Frequent Questions Check out some of the most asked questions we receive on topics having to do with donations, statements, envelopes and matching gifts. Giving FAQs How do I change my payment method? Unfortunately, our parish staff is not able to edit your scheduled recurring giving amount or payment method for you. This is for your protection. Find detailed instructions on how to edit your card number, edit a card expiration date, change your bank account, change the dollar amount or frequency of your recurring gift here. Looking for your annual giving statement? Yearly statements will be emailed in January, to donor accounts with annual giving to the email address found on your PushPay account profile from the address of no-reply@pushpay.com . If we have an EMAIL address for your profile in the PushPay system, you will receive an ELECTRONIC statement by email delivery. Detailed instructions on how to log into your PushPay account can be found here. ALL DONORS, regardless of how they give, have an online PushPay account. If you give cash in a giving envelope OR by check, we have created a PushPay account on your behalf and can help you get logged in to see your transactions and download a statement. If you do not have an email on file in PushPay and you do not have a mailing address on file in PushPay, we are happy to send you a statement upon request. Contact support at support@ap.church . Want to stop receiving envelopes? Do you give online but still receive Giving Envelopes? By choosing to give online instead of by envelope, you will save the parish money and cut the cost of printing and shipping! Let us know you no longer want to receive envelopes by filling out the Envelope Change Request Form. Can I set up a Corporate Matching Gift? Corporate matching gifts are a type of philanthropy in which companies financially match donations their employees make to nonprofit organizations. When an employee makes a donation, they’ll request the matching gift from their employer, who then makes their own donation. Some companies have a policy against contributing to religious organizations, but will match donations made to institutions affiliated with houses of worship that provide a service to community members regardless of religious beliefs, such as St. Anthony’s Bread (the food pantry of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church). St. Anthony’s Bread is the 2nd largest distributor of food in Montgomery County, Texas. Please check with your employer to see if a Matching Gift can be made to either St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church or to St. Anthony’s Bread. EIN is 76-0545136. How do you keep my information secure? Due to an increase in identity theft, the credit card brands (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) have developed a security standard to help protect cardholder data. It is called the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). When using the St. Anthony of Padua+Pushpay payment portal, your cardholder data is handled carefully as it is transmitted through the St. Anthony of Padua+Pushpay system to our Merchant Provider's system. Responsibility for the security of your cardholder data can be broken up into two categories. St. Anthony of Padua+Pushpay are responsible for the security of all cardholder data transmitted through its systems. To ensure that your cardholder data is handled securely, St. Anthony of Padua has been assessed by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and found to be compliant with the PCI DSS as a Level 1 Service Provider. Our Merchant Provider is responsible for the security of all cardholder data transmitted, stored, and processed on their systems. Merchant Providers also maintain compliance with the PCI DSS. Next Item Previous Item

Founder of the Minor Clerks Regular with St. John Augustine Adorno. He was born in 1563, a member of a noble Neapolitan family. Though he had a rare skin disease, much like leprosy, Francis became a priest, at which time his skin disease disappeared. In 1588, he co-founded the Minor Clerks Regular and spent the rest of his life as the superior. He was canonized in 1807. His feast day is June 4. Born on October 13, 1563, in Villa Santa Maria, Italy, St. Francis Caracciolo, from a noble family, developed a deep devotion to the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary early in life. After surviving a severe illness at 22, he renounced earthly wealth and became a priest, serving the sick and prisoners. He co-founded the Clerics Regular Minor in 1588 with St. John Augustine Adorno. He is known as the "Hunter of Souls" and "Father of the Poor," he dedicated his life to the poor, fasting, and promoting Eucharistic devotion. St. Francis Caracciolo Time Period: 1563-1608 Feast Day: June 4 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Founder Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones He was born on October 13, 1563 in Villa Santa Maria (Chieti), into the noble