier. A native of Genoa, Italy, he became bishop of Langres, in France. When the Visigoths invaded the region, Desiderius pleaded for his people and was martyred. St. Desiderius of Langres d. 407 Feast Day: May 23 Location: Langres, France Identifiers: Martyr, Bishop Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A piece of bone St. Desiderius was a Bishop and Martyr, he was also called Dizier. A native of Genoa, Italy, he became bishop of Langres, in France. When the Visigoths invaded the region, Desiderius pleaded for his people and was martyred. Next Item Previous Item

Communal First Saturdays provides a way of fulfilling Our Lady of Fatima’s request for the First Saturday and thereby helping bring about world peace and the salvation of souls. Devotion Grow in your Faith Are you looking to deepen your faith? There are plenty of opportunities for adults to get involved at our parish. We have Bible Studies, Community Groups, Prayer and Devotions, Classes, Retreats, Organizations, and Groups in Spanish. I Want to Volunteer Contact Us Communal First Saturdays 1st Saturday of the Month English & Spanish Devotion Communal First Saturdays provides a way of fulfilling Our Lady of Fatima’s request for the First Saturday and thereby helping bring about world peace and the salvation of souls. More Information Daily Communal Rosary Before Daily Mass English & Spanish Devotion Join us for Liturgy of the Hours at 8 AM and a Communal Rosary at 8:30 AM all before the 9:00 AM Daily Mass in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. See below for specifics. More Information Divine Mercy Cenacle Mondays at 10 AM English Only Devotion We study the Diary of St. Faustina using a formation manual with weekly lessons along with appropriate references from the Bible and Catechism of the Catholic Church. We emphasize and promote the concept that the Divine Mercy message is more than a devotion: It is a Way of Life. We learn the role of trust, forgiveness, and mercy in our daily lives. Register First Friday Devotion 1st Friday of the Month English Only Devotion First Friday Hour of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus comes from when Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alocoque, and gave her the special task to spread devotion to His Most Sacred Heart at a time when religion was growing cold in the hearts of mankind. More Information Intercessory Prayer 3rd Saturday of the Month English & Spanish Devotion Join your parish family for Intercessory Prayer on the third Saturday of the month immediately following 10:00 am daily Mass. There is no registration required for those who have a prayer request. Our prayer teams desire to pray for you! More Information La Divina Misericordia Lunes a las 12 PM Spanish Only Devotion El Cenáculo de La Divina Misericordia es un grupo de oración, para experimentar el esplendor de nuestra fe Católica a través de la devoción y el Mensaje de La Divina Misericordia. Basado en la enseñanza de las Sagradas Escrituras, el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica y el Diario de Santa Faustina; es una maravillosa oportunidad para crecer en la fe y confianza en el Señor y ayudar a la salvación de las almas. Más Información Legion of Mary Various Times English & Spanish Devotion Legion of Mary is an apostolate centered on prayers and works of mercy. The primary objective of the Legion of Mary is the holiness of its members, under the auspices of our Blessed Mother – Queen of the Legion of Mary. Through participation in the various programs of the organization, members develop an active prayer life, enhanced by serving others within our parish community. More Information Liturgy of the Hours Before Daily Mass English Only Devotion Join us in praying the Liturgy of the Hours before the 9:00 AM Daily Mass. All are welcome Monday – Friday in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel beginning at 8:00 AM. A rosary will follow the Liturgy of the Hours and then Mass. More Information Rosario Familiar El primer sábado Spanish Only Devotion El Rosario Familiar en español se lleva a cabo en la Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles el primer sábado de cada mes a las 7:00pm. ¡Todos son bienvenidos a unirse! Más Información St. Anthony Novena Tuesdays after 6:45 PM Mass English Only Devotion St Anthony’s Novena Devotion is every Tuesday after the 6:45 PM Mass. St. Anthony our patron saint, is often invoked for helping to recover lost items, healing of sick and other intentions and is popularly known as a miracle worker. Join us in asking for St. Anthony’s intercession! More Information

