Category: Bulletins and Newsletters

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin November 17, 2024

by Terrie Evans

This Sunday is the 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.  On Monday, November 18^th, we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Peter and Paul.  The prayers of the Mass for the Dedication celebrate the Church building as an image of the universal Church built of the living stones of God’s Baptized people, and the liturgical rite dedicating the building evokes in many ways the rite for Baptizing Christians.  The liturgical book for the dedication of a Church provides auxiliary rites for the blessing and laying of a cornerstone, the dedication of a church already in use, the blessing of a new altar, and a simple blessing for a place that will be used for worship only temporarily.  On This feast day, we recall the history of the Emperor Constantine’s building projects that would entice many pilgrims to Rome.  In 319, Constantine built a Basilica on the site of a simple cemetery where the faithful gathered at St. Peter’s tomb.  The Basilica stood for over one thousand years until in 1506, Pope Julius ordered it razed and reconstructed.  The new Basilica was not completed or dedicated for more than two centuries.  Constantine also built another Basilica, St. Paul’s Outside-the Walls at the site where St. Paul was believed to be beheaded and the largest church in Rome until St. Peter’s was rebuilt.  The basilica rises over the site of St. Peter’s grave and in 1823, the recent edifice was constructed.  Many pilgrims had visited the basilicas to honor the Apostles who are believed to be buried there.  Catholic Bishops are required to make a Quinquennial visit ad limina, to go: “To the Tombs of the Apostles” in Rome.  This was established by Pope Sixtus V in 1585 and in 1909, Pope Pius X decreed that a Bishop needs to report to the Pope on the state of his diocese once every 5 years starting in 1911.  The two churches were at one time linked by a roofed colonnade of marble columns that were built despite the serval miles distance between them.

On Monday, November 18^th we honor the feast day of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852) born in Grenoble, France and entered the Visitation of Mary Convent at the age of 19.  When the French Revolution broke out, the convent closed, she aided the poor, sick and put her life in danger helping priests in the underground.  After opening a school for homeless children, Rose tried to revive the religious life of the convent, but only 4 nuns were left, they joined the Society of the Sacred Heart who’s Superior was Madeleine Sophie Barat, who became a lifelong friend.  Rose became a supervisor of the novitiate and the school.  Rose had always wanted to come to America to do missionary work in Louisiana and possibly go to work among native Americans.  At the age of 49, Rose and 4 nuns spent 11 weeks at sea on their way to New Orleans and then 7 more weeks traveling on the Mississippi, to St. Louis.  On their arrival the Bishop stated he had no accommodations and sent them to St. Charles Missouri called: “The remotest village in the U.S.”  For the next ten years, Mother Duchesne suffered every hardship in America, having poor lodging, food shortages, poor drinking water, and lack of money.  Her party suffered through forest fires, blazing chimneys, the Missouri climate, undesirable living conditions and the rude manners of children they were trying to teach.  She eventually settled in Florissant, Missouri where she founded the 1^st Catholic Indian school and went on to add others in the territory.  She founded a mission at Sugar Creek Kansas at the age of 72.  Although in poor health, Mother Duchesne worked and lived among the Potawatomi who named her “Woman-Who-Prays-Always” as the Native American children witnessed her praying undisturbed for many hours.  Mother Rose Duchesne died at the age of 83 in 1852 and was canonized in 1988.  A beautiful mosaic of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne is displayed in the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis Missouri.

On Thursday, November 21^st we honor the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a solemn feat that is celebrated with Mass and special prayers. The feast recalls when Mary’s parents Joachim and Anna, who had been childless, received a message from Heaven that they would give birth to a child.  In a gesture of thanksgiving, for the gift of their daughter, they brough her to the Temple.  At the age of 3, Mary was presented to the Temple in Jerusalem by her parents and consecrated to God as she began her lifelong service in the Temple.  In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the feast day is known as “The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.”  The feast was first introduced in 1372 by a decree of Pope Gregory XI.  In 1472, Pope Gregory XI included the feast in the Roman Missal that was later suppressed by Pope Pius V in the 16^th Century.  In 1585, it was reestablished by Pope Sixtus V and has been celebrated ever since.  In the Catholic Church, the feast is celebrated for Mary’s role as the Mother of God being a time for family gatherings and traditional food celebrations.  In the Anglican Church, it is commemorating the Presentation of Mary as a model of obedience to God.  They often schedule church services and prayers, meetings with family and food celebrations.  The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary honors all that God has done for this special woman.  

On Friday, November 22^nd, we honor the life of St. Cecilia, the patroness of Musicians, Composers and Singers.  Born in Rome during the 2^nd or 3^rd Century; at an early age planned to remain devoted only to God even after her marriage to her husband Valerian.  Cecilia converted her husband to the Faith of Christ who helped her in all her charitable works.  Cecilia along with her husband Valerian, his brother Tiburtius, and Maximus, a Roman soldier martyred in 230 by the Emperor Alexander Severus spent many funds obtaining bodies of martyred Christians, giving them a proper burial.  Cecilia obtained their bodies and buried them in the cemetery in the Cemetery of Praetextatus.  Her practice of having religion services in her home was discovered and they would not renounce their practice.  They were summoned to a trial and were sentenced to death for their charitable work.  When Cecilia was tortured, after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, and while mortally wounded, asked Pope Urban to convert her home into a church.  She was buried in the Catacomb of Callixtus and later transferred to the Church of Santa Cecilia in Rome around 817.  The Church was reportedly built on the site of the house in which she lived.  In 1599, when Cardinal Paolo Emilio Sfondrati was leading a renovation when her tomb was opened and her remains that were said to be incorrupt were reburied.  She is one of several virgin martyrs commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass in the Latin Church and is one of the most famous Roman Martyrs, who symbolizes the central role of music in the liturgy.  The Cistercian Nuns from the convent near Santa Cecilia shear lamb’s wool to be used for the Palliums of the new Metropolitan Archbishops.  The Pallium is worn over the shoulders by all new Metropolitan Bishops and also the Pope at Pontifical Liturgies.  They are given by the Pope on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29^th.  The lambs who provide the wool are blessed very year on January 21^st, the memorial of St. Agnes.  Since 1994, Poland holds the festival, Cecyliada in honor of St. Cecilia for all lovers of sacred choral and contemporary music. 

On Saturday, November 23^rd we honor the memorials of St. Clement I, Pope, and Martyr; St. Columban, Abbot; and Blessed Miguel Pro, Priest, and Martyr.  St. Clement, mentioned in the Canon of the Mass is the third successor of St. Peter.  He ruled the Church from 92-102 and while Pope, wrote a letter to the Corinthians that showed his religious spirit and his love of Christian unity.  His letter is one of the most ancient and precious documents that has survived from the early Christian times.  Pope Clement worked to rebuke the evils of jealousy at the Church in Corinth where pagans were overthrowing the lawful Christian leaders.  Due to his stance, he was banished to Chersones where 2,000 Christians also had received the same sentence.  When they saw Him, they all said; “Pray for us Blessed Clement that we may become worthy of the promise of Christ” Pope Clement replied: “Without any merit of my own, the Lord sent me to you to share in your crowns.”  Pope Clement was sentenced to be drowned with an iron anchor tied around his neck.  When he was making his way to the sea the faithful cried out “Lord Jesus Christ, save him” as Pope Clement prayed “Father receive my Spirit.”   At the shore, the Christians asked God to give them the Pope’s body found in a small chapel of marble that was said to be built by the hands of angels.  The body was later taken to Rome and placed in a church dedicated in his honor, which became one of the most venerable churches in Rome retaining all the liturgical arrangement of ancient times.  He is the patron of marble workers, mariners, and boatmen.  A Prayer to honor St. Clement: “Almighty ever-living God, who are wonderful in the virtue of all your Saints, grant us the joy in the yearly commemoration of Saint Clement, who as a Martyr and High Priest of your Son, bore out by his witness what he celebrated in mystery and confirmed by example what he preached with his lips.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.” 

We also commemorate St. Columban, born in Ireland in 540 who desired to become a “Pilgrim of God”.  As a monk, he and 12 other monks were sent to Gaul in 585 to do missionary work, building his 1^st monastery at Annegray.  He was able to build two more monasteries with his followers growing throughout the countries of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.   Columban soon faced opposition from the Frankish Bishops for refusing the Bishop’s jurisdiction as they were suspicious of the Celtic practices he promoted.  He defended his stance in letters to the Holy See and refused to attend a synod in 603 when summoned to explain the rules he established.  Columban also angered King Theodoric II of Burgundy when he refuted his way of life with the King ordering all Irish monks banished.  Columban crossed the Alps into Italy where he was welcomed to Milan by King Agilulf of the Lombards and soon founded a Monastery at Bobbio, between Milan and Genoa.  The monastery he established became the center of culture, learning and spirituality.  Columban wrote his Monastic Rule, Sermons, Poetry, and Treaties against Arianism and died at his monastery on November 23^{, rd.}   He is the Patron of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, Bargino, and Bobbio, Italy.  At St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Irish Chapel is dedicated to St. Columban.  A Prayer in memory of St. Columban: “O God, who in Saint Columban wonderfully joined the work of evangelization to zeal for the monastic life, grant, we pray, that through his intercession and example we may strive to seek you above all things and to bring increase to your faithful people.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.” 

On November 23^rd we also remember the life and works of Blesses Miguel Agustin Pro, born in Guadalupe Zacatecas, Mexico on January 13, 1891, becoming a Jesuit novice at the age of 20.  He was soon exiled during the Mexican Revolution and found himself traveling to the United States, Spain, Nicaragua, and Belgium where he was ordained in 1925.  He was called back to Mexico in 1926 by his Superiors even though religious persecutions were going on in the country with churches being closed and priest going into hiding.  On his arrival, Father Pro started a secret ministry to aid the faithful Mexican Catholics fulfilling their spiritual needs and assisting the poor of Mexico City.  He remained a faithful servant to his Superiors while serving Christ until he was falsely accused of attempting to bomb the President-elect.  He became a wanted man, betrayed to the authorities, and sentenced to death without a trial.  At his execution, Father Pro prayed, refused to be blindfolded while proclaiming “Viva Cristo Rey” (Long Live Christ the King).  Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro’s remains are held in a silver reliquary on the right side of the main sanctuary of the Parish of the Holy Family in Mexico City, Mexico.  A Prayer in memory of Blessed Miguel Pro:  “ Our God and Father, who conferred upon your servant Blesses Miguel Augustin Pro the grace of ardently seeking your greater glory and the salvation of others, grant, through his intercession and example, that by faithfully and joyfully performing our daily duties and effectively assisting those around us, we may serve you with zeal and ever seek your glory, Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.”

