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 June 9, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday we celebrate the devotion to our patron St. Anthony of Padua, feast day Thursday, June 13th with our tradition of offering St. Anthony’s Bread to our parishioners.  This act of charity dates back to the 13th century when a mother prayed for the intercession of St. Anthony for a miracle for her child.  When her child recovered, she wanted to return the favor to St. Anthony by giving alms to those families in need.  The Franciscan Order has always encouraged the act of charity as a thanksgiving to St. Anthony to help with their charitable endeavors and all funds received today to be presented to their Order as we celebrate the feast of St. Anthony on this 2nd week of June.  Our Patron Saint was born Fernando Martins de Bulhoes on August 15, 1195, who became known as Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon.  Born to a noble family, Fernando entered the Augustinian Community of Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross at the Abbey of St. Vincent.  In 1212 at the age of 17 he transferred to the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, the capital of Portugal to study Theology and Latin.  After his ordination Fernando obtained permission from church authorities to leave the Canons Regular to join the new Franciscan Order, taking the name Anthony from the chapel located nearby, dedicated to Anthony the Great. Fernando, now Anthony was attracted to the simple lifestyle of the order that had been founded only 11 years earlier as he desired to join them for their mission work in Morocco.  When he arrived in Morocco, Anthony became seriously ill and was set on returning to Portugal when the ship he was on went off course and landed in Sicily.  He made his way to Tuscany and was assigned to the rural hermitage of San Paolo, a short distance from Forli, Romagna.  It was in the town of Forli in 1222 where Anthony became known for his preaching abilities, deep knowledge of scripture and his eloquence in delivering his message that soon made an impression on his audience.  The local minister provincial to the Franciscan province, Brother Gratian called on Anthony to be based in Bologna where he caught the attention of the founder of the Order, Francis of Assisi.  In 1224, Anthony was entrusted with the care of all the friars to guide them in the pursuit of their studies. 

It was in Bologna that the practice of Praying to St. Anthony for help in finding lost or stolen things occurred when a hand copied book, an item of high value and hard to replace, containing Anthony’s notes for use in tutoring his students went missing.  Anthony prayed it would be returned to him and after being located is now preserved in the Franciscan Friary in Bologna.  Anthony went on to teaching positions in the south of France where his preaching was considered to be his supreme gift calling his preaching “The grandeur of Christianity.”  When Anthony returned to Italy, he was appointed Provincial Superior of Northern Italy and chose the city of Padua as his base.  In 1228 Anthony served as envoy to Pope Gregory IX and while preaching at the papal court was hailed as a “Jewel case of the Bible”. In 1231 Anthony went to a woodland retreat while suffering ergotism, the sickness attributed to eating grain products, mostly rye that is contaminated with fungus.  In the Middle Ages the gangrenous poisoning was known as “St. Anthony’s Fire” named for the monks from the Order of St. Anthony who were successful in treating the aliment.   After much suffering, Anthony died on the way back to Padua from a retreat at Camposampiero in the company of two other friars.  He died at the Poor Clares Monastery at Arcella on June 13, 1231, at the age of 35 and at his request, Anthony was buried at the small church of Santa Maria Mater Domini near a convent that he founded.  A year after his death because of his popularity, a large basilica was constructed with the smaller church incorporated into the structure as the Cappella della Madonna Mora, the Chapel of the Dark Madonna.  The basilica is known as Il Santo-The Saint with Anthony’s tomb lying behind the altar of his chapel in the north transept of the Basilica that displays 9 reliefs that line the walls.  St.  Anthony is shown holding the baby Jesus or a book and is often depicted saving victims from various accidents.   

Many miracles have been attributed to him with his Beatification and Canonization took place on May 30, 1232, a year after his death in Spoleto, Italy by Pope Gregory IX.  Anthony became one of the most important saints in Albania due to the arrival of the Franciscans in 1240 who spread the word of the saint.  The St. Anthony Church in Albania was built in his honor with many making a pilgrimage to his church every year by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Muslim Albanians.  St. Anthony is known as the marriage saint in Portugal, Spain and Brazil and legends exist for his intercession to reconcile couples.   Pope Pius XIII named St. Anthony Doctor of the Church on January 16, 1946.   The National Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua is located in the Philippines where the Franciscan Order established the first church in the country dedicated to him.  The Shrine Church of St. Anthony, located in Greenwich Village, celebrates his feast day every year with the traditional prayer asking for his intercession, said for 13 Tuesdays.  There will also be a procession held on his feast day with a relic of the saint displayed for veneration.  Since 1919, Italian immigrants in Boston, celebrate the “Feast of all Feasts” to honor St. Anthony, the practice brought from towns near Naples that date back to 1688.  A Prayer to St. Anthony of Padua: “Almighty, ever-living God, you gave Your people the extraordinary preacher St. Anthony and made him an intercessor in difficulties.  By his aid grant that we may live a truly Christian life and experience Your help in all adversities.”   

During this week we also celebrate the feast of St. Barnabas on Tuesday, June 11th.  The Acts of the Apostles describe Barnabas as a good man full of the Holy Spirit and the first to welcome St. Paul who was a former persecutor of the early Church before becoming a believer in Jesus.  Barnabas, John, Mark, and Paul were together on the first missionary journey of the Christian Church in Cyprus.  Barnabas was a man of determination and courage and has been honored as the founder of the Cypriot Church because of his missionary work there.  When a Christian Community began at Antioch, the third most important city of the Roman Empire, Barnabas was sent as the official representative of the Mother Church in Jerusalem.  Barnabas and Paul were chosen to give instruction in Antioch for the next year to unite its members into the fold of Christ.  They had much success there and were sent on to preach to the gentiles and later Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus and Paul took Silas to Syria as they preached the word, strengthened the churches, as many became followers of the Lord.  Barnabas was martyred in Cyprus during the reign of Nero with his remains placed in a tomb of the church he founded.  He was canonized pre-congregation with his major shrine, the Monastery of St. Barnabas located in Famagusta, Cyprus.  He is venerated in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican Communion and Lutheran Churches.   He is the Patron Saint of Milan, Italy and on the island of Tenerife, Spain where he is invoked as the protector of the fields around the island against drought.  In the Church of England, St. Barnabas the Apostle, is honored with a festival on June 11th, his feast day.    In 1538, the Catholic Religious Order known as “Clerics Regular of St. Paul” was established at the Monastery of St. Barnabas, by the city wall in Milan, Italy.   A Prayer in honor of St. Barnabas: “O God, You commanded that St. Barnabas, who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, should be set apart to labor for the conversion of the Gentiles.  May Christ’s Gospel which he preached with great ardor continue to be preached faithfully by word and deed.” 

On Friday, June 14th we celebrate our 247th Flag Day in the United States, as we recall the history and meaning of Old Glory during Flag Week from June 9-15, 2024.  During this week, we urge everyone to observe and fly the American Flag to honor the anniversary of the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777.  The Flag Resolution by the Second Continental Congress stated, “That the flag of the 13 United States be 13 Stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be 13 Stars, white in a blue field, representing   a new constellation.”  June 14th is also the 249th birthday of the United States Army (1775) when Congress established the American Continental Army that originally consisted of volunteer soldiers with roots to the Army that was formed to fight in the Revolutionary War.     In 1888, William Kerr from Pennsylvania established the American Flag Day Association of Western Pennsylvania and proudly served the association for 50 years.  President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 that officially established Flag Day on June 14th.   Pennsylvania became the 1st state to celebrate Flag Day in 1937 as a state holiday and in Philadelphia the Betsy Ross House holds a Flag Day observance every year.  In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the International United Nations Day on June 14th to celebrate the solidarity among the World War II Allies, 6 months after the Declaration by the United Nations and on June 14th for two years, 1942-1944, Flag Day was observed in New York City at the New York War Parade.   On August 3, 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed   an Act of Congress establishing National Flag Day making the official statute to be acknowledged at the discretion of the current president.  Also, celebrations will take place in Baltimore, Maryland, the birthplace of the 1813 Flag that inspired the famous poem by Francis Scott Key (1779-1843).

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 June 2, 2024

by Terrie Evans

Today is the final day for the Cincitalia Fest at Harvest Home Park which opens at 1:00Pm and closes at 9:00 PM.  Our Blessed Mother Statue will be the centerpiece of the St. Catherine’s Marian Procession with their 1^st Communicants leading the devotion to Mary.  Our San Antonio Church Community will be manning the Bruschetta Booth for the last day of the fest.  We appreciate Harry Panaro for giving up his weekend to support our church for this fundraiser.  

On this Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Christian liturgical celebration to honor the real presence of the Body and Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus within the elements of the Eucharist.  Also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, it is observed by the Latin, Western Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican Churches.  The feast was proposed to Pope Urban IV by Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church due to the Eucharist Miracle of Bolsena.  The Pontiff then established the Feast of Corpus Christi as a Solemnity which was then extended to the whole Roman Catholic Church.  When Mass has ended, there are processions with the Blessed Sacrament that are usually displayed in a Monstrance followed by the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  Every year in Rome, the Pope will preside over a procession that begins at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, on the way to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major for the Benediction.  To honor this feast, many of the faithful will adorn their doors, windows, gardens, and fields with Corpus Christi Wreaths.  In the Roman Catholic Church, the Feast of Corpus Christi is one of five occasions in the year which Diocesan Bishops are not to be away from their Diocese.

On Monday, June 3^rd, we remember St. Charles Lwanga, born in Uganda, Africa, martyred at age 26 along with 12 Catholics, and 11 Anglicans for refusing to renounce their faith.  In Uganda, it was during the reign of King Mwanga, a violent ruler with evil ways who lived a life of debauchery who distrusted foreign visitors.  The King was fearful he would be reported to the British Government as they had given him his power.  The King discovered that a 14-year-old page had been receiving instruction on becoming a Catholic and then he ordered that every Catholic and Protestant living in the royal enclosure be put to death.  As they were burned to death, the martyrs prayed; “You can burn our bodies, but you cannot burn our souls.”  St. Charles Lwanga was Beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and Canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and is the Patron saint of Acra, Ghana.  A Prayer for Martyrs of Uganda: “Pray for the faith where there is danger and for Christians who must suffer because of their faith.  Give the same courage, zeal, and joy you showed.  And help those of us who live in a place where Christianity is accepted to remain aware of the persecutions in other parts of the world.  AMEN.”

