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 March 31, 2024

by Terrie Evans

Buona Pasqua! On this Easter Sunday, we honor the feast of the Resurrection of Christ the high point of the Christian year and is a day of celebration, rebirth, and new life.  In some churches, the Easter service will begin with the Paschal greeting: “Christ is risen! With a response: “He is risen indeed. “Alleluia”.   According to St. Bede the Venerable, Easter derives its name from Eastre, the goddess of spring.  Easter is also referred to as Pascha or Resurrection Sunday described in the New Testament occurring on the third day of His burial following His Crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary, 30AD.  His triumph over death and the cross in His Resurrection, which in the Synoptic Gospels is associated with the Jewish Passover as both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection took place during the week of Passover.  In European languages, the Christian Easter and the Jewish Passover are referred to by the same name and in the old English versions of the Bible, the term Easter was used to translate Passover or Pasch. 

In Medieval times, the Pasch was considered as a symbolic type of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the Eucharistic Sacrifice.  In the First Epistle of Peter, he declares that God has given those who believe “A new birth into a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  The Risen Christ is seen as the “first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20) and so is the model for the bodily resurrection of all the faithful on the last day.  It is believed that those who live and die with Christ and when Christ comes again, they will appear with Him in glory (Col 3:3-4).  It is believed that those who follow Jesus will be spiritually resurrected with Him, walk in a new way of life, receive eternal salvation, and with hope, dwell with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven.   

On this Sunday, we light the new Paschal Candle symbolizing the light of Christ rising in glory that rids the darkness of sin and death.  Our Paschal Candle has a Cross, Alpha, the beginning, and Omega the end, and the current year on it.  There are grains of incense and wax nails implanted at the ends of the crossbars and in the center of the cross.  The candle will be lit during the fifty days of the Easter Season until after Pentecost and then will be placed on the side of our altar and will only be lit for newly Baptized infants and for the Masses of Christian Burials.  On Easter Sunday many traditions or symbols are used every year such as decorating the altar with Easter lilies, or colored eggs, a custom that originated in the early Christian community of Mesopotamia.  Those eggs were stained red in memory of the blood of Christ that was shed at His Crucifixion, with the egg as a symbol of an empty tomb.  Easter Sunday is a public Holiday in Italy with many families waiting many hours to be a part of   Pope Francis’ Easter Mass at 10:15 AM in St. Peter’s Square.  After the Mass, the Pope will come out on the Central Loggia of St. Peter’s Square to deliver his blessing, saying, Urbi et Orbi “To the City and the World”.  The Pope gives this blessing only twice a year, at Christmas and Easter.  The main celebrations taking place in Rome for Easter are broadcast on the Vatican’s Official YouTube Channel Online. 

The week following Easter Sunday is referred to as Easter Week or the Octave of Easter, with each day, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday prefaced with Easter.  Easter Monday is called Pasquetta or Little Easter with the Pope making his Easter Monday address at noon on St. Peter’s Square.  Also called Luned dell Angelo “Monday of the Angel” part of the season of Eastertide or Paschaltide that begins on Easter Sunday and lasts until Pentecost Sunday, May 19^th, 7 weeks later.  To determine a universal date for Easter, the Anglican Communion, Coptic Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and the Roman Catholic Churches considered agreeing to simplify the calculation of that date for Easter choosing either the second or third Sunday in April as popular choices.  In 2022, there were conversations between the Patriarch of Constantinople, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Orthodox Churches to choose a common date for the celebration of Easter.  They are hopeful an agreement can be reached in 2025 for the 1700^th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea to be held that year.

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 March 24, 2024

by Terrie Evans

Palm Sunday, March 24^th marks the beginning of Holy Week and the last week of the solemn liturgical season of Lent leading up to Easter.  This day commemorates the triumphant day when Jesus entered Jerusalem with crowds of people greeting him laying palm branches at his feet. Palm Sunday is celebrated with blessing and distribution of palm branches to represent the palms that were laid before Christ as he rode a donkey, considered an animal of peace, into Jerusalem.  In history, it was customary to cover the path of someone who was thought to be honored and held in the highest esteem.   In the Christian tradition, the palms will be taken to their homes and will be placed next to Christian art, kept in Bibles, or affixed to a patron saint.   In countries where palms are not available, substitutes such as box, olive, or yew may be used.  In some regions of Germany, long branches of pussy willow or other twigs are used and in Ireland, silver fir, spruce, or cypress can be substituted with Palm Sunday referred to as Yew Sunday.  In Italy, olive branches are used along with palm leaves that will be placed above their front doors.  In some churches, the priest will take an olive branch and dip it in Holy Water for blessing the congregation. In Belgium, Palm Sunday Processions will be held with the Twelve Apostles leading the townspeople while carrying a wooden statue of Christ as children go door to door offering their long branches for coins to be given to the church.  

On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis will hold a special Mass at 9:30AM at St. Peters Square, Vatican City to Bless the Palms.  In ancient times, palm branches were symbols of goodness and victory and were often displayed on buildings or stamped on coins.  At the end of the Bible, people from every nation were seen honoring Jesus by raising palm branches.   The Station Church in Rome for Palm Sunday is St. John Lateran, the mother church of Roman Catholicism worldwide.  It is the highest ranking and oldest among the great Papal Basilicas of Rome.  Located outside Vatican City, it was consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I and it was where the Lateran Treaty was signed in 1929 which established Vatican City as an independent State and Catholicism as the official religion of Italy.           

Holy Monday, March 25^th is the second day of Holy Week after Palm Sunday as we prepare for Easter Sunday.  Some of the events that occurred on this day was Jesus’ pleading with the fig tree for bearing no fruit.  This scene was   directed at the Jews who did not accept Jesus, symbolizing the fig tree failing to produce the fruit of righteousness (Matthew 21:18-22) (Mark11:20-26).  Another event was the Cleansing of the Temple referring to Jesus’ reaction to the money changers cheating people when he expelled the merchants and money changers from the Temple.  The money changers in the Temple were there to convert the many currencies to use for the accepted currency to pay Temple Taxes.  The cleansing of the Temple is a commonly depicted event in the Life of Christ and those who questioned   Jesus’ authority, (Matthew 21:23-27) all taking place before His entry into Jerusalem. 

On March 26^th, Holy Tuesday, it is believed Jesus announced that he knew the time of His suffering and death.  Also called Great and Holy Tuesday, it commemorates the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) with the theme of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church.  The bridal chamber is used as a symbol for the Tomb of Christ. 

On March 27^th, we commemorate Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday to recall the clandestine spy Judas seated among the Disciples.  On this day, Judas betrayed Jesus with plans to hand Him over to Temple authorities when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper at a supper table along with his disciples. It was then that a woman named Mary anointed Jesus’ head and feet with a very costly oil that could be sold with the money given to the poor, but   Judas wanted to sell the oil and keep the money.  This was then Judas decided to betray Jesus by offering Jesus to the Sanhedrin in exchange for money.  The Sanhedrin was the highest court and governing council with 71 members of the ancient Jewish nation presided over by the high priest of the Temple.   Judas, the spy among the disciples chose Wednesday to betray Christ.  The traditional Tenebrae (darkness) service is held on Holy Wednesday, but if you are not able to attend church, you can have a Tenebrae (Darkness) service in your own home.  The service involves gradually extinguishing 13 candles by reading Matthew 26:14-25 aloud and pausing at   the end of each verse, to extinguish one candle.  When you get to the end, one candle will still be lit with this last candle symbolizing the light of Christ. 

On March 28^th, Maundy or Holy Thursday, this day commemorates the Washing of the Feet, practiced among many Christian groups.  Holy Thursday is also the Last Supper with Jesus and the Apostles and to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, instituted by Jesus on this night.  The title Maundy comes from the Latin word commandment to reflect Jesus’ words “I give you a new commandment.”  This introduces us to the Paschal Triduum for the days that commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.  In Roman Catholicism, the Chrism Mass is celebrated in each diocese, usually at the Cathedral as a celebration for priests, ministers, and deacons to renew the promises made at their ordination.  It was on the night of Holy Thursday that Jesus instituted the Priesthood and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Those also present at the Chrism Mass are called on to renew their baptismal promises.  Chrism takes its name from the holy oils, olive or vegetable oils consecrated by a Bishop for use in liturgical anointings at Baptisms, Confirmation, Holy Orders, the blessing of an altar, and in olden days, the coronation of a king.  These holy oils to be used in the sacraments throughout the year will be given to priests to take back to their parishes.  The term Holy Thursday is more commonly used in Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States where it is used in its modern English language liturgical books.   In countries around the world there is the tradition of visiting 7 or more churches on Holy Thursday, a practice that originated in Rome.  In Malta, Holy Thursday is known as Communion Thursday with the tradition of visiting 7 churches called “is-seba’ visiti”.   In India, the custom is to visit 14 churches on the evening of Maundy Thursday a tradition many   families have done on the Thursday before Easter.  In the Philippines. Holy Thursday is called Visita Iglesia, as the faithful will visit churches for prayer and recite the stations of the Cross.   Many churches cover their statues and crucifixes with purple cloths during the last 2 weeks of Lent, Passiontide.  For Holy Thursday, white covers can be used on the statues instead of the very somber purple. 

On March 29^th we solemnly honor Good Friday, the day that commemorates the Passion and Death of Christ for the salvation of the world.  It is observed during Holy Week as a Part of the Paschal Triduum with fasting and church services.  The Service of the Great Three Hours Agony is held from noon until three as Jesus sacrificial death on the cross in the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist Churches.  The day is set aside for worship services, prayer fasting and almsgiving and in the Moravian Church, a tradition if for the members to clean the headstones in the Moravian Cemeteries.  The afternoon liturgy on Good Friday is called “The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion “and consists of the Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion.  The Liturgy of the Word takes place when the clergy and those assisting ministers enter in complete silence and make a full prostration to symbolize the grief and sorrow of the Church.   Afterwords, special intentions will be said with those in attendance kneeling for a short private prayer.  Then the veneration of the Cross will take place as it is laid near the altar to be honored by the whole congregation kneeling to kiss the Cross.  For the final part of the Mass the Eucharist, consecrated on Holy Thursday, is distributed.  Afterwards, the priest and the congregation will depart in silence, the altar cloth will   be removed leaving the altar bare and it is customary to empty the holy water fonts to prepare for the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil. 

On Holy Saturday, March 30^th, the Sacraments are not celebrated on this day except the Sacrament of Penance and the emergency administration for Anointing the sick.  On this day, the Church keeps vigil at the Tomb of Our Savior.  The Office of Readings and Morning Prayer are celebrated with Midday Prayer and Vespers also are celebrated.  The Easter Vigil will begin at sundown.  Also called Joyous Saturday, it is the final day of Holy Week.

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 March 1714, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 5^th Sunday of Lent as we get closer to Easter Sunday it was once referred to as Passiontide before the revision of the Liturgical Calendar at Vatican II, the focus is still centered on the events leading up and commemorates the Lord’s Passion and death.  Since the revision of the General Roman Calendar in 1969, the term Passiontide is no longer used for the last two weeks of Lent although it is observed in the Church of England and in provinces of the Anglican Communion.  Pope John XXIII’s Code of Rubrics in 1960 changed the name of the 5^th Sunday of Lent to the First Sunday of the Passion with the next Sunday becoming the Second Sunday of the Passion or Palm Sunday.  The Station Church for this Sunday is San Pietra in Vaticano, St. Peters in the Vatican in Rome.  The original church built in 40 AD was erected by Emperor Caligalia on the site of the Roman Circus.  It is considered the heart of the Roman Church, and it is where St. Peter was crucified upside down because he felt he was not worthy to die the same way as Jesus and is buried there.  St. Peter’s is known for the relics that are in the possession of the Basilica.  There are reliquaries for the main relics and statues of St. Longinus with the Holy Spear, St. Andrew with his cross, St. Helena with the True Cross, and the most prestigious, St. Veronica with the relic of the Veil of Veronica. 

