St. John Brito was a native of Lisbon, Portugal and was dedicated at birth to St. Francis Xavier, and was a noble friend of King Pedro. He entered the Jesuits at the age of fifteen. In his effort to promote conversions among the native Indian people as a missionary to Goa, he wandered through Malabar and other regions and even adopted the customs and dress of the Brahmin caste which gave him access to the noble classes. In 1683, John had to leave India but returned in 1691. Arrested, tortured, and commanded to leave India, he refused and was put to death. Pope Pius XII canonized him in 1947. St. John Brito 1647 - 1693 Feast Day: February 4 Location: India Identifiers: Martyr Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: Sand from the place of martyrdom João de Brito was born in Lisbon, Portugal on March 1, 1647. While still a boy he was admitted among the pages of the King of Spain, but he became seriously ill: his mother made a vow to Saint Francis Xavier that, if her son recovered, she would have him wear the habit of the Society of Jesus for a year. This happened, but John asked to truly become a Jesuit. Ordained a priest in 1673, he was sent to India. His profound inculturation, which led him to adopt clothes and lifestyles similar to those of Indian ascetics, earned him numerous conversions. Being outside the regions controlled by the Portuguese, the Jesuits of Madurai lived according to specific characteristics. They had conformed to the native customs and, in the event of conflict or persecution by the local authorities, they could not expect help from the Portuguese or any other foreign power. Accepting this situation, they were able to establish a Christian Church independent of Western protection. To this end, a violent storm thwarted his plan. According to some, even among his compatriots, de Brito exaggerated in his methods of adaptation. The death sentence, however, had to be confirmed. John was brought before Raganata Tevar. He listened to an exposition of the Christian religion given by the missionary, and was so impressed that he ordered all Christian prisoners to be released. He added, however, that the law of John's God was not suitable for him or his people. He therefore ordered the missionary to be expelled from his kingdom, forbidding him to preach Christianity and threatening him with death if he did not obey. Shortly after these events, the provincial wrote to de Brito, informing him that he must leave for Europe, because he had been elected procurator of the Province. John reminded the provincial that he had vowed never to return to Portugal, but his objection was not accepted. He therefore left Goa on December 15, 1686, for his return to Europe. While in Portugal, he retained many of the habits he had followed in India: he continued to sleep on a mat and to eat only vegetables. To those who were surprised by his attitudes, he replied that his brothers in Madurai led a much more heroic and penitent life, exposed to constant dangers, and added that, being eager to return to India, he wanted to keep fit to return to action, if he were allowed. He had to overcome the resistance of those who wanted to keep him in Lisbon: this time, even the king himself and his ministers. Many told him that he could do much more for India by remaining in Europe. The king finally gave him permission to leave, but declared that he would recall him after two years. He even wrote to the general of the Society of Jesus, through his confessor Father Sebastião de Magalhães, to ask for the return of John de Brito to Portugal, but he obtained nothing. The missionary, later, on April 11, 1692, remembering these attempts, wrote to Father João da Costa: "I have always told Your Reverence that I did not think of returning to Portugal. I love heaven more than earth, the bushes of Madurai more than the palace of Portugal." While waiting to return to the East, John turned to the provincial, who was then Father André Freire, asking him to send him back to the mission in Madurai. He especially wanted to return to Marava, which he later obtained. Thanks to his activity, there were many conversions, even among the relatives of the Rajah, but these successes could not fail to provoke hatred and threats of revenge. Giovanni de Brito was aware of the situation, and on July 22, 1692 he wrote to Father João da Costa: "Now it is said that in Marava they hope to capture me and cut off my head, and thus put an end to the preaching of the Gospel in that land. If this is established, why speak? We will go to heaven sooner; and since the news is already very widespread, I judge that it is not the glory of God to leave these lands now." In fact, events precipitated. The latest events refer to the conversion of Tadaia Theva, who asked to be baptized by John de Brito, after being cured of an illness. Since he was a well-known figure and one of his wives was a cousin of the ra jah, his conversion could not go unnoticed. Making such an important person a Christian was the sure way to provoke a violent persecution. Therefore John gathered his catechists and the most influential Christians and exposed the problem. After these consultations, he was firmly determined to baptize the prince. He met with the catechumen and began to instruct him. He also explained to him what he considered a great obstacle: he must be prepared to live with only one of his wives, sending away the other four, and this would certainly provoke the anger of the rajah. The prince was not intimidated and declared that he was prepared to keep only his first wife and to exclude the others, among whom was the rajah's cousin. When it came to the baptism, it happened as expected: John was taken with his companions, and on January 28, 1693, they were all tried and condemned to death. The Rajah gave the order to shoot them and had them led to the place of execution. Tadaia Theva, surrounded by many Christians, came forward to tell the soldiers that they must kill him first. Fearing an uprising, the Rajah ordered the condemned men to be returned to prison and arranged for John to be transferred to Oriyur and handed over to Udaia Theva, his relative, to be executed. His companions were eventually released. On January 29, John was escorted to Oriyur, where he was beheaded on February 4. The night before, he wrote to Father Francisco Laínez, superior of the mission: "Now I hope to suffer death for my God and my Lord, sought twice in India, in the mission and in Marava: truly with great toil, but with an inestimable reward. The crime of which they accuse me is that of teaching the law of God our Lord, and that in no way should idols be worshipped. When guilt is a virtue, suffering is a glory." These are words that show the dedication of a European who has put aside, as much as possible, his Western style in order to transmit the spirit of Christ by adopting the ascetic practices of Indian penitents. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Anthony of the Desert had a singular purpose – become a “lover of God” by resisting the Devil and yielding to Christ. He is a mysterious figure, with nearly everything we know about him coming from a biography written by Saint Athanasius. But what we do know is that he spent most of his days in solitude- living in the desert as a hermit – while occasionally traveling into cities to defend Christians from Roman persecution or spreading heresy. Anthony was extremely devoted to the Lord, and his ascetic lifestyle inspired many to devote themselves as well. His feast day is January 17th. St. Anthony of the Desert 250 - 356 Feast Day: January 17 Location: Coma, a village in Lower Egypt Identifiers: Abbott, Hermit Relic located in the: Left Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Anthony of the Desert went by many names (St. Anthony of Egypt, St. Anthony the Great, St. Anthony Abbot, and more) but had a singular purpose – become a “lover of God” by resisting the Devil and yielding to Christ. He is a mysterious figure, with nearly everything we know about him coming from a biography written by Saint Athanasius titled “The Life of Saint Anthony the Great.” But what we do know about him, is inspiring in our current day and age. Anthony was born around 250 A.D. in the village of Coma, located in Lower Egypt to an extremely wealthy family. His parents owned three hundred acres of land, which Anthony inherited around the age of 20 when his parents died, leaving him with vast wealth and the care of his unmarried sister. One day while attending Mass though, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew changed everything for the future Father of All Monks. “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven.” – Matthew 19:21 While most would balk at the prospect of living out those words to their fullest, Anthony decided to do just that around the year 285: he gave away some of the inherited land to his neighbors, sold the remaining property, and donated all of the funds to the poor. Placing his sister in the care of a group of Christian virgins, he left the city and entered the desert. Anthony was not the first monk or ascetic hermit, but he was notable for being one of the first to truly cut himself off from civilization. While most monastics chose to practice their lifestyle on the outskirts of cities, Anthony decided to head into the desert region called the Nitra, which was about 95 km west of Alexandria and filled with some of the most rugged terrain that could be found. According to Athanasius’ biography, Anthony remained in this area for 15 years, practicing a strict ascetic diet of only bread, salt and water, eating at most only once a day. He took up strenuous spiritual exercises, such as staying up all night, choosing sleepless nights of prayer over a restful night of sleep. He had discovered, as written in his biography, that “the mind of the soul is strong when the pleasures of the body are weak.” Trial would soon arrive at Anthony’s doorstep, as the devil perceived the strength of this ascetic monk. Anthony, who had walled himself into a ruin in order to devote himself fully and perfectly to the Lord, was afflicted with boredom, laziness and even the phantoms of women as the devil attempted to break his focus. Anthony combatted these afflictions with the power of prayer, which would eventually form a theme for future Christian art. Saint Anthony being assailed by demons became a popular subject in the history of art and literature in the 15th Century. The earliest depiction of him being attacked by demons can be traced to a wall painting in the atrium of Santa Maria Antiqua, a Catholic Church in Italy, from the 10th Century. Perhaps the most famous depiction was an engraving by Martin Schongauer titled “The Temptation of St. Anthony”, which Michelangelo would later use to paint one of his earliest known paintings, “The Torment of Saint Anthony.” The calmness of Saint Anthony depicted in the artwork is hard to believe when reading the torments he endured, as recounted by Athanasius. The demons would assault him furiously, both physically and spiritually, but Anthony endured the attacks. Despite being beaten to the point of unconsciousness, phantoms appearing in the form of horrid wild beasts, and repeated attacks, he persevered. When he would see the wolves, lions, snakes and scorpions gathering in an attempt to attack, he would laugh at them scornfully and say, “If any of you have any authority over me, only one would have been sufficient to fight me.” At the age of 35, he wished to retreat to absolute solitude and relocated to an abandoned Roman fort for another 20 years of ardent prayer. Food was thrown to him over the wall, and he would not allow anyone to enter, but word of his devotion to the Lord spread, and gradually a number of would-be disciples would come to the wall to listen to his advice. As the number of followers grew to the nearby caves and huts around the mountain, many begged Anthony to come out and be a guide for those wishing to imitate his spiritual life. Finally, around the year 305, Anthony emerged from his retreat. By this time, after decades of solitude, most expected him to have wasted away physically or been driven insane mentally, but who would emerge but a perfectly healthy and serene Anthony of the Desert, clothed in sackcloth and sheepskin but rippling with muscle. Rejuvenated, he continued his mission to serve the Lord, even as his legend grew. He would soon found two monasteries for the great body of monks which had formed, and he wrote a rule of life in order to help guide them in the path of ascetism. These were reportedly the first monasteries ever founded, which led to the namesake “Father of All Monks”, despite the fact Anthony himself was not in fact, the first monk to exist. Anthony is noted for not allowing the attention or number of followers distract him from remaining solely focused on the Lord, both in his own personal life, and in the monasteries he was founding. It is written he had a disdain for “stately buildings and well-laden tables”, so all of his efforts were rooted in a focus on Christ alone. After his time guiding those seeking to practice self-denial and the hermetic life, he focused his efforts on aiding the Church amidst the persecution of Egyptian Christians in the early 300’s. Word had spread to Anthony of the severe attacks by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, in which churches were razed, scriptures burned, and Christians martyred. He and several monks traveled to Alexandria, where they ministered to the persecuted. The Governor of Alexandria is reported to have ordered Anthony not to show up in the city and continue to comfort those imprisoned, but Anthony, in hopes that he would