On Tuesday, June 5^th, we celebrate the life of St. Boniface, born in 680 in Devonshire, England and educated in the Benedictine Monastery in Exeter.  He became a missionary during the reign of Pope Gregory who made him a regional Bishop in Germany where he worked to organize the Church in Germany.  In 735, Boniface along with his disciple Sturmius founded the Monastery in Fulda, which is now famous.   By 745, he was working to establish a number of dioceses, correct abuses and build religious houses.  In 747, the Pope named him supreme Bishop of Germany and later the Papal Legate to Gaul.  Boniface wrote to fellow churchmen all over Western Europe, including three popes and his close friends in England about subjects concerning church reform, or questions about liturgical or doctrinal matters.  He helped shape the later Church in Europe with the dioceses he helped found that are today still remaining.   Boniface was killed in 755 by people he was working to convert, the bandits that took his life were looking for gold.  After his death, it was not until the 1,050^th Anniversary of Boniface’s death in the year 1805 that the celebrations in Germany became widespread Catholic events.  Around 1905, Protestants began to celebrate the importance of Boniface in Germany.  Celebrations became international affairs throughout England, Germany, and the Netherlands in 1954.  In 1980 when Pope John Paul II visited Germany, he celebrated mass outside the Cathedral and in front of a crowd of 100,000; the Pope hailed the role of Boniface for German Christianity saying; “The Holy Boniface, bishop and martyr, signifies the beginning of the gospel and the church in your country.”  St Boniface is known as the Apostle to the Germans and also the patron of Germany.    St. Boniface Church on Chase Avenue in Northside celebrated their 150^th Anniversary in 2013.   A prayer to St. Boniface: “O lord, let St. Boniface intercede for us, that we may firmly adhere to the Faith he taught, and for which he shed his blood, and fearlessly profess it in our works.  Amen.” 

On Thursday, June 6^th we the Catholic Church honors St. Norbert of Xanten, the son of a Count who was known to exploit the Church for his own profit.  He had a conversion when he heard the commands of his Lord when Jesus said, “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.   When he was ordained as a deacon and while he was preaching, he was still practicing the pleasurable and luxurious life that he did not want to give up.   The Council of Fritzlar denounced Norbert as a hypocrite but it was not until he had a brush with death when the horse, he was ridings threw him due to a lightning strike.  He traveled on foot to have an audience with Pope Gelasius II to plead his case.  He begged to continue preaching and the Pope granted Norbert permission to preach wherever he wished throughout France.  Norbert gave his possessions to the poor, settled in the French region of Aisne, and soon became the most famous missionary of his time.  In 1120, Norbert and 13 followers formed the first group of Monks known as Premonstratensians Canons, The third Order of St. Norbert.  His order became popular, and it was invited into dioceses throughout Northern Europe.   

On Friday, June 7^th the Catholic Church honors the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated for the first time in 1672 by a priest from Normandy, Father Giovanni Eudes to be a symbol of the love of Christ for the human race.  St. Maragret Mary Alacoque promoted the devotion when she had visions of the Sacred Heart between 1673 and 1675 and the 12 promises to those devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by her communication with Christ.  The 12 promises revealed to St. Mary Alacoque in a private revelation:  1) All graces necessary to their state of life; 2) Peace in their homes; 3) Comfort in all afflictions; 4) Secure refuge in life and death; 5) Abundant blessings in all their undertakings 6) Infinite mercy for sins; 7) Tepid souls turned fervent; 8) Fervent souls mounting in perfection; 9) Blessings everywhere a picture or image is honored; 10) Gift to priests of touching the most hardened hearts; 11) Promoters names written in His heart; 12) The grace of final penitence to those who receive Holy Communion on 9 Consecutive First Fridays.  A Prayer: “Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer you through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of the Church, a union with the Eucharistic Sacrifice, my prayers, actions, joys, and sufferings on this day in reparation for sins and for the salvation of all people, in the grace of the Holy Spirit for the glory of the Heavenly Father.  AMEN.”  

On Saturday, June 8^th we practice the veneration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  This day refers to the life of Mary; what joys, sorrows, virtues, and imperfections she holds in her heart.  This feast shows her maternal love for her son Jesus Christ, and also the motherly love and compassion she has for all mankind.  Devotion to the Heart of Mary began in the Middle Ages with pious meditations on the Ave Maria and the Salve Regina by St. Gertrude the Great and St. Bridget of Sweden and by the early Christians who remembered the agony and sorrows the Blessed Mother experienced as she stood at the Cross watching the Crucifixion of her Divine Son.  In the history of the Church, Catholics have associated the 7 Dolors showing the sorrow and pain of the Mother of God who is often depicted with 7 swords to represent the 7 Sorrows piercing her sinless heart.  The 7 Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary are: 1) The Prophecy of Simeon, 2) The Flight into Egypt, 3) The Loss of Jesus for Three Days, 4) The Carrying of the Cross, 5) The Crucifixion of Jesus, 6) Jesus taken down from the Cross, and 7) Jesus Laid in the Tomb.  Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1944 and in 1969, Pope Paul VI moved the feast to the third Saturday after Pentecost to be strongly associated with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The Miraculous Medal displays   the Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced by a sword with the Sacred Heart of Jesus who also appears on the medal crowned with thorns.  A Prayer as Jesus was laid in the Tomb: “I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched your most loving heart at the burial of Jesus.  Dear Mother, by your heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom.  Let intercession be made for us, we beseech You, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the Hour of our death, before the throne of Your mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Your bitter Passion.  Through You, O Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns world without end.  Amen.”   Pope John Paul II made an act of entrustment of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 8, 2000, for the new millennium.  On October 13, 2013, Pope Francis renewed the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a celebration in Rome as part of the Marian Day celebration.

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 May 26, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 1^st Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate Trinity Sunday, the celebration of the Christian Doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  The dedication to the devotion of the Blessed Trinity started with private devotions in homes during the Middle Ages.  The feast for the entire Church was established by Pope John XXII (1316-1334) for the entire Church on the 1^st Sunday after Pentecost.  In 1911, Pope Pius X raised the feast day to the dignity of a primary of the 1^st Class.  This Sunday is officially known in the Roman Catholic Church as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (Jn.3:16-18).   

Monday, May 27^th, Memorial Day, Americans will pay tribute to the soldiers who died protecting our freedoms by praying for those lost and decorating their graves.  Many cemeteries will hold memorial ceremonies for those who sacrificed their lives while in service to our country.   The location of the first Civil War grave to be decorated was in 1861 in Warrenton, Virginia, for the 1^st soldier killed during the Civil War, John Quincy Marr.  In 1865, the women of Jackson, Mississippi placed flowers on the graves of Confederate and Union Soldiers as a way to never forget the loss to their families.  In 1866, four women in Columbus, Mississippi decorated the graves of the Confederate and Union Soldiers buried at the Friendship Cemetery, some say as the inspiration for Memorial Day.   There were more than 600,000 soldiers lost on both sides with these memorials taking on a new cultural significance with the federal government establishing the United States National Cemetery System for the Union war dead.  In 1868, Gen. John Logan gave an official order for May 30^th as a day to remember those who died in the Civil War as Decoration Day.  With that proclamation, 20,000 graves at Arlington Cemetery were decorated as future President, James Garfield spoke on honoring the war dead.    The 1^st Parades for Decoration Day, later to be named Memorial Day were held in Rochester, Wisconsin in 1867 and in Doylestown, Pennsylvania in 1868.  In 1873, New York recognized the day as an official holiday and by 1890, all Northern States followed.  After World War I, Memorial Day honored all American soldiers who died in all wars, not just the Civil War.  In 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a physician with the Canadian Expeditionary Force authored the poem “In Flanders Fields” referring to the fields of poppies growing among the soldiers’ graves in Belgium.  We must never forget the United States Military deaths in Vietnam: over 58,000, in Korea over 36,000, in Iraq 4,500, in the war in Afghanistan 2,459 and in 2021, the 13 U.S. service members from the US Marine Corps, US Navy and US Army who were killed during the evacuations at the Kabul Airport.                               

On Monday, May 27^th we honor the Christian Monk who became the 1^st Archbishop of Canterbury in 597.  Augustine of Canterbury was the Prior of St. Andrew’s Monastery in Rome when Pope Gregory the Great chose him for a Mission to Christianize King Ethelberht and his Kingdom of Kent in Britian from paganism.  Pope Gregory sent French priests along to aid the mission with Augustine when they arrived in England in 597.  Being pleased for their hard work, the King did convert to Christianity allowing the missionaries to preach freely and gifting them with a plot of land for a monastery.  In 597, on Christmas Day, Augustine held a mass Baptism for thousands after he converted the King on Whit Sunday, along with many of his subjects.  Augustine soon founded the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul which was later named, St. Augustine’s Abbey.  In 601, Pope Gregory supported the work of Augustine by sending more missionaries, encouraging letters and gifts for the churches for what was then called the Gregorian Mission.  Augustine collaborated with Pope Gregory on issues of the church, the punishment for those who commit robbery in the church, guidance on who could marry, and the consecration of Bishops.  He also worked on relationships between churches, the rules regarding baptisms, who is to receive Communion and when is a priest allowed to celebrate Mass.  Augustine was consecrated the Archbishop of the English, established his See (diocese) at Canterbury and founded two more bishoprics at London and Rochester.  Augustine was sent special gifts from Rome, a pallium for sacred vessels, vestments, relics, and books, all a symbol of a metropolitan status.  He became the influence in Christianity in many areas of the British Isles and due to his example, the great missionary efforts of the Anglo-Saxon Church were attributed to Augustine of Canterbury.  He died on May 26, 604, seven years after his arrival to England and was buried in St. Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury.   St. Augustine was canonized pre-congregation and in 1884, with St. Augustine’s Cross, a Celtic Cross erected in East Kent on the exact spot where the newly arrived Augustine met and preached to the awaiting King Ethelberht. 