The story of Veronica comes from the history of the early church.   According to pious tradition, St. Veronica was a poor woman who Jesus had cured and as he walked the Via Dolorossa (The Sorrowful Path) on the way to His Crucifixion, she wiped the face of Jesus.  When she met Him again and Veronica wiped his face as he fell under the weight of the cross and miraculously, left his physical image on the face of the cloth.  During the Crusades, “a Veil of Veronica” was brought to Rome from Jerusalem in the 8^th Century on the request of Pope Boniface VIII with the likeness highly venerated since the end of the 10^th Century.  In 1207 the veil was publicly processed and displayed and during the 1^st Holy Year in 1300, the Veil of Veronica was one of the Mirabilia Urbis (marvels of the city of Rome) displayed to pilgrims when they visited St. Peter’s Basilica.  The image was misplaced in the 17^th Century with copies of the image turning up in France until the True Image was located hidden in a relic chamber and then shown every Passion Sunday to commemorate the final two weeks before Easter Sunday.  As bells toll, Vespers will be celebrated with the exposition to the faithful of the Veil of Veronica in the niche above her statue along with other relics shown on the 5^th Sunday of Lent.  The veil is kept hidden in a special chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica and shown to the world only on Passion Sunday.   Some believe the image is not located at St. Peter’s Basilica but in the Church of the Holy Face in Manoppello, in northern Italy.  Pope Benedict XVI was the first Pontiff since 1606, 400 years ago, when he visited the image in 2006.  The gesture of Veronica’s compassion for Calvary is shown on the 6^th Station of the Cross. 

Veronica comes from “Vera Icona” meaning the True Image of Jesus when in 1844, visions of Jesus appeared to Marie of St. Peter, a Carmelite nun living in tours, France who started a devotion to the Holy Gace of Jesus.  In her visions, it showed Veronica wiping away the mud and spit from the face of Jesus as he requested Sr. Marie establish a devotion to His Holy Face in reparation for the acts of sacrilege and blasphemy done to Him.  Those Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ will then be compared to the Veronicas kindness by wiping the face of Jesus.  Pope Leo XIII approved the Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus in 1885.  The Veronica Veil Holy Face Prayer: “Eternal Father, We offer You the Holy Face of Jesus, covered with blood, sweat, dust and spittle, in reparation for the crimes of communists, blasphemers, and for the profanes of the Holy Name and of the Holy Day of Sunday. Amen.”    

This Sunday is also the feast day of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland who was thought to have brought Christianity to Ireland.  He was born in Britain in 387 and was taken to Ireland at 16 by Irish Raiders He spent to work as sheep herder.   He spent 6 years working as a shepherd praying to God for help to return home.  The answer from God was to flee to the coast where a ship would be waiting to take him home for his mission to become a priest.  Patrick would use the next years of his life evangelizing in Northern Ireland that would convert thousands.  He became known as a 5^th Century Romano-British Christian Missionary and Bishop of Ireland.  He would stay in Ireland preaching, Baptizing those faithful, and building churches throughout the country.  When asked by a pagan King to speak about his God, he said:  “There is but one God, and the Three Divine Persons; The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit”  He then picked up a shamrock saying:  “Even as there are three leaves on this one stem, so there are three persons in one God.”   St. Patrick died on March 17, 461 and has been celebrated since the 9^th Century where in Ireland this day is celebrated as a public holiday.  

The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration was held in 1600 by St. Augusten who had traveled from Ireland to the Americas to visit an Irish priest Richard Arthur, and Irish soldiers in St. Augustine, Florida.  In the 1600’s St. Patrick’s Feast day was added to the calendar of the Catholic Church because of the influence of the Waterford born Franciscan scholar, Luke Wadding.  In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is considered the middle of spring with the weather improving for the planting of potatoes by farmers.   In 1737, Irish Soldiers in the English Military marched in celebration of St. Patrick in Boston, Massachusetts and in 1762 they would march in New York City.  In 1848, New York City held its first St. Patrick’s Day Parade complete with bag pipes and drums.  In Ireland, the first state sponsored St. Patrick’s Day took place in Dublin in 1931.  The week around St. Patrick’s Day is referred to as Seachtain na Gaeilge or Irish Language Week with Irish language events being held to promote the use of the language.  Since 1962 in Chicago, their river is dyed green and since 2010, famous landmarks in Ireland have been lit up to “Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day.  There are 300 landmarks in 50 countries that will go green for the day.  The Irish Prime Minister will meet with the President of the United States around St. Patrick’s Day to present a Waterford Crystal Bowl filled with Shamrocks, a tradition that began in 1952 when the Irish Ambassador to the U.S. sent a box of Shamrocks to President Harry S. Truman.  Shamrocks will be presented by the British Royals to the Irish Guards, a regiment in the British Army, a tradition started in 1901 with the first presentation by Queen Alexandra.  A Prayer in honor of St. Patrick: “O, God, You sent St. Patrick to preach Your glory to the Irish people.  Through his merits and intercession grant that we who have the honor of bearing the name of Christians may constantly proclaim Your wonderful designs to men.  Amen.”   

On Monday, March 18^th, we honor the feast of Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church.  Born in 313, he was considered a theologian of the Early Church and was exiled on more than one occasion for the policies of various Emperors.  He was known as a preacher and liturgist who was ordained a Deacon in 335, a Priest 8 years later, then Bishop of Jerusalem.  His writings contain the loving and forgiving nature of God and wrote of the healing power of forgiveness of the Holy Spirit.  Cyril wrote: “The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance.  He is not felt as a burden for God is light very light.  Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as the Spirit approaches.  The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen to console.”  During his life, Cyril was disgraced and forced to leave his position and his people behind but never showed any bad will to those who wronged him.  He lived the words he wrote about forgiveness.  He is venerated as a Saint in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental and Anglican Communion Churches.  He died in 386 at the age of 73 and in 1883, was declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII.  A Prayer to St. Cyril: “O God of Our Father, and Lord of Mercy, who has made all things with your word, and ordained man through your wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which you have made, give me wisdom that sits by your throne so that I might understand what your will is and be saved. For I am Your servant. AMEN.”

On Tuesday, March 19^th, the Catholic Church honors and celebrates St. Joseph’s Day, a major holiday for Italian Americans especially those of Sicilian Descent.  In the Middle Ages, there was a severe and devasting drought which caused famine, suffering and starvation.  Everyone prayed to St. Joseph for help to end this suffering with the promise to thank him with a great feast.  Their prayers to him were answered and an enormous feast was prepared in his honor for all to enjoy, especially for the poor and needy who all had seats at their banquet table.  The Heavenly father chose Joseph, a young carpenter of Nazareth to be the father figure to Jesus and the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.   St. Joseph was blessed with a vision of an angel of God saying, “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife.  That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son and you will call his name Jesus.”  He shared all the anxieties of a parent like the time when Jesus, who was presumed lost after their visit to the Temple in Jerusalem.  Because of much devotion to St. Joseph for his role in the Holy Family, in Italy, the holiday is also considered the Italian Father’s Day, known as Festa de San Giuseppe. 

Many Italians throughout Italy attend Mass to give thanks to St. Jospeh for answering their prayers and asking him to help them be better and more giving persons especially to those less fortunate.  On St. Joseph’s day many will do a service project, volunteer at a hospital, or give to the poor or charity with a donation in his name.  Parades will take place in many towns with the Holy Family:  Mary, Joseph, and Jesus portrayed by local people leading the procession.   When they arrive for the banquet that all are invited to attend everyone will say to the Holy Family: “Enter.  There is always room in our hearts and homes for the Holy Family.”  They will then be seated at a special table and be the first to be served at the banquet.  

In 1650, the Sisters of St. Joseph was founded and there are about 14,000 members.  In 1870, Pope Pius IX named St. Joseph the Patron Saint of the Universal Church.  According to Catholic Tradition as he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary, Joseph is considered the model of a pious believer who receives grace at the moment of death.   St. Joseph is invoked against hesitation and for the grace toward a holy death.  The Egyptians were also among the early devotes to St. Joseph along with the Servites, a religious order of Mendicant Friars who began celebrating St.  Josephs Day around the 14^th Century.   They started celebrating his feast day in 1871, when the Josephite Fathers of the Catholic Church were founded to work with the poor.  Under the patronage of St. Joseph, the 1^st Josephites in America devoted their ministry to working with the newly emancipated African American Community and in 1878, the Oblates of St. Joseph was established by Josep Marello.  St. Joseph is also the patron saint of fathers, families, carpenters, expectant mothers, and unborn children.  In 1955, Pope Pius XII added a second day, May 1^st celebrated as the memorial of St. Joseph, the worker who toiled as a carpenter and is seen as a powerful intercessor for those in the workforce and for anyone seeking employment.  Pope John XXIII added Joseph’s name to the Canon of the Mass in 1962.  It was inserted immediately after that of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in 2013, Pope Francis inserted St. Joseph’s name to three other Eucharistic Prayers. St. Joseph is remembered in the Church of England and also in the Episcopal Church on this day.  

On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis released his Apostolic letter, “Patris Corde”, on the 150^th Anniversary of the declaration by Pope Pius IX that made St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church.  Pope Francis then announced that the following year, December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021, would be set aside as the Year of St. Joseph.  There is a Catholic tradition of burying a statue of St. Joseph on the grounds of your homes as a faster way to sell a house.  A Prayer on the Feast Day of St. Joseph: “Let us make St. Joseph our Lenten Saint on the way to Easter.  May we have a semblance of His Humility, Great Faith, and Trust in God.  St. Joseph, Pray for us.”  

On Saturday, March 23^rd, we celebrate the Saint of the day, Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, Archbishop of Lima.  He was born in Spain, educated in law, and went on to become a Professor of Law at the University of Salamanca.  With his knowledge, Turibius cited all the Canons of the Law within the Catholic Church.  After his Ordination and appointment, as Bishop, he was assigned an enormous Archdiocese, visiting and most of the times staying 2 or 3 days in each place.  In his years as Archbishop, Turibius Baptized and Confirmed 500,000 of the faithful serving the Lord in Peru, South America for 26 years.  Among those who he baptized and confirmed are Martin de Porres, Missionary Francisco Solano, and Isable Flores de Olivia (St. Rose of Lima) who would all become saints.  He was known for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin, saying the Rosary every day and fasting every Saturday in her honor.  He worked for the infant Church of Peru and for everyone in his diocese, that they would be able to receive instruction and the benefits of the sacraments while traveling thousands of miles through the wilderness to say Mass.  He aided the Archbishop of Lima and was consecrated a Bishop in 1581 at the age of 43.  His Diocese extended 130 leagues along the coast or 390 miles.  He upheld the rights of Peru’s Indigenous Peoples while making sure he reached all who wanted to hear the message of Christ and receive the Sacraments.  He built roads, schoolhouses, chapels, and in 1591 founded the first Seminary in the Western Hemisphere. 