and wealthy Caracciolo family. His love for Jesus, bread of life, which was born very early, like his vocation, when he still lived with his noble and rich family in Villa Santa Maria. No less is the love he felt for the Madonna, honored by wearing the habit of Carmine since he was a child and then by reciting the rosary and fasting every Saturday. At 22 he is struck by a bad form of elephantiasis that disfigures his entire body. So he vows to forever renounce earthly riches in exchange for healing. He is listened to. Two years later he was ordained a priest and was noted for some alleged healings among the sick in the hospitals where he exercised his ministry, as well as in prisons. Among the last. Always. Therefore, he asked to join the Company of the Whites that in Naples served among those condemned to death and convicts at the hospice of the Incurables. It was 1588. One day he receives a letter from a Genoese nobleman, Don Agostino Adorno, and from the abbot of Santa Maria Maggiore in Naples, Fabrizio Caracciolo. In reality, it is addressed to a religious man of the same name who is part of his own congregation, but it is delivered to him, who welcomes it as a sign of Providence. It is due to this misunderstanding that together with the two aforementioned people Ascanio meets at the Camaldolese and writes the constitution of a new institute of which he is co-founder. It was he who proposed to add to the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, a fourth vow that committed one to refuse any ecclesiastical office. When the new institute was recognized, Ascanio changed his name to Francesco. In 1589 Francis went to Spain with Adorno, who wanted to expand the new institute there. The trip, however, was a failure: after a year they returned home, Francis was ill, Adorno died. In 1591 Francis was elected perpetual general provost, a position he had to accept in order to fulfill the vow of obedience, but he did not change his way of living penance, fasting, or even his habit of doing the most humble jobs. He returned to Spain three years later, but in Madrid King Philip II threatened to close the Hospital of the Italians where he was in charge of the care and assistance of the sick. Only in 1601, elected master of novices, did he succeed in founding a house in Valladolid, demonstrating a great capacity for discernment among the young people, predicting to some a vocation to religious life, to others even apostasy. In 1607 he was finally released from all office and to dedicate himself only to prayer. “Hunter of souls”, “father of the poor”, but also “the man of bronze”: these are the three nicknames by which Francis was known, which perfectly reflect the three faces of his ministry. He never stops visiting the sick and assisting the dying: in the hospital he dedicates himself with great energy to the most humble tasks such as making beds, cleaning rooms, mending the clothes of the sick. He is always ready to collect alms to provide for the education of girls, he brings everything he has to the poor, literally taking the bread from his mouth, often fasting, and donating the clothes that all the brothers discard. He is also tireless in hearing confessions, in teaching catechism to children, in organizing works of charity and in preaching eternal truths to the faithful. If he wants the best for others, for himself he wants nothing: Francis always chooses the narrowest rooms, sleeps and eats very little, and also does penance, even wearing a cilice on feast days and on long journeys on foot. But above all he promotes the cult of the Eucharist, establishing that the students of the Order take turns in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He never tires of urging other priests to do this, exposing the Blessed Sacrament every first Sunday of the month. Having made a pilgrimage to the Holy House of Loreto, he was born into heaven here on June 4, 1608 after invoking Saints Michael, Joseph and Francis of Assisi. He was canonized by Pius VII in 1807. https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/francesco-caracciolo.html Next Item Previous Item

All the endeavors of St. Francis - founding the Franciscan Order, preaching to the birds, and becoming one of the most venerated religious figures in Christianity – flow from one source: living the gospel life demonstrated through the complete charity of Jesus. Francis traded a life of luxury for one of poverty after various military failings and spiritual awakenings, leading him to follow the teachings of Christ with a vigor, dedication, and literal nature that made many view him as insane. His renouncement of the world, rebuilding of God’s churches, and renewal of the Catholic faith altered human history forever. His feast day is October 4th. St. Francis of Assisi Time Period: 1181-1226 Feast Day: October 4 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Founder of Franciscans Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Body Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone was born in 1181 in Assisi, Italy. His father, a silk merchant who was away on business when Giovanni was born, was displeased with the name chosen by his wife, in honor of John the Baptist. His father chose to call him Francesco, or Francis, in honor of his commercial success and love of all things French, and the name stuck. Francis was born into a wealthy merchant family, and as a young man, he enjoyed a life of luxury and privilege. He had dreams of becoming a knight and sought glory on the battlefield. