Contact Us Volunteer Opportunities Are you looking to give your time and volunteer at St. Anthony's? Below are all the opportunities for you to get involved! St. Anthony of Padua requires all adults (18 years +) volunteering with our parish to be in compliance with Safe Environment. If you have not taken the Safe Environment Training, click the link below to complete it. If you have questions, please contact us. Safe Environment Training Contact Us Filter by Category Select Category Contact Us Food Pantry Many Volunteers are needed for the daily operations of the St. Anthony’s Bread Food Pantry: Unload truck deliveries from different vendors, sort food donations received, stock shelves, pre-pack bags of food, deliver bags/boxes of food to those in need by loading cars on food delivery days. Learn More Honduras Mission Every year, our missionaries work in outdoor clinics, schools and churches providing medical and dental care for hundreds of villagers in need of attention. Services include: check-ups, consultations, dental extractions and restorations and the distribution of medicines and vitamins. Learn More Kolbe Prison Ministry Kolbe Prison Ministries is an apostolate to those incarcerated men in Texas prisons. We run three day retreats, bible studies, RCIA Classes, praise and worship, and much more! Contact Us Misc Volunteer Not sure where you want to give your time? Contact our Outreach Coordinator to learn more about volunteering opportunties Learn More Pro-Life Ministry The Pro-Life Council at St Anthony of Padua is dedicated to promoting a Culture of Life throughout our community through pastoral ministry, education, advocacy and prayer. We are committed to recognizing and protecting of the dignity of every human life, especially where most vulnerable. Contact Us St. Clare's Society St. Clare’s Society prepares lap-sized prayer blankets for those who may be in need of spiritual comfort during times of physical or emotional illness. The blankets are a witness to our belief in the healing power of prayer. Please stop by the Parish Office and pick up a prayer blanket for a loved one! Contact Us St. Daniel Prison Ministry St. Daniel Prison Ministry serves the incarcerated men and women in Texas prisons through bible studies and praise and worship. Contact Us St. Leonard Rosary St. Leonard Society makes specially designed rosaries for incarcerated men and women in prisons throughout the state of Texas. SLRG has provided over 9,000 rosaries over the last four years. Email us if you are interested in helping with this ministry even from the comfort of your own home! Contact Us St. Vincent de Paul St. Vincent De Paul helps tackle poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need. This is usually provided as short-term assistance to those in crisis in the form of rent assistance, utility bills, or other emergency funding. Volunteers will answer phones, scheduling and conducting home visits, pledging funds and paying client bills. Learn More Walking With Moms Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our local community and we are increasing awareness of resources available to mothers and families in need.