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin November 10, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, the 32^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, our San Antonio Church Community salutes all veterans.  On Monday, November 11^th we honor Veterans Day, the day that is set aside to honor our Military Veterans who have served their country in the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Space Force, and Coast Guard.  There are many events scheduled in our area to thank those for their service.  On Sunday, November 10^th, Delhi Township Veterans Organization will be honoring the 21 Veterans who were killed in the line of duty starting at 1:00PM at the Delhi Township Memorial Park.  Monday, November 11^th, the VFW Post 10380 will conduct a ceremony from 11:00 AM until 12:00 noon at the Veterans Park Plaza at 6231 Harrison Avenue to commemorate local Veterans and honor their dedication to service in our country.  Also on Monday, the Hamilton County Public Library (Downtown Main Library) will host a Veteran’s Day Commemoration from 10:30 AM until 12:00 noon with Kelly Knox, a Persian Gulf and Bosnian War Veteran the featured speaker.  To honor the men and women who have served in the military, the Veteran’s History Area, the “Catherine and Thomas Huenefeld Story Center” will be open to browse our proud local Veterans and their stories.  There will also be an area where Veterans can record their own memories at the Story Center Studio.  The Cincinnati Zoo will offer free admission for all Military Members on Veteran’s Day which includes Active Duty and Retired Military, National Guard, Reserve Officer Training Corps, and Veterans with proof of service.  Military personnel will also be able to purchase up to 6 discount tickets for their immediate family.  Starbucks will offer a free tall coffee to any Veteran Service member and their Military Spouses on Veteran’s Day.  Bob Evans Restaurants will offer a free meal on Veteran’s Day for Veterans with proof of service.  Gold Star Chili will offer Veterans and Active-Duty Military a complimentary meal (up to $12.00) who present a valid Military I.D.  Mike’s Car Wash will offer Veterans and Active-Duty Military a free Ultimate Wash on November 11^th at locations in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.   Veteran’s Day is also the 249^th Birthday of the Marine Corps.  On this Sunday we thank all our Military Veterans who are present at our 9:000 AM Mass on this Sunday!                       

We also honor the feast of St. Martin of Tours on Monday, November 11^th.  Martin was born in Hungary in 316 and at the age of fifteen became a soldier like his father.  While serving in France, he came upon a shivering half naked beggar, Martin got off his horse and with his sword, sliced his cloak in half covering the man.  Later in a dream, Martin saw the old man as Christ, a vision that would change his life.  When he was released from military service, Martin dedicated himself in service to Jesus Christ and the Church.  He would be Baptized by St. Hilary and began his studies under the direction of St. Hilary of Poitiers.  He established an early monastery that later became part of the Benedictine Order.  In 361, he established the Liguage Abbey that was later destroyed during the French Revolution and was re-established in 1853 and is still open at present.   In 371, the clergy of Tours made Martin their Bishop who had a huge following working to welcome people into the Church, evangelizing people to faith, and Baptizing them into the Church.   Martin traveled tirelessly, teaching and opposing heresies.  Martin then journeyed to Italy where he became involved countering the Arain Heresy.  He suffered many attacks by the violent leaders before fleeing to an island in the Adriatic. Throughout his work, he longed for a monastic life and in 372, Martin established an Abbey at Malmoutier where he would be able to live as a monk with the Disciples he had attracted.  He would later face more growing heresy in the Church with many executions taking place because of the conflicts.  Martin died in Gaul at the age of 80 later named Patron saint of the Poor, Soldiers, Tailors, and Winemakers.  There were many miracles attributed to him with the likeness of St. Martin of Tours riding a horse, with a cloak and sword portrayed in many areas throughout Europe from the tale of the beggar.  In parts of Europe, St. Martin’s Day is marked as the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. In grape growing regions of Europe, the first new batch of wine was ready on the feast of St. Martin of Tours and in Sicily, November is the season of winemaking.  Sicilians celebrate the tradition of dipping their anise biscuits in Moscato a sweet white or rose’ fizzy wine on its feast day.  

On November 12^th, Tuesday, we honor the feast of St. Josaphat (John Kuntsevych) born in 1580 in western Ukraine to Orthodox Christian parents.  In 1054, Eastern churches began to separate from the Holy See, with many of those Orthodox Christians becoming anti-Catholic.  John felt drawn to the spiritual life of joining a Ukrainian Monastery and joined in 1604.  He worked to re-incorporate the Eastern Orthodox tradition with the authority of the Catholic Church.  He was ordained a priest, became and Archbishop working in the era of its Counter-reformation.  He worked for the urgent pastoral needs of the people and resisted any attempt to compromise the tradition of the Eastern Churches.   His mission was seen as controversial and soon lurid stories and malicious lies were made about him and by 1620, his opponents arranged for the consecration of a rival Archbishop.  Josaphat felt the new threats would lead to attacks that would eventually lead to his demise as he said: “You people of Vitebsk want to put me to death” he stated.  “You make ambushes for me everywhere, in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, and in the marketplace.  I am here among you as a shepherd, and you ought to know that I would be happy to give my life for you.”  In 1623, an Orthodox priest waiting outside his residence soon assembled a mob who demanded his life as they threatened all those companions around Josaphat who died praying in front of the men who would shoot and behead him and throw his body in the river.  His body was later recovered and is now buried in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  Josaphat was Canonized in 1867 as the 1^st saint of the Eastern Church to be Canonized in Rome.  His death brought about a movement toward Catholicism and unity.  The division between East and West began in the 4^th Century when the Roman Empire was deeply divided over customs such as using unleavened bread, fasting on Saturday and celibacy.  Both sides had religious leaders who participated in politics and disagreements with Church doctrines that split the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.   

On Wednesday, November 13^th we celebrate St. Francis Cabrini (Francesca Saverio Cabrini) 1850-1917 and Italian American Roman Catholic religious sister who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is considered the Patron Saint of Immigrants.  In 1890, Mother Cabrini and 7 other women religious founded the Order who supported the many Italian immigrants who were settling in the United States.  Her newly formed congregation provided much needed services to the new American citizens.  The supplied citizenship classes, education, health care and well care for children, taking in orphans and foundlings.  They saw the need and started a day school and later went on to establish seven homes and a free school and nursey.  To help pay expenses, the nuns started classes in needlework; selling their handiwork to pay for the needs of those children who they took in, realizing that Italian immigrants needed all the help her order could give them.  For 28 years Mother Cabrini traveled throughout the United States establishing 4 hospitals, as well as another 50 orphanages, convents, and schools.  In Chicago, Illinois the Sisters opened Columbus Hospital in Lincoln Park and now Saint Cabrini Hospital, both located in the city’s Italian neighborhood.  Years before Government agencies provided services, Mother Cabrini founded 67 Missionary Institutions in New York, Chicago, Des Plaines, Illinois, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver and Golden Colorado, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.  The Sisters of the Sacred Heart spread to Britain, France, Spain, and South America.  Mother Cabrini died on December 22, 1917, at the age of 67 in Columbus Hospital in Chicago with internment in West Park, Ulster County, New York at the Saint Cabrini Home.  In 1933, her body was exhumed with parts of her body preserved in the International Motherhouse in Rome, at her National Shrine in Chicago and her Major Shrine in New York.  She was Beatified by Pope Pius XI on November 13, 1938, and Canonized on July 7, 1946, by Pope Pius XII.  The miracle recorded for her Beatification happened for a day-old baby who had been blinded then recovered when given the wrong dose of silver nitrate.  The child, Peter Smith (1921-2002) attended her Beatification ceremony when he was 17 and a few years later was ordained a priest.  The miracle attributed to her Canonization was the healing of a terminally ill member of Mother Cabrini’s congregation.  When she was Canonized, 120,000 people filled Chicago’s Soldier Field for a Mass of Thanksgiving.  Mother Cabrini’s other Shrines dedicated to her are located in Southwark – London England, Burbank – California, Lewiston – New York, Peru – New York, and Scranton – Pennsylvania.  There are 4 Churches and Parishes named for her in Rome, Italy and 42 throughout the United States, 23 in Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France, Canada and the Philippines and 6 hospitals in the U. S., Canada, Australia, and Philippines.   She is the 1^st woman to have a paid holiday named for her in the United Sates when the Colorado General Assembly passed an act that established Cabrini Day as an annual legal holiday.  The 1^st was celebrated on October 5, 2020, and a film about her life, “Cabrini” was made in 2024.  

On Friday, November 15^th, we honor the feast of Albert the Great who joined the Order of the Dominicans after studying at the University of Padua.  He began to read the writings of Aristotle and then took a position at the University of Cologne teaching theology, where one of his pupils St. Thomas Aquinas, became a close friend.  He had a scientist’s natural curiosity. Albert’s interests were varied, he studied the heavens as well as the earth, making valuable observations for astronomers, biologists, botanists, and geologists.  He was the first Western theologian to make a sharp distinction between faith and reason and insisted that, “purely from reason no one can attain the knowledge of the Trinity, the Incarnation of Jesus and the Resurrection.”  Albert also studied Greek and Arabic science and showed their basic compatibility with Christian thought and the outlook of the early Christian fathers.  Finding that Theology and Philosophy were two distinct methods of reasoning.  He became the Dominican Director of Studies and in 1245, Master of Theology, the 1^st German Dominican to achieve this distinction.  In 1254, Albert was made Provincial of the Dominican Order, and in 1260 he was appointed Bishop of Regensburg by Pope Alexander IV.  Albert established the curriculum of studies for all Dominican students and was credited for introducing Aristotle to the classroom.  Albert Died in 1280 and was Beatified in 1622 in Rome by Pope Gregory XV and Canonized by Pope Pius XI on December 31, 1931.  Albert was named Patron Saint of students of the Natural Sciences with his Major Shrine, St. Andrew’s Church located in Cologne, Germany.  The Albertus Magnus High School in New York, Albertus Magnus Lyceum in Illinois, and the Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut are also named in his honor.  At the University of Houston, near the Houston Law Center, a statue of Albert is displayed for his contribution to law.

On Saturday, November 16^th, we honor St. Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093), great niece of Edward the Confessor, a Saxon Princess who would marry King Malcolm of Scotland.  Margaret gave birth to six sons and two daughters while teaching her husband and children about the Christian faith she brought to Scotland from what she had learned from the Anglo-Norman Christianity.  She lived a pious holy life performing many charitable deeds, instructing her family all the virtues of her Christian faith and devoting every evening in devout prayer.  Margaret brought English Monks to Scotland who settled in a Benedictine priory, Dunfermline Fife where in 1072 she built a magnificent church.  She took care of the needs of her poor neighbors on a daily basis, feeding 300 people and many times serving them herself.  She was canonized by Pope Innocent IV in 1250 and on her feast day, many will perform a service for the poor to honor her virtue.  They will send donations or baby items to a local pregnancy crisis center or donate food to a church food pantry.  A Prayer in Honor of St. Margaret: “O, God, who made St. Margaret of Scotland wonderful in her outstanding charity towards the poor, great that through her intercession and example we may reflect among all humanity the image of your divine goodness.  Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.  AMEN.”