One of the most important philosophers in the history of the Catholic Church, Saint Justin Martyr was the first known writer to quote from the Acts of the Apostles and his deeply profound writings made an indelible impact and contribution to Christian theology. Of all Justin’s writings, only a portion survive, but three are held in the highest regard amidst Christian apologetics: his two Apologies, and Dialogue with Trypho. With his ardent defense of the faith, his use of philosophical wisdom, and hunger for undeniable truth, there is much we can learn from the inspiring Saint Justin Martyr. St. Justin 100 - 165 Feast Day: June 1 Location: Rome, Italy Identifiers: Martyr, Apologist Relic located in the: Left Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Every human during their time on Earth is searching for something – purpose, fame, fortune, love, etc. For Saint Justin Martyr, his search was for truth, and he found it in the one true God: Jesus Christ. One of the most important philosophers in the history of the Catholic church, he was the first known writer to quote from the Acts of the Apostles and his deeply profound writings made an indelible impact and contribution to Christian theology. Born around the year 100 A.D. in Flavia Neapolis, Palestine (the present-day city of Nablus), Justin was born to pagan parents and became extremely well educated to the teachings of Stoicism, Platonism and other pagan philosophies. He developed a profound love for truth, and sought it out through multiple philosophical schools, but none of them quenched his thirst. He pinballed from one teaching to the other, but whether it was a philosopher too eager for his fee or a teacher unable to explain God’s being adequately to the student, he was left unsatisfied, until a chance encounter changed his life. Justin’s writings depict him crossing paths with an old man walking along the seashore, who engaged in a dialogue about God that kindled a fire in his soul. The old man imparted on Justin the testimony of prophets and their increased reliability over the flawed reasoning of philosophers. In his second-century Christian apologetic text Dialogue with Trypho, Justin recounts the man telling him “There existed, long before this time, certain men more ancient than all those who are esteemed philosophers, both righteous and beloved by God, who spoke by the Divine Spirit, and foretold events which would take place, and which are now taking place. They are called prophets. These alone both saw and announced the truth to men, neither reverencing nor fearing any man, not influenced by a desire for glory, but speaking those things alone which they saw and which they heard, being filled with the Holy Spirit.” Justin’s writings make it clear that he admired Christians from afar because of the beauty found in the way their profound morals shaped their lives. While a disciple of Plato, he had been skeptical of the accusations he heard regarding Christians, due to how they were “intrepid in the face of death and of all that men fear.” From what he was witnessing and learning, he felt that it was “impossible that they should be living in evil and in the love of pleasure.” After talking with the man by the beach, he finally understood the witness of Christians who “preferred truth to life.” The final cementing on the Christianity’s proof of truth for Justin was the witness of martyrdom; plenty of people had died for Jesus Christ, but nobody died for the teachings of Socrates. Justin soon renounced his former religion, becoming a Christian in the year 132, most likely in the city of Ephesus, located in modern Turkey. He began traveling far and wide, inspired with the passion of his Christian faith, to proclaim his newfound philosophy in hopes of converting educated pagans to the Lord. He spent a decent amount of time in Rome, establishing a school, debating cynics, writing wise apologetical works, and creating a fair share of non-Christian enemies in the process. Many of his teachings clashed with those of various Roman, Greek and Jewish scholars, and during the reign of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, Justin debated with the cynic Crescens, who would in turn denounce him as seditious to the authorities. Justin was arrested for being a Christian, a faith of which was under heavy persecution at the time by Aurelius, and after he refused to offer a sacrifice to pagan gods, he was tried, found guilty, and condemned to death in the year 165, alongside six companions. He died by execution, and authentic records of his martyrdom, by beheading, still exist to this day. Of all Justin’s writings, only a portion survive, but three are held in the highest regard amidst Christian apologetics: his two Apologies, and Dialogue with Tryphon. In the First Apology, Justin vehemently defended his fellow Christians against the accusations of atheism and open hostility towards them from the Roman state. He also dove into the core of his Christian philosophy, which was rooted in the term logos, the Greek word for “intellect” or “word.” Justin explained that logos enables humankind to understand basic truths all around them (time, creation, good & evil, etc.), but that Jesus Christ alone was the divine logos, and the ultimate truth. His writings went on to continually defend Christianity from Roman attack, provide incredible descriptions of the beauty contained within