Giving Tax Advantaged Giving Thank you for supporting the mission of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church! Below are different options for making a gift to our parish. For more information, check out the most commonly asked questions at the bottom of the page. If you still have questions, feel free to contact us at support@ap.church . Contact Us Questions 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? Statements for 2023 were emailed on Friday, January 26, 2024, 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 we do not have an email address for your profile in the PushPay system, but we do have a USPS mailing address, you will receive a PAPER statement by postal mail delivery IF you had a single contribution greater than $250 and we have a USPS mailing address for the donor. If you do not have an email address 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. Send your inquiry to support@ap.church . Want to stop (or start) 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. IRA - Qualified Charitable Distribution A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) (also referred to as Charitable IRA Rollover Gifts) is an excellent way to show your support for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and receive tax benefits in return. More Information Donor-Advised Fund A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a flexible and tax-efficient way to support charitable causes. It functions as a charitable giving account that allows donors to contribute assets—such as cash or stocks—receive a tax deduction and then give to charities over time. More Information 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. More Information

Amazing Grace Adaptive Praise & Evangelization (AGAPE) is a Bible Study for Adults (18+) with special needs. Weekly we explore the Sunday Mass readings through reflection, discussion, and interactive activities like games. Our time together helps deepen our understanding of Scripture in a joyful and supportive setting. Throughout the year, we also come together for fun social events. Bible Study Grow in your Faith Are you looking to deepen your faith? There are plenty of opportunities for adults to get involved at our parish. We have Bible Studies, Community Groups, Prayer and Devotions, Classes, Retreats, Organizations, and Groups in Spanish. I Want to Volunteer Contact Us All Categories Bible Study Class Community Group Organization Devotion Retreat AGAPE Various Times English Only Bible Study Amazing Grace Adaptive Praise & Evangelization (AGAPE) is a Bible Study for Adults (18+) with special needs. Weekly we explore the Sunday Mass readings through reflection, discussion, and interactive activities like games. Our time together helps deepen our understanding of Scripture in a joyful and supportive setting. Throughout the year, we also come together for fun social events. More Information Cornerstone Evening Mondays at 6:30 PM English Only Bible Study The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture Study strives to build, strengthen and deepen a personal and loving relationship with God and His people through prayer and the study of His Word. It incorporates daily studying the Word, Prayer, daily lessons, small group sharing, personal Reflections, and a Written Commentary. Register Cornerstone Morning Wednesdays at 9:45 AM English Only Bible Study The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture Study strives to build, strengthen and deepen a personal and loving relationship with God and His people through prayer and the study of His Word. It incorporates daily studying the Word, Prayer, daily lessons, small group sharing, personal Reflections, and a Written Commentary. Register Scripture & Reflection Wednesdays at 7 AM English Only Bible Study Join us for the Wednesday Morning Daily Mass at 6:00 AM. Stay after Mass and enjoy some coffee and fellowship as you discuss the readings for the Day. More Information The Great Adventure Various Times English Only Bible Study The Great Adventure (TGA) bible study is designed in such a way that anyone can make sense of the Bible and experience the life-changing power of God’s word. TGA introduces Catholics to scripture, equipping them with a basic biblical literacy. There are multiple classes offered each semester. More Information Walking With Purpose Wednesday Afternoons & Evenings English Only Bible Study Walking with Purpose Bible studies help women grow closer to Christ as they lean on truths found in Scripture to live joy-filled lives. Our Catholic Bible studies are unique in that they offer solutions found in the Bible that can be applied to our everyday lives and vary in length and depth to meet the needs of different women. Register BACK TO ADULT FAITH - GET INVOLVED BACK TO TOP

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 By including a gift in your will or trust, you can provide lasting support for the mission and ministries of our parish while ensuring your loved ones are cared for first. This type of gift is flexible—you can designate a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other bequests are fulfilled. Benefits to You: • You keep full use and control of your assets during your lifetime. • Your gift can be changed at any time if your circumstances or wishes change. • Your estate may receive tax advantages, which can benefit your heirs. • It is often as simple as adding a single sentence to your will or trust. How It Works: 1. Speak with your attorney about including our parish in your will or trust. 2. Decide whether to leave a specific dollar amount, a percentage, or a residual gift. 3. Use our parish’s full legal name and address to ensure clarity in your documents. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church 7801 Bay Branch Drive; The Woodlands, TX 77381 4. If desired, include how funds should be used such as St. Anthony of Padua Parish Endowment 5. Share your plans with us so we can thank you and ensure your intentions are honored. Sample Residual Bequest I give, devise, and bequeath to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, located in The Woodlands, Texas, all (or state a percentage) of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to be used for its unrestricted use (or for the support of a specific fund or ministry, or St. Anthony of Padua Parish Endowment). Sample Specific Bequest I hereby give, devise and bequeath to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, located in The Woodlands, Texas, _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to be used for its unrestricted use (or for the support of a specific fund or ministry, or St. Anthony of Padua Parish Endowment). For questions, please contact: Joe Corona Email: jcorona@ap.church We encourage you to consult with your estate attorney, financial or tax advisor. Next Item Previous Item