On Wednesday, May 29^th we remember the life of Pope Paul VI, born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini (1897-1978) head of the Catholic Church from 1963 until his death on August 6, 1978.   His feast day is actually the day of his ordination, May 29^th.   He established the Second Vatican Council, improved relations with the Eastern Orthodox and Protestant Churches with the reforms he established after the Second Vatican Council were among the widest and deepest in the Church’s history.  He named Mary the Mother of the Church and called her the ideal of Christian perfection with “Devotion to the Mother of God as a paramount importance in living the life of the Gospel.”  He started his journey of service to the Catholic Church when he entered the Seminary in 1916 and was ordained on May 29,1920 in Brescia, where he would celebrate his 1^st Mass at the Santa Maria della Grazia.   He received his Doctorate in Canon Law and continued his studies at the Gregorian University, the University of Rome, and at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles.  Montini was never assigned a parish and in 1923 served in the Diplomatic Service as the Secretary in the Office of Papal Nuncio to Poland.  After he became Pope, the Communist Government of Poland refused his scheduled visit to Poland for a Marian Pilgrimage.  He then held high ranking positions in Rome and by 1938 was appointed to Protonotary Apostolic, to sign or notarize papal documents, the highest honorary title accorded to a priest.  When he was appointed Pro Secretary of State, he assisted fugitives hidden in Catholic Convents, Parishes, Seminaries and Schools during World War II and helped distribute over 2 million meals of free food in 1944.  In Rome, Castle Gardolfo, the Papal Residence and Vatican City took in 15,000 refugees.  When he became Archbishop of Milan in 1955, Pope Pius XII presented Montini “as his personal gift to Milan”.  Archbishop Montini was now in charge of the Cathedral of Milan, a diocese that had 1,000 churches, 2,500 priests and 3,500,000 souls.  While in Milan, his goal was to re-introduce the faith to a city without much religion “If only we can say Our Father and know what this means then we would understand the Church’s Faith.”  During that time, 7,000 sermons were delivered by priests, bishops, cardinals and lay people in churches, factories, meeting halls, homes, schools, hospitals and wherever people congregated.    In 1958, he was appointed Cardinal after his friend Angelo Roncalli became Pope John XXIII.    In 1961, Cardinal Montini was appointed to the Central Preparatory Commission and requested to live in the Vatican as a member of the Commission of Extraordinary Affairs.  In 1963, when he was elected the next Pontiff, he took the name of Paul to show his intention of making Paul the Apostle as a model for his papal ministry.  At his coronation, the Archbishop of Milan presented him with a tiara to be worn on this momentous day.  After he descended the steps of the Papal Throne at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Paul VI laid the tiara down as a sign of renunciation of human glory in keeping with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council.  The tiara was sold for charity and the purchasers arranged for it to be gifted to the American Catholics.  It is now displayed in the crypt of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.  In 1965, he established the Synod of Bishops to be a permanent institution of the Catholic Church and as an advisory body to the papacy.  In 1966, Pope Paul VI asked all bishops to submit their resignations to the Pontiff by the age of 75 and also asked that cardinals relinquish their offices in the Roman Curia by their 80^th birthday to make way for younger prelates.  When asked if he should apply those rules to himself at 80, Pope Paul VI replied” Kings can abdicate, Popes cannot.”  He became the 1^st pope to visit 6 Continents working to turn the Eurocentric Church into a church of the world and to integrate bishops from all continents in its government and also in the Synod where he convened.  Pope Paul VI was the 1^st Pontiff to travel on and airplane and journey outside of Italy in a century.   In 1965, he was the 1^st reigning Pontiff to address the United Nations in New York where he pleaded for peace during the Vietnam War, his diamond ring and cross were later donated to the U.N.   He became known as the “Pilgrim Pope” when he visited the Holy Land, India, and Colombia in 1966.  In 1967, he visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal on the 50^th Anniversary of the apparition.  He was the 1^st Pope to receive Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsy in an official audience and opened the Anglican Center in Rome to increase mutual knowledge of their faiths.  They both signed a common decree to end the disputes of the past and outlined a common agenda for the future.  Pope Paul VI Beatified 38 individuals, Canonized 84 Saints in 21 causes.  He sent a Goodwill Message to NASA for the historic Apollo 11 landing writing “To the Glory of the name of God who gives such power to men, we ardently pray for this wonderful beginning.”  Pope Paul VI’s message still rests on the lunar surface.  Before his death in 1978, Pope Paul VI wrote reflecting on Hamlet: “What is my state of mind?  Am I Hamlet? Or Don Quixote? On the left? On the right?  I do not think I have been properly understood.  I am filled with ‘great joy’ with all our affliction, I am overjoyed.”  He died on August 6, 1978, at the Papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo and is buried in a grave beneath the floor of St. Peters Basilica near the tombs of other Popes in the Vatican Grottoes. The process for the Beatification of Pope Paul VI was opened in 1993 with him being declared Venerable in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI.  On October 14, 2018, he was Canonized at St. Peter’s Square by Pope Francis, making him the Patron of the Archdiocese of Milan. 

On Friday, May 31^st we honor the Feast of the Visitation centering around the charitable act of Mary traveling the 81 miles to a town in the Judean Hills to visit her pregnant relative, Elizabeth.  They are both pregnant, Mary with Jesus and Elizabeth with John the Baptist, a scene that represents the cycles in the Life of the Virgin and the role Mary plays in the Christian Church.  In the Catholic Church, the Visitation is the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.  Mary declared her willingness to cooperate with God’s word and go to the assistance of Elizabeth, with whom she spends three months, leaving right before the birth of John the Baptist.   This Medieval Feast was established in 1389 by Pope Urban VI on the urging of the Archbishop of Prague, maintain that the purpose of the visit was to bestow diving grace to both Elizabeth and her unborn child.  The visitation is the first encounter between the two unborn sons, Jesus, and John the Baptist.   While still in his mother’s womb, John felt the presence of Christ, was cleansed from original sin, and filled with divine grace with Elizabeth recognizing the presence of Jesus.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth blesses Mary: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”   Mary became the mediator for the first time between God and man with our Church honoring her role with special feasts and devotions as “From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”   There is a statue of the Visitation at the Church of the Visitation in Ein Karem, Israel where the Franciscan Order bough the plot of land from an Arab Family in 1679.  There is a “fresco” (painting in fresh plaster) showing Mary approaching Judaea with the Franciscan local Superior presenting her with the model of the Church and also showing the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem at that time behind the altar of the Church of the Visitation. 

On Saturday, June 1^st we celebrate Justin the Philosopher (AD100-AD165), who became a bold defender of Christianity, regarded as the first great Christian philosopher.  When studying philosophy and the teachings of Plato, he said to embrace the teachings of Jesus.  At the time, Christians were subject to persecutions by state authorities, and he defended Christianity to Emperor Antonius Pius.  On his visits to Rome, his public writings brough attention to the authorities: “Is this not the task of philosophy to enquire about the divine.”  He became a gifted evangelist bringing many Romans from all levels of society to conversion.  Justin’s early Christian expressions on the Eucharist: “This food is called among us the Eucharist.  For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ Our Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.”  He was martyred during the persecution of Maximus and canonized pre-congregation with his relics placed at St. John the Baptist near Rome, and at the Church of the Jesuits in Valletta, Malta.  In 1873, a noble Italian Family in possessions of Justins remains sent them to a priest in Baltimore, Maryland to be displayed at St. Mary’s Church.  In 1989 his remains were given a proper burial with the Vatican’s approval.  

On Friday, May 31^st the St. Catherine of Siena Parish and School will sponsor the Cincitalia Fest at Harvest Home Park in Cheviot.  Many delicious Italian specialty dishes will be offered for this 3-day event.   San Antonio Church will have their popular Bruschetta Booth with major help setting up the refrigeration and prep table by Andy Ciolino and the LaRosa Pizzeria Family.  They also supply all the bruschetta mixture, breads, and paper products to help our church have a successful fundraiser.  Harry Panaro and his large extended family and close friends will supply their expertise to make us all proud, but there are always volunteers needed so, consider working a shift at our booth.  The Cincitalia Fest runs from May 31^st Adults Only (6PM-12AM), Saturday June 1^st (3PM-11PM), and Sunday June 2^nd (1PM-9 PM).

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 May 19, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, 50 days after Easter, we honor the day as promised by Christ, the Holy Spirit descended onto Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Apostles, and Disciples in the form of tongues of fire while in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks. The presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Pentecost highlights her role in the divine concession of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles.  The image of Pentecost is of the Virgin Mary seated in the center among the Apostles with flames resting over the tops of their heads.  Pentecost is the culmination of the Paschal Season that began in Holy Week the time to strengthen the Lord’s followers to believe in and to proclaim the Gospel.  On the vigil of Pentecost, it is custom to bless flowers, fields, and fruit trees.  Also called Whitsunday in Ireland and the United Kingdom.  In the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is referred to as Trinity Sunday.  In Italy, the feast Pentecost is called “Pasqua Rosatum,” referring to the rose petals that are scattered from the ceilings of churches to recall the miracle of the fiery tongues.  The red vestments used on this Sunday are known as Pasqua Rossa.  In many churches trumpets will be blown during Mass to recall the sound of the mighty wind of the Holy Spirit as it descends.   In the early days of the Church, Pentecost was a day set aside to celebrate Baptisms and later was a day to celebrate Confirmations.  In the tradition of Christian Churches, Pentecost represents the fulfillment of the promise that Christ will Baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit.  There is the legend that King Arthur would call on his Knights for a feat at the Round Table on Pentecost and in Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare mentioned Pentecost in Act I Scene V.    

On Monday, May 20^th we honor the special relationship Mary has with the Holy Spirit.  Each year since 2018, Pope Francis has designated the Monday after Pentecost the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church.  With this feast Pope Francis said he wished to “Encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful as well as a growth of genuine piety.”   Mary pondered the many mysteries of Jesus’ life that were brought into her heart at Pentecost.   She was bestowed the title because she gave birth to Christ, the Head of the Church and became Mother of the Redeemer before her Son gave up his spirit on the Cross.   In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, the Mother of God has a special from of veneration called HYPERDULIA, extended praise, and respect for the Blessed Mother.  A Prayer to Mary:  “O God, Father of Mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother, to be our Mother also, grant we pray, that with her living help your Church may be more fruitful day by day and, exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.  O Mary, Mother of Christ, and Mother of the Church, pray for us that we might be made worthy of the promises of your Son!” 

On Tuesday, May 21^st we have the feast of Cristobal Magallanes Jara (1869-1927) ordained at the age of 30 who served as the Chaplain of the School of Arts and Works of the Holy Spirit in Guadalajara.  He was then chosen to be the Parish Priest for his hometown of Totatiche where he founded schools, carpentry schools and participated in planning the dam of La Candelaria.  He worked evangelizing the indigenous people of Azqueltan where he founded a mission.  In 1914, the government closed the seminary in Guadalajara. He then opened an auxiliary seminary and within a year welcomed 17 students.  Over the next years, he wrote and preached against armed rebellions and was arrested on May 21, 1927, while traveling to say Mass at a nearby farm.  He was killed 4 days later saying to his executioners, “I die innocent, and ask God that my blood may serve to unite my Mexican brethren.”  He was Beatified on November 22, 1992, and Canonized on May 21, 2000, both by Pope John Paul II.  In the 2012 movie, Far Greater Glory, the fictional character “Father Christopher” shown in the last sequence portrayed by Peter O’Toole was based on Cristobal Magallanes Jara.