the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist, and compared core Christian beliefs with the beliefs of the Greco-Roman religion, to demonstrate the truth and beauty that was weaved throughout Christianity like a beautiful tapestry. Justin had an incredible knowledge of scripture – many scholars find his writings particularly informative thanks to his understanding of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. His writings established a solid foundation of salvation history, as well as a principal history of the Catholic church, from his writings regarding the sacraments. With his ardent defense of the faith, his use of philosophical wisdom, and hunger for undeniable truth, there is much we can learn from Saint Justin Martyr. He was unafraid to learn more, to grow in his faith, and to follow the Truth all the way unto death. Next Item Previous Item

“My Lord and my God.” Those five words together form one of the clearest declarations in scripture of the divinity of Jesus Christ, resurrected and standing in front of Saint Thomas. Thomas was one of the closest followers of Jesus and is most famous for being “doubting Thomas” – the result of an untimely absence on the first Easter Sunday that caused him to be skeptical upon hearing of the resurrection of Jesus. But while he may have a rough reputation for requesting physical proof of Jesus returning, he should be equally known for his courage as a follower of Christ. St. Thomas the Apostle 1st Century Feast Day: July 3 Location: Jerusalem Identifiers: Apostle, Martyr Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone “My Lord and my God.” Those five words together form one of the clearest declarations in scripture of the divinity of Jesus Christ, resurrected and standing in front of one incredulous apostle – Saint Thomas. Thomas was one of the closest followers of Jesus during His time on Earth and is most famous for being “doubting Thomas” – the result of an untimely absence on the first Easter Sunday that caused him to be skeptical upon hearing of the supposed resurrection of Jesus. But while he may have a rough reputation for requesting physical proof of Jesus returning, he should be equally known for his courage as a follower of Christ. Little is known about Saint Thomas. He is mentioned in every gospel, as well as Acts of the Apostles, but he only speaks in the Gospel of John. His exact birthday and date of death are unknown, but most historians agree he was most likely born to a Jewish family in Galilee. There’s no indication he was a fisherman, although he is among the apostles fishing in John 21 when Jesus appears on the shore prior to a miraculous catch. We don’t know how Thomas became a follower of Jesus, but from the very first time in the Gospel of John that he speaks, it’s clear that he is a dedicated, passionate follower of Christ. In John 11, Jesus announces His intention of returning to the town of Judea to visit his friend Lazarus, who He and the apostles had recently been told was sick. The majority of the apostles were less then enthused at the prospect of this trip (“…the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”) but Jesus was undeterred. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up,” Jesus said. Displaying their trademark lack of understanding that the apostles often had when Jesus spoke with a deeper meaning, they replied, ““Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” These moments occur frequently throughout the gospels and while Jesus was fully divine, he was also fully man, and quite capable of growing frustrated at their moments of dragging their feet. “Lazarus is dead,” Jesus spoke plainly in John 11:14, “and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Placing yourself in the shoes of the apostles, it is not hard to understand their hesitancy. Jesus had ruffled feathers in Jerusalem when he had been pressed to tell plainly of His divinity, but instead chose to respond, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.” Narrowly escaping a stoning, the apostles were likely still trying to grasp the words of Jesus about The Good Shepherd and His Sheep (John 10) and “the Father is in me, and I in the Father” (John 10:38). But ringing clear through any grumbling or dissent was Thomas, showing a rare glimpse of courage not often displayed by the apostles prior to Pentecost. “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” The second instance of Thomas speaking in the Bible shows him to be an inquisitive follower of Christ, sharing his desire to know the way to following Him more ardently. Through his question, we ultimately hear one of the most profound truths of the ministry of Jesus in response. As Jesus is seated with His disciples around the table of the Last Supper, he speaks to them in hopes of comforting them. He had just predicted His betrayal, as well as Peter’s denial of Him, and tensions were likely running high. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas, taking the concept of the travel and direction of Jesus to remain earthbound, replied, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” The answer by Jesus is one we have heard countless times and likely was imprinted onto Thomas’ heart: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Lastly, we reach the upper room, where behind locked doors, the disciples, unsure of what to do next, remained in fear of the Jewish leaders. Mary Magdalene had recently told them the heart-stopping news that she had seen Jesus, raised from the dead, but they were still in awe when he suddenly appeared among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to the overjoyed apostles – but Thomas was not with them. The cause of Thomas’ absence is unknown, but when he returned and heard that the Lord had just been standing in that very room, back from death itself, he insisted on physical proof. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” It can be argued that the actions of Thomas in this moment weren’t even those of true “doubt.” Jesus – the man whom he fervently wished to follow, even unto the point of death – had died on the cross. Thomas had given Jesus his heart and his hope, so when Jesus entered the grave, Thomas didn’t doubt in the sense of simply wavering or hesitating: he did not believe at all. He refused to acknowledge the possibility of the risen Lord, refused to offer his heart to be crushed again, until he was close enough to put his fingers in Jesus’ wounds. What did Jesus do? He didn’t reappear with a thunderous rumble to rebuke Thomas for his disbelief. He didn’t leave him hanging and return back to His heavenly kingdom. Instead, one week later, he returned again to the apostles with the same greeting – “Peace be with you!” Then, speaking directly to Thomas, Jesus said, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Incredulously, Thomas felt the fatal wounds that had taken the Lord away from him, only to see Him now mere inches away. Falling at the feet of Jesus he exclaimed, “My Lord, and my God!” This profound realization of truth ultimately led Thomas to be the first person to explicitly acknowledge the divinity of Jesus. Following his encounter with the resurrected Lord, we lose track of a clear path of Thomas. We know he embarked on a missionary journey somewhere in the world, but most accounts are unreliable. According to many Christian traditions, Thomas traveled over to India, where he established numerous churches and preached the gospel all along the Malabar coast. Thomas is recognized as the founder of the Church of the Syrian Malabar Christians (also known as Christians of St. Thomas), of which there are more than 3,000 parishes around the world. According to Syrian Christian tradition, Thomas was martyred at Madras, a city in India now known as Chennai. Exact details are scarce, but most historians tell of Thomas coming into conflict with the king of Mylapore or the Hindu priests of Kali and Thomas eventually being killed by a spear. The spear wounds of Jesus were the evidence Thomas needed to truly believe, but it was his own spear wounds that would become the ultimate evidence of his own faith. Today, Saint Thomas is known as the patron of architects, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and theologians. The name “Thomas” remains popular among the Syrian Christians of India, and there are roughly 5 million Catholics belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church. Saint Thomas stands out among the apostles for his prominent questioning of what we all were taught to believe without question – that Jesus Christ died and rose again. But amidst what must have truly been a terrifying time for the apostles, having just seen their leader brutally murdered upon a cross, it’s perfectly understandable for Thomas to desire proof. Ultimately, he represents what we all desire; to have our love and faith of Jesus surpass all doubts and skepticism that can be heaped upon our Catholic beliefs. Jesus did not pick worthless men to be His disciples. Their hesitancy to follow Him to Judea, their lack of understanding in His deeper meanings and their abandonment upon Golgotha doesn’t point towards foolish followers – it proves that their human weakness did not disqualify them from holiness or sainthood, and neither does ours. Next Item Previous Item