He built many hospitals and would visit patients, comforting the sick while administering the Sacraments.  Turibius preached penance saying: “Because sins are the cause of chastisements and infinitely the worst of evils”.  In 1606, Turibius became ill while visiting his Diocese and from his bed, he often repeated the words of St. Paul: “I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ.”  Many miracles were attributed to him through his intercession after his death.  He was Beatified by Pope Innocent IX in 1679 and Canonized by Pope benedict XIII in 1726 and is the Patron Saint of Native Peoples rights and Latin American Bishops.   There is the St. Turibius Chapel located at the Pontifical College Josephinum and the St. Turibius Parish in Chicago serving the English, Spanish and Polish Communities.  Pope Francis has compared St. Turibius to the great Italian, St. Charles Borromeo praising him for his Missionary zeal.

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 March 10, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On March 10^th, we celebrate the halfway point of Lent with Laetare or Rejoice Sunday using rose-colored vestments and altar cloth with the theme for this day coming from the entrance antiphon: “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her.   Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exalt and be satisfied at her consoling breast.”  Observed in Western Christianity as a countdown for the last 21 days before Easter Sunday it is also known as Mothering Sunday, for the tradition of visiting their mother church, the church where they received the Sacrament of Baptism, a tradition for Christians celebrated in the Lutheran and Anglican Churches.  A Collect Prayer of the Fourth Sunday of Lent: “O, God, through your Word reconcile the human race to yourself in a wonderful way, grant, we pray, that with prompt devotion and eager faith the Christian people may hasten toward the solemn celebrations to come.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.  AMEN.”

On this 4^th Sunday of Lent, the Station Church in Rome for this day is Santa Croce in Gerusalemme that was consecrated in 325 and originally part of the Palazzo Sessoriano home to Empress Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine.  At that time, Constantine converted to Christianity and ordered all pagan temples to be torn down and replaced with Christian Churches.  When she journeyed to the Holy City in the 4^th Century, Helena would dig through rubble from those demolished temples for anything that would lead her to the True Cross.   Her prayers were answered when workers found a block of wood with writing in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: Jesus Nazarenus Rex Ludaeorum, I.N.R.I. Jesus of Nazareth, King of The Jews. For her return to Rome, Helena loaded up her boat with a piece of the True Cross, a piece of the Good Thief’s cross, the titulus, the sign placed on the cross” Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, and some nails and thorns from the Crown of Thorns.  She also had the top layer of earth from Mount Calvary removed and placed the soil in the hold of the ship sailing from Jerusalem and then dispersing it all around her property in Rome.   

Helena then built the Basilica Sanctae Croce in Gerusalemme, the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, designed to house those relics from Christs Passion.  It was declared a Titular Church in 523 by Pope Gregory I and even though it was located on the outskirts of Rome, became a popular destination for pilgrims because of the relics housed there.  In the 8^th Century, Pope Gregory II restored the Basilica and years later in 1049, Pope Leo IX entrusted it to the Benedictines of Monte Cassino and when it became neglected, and Pope Lucius II restored it in the 12^th Century giving it a Romanesque appearance.  Around 1370, Santa Croce was assigned by Pope Urban V to the Carthusians until 1561 when the Congregation of St. Bernard took over, In 1601 Peter Paul Rubens was commissioned by Archduke Albert of Austria to paint his first altarpiece St. Helena with the True Cross to be placed in one of the side chapels.  In 1740, Pope Benedict XIV conducted more renovations and in 1743, the basilica was raised a few meters although the floor was not touched out of respect.    Some of the features are the marble tomb of Cardinal Quinones, the confessor of Charles V, two frescoes from 1745 depicting the story of Moses.  In the history of the Basilica, on Good Friday, the Pope would walk barefoot on the road connecting St. John Lateran, the official Cathedral of Rome to the Basilica of Santa Croce.  They did this as a sign of penance to venerate the Passion of Jesus.  On Laetare Sunday in Rome, Pope Francis will bestow a Golden Rose to an illustrious Catholic, states, churches, sanctuaries, royals, military figures, and governments as a token of affection. 

The Golden Rose is an ornament composed of gems and gold with an inner container of balsam and musk that bears a likeness to a spray of roses.  It is blessed by the Pope and symbolizes the glorious majesty of the Risen Christ.  “The Messiah is hailed the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys” as stated in the Bible.  Pope Leo XIII said: “The roses fragrance shows the sweet odor of Christ which should be widely diffused by His faithful followers”.  Pope Innocent III explained the mystical significance of the Golden Rose: “As Laetare Sunday, the day set apart for the function, represents love after hate, joy after sorrow, and fullness after hunger, so does the rose to the flower referred to in Isiah 11:1: “There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesus, and a flower shall rise up out of His root.” At one time, the Golden Rose consisted of a simple blossom made of pure gold that was tinted with red. Years later the gold was not tinted but rubies and precious stones would be placed on the petals and in the heart of the rose.  It was originally a little over three inches in height and was carried in the left hand of the Pope so he could bless the faithful with his right hand while in the procession from the Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Rome) to the Lateran Palace.  A vase with a large pedestal was added and during the reign of Pope Innocent XI, the rose weighed twenty pounds with a height of eighteen inches.  There will be a customary inscription with the coat of arms of the Pope who had the ornament made and that of who blessed and conferred it engraved on the pedestal. Many times, the blessing of the rose took place in a private chapel of their palace if the Pope was unable to visit Roman churches or basilicas.  The blessing now takes place in the Hall of Vestments with the Golden Rose set on a table that is adorned with lit candles.   Pope Francis will be vested in a rose-colored stole and cope wearing his miter headdress.  After the blessing it is placed on the altar at the foot of the Cross and bestowed on its recipient who could be a man, woman, married couple, a state, or churches. 

Up until the 16^th century, the Golden Rose was usually awarded to male sovereigns but later it was common to award female sovereigns or wives of sovereigns.  Principal Churches to receive the Golden Rose are St. Peter’s Basilica, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.  Some of the Popes made no awards of the Golden Rose during their tenure as Pope Pius X, Pope Benedict XV, Pope John XXIII, and Pope John Paul I did.  The practice was revived by Pope Pius XI and continued by Pope Pius XII.  From 1963-1978, Pope Paul VI made 5 awards, Pope John Paul II who reigned from 1978-2005 made 10 awards, and Pope Benedict XVI from 2005-2013 made 19 awards to Marian Shrines.  Pope Francis over the years has awarded 4 Golden Roses, all to Marian Shrines.  

On this Sunday, Notre Dame will announce the recipient of the Laetare Medal given each year on the 4^th Sunday of Lent as the American counterpart of the Golden Rose.  The medal awarded annually at Notre Dame to a Catholic “Whose genius has enabled the Arts and Sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church, and enriched the Heritage of Humanity”.  Established in 1883, the Laetare Medal bears the Latin inscription, “Magna est veritas et praevalebit” (Truth is great and will prevail).   Some of the past recipients of the Laetare Medal are:  Civil War General William Rosencrans, Operatic Tenor, John McCormack, the 35^th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, Catholic Worker Foundress, Dorothy Day, Novelist Walker Percy, Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, Monsignor George H. Higgins, Jazz Composer Dave Brubeck, and Actor Martin Sheen.                                             

Our San Antonio Church community sends their condolences to the Scarlato Family on the passing of their Patriarch, Alberto Scarlato who passed away on February 22, 2024, at the age of 90.   He was the Father of Gina (Scarlato) McIntyre, David (Judy) Scarlato and the late Joey Scarlato.  He was the beloved Grandpa of Sarah (Brett), Angla (Kyle), Bo (Emma), Olivia (Andrew), Kristin (Ethan), Colin, Isabella, and Joey.  Great Grandpa of Brady, Emma, Liam, Griffin, Luca, Isla, Hudson, Harper, Palmer, Poppy, Ellie, Anthony, and Vincent.   Members of the Scarlato Family have celebrated many Baptisms and Weddings at San Antonio Church over the years.   The late Gilda (Panaro) Scarlato (1932-2007) who grew up in the Little Italy of South Fairmount was the mother of Alberto’s children, Gina, David, and the late Joey.   Gilda “Jil” had many family connections within the San Antonio Church Community and also with the Marckesano, Panaro, Minella and Sheets families who also mourn his passing.  Alberto Scarlato was the son of the late Fiore (1890-1958) and Christine (Pucci) Scarlato (1892-1968) both born in Italy who came to America in the early 1900’s and settled in Cincinnati at 3234 Queen City Avenue.   Alberto was the beloved brother of the late Emil Scarlato (1912-1983), Hector Scarlato (1922-1973), Raymond Scarlato (9124-2003), Rudolph Scarlato (1925-2001), Loretta (Scarlato) Sheets (1928-2011), Margaret Scarlato (1932-1935) and Christine (Scarlato) Gundrum (1930-2018).  Please keep their family and friends in your prayers. 

On this Sunday,  prayers  and special intentions are needed at this time for Chuck Brisbin who has been hospitalized due to a serious accident.  His wife Susan (Schultz) Brisbin is part of the Gramaglia Family who have had a presence in the neighborhood of Little Italy and a history at San Antonio Church.  Susan’s mother is Therese (Gramaglia) Schultz who was a long-standing member of our church and part of the Men’s and Ladies Sodality. The Brisbin Family are well known on the west side and throughout Cincinnati for the popularity of Chuck Brisbin’s Blues Band, the Tuna Project.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers that he will be able to make a full recovery.

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 March 3, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 3^rd Sunday in Lent, we introduce the Station Church celebrated in Rome, the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, the Papal Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls.  Lawrence was of Spanish origin and martyred under Emperor Valerius with the Papal Minor Basilica named in his honor was one of the first seven deacons of Rome martyred in 258.  It is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome, once an estate built over a small oratory erected by Emperor Constatine that also keeps relics of St. Stefano.  This Station Church is a combination of two churches, the first built in the 6^th Century dedicated to the Deacon Lawrence and the other constructed around the 13^th Century by Pope Honorius III who commissioned a church to be built in front of the older one.  The Basilica is known for the frescoes and mosaics that depict scenes from the lives of the young deacons Lawrence and Stephen.   The Basilica was assigned to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem during the years of 1373-1847 and sits next to a major cemetery with notables in the history of the Catholic Church buried there.  Some of those from the early Church are Deacon of Rome and Martyr, Lawrence, Deacon of Jerusalem, and 1^st Martyr, Stephen, Pope Hilarius, Pope Pius IX, Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi, a founding father of the European Union, Pope Pius XII’s parents, Filippo who died in 1916 and Virginia (Graziosi) Pacelli who died in 1920, Pope Zosimus, Pope Sixtus III, and Pope Damasus II.  The Basilica was bombed in 1943 by American planes during the second World War doing much damage.  The restoration continued until 1948 as all the frescoes on the façade were destroyed and had to be completely rebuilt after the bombings.  High  360 degree  panoramas and images of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura Art Atlas (https://mcid.mcah.columbia.edu/art-atlas/ancient-and-early-christian-sites-rome/san-lorenzo-fuori-le-mura ).  