be tortured and martyred, refused. He was 60 years old at the time, and fearlessly exposing himself to danger in hopes of being an ultimate witness to the faith. He spent the majority of his remaining years returning to solitude in order to pray, as well as share teachings with those who traveled to hear him. Occasionally, he would grow tired of visitors keeping him from his worship, so he eventually went further into the Eastern Desert of Egypt, finding a spring of water and palm trees. He created an inner monastery there, where he would often retreat to following trips to the desert to visit the brethren of monks. On the spot where he settled amid the palm trees now stands the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great. He traveled out of his desert solitude only one additional time, around the year 338 when the Arian heresy began spreading in Egypt. The former deacon Arius began swaying many Egyptian Christians with his teachings about how Jesus was not equal with God, and the leader of the church in Alexandria, Athanasius himself, called upon Anthony to join him in a campaign to champion the truth to the people of Egypt. The future saint provided an eloquent defense of the belief as Jesus being true God and true Man, which led to the eventual elimination of Arianism. Anthony would live to be over 100 years old, but still miraculously maintain the appearance of youth. Eventually, Anthony felt that the day of his departure was nearing. He commanded his disciples with strict instructions to give away his possessions (which consisted of a staff and two sheepskin cloaks) and to bury his body in an unmarked, secret grave, lest his body become an object of veneration. He died around the year 356. He was 105 years old. Saint Anthony was canonized Pre-Congregation and left no physical writings behind. A handful of his words are included in the Apophthegmata, a collection of sayings attributed to the early desert fathers and mothers, but he most likely only spoke his native language of Coptic, and almost certainly was illiterate. But through the life of Saint Anthony of the Desert, we discover a great, divine paradox. He hardly ate, yet remained in perfect health. He grew extremely old, yet retained the appearance of youth. He lived in extreme isolation, yet grew agonizingly popular. He possessed so little, yet continually gave so much. Saint Anthony, devoted to the Lord, persevering against afflictions, and emboldened in faith, was aware of his shortcomings, but rooted himself in what he knew to be his ultimate strength. When two Greek philosophers traveled to speak with Anthony, he questioned why they “wished to meet with a fool.” They replied that they viewed him as no fool, but wise and prudent. In response, Anthony said: “If you think me prudent, become as I am, for we ought to imitate what is good. And if I had come to you, I should have imitated you; but if you to me, become as I am, for I am a Christian.” While those philosophers departed in silence, having no desire to be converted, may we have our hearts and lives converted by Saint Anthony the Great. Next Item Previous Item

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was an Italian Passionist monk known for his intense devotion to the Virgin Mary and the Passion of Christ. Born Francesco Possenti in Assisi, he lived a lively youth before feeling called to the Passionist Order at 18. His deep piety, humility, and dedication to prayer and penance were evident in his short life. Everyone who met Gabriel was impressed with his joyful submission to the humdrum routine of daily life. No great achievement marked his short life, except that he did all that was expected of him with extraordinary patience and kindness. He died of tuberculosis at 24 before his ordination. St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows 1838 - 1862 Feast Day: February 27 Location: Italy Identifiers: Confessor, Passionist Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A piece of bone Francesco Possenti was born on March 1, 1838 in Assisi to a wealthy family. The eleventh of 13 children, at home they called him Checchino and from an early age he learned to pray, as taught by his parents who passed on to him a strong faith. His father Sante, an official of the Papal State, after various assignments, was appointed assessor in Spoleto and the whole family moved there. Shortly after, his mother died; Checchino was only 4 years old and his sister Maria Luisa and the governess took care of him. He studied with the Jesuits, where his Marian devotion, already transmitted to him by the religious education he had received, grew and, in the college environment, he meditated on the life of Christ and on the contrast between evangelical values and the world. As a teenager he was noted as an exuberant and witty young man, elegant and lively. He performed well at school and enjoyed frequenting the high society of Spoleto. He was also attracted and fascinated by religious life, but he loved entertainment, frequented dance halls and theaters, and read novels avidly. However, the various family bereavements affected him deeply. In 1855 his sister Maria Luisa dies of cholera. Francesco is greatly affected by her loss, reflects on the inconsistency of human joys and thinks back to religious life. But his father tries to dissuade him. It is August 22, 1856 - the last day of the octave of the Assumption - when the procession with the image of the Madonna venerated in the cathedral takes place through the streets of Spoleto. Francis is among the crowd and when the icon is in front of him, he clearly perceives the Virgin addressing him with these words: “ Francis, don't you still understand that this life is not for you? Follow your vocation”. Fifteen days later he leaves Spoleto. He is 18 years old. He stops in Loreto to pray and talk with Mary and in Morrovalle he asks to join the Passionists. As a novice he chose to call himself Gabriele dell'Addolorata and thus described his new life in the religious community to his family: "The contentment and joy I feel inside this house is almost indescribable compared to the entertainment I had outside. I would not exchange a quarter of an hour spent here in prayer before the Madonna for a year or however much time you want filled with the shows and pastimes of Spoleto. Truly, my life is full of joy." On September 22, 1857, he professed his vows and in June 1858 he moved to Pieve Torina to perfect his philosophy studies and begin theology for the priesthood. Here he multiplied his ascetic practices, continued to cultivate devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, and dedicated himself to the poor. On July 10 of the following year, he was sent to the convent of the Immaculate Conception in Isola del Gran Sasso to prepare for ordination. In May 1861 Gabriele received minor orders in Penne. But his health was poor: he had lost weight, was attacked by fevers and had difficulty breathing with coughs and chest pains, and was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He died on February 27, 1862, at the age of 24, clutching to his heart the image of the Crucifix with Our Lady of Sorrows. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Jerome was born Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus in Stridon (modern Croatia). His education began young, traveling to Rome to further his studies before he was a teenager. He became a Christian in 366, studied theology in Trier, before retreating to the desert of Calchis to live as a hermit. Known for his scholarly work and monasticism, he became a priest, secretary to Pope Damsus, and author of numerous biblical translations, including the famous Latin translation, The Vulgate. His writings provided source material for essentially all future translations of the Bible for thousands of years. He is a Doctor of the Church. St. Jerome 342 - 420 Feast Day: September 30 Location: Present day Crotia Identifiers: Doctor of the Church Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: Stone from the room where he composed the Vulgate A legendary translator. A part-time hermit. A sarcastic and sharp-witted debater. Saint Jerome can be described as many things, but above all, he is one of the most important scholars of the early Catholic Church. Born around the year 343 AD in Stridon, located in modern Croatia, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus had his education begin at a young age, traveling to Rome to further his studies before he was a teenager. In Rome, Eusebius studied grammar, philosophy and rhetoric, but the Roman culture quickly sent his moral compass awry. When he was not studying, he was likely pursuing women or seeking other superficial escapades. The future St. Jerome knew his actions were wrong though, and while not yet even a Christian, on Sundays he would trudge down into the tombs of the martyrs and apostles in Rome, contemplating the reality of hell from deep in the catacombs. While Jerome was successful in frightening himself, it wasn’t until the year 366 when Eusebius decided to become a Christian and was baptized, more than likely by Pope Liberius. The next portion of his life was spent traveling far and wide, studying theology at the famous schools of Trier, learning about the self-discipline of ascetism near Aquileia, and taking a pilgrimage to the East; it was on this pilgrimage while visiting Antioch Jerome is said to have composed his earliest literary work, De septies percussa (“Concerning Seven Beatings”). Throughout all his travels, Jerome was developing his skills as a translator, which he first started to take interest in while in the Roman catacombs, where he would attempt to translate the inscriptions above the tombs. With a goal of building his own personal library, Jerome would pick up books along his journey, and translate them for his own use. Around the year 374, while Jerome was still in Antioch, a series of sickness struck him and his friends, with two of his companions passing away. It was during one of these illnesses that Jerome had a dreamlike vision where in it, he was accused of being “a Ciceronian” – a follower of 1st-century Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero – and not a Christian, which led to a severe lashing in this dream. Awaking, he vowed to never read or possess pagan literature again. The next year, Jerome traveled into the desert of Chalcis, southwest of Antioch, to live as a hermit. He would spend four years in the desert, desiring a life of ascetic penance, with practices including fasting, simple living, meditation, and striving to abstain from any sensual pleasures. This time of hermitage did not go smoothly for Jerome – he had no spiritual guide, his stomach didn’t agree with much of the desert food, and he spoke only Latin while living among Greek and Syriac speakers. Despite these difficulties, he worked hard to study and pray, learning Hebrew from a Jewish convert and continuing to improve in his translation skills. By the year 378, Jerome was becoming well-known for his work as a scholar, and being a monastic figure of significance. He returned to Antioch, where he resided as a guest of the priest Evagrius (it was at his residence in Antioch that he composed De septies percussa). Evagrius introduced Jerome to numerous Church leaders, including Bishop Paulinus. Paulinus wanted to ordain Jerome a priest, but Jerome himself had no desire to do so. He would have much preferred to remain a monk or hermit. But with many Church officials in Antioch, as well as Pope Damasus himself, encouraging him to be ordained, Jerome relented on two conditions: he wouldn’t have any priestly functions forced on him, and he would still be allowed to pursue a monastic life. He was subsequently made a priest, immediately traveling to Constantinople to begin a three-year period of intensive study of scripture. Jerome would cross paths with many noted theologians and scholars, learning greatly from them and helping him improve his knowledge of Greek. This knowledge would allow him to begin translating the homilies of Origen, a famous Greek biblical scholar, into Latin, as well as Eusebius’ Chronicon (Chronicles). These translations would take up much of Jerome’s time until the year 382, when he was made secretary to Pope Damasus. Back in Rome, Jerome served dutifully while also pursuing further scholarly work and translations. He promoted the ideal of asceticism to those around him and used the best Greek manuscripts he could find to attempt to revise the Old Latin versions of the Gospels, which didn’t sit well with some among the Roman clergy. Jerome’s pen would not be deterred by dissent though, crafting writings that defended Mary as a perpetual virgin, attacked the idea that marriage was as equally virtuous as virginity, and called out many Roman clergy who Jerome saw as corrupt or lax. When Pope Damasus died in December of 384, not even his great sarcastic wit could fully defend him from the vengeance of his enemies. One particularly vicious rumor that was spread involved an accusation of inappropriate behavior with a woman named Paula, who at the time was one of Jerome’s students in asceticism. Dismayed by this calumny, Jerome left Rome and returned to Antioch in 386. Not long after, Paula, along with a number of other followers (many being Roman women who had been interested in monastic life and learned much from Jerome), joined him along a religious and archaeological pilgrimage across the Holy Land – traveling through Jerusalem, Alexandria, and eventually they settled in Bethlehem. It was here that Paula, a widow with four children, would finish building a monastery for men, three cloisters for women, and a hostel for pilgrims by 