On Wednesday, May 22^nd we celebrate the feast day of Margherita/Rita Ferri Lotti (1381-1457), Rita of Cascia, an Italian widow who became a member of the Augustinian Community after the death of husband, Paolo Mancini, a rich short-tempered man who had many enemies.  Margherita/Rita and Paolo were married for 18 years until he was stabbed to death over a feud with the Chiqui Family.  They had 2 sons, Giovani Antonio and Paolo Maria who died of dysentery a year after they retaliated the murder of their father.  With the death of her husband and sons, Margherita/Rita, desired to join the nuns at the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in Cascia but was not permitted to enter their convent.  They knew of her good character and pious nature but as result of the scandal of her husband’s death the nuns were afraid of being associated with her.  Because she was married and not a virgin, she had many obstacles in her way.  She persisted for her cause and was accepted on one condition, she had to reconcile with her husband’s murderers and restore peace with the hostile families of Cascia.  Margherita/Rita then called on three saints, John the Baptist, Augustine of Hippo, and Nicholas of Tolentino for assistance her in ending the feud between the Mancini and Chiqui Families.  She was able to end the conflicts between the families and at the age of 36, she was able to enter the Monastery where she would remain until her death from tuberculosis on May 22, 1457, at the age of 75.  At the time of her death, the small wound that appeared on her forehead when she was 60 years old meditating before an image of the crucified Christ, considered to be a partial Stigmata was still present on her.  Margherita/Rita was bedridden at the convent and asked a cousin to bring her something from her old home, a rose.  Even though it was January, a single rose was in bloom in her garden and Rita received her rose.  She is often depicted with roses and on her feast day, churches and shrines provide roses that are blessed by the priest during Mass.  She was Beatified by Pope Urban III in 1626 and Canonization of St. Rita took place on May 24, 1900, with the title, Patroness of Impossible causes, abused wives and women whose hearts were broken due to conflicts within their family.  St. Rita’s Major Shrine is the Basilica of Santa Rita de Cascio in Italy.  A large Sanctuary was built in honor of St. Rita has become a regularly active place for pilgrims along with the home where she was born.  In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania there is the National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia built in 1907, that has now become a popular pilgrimage and devotional site.  In Kerala, India, the Church of St. Rita is the only Catholic Church in Kerala named after her and the only church in Asia to have relics of her.  In 2000, on the 100^th Anniversary of her Canonization, Pope John Paul spoke of her remarkable qualities as a Christian woman: “Rita interpreted well the “feminine genius” by living it intensely in both physical and spiritual motherhood.” 

On Saturday, May 25^th we celebrate the feast day of St. Bede the Venerable, (673-735), English Monk, Author, Scholar who is considered one of the greatest teachers and writers in the Early Middle Ages.  His famous work, the “Ecclesiastical History of the English People” written around 731, gave him the title, “The Father of English History”.  St Bede was thought to be the most important scholar of antiquity for the period between the death of Pope Gregory I and the coronation of Charlemagne, King of the Franks (Germans).   Bede is a name taken from the Old English name meaning   to bid or command.  When he reached the age of 7, Bede was sent to the monastery to be educated by Abbott Benedict Biscop, a common practice for young boys of noble birth.  He studied the Latin and Greek Fathers of the Church in the Monastic Library while researching books by theologians.  When he was 19, he was ordained a deacon and in 702 at the age of 30 he was ordained to the priesthood.  Becoming a skilled linguist and translator, Bede made the Latin and Greek writings of the early Church Fathers easily accessed by his fellow Anglo Saxons which then contributed to English Christianity, a few were lost but most survived.   He also wrote homilies for significant events in the Church and for Advent, Lent, and Easter.  Bede on Thursday, May 26, 735 during the “Feast of The Ascension”, sang “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit”.  By the 9^th century he became known as Bede the Venerable because of his holiness and by the 10^th Century the cult of St. Bede became popular and around the 14^th Century the cult to honor him spread to many Cathedrals throughout England.  In 1062, Bishop Wulfstan of Worchester dedicated a Church in St. Bede’s honor and later it became the Bede College in Rome, Italy.  Pope Leo XIII declared him Doctor of the Church on his Canonization in 1899, the only Englishman named a Doctor of the Church, and seen as an example for all monks to follow.  St. Bede is the patron saint of writers and England where his Major Shrine, the Durham Cathedral is located. 

Also, on Saturday May 25^th we recognize Pope Gregory VII (1015-1085) born Hildebrand or in Italian “Ildebrando di Sovana”, in central Italy, now Tuscany, the son of a blacksmith.  He was sent to Rome as a young boy to study at the Monastery of St. Mary of the Aventine, choosing to be a monk.   After being sent to Germany, Hildebrand returned to Rome with Abbot Bruno, later Pope Leo IX who would name him a Deacon and Papal Administrator and sent him to Tours France as his Legate.  After the death of Pope Leo IX, the new Pope Victor II named him Legate.  Hildebrand was named Archdeacon of the Roman Church between the years 1058-1059, becoming the most important figure in the Papal Administration who worked for the election for Pope Alexander II in the Papal Election of 1061.  He played a big part in the reconciliation with the Norman Kingdom of southern Italy, the anti-German alliance in Northern Italy giving Cardinals exclusive rights when electing a new pope. Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) was elected pope on the death of Alexander II it was said: “We chose then our Archdeacon Hildebrand to be Pope and successor to the Apostle, and to be henceforward and forever the name of Gregory.”  When he was consecrated a Bishop and enthroned as Pope on June 29^th, 1073, on the Feast of St. Peter’s Chair he was seen as a devout man with divine knowledge and a distinguished love of equity and justice.  Pope Gregory VII was the 1^st Pope that introduced the policy of obligatory celibacy for the clergy.  Up until that time, they were allowed to marry.  One of the decrees enacted by Pope Gregory VII that only the Pope could appoint or depose bishops or move them from See to See.  Pope Gregory VII the Confessor died on May 25, 1085, in Salerno, Italy and was beatified by Pope Gregory XIII in 1584 at St. Peter’s Basilica and Canonized in the Papal States by Pope Benedict XIII on May 24, 1728.  “He was seen as a man of good behavior, blameless, modest, sober, chaste, given to hospitality, and one that ruleth well in his own house.” In 1965, Pope Paul VI said Gregory VII was instrumental in affirming the tenet that Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament. 

On May 25^th we also celebrate the Italian Carmelite nun and mystic, Mary Magdalene de Pazzi.  Born Caterine Lucrezia de Pazzi in Florence, Italy to devout parents who became a saintly child who would meditate on Christ’s Passion.  While still a young child she taught other girls to pray and shared what she learned in catechism with her friends.  In 1580, at the age of 14 she was sent by her father to be educated at the Monastery of nuns at the Order of Malta until she was chosen to wed a young man of noble breeding.  Caterina told her father she wanted to live a monastic life and he relented to her wishes, and she soon entered the Carmelite Monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Florence.  In 1583 she became a novice taking the religious name of Sister Mary Magdalene.  She suffered many ailments, severe headaches, fever, bodily pains as she lived in what St. John of the Cross called “the dark night of the spirit.”  She became terribly ill while having revelations about the sufferings of Christ as she offered up her own pain to God and accepting her suffering as sweet and pleasant.  Over the next 6 years, she recorded her experiences in volumes focused on consoling Jesus’ Heart and making reparations for all the sacrileges committed against Him.  She was the great mystic who was able to fulfill her duties with great care training novices, doing menial chores as she communicated with Jesus whom she considered her closest friend and companion.  She died in 1607, four years after being bedridden at the age of 41.  Two years after her death, Jesuit Vincenzo Puccini, her confessor published the life of the Carmelite nun.   Mary Magdalene de Pazzi was beatified in 1626 by Pope Urban VIII and Canonized by Pope Clement X in 1669 with her Major Shrine, the Monastery of Santa Maria Maddalena de Pazzi in Florence.  She is revered throughout Italy where many visit the statue of her in the shrine dedicated to her and where her relics are located.   There is also a statue of her in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and many works of art and paintings of her likeness.  A Prayer to Saint Mary Magdalene de Pizza: “You were wise beyond what any book could teach.  You came to know the deepest truths of God and life through your free embrace of every suffering for the love of God.  Please pray for me, that I may love God as you loved Him, and be devoted to Him as you were devoted.  May my life become a living sacrifice of love, poured out for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.  Saint Mary Magdalene Pray for us.”

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 May 12, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 2^nd Sunday of May, we honor all Mothers for their dedication, love, their contributions to their families, and society.  Their maternal bonds have saved and promoted peace at difficult times in our country.  In the history of our country, before Mother’s Day became what it is today, many women joined together to establish a time to come together to make a change.  After the American Civil War, groups of mothers met from opposite sides of our country to reach out to the mothers who had sons who fought in or died in the Civil War.  Many of those young men from both sides were away from home for up to 4 years as 2 million served in the North with 750,000 fighting in the South with 820,000 casualties on both sides.   Since that time, Mothers have met to assist their families, aid those in need and have been the glue that holds everyone together.  Please join all our San Antonio Church Families in our Hall after Mass for a delicious breakfast prepared by the men of parish.  A Prayer for Motherhood: “Good Saint Gerard, powerful intercessor before the throne of God, Wonder Worker of our day, I call upon you and seek your aid.  You who on earth always fulfilled God’s design, help me to do the Holy Will of God.  Please ask the Master of Life, from Whom all parenthood proceeds, to render me fruitful in offspring, that I may raise up children to God in this life and heirs to the Kingdom of His glory in the world to come.  Dear Mother Mary, please speak to Jesus for me.  Amen.”  God Bless all Mothers!               

On Monday, May 13^th, we honor Our Lady of Fatima and the 6 appearances she made to the 3 peasant children in the village of Fatima in Portugal in 1917.  This area near Fatima has become a site for many pilgrims seeking some sort of healing and over the years millions have journeyed to this holy site.  On the 50^th Anniversary of the 1^st Vision, over a million-faithful gathered at Fatima to hear Pope Paul VI say Mass and pray for peace.  On the 100^th Anniversary of the vision in 2017, Pope Francis canonized as saints the pious siblings who saw the visions – making them the youngest non martyred children to become saints.  A prayer to recite for special graces from God: “O Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, you were pleased to appear to the children of Fatima and reveal a glorious message.  We implore you, inspire our hearts a fervent love for the recitation of the Rosary.  By meditating on the mysteries of the redemption that are recalled therein may we obtain the graces and virtues that we ask, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.”   

On Tuesday, May 14^th, we honor the Apostle Mathias chosen as an Apostle after Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus.  As followers of Jesus gathered together, they prayed and drew lots to see who the new apostle would be.  Peter proposed to the 120 assembled disciples to pick Mathias as the new Apostle who had been with Christ from the beginning of His public ministry.  Peter said: “He was one of the men who accompanied us during the time Jesus was among us, beginning from the Baptism of John until the day Jesus was taken from us with Mathias being a witness to Christ’s Resurrection.”   St. Mathias is said to have planted the seeds of faith around Cappadocia and along the coasts of the Caspian Sea as he preached the Gospel into the interior of Ethiopia.  He showed himself worthy of being an Apostle being included in the Roman Calendar in the 11^th Century.  In 1969, in the revision of the General Roman Calendar, his feast day was changed to May 14^th so as not to celebrate it during Lent.  It was moved to be near the Solemnity of the Ascension, when the Acts of Apostles recounted Mathias be ranked with the 12 Apostles.  He died in AD 89 in Jerusalem, was canonized pre-congregation, and is considered the patron saint of Great Falls-Billings, Montana, perseverance, and hope.  Mother of Emperor Constantine, Empress Helena is said to have brought St. Mathias the Apostle’s remains to Italy and interred them in the Abbey of Santa Giustina, Padua.

