St. John Damascene, born in Damascus under Islamic rule, was a brilliant theologian and one of the last of the Greek Church Fathers. After serving as a Christian adviser to Caliph Abdul Malik, he resigned due to his faith and entered a monastery near Jerusalem. There, he wrote over 150 works, including defenses of Christian doctrine and icon veneration, notably opposing Emperor Leo the Isaurian’s iconoclasm. His most famous writings include Sacred Parallels and Fount of Wisdom. For his holiness and profound teachings, he was declared a Doctor of the Church, honored for deepening the Church’s understanding of Divine Revelation. St. John Damascene Time Period: 675-749 Feast Day: December 4 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Doctor of the Church Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: From the silk shroud which wrapped the bones St. John Damascene is a Doctor of the Church and one of the last Greek Fathers. He was born in Damascus, Syria, which was under Islamic domination, and succeeded his father as an adviser to Caliph Abdul Malik as chief representative (Secretary of State) of the Christian community to the caliph. In 719, however, he was compelled to resign hi spost because of his Christian faith. He entered a monastery near Jerusalem, where he concentrated his energies on prayer and writing; he authored one hundred and fifty works on theology, religious education, hagiography, and philosophy. John also penned a composition in defense of the veneration of icons against the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian. His two most famous writings were Sacred Parallels and Found of Wisdom, which earned him a notable place among the Church’s theologians. St. John Damascene 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

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. Building A Legacy of Faith MAKE AN ENDOWMENT GIFT Why Give to the Endowment? A contribution to the endowment is an investment in a permanent, self-sustaining source of funding for St. Anthony of Padua. The fund is professionally managed by an institutional advisory team to ensure long-term growth and financial stability . Each year, a portion of the fund’s income may be distributed to support the parish. Any additional earnings are reinvested to build the fund’s value over time. This helps provide critical support for ongoing needs, including building maintenance, campus expansion, and ministry development . Peace of Mind for the Future Endowment giving provides more than financial support—it brings peace of mind , knowing your contribution will secure the future of St. Anthony of Padua and its mission. Ways to Give Build Your Legacy, One Gift at a Time Recurring gifts are a simple way to grow your contribution to the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Endowment over time. Consider giving on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis to align with your earnings and personal giving strategy. Leave a Lasting Legacy By naming the Parish Endowment as a beneficiary in your estate plan , you ensure your faith and generosity live on. Your planned gift will support the parish mission for generations to come.. We are now accepting endowment gifts through your PushPay account. For more information about the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Endowment and other planned giving opportunities, please contact: Joe Corona Email: jcorona@ap.church PLANNED AND LEGACY GIFT GUIDE Next Item Previous Item

St. Marcellin Champagnat was a French priest and founder of the Marist Brothers, a teaching branch of the Society of Mary. Born to a humble family, he received little formal education until age fifteen but pursued the priesthood with strong faith. Ordained in 1816, he joined like-minded priests, including Jean-Claude Colin, to form the Society of Mary. In 1817, he began the Marist Brothers to educate youth, emphasizing poverty, humility, and trust in God under Mary’s protection. The congregation grew, earning papal recognition in 1836 and missionary responsibility for Oceania. Marcellin worked tirelessly until his death to support their mission. St. Marcellin Champagnat Time Period: 1789-1840 Feast Day: June 6 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Founder Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Marcellin Champagnat was a French priest and the founder of the Society of Mary. Marcellin was born to a humble family and he received no formal education until the age of fifteen, although he was possessed of a deep faith and a determination to advance the Gospel. After meeting a seminary professor, he embarked upon the road to the priesthood, studying with fervor as part of a class that included Jean-Marie Vianney, the future Cure of Ars. After ordination in 1816, he became friends with other priests who shared his zeal, including Jean-Claude Colin, who co-founded with him the Society of Mary Marcellin meanwhile, urged the society to permit teaching brothers, eventually receiving the task of founding this branch of religious. In 1817, Marcellin discovered his first two vocations to the Marist Brothers. From the humble start came the congregation of the Little Brothers of Mary, or Marist Brothers, founded in poverty, humility, and total trust in God under Mary’s protection and with the purpose of having its members serve as teachers, catechists and educators of young people. In 1836, the Holy See gave official recognition to the Society of Mary and entrusted it with the missions of Oceania. Marcellin continued laboring for his congregation until his death. Next Item Previous Item

Stock Gifts To transfer a gift of securities submit a completed LETTER OF INTENT form to your broker, and to assure that your gift will be properly identified and applied to your intended purpose please send a copy to the Archdiocese. Gifting Stock to the Church Donating appreciated stock is a smart and impactful way to support the mission of the Church. Benefits to You: Tax Efficiency: You may avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated value of the stock. Charitable Deduction: You can typically claim a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the stock (if held for more than one year). Larger Impact: Because of the tax savings, giving stock may allow you to make a more generous gift than if you donated cash. How It Works: To transfer a gift of securities, submit a completed LETTER OF INTENT form to your broker Contact your broker to initiate a stock transfer. Provide the church’s brokerage information (available from the parish office). Notify the church of the gift so it can be properly acknowledged and directed to the intended purpose (i.e. General Offertory, Food Pantry, Parish Endowment, etc.) The Parish will provide an acknowledgement of the specific stock and number of shares donated. Important Note: Always consult your tax advisor to ensure the gift is structured in the most beneficial way for your situation. Next Item Previous Item