The luminary, tireless servant of God known as Saint John Neumann was born in 1811 in Prachatice, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). Embracing a life of religious vocation, he joined the Redemptorist order and journeyed to the United States in 1836. John’s unwavering dedication to education led him to establish the first diocesan Catholic school system in America. In 1852, he became the Bishop of Philadelphia, where he fervently worked to support immigrants and foster spiritual growth. John’s humility, simplicity, and deep spirituality earned him sainthood, inspiring countless souls to seek God’s love in their lives. St. John Neumann 1811 - 1860 Feast Day: January 5 Location: Philadelphia, PA Identifiers: Bishop, Confessor Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint John Neumann, the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia and the first male citizen of the United States to be canonized as a saint, is revered as a spiritual luminary and a tireless servant of God. His life, marked by deep faith, unwavering dedication, and remarkable accomplishments, continues to inspire countless individuals even today. John Nepomucene Neumann was born on March 28, 1811, in Prachatitz, Bohemia. He was the third of six children in a devout Catholic family. From an early age, John displayed an exceptional intellect, intense piety, and a profound love for the Church. He pursued his studies at the Budweis Seminary, where his exceptional academic performance earned him a scholarship to the University of Prague. However, a greater calling beckoned him. Inspired by the tales of American missionaries and his own deep desire to serve God, John made the life-changing decision to embark on a missionary journey to the United States. In 1836, he arrived in New York City and was ordained as a priest the following year. Upon his ordination, Father John Neumann joined the Redemptorist order, a religious community committed to serving the most abandoned. He began his ministry in Buffalo, New York, where he served the German-speaking community, offering spiritual guidance, administering the sacraments, and tirelessly advocating for the poor and marginalized. Father Neumann’s reputation as an exemplary priest soon spread throughout the Catholic community. In 1852, at the age of 41, he was appointed as the Bishop of Philadelphia, a post he would hold until his death. As Bishop, John Neumann worked diligently to address the needs of the rapidly growing Catholic population in the United States. One of Saint John Neumann’s most significant contributions was his focus on education. Recognizing the importance of a strong Catholic education system, he established the first diocesan school system in the United States. Under his guidance, he founded over 100 Catholic schools, staffed by religious sisters, and encouraged the establishment of parochial schools throughout his diocese. He also established a seminary for the formation of priests, ensuring a solid foundation for the future of the Church. Saint John Neumann’s pastoral care extended beyond educational initiatives. He personally visited the sick, provided comfort to the imprisoned, and ministered to the spiritual needs of all he encountered. His humility, compassion, and dedication to his flock earned him the title of the “Apostle of the Emigrants.” After a life devoted to serving God and his people, Bishop Neumann passed away on January 5, 1860. His funeral drew an estimated 30,000 mourners, a testament to the profound impact he had on the Catholic community. In 1977, over a century after his death, Pope Paul VI canonized John Neumann as a saint, recognizing his remarkable sanctity and contributions to the Church. Today, Saint John Neumann’s legacy endures. His dedication to education, care for the poor, and unwavering faith continue to inspire Catholics and individuals of all backgrounds. His establishment of Catholic schools laid the groundwork for a thriving Catholic educational system that remains vital in the United States. His deep commitment to the physical and spiritual well-being of every person he met resonated in a way that should motivate us to desire to do the same. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Maximilian Kolbe was born Raymund Kolbe on January 8th, 1894 in Zduńska-Wola, Poland. Despite being a troublesome youth, he developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary before being ordained a priest in 1918. He created a Catholic newspaper, magazine, radio station, and city, founding Niepokalanów, the City of the Immaculate in 1927. Following the Nazi occupation of Poland in 1939, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz. He was killed after willingly taking the place of a man condemned to death, and his devotion to Mary and heroic sacrifice still inspires millions of Catholics today. St. Maximilian Kolbe 1894 - 1941 Feast Day: August 14 Location: Poland Identifiers: Martyr Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of hair A fervent devotee to Mary. A master of new media. A pure, sacrificial soul. The brave Franciscan friar and eventual martyr St. Maximilian Kolbe was a man with a soldier’s heart, dedicating his life to fight in a spiritual war for souls. He accomplished a great deal in his 47 years alive – organizing the Militia Immaculata (Army of the Immaculate One), creating a monthly periodical titled “Rycerz Niepokalanej” (Knight of the Immaculate), founding monasteries across the world, and essentially building an entire city in Poland. He is a well-known saint for his heroic sacrifice in Auschwitz, volunteering to die in the place of a stranger in the German death camp, but there is much to learn from his life, starting at a very young