On Monday, March 4^th we celebrate St. Casimir, son of King Casimir IV and a Prince of the Kingdom of Poland who abandoned public life for a monastic life devoted to God. As a young Prince, he knew Lithuanian, Polish, German, and Latin languages and was considered an exceptional, intelligent young man of humility who strove for justice and fairness.  He chose not to marry and practiced a life of celibacy, exceedingly rare for a young man of his standing at that time. He died in 1484 on his way to Lithuania from consumption at the age of 26 and was buried with a copy of his favorite Marian Hymn, Omni die Mariae “Daily Sing to Mary”.  It   became associated to Casimir and known as the “Hymn of St. Casimir” as an official cult spread with a devotion to him after his death.  Pope Adrian VI canonized him in 1522 with special indulgences granted to those who prayed in the chapel where he was buried. Many of those pilgrims made special contributions for the upkeep of the chapel in honor of St. Casimir.  The likeness of St. Casimir can be found in Livorno, Italy and in Mexico City at the Metropolitan Cathedral with stained glass windows of Casimir located in San Jose, California at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph and in Chevaigne, France at the Church of St. Peter. There are settlements of Saint-Casimir in Canada, founded in 1836 and in San Casimiro in Venezuela that was founded in 1785.  A nursing home founded   by the Polish community in Paris, Maison Saint-Casimir was founded in 1846 and is run by the Polish Nuns, Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul.  St. Casimir is considered the Patron Saint of Lithuania, Poland, and Russia. 

On Thursday, March 7^th we honor Christian Martyrs from the 3^rd Century, Perpetua and Felicity who were arrested and executed for offering themselves as candidates for Baptism to become Christians and they would not denounce their faith.  They lived during the period of early persecutions in Africa by the Emperor Severus and along others were put to death at Carthage in the Roman Province of Africa in 203.  The four men martyred with the two women were catechumens, Saturninus, Secundulus, Saturus, and Revocatus.  During their arrest, none of the prisoners weakened before their judges as they said, “You judge us now, God will judge you”. Perpetua, a young, widowed mother is the Patron saint of expectant mothers, ranchers, and builders.  A Basilica was erected in Carthage, the Basilica Maiorum over the tombs of the Martyrs with an inscription bearing the names of Perpetua and Felicitas who were canonized pre-congregation.  A Prayer to Sts. Perpetua and Felicity: “Heavenly Father, Your love enabled the Saints Perpetua and Felicity courage to endure a cruel martyrdom.  By their prayers, help us to develop a love for You.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  AMEN.”

Friday, March 8^th we celebrate the life of John of God, who left home before his teens to become a foot soldier at the age of 22.  His company fought for the Holy Roman Emperor and was wrongly accused of theft as a young man before being pardoned and returning to a farm in Oropesa where he had once worked herding sheep.  After four years working as a farm hand, he enlisted to fight in Hungary as a soldier during the Franco-Spanish War fighting against the Turks. During the next 18 years, he would serve as a trooper in many parts of Europe. He was still unsettled and wanted to see Africa and work to free Christians who were enslaved there.  On his way there, John befriended an exiled Portuguese Knight traveling with his wife and daughters who were now ill and penniless from their possessions being lost during their journey.  After their arrival, Joao Duarte Cidade, John of God nursed them back to health while supplying them with food even though they were all treated poorly by the rulers of the colony.  During this difficult time in his life, he sought out the Franciscan Friary for an answer to what his life’s work might be and what God might want from him.  With the vision of the Infant Jesus in front of him, he was now to be called John of God and directed to travel to Granada, Spain.  On St. Sebastians’ Day, in 1537, he experienced a major religious conversion while listening to a sermon by John of Avila who would later visit him and urge John to tend to the needs of others, gaining peace within himself as he began to work among the poor.  He had help from the Archbishop of Granada and many ladies of wealth who wanted to assist in his work.   He went on to organize the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God in 1572 to care for the sick in countries around the world.  He cared for those with paralysis, the deaf and dumb, the lepers, the crippled, the mentally ill and those with diseases of the skin.   The Order of Hospitallers was approved by the Holy See and the Order would go on to be entrusted with the medical care of the Pope.  John of God died at age 55 on March 8, 1550, after developing pneumonia from saving a young man from drowning in the River Genil.  He was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII on October 16, 1690, and named the Patron Saint of hospitals and the sick.  A church was erected in 1757 to house his remains that is now a Basilica protected by the Knights of Saint John of God.  His Order has a presence in 53 countries operating 300 hospitals to serve all types of medical needs along with those needing mental health and psychiatry care.  The Family of Saint John of God who work to keep his vision alive are made up of more than 45,000 members, Brothers and Co-Workers who are funded by many thousands of benefactors and friends who support his work to help the sick and needy around the world.

On March 9^th, Saturday we celebrate the life of Frances of Rome.  Born Francesca Bussa de Leoni in 1384, an Italian Mystic and Organizer of Charitable Services.  She was Christened in the Church of St. Agnes located on the famous Piazza Navona.  At age of 11, Frances desired to become a nun, but was promised to marry the Commander of the Papal Troops of Rome, Lorenzo Ponziani when she reached the suitable age to wed.  In 1408 when the troops of Ladislaus of Naples occupied Rome, they pillaged their family home, and her family left to go into exile.  Returning in 1414, they lost two of their children to the plague that ravaged the city.  During these hard times, Frances never lost her faith or determination to serve others in need from the devastation of recurrent plagues that swept through the area or the civil war.  In 1425, she set up a group of women committed to the service of those less fortunate than themselves.  She inspired women from noble families to care for the poor and sick during times of famines and floods.  She turned some of the family estate into a hospital and distributed much needed food and clothing to the poor.  They were affiliated to the Benedictine Monks of Monte Oliveto, and with Frances’s example, the ladies sold their jewelry and fine possessions to help the needy.  They offered themselves in service to God for the poor known as the Oblates of Mary who were later called Oblates of Tor de Specchi (Towers of the Mirrors), the name originating from the house where they resided.  Frances chose not to live in the community but rather with her husband until his death 7 years later.  When Lorenzo died in 1436, Frances moved to the monastery and spent the last four years of her life as the Superior until her death in 1440 at the age of 56.  Pope Paul V canonized Frances on May 9, 1608, and in the next decades, a search was made to find her remains.  Her grave was found on April 2, 1638, and her remains were reburied in the Church of Santa Maria Nova on March 9, 1649.  St. Frances body was exhumed in 1869 and has been displayed in a glass coffin for the veneration of the faithful at the Church of Santa Maria Nova.  Since then the church is now dedicated to her as the Church of St. Frances.  Pope Pius XI in 1925 declared St. Frances the patron saint of automobile drivers with the legend of an angel using a lantern to light the road when Frances traveled to keep her safe.  In the Benedictine Order, she is honored as a patron saint of all oblates.  Oblates are those religious communities of men and women whose members are not solemnly professed but are dedicated to God under poverty, chastity, and obedience in their particular state in life. 

On Saturday. March 9^th San Antonio and our church community held a memorial Mass in memory of Rev. Frederick Serraino, C.S.C. for his family and friends who were not able to attend his Funeral on February 9, 2024, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the University of Notre Dame.  He was born on August 16, 1930, to parents Antonio and Philomenia (Mania) Serraino and grew up in the Little Italy section of South Fairmount.  After graduating from Western Hills High School Fred served with the 31^st Infantry during the Korean War.  On his return, Fred enrolled at Xavier University and earned a bachelor’s degree in English before moving to Los Angeles where he took a job working for the Douglas Aircraft Company.  He desired to teach and took a job in Wrangell, Arkansas teaching for the U.S. Civil Service Commission and was sent to Germany teaching school at a U.S. Army Base before returning to Los Angeles taking night classes at UCLA and offering his services as a substitute teacher.  His calling came in 1963 when he entered the Holy Cross Seminary with his Ordination as a Holy Cross Priest taking place on December 21, 1968.  He was then assigned in 1969 to the faculty at St. Peters High School in Gloucester, Massachusetts as one of the Holy Cross Priests at the school that was established in 1965 and drew boys from not only Gloucester, but Salem, Lynn, and other areas of the state.  The graduating class of 1969 had 105 seniors.  He was then assigned as a member of the faculty of Notre Dame High School in Biloxi, Mississippi where he taught until 1972, he then he served in Peru as an Assistant in Cartavio, where sugar cane is grown until 1975.  On his return he became a member of the faculty at Bishop McNamara High School for four years in Forestville, Maryland before relocating to California to assist at the Holy Cross Family Theater until 1985.  In 1985-1986 Fr. Fred continued his studies at the Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and assisted at St. Julianas Parish in West Palm Beach, Florida 1990-1991.  He was then assigned as an Assistant Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Brooklyn, New York for four years before taking a sabbatical for one year to become a National Director for the Holy Cross Family Theatre in California in 1996 that produced impactful, faith-based family entertainment to inspire and educate and provide programs to television and radio broadcast outlets.   He was sent back to Peru to become the Assistant District Superior in Lima from 1998-2003 before serving as Assistant Superior at Christopher Lodge in Cocoa Beach, Florida until 2006.  Fr. Fred went on to serve as a Holy Cross Father as Director of Health and Aging for the Provincial House in Bridgeport, Connecticut from 2006-2008 and then assigned as Superior of the Dartmouth Community in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts home for retired priests in the Congregation of Holy Cross that sat on 59 acres and once housed 12-14 priests.   He then returned to reside at the Christopher Lodge named after Fr. Christopher O’ Toole former Superior and the 1^st Provincial of the Southern Province until 2019.   When he retired, Fr. Fred Serraino moved to the Holy Cross House in Notre Dame Indiana.  His burial was in the Holy Cross Community Cemetery at Notre Dame.  There are about 1,000 religious’ members in 16 countries and on 5 continents.  The United States Province of Holy Cross Priests and Brothers is made up of 500 priests, brothers and seminarians that are headquartered at Notre Dame.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Philomena Serraino, sisters Louise (Serraino) Jackson and Rose Serraino and close friend from the neighborhood, Ralph Minella.  He is survived by Sister, Carmella (Serraino) Berger, Brothers Frank and Wayne Serraino and best friend Donald “Buddy” LaRosa.  He also leaves many nieces, nephews, extended family members and close friends to mourn his passing.

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 February 25, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this 2^nd Sunday of Lent in Rome, there are different station churches within the city where the faithful visit for special prayers.  The ancient custom took place when pilgrims journeyed to specific Holy Places.  The station churches were started after those returning from Crusades witnessed processions in Jerusalem by the faithful following the path Our Lord had taken to His Crucifixion.  The custom was brought back to Europe; and in Italy the Lenten tradition began in the 4^th Century with pilgrims coming together at a designated point where they are led by a priest to a succession of different churches.  Over the years, the tradition changed and there are no longer processions from Church to Church.  Instead, a different church is chosen during Lent as the focal point for worship.  They are now referred to as “Station Churches” that range from the large Basilica’s like St. Peter to older small unknown chapels.  Each will have several different times for services starting at 7:00 AM with prayers said in many different languages. 

There are over 40 Station Churches that will be used during the Lenten Season from Ash Wednesday until the 2^nd Sunday of Easter.  Some of the Station Churches display their Patron Saint’s relics on their station day with prayers offered in memory of their Saint.  People of all religious beliefs are welcome as Pope Francis said: “It is a conscious reminder that we are part of one Christian Family moving together towards God through the Sacrifice of the Mass.”  The Station Church for the 2^nd Sunday of Lent is Santa Maria in Domenica della Navicella, a Minor Basilica built in the 5^th Century and later modified around the 9^th Century.  It overlooks the Piazza della Navicella and is decorated with a mixture of Byzantine Mosaics from the 9^th Century and many Renaissance Frescos (murals) donated from the Medici Family in the 16th Century.  The Basilica, Santa Maria Domenica della Navicella is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and has a tradition of being active in local charities and was the church where St. Lawrence distributed alms to the poor.   In 1876, the Frescos located in the nave of the church were painted with floral motifs with inscriptions that reproduced litanies to the Virgin Mary.  In 1932, the basilica was given parish status and since 2003, it has been entrusted to the care of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo.