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he was captured during a conflict between Assisi and Perugia. During his captivity, he fell seriously ill and had a spiritual awakening. Upon his release, Francis renounced his former life of materialism and began to embrace a life of simplicity and devotion to Christ. He returned to Assisi, where he prayed in the dilapidated Church of San Damiano and heard a divine voice telling him to “rebuild my church.” Taking these words literally, he began restoring the church with his own hands, showing his commitment to rebuilding the spiritual foundations of the Christian faith. Francis’ journey towards a life of humility and service continued to evolve. He gave away his possessions, including his fine clothes, to live among the poor. His radical example of poverty and devotion quickly attracted followers, who embraced his teachings and way of life. In 1209, Pope Innocent III approved the establishment of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscan Order. This marked the official recognition of Francis’ mission to lead a life of evangelical poverty. Francis’ message emphasized the importance of living in harmony with nature and all of God’s creation. He referred to all living beings as his brothers and sisters, demonstrating his deep compassion for the natural world. His famous Canticle of the Sun praises God for the beauty of creation and is a testament to his love for the environment. Throughout his life, Francis embarked on numerous missions to spread the message of love, peace, and reconciliation. He ventured to Egypt during the Fifth Crusade, hoping to convert the Muslim sultan, Al-Kamil, and bring about an end to the conflict. Although he did not achieve his goal, his bravery and commitment to dialogue left a lasting impression. Back in Italy, Francis continued his ministry, preaching to both the clergy and laity. His simple, heartfelt sermons touched the hearts of many, and he gained a reputation as a charismatic preacher and healer. He is often remembered for his ability to communicate with animals, emphasizing his belief in the interconnectedness of all life. In 1224, while fasting and praying on Mount La Verna, Francis experienced a profound spiritual event known as the stigmatization. He received the wounds of Christ on his hands, feet, and side, marking him as the first recorded person to receive the stigmata. This extraordinary occurrence deepened his spiritual connection to Christ and solidified his status as a revered figure within the Church. As Francis’ health declined, he composed the “Canticle of the Creatures,” also known as the “Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon,” celebrating God’s creation and the unity of all creatures in praising the Creator. On October 3, 1226, at the age of 44, Saint Francis of Assisi passed away, surrounded by his devoted followers. His legacy continued to grow long after his death. Saint Francis of Assisi’s impact on Christianity and the world at large is immeasurable. His devotion to poverty, humility, and love for all of God’s creation has left an enduring mark on the Catholic Church and inspired countless individuals to lead lives of compassion and service. In 1228, just two years after his death, Pope Gregory IX canonized Francis as a saint. He is the patron saint of animals, the environment, Italy, and numerous other causes. The Franciscan Order he founded continues to thrive, with thousands of members worldwide, dedicated to following in his footsteps. Saint Francis’ teachings on simplicity, compassion, and the interconnectedness of all life remain relevant in today’s world, serving as a reminder that a life of humility and service can have a profound and lasting impact. His story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, challenging us all to live more authentically and compassionately in the service of others and God. Next Item Previous Item