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin November 3, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time, our San Antonio Church Community sends condolences to the Sisters of Charity on the passing of Sr. Jean Ann Glutz, S.C. on October 16, 2024, at the age of 93.  She was preceded in death by sisters, Sr. Gemma Glutz, S.C., Sr. Alice Glutz, S.C., and brothers, Fr. Albert Glutz and Ray Glutz and is survived by many nieces, nephews, and the Sisters of Charity.  Sr. Jean Ann Glutz’s funeral was held at the Motherhouse Chapel on October 24, 2024.  Please keep her family, friends, and the Sisters at the Motherhouse in your prayers as she was from the Order of our beloved Sr. Blandina Segale, Servant of God, who helped establish our church in 1922 and dedicated many years to the Italian community of South Fairmount.  We will never forget the vision she had for our families and the perseverance she passed on to those new American citizens as they settled in their new home.  We also send condolences to the family of Gerald M. Karle who passed away on October 23, 2024, at the age of 88 years.  He was the beloved spouse of Judy (Stoecklin) Karle and Brother-in law of parishioners Carl and Sandy (Studt) Stoecklin.  Please keep the families of those lost loved ones in your prayers.   

On Monday, November 4^th we honor the life of St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) who became the Archbishop of Milan (1564-1584) and later a Cardinal in the Catholic Church.  He was born in a castle in Italy to one of the most ancient and wealthy families in Lombardy.  Their coat of arms, the Borromean Rings, with three circles is said to symbolize the Holy Trinity.  He earned a Doctorate in Canon and Civil Law at the age of 21 and at 22 was chosen by Pope Pius IV as Archbishop of Milan.  He was then ordained a priest on September 4, 1563, and on December 7, 1563, he was consecrated Bishop in the Sistine Chapel by Cardinal Giovanni Serbelloni.  On May 12, 1564, he was formally appointed Archbishop of Milan and made his formal entry into Milan as Archbishop on September 23, 1565.  After becoming a Cardinal, Charles Borromeo became a great reformer as a nobleman stated, “Carlo Borromeo has undertaken to remake the city from top to bottom” saying that the reformer’s enthusiasm “would lead him to correct the rest of the world once he has finished with Rome.”  Milan was the largest Archdiocese in Italy with over 3,000 clergy and over 800,000 citizens with monasteries said to be “full of disorder” and many religious seen as “lazy, ignorant and debauched”.  He extended his reforms to the collegiate churches, monasteries, and the confraternities of Penitents especially to those of St. John the Baptist who dealt with prisoners and especially those condemned to death.  Borromeo also worked with English Catholics who had fled to Italy because of persecutions under Queen Elizabeth I.  Because of his support, many Catholics in England promoted and read a “Life of St. Charles” after his death and canonization.  He was instrumental in working for the future of the Church during the turbulent time of Martin Luther during the Reformation which was a movement that divided Western Christians into two groups:  Roman Catholics marked by adherence to the Roman Pontiff and the historic formulations of the Faith, a group of other Christians loosely united as Protestants.  Within the Decrees of the Council of Trent, Borromeo wanted churches to be designed in conformity, stating that Sacred Art and architecture lacking Scriptural foundation was prohibited.  During his years in Rome, he established the Academy of the Vatican Knights for the well-educated, publishing their memoirs, the Noctes Vaticanae and establishing the Almo Collegio Borromeo at Pavia, dedicated to Justina of Padua.  He founded schools for the parish seminarians for clerics through his community of Oblates.  In 1576, a famine in Milan due to crop failures and later when an outbreak of the plague crippled the city, many fled.  He called on all the superiors of the religious communities in the diocese.  When the Governor and members of the nobility fled, the Bishop of Milan, Charles Borromeo remained and organized the care for those affected and administered to the dying.  Using his own funds, the Bishop tried to feed thousands of people on a daily basis until he reached out to the Governor persuading him to return.  In 1584, when on his annual visit to Monte Varallo, Borromeo fell ill returning to Milan and quietly dying on November 3^rd at the age of 46.  He was Beatified by Pope Clement VIII in 1602 and on November 1, 1610, Pope Paul V Canonized St. Charles Borromeo, the patron saint of Bishops, Catechists, and Seminarians.  His shrines are the Milan Cathedral and San Carlo al Corso in Rome.  There are 14 Churches throughout Europe, 14 Churches in the United States, 3 in South America dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo.  There are Seminaries located in Australia, Colombia, India, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Rwanda, and in Slovakia. 

On November 5^th, Americans will prayerfully cast their right to vote.  Please pray for our country, as we will never forget the struggles of our ancestors who sacrificed to get here, became naturalized citizens and were proud to be Americans. They married, raised families, and saw their 1^st generation Italian- American boys enlist, go off to war and fight for the freedoms we now enjoy.  They saw their Italian American daughters marry and raise families.   We were all fortunate to attend school, become the 1^st in our families to graduate college, own our own homes and provide for our families.  We all owe so much to them and what they accomplished so we can live free and be thankful for the lives we have today.   Remember Life, Liberty and the American Dream are all on the ballot.  GO VOTE AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!     

On November 9^th we honor the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica “To dedicate or consecrate” a place to God is a ritual that is found in every religion.  To “reserve” a place to God is an act of recognizing His glory and honor.  The Basilica dates back to the 4^th Century when the Emperor Constantine donated land, he had received from a very wealthy Lateran family and built a church.  The magnificent Basilica was constructed on the Caelian Hill in Rome over the Lateran Palace and is considered to be the mother of all churches in the world.  Constantine decorated the Lateran Basilica with gold and silver and went on to build other Churches in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Constantinople.  Rome is the home to four Major Basilicas, St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the Basilica of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran also called the Lateran Basilica, the oldest and most important.  St. John Lateran is the official cathedral of Rome, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Rome and the entire world. It has remained the Pope’s Cathedral since the time of its dedication with the Lateran Palace located next to the Basilica the papal residence from 324-1305.  The first structure suffered from not only fire, earthquake and the ravages of war but was always rebuilt.   When the papacy returned to Rome from Avignon in the 14^th Century, the church and adjoining palace were in ruins.  The Lateran Palace was next to St. Peter’s on Vatican Hill where every pope since then has resided.  The present Basilica was commissioned in 1646 by Pope Innocent X with a towering façade crowned with 15 statues of Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, and 12 Doctors of the Church.  There is a section of a small wooden table beneath the high altar where St. Peter is said to have celebrated Mass.  The final re-construction under Pope Benedict XIII was finally completed with the rededicating taking place in 1724.  The feast day was then established and later extended to the Universal Church.  St. John Lateran is the parish church for all Catholics and the spiritual home for all its parishioners.  A Prayer: “Christ our Savior, through the intercession of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, I pray for the Church.  I pray for your abundant mercy upon every sinner whom you are calling for reconciliation.  I pray for my local parish, diocese, country, and the Universal Church headed in Rome.  I especially pray for the Holy Father, the Pastor of the Lateran Basilica and shepherd of the whole Church.  Draw him close to You, make him holy, and use him to draw many people to Yourself.  Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, pray for us.  Jesus, I trust in You.  AMEN.”

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin October 27, 2024

by Terrie Evans

           On this 30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we welcome everyone to San Antonio Church that was founded 102 years ago as a National Italian Parish.  We are pleased to have all of you attend Mass with us as we continue to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist at 9:00 AM Mass every Sunday.

On Monday, October 28^th we honor the feasts of Sts. Simon and Jude, celebrated on the same day as both were two of Jesus’ first twelve Apostles who preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia.  St. Jude along with St. Simon is remembered in the Church of England with a Festival on their feast day.  They are also remembered as saints by the Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican Communion Churches.  St. Jude Thaddeus was a nephew of Mary and Joseph and a cousin to Our Lord and brother of the Apostle James the Less.  He resembled his cousin Jesus; it is thought that Jude knew Jesus in his youth before he left all to follow Him.  At the Last Supper, Jude asked Jesus why the Lord was not revealing himself to the whole world.  After Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension, Jude along with Simon and the other Apostles was present at Pentecost where he received the Holy Spirit.  Jude later became a missionary with Simon in Mesopotamia, Syria, Persia and possibly visited Beirut and Edessa.  St. Jude is the author of a short Epistle which forms part of the New Testament with some statues of St. Jude include the letter. St. Simon is said in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark to have been a Canaanite.  St. Luke referred to Simon as a Zealot, implying he was a member of a party of Jewish patriots who were prepared to revolt against the Roman occupation of their country.  St. Simon’s name appears in all of the Synoptic Gospels and the Book of Acts every time there is a list of Apostles. In the Muslim tradition, Simon was sent to preach the faith of God to the Berbers outside of North Africa.  After evangelizing in Egypt, Simon joined Jude in Persia and were reported to have been martyred there in 65 AD.  Their Acts and Martyrdom were recorded in the Acts of Simon and Jude that was among the collection of passions and legends associated with the legendary Bishop Abdias of Babylon.  St.  Jude’s bones are located in the left transept of St. Peter’s Basilica under the main altar of St. Joseph in one tomb with the remains of the Apostle Simon the Zealot.  After St. Jude’s martyrdom, pilgrims visited his grave to pray and many of them experienced the powerful intercession of him becoming “The Saint for the Hopeless and Despaired.”  St. Jude is the Patron Saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Hospital workers, the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida, and the Chicago Police Department.  There is a mosaic of Jude the Apostle in the Basilica of San Vitale Ravenna that dates back to the 6^th Century.  On the feast day of Sts. Jude and Simon, there is a Christian Tradition where bakers plan to bake “Bread for the Dead” and “Soul Cakes” for the feast of All Souls Day to honor the dead.  In 1917, the Nationwide Center of St. Jude Devotions was founded in Baltimore, Maryland where the St. Jude Shrine is located.  The St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in 1962 by entertainer Danny Thomas after invoking St. Jude for help in providing for his growing family.  He promised he would build a shrine to St. Jude and when his prayers were answered, he built the hospital for young cancer patients on the premise that “No child should die in the dawn of Life.”   The hospital now treats patients to the age of 25 as their research provides hope for longevity and cures.  The two saints were canonized Pre-Congregation with St. Simon the patron saint of boaters, curriers, sawyers, and tanners.  The Cathedral in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona is dedicated to Sts. Simon and Jude.  A portrait of St. Simon by Paul Ruebens dating from 1611, hangs in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.  A Prayer: “O God, who by the Blessed Apostles have brought us to acknowledge your name, graciously grant, through the intercession of saints Simon and Jude, that the Church may constantly grow increase of the peoples who believe in you.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy spirit. God, for ever and ever.  AMEN.”  

On November 1^st, we honor the solemnity of All Saints Day celebrated by Christians in memory of all the Saints of the Church, canonized or unknown.  Starting in the 4^th Century, this feast commemorated all Christian Martyrs that was held in various places throughout Europe.   Around 609, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs on All Saints Day and this dedication has been observed in Rome ever since.  During the reign of Pope Gregory III, a liturgical ceremony was performed at Old St. Peter’s Basilica for the relics “of the Holy Apostles and for all the saints, martyrs and confessors who are at rest throughout the world.”  Around the year 800, a new tradition for a way to commemorate the saints was held in Ireland, England, Scotland, and Germany and by 835, the feast day was made a Holy Day of obligation throughout the Holy Roman Empire at the insistence of Pope Gregory IV who extended the feast of All Saints Day throughout the Catholic Church.  It is celebrated in Lutheran Anglican and Methodist Churches to commemorate all the saints of the church in heaven.  In the Catholic Church, All Saints Day honors all those who have attained Beatification in Heaven.  In the Methodist Church, All Saints Day is seen as “giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of all His saints.”  The Christian remembrance of All saints Day and All Souls Day comes from a belief of a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven “The Church Triumphant,” those living “The Church Militant” and the “Church Penitent” to include the faithful departed. 