On Wednesday, May 15^th, we celebrate St. Isadore the Farmer, a Spanish farmworker, revered as the Catholic Patron Saint of Farmworkers or Labrador’s, those who work the land.  He was named in honor of St. Isadore of Seville, Isidro de Merlo y Quintana.  He worked for landowner, Juan de Vargas, who treated him like a brother and trusted Isadore enough to make him a Bailiff for his entire estate.  He became the broker and representative providing many services to keep Juan’s land fruitful.  Isadore would marry Maria Torribia (Santa Maria de la Cabeza) and they welcomed a son who would die as a young child.  After their son’s passing, Isadore, and Maria both practiced abstinence and chose to live apart in separate homes feeding and caring for the poor.  Every morning, Isadore attended Mass before working on the farm with legends portraying angel helpers and oxen doing his chores, so his work was not neglected while he was in church.  He died on May 15, 1130, at the age of 59 with over 438 miracles attributed to him especially those   members of the royal family who sought his intercession for cures.  Isadore was Beatified on May 2, 1619, and Canonized on March 12, 1622.  In 1769, the remains of St. Isadore and his wife Maria were relocated to the San Isidro Church in Madrid in a sepulcher that has nine locks with only one master key held by the King of Spain.

Opening of the locked sepulcher can only be performed by the Archbishop of Madrid on the authorization of the King and has not been opened since 1985.   On May 15^th towns in Spain venerate St. Isadore and his wife, Blessed Maria Torribia with blessing of the fields as many celebrations are held with a carnival atmosphere of floats, women in flamenco dresses, and caballeros on dancing horses while festival goers drink a mixture of brandy and energy drink that is named for him.  On the feast day of St. Isadore, the home of his master, Juan de Vargas, “Casa de San Isidro”, now a museum will be visited by devotees who revere the Saint.  There is also a chapel built on the exact site where the Saint lived and died that honors those important events in the history of Spain. 

On Saturday, May 18^th we honor the feast day of St. John I, the 1^st Pope named John in the history of the early Church.  Born in Tuscany, Italy he became the Bishop of Rome in 523 and is known for being sent to Constantinople to negate the treatment of Arians. He was frail when he was elected Pope and at that time, the Church had only 7 Deacons; men of the Jerusalem Christian Community ordained to help the Apostles distribute provisions to the widows of the Greek speaking Jews.   During his Papal Reign, Italy was under the rule of a king who adhered to the Arian heresy that Christ was a created being rather than the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.  The Arian King expected Pope John to accept his stance and then intercede with the Eastern emperor on behalf of the heretics which would lead to his imprisonment, starvation and to his being martyred.   Pope John I was the Bishop of Rome from August 13, 523 until his death on May 18, 526 and is venerated in Ravenna and Tuscany.  He became canonized by pre-congregation (without the lengthy process of qualification) and is credited in the Liber Pontificalis (book of Popes) for making repairs to the cemeteries of the earliest Martyrs, and especially those in the cemetery of Priscillia.  His body was taken to Rome and is buried in the Basilica of St. Peter. 

Also On Saturday, May 18^th, we celebrate Armed Forces Day to honor the men and women who at present are on active duty, serving in the Military.  This 3^rd Saturday closes Armed Forces Week, the week-long event that starts on May 11^th -May 18^th to show appreciation for the contributions of the members of the Armed Forces, for their service, past and present.  Military Appreciation Week addresses   the challenges that military communities face and the experiences of those service members, veterans, and their families.  A consolidated Armed Forces Day was established in 1950 to honor those serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, and later the Space Force, and National Guard as a way to highlight their service, the sacrifices of their spouses and families, as they respond when called to deploy to defend our freedom.  As a way to expand public awareness of the military role in civilian life, many Military bases hold special events, open houses, and flyovers, and air shows to show   the importance of a strong military presence in our ever-changing world.

On Sunday, May 19^th, Elder High School Gym located at 3900 Vincent Ave in Price Hill will welcome all families for the 17^th Annual Family Rosary Rally and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.   Sponsored by the Purcell Council 2798-Knights of Columbus beginning at 1:30 PM with handicap parking by Schaefer Center and at Seton High School parking Garage.  A good friend and benefactor, to our church, the late Guy Langenbrunner introduced this wonderful event to our San Antonio Church community so, please considered joining friends from other parishes for this wonderful Sunday afternoon of prayer and reflection.

Our next big event at San Antonio Church is the Cincitalia Fest schedule for Friday, May 31^st, Saturday June 1^st, and Sunday June 2^nd, sponsored by St. Catharine of Siena Parish at Harvest Home Park on North Bend Road in Cheviot.    Our San Antonio Church Community will operate our popular Bruschetta Booth under the direction of chairman, Harry Panaro and the La Rosa Pizzeria Family who donates the many gallons of the delicious tomato mixture and the thick ciabatta that is always sells out to benefit the students at St. Catharine of Siena School and San Antonio Church. We will need volunteers for this fun event that includes live music, many food booths, the Fuscaldese Society Cookie and Cannoli Booth, Gaby’s Cafe Booth, La Rosa’s Pizza and Rondo’s Booths, the United Italian Society Booth and the many Cincitalia Booths offering many regional Italian dishes, wine, beer, and games for all ages.  Please check out the sign- up sheet in the Hall after Mass to cover the many shifts for this 3-day event.

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 May 5, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, we send our condolences to the Panaro, Nugent, Werle, Carroll, and Marckesano Families on the passing of Mary Josephine (Panaro) Nugent on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the age of 98.  She was the oldest of the Panaro siblings born to the late Rose Marckesano and John Panaro who were married at San Antonio Church in 1924.   Mary Josephine’s father, John (1903-1986) was one of the first generation of Italian American siblings along with the late Dena (Panaro) Minella, Eugene, Frank, Anthony, Mary (Panaro) La Rosa Frank, Lawrence, and William born to Josephine Palmieri and Lawrence Panaro who resided at 1998 Queen City Avenue.  Mary Josephine’s mother, Rose (Marckesano) Panaro was one of 10 siblings.  They are the late Jimmy, Anna, Louise, Ralph, Philomena, Jeannie, Nellie, Mary, Susie, born to Maddalena Dalessandro and Pasquale Marckesano.  The Panaro and Marckesano Families were founders and strong supporters of San Antonio Church established in 1922 and celebrated the marriage of their children, with the first wedding held in their first new church building in 1924 (current church was built in 1941).  Josephine Panaro Nugent named for her grandmother Mary Josephine Panaro, grew up in the Little Italy area of the South Fairmount neighborhood near her Panaro, Palmieri, Marckesano, Minella, Dalessandro, Grieco, and Guerrera cousins at the John Panaro homestead on 1926 Horton Street.  Her mother Rose died on April 3, 1947, at the young age of 39, leaving Mary Josephine and her siblings the late Shriley, Delores, Gilda, Joanie, Larry, John, and the youngest Toni (living) and her father to cope without a mother and wife.   

Mary “Mae” Josephine enjoyed bowling with her aunt, Louise Marckesano Studt and was on various teams including her uncle Larry Panaro’s, who sponsored her team when his fruit market was located in Hartwell.  She was a big part of all the Panaro reunions and attended all the monthly Daughters of Josephine (named after Grandma Josephine Panaro) Luncheons with her cousins.  While raising her three children, Judy Werle, the late Raymond Nugent and Diane Carroll, Josephine supported her family working many jobs later retiring from Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company.  She was the revered typical Italian Grandma to Jeff (Julie) Werle, Jenny Camardo (Nick), Jamie Hughes (Brad), the late Dena Nugent, Nicole Carroll, and Courtney Main (Will) and Great Grandma to 13.  She was a member of San Antonio Church throughout her life and many of our current parishioners remember her from attending our events.   Besides her brothers, Larry and Johnny and sister Toni, she also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who are present-day members of our church. 

In January of this year, Mary Josephine (Mae) was interviewed by Bob Herzog from Channel 12 for the next instalment for the canonization of Sr. Blandina Segale, Servant of God where she recalled the memories of our beloved Sister of Charity working among the Italian immigrants in the early days of our church.    Mary Josephine (Panaro) Nugent’s Funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Victory Church on April 29, 2024.   Please keep her family and many friends in your prayers.                                                   

We also send our sincere condolences to the Ellerhorst and Pugil Families on the passing of Julie Ann Ellerhorst, MD, PhD (1954-2024), one of 7 children born to the late Robert and Marian (Reck) Ellerhorst.  She graduated from St. Ursula Academy in 1972 before moving to Houston, Texas where she attended St. Thomas University, graduating with a BS in Biology.  Before her 30^th birthday, Julie received her Medical Degree from Baylor College of Medicine while doing her residency at Baylor.  Julie completed her Ph.D. studies at the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Houston in 1998, one of the 1^st physicians to achieve this milestone working full-time in patient care and cancer research.  Her research involved being a mentor to international colleagues and writing manuscripts for publication.   After the diagnose of Parkinson’s Julie and her husband Gerry relocated back to Houston where she died on April 20, 2024, with her loving husband, Gerry, and beloved rescue dog Hannah at her side.  Beside her loving husband Gerry Pugil, Julie’s siblings Jan (David)Stockton, Cindy (late Daryl) Reed, Gary (Robin) Ellerhorst, D. Peter (Jenny) Ellerhorst, Brian (Rosario) Ellerhorst, and our parishioners, Gregg, and Lisa Ellerhorst.  All of our parishioners from San Antonio Church send their condolences and prayers to the many members of the Ellerhorst Family at this difficult time.                                     

When we celebrate the Month of May, we will be honoring Mary as May is dedicated to her.  Many families will honor her with a special altar set up in their homes, or by saying Rosary or attending May Crownings or Marian Consecrations to honor her.  Pope John Paul II called Mary the “Woman of the Eucharist” because of her important role from the Annunciation to the Cross and to the Resurrection.  When Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that “Mary, living Tabernacle of God made flesh, is the Ark of the Covenant, in whom the Lord visited and redeemed his people.  She was filled with the Holy Spirit when the presence of Jesus was within her, a joy which only he can give. When we welcome Jesus and bring Him to others, this is also the joy of the of Christians and the Church.”  We all hope and pray that Mary, the Woman of the Eucharist, intercedes for us, welcoming her Son into our lives; that we may follow Him and conform ourselves ever more to His holy will.  As we celebrate the month of Mary at San Antonio Church, please remember the May Crowning to be held next Sunday May 12^th just before our 9:00 AM Mass.  We are asking for children to participate in the procession and crowning on that morning.  All school-age children, boys and girls are welcome to take part in this yearly tradition that started in the 1930’s.   Please introduce your children or grandchildren to this lovely ceremony at our church; a sign- up sheet will be in the Hall after Mass today.  We will also celebrate Mother’s Day next Sunday with our annual breakfast in the Hall that is open to everyone. 

On Thursday, May 9^th we honor the Ascension, one of the great solemnities on the Christian liturgical calendar.  It commemorates the bodily ascension of Christ’s risen and glorified body 40 days after His Resurrection.  This tells us that He exists in corporal form with the father outside time and space, thus the concluding work of redemption and the pledge to all of us our own eventual ascension into heaven.  This is one of the Ecumenical Feasts that is celebrated universally and ranks with the feasts of Passion, of Easter, and Pentecost. 