Called "the Beggar of Rome," a pilgrim recluse. He was born in Amettes, France, on March 25, 1748, the eldest of eighteen children. Studying under his uncle, a parish priest, at Erin, France, Benedict tried to join the Trappists, Carthusians, and Cistercians but was refused by these orders. In 1770, he made a pilgrimage to the major shrines of Europe, settling in Rome in 1774. There he lived near the Colosseum and earned fame for his sanctity. Benedict was devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and attended the Forty Hours devotion in the city. He died in Rome on April 16, and was beatified in 1860. His feast day is April 16. St. Benedict Joseph Labre Time Period: 1748-1783 Feast Day: April 16 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Franciscan Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones Labre was born in 1748 in the village of Amettes, near Arras, in the former Province of Artois in the north of France. He was the eldest of fifteen children of a prosperous shopkeeper, Jean-Baptiste Labre, and his wife, Anne Grandsire. Labre had an uncle, a parish priest, living some distance from his family home; this uncle gladly received him, and undertook his early education for the priesthood. At the age of sixteen, he approached his uncle about becoming a Trappist monk, but his parents told him he would have to wait until he grew older. When Benedict was about eighteen, an epidemic struck the city, and uncle and nephew busied themselves in the service of the sick. While the uncle took care of the souls and bodies of the people, Benedict went to and fro caring for the cattle. Among the last victims of the epidemic was Labre's uncle. Labre set off for La Trappe Abbey to apply to the Order, but did not come up to their requirements. He was under age, he was too delicate; he had no special recommendations. He later attempted to join the Carthusians and Cistercians, but each order rejected him as unsuitable for communal life. He was, for about six weeks, a postulant with the Carthusians at Neuville. In November 1769 he obtained admission to the Cistercian Abbey of Sept-Fonts. After a short stay at Sept-Fonts his health gave way, and it was decided that his vocation lay elsewhere. Labre, according to Catholic tradition, experienced a desire, which he considered was given to him by God and inspired by the example of Alexius of Rome and that of the Franciscan tertiary pilgrim, Saint Roch, to "abandon his country, his parents, and whatever is flattering in the world to lead a new sort of life, a life most painful, most penitential, not in a wilderness nor in a cloister, but in the midst of the world, devoutly visiting as a pilgrim the famous places of Christian devotion." Labre joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and settled on a life of poverty and pilgrimage. He first traveled to Rome on foot, subsisting on what he could get by begging. He then traveled to most of the major shrines of Europe, often several times each. He visited the various shrines in Loreto, Assisi, Naples, and Bari in Italy, Einsiedeln in Switzerland, Paray-le-Monial in France, and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. During these trips he would always travel on foot, sleeping in the open or in a corner of a room, with his clothes muddy and ragged. On one occasion he stopped at the farmhouse of Matthieu and Marie Vianney, who would later become the parents of Curé d'Ars. He lived on what little he was given, and often shared the little he did receive with others. He is reported to have talked rarely, prayed often, and accepted quietly the abuse he received. In so doing, Labre was following in the role of the mendicant, the "Fool-for-Christ," found more often in the Eastern Church. He spent many hours in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He would often swoon when contemplating the crown of thorns, in particular, and, during these states, it is said he would levitate or bilocate. He was also said to have cured some of the other homeless he met and to have multiplied bread for them. In the last years of his life (his thirties), he lived in Rome, for a time living in the ruins of the Colosseum, and would leave only to make a yearly pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Loreto. He was a familiar figure in the city and known as the "saint of the Forty Hours" (or Quarant' Ore) for his dedication to Eucharistic adoration. The day before he died, Labre collapsed on the steps of the church of Santa Maria ai Monti, blocks from the Colosseum, and despite his protestations was charitably taken to a house behind the church at Via dei Serpenti 2. He died there of malnutrition and exhaustion on 16 April 1783, during Holy Week, and was buried in the Church of Santa Maria ai Monti. (https://www.catholic.org/saints/) Next Item Previous Item