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 Baptism - Infant "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 0-6 years old We are excited to be a part of your child’s relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church through the Sacrament of Baptism! It is always a joyful experience for us to welcome a new Christian into the Church and into our parish community. Through baptism, your child will be adopted into God’s family, receive the grace of salvation won for us by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and have life in the Holy Spirit. As the doorway into God’s Church, Baptism enables your child to grow in holiness. Preparation for Registration If you can answer YES to all the questions below, you may be ready to request the Sacrament of Baptism for your child. After you attend the Baptism Preparation Class, you will receive a Baptism Packet which contains the necessary forms and information. Is the child 6 years old or younger? Have the parents of the child attended a Baptismal Preparation class? Are the parents of the child registered parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua? Registration Process 1 . Sacrament of Baptism Request Form . Complete the Baptism Request Form for more information on how to get started. Upon submitting this form, our Baptism coordinator will get in touch with you for further instructions. To see available baptism ceremony dates, check our schedule here . 2 . Complete Baptism Preparation class . Both parents must take the online and in-person components. If parents attended a Baptism Preparation class within the past three years at a parish other than St Anthony of Padua, you will need to submit the verification letter or certification from that parish. 3. Godparent Information Forms must be completed and signed by each godparent. You will find the requirements and obligations for godparents on the forms linked below. Email completed forms to our baptism coordinator. English Godparent/Christian Witness Commitment Form Español Forma de Padrino/Madrina/Testigo Cristiano 4. Official Birth Certificate. We will need a copy of your child’s official Birth Certificate as soon as possible. To receive the baptismal certificate on the day of the ceremony, the birth certificate must be received no later than two weeks before the ceremony. 5. Parish Registration. You will need to provide your parishioner registration number you received when you submitted the "join our parish" form. If you do not know your number, it is found on your Church Center profile at ap.churchcenter.com/me/profile-and-household or you may send an inquiry to support@ap.church If you are not a member of our parish, we will need a Letter of Assurance from the pastor of your current church. If you need a Letter of Assurance from St Anthony of Padua because your child is celebrating baptism at another Catholic parish, email Claudia Avena with your request. Questions Let us know if you need any assistance with the registration process. If you prefer, we are happy to set up an appointment to meet in person to guide you through the steps or answer any questions you may have about infant baptism. Program Contact Claudia Avena Baptism Coordinator (Bilingüe) cavena@ap.church 832-482-4033 Next Item Previous Item

St. Damien de Veuster, a Belgian priest of the Sacred Hearts Fathers, heroically served the lepers of Molokai, Hawaii. Arriving in Honolulu in 1864 and ordained shortly after, he worked on the Big Island for eight years before volunteering in 1873 to minister to those exiled to Molokai with leprosy. Known for his fearless compassion, Damien embraced the lepers—physically and spiritually—becoming one of them in every way. He built churches, homes, and a sense of dignity. Contracting leprosy in 1876, he continued his mission until his death in 1889. His life remains a powerful witness to mercy and solidarity with the suffering. St. Damien of Molokai Time Period: 1840-1889 Feast Day: May 10 Title/Attributes: Confessor, SS.CC Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Wood from the Altar of St. Damien St. Damien de Veuster was called the hero of Molokai, a Belgian member of the Sacred Hearts Fathers who gave his life for the lepers of Hawaii. He was born in Tremeloo, Belgium and followed his brother, Auguste, called Pamphile, into the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, the Picpus Fathers. He took his final vows on October 7, 1860, and then volunteered as Pamphile’s replacement to the Hawaiian missions, even though he had not been ordained. Damien arrived in Honolulu on March 19, 1964, and was ordained two days later in the cathedral. Assigned to the island of Hawaii, called the Big Island, he spent eight years in a mission that covered two thousand square miles of cliffs, ravines, valleys and volcanoes. In January 1866, the Hawaiian royal government, recognizing that leprosy was spreading through the islands, exiled victims of the disease to a settlement on the island of Molokai. Damien volunteered to care for the victims. On May 10, 1873, he landed at Kalaupapa, Molokai, in the company of Bishop Louis Maigret, SS.CC. The Bishop introduced Damien to the 816 community members as “one who will be a father to you and who loves you so much that he does not hesitate to become one of you, to live and die with you”. Under horrifying conditions, he gave the rest of his life to the lepers. What surprised the lepers most was that Damien touched them. Other missionaries and doctors shrank from the lepers. In fact, one local doctor only changed bandages with his cane. But Damien not only touched the lepers, he also embraced them, he dined with them, he put his thumb on their forehead to anoint them, and he placed the Eucharist on their tongues. All of these actions spoke volumes to the dejected lepers. They showed that Damien didn’t want to serve them from afar; he wanted to become one of them. In 1876, the first symptoms of leprosy appeared in Damien’s left foot. He did not shrink from this cross, and he was thrilled to see the Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse, led by St. Marianne Cope, arrive to start an advanced medical clinic. Damien served his fellow lepers until his death in 1889. At the request of the Belgian government, his remains were returned to his homeland decades later. Next Item Previous Item