On Friday, May 10^th we have the feast of John of Avila, Priest, Doctor of the Church, and Apostle of Andalusia.  The Spanish priest was also a scholastic author, religious mystic, and renowned preacher for his extensive ministry throughout the region of Andalusia.  At a crossroads in his life, John was inspired by a Franciscan Friar taking his advice to resume his studies in philosophy and theology.  While at the University, John met the noted Dominican Friar Domingo de Soto who also helped him find his life work.   John was ordained in 1526 and celebrated his 1^st Mass in the Church where both his parents were buried from.  In 1527, John desired to do foreign missionary work and prepared to travel into Mexico, accompanied by the 1^st Bishop of Tlaxcala, the Dominican Friar, Julian Garcia.   While in Seville on his way to his destination, John showed such devotion with his preaching skills while celebrating Mass, he attracted the attention of a local priest who told the Archbishop of Seville of this exceptional young priest.  The Archbishop saw the talents of this young priest and felt John could use his preaching as a powerful tool bringing the faith into Andalusia, persuaded by the Archbishop he decided to stay and preached his first sermon on July 22, 1529.  From that day on crowds filled the churches for all his sermons and for nine years John dedicated himself to missionary work in Andalusia reforming the clergy, establishing schools and colleges in cities, Granada, Baeza, Montilla and Zafra.  John of Avila also served as the first rector at the University of Baeza that was founded in 1538.  John lived with about 20 disciples hoping to establish an order or a formal foundation of apostolic priests. 

When John’s health started to decline, his dream never became a reality and he encouraged his disciples to join the Jesuits with the group of men now totaling 30 joining the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus.  John of Avila spent the last years of his life in the Province of Cordoba where he died on May 10,1569, and was laid to rest there.  The Jesuit Church of the Incarnation is his Major Shrine with the sanctuary dedicated in his honor.  He has been revered by the Jesuits for the work he started and his support for the Society of Jesus.  He was Beatified on November 12, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII and Canonized by Pope Paul VI on May 31, 1970.  On October 7, 2012, on the Feast of the Holy Rosary, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church before many thousands of the faithful at St. Peters Square.  During his homily, Pope Benedict said John of Avila was a “Profound expert on the sacred Scriptures, he was gifted with an ardent missionary spirit.  He knew how to penetrate in a uniquely profound way the mysteries of the redemption worked by Christ for humanity.  A man of God, he united constant prayer to apostolic action.  He dedicated himself to preaching and to the more frequent practice of the sacraments, concentrating his commitment on improving the formation of candidates for the priesthood, of religious and of lay people, with a view to a fruitful reform of the Church.”

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 April 28, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, we extend our condolences to the Grome, Hartmann, Oaks, and Hubbard Families on the passing of Elizabeth “Betty” (Grome) Hartmann on April 12, 2024, at the age of 93.  Loving Matriarch of Anna Bee, Bill, Angie, and mother- in- law to Shelby, Lois and the late Brenda and Darrell.  Cherished Grandma to 14, Great Grandma to 12 and beloved sister to Robert Grome.  She was a dedicated parishioner of St. Leo the Great and was a regular member of the Rosary and Communion Service every Tuesday at San Antonio Church.  Her funeral was held on April 20, 2024, at St. Leo the Great Church.  Please keep Betty’s family and friends in your prayers. 

We send our thanks to all the men from San Antonio Church for hosting the annual Mussie Fest and Lick Run Reunion on Friday, April 26th in our Hall.  The yearly event was started to keep men from the old neighborhood connected and over the years, brothers, sons, nephews, grandsons, and friends have shared their old and new memories at the evening of good food while supporting San Antonio Church.  We appreciate all the hard work of the men from our church who have shared their dedication to the future of our Little Mission Church. 

On Monday, April 29, we celebrate the feast day of St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) known as an Italian mystic and laywoman who became an advocate not only for the Pope but also in the politics of Italy.  At the age of six, Catherine had a vision of our Lord who appeared and gave her a blessing and from then on, she felt that He wanted her to do something special with her life.  She began to pray for an answer.  Catherine chose to not marry but became a member of the” Mantellates,” a group of holy women devoted to Dominican spiritually.  Catherine decided to give her life to care for the poor, called the Third Order of the Dominicans.  She loved working among the sick and cared for those with the most repellent diseases such as leprosy, at that time incurable.  When a devasting plague broke out, Catherine worked to aid them, even digging the graves, and burying the dead.  Her sound advice and wisdom were sought by civic leaders and the Pope.  At that time, the Popes had been living in France instead of Rome for many years due to unsettled times.  Catherine went to France for a special visit with Pope Gregory XI and when speaking to him said: “Holy Father, God wants the head of His Church to live in Rome.  I pray you will go there as soon as possible.”  Rome again became the home of all future Popes.  When Pope Gregory XI died in 1378, Catherine supported Pope Urban Vi against his opponents and was very loyal to him, even writing letters to princes and cardinals to promote obedience to him.  She tried to convince nobles of his legitimacy meeting with individuals at Pope Urban’s court.  Catherine lived an active and prayerful life following the model of the Dominicans.  On April 21, 1380, Catherine suffered a massive stroke and died 8 days later on April 29th with her last words “Father, into Your Hands I commend my soul and my spirit.”  She was beatified on December 29,1460, and Canonized by Pope Pius II on June 29, 1461.  She is considered one of the outstanding figures of medieval Catholicism because of her strong influence in Church matters and her extensive writings.    Pope Pius IX declared on April 13, 1866, Catherine of Siena co-patroness of Rome and on June 18, 1939, Pope Pius XIII named St. Catherine a joint patron saint of Italy along with Francis of Assisi.   On October 4, 1970, Pope Paul VI named Catherine a Doctor of the Church along with Teresa of Avilia (September 27, 1970) becoming the first women to receive this honor.  St. Catherine is considered the patroness of the Catholic American woman’s fraternity, Theta Phi Alpha and Pope John Paul II made her one of Europe’s Patron Saints along with Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Bridget of Sweden in 1999.  A prayer in memory of St. Catherine: “O God, You caused St. Catherine to shine with Divine love in the contemplation of the Lord’s Passion and in the service of Your Church.  By her help, grant that Your people, associated in the mystery of Christ, may ever exult in the revelation of His glory.  Amen.”

On Tuesday, April 30th, we celebrate the life of Pope Pius V (1504-1572) born Antonio Ghislieri, ruler of the Papal States from 1566-1572.  He was given the responsibility of getting the Catholic Church back on its feet after being shaken by the reformation causing dissension that was rampant during those years.   Pope Pius V had the task of conducting sweeping reforms called for by the Council of Trent and for the next 18 years, he ordered the founding of seminaries for the proper training of priests, published a new missal, Breviary, and Catechism.  He stablished the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) class for young Catholics.  In the Papal Bull of 1570, Regnans in Excelsis, Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth I of England for crimes against Catholics during her reign when she persecuted English Catholics.  After being elected Pope, Pius V wearing his Dominican white habit, canonized one saint, Ivo of Chartres and created 21 Cardinals, including Felice Piergentile who would later become Pope Sixtus V.    He died on May 1,1572 was beatified in 1672 by Pope Clement X and Canonized on May 22, 1712, by Pope Clement XI.  Pope St. Pius V’s Motto: “Oh that my ways may be directed to keep thy justification.” 

On Wednesday, May 1st we celebrate the Memorial of St. Jospeh the Worker in the Catholic Church.  Joseph’s description has been described as an artisan or carpenter working in wood, iron, or stone.   He is also venerated in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran Churches and is regarded as the patron saint of workers and the protector of the Catholic Church.  St. Jospeh is the spouse of the Blessed Virgin, the legal father of Jesus and guardian of the Holy Family.  His role in the Catholic Church is explained by German Theologian, Friedrich Justus Knecht: “St. Joseph’s high place in the Kingdom of God comes from this, that God chose him to be the guardian and protector of His Son, entrusting him with what was greatest and dearest to Himself, singling him out and especially blessing him for this office.”  The Church celebrates a Feast in honor of St. Joseph on 19 March and desires that all the faithful should honor him, ask for his intercession, and imitate his virtues.  St. Joseph is the special patron of the Church.  Even as he was the protector of the Child Jesus on earth, so, we believe, is he know the protector of the mystical Body of Jesus, His Holy Church.  We also seek his intercession for a good death, because, having died so blessedly, in the presence and with the assistance of Jesus and Mary, he should be supplicated to obtain for us from Jesus the grace of a happy death.  Churches, monasteries, and many other institutions are dedicated to him including St. Joseph’s Oratory, the largest Catholic church in Canada with the largest dome of its kind in the world-after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 

On Thursday, May 2nd we have the feast day of St. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria in the year 328.   He was a Church Father and noted Egyptian Christian leader of the 4th Century born into a Christian Family in Alexandria.  He was a Bishop at a time when the Church was split with his enemy’s   accusing him of all kinds of crimes, even murder. He was driven into exile three times, returning only to accept his see once more. He became known as Athanasius Contra Mundum Latin for “Athanasius Against the World.”  After returning to Alexandria, he spent his final years repairing the damage done during those years of violence, dissent, and exile.   His writings were well regarded by Church Fathers in the West and in the East with him being considered one of the 4 Great Eastern Doctors in the Catholic Church.  In Coptic literature, he is the 1st Patriarch of Alexandria to use Coptic as well as Greek in his writings.  His most notable writing is his Festal Letter, written to his Church in Alexandria while in exile when he could not be with them.  “I know moreover that not only this thing saddens you, but also the fact that while others have obtained the churches by violence, you are meanwhile cast out from your places.  For they hold the places, but you the Apostolic Faith.  They are it is true, in the places, but outside of the true Faith; while you are outside the places indeed, but the Faith, within you.  Let us consider whether is the greater, the place or the Faith.  Clearly the true Faith.  Who then has lost more, or who possessed more?  He who holds the place, or he who holds the Faith.”  On May 2, 373 after consecrating Peter II, as his successor, Athanasius died in his bed surrounded by his clergy and many faithful supporters.  It is thought the Athanasian Creed was compiled using his ideas and from his own writings. 