age. Raymund Kolbe was born on January 8th, 1894 in Zduńska-Wola, Poland. One of five boys born to his parents, Julius Kolbe and Maria Dabrowska, he witnessed the effects of Poland’s political disunity at a young age, while growing in devotion to Jesus through Mary from the influence of his virtuous mother – who taught him to pray the Rosary, Angelus and other Marian prayers. These daily recitations couldn’t subdue Raymund’s mischievous nature though, with the young child drawing the ire of his mother one day in 1906. “I don’t know what’s going to become of you,” she said, shaking the disobedient youth to his core. He tearfully presented himself to Lord at his usual place of prayer, where he had a vision of the Virgin Mary. He described the incident: “That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.” Following this vision, his days as a troublesome youth were over, with Raymund and his older brother Francis joining the Conventual Franciscans the very next year. They were enrolled at a seminary in Lwow, with Raymund entering the novitiate on September 4th, 1910, where he was given the new name Maximilian. He briefly left the Order, with his Polish patriotism and love of Mary leading him to attempt to join the military forces in defense of Poland. God would soon make it clear that his mission was meant to be fought on the spiritual battlefield, and not a military one, and Friar Maximilian soon returned to the Order. He was sent to Rome in 1912 to further his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a doctorate in philosophy in 1915 and another in theology a few years later. His dedication to Mary persisted throughout his time in Rome, where as a student, he witnessed vehement demonstrations against the Pope and the Catholic Church as a whole. With numerous Freemason pamphlets being distributed and other forms of media going out to shamefully attack the Holy Father, Kolbe knew something had to be done. On October 16th, 1917, Kolbe, along with six other friars, joined together to form the “Militia Immaculatae” (Army of the Immaculate One) to work for the conversion of all enemies of the Catholic Church. They consecrated themselves totally to the Immaculata and begin planning how to bring conversion to the Freemasons and beyond. Kolbe was officially ordained as a priest in 1918, and he returned home to Poland the following year to continue his work of promoting Mary throughout the newly independent country. He was appointed to serve as a professor at the Franciscan seminaries near Kraków, but a severe bout of tuberculosis, which also ailed Kolbe while in Rome, derailed those plans. He was forced to take a lengthy leave of absence from teaching, but while his physical body ailed greatly from this sickness, Kolbe’s zeal for souls never diminished. Not long after returning to Poland, Kolbe desired to start a Catholic newspaper, but lacked the funds. However, he had faith in Mary’s providence, and after praying for her intercession, he was able to collect enough donations to purchase an old printing press. After another spell of tuberculosis, Kolbe moved to a small friary in Grodno, where he operated a religious publishing press until 1926. Most notably, he founded a monthly periodical titled “Rycerz Niepokalanej” (Knight of the Immaculate) as a devotional publication to the Virgin Mary. Kolbe had seen how the enemies of the Church had utilized the media to spread hate – he knew he had the opportunity to utilize the same mediums of communication to instead spread Christ’s love, and this endeavor would change Kolbe’s life forever. The magazine began circulating widely around the country, with a daily newspaper, Maly Dziennik, also growing in popularity. At its peak, the Knight of the Immaculate was reported to have a press run of 750,000 copies printed a month. Soon, the growing number of subscribers forced Kolbe’s printing apostolate to start looking for a larger area to continue their missionary media efforts. At the same time, a Polish Prince Jan Drucko-Lubecki was selling a large plot of land outside of Warsaw, right by a railway. When Kolbe went to negotiate with the Prince in June of 1927, he brought with him a statue of the Virgin Mary. The negotiations reached a standstill, due to Kolbe not having the amount of money the Prince was asking for the land. The Prince was willing to reduce the price if the Order would offer perpetual Mass for him and his descendants, but when the Order refused, Kolbe departed, but left the statue on the property. When the Prince eventually told Kolbe to come collect the large statue, Kolbe merely responded with a request to let the statue remain there for awhile. After some time had passed, with the Prince constantly gazing upon the statue throughout the day, he came to realize that he was depriving the Virgin Mary of her rightful honor, and reached out to Fr. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, who he realized was a true ambassador of the Blessed Mother, to agree to his terms and sell the land. Twenty-two friars would be the founding residents of Niepokalanów, the City of the Immaculate. It was consecrated on December 8th, 1927, with a junior seminary starting in 1929, leading hundreds of men to flock to the area in pursuit of a radically Marian life. At one point, the monastery housed almost eight hundred people, not all priests or friars, but simply men dedicated to heroic lives of poverty, prayer, and sanctity. The city quickly became a major religious printing center, with Kolbe repeatedly pointing out that success was not measured in constructing more buildings or adding more printing presses; instead, it was found in the daily deepening of one’s love for the Immaculate. This love was further put into action by Kolbe when from 1930 to 1936, he traveled to Nagasaki, Japan alongside four other friars, in hopes of starting a mission there. His missionary heart had no bounds, and despite many barriers of language, opposition from local authorities and lack of finances, they were able to publish the Japanese version of their magazine, titled “Seibo no Kishi” as well as establish a new City of the Immaculate, named “Mugenzai no Sono”, or “Garden of the Immaculate.” Most notable about this monastery was that Kolbe prayerfully built it on a side of a mountain that he was advised against, due to Shinto beliefs viewing it as the side “not in tune with nature.” When the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki in 1945, the monastery was untouched from the blast by the other side of the mountain, which bore the brunt of the explosion. Had he built the monastery on the preferred side, it would not still be standing to this day. Kolbe would become the superior at Mugenzai no Sono one year after their arrival to Japan, with the Japanese version of The Knight surging to 50,000 subscribers by 1933. However, health issues continued to assail Kolbe, and after a brief trip to Malabar, India in an attempt to open another monastery, he returned to Poland in 1936. By this time, Niepokalanów had an airport, medical facilities, and even its own fire brigade. In 1938, Kolbe also held an amateur radio license and started a radio station, Radio Niepokalanów, to continue to use modern media to spread the word of God. He hoped to one day build a motion picture studio, but those plans were halted in 1939, when during WWII, the Nazis occupied Poland. Kolbe was one of the few friars who remained at the monastery, which had been converted to a temporary hospital, when the Nazis raided Niepokalanów. Kolbe was arrested on September 19th, 1939, but released on December 8th. He refused to sign the Deutsche Volksliste, a Nazi institution translated to “German People’s List” which would have given him rights similar to those of German citizens, in exchange for recognizing his ethnic German ancestry. Instead, he returned to the ransacked monastery, undeterred, to continue his missionary work. The monastery would become a safe haven for refugees and displaced families, with Kolbe helping hide 3,000 Polish refugees, two-thirds being Jewish, from the Nazis. They also continued their publication work, including many materials that were critical of the Nazi party. On February 17th, 1941, the monastery was officially shut down, and Kolbe was arrested by the Gestapo alongside four others. They were imprisoned in the Pawiak prison, located in Warsaw, before being transferred to Auschwitz on May 28th, as prisoner 16670. Upon his arrest, Saint Maximilian said, “Courage, my sons. Don’t you see that we are leaving on a mission? They pay our fare in the bargain. What a piece of good luck! The thing to do now is to pray well in order to win as many souls as possible.” Kolbe continued to act as a priest while in Auschwitz, despite being subject to violent harassment for doing so. He received numerous beatings and lashings but continued to minister to all those around him in the dark, heartless prison. At one point he was beaten so badly, the prisoners had to smuggle him into the camp hospital, where he heard confessions as he recovered. It is said that Kolbe would conduct Mass within the prison, using smuggled bread and wine, and would step aside from the food line to allow others to eat, despite the rations being pitiful to begin with. He was unflinching in the midst of incredible harshness, and maintained the gentleness of Christ at all times, pleading with his fellow prisoners to mercifully forgive their persecutors. At the end of July 1941, a prisoner escaped from the camp. Nazi camp protocol required that ten men be killed in retribution for every one that escapes, prompting the Nazi commander to pick the ten souls to be slaughtered. Francis Gajowniczek, a married man with young children was chosen as one of the ten, and when selected he cried “”My wife! My children!” When Fr. Maximilian Mary Kolbe heard his anguished cries, he stepped forward. “What does this Polish pig want?” the Nazi commander asked, to which Kolbe replied that he was a Catholic priest wishing to take Gajowniczek’s