Are you looking to meet other parishioners in a smaller setting? Breaking Bread is an opportunity for you to have a meal with our Pastor, Fr. Jesse and other parishioners in the priest home (rectory). Those who are 21+ are welcome to sign up for any available time slots.  Community Group 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 Breaking Bread Sundays English & Spanish Community Group Are you looking to meet other parishioners in a smaller setting? Breaking Bread is an opportunity for you to have a meal with our Pastor, Fr. Jesse and other parishioners in the priest home (rectory). Those who are 21+ are welcome to sign up for any available time slots. More Information Circle of Friends Various Times English Only Community Group Circle of Friends is a group dedicated to supporting individuals through personal fellowship, educational and spiritual events and fun activities. Membership is open to all persons who are single, divorced, widowed or separated. This ministry is not a dating service but it is a great way to meet new friends, to share common experiences or to enjoy companionship with others. Register Momentum 3rd Friday of the Month English Only Community Group Momentum, a ministry for single moms, invites all single moms interested in growing in their faith and community with other single moms to an evening of fellowship, prayer and refreshments. Register Movimiento Familiar Various Times Spanish Only Community Group El Movimiento es un grupo de familias católicas que unen sus esfuerzos para promover los valores humanos y cristianos de la familia, para que sea en la comunidad: formadora de personas, educadora en la fe, consciente de su misión evangelizadora y comprometida con desarrollo integral de la comunidad y la iglesia doméstica. Más Información Senior Pals Various Times English Only Community Group Anyone 50+ is invited to join our community! We host a multitude of events every month! There is a monthly meeting, trips, luncheons, and other activities to participate in. Check the bulletin for the monthly meeting times and other events. For more information, call Art Dominguez at 281-622-7703 May Newsletter St. Anne's Society Various Times English Only Community Group St. Anne’s Society encourages all women blessed with the gift of motherhood to fulfill their vocation with the dignity, humility, and love of St. Anne, the mother of Mary. Our community offers the opportunity to belong to a group of women, connected by their beliefs, and focused on spiritual, social, and educational growth through monthly meetings, philanthropic events, and planned programs. Register St. Monica's Society Fridays at Noon English Only Community Group St. Monica’s Society is a group of moms with children in intermediate school through college. We gather to pray, build each other up, and glean wisdom from various Catholic books on motherhood, prayer, and spirituality. Register That Man Is You Fridays at 5:30 AM English Only Community Group That Man is You! is an interactive men’s program from Paradisus Dei, focused on the development of men in the modern world. TMIY combines the best research from science with the teachings of the Catholic faith. It builds upon the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of authentic men capable of transforming themselves, their families and greater society. Register Together in Holiness Various Times English & Spanish Community Group Together in Holiness Formation series provides year-round marriage enrichment to small groups of married couples who gather seven times throughout the year for fellowship and formation. The format of the Formation series includes gathering in someone’s home for about 2 hours for a meal, a short video, and discussion to learn from each other and live out your vocation. Register Young Adults Various Times English & Spanish Community Group The Young Adults at St. Anthony’s are a group of Catholic young adults ages 18-35 (single, dating, engaged, or married) who are looking for community and opportunities to serve others. Contact us to join our mailing list and learn about all the events hosted throughout each month! More Information