On November 2^nd, we honor All Souls Day, also called the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.  It is observed in the Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Lutheran, Anglican and Eastern Orthodox Churches. In the Catholic Church, “the Faithful” refers to baptized Catholics with “All Souls” commemorating those penitent souls in Purgatory.  Many will commemorate the poor souls in Purgatory through prayer, intercessions, alms, and visits to the cemetery.  In the Catholic Church, the purification of the souls in Purgatory can be assisted by those actions of the faithful here on earth.  The practice of praying for the dead dates back as far as 2 Maccabees 12:42-46 as the souls when on departing the body are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins or have not completely atoned for past transgressions and are barred from the Beatific Vision.  The faithful on earth can help them achieve this with prayers, alms, deeds, and the sacrifice of the Holy Mass.  There is evidence of the custom of praying for the dead in the early liturgies and in the inscriptions of the catacombs as they remembered and prayed for peace for the souls of the departed.  Around the 15^th Century, the Dominican Order established the custom for each priest to offer three Masses on the Feast of All Souls.  During World War I, Pope Benedict XV granted all priests permission to offer three Masses on All Souls Day in any location.  The Pope promoted this day for prayer and reflection because of the large number of war dead and the many destroyed churches where Mass could no longer be said.  In many European countries there are many traditions and customs associated with All Souls Day such as lighting candles to serve as a light for the poor souls waiting in the darkness and bells tolling to comfort those being cleansed.  Many will go to cemeteries to decorate the graves of those they have lost and then will anoint the tombstones with Holy Water.  In the Catholic Church, from November 1-8, it is possible to gain plenary indulgences to benefit those souls of the departed who are still in Purgatory.  On the Feast of All Souls Day, our San Antonio Church community will continue to offer prayers for all those family members from our parish who have passed between November 2023 and November 2024.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin October 20, 2024

by Terrie Evans

     On this 29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 20^th, our San Antonio Church community wishes to thank Buddy, Mike, Mark, and Nick LaRosa for their generous donations to our 88^th Annual Spaghetti Dinner.  They have supported all our fundraisers throughout the years so San Antonio Italian Church can always access funds for any major repairs that might be needed.  We also thank those resolute volunteers, their extended families and great friends who worked for the past month selling place mat ads, spacing spaghetti dinner pick up times, charting seating reservations for our Hall, and organizing schedules for workers.   We appreciate the much-needed group of volunteers who   worked   with the kitchen crew to prepare over 2,000 traditional meatballs, over 50 gallons of sauce, the Italian sausage, and rechecked the supply of desserts and drinks needed.  On the morning of October 13^th, the 88^th Annual Spaghetti Dinner Sunday, workers were in the Hall checking all the schedules for the volunteers who would be working the different stations, setting up the tents in the parking lot and making sure we have enough teams of runners who would ferry the dinners to the parking lot volunteers for the drive thru customers.  We appreciate each and every one of you who helped our little mission church continue the traditions of our ancestors for San Antonio Church to remain an active parish. 

Our San Antonio Church Community sends their condolences and prayers to the Panaro, Maxwell, Tawfik, Fromeyer, Wylie, and Ackerson Families on the passing of William Panaro on October 9, 2024, at the age of 76.  He was part of the large Panaro Family who were early settlers in the Little Italy section of South Fairmount and one of the founding families of San Antonio Italian Church.   William (Billy) Panaro was the great grandson of Mary Elena (Schiavio) (1857-1922) & Gennaro Palmieri (1851-1929) and Maria(Matturo) (1844-1941) & Vincent Panaro (1847-1910).  Grandson of Mary Josephin (Palmieri) 1880-1973) & Lawrence Panaro (1873-1940) and son of Helen (Snellbaker) (1917-2002) & William Panaro (1914-1988).  He is survived by sister Ginny (Panaro)Maxwell and spouse Thomas, his daughters Ginger Panaro (Chas) and Anna Tawfik (Sam), his Grandchildren Christy Fromeyer (Brandon), Amanda Wyllie (Sean), Will Ackerson, Nadia Tawfik, Christian Tawfik, Lilly Tawfik.  His Great Grandchildren:  Aaron, Ethan, Aidan, Gabe, Noah, and Elizabeth Fromeyer.  He also leaves many good friends, his pet Cooper, and Panaro 1^st Cousins:  Buddy LaRosa, Larry Panaro, Harry Panaro, Geri (Panaro) Backer, John Panaro, Toni (Panaro) Bailey, Jean Lee (Panaro) Bittman, Terrie Evans, Toni (Panaro) Corbin who will mourn his passing.  Hiis funeral service was held at Newcomer Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 16^th, 2024.                                                               

On Tuesday, October 22^nd we celebrate the life of Saint John Paul II (Karl Jozef Wojtyla) born in the Polish town of Wadowice, about 31 miles from Krakow on May 18, 1920, the youngest of three children.  He lost his mother when he was 9, his older brother when he was 12 and his father when he was 21.  After graduating from high school, Karol attended Krakow’s Jagiellonian University until the Nazi occupation forces closed the school down in 1939.  He then took work in a quarry and in a chemical factory to avoid being deported to Germany, continuing his studies after World War II.  He studied in the Major Seminary in Krakow and at the Jagiellonian University before his ordination by the Archbishop of Krakow on November 1, 1946.  His pastoral assignment was at the Church of the Assumption, 15 miles from Krakow and later at St. Florian Parish in Krakow.   He was then sent to Rome working under a French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange until exercising his pastoral ministry among the Polish immigrants of France, Belgium, and Holland.  Between 1948-1951, he became Vicar of parishes in Krakow, Chaplain to University students, later becoming professor of moral theology and teaching social ethics at the Catholic University of Lublin. During those years, his students met with him on a regular basis for prayer, philosophical discussions and to aid those in the community who were in need or battling a sickness.  The group of students grew from 20 to 200, mentoring to them and scheduling field trips with activities such as skiing and kayaking.  In 1953, he earned a Doctorate in Theology and in 1958, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow by Pope Pius XII.  In 1959, Auxiliary Bishop Wojtyla began an annual tradition of saying a Midnight Mass on Christmas Day in an open field at Now Hula outside Krakow as the community had no church building.  In 1962, he was selected temporary administrator of the Diocese of Krakow making contributions in the Second Vatican Council with the Decree on Religious Freedom and the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.  On January 13, 1964, Pope Paul VI appointed him Archbishop of Krakow and Cardinal on June 26, 1967.  In 1974-1975, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla served Pope Paul VI as consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Laity as a recording secretary for the 1974 Synod on Evangelism.  In 1975, he participated in the original drafting of the Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Nuntiandi”.  On October 16,1978, the Conclave of Cardinals elected him Pope taking the named John Paul II, Karol Jozef Wojtyla became the 263^rd successor to the Apostle.  He was 58 years old, a non- Italian in the 455^th year history and the youngest Pope since Pope Pius IX in 1846 who at the time was 54 years of age. On October 22^nd, 1978, he was   inaugurated, afterwards on his balcony, addressing the crowd Pope John Paul II said: “Dear Brothers and Sisters we are saddened at the death of our beloved Pope John Paul I and so the Cardinals have called for a new Bishop of Rome.  They called him from a faraway land-far and yet always close because of our Communion in faith and Christian traditions.  I was afraid to accept that responsibility, yet I do so in a spirit of obedience to the Lord and total faithfulness to Mary, our Most Holy Mother.  I am speaking to you in your-no in our Italian language.  If I make a mistake, please correct me.” 

In 1983, Pope John Paul II traveled to Haiti where he spoke Creole to the thousands of Catholics who were waiting for him when he arrived at the airport.  He led 9 Dedicated Years during his Pontificate:  The Holy Year of the Redemption (1983-1984), The Marian Year (!987-1988), The Year of the Family (1993-1994), The Three Trinitarian Years of preparation for the great Jubilee (2000) and the Great Jubilee itself, that drew over 8,000,000 pilgrims, The Year of the Rosary (2002-2003), The Year of the Eucharist began 2004,and ended 6 months later after his death.  He held General Audiences on Wednesdays that drew over 17,600,000 pilgrims and he held 146 pastoral visits throughout Italy and 104 visits throughout the world bringing millions together.  During his Pontificate, he made journeys to 129 countries, traveling more than 680,000 miles.   While   Bishop of Rome, Pope John Paul II visited 317 of the city’s 333 Parishes and was the 1^st modern Pope to visit Egypt, met the Coptic Poe Shenouda and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, and the 1^st Catholic Pope to visit and pray in an Islamic Mosque.   His dedication to young people brought him to establish World Youth Day celebrating 19 WYD’s that would bring millions of young people together from all over the world.  In 1994, Pope John Paul II began the World Meetings of Families for his concern for the family structure while promoting the spiritual of the Church.  He celebrated 147, Beatification Ceremonies proclaiming 1,338 Blessed’s, 51 Canonizations, making 482 saints and naming Therese of the Child Jesus, a Doctor of the Church.  He expanded the College of Cardinals with 231 new Cardinals and reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law.  During his 27-year papacy, Pope John Paul II’s important Documents included 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions and 45 Apostolic Letters.  He is also known for his role in the fall of Communism in Europe when Pope John Paul II kissed the ground at the Warsaw Airport, he started the process for Communism in Poland and in other parts of Europe would come to an end.  He died at 9:37 PM on April 2, 2005, and until his funeral on April 8^th, over 3,000,000 pilgrims came to Rome to pay their respects at St. Peter’s Basilica.  The cause for his Beatification was opened by the Vicar General of Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini on June 28, 2005.  Pope John Paul II was Beatified on May 1, 2011, and he was Canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014, during a ceremony at St. Peter’s Square.  Before the ceremony, Pope Francis sent a message to the Church in Poland to give thanks for the great “gift” of the new Saint.  Pope Francis said he is grateful “As all the members of the people of God, for his untiring service, his spiritual guidance, and for his extraordinary testimony of holiness.” 

On Wednesday, October 23^rd we honor the saint of the day, St. John of Capistrano born on June 24, 1386, in Capestrano, Abruzzo, in the Kingdom of Naples.  He was a Franciscan Friar and Catholic Priest who became famous as a preacher, theologian, and inquisitor earning the nickname “Soldier Saint” when at the age of 70 led a crusade against the invading Ottoman Empire and helped liberate Belgrade from a Turkish invasion.  He studied law at the University of Perugia and was made a Governor of Perugia at the age of 26.  At the age of 30, he entered the Franciscan Novitiate and was ordained 4 years later.   His decision to become a Franciscan Friar due to a dream when St. Francis of Assisi told him to enter the Order.  He entered the Order of Friars Minor at Perugia on October 4, 1416, and studied Theology under Bernadine of Siena who strongly emphasized devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.  He was ordained in 1425 and began preaching in Bohemia, Moravia, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and the Kingdom of Poland.  He preached in public squares as churches could not manage the large crowds. He traveled up and down the Italian Peninsula preaching to huge crowds and when he preached in Brescia, Italy, the pilgrims numbered more than 126,000.  