Chapdelaine was born in La Rochelle-Normande, France, and became a priest in 1843. He joined the Paris Foreign Missions in 1851 and went to China’s Guangxi province in 1852. Due to the Taiping Rebellion, foreigners were forbidden, but Chapdelaine ministered to local Catholics. After brief imprisonment and multiple threats, he returned to Guangxi in 1855. On February 25, 1856, he was arrested and accused of inciting insurrection. He refused to pay a bribe and was subjected to brutal cage torture, where he suffered severe beatings and a slow death from suffocation in a hanging iron cage. St. Auguste Chapdelaine Time Period: 1814-1856 Feast Day: February 27 Title/Attributes: Martyr Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Piece of habit/clothing Chapdelaine was born on a farm in La Rochelle-Normande, France. By the age of twenty, he had entered the seminary at Coutances. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Coutances in 1843 and in 1851 joined the Institute of Foreign Missions in Paris. He left from Antwerp in April 1852 to join the Catholic mission in the Guangxi province of China. The Taiping Rebellion led to suspicion of Christians, and foreigners were forbidden to enter the area. After a stay in Guangzhou, he moved to Guiyang, capital of the Guizhou province, in the spring of 1854. In December, he went, together with Lu Tingmei, to Yaoshan village, Xilin County of Guangxi, where he met the local Catholic community of around 300 people. He celebrated his first mass there on 8 December 1854. He was arrested and thrown into the Xilin county prison ten days after his arrival and was released after sixteen or eighteen days of captivity. Following personal threats, Chapdelaine returned to Guizhou in early 1855, and came back to Guangxi in December of the same year. He was denounced on February 22, 1856, by Bai San, a relative of a new convert, while the local tribunal was on holiday. He was arrested in Yaoshan, together with other Chinese Catholics, by orders of Zhang Mingfeng, the new local mandarin on 25 February 1856. Chapdelaine was accused of stirring up insurrection and refused to pay a bribe. Condemned to cage torture (zhanlong), he was first beaten one hundred times on the cheek by a leather thong, which caused his teeth to fly out, his face mutilated, and his jaw lacerated. He was locked into a small iron cage, which was hung at the gate of the jail. The planks he stood on were gradually removed, placing a strain in the muscles of the neck, and leading to a slow and painful death from suffocation. (https://www.catholic.org/saints/) Next Item Previous Item

St. Marguerite D’Youville (1701–1771) was the first Canadian canonized as a saint and the foundress of the Sisters of Charity, known as the Grey Nuns. Born in Varennes, Canada, she married François D’Youville and had six children, though only two survived. After her husband’s death, she cared for the sick and poor while raising her sons, who later became priests. In 1755, she and her companions formally received their religious habit. Despite hardship, including the destruction of their hospital by fire, she remained steadfast in faith. Marguerite’s legacy is one of compassion, resilience, and deep Christian charity. St. Marguerite d'Youville Time Period: 1701-1777 Feast Day: April 11 Title/Attributes: Widow, Mother, Foundress Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Body St. Marguerite D’Youville was the foundress of the Sisters of Charity and the first Canadian to be canonized a Saint. She was born in Varennes, Canada on October 15, 1701 to Christopher an Renee de Varennes Dufrost de Lajemmerais. Her brother was La Vérendrye, the famed explorer who discovered the Rocky Mountains. In 1722, she married Francois D’Youville and bore him six children, four of whom died young. Francois was himself engaged in the illegal liquor trade and died in 1730. While working and raising her remaining sons, who became priests, she administered a local hospital and gathered companions to form a new congregation designed to offer the people of Quebec medical care imbued with Christian charity. The women lived in a small house, and in June of 1753 received permission to incorporate their activities. On August 25, 1755, Marguerite and her companions received a gray habit (The rule of the Sisters of Charity, called the Grey Nuns, had been approved years before.) In 1747, Marguerite was given charge of General Hospital in Montreal, called the Hotel-Dieu. When the hospital was destroyed by a fire in 1766, Margaret knelt in the ashes to sing the Te Deum, accepting the terrible loss with religious calm. She died on December 23, 1771 in Montreal. Next Item Previous Item

St. Ambrose, a Church Father and Doctor of the Church, was a staunch opponent of Arianism. Born into a Christian family, he was well-educated and became consular general of Liguria and Aemilia. In 374, he was unexpectedly elected bishop of Milan. He embraced his role, renouncing his wealth and studying Scripture. Ambrose opposed Empress Justina and later rebuked Emperor Theodosius, who performed public penance. Known for miracles, hymns, and theological writings, he influenced St. Augustine's conversion. He died on Good Friday, 397. Ambrose is the patron of Milan and Bologna, honored for his unwavering faith and contributions to Christianity. St. Ambrose Time Period: 340-397 Feast Day: December 7 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Doctor of the Church Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Ambrose is one of the Church Fathers, a Doctor of the Church, one of the most illustrious of the saints and opponent of the heresy of Arianism. Ambrose's