On Thursday, May 2nd is also the 73rd Anniversary of the National Day of Prayer.  Created in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman for a national observance to pray for the Nation.   There were other attempts to establish a National Day of Prayer by the 1st Continental Congress in 1775, by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, and amended in 1988 by Ronald Reagan who designated this day for the 1st Thursday in May.  Every President since 1952 have signed a proclamation for a National Day of Prayer.  Since 1775, there have been 1,526 state and federal calls for a National day of Prayer with more added every year.  This day belongs to all Americans as a way to bring citizens together from all backgrounds.  NDP Chairman Mrs. Shirley Dobson states: “We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep.  I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom too.”  The Theme for 2024, Lift up the Word-Light up the World with the Prayer: “For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.  For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.  This God-his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” 

On Friday May 3rd we celebrate the Feast of Sts. Philip and James, the Less both Apostles who are honored on the same day because their relics were transferred to the Church of the Apostles in Rome. Their names are mentioned in the first list in the Canon of the Mass.  St. Philip of Bethsaida was called on by Jesus himself to become His 8th Apostle and was called on soon after the Baptism in the Jordan River.   Philip worked to convert others and had the gift of raising issues that were on everyone’s mind and was remembered for playing a distinct part in the companionship of the Apostles.  At the last Supper, Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us.”  Philip traveled to Asia Minor where he preached the Gospel and was crucified there in the year 80.  St. James the Just so was called by the nickname so there would be no confusion with the other St.  James the Great who became an Apostle before him.  St. James the Just was a “brethren” or cousin of Our Lord and was a brother of the Apostle Jude and was considered an outstanding figure who then was appointed Bishop of Jerusalem where he was later martyred.  From an incredibly young age he led a life of penance and prayer.    James was given one of the first visions of the Risen Christ and was sometimes referred to as the Brother of Jesus.  After Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, St. James the Just became head of the Church in Jerusalem.  He was martyred at the age of 86 for honoring Christ as the Son of God.  A Prayer in honor of St. Philip and St. James the Less: “O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of the Apostles Philip and James, grant us, through their prayers, a share in the Passion and Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son, so that we may merit to behold you for eternity. 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 April 21, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 4^th Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the 61^st Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, a day for all of us to promote and invoke special prayers for vocations.  The purpose of this day is to fulfill the Lord’s instruction: “The harvest is abundant that the laborers are few; so, ask the Master of the harvest to send our laborers for his harvest” (Mt 9:37-38).  We hope that our young people receive the call to become followers of Jesus, possibly using their gifts and talents for the priesthood or a religious vocation.  God’s call to a distinctive state of life, married, single, religious life   with the Sacrament of Matrimony and Holy Orders that are designated Sacraments of Vocation.  On this day, we pray for the communities of men and women who have professed solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and for all those young Seminarians who are candidates for the Priesthood. These young men are working to prepare themselves spiritually, intellectually, and apostolically before becoming sacred ministers for the worship of God and for the sanctification of all people.  When receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders, one of the Seven Sacraments, the Bishop will pray over those men to confer spiritual power and grace to conduct their ordained ministry of the Church, to be sacred ministers for the worship of God and for the sanctification of all people.  A Prayer for Vocations: “Bountiful Father, your Son Jesus, urged us to pray for laborers for your harvest.  We pray for an abundance of priests and consecrated men and women to care for the needs of your Church.  Through the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Apostles, pour out your Holy Spirit upon our families.  May we encourage each person to discern and follow the vocations to which you have called them.  We ask through Christ our Lord.  AMEN.”             

On Monday, April 22^nd, we celebrate Earth Day, the annual event that was established on April 22, 1970.  The Theme this year is Planet vs. Plastics to promote and support the protection of the environment and for all of us to get involved in community service.  There is also an unofficial Earth Flag “The Blue Marble” taken from a photo taken by the crew of Apollo 17.  On Earth Day, many schools, communities and garden clubs plant trees, flowers, and shrubs in their communities. 

On Saturday, April 27, 2024, the 55^th Annual Earth Day will be celebrated in Cincinnati at Summit Park in Blue Ash.  The free event will run from Noon until 5:00PM with over 125 exhibitors highlighting local music, local vegetarian foods, activities, and presentations.  

On Tuesday, April 23^rd, we honor the legend of St. George, also known as George of Lydda, venerated as a saint in Christianity who lived during the 3^rd Century.  The legend about St. George occurred when a dragon caused panic in the city of Silene, Libya.  To keep the dragon at bay, 2 sheep were sacrificed and when they were not enough, then 4 were sacrificed.  Humans were then offered to calm the dragon with the citizens choosing who would be offered up.  The King’s daughter was then chosen to be sacrificed until George saved the girl by slaying the dragon with a lance.  For his efforts in saving the girl, the King offered George treasures which he used to help the poor.   The legend of the dragon changed the hearts of the town with the residents so appreciative and thankful at what they had witnessed, were baptized, and became Christians.  When George slayed the dragon, his lance was referred to as Ashkelon after the Levantine city in Israel.  During World War II, Winston Churchill used the name Ashkelon for his personal aircraft.  St. George has been venerated as a Military Saint since the Crusades and is highly respected by not only the Christians, the Druze and within some Muslim Communities.  He is considered the patron saint of England, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Malta, Ethiopia, cities in Spain, and Moscow, Russia and is renowned throughout the Middle East with Arab Christians seeking his intercession for an illness or problem at his shrine at Beit Jala in the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem.  He is also the patron saint of Lebanese Christians, Syrian Christians, Lebanese Christians and those Christians in Israel and Palestine.  The Church of Saint George in Lydda, Israel contains a sarcophagus believed to contain the remains of St. George.  George is honored by the Eastern Orthodox Church where he is hailed as a Great Martyr and in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in Egypt where he is called the Prince of Martyrs.  In the Church of England George is remembered with a festival on April 23^rd every year.  He was beaten and tortured for many years until his martyrdom, and it is said 40,000 pagans converted to Christianity during this time and also, the Empress Alexandra.

On April 23^rd we also celebrate Adalbert of Prague a Czech Missionary to the Hungarians, Poles, and Prussians, becoming Bishop of Prague, and a Christian Saint.  He is venerated in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church and is the patron saint of Poland and the Czech Republic.  He was terribly ill as a child and after he survived this serious illness, his mother and father dedicated him to the service of God.  In 982 at the age of 26, Adalbert was ordained a Catholic Priest and when the Bishop of Prague died, Adalbert was chosen as his successor despite being under canonical age.  He devoted his life to preaching and evangelizing while opposing those Christians who participated in the slave trade.  Adalbert proposed reforms and was met with opposition from those who rejected any reference to God or religion (secularism) and the clergy.  He was forced into exile and for five years he lived as a hermit in the benedictine Monastery of Saint Alexis in Rome.  In 993, Pope John XV requested his return to Prague as a Bishop.  On his return from Rome, Adalbert brought a group of Italian benedictine monks and then founded the Monastery in Brevnov, now the second oldest Monastery on Czech territory.  There was a lot of controversy between Bohemian clans and when Adalbert tried to protect a noblewomen accused of adultery hiding her in a convent.  When she was killed, Adalbert excommunicated the killers and knew he had to flee his archdiocese.  He requested to be an itinerant missionary and set out to preach to the families near Prussia.  He was not well received because of his style of preaching, reading from a book.  The group of Prussians had a society where communication was face to face when conversing.  Adalbert, reading from a book, came off as an evil action and the chieftain of the village struck him on the back of the head with an oar.  When he tried to preach at the next village, the locals called for the death of Adalber and his companions.  Wherever they went they received the same resistance with pagan mobs attacking them.  After saying Mass on April 23, 997, Adalbert along with his companions were attacked and killed by a pagan priest.  He was canonized as Saint Adalbert of Prague a few years after he was martyred with two shrines dedicated to him, the Prague Cathedral, and the Royal Cathedral of Gniezno.  The 1,000^th Anniversary of Adalbert’s martyrdom was held on April 23, 1997, in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Russia and many other nations.  To celebrate his life and work, there were representatives from the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Evangelical Churches who made the journey to visit Adalbert’s tomb in Gniezno.  There were heads of seven European Nations when Pope John Paul II visited the Cathedral and celebrated the liturgy as 1,000,000 faithful who attended also participated. 

On Wednesday, April 24^th the Catholic Church celebrates the life of Mark Rey who became known as Fidelis of Sigmaringen.  Born in a town in Germany (1577-1622) went on to attend the University of Freiburg teaching philosophy before going on to earn his law degree and   wanted to use his knowledge to help the poor.  He developed a deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, visited hospitals and churches all while offering his services as a counselor or advocate to those in need.  Serving those who could hardly pay him Mark- Fidelis became known “as the lawyer of the poor”.  He was a man of high morals and was regarded as a modest and meek man who soon learned that the law profession was not for him.  His brother George was a member of the Capuchin Friars and soon he entered the order taking the religious name Fidelis, Latin for faithful.  After studying for the priesthood, he presided over his 1^st Mass at the Capuchin Friary on October 4, 1612, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the order.  He became Guardian of the Capuchin Friary Weltkirchen, present day Austria where he not only preached and heard confessions but cared for the sick when an epidemic hit the city.  Because of his good works, many people were converted, especially the Calvinists.  The other Calvinists became incensed and threatened his life and those of his companions were with him in his missionary efforts.  He knew his life would end soon and signed his letters to his closest companions “P. Fidelis, prope diem esca vermium “Father Fidelis, in days ahead to become food for worms”.   While he was preaching to those who wanted to convert to Catholicism, Father Fidelis was told to flee for his own safety but was soon confronted by 20 Calvinists who demanded he renounce the Catholic faith Fr. Fidelis said: “I am sent to you to confute, not to embrace your heresy.  The Catholic religion is the faith of all ages, I fear not death.”   When Fr. Fidelis refused, he was beaten with his last words “Pardon my enemies, O lord: blinded by passion they know not what they do.  Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.  Mary, Mother of God, succor me!” After he was slain, Fr. Fidelis was buried the next day.  He was Beatified by Pope Benedict XIII on March 24, 1729, and Canonizes on June 29,1746, by Pope Benedict XIV with his Major Shrine located at the Capuchin friary in Austria. 

On Thursday, April 25^th we celebrate the feast day of Mark the Evangelist venerated in all Christian Churches that venerate saints.  Mark who was not an Apostle, was born in Cyrene, in North Africa now Libya.  He was one of the servants at the Wedding Feast at Cana who poured the water that Jesus turned into wine.   Mark was converted by Peter and accompanied him to Rome as an interpreter and wrote about the accounts of Peter’s talks on our Lord’s life and wrote down the sermons of Peter, composing the Gospel according to Mark.   He became the voice of St. Peter reflecting the views of the great Apostle.  His Gospel showed the demands of Jesus on his followers and how Jesus had suffered.  But it also showed that those who can endure such sufferings will be greatly rewarded.   Mark wrote the second Gospels in Greek for those Gentile who converted to Christianity.   Mark the Evangelist was sent on a missionary journey with Paul and Barnabus throughout the island of Cypress, after the Council of Jerusalem and would later be sent to Egypt to establish the Church of Alexandria and later set up the first Christian School.  He was seen as a brilliant Christian who was the first person to write a Gospel and was known to invent this form of religious writing.  He is often depicted writing or holding his Gospel and symbolized by a winged lion and is the patron saint of Notaries.    He died at age 66 in Alexandria, Egypt with his Major Shrine, St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.  There is also a Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral located in Alexandria, Egypt.  A Prayer to St. Mark the Evangelist: “God, our Father, You helped St. Mark the Evangelist with Your grace so that he could preach the Good News of Christ.  Help us to know You well so that we may faithfully live our lives as followers of Christ.” St. Mark The Lion, Pray for us!

Today is the last day to make your reservation to “The Mussie Fest”.  Those interested in attending call Dave Sabatelli at 513-405-6444 or email SAQUEENCITY@Gmail.com to reserve your seat $20 per person.