St. Timothy was a disciple of St. Paul and the first Bishop of Ephesus. Born in Lystra to a Jewish mother, Eunice, and a Greek father, he was converted by Paul, who valued him as a close companion. Timothy assisted Paul in journeys to cities like Corinth and Thessalonica and is mentioned in the greetings of several of Paul’s epistles. He was also the recipient of two pastoral letters. Tradition holds that Timothy was martyred in 97 A.D. by a pagan mob in Ephesus for opposing the festival honoring the Roman goddess Diana. His feast day is January 22. St. Timothy Time Period: 1st Century Feast Day: January 26 Title/Attributes: Companion of St. Paul Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Timothy was the first Bishop of Ephesus (Modern Turkey), and a companion of St. Paul. He was a native of Lystra and was the son of. Jewish woman named Eunice and a Greek Gentile. Timothy was converted to the faith by St. Paul. Paul found Timothy to be a very valuable companion, taking him on several missions, such as those to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 4:17) and the Thessalonians (1 Thes 3:2-3). According to tradition, he was the first bishop of Ephesus, the basis for this being his journey to the city at the command of Paul to act as his representative (1 Timothy 1:3). e is mentioned with St. paul in the salutations of seven epistles in the New Testament and was the addressee of two of the three pastoral letters - 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. He was martyred on January 22, 97 by a mob of angry pagans because of Timothy's opposition to the celebrations of the feast of Diana (Roman goddess). Next Item Previous Item

Catholic Daughters of the Americas® (CDA) is one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women. Formed in 2015, Court St. Jane Frances de Chantal #2699 is the local charter instituted at St. Anthony of Padua. Our members, women ages 18 and older, have answered the call to say YES to make a difference through spirituality and service in the community.  Organization Grow in your Faith Are you looking to deepen your faith? There are plenty of opportunities for adults to get involved at our parish. We have Bible Studies, Community Groups, Prayer and Devotions, Classes, Retreats, Organizations, and Groups in Spanish. I Want to Volunteer Contact Us All Categories Bible Study Class Community Group Organization Devotion Retreat Catholic Daughters Various Times English Only Organization Catholic Daughters of the Americas® (CDA) is one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women. Formed in 2015, Court St. Jane Frances de Chantal #2699 is the local charter instituted at St. Anthony of Padua. Our members, women ages 18 and older, have answered the call to say YES to make a difference through spirituality and service in the community. More Information Knights of Columbus Various Times English Only Organization The Knights of Columbus Council 12327 is for Catholic men, 18 years of age and older, who are committed to making their community a better place, while supporting their Church. It is through these five service areas – Faith, Community, Family, Youth and Fellowship – that we truly make a difference. More Information BACK TO ADULT FAITH - GET INVOLVED BACK TO TOP