On Tuesday February 27, we celebrate the feast day of St. Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor of the Church who was not a Catholic. He was born in 950 AD was a medieval Armenian Monk who was known for his writings of mystical poetry, hymns, and Biblical commentaries.  He excelled in music, astronomy, geometry, mathematics, literature, and theology.  In 977, when he was in his mid-twenties, went on to teach Theology and began writing with his major work, the Book of Lamentations, consisting of 95 prayers for all people. In the works of St. Gregory of Narek and in the Armenian tradition, those hymns and songs to Mary were developed as the primary expression of popular piety.   St. Gregory used metaphors, songs, litanies, and poetry as a way to communicate about Christian truth.  Pope St. John Paul II referenced St. Gregory in his Encyclical, “With powerful poetic inspiration, St. Gregory ponders the mystery of the Incarnation, an occasion to sing and extol the extraordinary dignity and magnificent beauty of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Word made flesh.” 

St. Gregory lived his entire life in a Monastery located in his Armenian homeland between the Black and Caspian Seas and was never canonized which was common for holy men and women during the early years of the church.  In 2015, on the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Turks, Pope Francis declared St. Gregory of Narek, a Doctor of the Church.  He is the 36^th person to be honored and only the 2^nd from the churches of the East celebrated in this way.  He is recognized as a Saint in both the Catholic Church and in the Armenian Apostolic Church and is venerated in a special way among those Catholics of the Armenia Rite.  A prayer to St. Gregory of Narek: “St. Gregory, your quiet, humble, and hidden life produced a rich garden of poems and prayers.  May your redolent words and rich images fire our imaginations and inflame our hearts so that our flame of faith burns as hot as yours in its love for Christ and Mary.”

Our San Antonio Church community sends their condolences and prayers on the passing of Michael J. Kroeger three months shy of his 74^th birthday.  He was a well-known professional designer, author, educator, Assistant Professor at Mount St. Joseph University where he served as Chair of Department of Graphic Design.  He was one of four boys born to the late Doug and Mary Kroeger.  He is survived by brothers Gregory (Tina Roberto), Stephen (Stephanie Amsbury), and James (Jane).  He leaves many family members, friends and students from Arizona University, the Rhode Island School of Design, University of Cincinnati and from his travels around the world.

On Saturday, March 2^nd, San Antonio Church and the Men’s and Ladies Sodality will sponsor their annual Pizza Party.  Takeout Service starts at 12:00 noon and runs until 5:00 Pm to order and pick up your favorite homemade pies.  Tickets for takeout will be available in the Hall after Mass today or please call Dave Sabatelli at 513-405-6444.  All You Can Eat Dine in Service is available from 5:30 PM until 9:00 PM in the Hall for only 125 patrons.  To make a reservation for Dine In All You Can Eat Pizza, please call Jimmy Capano at 513-364-8301, remember, call as soon as possible as in the past years we reach our quota during the last week of February.   This year we will offer everyone’s favorite from the festival days of our church, the Ladies of the Lot Pizza, the original from the women of San Antonio Church.  Other delicious pies offered to everyone’s liking are the Cheese Pizza, the Pepperoni Pizza, the Meat Pizza, the Anchovy Pizza, and the Veggie Pizza.  We even offer a Dessert Pizza, one sweet and one savory; all will be available to takeout or enjoy when you dine in the Hall.  Thank you all for supporting our first fundraiser of 2024.  Tickets are $15 for all you can eat dining and vary for the pizzas for takeout.

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 February 18, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On this first Sunday of Lent, “Quadragesima Sunday”, from the Latin word for fortieth, marking the liturgical year to commemorate the 40 days when Jesus Christ spent fasting in the dessert before beginning His public ministry.  The period of Lent is seen as the season of “Bright Sadness” in preparation for the great celebration of Easter.  During this time, the faithful pray, repent for their sins, deny themselves a favorite food and practice almsgiving to donate the monies of what they gave up.  Also referred to as Invocabit Sunday, the opening word of the introit, the entrance prayer or song.  The first Sunday of Lent marks one of the weeks during which Ember days were observed in the Western Christian Churches.  Ember Days were the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays of the four weeks of the year which fast and abstinence were required for the Universal Church. 

On Monday, February 19^th we honor George Washington’s Birthday and Presidents Day, the annual Federal Holiday first celebrated in 1879.  This day honors all those who served as Presidents of the United States since 1879 especially our Founding Father, George Washington who was born on February 22, 1732.  He was 11 years old and the oldest of 6 when his father died leaving him to help his mother run their plantation.  George excelled at math, became a surveyor, and went on to fight in the French and Indian War 1754-1763 and was put in charge of all Virginia Militia Forces.   He led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War and presided at the Constitutional Convention and became the first United States President serving two terms 1789-1797.  While President of the United States, there were about 4 million people living in 11 states.  While in office, he nominated the First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, set up his own Cabinet and established the first bank, the National Bank of the United Sates.  He created the first Military Badge of Merit for the common soldier and the Purple Heart which bears his image for those wounded in battle.  In 1799, George Washington died at his Virginia Plantation 3 years after leaving office.  Since 1862, a tradition in the United States Senate is for George Washington’s Farewell Address will be read on his birthday.  The tradition started during the Civil War 1861-1865 when citizens requested this be done.  In Westmoreland County, Virginia at the George Washington Birthplace National Monument, visitors will be part of the festivities on this holiday.  At Mount Vernon, celebrations in honor of George Washington will take place until February 22^nd. 

On Wednesday February 21^st the Catholic Church celebrates St. Peter Damian (1007-1072) born in Ravenna, Italy a Benedictine Monk, and Cardinal during the time of Pope Leo IX.  Orphaned at a young age, Peter went to live with his brother, a Priest in Ravenna who sent him away to be educated.  He made great progress in his studies and excelled in theology and canon law.  By the age of 25, Peter was famous as a teacher in the cities of Parma and Ravenna.  Around 1035, he gave up the secular life to enter a monastery as a monk.  He lived as a hermit who lived a disciplined life committed to studying the Bible.  In 1042, he was appointed lecture to his fellow monks and was asked to lecture at neighboring monasteries.  By 1043, Peter Damian was elected Abbot and later founded five more religious houses for the Benedictine Monks.  He wrote influential religious treatises and was called by the Pope to go on missions to settle disputes within the church.  He strove for reforms during political and social upheaval and was chosen to manage doctrinal ignorance among the clergy.  After Pope Benedict IX resigned and Pope Gregory VI took over in 1045, Peter urged him to deal with the scandals of the Church in Italy.  Peter was highly regarded by the hierarchy within the Church and was present at a synod at the Lateran (the Pope’s Cathedral in Rome) for official gatherings of the Clergy.  In 1063, Peter was appointed legate to settle a dispute between the Abbey of Cluny and the Bishop of Macon in France.  In 1067, he was sent as a papal legate to Germany to persuade Henry IV to stay married to wife Bertha at a council meeting in Frankfort.  At the end of his life, Peter Damian never considered his learning something to boast about, but what counted “Was to worship God, not write about him”.  He died in 1072 and Peter Damian is venerated as a Saint and was made a Doctor of the Church in 1828 by Pope Leo XII.  His body was moved 6 times and since 1898, St. Peter Damian was finally laid to rest in a chapel dedicated in his honor at the Cathedral of Faenza.  

Every year on February 22^nd, the Church celebrates The Chair of St. Peter or the Throne of St. Peter, seen as a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his Successors who tend to Christ’s flock. From this chair, St. Peter sat and taught Roman Christians.  The wooden throne was a gift from the Emperor of the Romans, the King of Italy, Charles the Bald 875-877 to Pope John VIII in 875.  It is a single oaken chair from the 6^th Century damaged from worms and cuts with the front and back trimmed in carved ivory in St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City.  Placed in a reliquary, a receptacle which contains the relics of a saint or other sacred object. There are 3 classes of relics:  1^st Class Relics will hold part of a Saint’s body; 2^nd Class Relics will hold something that was used by a saint and 3^rd Class Relics will hold an object touched to a 1^st Class Relic.   It contains pieces of an earlier throne said to be that of St. Peter, the leader of the Early Christians and the first Pope used by the Bishop of Rome from which he presided, officiated, or celebrated the rites of the church.  The Throne relic was enclosed in a gilt bronze casing that by Pope Alexander VII and was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1647 and 1653.  The statues of the Doctors of the Church St. Ambrose and St Augustine Western Doctors of the Roman Catholic Church and St. Athanasius and St. John Chrysostom Doctors of the Greek Church adjacent to the Throne of St. Peter around Bernini’s “Altar of the Chair” in St Peter’s Basilica. Above the Chair, the inscription reads: “O Pastor Ecclesiae tu omnes Christi Pascis Agnos et Oves.”   Meaning: “O Shepherd of the Church, you feed all Christ’s lambs and sheep.”  In 1867, the relic (chair) was photographed and displayed for veneration.  On February 22, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI’s address on the Feast of The Chair of St. Peter: “Dear Brothers and Sisters!  The Latin liturgy celebrates today the feast of the Chair of St Peter.  It is a very ancient tradition, witnessed in Rome since the end of the 4^th Century, which rendered thanksgiving to God for the mission entrusted to the Apostle Peter and his successors.”  

On Friday February 23^rd we honor the feast day of Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop and Martyr born Ad 69 and died AD 155 at the age of 86.  He was a Disciple of John the Apostle (The beloved Apostle) and a good friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch.  Polycarp became a Bishop of Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey) and is regarded as a Church Father and Saint in the Catholic, Eastern orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran Churches.  Polycarp is one of three Chief Apostolic Fathers along with Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch.  He opposed heresies, “I would rather be deaf than listen to arguments for heretical doctrines”. Polycarp felt heresy was more serious than immorality and thought a false teacher was “the firstborn of Satan”.   When Marcus Aurelius was persecuting Christians, Polycarp was arrested at the end of his life, he refused to make sacrifices to idols.  He said: “For eight six years I have served Christ, and he has done me no wrong.  How can I blaspheme my King and Savior now.” He was burned at the stake in 155 and canonized by popular acclaim. Those   guarded relics of Polycarp are housed in the Church, Sant’Ambrogio della Massima in Rome, Italy.  The only work attributed to him are The Epistles of Polycarp to the Philippines, which references the Greek Scriptures.  It addresses the early Church in Philippi a city in Macedonia; written about in the book of Acts during the 1^st half of the 2^nd Century.  It refers to those who are anxious about their salvation while learning about the character of one’s faith, and the preaching of the truth.  Polycarp offers prescriptions for how a Christian community is to be organized and for the proper living of wives, widows, deacons, young men, virgins, and elders.   A quotation from the Epistle: “Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your interactions with one another, and despising no one.”   

The San Antonio Annual Pizza Party is scheduled for Saturday, March 2^nd in our Hall for Dine In or Carry Out.  The Men’s and Ladies Sodality sponsor this event that offers a variety of the traditional “Ladies of the Lot Pizza” dating back to the days of our festival in the early days of our church.  The carryout service starts at 12:00 noon until 5:00PM with our Dine In all you can eat pizza starting at 5:30 PM and lasting until 9:00PM.  Our Dine In Service is limited to the first 125 reservations so, please get your groups together as soon as possible.  Tickets will be available for purchase in the Hall after our Sunday 9:00 AM Mass, please Jimmy Capano or Dave Sabatelli for this one-of-a-kind event.  If you have any questions, please call Dave Sabatelli at 513-405-6444.  We have been fortunate to have many volunteers at San Antonio who help our church survive but, we always need more hands-on deck.  Volunteers are needed, many age groups are welcome to help us make this fundraiser a success.  For info on working the Pizza party, see Connie Dalessandro or Dave Sabatelli.