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 April 14, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter in the traditional Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.  Also referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday due to the Gospel reading assigned to it with an image that depicts God as the kind of shepherd who cares for his flock.   In some liturgical calendars, this Sunday was at one time known as the Feast of Our Lady, Mother of the Good Shepherd with the Franciscans celebrating this day as the Feast of the Holy Sepulchre.  In the Greek Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches, this day is called the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers for the role of the women who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry and remained with him during his arrest, execution, crucifixion, and burial.  They were mentioned in the New Testament who were directly involved and the first to pay a visit to the tomb of Christ in the early morning to find it empty after the Resurrection.  According to Jewish tradition, the women returned to the tomb every day for 3 days for brief burial preparations before waiting for the Sabbath to pass, then returned to anoint the body with myrrh.  When the Resurrection was revealed to them, they told the Apostles of finding the tomb empty.  The myrrh bearing women, especially Mary Magdalene is considered as the apostle to the Apostles.  In Western Christianity, they are called Women at the Tomb with several prominent Orthodox Cathedrals and Churches named in honor of the Myrrh-bearers.  In the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church, they are celebrated with a feast day for the “Myrrh-bearing Women on August 3^rd.    

On Tuesday, April 16^th we observe the feast day of Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879) known for experiencing the apparitions of the young woman who asked for a chapel to be built at the nearby grotto where she visited Bernadett.  The visions seen by Bernadett began in 1858 when she was 14 with the Virgin Mary appearing to her at a grotto near her home in France.  There were 18 appearances of Our Lady to Bernadette in 1858 between February 11^th and July 16^th at the rock cave located along the River Gave near Lourdes, France.  She was dressed in blue and white with roses at her feet and asked Bernadett to pray to the Rosary with her.   In the final vision to Bernadette, the Blessed Mother would finally reveal her identity “I am the Immaculate Conception” and then instructed her to drink from the natural spring that began to flow from the place of the apparitions.  Bernadette Soubirous reports were then reported and after a canonical investigation, the visons were then declared believable with the Marian apparition that came to Bernadette, named Our Lady of Lourdes.  In 1862, Lourdes became a place of pilgrimage with the approval of the Church and in 1864, a statue of the Virgin according to Bernadette’s description was placed in the grotto and dedicated in the presence of 20,000 pilgrims. 

In 1866, at the age of 22, Bernadette professed her vows with the Sisters of Charity at their convent in Nevers, France taking the name Marie Bernarde in honor of her Grandmother.  In 1876, Pope Pius IX granted an official decree of Canonical Coronation to the image as Notre-Dame du Saint Rosaire performed by Cardinal Pier Francesco Meglia in the courtyard before the Rosary Basilica was built.  Bernadette, Sr. Marie Bernard   worked as an assistant in the infirmary and as a sacristan until her death on Easter Wednesday on April 16^th in 1879 at the age of 35.  In 1901, the Basilica of the Holy Rosary was completed with Lourdes becoming one of the most popular sites of pilgrimages for healings that have been reported after bathing in the waters of the spring or during the blessing ceremonies with the Blessed Sacrament at the Basilica.   On June 14, 1925, Bernadette, was beatified by Pope Pius XI and canonized by him on December 8, 1933, with her Major Shrine, the Chapel of the St. Gildard Convent in Nevers, France where her remains are buried.    Over the years, the Marian devotion became popular with the image of Our lady of Lourdes copied in shrines, for homes and in garden landscapes.  In 1941, a novel, the Song of Bernadete by Franz Werfel was published about the events of the apparition and in 1943, a film was made from the bestselling book.  All recent Popes have visited the Marian Shrine with Benedict XV, Pius XI and John XXIII making their pilgrimage as Bishops.  Pope Pius XII visited as a Papal Delegate and issued an encyclical, Le pelerinage de Lourdes on the 100^th Anniversary of the apparitions in 1958.  Pope John Paul II visited Lourdes three times, twice as a Bishop, and also instituted the World Day of the Sick on May 13, 1992, in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

In 2008, Pope Benedict visited Lourdes to commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of the Marian apparitions.  In 2019, Pope Francis granted a canonical coronation towards a Lourdes image at the National Shrine at Our Lady of Lourdes in Quezon City in the Philippines that took place on August 22, 2020.  There are other places of veneration to Our Lady of Lourdes at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, the Internal grotto of The Church of Notre Dame in New York City, Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama, with many other located around the world.  The Catholic Church has formally endorsed Lourdes as a place for those who are ill to visit and bathe in the waters for healing and a possible cure.  Many pilgrims are said to be cured by drinking or bathing in the spring waters who are provided for anyone who asks for it free of charge.  The water was deemed pure and inert and is said to contain many minerals.    A Prayer in honor of St. Bernadette: “O God, protector, and lover of the humble, You bestowed upon Your servant, Bernadette, the favor of beholding the Immaculate Virgin Mary and of talking with her.  Grant that we may deserve to behold You in heaven.” 

On Friday, April 26, 2024, the Men from San Antonio Church will hold their annual Mussie Fest in our Church Hall.    The evening will begin with all the men coming together for a traditional Italian dinner in our Hall.  The Annual Mussie Fest and Lick Run Reunion will take place on Friday, April 26^th.  Doors will open at 5:00PM for this historic event open to all men who support San Antonio Church.  The tickets are $20.00 per person for an evening of great food and fellowship so, please invite your friends.  There are only 125 available seats in our Hall, reservations can be made by calling Dave Sabatelli at 513-405-6444.  There will be a signup sheet in the Hall this Sunday for this great event that brings all our families closer together.

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 April 7, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter in the traditional Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.  Also referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday due to the Gospel reading assigned to it with an image that depicts God as the kind of shepherd who cares for his flock.   In some liturgical calendars, this Sunday was at one time known as the Feast of Our Lady, Mother of the Good Shepherd with the Franciscans celebrating this day as the Feast of the Holy Sepulchre.  In the Greek Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches, this day is called the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers for the role of the women who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry and remained with him during his arrest, execution, crucifixion, and burial.  They were mentioned in the New Testament who were directly involved and the first to pay a visit to the tomb of Christ in the early morning to find it empty after the Resurrection.  According to Jewish tradition, the women returned to the tomb every day for 3 days for brief burial preparations before waiting for the Sabbath to pass, then returned to anoint the body with myrrh.  When the Resurrection was revealed to them, they told the Apostles of finding the tomb empty.  The myrrh bearing women, especially Mary Magdalene is considered as the apostle to the Apostles.  In Western Christianity, they are called Women at the Tomb with several prominent Orthodox Cathedrals and Churches named in honor of the Myrrh-bearers.  In the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church, they are celebrated with a feast day for the “Myrrh-bearing Women on August 3^rd.    

On Tuesday, April 16^th we observe the feast day of Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879) known for experiencing the apparitions of the young woman who asked for a chapel to be built at the nearby grotto where she visited Bernadett.  The visions seen by Bernadett began in 1858 when she was 14 with the Virgin Mary appearing to her at a grotto near her home in France.  There were 18 appearances of Our Lady to Bernadette in 1858 between February 11^th and July 16^th at the rock cave located along the River Gave near Lourdes, France.  She was dressed in blue and white with roses at her feet and asked Bernadett to pray to the Rosary with her.   In the final vision to Bernadette, the Blessed Mother would finally reveal her identity “I am the Immaculate Conception” and then instructed her to drink from the natural spring that began to flow from the place of the apparitions.  Bernadette Soubirous reports were then reported and after a canonical investigation, the visons were then declared believable with the Marian apparition that came to Bernadette, named Our Lady of Lourdes.  In 1862, Lourdes became a place of pilgrimage with the approval of the Church and in 1864, a statue of the Virgin according to Bernadette’s description was placed in the grotto and dedicated in the presence of 20,000 pilgrims. 

In 1866, at the age of 22, Bernadette professed her vows with the Sisters of Charity at their convent in Nevers, France taking the name Marie Bernarde in honor of her Grandmother.  In 1876, Pope Pius IX granted an official decree of Canonical Coronation to the image as Notre-Dame du Saint Rosaire performed by Cardinal Pier Francesco Meglia in the courtyard before the Rosary Basilica was built.  Bernadette, Sr. Marie Bernard   worked as an assistant in the infirmary and as a sacristan until her death on Easter Wednesday on April 16^th in 1879 at the age of 35.  In 1901, the Basilica of the Holy Rosary was completed with Lourdes becoming one of the most popular sites of pilgrimages for healings that have been reported after bathing in the waters of the spring or during the blessing ceremonies with the Blessed Sacrament at the Basilica.   On June 14, 1925, Bernadette, was beatified by Pope Pius XI and canonized by him on December 8, 1933, with her Major Shrine, the Chapel of the St. Gildard Convent in Nevers, France where her remains are buried.    Over the years, the Marian devotion became popular with the image of Our lady of Lourdes copied in shrines, for homes and in garden landscapes.  In 1941, a novel, the Song of Bernadete by Franz Werfel was published about the events of the apparition and in 1943, a film was made from the bestselling book.  All recent Popes have visited the Marian Shrine with Benedict XV, Pius XI and John XXIII making their pilgrimage as Bishops.  Pope Pius XII visited as a Papal Delegate and issued an encyclical, Le pelerinage de Lourdes on the 100^th Anniversary of the apparitions in 1958.  Pope John Paul II visited Lourdes three times, twice as a Bishop, and also instituted the World Day of the Sick on May 13, 1992, in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

In 2008, Pope Benedict visited Lourdes to commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of the Marian apparitions.  In 2019, Pope Francis granted a canonical coronation towards a Lourdes image at the National Shrine at Our Lady of Lourdes in Quezon City in the Philippines that took place on August 22, 2020.  There are other places of veneration to Our Lady of Lourdes at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, the Internal grotto of The Church of Notre Dame in New York City, Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama, with many other located around the world.  The Catholic Church has formally endorsed Lourdes as a place for those who are ill to visit and bathe in the waters for healing and a possible cure.  Many pilgrims are said to be cured by drinking or bathing in the spring waters who are provided for anyone who asks for it free of charge.  The water was deemed pure and inert and is said to contain many minerals.    A Prayer in honor of St. Bernadette: “O God, protector, and lover of the humble, You bestowed upon Your servant, Bernadette, the favor of beholding the Immaculate Virgin Mary and of talking with her.  Grant that we may deserve to behold You in heaven.” 

On Friday, April 26, 2024, the Men from San Antonio Church will hold their annual Mussie Fest in our Church Hall.    The evening will begin with all the men coming together for a traditional Italian dinner in our Hall.  The Annual Mussie Fest and Lick Run Reunion will take place on Friday, April 26^th.  Doors will open at 5:00PM for this historic event open to all men who support San Antonio Church.  The tickets are $20.00 per person for an evening of great food and fellowship so, please invite your friends.  There are only 125 available seats in our Hall, reservations can be made by calling Dave Sabatelli at 513-405-6444.  There will be a signup sheet in the Hall this Sunday for this great event that brings all our families closer together.