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

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native-born saint of the United States of America. Born in New York in 1774, she experienced immense loss at a young age. Widowed and despairing, she encountered Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and converted to Catholicism in 1805. A pillar in the foundation of the American Catholic Church, she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph – the first community for religious women in the United States. She changed the world through true abandonment to the will of God, and a passionate love for the Blessed Sacrament. Her feast day is January 4th. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 1774 - 1821 Feast Day: January 4 Location: New York City, NY Identifiers: Widow, Foundress Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, a pillar in the foundation of the American Catholic Church, led a life that was not far removed from yours or mine. She didn’t have any heavenly visions, she didn’t levitate when she prayed, nor did she preach to the far ends of the Earth. Instead, she focused on two important and accessible devotions that would change her life and change the world: true abandonment to the will of God, and a passionate love for the Blessed Sacrament. Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York City on August 28, 1774, she was born into a wealthy Episcopalian family just two years before the Declaration of Independence. Her mother, Catherine Charlton Bayley, would pass away in 1777, when Elizabeth was only three years old, and her baby sister died the following year. This early experience of sorrow and suffering led her to grow deeply attached to her father. Raised a staunch Episcopalian, she learned from him the value of prayer at a young age, and the Scriptures became a mainstay for young Elizabeth, who quickly became a prolific reader and would turn to the Bible as a source of instruction, support, and comfort. By the age of 19, Elizabeth married William Magee Seton on January 25, 1794 and they moved into an upscale house on Wall Street. William, Elizabeth and their five children were involved at the Trinity Episcopal Church, and Elizabeth started volunteering in the social ministry, caring for the sick and dying around New York City, eventually becoming a charter member of The Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children, founded in 1797. The Setons faced financial hardship and tormented by the crushing weight and worry of debt, William’s health began to decline. He had suffered from tuberculosis for most of their married life, and now the stresses of life had worsened his condition. In the midst of all the loss and suffering, she turned to her spiritual life as a source of inspiration, accepting the hardships as they came, and surrendering to the will of God. She wrote a letter in May of 1802 that her soul was “sensibly convinced of an entire surrender of itself and all its faculties to God.” Furthermore, amidst the troubles she faced, she wrote, “Troubles always create a great exertion of my mind, and give it a force to which at other times it is incapable… I think the greatest happiness of this life is to be released from the cares of what is called the world.” In 1803, a doctor suggested a trip to Italy in hopes the warmer climate would bolster William’s health. Elizabeth, along with Anna Maria, their eldest daughter, set sail for Italy to visit their friends, the Felicchi family. When the family arrived in the port their plans were derailed, as they were immediately placed in quarantine for a month as authorities were concerned about the transmission of yellow fever from New York. The three were placed in a stone tower located outside the city. The three were released from the tower on December 19th. William would pass away only eight days later, dying on December 27, 1803. Widowed and despairing, Elizabeth and her daughter were received by the Filicchi family, friends and business partners of her late husband. While waiting to return to America, Elizabeth began to attend the churches of her Italian friends, and she was captivated by the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Impressed by her kindness, patience, and newly-developed interest in Catholicism, her Italian friends guided her in Catholic instruction. While she struggled with indecision about converting, she was riveted by the true presence, and eventually the truth was too great to ignore. She returned to New York City, asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to guide her to the truth, and on March 14, 1805, she entered the Roman Catholic Church. Elizabeth met a visiting priest, who was in the process of establishing the first Catholic seminary in the United States, and saw Elizabeth’s need, as well as a spark. He suggested she start a school in order to support her family. Around 1808, Elizabeth left New York and traveled to Emmitsburg, Maryland in order to start a school, which would become the Saint Joseph’s Academy and Free School, the first free Catholic school in America. She was joined in Maryland by her daughters, her sisters-in-law (Cecelia Seton, one of her sisters-in-law, had also became a Roman Catholic), and a handful of young women who also saw Elizabeth’s spark, and desired to follow her. The plans for a Sisterhood were fully underway. In March of 1809, Elizabeth Seton pronounced her vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience before Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore. From that moment on, she was known as Mother Seton, and given some property in Emmitsburg, for which she used to found the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, the first community for religious women in the United States. By 1811, the women had received the ecclesiastical authority needed to become an official religious order, and Mother Seton adopted the rules of the Daughters of Charity, which had been founded in France by St. Vincent de Paul. Buildings sprung up quickly in a flurry of activity, in order to accommodate the sisters, create a novitiate program, found a boarding school, an orphan asylum, and much more. The remainder of Mother Seton’s life was spent leading and developing the congregation. She suffered greatly from the pain of tuberculosis over the course of her last three years of life, but felt peace in the knowledge that God was getting ready to call her home. On January 4, 1821, she began the prayers of the dying herself, and passed away later that night. She was 46 years old. She became the first native- born saint of the United States of America. Next Item Previous Item

St. Anthony of Padua celebrates Mass daily and our campus is generally open from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM daily. See our schedule for Mass times, church and chapel hours, parish office hours, adoration hours, and reconciliation times. Times & Hours Mass Times Sunday • 5 PM Vigil • 7 AM • 9 AM • 11 AM • 1 PM Español • 6 PM • Main Church Monday • 9 AM • Our Lady of Angels Chapel (OLA) Tuesday • 9 AM & 6:45 PM • OLA Chapel Wednesday • 6 AM & 8:30 AM • Main Church Thursday • 9 AM & 6:45 PM • OLA Chapel Friday • 9 AM • OLA Chapel Saturday* • 10 AM • OLA Chapel *The First Saturday of every month, Confessions and Daily Mass will be moved to the Main Church. The OLA Chapel will be closed to visitors Mass Intentions Confession Tuesday • 5 PM - 6:30 PM • English Only Wednesday • 6 PM - 8 PM • English & Español Thursday • 5 PM - 6:30 PM • English & Español Saturday* • 8 AM - 10 AM • English & Español All Confessions are in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. *The First Saturday of every month, Confessions and Daily Mass will be moved to the Main Church. Every Saturday we have Nursery available from 8 AM - 11 AM so young parents can go to Confession and Mass. Pre-registration is required. Nursery Registration Main Church Location: 7801 Bay Branch Drive The Woodlands, TX 77382 Open Hours: Saturday • 4 PM - 6:30 PM Sunday • 6 AM - 7:30 PM Tour of the Church Adoration Chapel Open Hours: Monday - Friday • 7:30 AM - 10 PM Saturday • 7:30 AM - 10 AM Sunday • 7:30 PM - 10 PM Scheduled Adorers: We have perpetual Adoration throughout the night. If you are interested in becoming a scheduled adorer for any hour day or night, you may register for a holy hour by contacting us. Contact Us Our Lady of the Angels Chapel Location: 8715 Kuykendahl Rd The Woodlands, TX 77382 Open Hours: Monday, Friday, Saturday* • 8 AM - 12 PM Tues & Thurs • 8 AM - 12 PM & 5 PM - 8 PM Wednesday • 6 PM - 8 PM Sunday • 8 AM - 1 PM We are blessed to have 65 relics of Saints in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. More Information