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 February 11, 2024

by Terrie Evans

On Sunday, February 4^th our San Antonio Church Community learned of the passing of Fr. Fred Serraino C.S.C. at the age of 93 while in Hospice care in the nursing care unit at the Holy Cross House near Notre Dame University.  Fr. Fred grew up in the Little Italy section of South Fairmount on 2008 Queen City Avenue with his two best friends, Buddy LaRosa, and the late Ralph Minella.  He was ordained into the Holy Cross Order on December 21, 1968, and celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving on June 1, 1969, at San Antonio Church before serving as a missionary in Peru.  He served at many posts before retiring in South Bend, Indiana.  He was the son of the late Anthony and Philomena Serraino and leaves his brothers Frank and Wayne and sister Carmella “Cumi”, many nieces and nephews, friends from San Antonio Church and the LaRosa Family who kept in close contact with him throughout his life.  We send our prayers and condolences to his family, friends and those Holy Cross Priests and Brothers who served with him and were there at his bedside until his passing.  Fr. Fred Serraino C.S.C. will be laid to rest in the Holy Cross Cemetery at Notre Dame in St. Joseph County, Indiana.  San Antonio Church will hold a Memorial Service to be scheduled at a later date.

On Friday, February 9^th San Antonio Church held the funeral of our organist, Paul Wenzel with Fr. Mike Savino presiding.  Paul passed away suddenly on January 25, 2024, at the age of 74.  He grew up on the west side and attended Little Flower Elementary and La Salle High School, class of 1967.  Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from U. C. with a B.A. in Economics in 1971 and later studied at the College Conservatory of Music all while helping his father run their family business, the Western Hills Marathon Station.  Paul played at many church and school events within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and was well known not only for his musical skills, but for his years at Music Hall and at the Reds games where he was a popular usher and ticket taker.    Paul was the son of the late George and Anna (Paul) Wenzel and the beloved brother to the late Bill Wenzel.   Paul leaves daughters Christy Hodge and Lisa (Brian) Wells his grandchildren Jordan and Julia Hodge, Braden and Jackson Wells, many friends from San Antonio Church, Hidden Valley Lake, and his cherished canines, Molly, and Moose.  We send our prayers and condolences to the members of the Wenzel families and to all those who knew Paul throughout his music career. 

On this Sunday before Ash Wednesday, we highlight World Marriage Day, established after the apostolate, Worldwide Marriage Encounter with the mission to help couples celebrate the husband and wife as the foundation of the family and sees the family as the basic unit of society.  World Marriage Day began in in 1981 when married couples in Baton Rouge, Louisiana asked the Mayor, Governor, and the Bishop to proclaim February 14^th We Believe in Marriage Day.  The event was a success and adopted by the National Leadership of Worldwide marriage Encounter.  In 1982, there were 43 Governors who gave their approval and in 1982, Military Bases in foreign countries joined in with the name being changed to World Marriage Day.  In 1993, Saint Pope John Paul II approved this day and gave it his Apostolic Blessings for World Marriage Day in the Catholic Church.  Each year, World Marriage Week takes place from February 7-14.  World Marriage Day honors the beauty of nuptial faithfulness, devotion, sacrifice, commitment, and joy.  In the Catholic Church, married life is considered the foundation of humanity and the cradle of civilization.   This day asks all parish couples to conduct their married lives with joy and faith and to make their family life the biggest priority for their lives.  A Prayer for Married Couples: “Father as we prepare for World Marriage Day, we thank you for your tremendous gift of the Sacrament of Marriage.  Help us to witness its glory by a life of growing intimacy.  Teach us the beauty of forgiveness so we may become more and more One in Heart, Mind, and Body.  Strengthen our dialogue and help us become living signs of your love.  Make us grow more in love with the Church so we may renew the Body of Christ.  Make us a sign of unity in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Brother.  Amen.”

This Sunday is also set aside for all of us to remember “It is not good that man should be alone”.  The World Day of the Sick was established in 1992 by Pope John Paul II a year after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.  He chose the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes as the date of the observance as many visitors journeyed to Lourdes, France and had been healed through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.  The World Day of the Sick is an observance of the Catholic Church for prayers and sharing of ones suffering for the good of the church and to see the face of Christ in the sick.  Pope Francis asks us to care for those who suffer and are alone and cast aside and for us to tend to the wounds of solitude and isolation.  For all of us to enable the growth of a culture of tenderness and compassion. Pope Francis who spoke in Rome at Saint John Lateran on January 10, 2024, said: “The sick, the vulnerable and the poor are at the heart of the Church; that they must also be at the heart of our human concern and pastoral attention.  May we never forget this!  And let us commend ourselves to Mary Most Holy, Health of the Sick, that she may intercede for us and help us to be artisans of closeness and fraternal relationships.”  

On Monday, February 12, we celebrate the Anniversary of Abraham Lincolns Birthday.  He was born on February 12, 1809, in Hodgenville, Kentucky, 215 years ago.  Lincolns Birthday is celebrated in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indians, New York, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio.  This observance was brought to the attention of the United States Congress by a Buffalo, New York druggist, Julius Francis in 1874.  He petitioned to honor the 16^th President of the United States (1861-1865) who was slain on April 15, 1865.  There will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic site in Hodgenville, Kentucky and at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. 

On Tuesday, February 13^th we observe Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and 47 days before Easter Sunday.  Shrove Tuesday is seen as the last day before Lent and the time to right the wrongs in our life; adjust and consider what sacrifice you could practice after Fat Tuesday.  When making a Lenten sacrifice, it is customary to say a prayer that you will follow through as well as others with “May God Bless My and Your Lenten Sacrifice.”  Many Christians and the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist and Roman Catholic Churches see this day as a time of Confession and absolution.  In some parishes, a popular tradition on Shrove Tuesday is the ringing of the church bells, the toll is known as the Shriving Bell “to call the faithful to confession before the solemn season of Lent”.  Churches will burn the palms distributed during the previous Palm Sunday on Shrove Tuesday for the ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday.  In some Christian countries, this day is called Mardi Gras or carnival day, the last day to gorge before the fasting period of Lent.  The tradition of Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations and the Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia.  When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders incorporated the traditions of Mardi Gras into the new faith for a celebration as a prelude to Lent. 

The 1^st American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers landed in New Orleans.  They held a small celebration at their landing spot they named “point du Mardi Gras”.  Over the years, New Orleans and other French settlements marked the holiday with lavish dinners, masked balls and street parties until the Spanish took control of New Orleans and banned these rituals.  In 1812, Louisiana became a state, and the bans were lifted.  The 1^st recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade was held in 1837 and 20 years later, in 1857, a torch-lit Mardi Gras procession with marching bands and floats organized by a secret society of New Orlean businessman set the tone for the annual public celebration.  Louisiana is the only state where Mardi (French for Tuesday) Gras (French for Fat) is a legal holiday.  Along with new Orleans, Brazil and Venice, Italy hold some of the most famous public festivals.  In Italy, tourists come from all over to Venice’s Carnival that dates back to the 13^th Century and is known for its masquerade balls.  In Brazil, the weeklong festival Carnivale is held with a blend of European, African, and Native American tradition.

On Wednesday, February 14^th we will have our traditional Ash Wednesday Mass at 12:00 Noon.  This marks the 1^st day of Lent and 46 days before Easter Sunday.  It is a day of prayer, fasting and repentance.  In the Roman Catholic Church, on this first day of Lent, ashes will be placed on the heads of the faithful as a sign of penitence and mortality. 

On Saturday, February 17^th we honor The Seven Servites who formed their Order on August 15, 1233.  The seven wealthy businessman from Florence joined together to give up pleasures of the world they knew to devote themselves to God through particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  They decided to live away from Florence during the time that the city was torn with political strife and filled with immorality.  When they were founded in 1233, they took the Gospel to the streets, preaching, hearing confessions, and ministering to the lost.  As the Servites worked to establish their ministry, they depended on the charity of others to continue their work.   They obeyed the dictates of the Bishop of Florence and for the next seven years they fasted and prayed while not allowing new recruits to their group.  In 1240, the Bishop of Florence insisted they welcome others who wished to follow their simple life.   The Bishop gave them rules for their order, they were to adopt the black habit of Augustinian monks and were to live in the tradition as mendicant friars.  They became known as The Servants of Mary, under the title Mother of Sorrows (Madonna Addolorata) because they meditated on the Passion of Jesus and the sorrows in the life of the mother of Jesus.  The members adopted her virtues of hospitality and compassion and took a form more like that of mendicant friars who rely on God’s providence and the faithful’s generosity, than that of the older monastic orders who withdraw from society.  So many men wanted to join, new groups were set up in neighboring Tuscan cities.  In 1250, the seven founders built their grand church the Mother Church of the Servite Order, the Santissima Annunziata in Florence.  The Servite Order continued to attract men and women devoted to the Blessed Virgin for the education of children and the care of the poor and sick.  

In 1256, Pope Alexander IV favored a plan for all orders to follow the rules of St. Augustine but later issued a change for the Servite Order that would allow them to elect their own General, the highest superior of a religious institute under the authority of the Pope.  In the United States, Servite priests and brothers serve in Chicago where Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica is located in Denver, Portland Oregon and in Anaheim, California where a Servite High School is located.  There are also institutions and schools in Quebec, Canada, Servite College, in London, U.K., Our Lady’s Catholic High School, in Perth, Australia, Servite College, in St. Louis, Missouri, Seven Holy Founders Elementary School, and Marianum College in the Philippines.  There are Delegates in Australia and in Zululand South Africa with more than 880 Servite Priests and Brothers serving in 27 countries in Asia. Europe, and in South and North America.  The Servite religious family also consists of Friars, Contemplative Nuns, Congregations, of Active Sisters and groups of Lay People. The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order were:  Sts. Bonfilius, Bonajuncta, Manettus, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene, and Alexis who were canonized on 15, 1888, by Pope Leo XIII.

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 February 4, 2024

by Terrie Evans

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of St. Blaise with the Blessing of the Throats and also the 28^th year of The World Day of Consecrated Life.  Celebrated in Parishes February 4^th-5^th with The World Day of Consecrated Life   dedicated to those who have committed their lives to a religious vocation.   This was instituted by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997 as a day of prayer for those women and men who chose Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.   Our Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the Eucharistic Celebration at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome with those at the International Meeting of Consecrated Women and Men prepare for the Jubilee to be held in 2025. About 300 representatives from different forms of consecrated life gathered in Rome to reflect on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope of the Paths of Peace.”    Please pray for those who have made commitments to the consecrated life, may they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God’s gift of their vocation. 