family was Christian, with martyrs in their ancestry. Ambrose was the youngest of three children and was educated in Rome. By 370, he was made consular general of Liguria and Aemilia, Italy, by Emperor Valentinian. His official residence was Milan. In 374, the bishopric of Milan became vacant, and various groups met to propose a candidate. Ambrose, as consular general, had to maintain order and went to the city's basilica to talk to the people assembled. Before he could persuade the apposing factions, a voice of a small child echoed in the structure, crying: "Ambrose, Bishop." After a stunned silence, the people picked up the same cry: "Ambrose, Bishop." Ambrose was unanimously elected on the spot. This election was not as uncommon as it appears, as Ambrose was well-educated, an opponent of the Arian heresy, and a man respected by all. Emperor Valentinian supported the election, and Ambrose, at first quite unprepared to accept such an honor, acquiesced to the election. He was thirty-five years old at the time. He began his episcopacy by giving up all his worldly goods and titles and then educating himself in the Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers of the Church. He was already an eloquent preacher, and he maintained a vigorous schedule of prayer, including night vigils. He also kept his door open to the poor and needy. In 375, Valentinian died, and the emperor's brothers, Valens, began a joint rule with Gratian, Valentinian's son. Empress Justina, a member of the Arian heresy, put her four-year-old son on the throne of Italy, and Ambrose naturally became her enemy. Ambrose never wavered in this battle, limiting the damage the Arians could have done. In 383, Gratian was slain by a usurper, Maximus. The son of Justina, Valentinian, defeated Maximus and executed him. Valentinian opposed the Arians, and when his mother died, sided with Ambrose against Theodosius I, who ruled in the West. Theodosius' agents had murdered seven thousand citizens, a crime that roused Ambrose. He stopped Theodosius on the porch of a church and publicly scolded him for his actions. Theodosius submitted and performed public penance. Later, Theodosius commented: "I know of no bishop worth of the name, except Ambrose." In May 393, Valentinian II was murdered in Gual while Ambrose was traveling to meet and baptize him. Another usurper, Eugenius, embraced paganism and opened the old Roman temples before Theodosius led his armies into the region and slew him. Ambrose was asked to perform the solemn rites of thanksgiving for this victory. Theodosius died the following year with Ambrose at his side. Two years later, Ambrose himself collapsed. He was on his deathbed when he received delegations of concerned officials who asked him to pray that God would spare his life for the good of the empire. Ambrose declined and died on Good Friday, April 4, 397. Throughout his episcopal years, Ambrose was known for miracles. His writings have served the Church through the centuries, many of which are in the form of homilies or sermons. He also wrote hymns, commentaries on the Scriptures, and mystical writings. His discourse on the duties of Church officials became a standard for later generations. Ambrose is also revered because of his disputes with St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustine converted as a result of these disputes and was baptized by Ambrose. Ambrose is buried in Milan with relics of Sts. Gervase and Protase, which he discovered. He is the patron of Milan and Bologna, as well as candle makers, beekeepers, gingerbread makers, and stone masons. One of his hymns is used to bring about good weather. St. Ambrose is declared a Doctor of the Church which are certain men and women who are revered by the Church for the special value of their writings and preaching and the sanctity of their lives. They each made important and lasting contributions to the faith and are to be recognized for their great merits. To be declared a Doctor of the Church, you have to meet three basic requirements: First, you must have lived a life of exemplary holiness, or insignis vitae sanctitas (outstanding sanctity). In short, you have to be a saint. Second, to be a Doctor of the Church you must have deepened the whole Church's understanding of the Catholic Faith with emins doctrina (eminent teaching). Which is to say, sanctity isn't enough. There are thousands of saints, but only 37 Doctors of the Church. To be a Doctor one must do more than just live the Faith. Rather, one must significantly and profoundly contribute to our understanding of Divine Revelation, helping us to know more deeply some truth about God and His actions in the World. And third, a pope must officially declare you a Doctor. That being said, as the Church understands it, when a pope declares someone a Doctor of the Church, he's not so much making someone a Doctor as he is recognizing what the Holy Spirit has already done - that He has conferred the charism of Doctor upon them. Next Item Previous Item