John traveled on missionary journeys with efforts to reunite separated Eastern Christians with Rome helping bring a brief reunion with the Greek and Armenian Churches.  John along with 12 Franciscan Friars, was instrumental in reviving the dying faith and helping to promote devotion to the Church and worked towards the reform for the Order of Friars Minor.  He was sent to embassies by Popes Eugene IV and Nicholas V as a Diplomat and Legate to oppose the claims of the Antipope Felix V and in 1446, he was deployed on a mission to the King of France.  In 1456, he was sent to Austria to serve the Pope as an Apostolic Nuncio, a papal representative when he died on October 23, 1456.  He was Canonized on June 4, 1724, in Rome by Pope Benedict XIII and is the patron of Chaplains, Jurists, Belgrade and Hungary.  He was remembered for his Christian optimism that drove him to solve problems at all levels due to the confidence he had by a deep faith in Christ.  In 1890, his feast day was assigned to March 28^th and in 1969, Pope Paul VI moved date to October 23^rd, the day of his death.  The Missions of San Juan Capistrano in California and San Antonio, Texas are named in his honor.  There is a beautiful stained-glass window depicting the image of St. John Capistrano at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C.

On Thursday, October 24^th, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret who became the Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba.  He was born in 1807, the 5^th of 11 children to a family who were wool manufacturers.  He attended the village elementary school and by the age of 12 was learning the trade to become a weaver.  When he was 18, Anthony went to Barcelona to specialize as a Jacquard loom programmer, remaining there until the age of 20. During those two years, he studied Latin, French and engraving and feeling he needed a change, Anthony felt he was being called to seek a religious life.  He entered the Diocesan Seminary in 1829 and on the feast of St. Anthony of Padua on June 13,1835, was ordained.  He continued his study in Theology and working in his native parish before going to Rome as a Jesuit Novitiate before illness forced him to return to Spain to work in the pastoral ministry in Viladrau and Girona.  His superiors then sent Anthony Claret to Catalonia as an Apostolic Missionary to help those who had suffered from French invasions.  He became fluent in the Catalan language and drew people from many miles away, spending a long time in the pulpit and many hours hearing confessions.  In 1848, Anthony Claret was sent to the Canary Islands for 15 months giving retreats that were so well attended that he preached from a pulpit in the town square before the start of Mass.  When he returned to Spain, Claret established the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (The Claretians) on July 16, 1849, on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  At the request of Queen Isabella of Spain, he was appointed Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba by Pope Pius IX in 1849.  Before he was consecrated, Anthony Claret made 3 pilgrimages: To Our lady of the Pillar, the Patroness of Spain; To the Virgin of Montserrat, Patroness of Catalonia; and To Our lady of Fussimanya, near his home village.  As Archbishop, he reorganized the seminary, erected a hospital, and established trade or vocational schools for disadvantaged children.  He authored many books about rural spirituality and methods that he evaluated for agriculture and farming.  He founded the first women religious institute in Cuba, The Religious of Mary Immaculate on August 25, 1855, along with Maria Antonia Paris. 

On September 3, 1859, Anthony Claret, said Jesus told him there were 3 great evils that were to descend on mankind:  The 1^st was a series of enormous wars, The 2^nd would be the four powerful demons of pleasure, love of money, false reasoning, and a will separate from God.  Jesus then told him that the 3^rd chastisement would be brough about by Communism.  In 1861, Claret again was warned by Jesus that Communism was to be the great foe of humanity.  The remedy, Jesus told him would include a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Rosary.  He would continue to spread the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Immaculate heart of Mary by his preachings and writings.  His union with God was rewarded by many favors and cures.  In 1869, he went to Rome for the 1^st Vatican Council but because of ill health, he withdrew and retired to the Cistercian Abbey in southern France where he died on October 24, 1870, at the age of 62.  He was declared Venerable by Pope Leo XIII in 1899, and Beatified in Rome on February 24, 1934, by Pope Pius XI.  On May 7, 1950, he was canonized by Pope Pius XII in Rome. St. Anthony Mary Claret is the patron of weavers, Dioceses of the Canary Islands, the Claretians, and the Catholic Press.  Educational Institutions are named after Claret and are run by the Claretians in Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin September 29, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrate Priesthood Sunday to honor all priests especially, our dedicated roster of priests who are with us every Sunday for our 9:00 AM Mass.  This day is set aside to reflect and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church.  As the number of priests and ordinations in the United States has steadily declined in the past 50 years, the men who have answered the call to the priesthood are now working harder than ever before.  Please keep them in your daily prayers for strength and health as they continue to graciously serve not only our parishioners but the many churches they continue to serve within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  A Prayer for Priests on this Priesthood Sunday: “Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of priests.  Through them, we experience your presence in the Sacraments.  Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.  Set their soul on fire with love for your people.  Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  Inspire them with the vison of your Kingdom.  Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.  Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.  Help them to become instruments of your Divine Grace.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.  AMEN.”

On Monday, September 30^th we honor St. Jerome, one of the greatest Biblical scholars of Christendom, considered one of the most learned men of the early Church.  He was born in 347 and at the age of 12 was sent to Rome to study grammar, philosophy, and rhetoric.  At the age of 19 Jerome decided to become a Christian and was Baptized by Pope Liberius and later was ordained a priest.  He visited Constantinople with his Bishop where he became friends with Saints Gregory Nazianzen and Gregory of Nyssa.  In 382, Jerome became the personal secretary of Pope Damacus who commissioned him to revise the Latin version of the psalms and the New Testament.  He translated the whole Bible into the Latin version for use by the common people.  When Pope Damascus died, his enemies forced Jerome to leave Rome, relocating to Bethlehem where he set up three Monasteries and spent the next 36 years translating the Old Testament.  He was a brilliant linguist and scholar who also translated many books before his death in 425.  Jerome was laid to rest under the Church of the Nativity with his remains later transferred to Rome.  St. Jerome is the Patron Saint of Archaeologists, Biblical Scholars, Librarians, Students and Translators. He wrote: “Plato located the soul of man in the head, Christ located it in the heart.”  

On Tuesday, October 1^st, we honor the life of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, born Marie-Francoise-Therese in 1873.  She loved reading about the lives of saints, did kind deeds for everyone and prepared for her First Communion by making many little sacrifices.  When she was 15, told her father that she was so devoted to Jesus and wished to become a Carmelite nun. She became a special friend of Jesus saying, “From the age of three, I never refused our good God anything.  I have never given Him anything but love.”   Her Bishop and the Carmelites felt she was too young although Pope Leo XIII finally granted her permission to enter the Carmelite Monastery.  She was serious but, at times full of fun making happy jokes and at times was scolded for pulling up garden flowers instead of weeds, always thanking God for everything.  When she entered the order, she wanted to save souls, and to help priests save souls, by prayer, sacrifice, and suffering. She stated: “It is good to serve God in darkness and trial.  We have only this life to live by faith.”  She wanted to become a Carmelite Missionary to China in China but became ill in 1896 with tuberculosis and died in the convent infirmary on September 30, 1897.  Her last words were: “I love him, My God, I love you.”  Dying at the young age of 24, Therese would not be forgotten as her superiors had ordered her to write an autobiography called “The Story of a Soul”.   She wrote: “You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, not even at the difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.”  They published it along with the account of her death; the appeal of the book became immediate and astonishing.  Her attraction was her simplicity as she was no scholar, no great student of the Bible, she simply longed to be a saint.  Therese believed any ordinary person could also.  “In my little way, she wrote, are only very ordinary things.  Little souls can do everything that I do.”  Since her death, many have been inspired by her “little way” of loving God and neighbor with miracles attributed to her intercession. She was canonized in 1925.   She had predicted, “My Heaven will be spent doing good on earth.”  In 1997,100 years after her death, Pope John Paul II proclaimed her Doctor of the Church.  She is the 3^rd woman to be so named along with St. Catherine of Siena and St. Teresa of Avila.  A Prayer Petition to St. Therese of the Child Jesus: “O little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the Heavenly Gardens and send it to me as a message of love.  O Little Flower of Jesus ask God to grant the favors I now place with confidence in their hands (MENTION PETITIONS).  St Therese, help me to always believe as thou didst, in God’s great love for me so that I might imitate thy “Little Way” each day.  AMEN.” 

On Wednesday, October 2^nd we honor the Holy Guardian Angels who are said to be with you from the very beginning of your existence.  The notion of Guardian Angels is part of our Lords’ own teaching and in His own earthly life, they are seen by the Gospel writers who are ready to serve and minister to Him.  They were there to care for Him as he agonizes in the Garden of Gethsemane and are present at His Resurrection.  He has charged His Angels with the ministry of watching and safeguarding every one of His creatures.   From the day of your Baptism, the doctrine of Guardian Angels is part of the Church’s tradition to guide us to good thoughts, works, and to preserve us from evil.  Pope Francis calls them “Traveling Companions” as no one journeys alone and no one should think they are alone and according to Church tradition, we all have Guardian Angels who guard us.   Our Lord says in the Gospel, “Beware lest ye scandalize any of these little ones, for the angels in Heaven see the face of My Father.” The protection promised by the Angels: “No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, for to his Angels, God has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways.  Upon their hands, they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”  The Feast of the Guardian Angels, October 2^nd, was first celebrated by the Franciscans in 1500 with Pope Paul V making it a universal feast in 1615. 

On Friday, October 4^th, we celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) founder of the Franciscan Order in 1200.  Born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, an Italian mystic, poet and Catholic Friar who was noted for his devotion to the Eucharist.  He became noted for his love of animals with his feast celebrated on World Animal Day.    From his birth everyone loved the happy good natured and charming Francis.  He was not a scholar rather a dreamer who became good at business like his father, Pietro, a silk merchant.  He was unsure of his future and thought is path was to become a knight ready for battle.  When the town of Assisi declared war on the neighboring town of Perugia, he joined the battle but was taken and held for ransom.  After spending a year imprisoned in a dungeon, on his release, Francis heard Our Lord calling him to leave the world and follow him.  When Francis visited the ancient Church at San Damiano, while praying, he heard God telling him: “Francis repair my Church.”  Francis went on to rebuild the old Church on his own begging for stones, to make those repairs building the Church from the ground up.   From there he realized it was not just the physical building but the Church as a whole.  He started visiting hospitals and served the sick and the poor, saying: “When one serves the poor, he serves Christ himself.”  He began to preach to the people about peace with God, peace with one’s neighbor, and peace with oneself.  He took the rule in St. Matthews Gospel that Christ’s Apostle should have nothing of their own while taking the Christian life of a beggar as an iterant preacher.   Francis looked on all people and things as his brothers and sisters as they were all created by the same God.  Francis loved all things in God’s universe saying “Brother Sun,” “Sister Moon,” even loving “Sister Death” as a gift from God, the sparrow was as much his brother as the Pope.  He went to Rome with 12 other men to get permission from the Pope to start a new religious order: “The Franciscans”.  He gathered followers and made out a simple rule of life for them and his Order spread throughout Italy as more followers became attracted to the holy man who acted from the heart, who practiced true equality by showing honor, respect, and love to every person no matter what their station was.  When he decided to go to Syria to convert the Muslims during the 5^th Crusade, he went straight to the sultan to make peace.  Francis and his companions were captured and taken to the sultan who became charmed by his preaching telling Francis, “I would convert to your religion which is a beautiful one, but both of us would be murdered.”   A movie about this was made in 2016 (the Sultan and the Saint).  On his return to Italy his Order had grown to 5000 in ten years with changes made, as his dream of radical poverty was thought to be too harsh, finally giving up his authority he became just another brother a position he had always wanted.  He also helped St. Clare start the order known as the Poor Clares.   In 1223, Francis arranged the first live Nativity Scene for the annual Christmas celebration in Greccio, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.  Today, Nativity scenes will be present throughout the town with the live Nativity scene staged in front of the Sanctuary of Greccio.  In 1224, when Francis began a 40 day fast, he had a vison of a suffering figure so intense that he had a permanent imprint on his body.  He had the apparition of a Seraph (one of the angels present at God’s throne) when he saw Jesus hanging on the Cross when he received the stigmata on his hands, side, and feet; the scars that correspond with the wounds suffered by Christ.  For the next two years of his life, he kept the stigmata a secret.  A Franciscan Brother would announce them after his death in 1226 at the age of 44.  He was Canonized by Pope Gregory IX on July 16, 1228, and is portrayed wearing a brown habit with a rope tied around his waist with 3 knots, symbolizing poverty, chastity, and obedience.  He is considered as the first Italian poet who believed commoners should be able to pray to God in their own language, writing in the dialect of Umbria instead of Latin.  St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy, animals, and ecology.  After his election on March 13, 2013, Archbishop and Cardinal, Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina chose Francis as his Papal name to honor St. Francis of Assisi, to become Pope Francis.  The Basilica of San Francesco d’ Assisi is the Major Shrine dedicated to him.   