389. Jerome would spend the majority of his remaining years at this monastery, continuing to write extensively, engaging in debates against heretics or fellow teachers of the Church, including a heated exchange with St. Augustine himself. They eventually repaired their relationship and saw each other as equals, with Augustine once saying “What Jerome is ignorant of, no mortal has ever known.” Jerome would spend the remaining 34 years of his life writing the bulk of his literary works. He wrote about his monastic life, some historical works, biblical exegeses, and more. While reviewing his earlier work on the Gospels, he deemed most of those writings inadequate and began to revise his earlier editions. Jerome would never finish a complete translation of the Bible into Latin, but his work would form the core foundation of the eventual accepted Latin translation, known as The Vulgate. In the year 404, Paula died, and she would later become a saint (Saint Paula of Rome). Rome would be ransacked later that decade, with violence eventually making its way to Bethlehem, disrupting much of Jerome’s literary work in his final years. Jerome died peacefully on September 30th, 420, and his remains were buried under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, before being later transferred to Rome. He was beatified in 1747 by Pope Benedict XIV, and officially canonized a saint in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII. He is the patron saint of translators, Biblical scholars, librarians, students, and archaeologists, and he is recognized as a Doctor of the Church. One could argue that Jerome’s translation of the Bible is one of the most important versions of the text to have ever been composed. It provided the source material for essentially all future translations of the Bible for more than a thousand years. He was a passionate writer, dedicated to prayer, and unwilling to allow the weakness of the flesh to deprive him of the glory found in full unity with God. 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At St Anthony of Padua, the preparation for baptism is offered as a two part program. Part 1 is an online, self-led study done at your own pace. Part 2 is an in-person, classroom experience led by one of our parish deacons. Class 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 Baptism Prep - Part 1 Online English Class At St Anthony of Padua, the preparation for baptism is offered as a two part program. Part 1 is an online, self-led study done at your own pace. Part 2 is an in-person, classroom experience led by one of our parish deacons. More Information Cristificate Mondays at 10 AM Spanish Only Class Symbolon - The explanation of the Catholic faith. Symbolon intends to help people more deeply in increasing the apostolic faith, which has existed for 2000 years in the Church that Christ founded. Register El Camino Thursdays at 6:30 PM Spanish Only Class El Camino es un grupo de Evangelización y Catequesis para Adultos en Español donde podrás crecer y fortalecer tu fe y amor a Dios, en un ambiente de comunidad fraterno y tranquilo. Register Lord Teach Me to Pray Various Times English Only Class Lord Teach Me To Pray (LTMTP) is a three-part Ignatian prayer series that endeavors to bring the Holy Spirit into our daily lives in facilitated faith-sharing prayer communities, where, the Lord, Himself, teaches them to pray. Note: At this time LTMTP is offered only to women. Register Marriage & Family Series Saturday Mornings English Only Class The Marriage and Family Ministry hosts various events throughout the year. Monthly, on Saturday’s Mornings there will be a new speaker and topic. Upcoming Events Mujeres de la Biblia Miércoles a 10 AM Spanish Only Class Mujeres de la Biblia es una serie de dos partes que comienza con el estudio de 8 grandes mujeres del Antiguo Testamento cuyas vidas fueron transformadas por Dios. Durante cada sesión profundizaremos en las escrituras del Antiguo Testamento para conocer a las mujeres y sus historias vistas a través de las características del "genio femenino". Register Taller de Oración Various Times Spanish Only Class Un Taller de Oración y Vida es ante todo un método práctico para aprender a orar, igual que en un taller en que, trabajando se aprende a trabajar, aquí, orando, se aprende a orar. Paso a paso se aprende a entrar en una relación personal con el Señor. Más Información The Mass Explained Thursdays at 6:30 PM English Only Class Dcn. Scott Broussard will lead The Mass Explained: Dr. Brant Pitre gives insight on the Biblical, Traditional, and mystical meanings of the words, ceremonies, languages, gestures, postures, orientation, music, and signs of the Roman Catholic liturgy. From the Ancient Church through the Medieval Church, from the Council of Trent through Vatican II, explore the practice, purpose, and development of the Holy Mass. Register

Saint Gemma Galgani’s life was a testament to extraordinary faith and profound suffering. From a young age, she displayed a deep devotion to Christ, often experiencing mystical visions and receiving the stigmata. Gemma’s life was marked by illness and tragedy, losing her parents, and enduring her own physical ailments. Despite these challenges, she embraced her suffering as a means of union with God and offered her life as a sacrifice for the salvation of souls. Gemma’s unwavering trust in divine providence, coupled with her ardent love for Jesus, earned her recognition as a saint and an enduring inspiration for believers worldwide. St. Gemma Galgani 1878 - 1903 Feast Day: April 11 Location: Italy Identifiers: Virgin, Passionist Sister, Stigmata Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone In the small town in northern Tuscany, a radiant soul named Gemma Galgani was born into a devout Catholic family on March 12, 1878. The fourth child of eight children to Enrico Galgani and Aurelia Landi, Gemma lived a life marked by extraordinary sacrifice and suffering. But amidst her experiences of pain came powerful spiritual experiences that would forge a remarkable devotion to prayer and a burning desire to unite herself entirely with Christ. As a young girl, her mother fell victim to tuberculosis, enduring a long battle with the illness. Gemma had learned her first lessons of Christian piety from her beloved mother, and grappled severely with her looming death. Gemma received the sacrament of Confirmation on May 26th, 1885, and with it came the first of her heavenly communications that would continue throughout much of her life. According to Gemma, a voice in her heart spoke up following the Confirmation Mass, asking, “Will you give me your Mamma?” Gemma replied, “Yes, if you take me as well.” “No,” the voice replied back. “Give me your Mamma without reserve. I will take you to heaven later.” Gemma could hardly bring herself to respond, but still answered “Yes” before running