Giving Planned & Legacy Giving Planned & Legacy Giving is a meaningful way to extend your faith and generosity beyond your lifetime. By including our parish in your long-term financial or estate plans, you help ensure that St. Anthony will continue to thrive and serve as a beacon of faith to our community for years to come. Legacy gifts can take many forms with the most common options presented below. These gifts not only support the future of our parish, but can also provide financial and tax benefits for you and your loved ones. For more information about legacy and planned giving opportunities, please contact: Joe Corona at jcorona@ap.church Contact Us Questions BACK TO TOP My Catholic Will Create a Will For FREE! As a gift to you we are proud to sponsor free access to MyCatholicWill.com so that you can protect your family, ensure your wishes are carried out, and support our Parish with your Legacy of Faith. Complete a legal will in 20 minutes or less. Start My Free Will Parish Endowment Investing in the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Endowment is a meaningful way to leave a lasting legacy—one that nurtures our parish and sustains the faith for generations to come. Learn More Gift in Your Will or Trust Remembering our parish in your will or trust is a meaningful way to extend your faith and generosity beyond your lifetime More Information Beneficiary Designation Naming our parish as a beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, or other financial asset is a simple way to make a lasting impact without changing your will or trust. More Information

Jesus in the Midst December 2026 Monthly Meeting View Session Session Transcript Monthly Meeting View Session Session Transcript Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" This month we will focus on Christ present in unity. Jesus in the Midst-when mutual love circulates among us, we experience Jesus’ presence. Jesus in the Midst: When love becomes mutual, Jesus becomes present among us. Jesus promised: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). This is more than an encouragement to gather for prayer. It reveals a profound mystery of Christian community: Christ himself can be present in the relationships among us. When I love you with the love of Jesus, and you respond by loving me, something happens that neither of us can produce individually. A third reality emerges: Jesus in our midst. This changes the way we understand community. We do not gather merely to accomplish something for Jesus. We gather so that Jesus can live among us. Our meetings, ministries, families, friendships, parish groups and Hearths become places where his presence can be generated and recognized. This also gives us a powerful examination of conscience: Is Jesus in the midst of us? If he is absent, perhaps we need to ask whether we have stopped loving one another, stopped listening, stopped forgiving, stopped beginning again. MONTHLY GATHERING: Saturday, December 12, 2026 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Located in the Main Church The speaker will be Fr. Richard McNeillie ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rev. Richard McNeillie Fr. Richard McNeillie is the Director of the Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, a ministry he has led since 2018. In this role, he accompanies men and women as they discern God’s call to priesthood, religious life, marriage, and other forms of Christian vocation, while also overseeing the care and formation of men preparing for the priesthood in the Archdiocese. Fr. McNeillie has a particular passion for helping people recognize that God is not distant from their lives. Through retreats, discernment groups, prayer, Eucharistic adoration, parish and school outreach, and personal accompaniment, he helps young people and adults learn to listen for the voice of Christ and respond to His invitation. The Vocations Office’s vision is that every person might prayerfully discern and joyfully discover the vocation God has prepared for them. His ministry has given him a unique perspective on the way Christ continues to work through His Church. In accompanying hundreds of people in moments of discernment, struggle, conversion, and decision, Fr. McNeillie has witnessed how Jesus makes Himself present through prayer, the Eucharist, Scripture, the sacraments, and especially through the people who accompany one another in faith. Fr. McNeillie also writes and speaks on the spiritual life, vocation, discipleship, prayer, justice, and the Eucharistic and sacrificial dimensions of Christian life. His reflections consistently point back to the person of Jesus Christ and the invitation to follow Him with the whole of one’s life. For Embers, Fr. McNeillie will speak on “Jesus in Our Midst,” inviting us to discover one of the beautiful mysteries of Christian community: that when we come together in His name and love one another with His love, Jesus Himself becomes present in our midst.