On Monday, February 5^th we honor the Feast Day of St. Agatha of Sicily, Virgin, and Martyr.  Born in Catania, Sicily (231-251) who belonged to the outlawed Christian Church when Agatha rejected a marriage proposal from the Roman Perfect, Quintianus who turned her into the authorities for her Christian beliefs.  Faced with death, she reaffirmed her belief in God by praying: “Jesus Christ, Lord of All, you see my heart, you know my desires.  Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil.”   She is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs in Christian antiquity who was put to death for her profession of faith.  She was known for teaching Christianity to children before she was arrested, tortured, and died in prison.  Agatha was Canonized pre-congregation by Pope Gregory I and is venerated in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Anglican Communion Churches.  She is the Patron saint of breast cancer patients, rape victims, and bakers and is invoked against fire, earthquakes, and eruptions of Mt. Etna.  The year after her death, stopping the eruption of Mount Etna was attributed to the intercession and prayers to St. Agatha. She is considered the patron saint of   Catania, Molise, and the Republic of San Marino after Pope Clement XII restored the independence of the state on the feast day of St. Agatha, February 5^th.  She is also the Patron Saint of Malta where in 1551, a Benedictine Nun is said to have saved Malta from a Turkish invasion through her prayers to St. Agatha.   Agatha is buried at the Badia di Sant’ Agatha in Catania, Sicily in a small natural cave that was later enlarged and embellished around the 5^th Century.   There are two churches dedicated to her in Rome, Sant’ Agatha in Trastevere and the Church of Sant’ Agatha dei Goti in Via Mazzarino.  The church of St. Gregory the Great was reconstructed for St. Agatha who he revered as a saint who bore many trials.  St. Agatha is depicted in the mosaic of San Apollinaire Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy with other female martyrs with her image forming the initial I in the 8^th century Sacramentary of Gellone.  During the first week of February, the Festival of St. Agatha is held with a procession traveling throughout the city on last night of the fest.  A 17^th Century tower, a former knight’s stronghold, located in Malta, now called St. Agatha’s Tower. In Switzerland.   St. Agatha is considered the patron saint of fire services and in the United Kingdom, she is the patron saint of bell ringers in service to the Catholic Church. 

On Tuesday, February 6^th we honor Saints Paul Miki (1562-1597) and Companions, Joan Soan (de Goto) and Santiago Kisai, of the Society of Jesus who were crucified along with 23 other clergy, and laity.  They became known as the 26 Martyrs of Japan and were all Canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862.   Paul Miki was born into a wealthy Japanese Christian Family taught by the Jesuits and later joined the Society of Jesus.  He became a successful preacher who gained many converts to Catholicism at a time when the ruler of Japan began persecuting Catholics.  The Buddhist Monks were concerned about the growing number of Christians causing political tensions and outlawed Christianity giving the missionaries six months to leave.  Many stayed continuing the good work they had started and for a time, were calm.  In 1593, Spanish Franciscans arrived, and the townspeople assumed they were there to prepare for a Spanish invasion of the island.  Again, Christianity was outlawed, and a total of 26 Catholics were arrested, 6 Franciscan Missionaries, 17 Japanese and Korean lay Franciscans, and 3 Jesuits with Brother Paul Miki only months away from being ordained.   When Brother Paul Miki preached his last sermon professing Jesus as the only way to salvation, forgiving his prosecutors, and praying that they would turn to Christ and receive baptism.  By 1854, Japan’s borders were opened to the West with numerous missionaries returning to help those hidden Christians practice their faith.  In 1871, religious freedom returned, making public worship possible.  There is a National Monument marking the place of the executions of the 26 martyrs of Japan in Nagasaki.  A Prayer to St. Paul Miki and the Holy Martyrs:  Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki, you and countless others gave their lives in witness to the faith that God planted in your hearts.  Please pray for me, that I will have the same faith and courage that each one of you had, so that I will be a witness to Christ in all that I do.  Holy Martyrs of God, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. AMEN.” 

Thursday, February 8^th is set aside by the United States Conference Catholic Bishops as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.  All Catholics are asked to attend or host a prayer service to create awareness for this phenomenon that affects all humans.   

Thursday, February 8^th is also the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery by Arab Slave traders at the age of 8 and over the next 12 years was sold three times until given her freedom.  In Sudan, Bakhita served as a maid in the Italian Vice Council Callisto Legannis’ home and when he was to return to Italy, Bakhita begged to go with him.  By 1886, she was employed by the Micheli Family near Venice as a Nanny.  In 1888, when the family was to locate to Sudan, Bakhita was left in the care of the Canossian Sisters   who were established in 1808 when Magdalena of Canossa recruited several of her companions to assist her in the needs of the neglected in Verona, Italy.   Bakhita stated that this is where she encountered Christianity for the first time, “Those Holy Mothers instructed me with heroic patience and introduced me to that God, who from childhood I had felt in my heart without knowing who he was.”  When the Micheli Family returned from Sudan, they requested she return to their home.  Bakhita refused; and with the law on her side, she fought for her freedom.  In 1889, an Italian court ruled that because the British outlawed slavery in Sudan before Bakhita’s birth, and Italian law had never recognized slavery as legal, she was never legally a slave and was now free.   In 1890, she was Baptized Josephine Margaret Bakhita confirmed and received Holy Communion from Archbishop Guiseppe Sarto, who would become Pope Pius X.  She entered the Order of the Canosssian Sisters as a Novitiate in 1893 and took her vows in 1896, and for the next 42 years was employed as a Cook, Sacristan, and Portress (door keeper).  Josephine Margaret Bakhita was dedicated to comforting the poor and suffering in the community and became known as Sor Moretta “Little Brown Sister”.  She died in 1947 in Veneto Italy and was Beatified in 1992, Canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica.  St. Josephine Margaret Bakhita said: “My trusts rest in the Lord for everything”.   The foundress of the Canossian Order, Magdalen of Canosa (1774-1835) said: “The way to holiness consists in a life of uninterrupted small sacrifices” was canonized a Saint on October 2, 1988, by Pope John Paul II.  At Present, they have 18 provinces with around 2,700 sisters in more than 336 communities in 32 countries around the world with their headquarters located at Via della Stazione di Ottavia, Rome, Italy.    The Canossian Daughters of Charity run a retreat center, the Canosssian Spirituality Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  

We also celebrate the feast day of Gerolamo Emiliani (1486-1537), St. Jerome on February 8^th.  He was born in Venice, ran away to join the Army at age 15 and spent time as a soldier in charge of the Fortress of Castelnuovo in the Italian Mountains.  The Venetians took the fortress, Jerome was captured, chained, and put in prison.  He escaped to a church in Treviso and after he removed his chains and hung them on the church wall, gave his life to God.  He was ordained to the priesthood in Venice during the plague and took on the role of caring for abandoned children.  He fed them and raised them back to health while teaching them about the Christian Faith, becoming ill himself from the plague. Jerome recovered and in 1532, founded a religious society, The Congregation of Religious Clerics, the Somaschi Fathers to care for orphans, the poor and the sick.  With the spirituality of St. Jerome, his order was to serve the early Christian communities to serve Christ, and the poor abandoned children while showing them the tender “Fatherhood and Motherhood” of God.  St. Jerome Emiliani set up Orphanages in 6 Italian towns, built a hospital in Verona and until his death continued to care for the sick. 

The Somaschi Fathers were devoted to the Guardian Angels, the protection of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit, and the Archangel Raphael.  In 1537, during an epidemic while caring for the sick, St. Jerome contracted the plague and died.  The plague of 1536-1537, caused from the fleas of rodents with symptoms of fever, chills, vomiting, with the appearance of black boils took many lives, in Florence, 70,000 died from the plague.  He was Beatified on April 23, 1747, by Pope Benedict XIV and Canonized twenty years later on July 16, 1767, by Pope Clement XIII with his Major Shrine, St. Girolamo Emiliani Sanctuary in Somasca.  In 1928, Pope Pius XI named him the patron saint of orphans and abandoned children and is also invoked by those who are foster parents.  Their Motto: “Lighten My Burden”.  A Prayer to St. Jerome: “St. Jerome Emiliani, watch over all children who are abandoned or unloved.  Give us the courage to show them God’s love through our care.  Help us to lose the chains that keep us from living the life God intended for us.  Amen.” 

On February 10^th, we honor the Feast Day of St. Scholastica (480-543) born in Umbria, Italy along with twin brother Benedict.  She dedicated her life to God at a young age who lived in her father’s house until forming a community with other consecrated virgins, the 1^st convent of Benedictine Nuns.  This was located at the base of Monte Casino where there is an ancient church, Monastero di Santa Scholastica, now under her patronage. She became a nun near Monte Casino where Benedict established a monastery and meet to visit and pray together.  Scholastica is invoked for protection from storms due to the time in 543 when she felt something would happen to her brother as he prepared to leave after his visit.  Scholastica began to pray when a driving storm with rain and hail began forcing Benedict to stay. 

When Scholastica died, Benedict saw her soul ascending into heaven.  He placed her body in the tomb he had prepared for himself and arranged for his own body to be placed there after his death.  St. Benedict and St. Scholastica are buried at Monte Casino along with Pope Victor III, Cardinal Domenico Bartolini, St. Apollinaris and St. Bertharius.  The Pope, Gregory the Great wrote: “The bodies of these two whose minds were always united in Jesus, were not separated in death.”  She is also the patron saint of Benedictine Nuns, Education and Convulsive Children and was Canonized pre-congregation.  She is shown in a Benedictine habit, holding the Rule of Saint Benedict, with a Crucifix or ascending dove.  A commemorative coin with her likeness was issued in 2002 in Austria with Scholastica depicted alongside Benedict on the head side of the coin.  Scholastica is honored on the calendar of the Church of England and the Episcopal Church on February 10^th.

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 January 28, 2024

by Terrie Evans

Our San Antonio Church Community sends their condolences and prayers to the Schulter, Acito, and Ader Families on the passing of James “Jim” Schulter on January 16, 2024, at the age of 79.  Jim was a longtime parishioner who served our church for many years along with his late wife Sandra who died in 2016.  They both volunteered for decades with his sister Fran and husband, the late Joe Acito.  Jim was a driving force with Joe Cupito and the late Jo Ann Metz in the fight to save our church from closing in the 1980’s. Jim struggled with health issues for a while and whenever he felt well enough, we were happy to see him at Sunday Mass.  He leaves son Louis, sister Fran (Schulter) Acito, brother Bill (Viv) Schulter and their families.  Jim also leaves his two best friends from the old days, Jack, and Pam (Acito) Baker and Fred Brandewiede, their extended families and all his friends at San Antonio Church.  Jim was buried from St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church.    

On this last Sunday in January, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati celebrates National Catholic School Week, January 28, 2024 – February 3, 2024.  The National Catholic Education theme this year is Catholic Schools: “United in Faith and Community.”  During this week, Dioceses throughout the country highlight the importance of faithful, integral Catholic formation and education within the mission of the church.  Our Catholic schools are the places where Christ continues to be the Teacher, the way, the truth, and the life whom we follow throughout this life and into the next.  St. John Bosco said: “If we want to have a good society, we must concentrate all our forces on the Christian education of the young.  Experience taught me that if we wish to sustain civil society then we should take good care of the young.”   On Tuesday, January 30^th at 10:00AM, Archbishop Dennis Schnurr will celebrate a Catholic Schools Week Mass at the Cathedral Basilica.