home in tears. Her mother died a few months later. Gemma was eight years old. Shortly after her mother’s passing, Gemma was sent to the school of the Sisters of St. Zita in Lucca. It was here that she developed a greater understanding of prayer and a devotion to the Passion of Christ that she began to meditate on daily. Her school life would be brought to an abrupt end though by a painful illness. A small injury to her foot, which she thought little of, resulted in a severe infection that caused her to be bedridden for months. An operation was necessary, but Gemma refused any anesthetics – fixing her eyes on the crucifix and enduring the surgery silently, amazing the doctors. This illness was followed by an even graver one – spinal tuberculosis, which left her bedridden once again. But despite her repeated physical ailments, Gemma’s spirit remained indomitable. Her love for the Eucharist was unmatched, as she often spent hours in adoration, immersing herself in the presence of her beloved Jesus. In February of 1899, the doctors pronounced Gemma’s health as hopeless and she received her Last Sacraments. Her pitiful condition drew friends and family members to her bedside, and one of them left her the book titled “Life of Venerable Gabriel Possenti”. She read the book several times, developing a special devotion to him. It was Gabriel himself who would appear to Gemma in March of 1899, and ask her, “Do you wish to be healed?” Gemma answered in her heart, “Whatever You will, O Jesus!” and she was miraculously healed. With her health restored, Gemma’s spiritual life flourished, growing in intensity and fervor. She had more intense visions and ecstasies, many of which filled her with an intense desire to suffer with Jesus, and become a victim for the salvation of souls. On June 8th, 1899, while praying with Jesus in His sufferings, she received the stigmata, coming out of the vision to find blood flowing from her hands, feet and side. The wounds would appear every Thursday evening, with Gemma continually pleading for mercy for sinners as her own blood darkened the bandages on her body. As she grew older, Gemma desired to become a nun, but was met with immediate opposition. Upon asking for admission to the convent in Corneto, Italy, the Reverend Mother there turned her away, having heard about Gemma’s illness and cure, and the reported extraordinary graces that surrounded her. Convinced that such a mystic would not be suitable for their contemplative community, she denied Gemma’s admission. Additional attempts were made by her spiritual director and confessor, without any effect. Nonetheless, Gemma began to live the life of a nun as much as she could, outside of the cloister. She had already made a vow of chastity previously during her illnesses, and now added vows of poverty and obedience to her life. She wore the Sign of the Passion on her heart underneath her clothing, and recited the Divine Office every day. Even with the wounds of the Stigmata appearing weekly, Gemma found this opportunity to be the greatest sacrifice of her life – the sacrifice of her vocation. One morning after receiving Holy Communion, she heard Jesus speak to her, “But, do you know, My child, that there is a life still happier than that of the Convent?” She let these words lead her for the remainder of her life, humbly serving everyone around her in love. On the feast of Pentecost in 1902, Gemma was suddenly stricken with another severe illness, which would be the final one for her to endure. She prayed unceasingly, offering up her suffering as pains racked her body. Nearly two months later, on Holy Saturday, she passed away at the age of 25. So joyous and peaceful did she appear to those present that they found it difficult to convince themselves that she was actually dead. Gemma Galgani was beatified by Pope Pius XI on May 14th, 1933, and canonized by Pope Pius XII on Ascension Thursday, May 2nd, 1940. Despite dying without being clothed an official Passionist, her life still greatly furthered the order. In one of her first letters to her spiritual director, Passionist Father Germanus, she had written in extreme detail the establishment of a Passionist convent in Lucca, following her denial from the convent in Corneto. There was not even the thought of such a project at the time, but Gemma repeatedly prayed for the coming of nuns to Lucca. She even searched the town of Lucca more than once for a suitable location for a potential convent. Despite minimal traction being made during Gemma’s life, she remained hopeful, telling those close to her that the foundation would occur after her passing, in the year of the Beatification of St. Gabriel. Just two years after her death, a group of Passionist Sisters arrived in Luca and established a new convent in 1908, just two months after the beatification of St. Gabriel. Today, Saint Gemma’s relics are housed at the Passionist monastery located in Lucca. Saint Gemma lived an extraordinary life of holiness and virtue, embracing suffering rather than running from it. She stands as a powerful intercessor in heaven, ready to assist those who call upon her for help, and she calls us to deepen our relationship with Christ, to embrace the cross in our own lives, and to strive for holiness. Next Item Previous Item

ACTS is a Parish Weekend Retreat that brings people closer to God and helps them build a relationship with Jesus. It’s based on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service which is patterned after the description of the early Church by the Acts of the Apostles. Retreat 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 ACTS Retreats Various Times English & Spanish Retreat ACTS is a Parish Weekend Retreat that brings people closer to God and helps them build a relationship with Jesus. It’s based on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service which is patterned after the description of the early Church by the Acts of the Apostles. Upcoming Retreats Holy Name Retreats Various Times English & Spanish Retreat Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center supports and encourages the great human and spiritual adventure: the discovery of God and God’s loving compassion through Christ Crucified. Holy Name exists to provide hospitality, healing, compassion, and opportunities for spiritual growth for all people. Retreats are offered on many different weekends throughout the year. Upcoming Retreats Retiro Mensuales Martes por la mañana Spanish Only Retreat El Retiro Mensual es una mañana de oración personal frente a Cristo Eucaristía ofrecido por el Movimiento Regnum Christi. Es una invitación abierta a todas las mujeres que quieran crecer en su relación personal con Jesús a través de meditaciones basadas en la Sagrada Escritura, oportunidad de confesión y de participar en la Santa Misa. Más Información Retreats Various Times English & Spanish Retreat Throughout the year we offer various retreats at St. Anthony's and around the Archdiocese. Visit our webiste for more information. Upcoming Retreats