On Saturday, October 5^th, we honor Maria Faustyna Kowalska (1905-1938) the Polish Catholic religious sister and mystic.  She had an apparition of Jesus Christ that inspired the Catholic Devotion to the Divine Mercy, often referred to as the Secretary of Divine Mercy.  St. Faustina Kowalski was born on August 25,1905, northwest of Lodz, Poland into a deeply religious family.  At the age of 7 she felt a calling to religious life when she attended the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  When she was 16 on the day of her Confirmation.  She longed to become a nun although her parents told her to wait until the age of 18.  In 1924, when she reached the age of 18, she took the train with only the clothes she was wearing to enter the covenant in Warsaw.  She needed funds so she took a job as a housemaid making deposits to the convent so she could be accepted by the Mother Superior.  Finally at the age of 20 on April 30, 1926, clothed in religious habit, she received the religious name, Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament.  Two years later in 1928, she completed her novitiate and took her first religious vows as a nun with her parents traveling the 85 miles to witness her dream of serving God.  She was later posted at the convnet in Wilno serving as a cook in 1929 and in 1930, she was transferred to the convent in Plock, Poland for two years, becoming ill with tuberculosis.  After recovering at a nearby farm she returned to the convent in Plock where Jesus appeared wearing a white garment with rays emanating from his heart.  St. Faustina wrote in her diary that Jesus told her: “Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: ‘Jesus, I trust in You,’ (Polish: Jezu ufam Tobie).  I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and then throughout the world.  I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.”  Jesus also told her that he wanted the Divine Mercy image to be, “Solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter Sunday, that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy.”  As she did not know how to paint, it took her three years to produce the first rendering of the image that was done under her direction.  In 1933, she took her final vows, becoming a sister of Our Lady of Mercy joining 18 other sisters working as a gardener and living in a community of small houses for 3 years in Vilnius.    When she went to confession, she told the priest about the vision and the plan Jesus had for her.  He was skeptical but soon believed she did have a request for the plan for image of Divine Mercy.  Faustina reported that Jesus said to her: “My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to Divine Mercy.  I will make up for whatever you lack.”  Because she had no artistic skills, Faustina collaborated with an artist in 1934 to paint the image based on her direction; the Divine Mercy image would eventually be honored publicly.   In 1935, the image of Divine Mercy was displayed on April 28, 1935, at Mass on the 2^nd Sunday of Easter and in 1937, the 1^st Holy Cards with the image were printed.  A pamphlet was then produced with the signature “Jesus, I trust in You” and included the chaplet, the Novena, and the Litany of the Divine Mercy.  When she became ill in 1937, she had a vison that the feast of the Divine Mercy would be celebrated in her locale and at the same time in Rome, attended by the Pope.  The last year of her life was spent praying and writing in her diary and before her death in 1938, Faustina said: “There will be a war, a terrible war and asked the nuns to pray for Poland”.  She died on October 5, 1938, in Krakow, Second Polish Republic at the age of 33, buried two days later on October 7, 1938, and now rests at Krakow’s Basilica of Divine Mercy.  In 1939, public access was allowed to view the Divine Mercy image leading to the devotion that gave strength and inspiration to the people of Poland.  In 1941, the image reached the United Sates with millions of the Divine Mercy prayer cards distributed throughout the world.  In 1965, The Archbishop of Krakow (Pope John Paul II) with the approval of the Holy Father, opened the process for the Beatification process of Faustina with documents and interviews.  She was Beatified 28 years later on April 18, 1993, and Canonized 7 years later on April 30, 2000, in St. Peter’s Square by Pope John Paul II when he said: “The message she brought is the appropriate and incisive answer that God wanted to offer to the questions and expectations of human beings in our time, marked by terrible tragedies.”  Jesus said to St. Faustina: “Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to the Divine Mercy.”  Her Diary, “Divine Mercy in My Soul,” written by St. Faustina Kowalski is the only mystical text written in Polish.  The 700 printed pages reflects her thoughts, prayers, visons, and conversations with Jesus on “Divine Mercy”.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin September 15, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Catholic Church honors all Catechists on Catechetical Sunday, the annual celebration that is observed on Sunday, September 15.  Every year, the Catholic Church in the United States designates the 3^rd Sunday in September as a day to celebrate and pray for the mission of the Church to teach the Gospel to all people.  The title, Catechist designates those who dedicate themselves to instruct others in the Faith.   Pope John Paul II stressed that the Catechist, whether cleric, religious or layperson shares the Gospel by personal witness and by teaching the Doctrines of the Church whose calling comes from God with the Holy Spirit inspiring and guiding you.  The Theme for 2024 is “Lord, when did we see You hungry” to recognize the gift that Catechists bring to a parish community.  St. John Paul reminded us: “Every member of the faithful is called to holiness and to mission.  We are called to be Eucharist by word and action to our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our times cry out for this kind of holiness, one inflamed by the ardent determination to bring as many of our brothers and sisters as possible to Christ.”     

On Monday, September 16^th we honor St. Cornelius, a Pope who reigned for two years, before being excommunicated and dying while in exile.  He became the 21^st Pope of the Church, succeeding no one as persecutions prohibited the clergy of Rome from electing a successor.  He was chosen when the cruel Emperor Decius left Rome on a military campaign.  In the 3^rd Century of the Church of Rome, there were 46 Priests, 7 Deacons, & Sub deacons and around 50,000 Christians.  During his reign from 251-253, Pope Cornelius made important decisions especially for how to reintegrate Christians who had offered pagan sacrifice, regretted their actions, and desired to come back to the Church.  These acts were considered unforgiveable, the Church could not absolve them, as they were to be judged by God alone at death.  Cornelius along with St. Cyprian and of their Bishops thought they could eventually be reinstated into the Church by repentance and penance.  Cornelius and the Bishops felt there is no sin that cannot be forgiven.  When the new Emperor Gallus was in power, he banished Cornelius to a city near Rome where he suffered physical hardship until his death in 253 and was laid to rest near the Papal crypt in the Catacombs of St. Callixtus.  St. Cornelius was seen as a staunch defender of the Church although, he was seen as lenient to his fellow Christians who did not hold the same ideals and was thought of as a wise pastor and a brave martyr.  A Prayer to St. Cornelius: “St. Cornelius, our Lord said that it profits a man nothing to gain the whole world of he would lose his own soul.  You gained the papacy, not the whole world. Yet gave it up rather than bend to the will of the Church’s enemies.  Help us to persevere like you.” 

On Tuesday, September 17^th we celebrate and honor the life of St. Robert Bellarmine, an Italian Jesuit, and Cardinal of the Catholic Church.  He was born in Montepulciano, Italy on October 4, 1542, the third of ten children and was raised to live a life of dedication to almsgiving, prayer, fasting and meditation.  He entered the newly formed Jesuit Society of Jesus in 1560 and went on to teach becoming known for his sermon in Latin.  He became the Rector of the Roman College in 1592, Province of Naples in 1594, and Cardinal in 1598.  Robert was an outstanding scholar and servant of God who defended the Apostolic See against the anti-clerics in Venice and against the political tenets of James I of England as a point of principle for English Catholics.  He wrote on devotion and instruction and in 1598, he published a Catechism in two versions which has been translated to 60 languages that became the official teaching of the Catholic Church for centuries.  He was the Spiritual Father of St. Aloysius of Gonzaga and helped St. Frances de Sales get approval for the Visitation Order.  In 1602, Robert was made Archbishop of Capua and in 1605, he received some votes in the conclaves which elected Pope Leo XI and Pope Paul V.  In 1621, when Pope Gregory XV was elected, it was though Robert being a Jesuit counted against him in the judgement of many of the Cardinals.  He died on September 17, 1621, at the age of 78 after retiring to the Jesuit College of St. Andrew in Rome and was buried at the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome.  He was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1930 with his remains adorned in the red robes of a cardinal, are displayed behind glass under an altar next to the body of his student Aloysius Gonzaga in the altar of St. Ignatius.  He is the patron saint of Bellarmine University, Canon Lawyers, and catechists. 

On September 17^th we also honor St. Hildegard of Bingen, a writer, composer, philosopher, Christian Mystic, and German Benedictine Abbess.  As a young sick child, she had spiritual experiences and visions but was too shy to talk or boast about them.  She said: “I saw a light so great that it frightened me; she wrote when she was three, “But the shyness of a child stopped me from telling anyone about it.”  She had the gift of extremely vivid imagery.  She saw devils transformed from great sparkling light into black coals and insisted she saw everything perfectly awake, not in some dream.  The accounts of her visions were later submitted to the Bishop who would acknowledge them as being a gift from God.  Pope Eugenius III also came to a favorable conclusion about her visions with her fame spreading all throughout Europe.  People traveled many distances to hear her speak and seek help from her before she became a Benedictine nun, and Abbess moving her convent near Bingen, on the Rhine in 1147.  In 1165, she founded another convent at Eibingen.  She wrote many works on the meaning of her visions and also commentaries on the Gospels, the Athanasian Creed, the Rule of St. Benedict and the Lives of the Saints.  Hildegard also became known as an important composer with more chant compositions surviving.  Hildegard died on September 17, 1179, and was originally buried in the Church of Rupertsburg with her relics moved to Cologne and then to Eibingen.  St. Hildegard would become known for her immense knowledge of all things faithful, music, natural science, herbs, and medicinal arts although she never had any formal education or learning how to write.