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

St. Peter of Alcántara, born in Spain, became a Franciscan in 1515 and was ordained in 1524. As provincial of St. Gabriel (1538-1541), he initiated reforms promoting stricter Franciscan practices. After retiring to a hermitage in Portugal, he returned to Spain in 1557 to establish a new Franciscan branch, later known as the Alcantarines. A spiritual advisor to St. Teresa of Ávila, Peter was known for his extreme asceticism. He authored the Treatise on Prayer and Meditation, and was canonized in 1669. He is also the patron saint of Brazil. St. Peter of Alcántara 1499 - 1562 Feast Day: October 19 Location: Spain & Italy Identifiers: Confessor, Franciscan Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A piece of bone St. Peter Alcantara was the founder of the Spanish Discalced Franciscans. Born at Alcantara, Estremadura, Spain, he studied at Salamanca (c. 1511-1515) and entered the Observantist Franciscans in 1515. After receiving ordination in 1524, he headed several houses and was provincial of the Estremaduran province of St. Gabriel from 1538-1541. In this post, he reformed several constitutions and thus promoted a much more severe Franciscan reform. At the end of his term in office, he retired to a hermitage on Arabida Mountain near Lisbon, Portugal, where, within a short time, he was joined by other friars. He then returned to Spain where, about 1557, he established a community at El Pedrosa del Acim, with the permission of Pope Julius III. This served as the foundation for the congregation that later named the Alcantarines, the Observance of St. Peter of Alcantara. A brilliant spiritual director, Peter was valued friend and adviser to St. Teresa of Avila, who admired him greatly. Teresa wrote of Peter with deep reverence, observing that his “incomprehensible” ascetical practices had made him appear as though “made of the roots of trees.” He is also renowned as a Spanish mystic and auther of the Treatise on Prayer and Meditation. Peter died at Estremadura on October 18. The patron saint of Brazil, he was canonized in 1669. Next Item Previous Item