Saint Vincent de Paul had a clear plan for his life – ordained a priest at the age of 19, he was satisfied with a prestigious office in the Church and nothing more. What he didn’t expect was to be captured by pirates, sold into slavery, escape years later, found a religious order and become known as “The Apostle of Charity.” While his life didn’t play out the way he anticipated, Vincent de Paul served God faithfully, and allowed the Holy Spirit to work in his heart, change his aspirations, and direct his efforts to those that were most in need. His feast day is September 27th. St. Vincent de Paul Time Period: 1581-1660 Feast Day: September 27 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Founder Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Body Saint Vincent de Paul had a clear-cut plan for how his life would play out – becoming a priest at the age of just 19, he was perfectly content with attaining a prestigious office in the Church, earning copious amounts of money in order to retire early, and then return to his family in their home village in the south of France. What he probably didn’t expect though, was to be captured at sea by pirates, sold into slavery, escape a few years later, found a religious order and charity organizations, and become known as “The Apostle of Charity” from his dedication to caring for the poor. While his life didn’t play out the way he anticipated, Vincent de Paul served God faithfully, and allowed the Holy Spirit to work in his heart, change his aspirations, and direct his efforts to those that were most in need. Born on April 24, 1581, Vincent was the third child born to peasant farmers living in the French village of Pouy. His first formal education was by a group of Franciscan priests, and he displayed a profound talent for literacy early in his life, and at the age of 15, his father paid for him to enter a seminary by selling the family’s oxen. He attended a seminary in Dax, France and was ordained a priest on September 23, 1600. This was cause for some controversy though, due to the Council of Trent regulations that required men be at least 24 years old prior to ordination. Vincent was appointed a parish priest, but when his age came into question of violating the regulations, he decided to resign from the position, rather than fight the issue. He would go on to continue his studies at the University of Toulouse, where he received a Bachelor of Theology degree. Early biographies of Vincent de Paul tell of him receiving a piece of property in an inheritance from a wealthy patron he had met in Toulouse. In 1605, he was sailing to sell the property, when his ship was captured by Turkish pirates. Vincent was taken to Tunis and sold into slavery. Vincent spent two years in slavery, during which he was sold multiple times, eventually ending up with a former priest who had converted to Islam in order to gain his own freedom from slavery, and had Vincent attending to him and his three wives. One of his wives though would visit Vincent while he was in the fields and ask questions about his faith. Vincent was so genuine and passionate about his Catholic faith, the wife in turn began admonishing her husband for renouncing his Christianity. Vincent’s master was so filled with remorse, that he decided to not only set Vincent free, but to escape back to France with him. They crossed the Mediterranean in June of 1607, and Vincent de Paul was a free man. After returning to France, Vincent traveled to Rome for a year to briefly continue his studies, before moving to Paris, where he remained permanently. Not long after arriving in Paris, he made two acquaintances that would drastically alter his initial plans for wealth and early retirement. Pierre de Bérulle was a well-known French priest who would go on to become a cardinal and become Vincent’s spiritual director. Father André Duval was a French priest and a professor of the Sorbonne, one of the first established universities in the world. Both would have heavy influences on Vincent, with Cardinal Pierre appointing Vincent as the pastor of Saint-Medard in the town of Clichy, and Fr. Duval introducing Vincent to the “Rule of Perfection” by Benet Canfield, a book focused on mysticism and the spiritual life that he would quote regularly later in life. Vincent continued to grow in his faith while serving in Clichy, and his commitment to prayer and the priesthood helped deter him from continuing to pursue wealth and leisure. The most significant conversion of heart happened in 1617, when Vincent was recalled back to Paris less than a year after leaving, having been appointed chaplain to the Gondi family by Cardinal Pierre. The Gondi family were a prominent Florentine banking family who had an estate in Picardy. It was there, in January of 1617, that Vincent heard the confession of a dying servant, which would open his eyes to the drastic spiritual and financial needs of the poor in France. Later that year, Vincent left the Gondi family and was made the pastor of a parish in Châtillon-les-Dombes, a town in the southeast of France. Stories tell of Vincent preparing for a Sunday Mass when a parishioner arrived with news of the illness and financial struggles of a family in the parish. Vincent preached on their need that afternoon, and his parishioners responded with an overwhelming wave of support, bringing the family much-needed food, supplies, and generosity. He would go on to organize a group of affluent women in the area who helped collect funds for missionary projects, relief for victims of war, the foundation of hospitals, and even the ransom of 1,200 slaves to safety from North Africa. This group would become the first Confraternity of Charity, the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. Madame Gondi, having seen firsthand Vincent’s faith in action (the dying servant Vincent attended to had told her his soul “would have been damned without Vincent’s ministry”), noticed Vincent’s local missions to the people, and began setting aside money to preach about missions on a greater scale. She, along with Fr. Duval, encouraged him to find a community that was willing and able to help Vincent spread the word about missions and serving the poor, but none were willing to take on this specific apostolate. So, with the mentorship of Fr. Duval, in April of 1625 he founded the Congregation of the Mission, a group of priests also known as “Vincentians” who were committed to lives of chastity, poverty, obedience, and devotion to the poor. This religious order sparked another passionate purpose for Vincent – the training and formation of priests. At the time, there were not many priests in France, and those that were present were not particularly faithful to their way of life. Vincent began conducting numerous retreats to help instruct and prepare men for the priesthood, which would serve as a precursor for the model of modern-day seminaries. Vincent was a pioneer in clerical training and at one point, the Vincentians were directing more than 50 different seminaries around the world. As the Congregation of the Mission continued to grow, so did the Confraternities of Charity. More and more laywomen were visiting, feeding, and caring for the sick and poor. With Louise de Marillac, who Vincent served as her spiritual advisor, they formed the Daughters of Charity in 1633, the first non-cloistered religious institute of women devoted to charitable works. They cared for prisoners, taught catechism to rural children, and took to the city streets to serve God through the poor. Vincent continued to oversee these various organizations for many years, while also serving as the spiritual director at the Convent of St. Mary of the Angels for 28 years. He served on the Queen’s Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs, combatted the rise of the Jansenism heresy, and served faithfully all the way up until his death on September 27, 1660. He was 79 years old. Two miracles were attributed to the work of Vincent de Paul, a nun cured of ulcers, and a laywoman who was healed of paralysis. Subsequently, Pope Benedict XIII beatified Vincent on August 13, 1729. Less than a decade later, Pope Clement XIII officially canonized him on June 16, 1737. He is the patron saint of charities, hospitals, volunteers, prisoners, and horses. Vincent’s legacy lives on throughout the world from his passionate charity. There are more than 4,000 Vincentians still serving in 86 countries, and more than 18,000 Daughters of Charity spread out across 94 countries. In 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded by Blessed Antoine Frédéric Ozanam, a French historian, scholar and lawyer, to serve the poor. Saint Vincent de Paul’s compassion, humility and generosity changed the world. He didn’t necessarily have grandiose plans to cover the globe with his image, teachings or writings; instead, he served those in need who were right in front of him. Once he did that, God did the rest, and the “Father of the Poor” changed the world through the training of priests in the French church, the service of the faithful Vincentians and Daughters of Charity, and the actions of every person who reads about the life of this great saint and commits themselves to doing their part to serve the poor too. Next Item Previous Item