place. Astonished, the commander granted the request, and Kolbe was led off to the starvation chamber. According to an eyewitness from the prison, an assistant janitor within Auschwitz, what happened next was beyond comprehension. Inside the prison cell, Kolbe led the prisoners in prayer each day. Whenever the guards would check on the condemned men, he was calmly standing or kneeling in the middle of the cell. Two terrible weeks of starvation and water deprivation followed, with Kolbe hearing the whispered prayers of his fellow prisoners as they passed away, leaving only him alive in the cell. The guards, wanting the bunker emptied for more future cruelty, decided Kolbe’s time was up. Kolbe was given a lethal injection of carbolic acid. Some eyewitnesses at the injection say that he calmly raised his left arm up, offering his arm to the executioner. He died on August 14th, 1941, and his remains were cremated on August 15th, the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. On January 30th, 1969, Kolbe was declared venerable by Pope Paul VI. He was also beatified by Pope Paul VI on October 17, 1971, who recognized him as a Confessor of the Faith, but not a martyr. On October 10, 1982, Pope John Paul II surprisingly arrived at Kolbe’s canonization wearing red vestments, to officially recognize him as a martyr. JPII wanted to make a point that the Nazi systematic hatred of entire categories of humanity was inherently a hatred of entire religious faiths. Francis Gajowniczek, the prisoner Kolbe replaced in the death chamber, was present for both his beatification and canonization ceremonies. He is the patron saint of journalists, media communications, the pro-life movement, recovering drug addicts, political prisoners, and families. At his canonization, JPII called Kolbe “the “patron for our difficult century.” In the midst of another difficult century, let us look to Kolbe’s devotion to Mary, his ability to embrace modern technology to spread God’s love, and his heroic sacrifice in the face of evil to inspire us forward in our heavenly journey. Next Item Previous Item

Our Sacrament Preparation (First Reconciliation and First Communion) program is a collaboration between our Parish, the Family and the Child. Click below to find out more about the program, requirements, and registration.  First Communion - Child Our Sacrament Preparation (First Reconciliation and First Communion) program is a collaboration between our Parish, the Family and the Child. Click below to find out more about the program, requirements, and registration. 2nd-8th Grade Next Item Previous Item Program Contact Leslie Bevilacqua Sacramental Preparation Coord (Bilingüe) lbevilacqua@ap.church 832-482-4062 Diane Czerniak Elementary FF Manager dczerniak@ap.church 832-482-4037 We look forward to helping your child prepare for their First Reconciliation and First Communion. Review the following to determine if you and your child are ready to enter the “Sacramental Preparation Program.” Registration for First Communion and Reconciliation is from August 1st to August 31st and can be found at ap.church/registration . BAPTIZED - Your child has received Catholic Baptism or made a Profession of Faith FORMATION YEAR 1 - Your child completed the previous year of weekly faith formation with good attendance JESUS - Your child knows Jesus through prayer and knows the sacrifice He made for our sins FORMATION YEAR 2 - Your child is receptive to weekly and monthly formation sessions led by you and the parish SUNDAY MASS - Your child attends Mass with your family every Sunday and desires to receive Jesus in the Eucharist IS YOUR CHILD READY? Does your child meet the 6 requirements below? Your child was baptized or made a Profession of Faith in the Catholic Church Your child is at least in 2nd Grade AND at least 7 years old at the time of Sacramental Preparation begins in September Your child completed 1 year of Faith Formation or Catholic School with good attendance during the 2024-2025 School Year For the 2025-2026 School Year, your child will need to be enrolled in 2 programs Your child has a relationship with Jesus, and desires to receive Him sacramentally in the Eucharist Your child understands sin and desires God’s forgiveness and mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation IS YOUR FAMILY READY? Can you say YES to the following? Or are you committed to saying yes? If you answer “No” to any question below, let’s devise together the best way forward that meets your family's needs! Jesus Christ desires to be in communion with you. Please contact Leslie or Diane to set up a phone or in-person appointment. Do you attend Holy Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation? Does your family go to sacramental Confession at least once a year? Do you pray regularly at home? Are you able to attend Monthly Family Sessions AND Weekly Formation AND lead your child in 1st Communion/Reconciliation Lessons at home? Can the parent and the child understand the content present in the family sessions?