St. Angela Merici, born in 1470 in Lombardy, Italy, founded the Ursulines and was a mystic. Orphaned young, she became a Franciscan tertiary and devoted herself to prayer. After a vision, she began educating girls in her hometown and later opened a school in Brescia. In 1524, while on a pilgrimage, she was temporarily blinded but regained her sight through prayer. In 1535, she founded the Ursulines, dedicated to the religious education of young women. Angela served as their superior until her death in 1540. Her order received papal approval in 1544, and she is venerated in Ursuline communities. Her feast day is January 27. St. Angela Merici 1474 - 1540 Feast Day: January 27 Location: Lombardy, Italy & Brescia, Italy Identifiers: Virgin, Incorrupt, Founder of Ursuline Order Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Angela Merici was the foundress of the Ursulines and a mystic. She was born on March 21, 1470, at Disenzano, Lombardy, Italy, she was orphaned at age ten. She and her sister went to nearby Salo, where they were raised by her uncle's family with loving care. Her sister died suddenly without the last sacraments, an event that distressed Angela. She then became a Franciscan tertiary (Third Order) and prayed for the repose of her sister's soul. When Angela was 20 years old, her uncle died, and she returned to her home in Disenzano. There she converted her house into a school for teaching local girls the catechism. In a vision, she learned that she was to found a congregation dedicated to the religious training of young women. She started this work by opening a second school is Brescia, Italy. In 1524, Angela made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and was stricken blind while on the island of Crete. She finished her pilgrimage and returned to Crete, where she regained her sight while in prayer. The following year she went to Rome and was received by Pope Clement VII. The Holy Father asked her to remain in Rome, but she felt compelled to return to Brescia to continue her work. On November 25, 1535, Angela laid the foundation of the Ursulines, then called "the Cooperative of St. Ursula." They lived in a small house near St. Afra's Church in Brescia. She served as superior for five years, dying on January 27, 1540. Her body lies in the church of St. Afra, and she is somtimes called St. Angela of Brescia. The Ursulines received papal approval in 1544. St. Angela is especially venerated in Brescia and in Ursuline communities. She is depicted in liturgical art in her Ursuline habit. Her feast day is January 27. Next Item Previous Item

Please call the Parish Office at 281-419-8700 if you have an EMERGENCY need for anointing and leave a message on our Priest Emergency line. We highly encourage anyone who is struggling with a serious illness of mind, body, or spirit, or who is anticipating surgery, to plan on attending one of our Anointing of the Sick masses. Anointing of the Sick Please call the Parish Office at 281-419-8700 if you have an EMERGENCY need for anointing and leave a message on our Priest Emergency line. We highly encourage anyone who is struggling with a serious illness of mind, body, or spirit, or who is anticipating surgery, to plan on attending one of our Anointing of the Sick masses. All Ages Next Item Previous Item Program Contact Susan Dewlen Executive Clergy Assistant sdewlen@ap.church 832-482-4121 The Catholic sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is intended for baptized Catholics suffering from serious physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual illness, especially when facing death. It is not restricted to terminal illness and can be administered multiple times if a person’s health worsens or they relapse. Here are some situations when the sacrament may be appropriate: Serious illness: Cancer, heart disease, chronic illnesses like Parkinson’s, or illnesses that could become life-threatening Advanced age: Elderly people who are weakened, even if not seriously ill Upcoming Surgery: When surgery is due to a serious illness. [Note that if the upcoming surgery is for body enhancements, procedures such as in-vitro fertilization, tubal ligation, a vasectomy, sex reassignment surgery, and so on, do not sign up for this sacrament and instead make an appointment with a priest by emailing sdewlen@ap.church ] Mental illness: Acute depression, anxiety that causes panic attacks or other debilitations, bipolar disorders, or psychoses (such as schizophrenia) Addiction: Drug or alcohol abuse, when it creates a dangerous situation to the person Unconscious or incapacitated: If the person would likely have requested the sacrament Children: If they have sufficient reason (usually 7 years old or older) and would be comforted by this sacrament [if you are not sure, make an appointment or a phone call with a priest by emailing sdewlen@ap.church to schedule it]. If a child is under the age of 7, and has never been baptized, and it has been determined that the child is terminal by a physician, that child can be baptized and confirmed immediately. The sacrament is meant to provide spiritual and physical strength, unite the sick with Christ, and offer courage and peace to endure suffering. While the sacrament forgives venial sins, it does not forgive mortal sins, so if the person is healthy enough, he or she should ask the priest to hear his or her confession and receive absolution before receiving this sacrament of the anointing of the sick. We will have Intercessory Prayer Teams available on the third Saturday of the month immediately following the 10:00 am daily Mass. There is no registration required for those who have a prayer request. Upcoming Anointing of the Sick Masses The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of His healing tells us of His plan to conquer sin and death by His dying and rising. The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment, by the priest, about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient. When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the sufferings that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.

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