The youngest canonized saint in the Catholic Church, Maria Goretti lived a simple life with great joy, endured a brutal attack with great sanctity, and has produced countless miracles around the world. Born to a poor peasant family in 1890, Maria quickly grew in grace and maturity from the hardships of her life. At the age of 11, she fought off the advances of a neighbor’s son, who in turn, stabbed her to death. In her last breath, she forgave her attacker, dying as a virgin and martyr; the perfect embodiment of what it means to be “pure of heart." St. Maria Goretti 1890 - 1902 Feast Day: July 6 Location: Italy Identifiers: Martyr Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone To hear the story of the courageous Saint Maria Goretti – committed to purity, willing to undergo death rather than participate in sin, willingly forgiving her attacker even as she lay on her deathbed – one would be amazed to learn that this “Little Saint of Great Mercy” was only eleven years old. The youngest canonized saint in the Catholic Church, Maria lived a simple life with great joy, endured a brutal attack with great sanctity, and has produced countless miracles around the world. Fr. Carlos Martins, the generous priest who is donating many of the relics coming to the Our Lady of the Angels chapel, said that of all the saint relics he ministers with, St. Maria Goretti has by far produced the most miracles. Maria Goretti was born to a poor peasant family in 1890, the third of seven children living in Corinaldo, Italy. Her father, a farmer named Luigi Goretti, moved the family when Maria was six years old from the east side of Italy (near Ancona) to the west side (near Nettuno) in hopes of escaping the widespread poverty in that area. Sadly, Maria’s father would pass away from malaria when she was just nine. Her mother, Assunta Carlini, dutifully took his place working in the fields along with Maria’s older siblings, leaving young Maria the role of caring for her younger siblings. The family scraped by but was able to survive by working the fields for an Italian Count, and sharing a building with a man named Giovanni Serenelli, and his teenaged son, Alessandro. Despite the hardships, the family was very close and loved God. Maria was a cheerful young girl who would bring back any treats from kind neighbors or merchants to share with her siblings. Maria would make frequent trips into the nearby villages to sell eggs and chickens and she would visit the shrine of Our Lady of Graces. Her family was too poor to pay for Masses in her father’s memory, but she would pray the rosary every night for the repose of her father’s soul. Maria quickly grew in grace and maturity and her piety was noticed by all those around her. Along with her role of caring for her family, Maria also was tasked with cooking and cleaning for the Serenelli family. The 20-year-old Alessandro began to develop an impure attraction towards Maria. He would utter rude and inappropriate comments towards her that caused Maria to tearfully run away. In June of 1902, Alessandro began ordering the 11-year-old Maria to perform increasingly difficult chores, none of which were able to be completed to his satisfaction, while he continued to make several physical advances on Maria. The pious future saint could rebuff Alessandro’s crude actions but chose to remain silent, not speaking to her mother about her tormentor for fear of causing trouble. On July 5 1902, Maria was sitting outside the steps of her home watching her napping younger sister Teresa while mending one of Alessandro’s shirts while he was out threshing beans. Knowing Maria would be alone, Alessandro returned to the house and suddenly sprung up behind her, demanding she enter a bedroom with him. As usual, Maria refused, but this time Alessandro grabbed her, pulling her into the bedroom and closing the door. Alessandro demanded that Maria submit to him, but she vehemently refused, protesting that what he wanted to do was a mortal sin, and that he would go to hell. Undeterred, Alessandro attempted to rape Maria while she fought desperately and continued to scream “No! It is a sin! God does not want it!” Alessandro first attempted to choke Maria, but when she insisted that she would rather die than to submit to sin, he became enraged. Alessandro stabbed Maria 14 times with an awl, before fleeing to his bedroom where he pretended to be asleep. Little Teresa awoke crying from the noise of the attack. When Maria’s mother, Assunta, came to check on Maria, she found Maria on the floor bleeding. Maria was rushed to the nearest hospital in Nettuno, where she survived for 20 hours, undergoing a painful surgery on her lacerations without anesthesia. The surgeons were amazed that Maria had survived the attack at all, and when Maria awoke halfway through the surgery, a saddened doctor said to her, “Maria, think of me in Paradise.” Maria, looked inquisitively at the doctor and said, “Well, who knows which of us is going to be there first?” When the doctor solemnly told her that she would soon be entering Heaven’s gates, Maria replied, “Then I will gladly think of you.” Maria gave a dying deposition to the Chief of Police, recounting Alessandro’s sexual harassment and attack. With just minutes left to live, Maria was asked if she forgave her murderer. Maria’s last words were “I forgive Alessandro Serenelli…and I want him with me in heaven forever.” Maria died on July 6, 1902 at the age of eleven. Unrepentant for his attack, Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years in prison. For many years, he was uncommunicative with the world, still refusing to show remorse for Maria’s murder. One night, Alessandro had a vivid dream in which he was standing in a garden next to Maria, who was dressed in white. Maria turned to him, smiling, and offered him a handful of flowers, but each lily he took from her transformed into a still, white flame at his touch. Then Maria disappeared. When Alessandro awoke, he was a changed man. Alessandro immediately repented for his crime and began to reform his life. He was released from prison after serving 28 years, and his first act in freedom was to travel directly to Maria’s mother and beg for her forgiveness. Assunta duly granted it, saying, “If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?” The two attended Mass together the next day, receiving Holy Communion side-by-side. Filled with contrition for his actions and grace in his heart from his vision of Maria, Alessandro converted to a life of holiness, and became a Franciscan lay brother, working as a gardener in a Capuchin monastery. Numerous miracles were attributed to St. Maria Goretti following her death. The story of her holy resilience