On Wednesday, January 31^st, we celebrate St. John “Don” Bosco born in Becchi, Italy on August 16, 1815, during a draught and famine and at the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815).  His father died when John was 2, and with two older brothers, was raised by his mother, Margherita: laboring growing food and raising sheep.  He was very devout and desired to become a Priest but being poor, John lacked an education and knew his options were limited and the Priesthood was not a possibility.  John left home to find work in a vineyard where he stayed for a few years until meeting a Priest who offered to help him.  Fr. Joseph Cafasso collaborated with him and in 1835, John entered the seminary at Chieri, next to the Church of the Immaculate Conception for his studies and after six years was Ordained in 1841 on the eve of Trinity Sunday by Archbishop Franzoni of Turin.  His 1^st assignment was in Turin, Italy, and at a time where he was needed most, in the poor neighborhoods.  Fr. Bosco visited prisons to find boys aged 12-18 housed in deplorable conditions and it was then he knew his calling was to help other boys from ending up there.  When he was younger, a traveling circus came through his town and John was enthralled by the magic tricks from the performers, paid attention and learned some of the tricks they used to charm their audiences.  So, when John was not preaching, he was working to keep boys off the streets and used some of what he learned from the circus acts to get their attention.  Along with his mother, Mamma Margarita, John found lodging for 800 boys and worked to get them jobs as apprentices.  At that time, apprentices needed better contracts and more desirable working conditions, and John negotiated for their safety.  In 1845, he opened a night school for boys in the poorest sections of Turin, Italy and mentored to those young men who desired to be priests.  In 1859, Fr. Bosco established the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesians of Don Bosco) with 15 Seminarians.  The purpose of the Society was to continue the charitable work he started and help young boys stay out of trouble. The Salesians’ mission was for corporal works of charity towards the young, poor and the education of boys who want to enter the priesthood.  In 1871, Fr. John “Don” Bosco founded a group of religious sisters to help girls as the Salesians were doing for boys called the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. 

Another group, the Salesian Cooperators, were established in 1874 by Fr. John as a way for lay people to work with young people, both boys and girls.  At the end of 1874, he was asked to accept an Italian parish in Buenos Aires and also a school for boys at San Nicolas de Los Arroyos in Argentina.  Many volunteers from the Salesians answered the call for their 1^st Missionary in 1875 and in 1877, Fr. John “Don” Bosco gave the opening address on Systems of Education for the new St. Peter’s Youth Center in Nice.  In August 1877, Fr. John “Don” Bosco founded the official publication of the Salesians, The Salesian Bulletin.  The monthly bulletin is published by the Salesian Congregation and has been published without interruption since 1877.  In 1881, Fr. John wrote “A Compendium of Italian History from the fall of the Roman Empire” that has been noted by scholars for the cultural importance and knowledge from ancient times to modern civilization.  He also penned two biographies, on his mentor Fr. Cafasso and on one of his students, Dominic Savio.   Fr. John “Don” Bosco died in 1888 at the age of 72, declared Blessed in 1929 and Canonized on Easter Sunday in 1934 with Pope Pius XI celebrating both in Rome.  He was given the title “Father and Teacher of Youth”.  His mother “Mamma Margarita” was declared venerable by Pope Benedict XVI on the 150^th Anniversary of her passing in 2006.  Servant of God, Margarita Bosco is now known for her work with her son Fr. John “Don” Bosco which helped in the founding of the Salesian Congregation.  She was a woman of faith who at the age of 58 chose to follow her son “In his mission among the poor and abandoned young people of Turin.”  The headquarters of the Society of Saint Francis de Sales, the Salesians of John “Don” Bosco are in Rome, Italy and as of 2022, there are 14,614 members (128 Bishops, 14,056 Priests and 430 Novices).  On Friday, February 2^nd we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus, 40 days after Christmas and the end of the Epiphany Season.  In the Gospel Mary and Joseph take the Infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to perform the redemption of the 1^st born son in obedience to the Torah.  Also seen as giving thanksgiving after the birth of a child to designate the rite for God’s blessing upon a woman after childbirth. 

Other traditional names include Candlemas (when candles are blessed), the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin and the Meeting of the Lord.  The Feast of the Presentation is one of the most ancient feasts of the Church dating back to the 4^th Century.  In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation of Jesus is the Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.   The Blessing of Candles on the day of the Presentation of Jesus recalls Simeon’s reference to the infant Jesus seen as the “light for the revelation” to the Gentiles.  Pope Innocent XII thought Candlemas was created as an alternative to Roman Paganism when he said: “Why do we in this feast carry candles?  Because the gentiles dedicated the month of February to the internal gods, and at the beginning of the month Pluto stole Prosperine, and her mother Ceres, sought her in the night with lighted candles, so they, at the beginning of the month, walked about the city with lighted candles.  Because the holy fathers could not extirpate the custom, they ordained that Christians should carry about candles in honor of the Blessed Virgin; what was done before in the honor of Ceres is now done in the honor of the Blessed Virgin.”  The term Candlemas or Candle Mass recalls the practice where a priest would bless beeswax candles for use throughout the year to be used in the homes of the faithful.  In France, Candlemas is celebrated with crepes and in Italy this day is considered the last cold day of winter.  Because of severe storms in the month of February, Sailors are hesitant to set sail on Candlemas Day believing that any voyage begun on that day will end in disaster.  

On Saturday, February 3^rd, we honor the Feast of St. Blaise with the rite of the Blessing of the Throats.  The traditional blessing of the throats conferred of the liturgical memorial of St. Blaise will take place at San Antonio Church on Sunday, February 4^th with two crossed candles tied with a red bow as our priest says the blessing:  “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop, and Martyr, may God deliver you from aliments of the throat and from every other evil.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”.   For centuries, St. Blaise has been invoked as the patron saint for those suffering from diseases of the throat because of his intercession in saving a child from choking. As a young man, he became a physician, a priest and later Bishop of Sebastea.  He is the patron saint of animals and veterinarians. 

On Saturday, February 3^rd we also celebrate the Feast of St. Ansgar (801-865), 9^th Century missionary called the Apostle of the North for bringing Christianity to Northern Europe.  St. Ansgar was renowned as a highly successful missionary who built the 1^st Christian Church in Sweden who fought the pagan influence in Denmark when he became the 1^st Christian Missionary for Scandinavians.  When he was very young, Ansgar was brought up in a Benedictine Monastery and had a vision that his mother was now in the company of the Blessed Mother and this vision is what motivated him to choose missionary work.  He became a Benedictine Monk at age 15 and was later chosen to be Abbot for the Monastery.  When the Pope made him legate for the Scandinavian Missions stating: “I will go to the people even if I have to go to the ends of the earth.”   Ansgar would direct apostolic activities in the North traveling throughout Denmark who became Archbishop of Bremen.    He was instrumental in the conversion of the King of Sweden who would allow Christian missionaries to return to the country.  He was considered a humble man, exceptional preacher and ascetical priest who devoted his life to the poor and the sick.  He said: “the greatest good we can do for others is to love them and pray for them. “After his death in 865, Ansgar was proclaimed a saint by his successor, Rembert with Pope Nicholas 1 the Great approving the proclamation.  He is venerated in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican Communion and Lutheran Churches and there are statues of St. Ansgar in Hamburg, Copenhagen and Ribe.  Vita Ansgar, “The life of Ansgar”, a biography of St. Ansgar written by his successor Archbishop Rimbert of Bremen between 869-876 became an important source detailing Ansgar’s Scandinavian Missionary work. Written to reassure priests on what they were to expect on a mission and to help Bishops, who manage the needed funds to support their cause.  It also defended missionary work for those who lived under the Rule of Saint Benedict and would have needed justification to leave their monastery to work in a secular society.  St. Ansgar asked for one miracle “that God make him a good man”. 

On Saturday, February 3^rd, the 50^th Annual Four Chaplains Memorial service will be held at 4:00PM at St. Boniface Church in Northside at 1750 Chase Avenue.  Fr. Matthias Creehan, former Navy Chaplain who served over 20 years in Military Training Facilities and Veteran Affairs will preside over the service which will include a Color Guard, Patriotic Hymns, Candle Service, Ringing of the Ships Bell, and Taps.  All Veterans and Active-Duty Military members are invited.    This service is a tribute to the heroic actions of 4 Military Chaplains during World War II who selflessly acted out of faith in God to help others.  After midnight on February 3, 1943, the U.S. Army transport ship SS Dorchester, one of three ships in a convoy sailing across the Atlantic from Newfoundland to an American Base in Greenland.  The Dorchester was filled with 902 service members, merchant seaman and civilian workers.  Within 150 miles from their destination, a German U Boat spotted the convoy and fired torpedoes striking the ship below the waterline.  The blast killed and wounded many in total darkness.  Soon panic and chaos broke, then 4 men came to the aid of those frightened and disoriented and began handing out life jackets and when the last one was taken, they took theirs off so others would survive.  The Dorchester sank in 20 minutes with only 230 survivors out of 902, 672 perished.  Those 4 men, all new Army Chaplains were:  Lt. George Lansing Fox, a Methodist Minister, born in Pennsylvania who had served in the ambulance corps during World War I received the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and the French Croix de Guerre for bravery; married to Isadore Hurlbut also a Minister.   His son Wyatt enlisted in the Marines on August 8, 1942, on the 18th, the same day his father went on active duty.  Lt. Alexander David Goode, PHD. a Rabbi, born in New York, the son of a Rabbi, in Pennsylvania the Alexander D. Good Elementary School is named in his honor, wife Teresa Flax and daughter Rosalee.  Lt. John P. Washington, born in New Jersey in 1908 was in ordained into the priesthood in 1935, named Chief of Chaplains of the Reserve Pool at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. The fourth Chaplin, Lt. Clark Vandersall Poling, the 6^th Generation to serve as a Minister, born in Columbus, Ohio.  His father was a Chaplain in World War I and became Dutch Reformed Minister, Pastor of the First Reformed Church in New York, wife Betty Jung, son Clark Jr. “Corky” and daughter Susan Eizabeth born 3 months after his death.  They all became friends and classmates at Harvard while attending the Army Chaplain School.  They were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Hearts posthumously and a special medal for heroism, “The Four Chaplains Medal” authorized by Congress; awarded to their survivors by the Secretary of the Army, Wilber M. Brucker on January 18, 1961.  In 1948, The U.S. Post Office issued a commemorative stamp in honor of the sacrifice of the chaplains with the words, “These Immortal Chaplains…. Interfaith in Action”. 

Books written about the “Immortal Chaplains” are Four Men of God, by Edgar A. Guest in 1949.   Sea of Glory: The Magnificent Story of the Four Chaplains, by Francis Beauchesne Thornton in 1953.  The Men the Ship:  The Famous Four Chaplains Story and the Sinking of the Dorchester, by Chester J. Szymczak 1976.  In music, the composition “The Light Eternal” written by James Swearingen in 1992. The Four Chaplains are honored on the Liturgical Calendar of the Episcopal Church on February 3^rd.   There are stained glass windows depicting the Four Chaplains at the Pentagon, West Point, and the National Cathedral and at military bases and posts throughout the country.  There are many memorials to the Immortal Chaplains including the Memorial Sanctuary on the ship RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach California and the Chapel at the Pittsburg International Airport.  There are art works, sculptures, and plaques in cities throughout the United States.  In Kearney, New Jersey, the “Four Chaplains Memorial” is located outside St. Stephen Church.  This was Fr. Washington’s last assignment before he joined the Army as a Chaplain.  It was dedicated on the 70^th Anniversary of the sinking of the Dorchester and shows the 4 Chaplains with their arms locked praying on the stern of the ship with an angel carrying 4 life jackets.  In Massillon, Ohio The Four Chaplains Memorial Viaduct along Ohio State Route 172 over the Tuscarawas River was built in 1949 and refurbished in 1993 with a memorial plaque.  A two-hour audio documentary “No Greater Love” tells the story of the Four Chaplains including interviews with survivors, rescuers, and Naval Historians.  In 2004, a sixty-minute documentary was produced titled “The Four Chaplains Sacrifice at Sea”.