St. Stephen, one of the Church’s first deacons, is honored as the Proto-Martyr—the first Christian martyr. Chosen to serve the poor, he ministered especially to Hellenist converts and was known for his powerful preaching, grace, and miracles. His bold witness angered Jewish leaders, leading to his trial before the Sanhedrin. After passionately defending the faith, he was dragged outside the city and stoned to death. Saul (later St. Paul) witnessed and approved of his execution. "They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!' Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them!'" (Acts 7:59-60). St. Stephen the Protomartyr Time Period: d. 34 Feast Day: December 26 Title/Attributes: Protomartyr, Deacon Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Stephen was one of the first Deacons in the Church and was the first Christian Martyr, which gave him the title of Proto-Martyr. Virtually nothing is known of his early life or of his conversion. The first mention of him occurs in Acts 6:5, when he was chosen as one of the seven deacons by the Apostles and ordained with the mission of laboring among the poor. Stephen focused his attentions on the Hellenist (Jews born in a land distant from Palestine and who spoke Greek as a native language) converts, and he proved a gifted, firery preacher, described as being full of power and grace and performing miracles. Stephen's martyrdom was recounted in Acts chapters 6-7. His martyrdom came about because of the prominent position he enjoyed as a preacher, which earned the enmity of members of the large Jewish community in Jerusalem. Brought before the Sanhedrin, he defended himself with passion and eloquence (Acts 7:2-53), but it did nothing to assuage his bitter foes. Dragged out of the city, he was stoned to death, according to Mosaic Law. The executioners placed their cloaks into the safeguarding of Saul, the future St. Paul, who "was consenting to his death" (Acts 8:1). Stephen's dying words were: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:59), asking Christ's forgiveness for his attackers. He was buried by "devout men" who "made a loud lament over him" (Acts 8:2). A church was built in his honor outside the Damascus Gate by Empress Eudoxia. Acts 6:8 – 7:60 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. Stephen’s Defense The high priest said, “Are these things so?”And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that He would give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke to this effect, that his descendants would be aliens in a foreign land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. ‘And whatever nation to which they will be in bondage I Myself will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve Me in this place.’ And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household. Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph. It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’ But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? You do not mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ At this remark, Moses fled and became an alien in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. But the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to rescue them; come now, and I will send you to Egypt.’ This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren.’ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’ At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘It was not to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, O house of Israel? You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will remove you beyond Babylon.’ Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. David found favor in God’s sight and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: ‘ Heaven is My throne,And earth is the footstool of My feet;What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,‘Or what place is there for My repose?Was it not My hand which made all these things?’ You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” Stephen Put to Death Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. Next Item Previous Item

View Mass, confession, and adoration schedules at St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands, TX. Daily and weekend Masses, chapel hours, and nursery info. Times & Hours Weekend Mass (Main Church) Saturday: 5 PM Vigil Mass Sunday: 7 AM, 9 AM , 11 AM, 1 PM Español , 6 PM *View Our Mass Live Stream Nursery Registration Daily Mass Monday: 9 AM • Our Lady of the Angels Chapel (OLA) Tuesday: 9 AM & 6:45 PM • OLA Chapel Wednesday: 6 AM and 8:30 AM • Main Church Thursday: 9 AM and 6:45 PM • OLA Chapel Friday: 9 AM • OLA Chapel Saturday*: 10 AM • OLA Chapel *The First Saturday of every month, Daily Mass will be moved to the Main Church. Confession * Confessions are located in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel Tuesday: 5 PM - 6:30 PM • English and Español Wednesday: 6 PM - 8 PM • English Only Thursday: 5 PM - 6:30 PM • English and Español Saturday*: 8 AM - 10 AM • English and Español *The First Saturday of every month, Confessions will be moved to the Main Church. Every Saturday we have nursery available. Pre-registration is required. Nursery Registration Main Church Location: 7801 Bay Branch Drive The Woodlands, TX 77382 Open Hours: Saturday: 4 PM - 6:30 PM Sunday: 6 AM - 7:30 PM Adoration Chapel Open to the Public: Monday - Friday: 7:30 AM - 10 PM Saturday: 7:30 AM - 10 AM Sunday: 7:30 PM - 10 PM Scheduled Adoration Information: If you are interested in becoming a scheduled adorer for any public hour or throughout the night, you may register for a holy hour by contacting us. Contact Us Office Hours Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM The office is located in the Parish Life Building *Closed for lunch from 12-1PM Phone: 281-419-8700 Our Lady of the Angels Chapel Location: 8715 Kuykendahl Road Spring, Texas 77382 Open Hours: Monday, Friday, Saturday* • 8 AM - 12 PM Tues & Thurs • 8 AM - 12 PM & 5 PM - 7:30 PM Wednesday • 6 PM - 7:30 PM Sunday • 8 AM - 1 PM This is an active chapel with Daily Mass, Confession, Funerals, and Weddings scheduled weekly. If you are visiting, contact us at chapel@ap.church to ensure you are not disrupting other liturgies. Saint Relics