in the face of death affected many and she became widely venerated. The information-gathering process for Maria’s canonization began in 1935. More than 30 people testified towards Maria’s sanctity, including Alessandro Serenelli himself. Alessandro asserted that he was not able to complete his assault on young Maria, and thus she died as both a virgin and a martyr. Maria was beatified on April 27, 1947. On June 24, 1950, Maria Goretti was declared a saint by Pope Pius XII. Along with becoming the youngest saint in the Church’s history, the crowd at her canonization Mass was so large that more history was made. St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, couldn’t contain all of the pilgrims who had traveled to celebrate Maria’s canonization, many of them being youth. Thus, the Mass was moved to St Peter’s Square, becoming the first open air canonization ever. Maria’s 82-year-old mother was in attendance, becoming the first mother to ever see her child canonized, as well as 66-year-old Alessandro Serenelli, who knelt down among nearly 500,000 people in the crowd, and cried tears of joy. Saint Maria Goretti is the perfect embodiment of what it means to be “pure of heart.” On her feast day in 2003, Pope John Paul II, speaking during his Sunday Angelus, said that the life of Saint Maria Goretti “reminds the youth of the third millennium that true happiness demands courage and a spirit of sacrifice, refusing every compromise with evil and having the disposition to pay personally, even with death, faithful to God and his commandments.” In a time when selfishness and pleasure can take precedence over sanctity and purity, we can look to the life of this great saint to stand firm in our values and virtues. Together let us join our voices with those standing in St. Peter’s Square in 1950, who when asked by Pope Pius, “Are you determined to resist any attack on your chastity with the help of the grace of God?” they answered with a resounding “YES!” Next Item Previous Item

St. Catherine Labouré, born in France in 1806, was deeply devout from a young age. After her mother’s death, she felt a special connection to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom she regarded as her spiritual mother. She entered the Daughters of Charity in 1830 and experienced visions of the Virgin Mary. In one vision, Mary gave her a mission to create the Miraculous Medal, promising great graces to those who wear it. The medals spread quickly. Catherine spent 40 years caring for the sick and elderly. She died in 1876, and her body was found incorrupt. Her feast day is November 28. St. Catherine Labouré 1806 - 1876 Feast Day: November 28 Location: France Identifiers: Mystic, Miraculous Medal Relic located in the: Main Church next to the Blessed Virgin Mary statue Type of Relic: A piece of bone St. Catherine Labouré was born in France on May 2, 1806 as the ninth of 11 children to Pierre and Madeleine Labouré. In 1815, Catherine's mother passed away, leaving her 9-year-old daughter with the responsibility of caring for the household. After her mother's funeral, Catherine returned home and picked up a statue of the Blessed Virgin. Holding it close, she said, "Now you will be my mother." Growing up, Catherine was known for being a quiet and practical child, though she was extremely devout. A couple of years after her mother's death, Catherine experienced a dream of an old priest motioning her to a room of sick people. "It is a good deed to look after the sick. God has designs on you. Do not forget it." Years later, during a visit to the Daughters of Charity hospital, Catherine saw a picture of the old priest on the wall. She discovered it was of their founder, St. Vincent de Paul. Catherine immediately knew she would become a member of St. Vincent's order. In January 1830, Catherine Labouré entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Charity. Months later, on July 19, 1830, Catherine woke from her sleep after hearing a child's voice calling her to the chapel as the Blessed Virgin Mary was waiting for her. As Catherine approached the chapel, the door swung open revealing a brilliant light. The Blessed Virgin told Catherine she would be given a mission with all the graces necessary to complete it. Our Lady said, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world." In November 1830, the Blessed Mother visited Catherine a second time during evening meditations. She showed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe with rays of light coming from her hands toward the globe. Around the frame were the words, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." Mary asked Catherine to take these images to her father confessor, Father Jean Marie Aladel, telling him they should be placed on medallions. "All who wear them will receive great graces." At first, the priest did not believe Catherine, but after two years, he brought her story to the Archbishop. The Archbishop ordered 2,000 medals struck. The medals were dispersed so rapidly and effectively it was said to be miraculous. Catherine Labouré spent the next 40 years of her life caring for the elderly, sick and disabled. On December 31, 1876, Catherine passed away at 70-years-old. Her body was encased in glass beneath the side altar in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Paris. Her body was discovered to be incorrupt after being exhumed in 1933. She was beatified by Pope Pius XI on May 28, 1933 and canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 27, 1947. St. Catherine Labouré is often shown with the Daughters of Charity habit and the Miraculous Medal. St. Catherine Labouré is the patron saint of the elderly, infirmed people and the Miraculous Medal. Her feast day is celebrated on November 28. Next Item Previous Item

There is little known about St. Verecundus, whose feast day is October 22, except that he was the Bishop of Verona, Italy, and died in the year 522. He would have had to manage the declining state of affairs in his city after the fall of the Roman Empire and the rule of the Visigoths. His Episcopal Crest is pictured to the left, featuring his Episcopal Motto: "Velle et expectare tet vult semper idem" ("To want and to expect that God always wills the same"). St. Verecundus d.c. 522 Feast Day: October 22 Location: Italy Identifiers: Bishop, Martyr Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A piece of bone There is little known about St. Verecundus, whose feast day is October 22, except that he was the Bishop of Verona, Italy, and died in the year 522. He would have had to manage the declining state of affairs in his city after the fall of the Roman Empire and the rule of the Visigoths. His Episcopal Crest is pictured to the left, featuring his Episcopal Motto: "Velle et expectare tet vult semper idem" ("To want and to expect that God always wills the same"). Next Item Previous Item