On Thursday, September 19^th we honor St. Januarius who became Bishop of Benevento, Italy, the city of his birth.  While still young, he became a priest and at the age of 20, became Bishop of Naples at the time Christians were being persecuted by Emperor Diocletian.  At that time, Deacons and lay Christians who professed their faith were then taken prisoner and put in a dungeon.  Januarius went to visit and comfort them while jailed and he too was arrested. The Governor tormented Januarius and his three Christian friends until they were all held awaiting their death.  He was martyred on September 19, 305 with his relics transferred by order of St. Severus, Bishop of Naples to the Neapolitan catacombs outside the walls.  In the early 9^th Century, his body was moved to Benevento with his head remaining in Naples.  It was not   until 1480 that his body was rediscovered and transferred to Naples in 1497 where he became the city’s patron saint.  St. Januarius became famous for the annual liquefaction of his blood which according to legend was saved after the saint death. 

Over two centuries, official reports began to appear declaring that the blood spontaneously melted, first once a year, then twice and finally three times a year.  There are thousands of the faithful who will assemble to witness the event in the Naples Cathedral on September 19^th, St. Januarius Day to commemorate his martyrdom, on December 16^th to celebrate his patronage of Naples and its Archdiocese, and on the Saturday before the 1^st Sunday of May to commemorate the reunification of his relics.  The blood also spontaneously liquefies at the papal visit when Pope Pius IX visited in 1848, but it did not liquefy for John Paul II, or Pope Benedict.  Pope Francis venerated the dried blood during a visit to the Naples Cathedral in 2015 while saying the Lords’ Prayer and then kissing it.  During his visit, Archbishop Sepe declared “The blood has half liquified, which shows that St. Januarius loves our Pope and Naples.”  When exposed in the Cathedral, it liquifies and bubbles and no one is able to explain the miracle.  The blood is stored in two hermetically sealed small ampoules held since the 17^th Century in a silver reliquary with the ampoules kept in a bank vault with the keys held by local notables such as the Mayor of Naples.  There are also separate reliquaries that hold bone fragments believed to belong to St. Januarius that are kept in a crypt under the main altar of the Naples Cathedral.  Naples became known as the “City of Blood” with the vials of blood of St. Patricia, St. John the Baptist, and St. Pantaleon, with the Church recognizes the miraculous liquefying blood for, saints from Campania.  Besides the Naples Cathedral, the other major shrine for St. Januarius is the Most Precious Blood, Little Italy, Manhattan, New York.  Also on September 19^th, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of San Gennaro who is also considered one of the 50 patron saints of Naples.  In New York’s Little Italy, the statue of San Gennaro will be carried through the streets during the Feast of San Gennaro.  This is the 98^th annual fest to be celebrated from September 12-22 with a solemn High Mass celebrated on September 19^th to honor the patron saint of Naples. 

On Friday, September 20^th we honor Korean Saints, St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon and Paul Chong Ha-Sang and their Companions.  Andrew Kim Tae-gon was the first Korean priest and lay apostle who was Baptized at age 15 and then traveled 1,300 miles to the Seminary in Macao, a journey that took him 8 months.  He left China and after six years, returning to his country through Manchuria and was ordained.  He then arranged for missionaries to enter the country by a water route to evade the border patrol. There was no religious freedom in Korea and those caught were persecuted.   Andrew Kim Tae-gon was arrested, tortured, and beheaded at the Hab River near Seoul.  Paul Chong Ha -sang, his companion, was also persecuted during the reign of this feudal society.  Paul became a lay apostle and was a married man of 45 who   worked to promote Christianity in Korea.  During those turbulent times, they both had the desire to be faithful shepherds of God.   Evangelization became difficult as Korea refused all contact with the outside world except the exception for their countrymen to make a yearly journey to Beijing to pay taxes.  Later, Christian Literature obtained from Jesuits in China became available for educated Korean Christians to study.  A home church was established and after a Chinese Priest managed to enter the country, around 1883, religious freedom finally came.  In 1984, Pope John Paul II visited Korea and Canonized Andrew, Paul, 98 Koreans and those who were martyred between 1839-1867.  Among those who gave their lives for their faith were Bishops, Priests, and lay persons.  There are Korean Catholic Churches dedicated to St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, New York, and Seattle.   There was a special Mass celebrated in 2021 in Rome on the 200^th birthday of St. Andrew to honor the beginning of the Catholic Church in Korea.  That same year, a movie, “A Birth” about the saint and his mission was shown at the Vatican with plans to install a 12-foot statue of the Korean Martyr at St. Peter’s Basilica.    A Prayer for those Martyred during the persecutions in Korea: “O God, who have been pleased to increase your adopted children in all the world, who made the blood of the Martyrs St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon and his companions a most fruitful seed of Christians, grant that we may be defended by their help and profit always from their example.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.  AMEN.”  

On Saturday, September 21^st, we honor the feast of St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist, and Martyr who was born in Capernaum, Gailee in the Roman Empire.  While living at Capernaum, Matthew was a collector of taxes for the Romans until Jesus changed his life.   Jesus called on Matthew while he was at work “at the customs post” and without hesitation, Matthew got up, left his responsibilities, and joined Jesus.  He became one of Jesus’ 1^st Apostles who wrote the first four Gospels of the New Testament beginning with Christ’s earthly ancestry, stresses, and His human and kingly character.  Matthew was the traditional author of the 1^st Synoptic Gospel, The Gospel according to Matthew.  He wrote for his fellow Jews and longed to show them how Jesus had fulfilled all the deepest hopes of the Jewish people.  Matthew wrote his Gospel to show that the Messias had come in the Person of Jesus Christ and brought the message that he was a Savior that would never desert His followers.  The last words of Matthew’s Gospel quote Jesus ‘s command that his followers must Baptize disciples from all mankind, with Jesus’ promise: “I am with you always, to the end of the world.” Even though Matthew meant his Gospel for his fellow Jews, Matthew alone tells us to worship the Savior, – the three Magi who followed a star that led them to the stable at Bethlehem, and brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus.  Of all four Gospel writers, Matthew was the one writer who wrote the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount and after Jesus’ Ascension, Matthew withdrew to an Upper Room in Jerusalem proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.  Matthew was most concerned with the rules for dealing with a fellow-Christian who was straying from the Church.  He preached the Gospel among Hebrews for 15 years and in the 3^rd Century, Jewish Christian Gospels attributed to Matthew were used by Jewish Christian groups such as the Nazarenes and Ebionites.  He is recognized as a Saint in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican Churches with his Feast Day celebrated on September 21^st in the West and November 16^th in the East.  He died in Ethiopia, around 68 AD, 1^st Century and was Canonized Pre- Congregation.  He is the patron saint of accountants, tax collectors, civil servants and Salerno, Italy where the relics of Matthew the Apostle were discovered in 1080 and where his shrine is located.  St. Matthew the Evangelist Prayer: “O God, You chose St. Matthew the Publican to become an Apostle.  By following his example and benefiting from his prayers, may we always follow and abide by Your will.  AMEN.” 

San Antonio Church will hold their 88^th annual spaghetti dinner sponsored by the Men’s and Ladies Sodality on Sunday October 13, 2024, from 12-7 P.M.  There will be a drive-through for curbside pickup and reservation only limited dine-in seating.  Adults $13, kids (under 12) $6. For dining reservations call Jimmy Capano at 513-364-8301 or drive through pickup call Dave Sabatelli at 513-405-6444.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin September 8, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Constantinople.  Since 1790, Our Lady of Constantinople has been honored in the town of Felitto, Italy where our grandparents came from before journeying to America and settling in the Little Italy section of South Fairmount.  As a part of our Italian heritage, a statue of Our Lady of Constantinople was commissioned from Italy and has been in a special place in San Antonio Church since 1922.  In Felitto, Italy there will be a procession throughout the town after Mass to honor her and in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, descendants from the original immigrants from Felitto will hold their annual three-day celebration on September 6^th through the 8^th to honor of Our Lady of Constantinople.  They will have a festival and after their 10:00 AM Mass on this Sunday, a procession with the statue of Our Lady of Constantinople will be carried from the Prince of Peace Church to the Chapel of Our lady of Constantinople on 3^rd Street in Old Forge.   Some of our original San Antonio Church parishioners who settled in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, their 1^st home in America, were the Ciuccio, Esposito, Fariello, Florimonte, Minella, and Sabatelli family.  The men from those families worked in the coal mines before coming to Cincinnati to raise their families; helped establish our church and along with the rest of the Italian immigrants from Little Italy, saved enough funds to purchase the statue of Our Lady of Constantinople.   At our 100^th Anniversary celebration, San Antonio Church welcomed back many generations of these original families.  Also on this Sunday, we highlight all grandparents on the observance of Grandparent’s Day.  Inspired by the efforts of Marian McQuade, President Jimmy Carter signed into law, National Grandparent’s Day in 1978.  The Presidential Proclamation was then designated to be celebrated on the first Sunday following Labor Day.  There is an official song by Johnny Prill “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” and the official flower, the Forget-me-not to honor a family’s greatest treasure, Grandparents.  On this Sunday, we remember our grandparents who are no longer with us as we honor and pray for those Grandparents who are a strong driving force in today’s society.  A Poem by Catherine Pulsifer: “Remember when I held my darling child.  My heart so full of love and pride.  Smiles, laughter, and memories sweet.  Watching those little ones grow, nothing could be beat!  But now our children have their own kids galore.  What a blessing is a grandchild to adore!”

On Monday, September 9^th we honor St. Peter Claver, (1580-1654), known for his Missions Among People of African Descent.  He was born Pedro (Peter) Claver y Corbero, a native of Spain who was educated at the University of Barcelona and Montesione College in Palma, Majorca where he was known for his intelligence and piety.  He wrote “I must dedicate myself to the service of God until death, on the understanding that I am like an enslaved person.”  In 1610, he left Spain to become a Missionary in the colonies of the New World.  He was ordained in 1615 in Cartagena, a port city in the Caribbean.  Before his arrival, Jesuit Father Alfonso de Sandival had given 40 years of his life to the care of slaves.  Peter continued the work of ministering to the ill-treated and exhausted who were herded out of the ships that had journeyed across the Atlantic from West Africa.  He met each ship that arrived with men who were scarcely alive for the duration of the crossing, handing out medicine, food, bread, brandy, lemons, and tobacco and to the sick and dying, final unction.  He enlisted 7 interpreters who could speak to them and then was able to teach them the rudiments of the Christian Faith. Peter learned their languages and comforted them, teaching them that God loved them.  Many in Cartagena ridiculed and persecuted Peter because he treated slaves as human beings.  He also mentored to those of Cartagena, preaching in the city square to sailors, traders before sickness forced him to remain alone until he died on September 8, 1654, serving almost 40 years to the underserved.  His funeral was a public event with much pomp to show respect to the Jesuit who had served so many.  In 1888, Pope Leo XIII canonized Peter Claver along with Jesuit porter, Alphonsus Rodriguez.  He is declared patron of missionary work among all African peoples with the Knights of Peter Claver, and the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver continue the work he started. 