St. Camillus of Lellis, born in 1550 in Italy, was a soldier turned servant of the sick. After a military and gambling career left him penniless, he attempted to join the Capuchins but was rejected due to a leg ailment. He later became director of St. Giacomo Hospital in Rome and, with guidance from St. Philip Neri, was ordained. In 1585, he founded the Camellians, a congregation dedicated to caring for the sick, including wounded soldiers. Approved by Pope Gregory XIV in 1591, the order expanded across Europe. Camillus died in 1614 and was canonized in 1746. St. Camillus of Lellis Time Period: 1550-1614 Feast Day: July 14 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Founder Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Body St. Camillus of Lellis was the founder of the Camellians and he was called “Father of a Good Death.” He was born in 1550 in Bocchianico, Italy, and fought for Venice against the Turks, taking up a military and gambling career which left him penniless in Naples in 1574. Camillus joined the Capuchin Franciscans that year but had to leave because of a diseased leg, the result of an illness he contracted in a war against the Turks. Devoted to the sick, Camillus became director of St. Giacomo Hospital in Rome. His confessor at the time was St. Philip Neri, and from him he received permission to be ordained. With two companions, Camillus decided to found a congregation to care for the sick – the Ministers of the Sick, the Camellians. He was ordained by Bishop Thomas Goldwell of St. Asaph of England and started the congregation, enlarging the facilities of their mission in 1585 and opening a house in Naples in 1588. Camillus and his men cared for men aboard plague-stricken ships in the harbor of Rome. In 1591, Pope Gregory XIV approved the congregation, and Camillus sent members to Hungary and Croatia. There they worked in the first field medical unit to care for troops wounded in battled. Camillus resigned as superior of the congregation in 1607, dying in Rome on July 14, 1614. He was canonized in 1746 and declared the patron of the sick with St. John of God. Next Item Previous Item

Interested in joining our team? Find employment opportunities at St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Help serve our community and grow in faith. View our open positions. Employment Opportunities Current Employment Opportunities NURSERY STAFF Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is seeking warm, dependable individuals to serve as Nursery Staff, caring for our youngest parishioners during Mass and parish events. Position Overview Nursery Staff provide a safe, nurturing, and faith-filled environment for infants and toddlers. Staff are expected to arrive on time, maintain a clean and orderly classroom, and communicate proactively with the Nursery Coordinator. Candidates should be patient, responsible, and genuinely love working with young children. A nurturing attitude and commitment to positive encouragement are essential. Must be over 18 and Safe Environment certified. Contact Kara Hofstede at khofstede@ap.church .

Communication Requests Communications Request Guidelines The staff communications team at St. Anthony utilizes Social Media posts, Mass announcements, Flocknotes and weekly parish bulletin to share information with our parish and community. We aim to serve as a source of communication for the 100+ ministries and organizations that meet on our campus as well as many outside organizations within the Archdiocese. In order to ensure a standard of excellence for these communications, please follow the submission guidelines below. Please note that the STAOP Communications Department reserves the right to edit all final submissions before publication. Due to the unpredictable nature of submissions, we are not able to reserve a ministry’s placement or timing on the parish’s communication channels. On occasion it is necessary to balance the number of requests with placement capacity. We appreciate your understanding. For all requests, please send the following information to communications@ap.church Name of Organization/Ministry: Name of Event: Date(s) of Event: Time(s) of Event: Location(s) of Event: Contact Persons Email for Event: Description of Event: Registration Process for Event: Indicate if you want an online registration form at ap.church/events to collect signups. If yes, include the following information: Describe the payment to be collected (if any) and other information/questions you wish to gather from the attendees. What day & time does your signup open and when is the deadline. Indicate what special details should be included in a confirmation message. If childcare is needed, remember you must send a separate request to our Nursery Coordinator, Kara Hofstede at khofstede@ap.church If you have a different registration process, please include those details Notes/Additional Needs: Copy your Staff Representative/Director on your email request. Previous Item Next Item

St. Olcese was the Bishop in Gaul (modern France) in the late fourth century and the early fifth century. Olcese fled to Italy when Gaul was invaded by Vandals. The area he fled to in Italy is known today as Sant’Olcese. He lived a prayerful life of a hermit and worked in the village converting souls and performing miracles. St. Olcese Time Period: 4th - 5th Century Feast Day: January 22 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Confessor Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Olcese was the Bishop in Gaul (modern France) in the late fourth century and the early fifth century. Olcese fled to Italy when Gaul was invaded by Vandals. The area he fled to in Italy is known today as Sant’Olcese. He lived a prayerful life of a hermit and worked in the village converting souls and performing miracles. Next Item Previous Item