Mary and the Church May 2027 Monthly Meeting View Session Session Transcript Monthly Meeting View Session Session Transcript John 19:26-27: "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home" This month we will focus on Mary. Mary, our model and our mother, makes us small, humble children of the Gospel and makes us her instruments who spread love everywhere, thus generating living communities, living cells of the Church and of society. MONTHLY GATHERING: Tuesday, May 4, 2027 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Located in the Main Church The speaker will be Bishop Brendan Leahy ABOUT THE SPEAKER: The Most Reverend Professor Brendan Leahy, Bishop of Limerick since 2013, is an Irish Catholic bishop, theologian and author whose ministry has been deeply shaped by a particular theological insight: the Church cannot be fully understood without appreciating the place of Mary within it. His academic work, pastoral ministry and writing have consistently returned to the relationship between Mary, the Church, Christian discipleship and the vocation to love. Born in Dublin in 1960, Bishop Leahy studied law at University College Dublin and was called to the Bar at King’s Inns in 1983 before pursuing theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. His doctoral research focused on the “Marian principle” in the ecclesiology of the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, a theme that would become one of the defining interests of his theological career. His doctoral work was subsequently published as The Marian Profile in the Ecclesiology of Hans Urs von Balthasar. At the heart of Bishop Leahy’s understanding is the conviction that Mary reveals something essential about what it means to be the Church. Mary’s response to God is one of faith, receptivity, love and complete openness to God’s action. In this sense, the Church has a Marian dimension: before the Church acts, teaches or organizes, it is called to receive Christ, listen to God and say “yes” to His will. Leahy’s study of von Balthasar explores Mary as a model of Christian discipleship and as a key to understanding the Church’s vocation. Mary and the Church share a fundamental vocation, to receive Christ and bring His life into the world. His reflection on Mary leads him also to a consideration of what the theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar calls the Marian and Petrine dimensions of the Church. The Petrine dimension is linked in particular with the apostolic authority and the hierarchical-sacramental ministries of the Church, while the Marian dimension expresses the Church’s faith response to God and the many forms of Gospel life and lived holiness in the Church. Bishop Leahy emphasizes that these dimensions belong together: the Church needs both, hierarchical structure and the living witness of all the baptized, the sacramental gifts and the living out of the sacraments in daily life. Without the Marian dimension, the Church’s structures and activity cannot bear their fullest fruit. This conviction has also informed Bishop Leahy’s work for Christian unity and dialogue. Since the 1990s he has been deeply involved in ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, while his theological research has included ecclesiology, the Marian principle in the Church and new ecclesial movements. He has also been a member of the Pontifical Theology Academy since 2004 and has served as a visiting lecturer at the Sophia University Institute in Florence. As Bishop of Limerick, Leahy has sought to translate this theological vision into pastoral life. His ministry emphasizes communion, participation and the renewal of the Church’s life. In his recent diocesan consultation, for example, he highlighted the desire of parishioners for a stronger and more vibrant Church, with greater lay involvement and deeper collaboration among communities. For Bishop Brendan Leahy, therefore, Mary is not simply a subject of devotion or theological study. She offers a pattern for the life of the whole Church: a Church that listens, receives, trusts, loves and allows Christ to be born anew in the lives of its people. His lifelong reflection on the Marian profile of the Church offers a vision of Catholic life in which Mary points beyond herself to Christ, and, in doing so, reveals what the Church is called to become. While Bishop Brendan will not be physically present, he will send us his pre-recorded talk tailored specifically for our Embers Evangelization program. Then, he will be on the phone for a Q&A session.