Tuesday September 9^th is declared Human Rights National Day in his honor by the Congress of the Republic of Columbia.  A Prayer to St. Peter Claver: “O God, You conferred on St. Peter Claver a remarkable love and patience to help Your enslaved people and bring them to knowledge of Your name.  Through his intercession, help us to seek equality for all races.  AMEN.” 

On Thursday September 12^th, we honor the Holy Name of Mary that venerates the name of Mary as she was the Mother of God.  This feast was established by Pope Innocent XI who made this feast universal and in 2003 Pope John Paul II reinstated it.  “We venerate the name of Mary because it belongs to her who is the Mother of God, the holiest of creatures, the Queen of Heaven and Earth and the Mother of Mercy.  Her feast commemorates all the privileges given to Mary by God and all the graces we have received through her intercession and mediation.”  St. Louis de Montfort wrote extensively about the popular devotion to Mary.

 On Friday September 13, we honor the life of St. John Chrysostom, born in Antioch, the second city of the Eastern part of the Roman Empire.  He was a Deacon, Priest, and the Patriarch of Constantinople in 403 was trained as a lawyer using his canonical powers to expound the Scriptures in a powerful series of sermons which earned him the title “Golden mouthed” or Chrysostom.  He became known as one of the finest preachers of all time with many of his sermons surviving.  He said to be a believer, “Death is a rest, a deliverance from the exhausting labors and cares for this world.  So, when you see one of your family departing, do not fall into despair.  Think deeply.  Examine your conscience.  Cherish the thought that soon this end awaits you too.  Remember, “Think to whom the departed has gone-and take comfort.”  A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom:  “Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise, that when two or three gathered together in the name thou wilt grant their requests:  Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of the servants, as may be most expedient for them:  world knowledge of the truth, and in the world to come life everlasting.”  St. John Chrysostom died in the City of Comana, Diocese of Pontus in the Roman Empire where his relics remained until 438.  Thirty years after his death, his relics were transferred to Constantinople until they were looted in 1204 by Crusaders and taken to Rome.  In 2004, Pope John Paul II returned some of the relics to the Orthodox Church and since that time, they have been enshrined in the Church of St. George in Istanbul.  The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates him as a Great Ecumenical Teacher with several feast days celebrated on January 27^th, January 30^th, September 14^th, and November 13^th.  In the Catholic Church, he is celebrated as a Bishop and Doctor of the Church.  He was canonized pe-congregation and in 1908, Pope Pius X named St. John Chrysostom the patron saint of Preachers.  Many widely used editions of his works are written in Greek, Latin, English, French containing 700 sermons, 246 letters, biblical commentaries, theological treatises, especially “Against Those Who Oppose The Monastic Life”, were attributed to St. John Chrysostom.  His writings have survived to this day more so than any of the other Greek Fathers.  

On Saturday September 14, we honor the Feast of the Exaltation Of the Holy Cross, celebrating the Cross as the sign of Salvation.  In the 4^th Century, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, St. Helena journeyed to Jerusalem to search the holy places of Christ’s life.  During her visit, she had the 2^nd Century Temple of Aphrodite razed as it was thought to be the tomb of Our Savior.  St. Helena’s workers uncovered 3 Crosses during the excavations with one identified as the one on which Jesus died and its touch is said to have healed a dying woman.  This Cross became an object of veneration when it was displayed at a Good Friday Observance in Jerusalem.  The wood Cross was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table with the inscription Pilates ordered placed above Jesus’ head.  As the faithful gathered to pay their respects, they passed by one by one, bowing down, touching the Cross, then the inscription to their forehead, then their eyes, and after kissing the Cross they moved on.  After the razing of the Temple of Aphrodite, Emperor Constantinople built the Basilica of the Holy Sepucher on the site of the Three Crosses.  The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the anniversary of the Dedication of the Basilica in 335.  This historic feast was added to the Western calendar in the 7th Century after Emperor Heraclius obtained the Cross from the Persians who had carried it off in 614.  He intended to carry the Cross back to Jerusalem but was not allowed until he took off his imperial garb to become a barefoot pilgrim.  The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross recalls three events on this feast day:  1. The finding of the True Cross by St. Helena.  2.  The dedication of churches built by Emperor Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary.  3. The restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem in AD 629 by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, after it had fallen into the hands of the Persian Emperor Chosroes II in the AD 614 Sasanian Conquest of Jerusalem.  By the 5^th Century, pieces of the True Cross relic were distributed across the empire and venerated as far away as Italy.

Our Annual Spaghetti Dinner will be held on Sunday October 13^th, 2024, in our hall downstairs.  We will have dine-in and takeout available and we are now selling ads for the placemat that will be used at the dinner.  Please see Harry Panaro for info or to purchase a spot on the placemat to honor your family or business.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin September 1, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 22^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, we celebrate The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation annually on September 1^st.  It is a call to Christians of all denominations to join together to pray and work for the care of our common home.  Creation is the activity of God by which He brought all things into existence.  Creation is said to be ex nihilo (out of noting) because there was no pre-existing material from which things are made.  This day introduces us to the Season of Creation that will conclude on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Friday, October 4, 2024.  The Theme for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is “Hope and Act with Creation” from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:19-25).  The theme is for us to focus on the hope of Salvation that is born of Faith as we renew ourselves in the life of Christ.  In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI stated: “The harmony between the Creator, mankind, and the created world, as described by Sacred Scripture, was disrupted by the sin of Adam and Eve, by man and woman, who wanted to take the place of God and refused to acknowledge that they were his creatures.  As a result, the work of ‘exercising dominion’ over the earth, ‘tilling and keeping it’ was also disrupted, and conflict arose within and between mankind and the rest of creation.  Human beings let themselves be mastered by selfishness; they misunderstand the meaning of God’s command and exploited creation out of a desire to exercise absolute domination over it.”

On this day, families can make a Pledge of Commitment to Protect and Heal God’s Creation be realized: “We have come to renew our covenant with God and with one another in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  We have come to help protect God’s creation.  We have come as followers of Jesus to commit ourselves anew to one another and to heal injustice and poverty.  We have come to stand together against all threats to life.  We have come to discover some new beauty every day in God’s creation: The sunrise and sunset, birds, flowers and trees, rainbows in the sky, the stars, the many forms of life in the forest.  We have come to listen to the ‘Music of the Universe’ water flowing over rocks, the wind, trees bending in the wind, raindrops patterning the roof.  We will remember always that God speaks to us through the beauty of His creation, and we will try our best to answer God’s call to reverence all that He has created.”  In Pope Francis’ Message, he said, “United in Faith and Action, we can make a difference.  Caring for creation is not only an ethical responsibility, but a theological commitment that involves the whole of creation.  Together we can witness to God’s love through concrete gestures and help build a world where humanity and nature live in harmony.  It is special time for us to reflect on our role as stewards of the natural world.”

On Monday, September 2^, Labor Day, we honor and recognize the American Labor movement and the contributions of those early laborers who helped in the development of the United States.   Also called the Workingman’s Holiday, this day was created by the labor movement in the late 19^th Century for a day set aside to celebrate labor.  In 1887, Oregon became the first state in the U.S. to make Labor Day an official public holiday. By 1894, there were 30 states throughout the U. S. who were officially celebrating Labor Day and, in that year, Congress passed a bill recognizing the 1^st Monday in September Labor Day and an official Federal Holiday.  On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law but, only making it a holiday for federal workers.  Years later, by the 1930’s unions encouraged workers to strike to make sure they would get the day off.  It was not until the Pullman Strike that it became a Federal Holiday.  Many events are organized in major cities and small towns for Labor Day.  In New York, the Labor Day Carnival and fireworks are held at Coney Island and in Washington, D.C. the United States Capital will hold the Labor Day Concert that features the well-known National Symphony Orchestra.  Here is a Blessing for the Products of Human Labor: “Almighty and ever-living God, You have made us stewards over the created world, so that in all things we might honor the demands of charity.  Graciously hear our prayers, that Your blessing may come upon all those who use these objects for their needs.  Let them always see You as the good surpassing every good and love their neighbor with upright hearts.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  AMEN.”  

On Tuesday, September 3^rd we celebrate the life of St. Gregory the Great (540-604) known as a reformer, excellent administrator and founder of the medieval papacy that exercised both secular and spiritual power during his reign from 590 until his death in 604.  He is the personal patron of the popes although 15 other Gregorys followed him.  Gregory was born in Italy during a time when commerce had declined, famine, the plague and war he would witness during his lifetime.  He came from an aristocratic Roman family who owned properties throughout Rome and held estates in Sicily. Gregory was well educated, having legal training before entering public service as a magistrate in Rome.  In 574, at the age of 34 he converted to a monastic life and established a Monastery on Caelian Hill, on family property in Rome, with his own money.  He founded 6 more monasteries on family estates in Sicily while making sufficient property endowments for the Church.  Pope Pelagius II made Gregory a Deacon in 579 and in 590, he unwillingly became Pope when he was elected after Pope Pelagius died from the plague that was rampant throughout Rome.  During the plague, Pope Gregory the Great led a Penitential Procession to Sanat Maria Maggiore for the protection of Rome.  When a vison of the Michael Archangel appeared to him, Pope Gregory was convinced Roem would be spared.  A statue depicting Michael the Archangel was placed in the Castel Sant’ Angelo, the place where he saw the vison.  Gregory’s 14 years as Pope were filled with many diplomatic triumphs.  He strengthened the Church, sent missionaries to England, wrote about pastoral care and morality, encouraged monasticism, and transformed the liturgy.  Without Gregory, Europe would have emerged more slowly from the Dark Ages that were caused by the barbarian invasion.  He was a tirelessly energetic pope who believed that the Gospel was meant to be “Preached to all parts of the world.”  Gregory was known as a charitable pope who abolished fees for burials and looked after those suffering from famine who would not allow injustice toward Jews.  He reformed the Church’s worship, introduced the Gregorian Chant, wrote Hymns and was given the title, “Father of Christian Worship.”  He was influenced by St. Augustine of Hippo, St. John Cassian, The Dessert Fathers, and St. Jerome.   He wrote the rules for the life of a Bishop, a commentary on the Book of Job, and on the lives of many Italian Saints.  Gregory is the only Pope between the 5^th and 11^th Centuries whose correspondence, writings and over 830 letters have survived.    His writings offered practical wisdom for the Christians of his day saying: “Compassion should be shown first to the faithful and afterwords to the enemies of the Church.”  Pope Gregory’s major worries and concerns during his reign were the city of Rome, the Roman See and Southern Italy.  In Pope Gregorys’ official documents, he made extensive use of the term “Servants of the Servants of God” when describing the office of a Pope to be “The Servants of the Servants of God.”  Pope Gregory the Great was declared a saint by popular acclaim immediately after his death in 604 with his relics enshrined in the Altar of St. Gregory housed at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  At the Church San Gregorio Magno al Celio in Rome, an ancient marble chair, the throne of Pope Gregory has been placed near the altar for the many visitors who honor the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers on his feast day.  A Prayer to St. Gregory the Great: “O God, You look upon Your people with compassion and rule them with love.  Through the intercession of Pope St. Gregory, give wisdom of the leaders of Your Church that the growth of Your people in holiness may be the everlasting joy of our pastors.  Amen.”