Our Sacrament Preparation (First Reconciliation and First Communion) program for high schoolers is a collaboration between our Parish, the Family and the teen. Click below to find out more about the program, requirements, and registration.  First Communion - Teen Our Sacrament Preparation (First Reconciliation and First Communion) program for high schoolers is a collaboration between our Parish, the Family and the teen. Click below to find out more about the program, requirements, and registration. 9th-12th Grade 9th-12th Graders seeking First Communion and Reconciliation will be prepared over two years. Year One of Preparation is through our Life Teen Program (9th-12th Grade) and will cover Foundational Teachings of the Catholic Church. Year Two is completed through our Teen Confirmation and Teen Sac Prep Programs (10th-12th Grade) and will cover the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which will integrate sacramental preparation sessions. Participants will receive their First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation during Year Two. Teen Sac Prep Year 1 (9th-11th Grade) Candidates for First Communion and Reconciliation can begin preparation during their freshman year of high school. Each Candidate will complete their first year of preparation by registering and attending Sunday evening Life Teen sessions or enrolling in an accredited Catholic High School. Teen Sac Prep Year 2 (10th-12th Grade) After successfully completing the first year of preparation through Life Teen or through Catholic High School, the Candidate will register and faithfully attend our Confirmation program on Wednesday evenings as well as Sac Prep sessions on specifically designated dates during the spring semester. The Teen Candidate will receive their First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, during this year of preparation. Youth Ministry Website Program Contact Shelly Wilson Manager of Youth Ministry & Teen Sacraments swilson@ap.church 832-482-4136 Next Item Previous Item

Saint Teresa of Ávila was born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada on March 28, 1515 in Ávila, Spain. At 16, she was sent by her father to be educated in a convent of Augustinian nuns, and she eventually joined the Carmelite Order. After a severe bout of Malaria and a series of striking visions, Teresa founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites, opening more than 30 convents in her lifetime. She is remembered as one of the great mystics of the Catholic faith, and is one of the four women to be named a Doctor of the Church. St. Teresa of Ávila Time Period: 1515-1582 Feast Day: October 15 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Doctor of the Church, Carmelite Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones The religious reformer known as Saint Teresa of Ávila was born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada on March 28, 1515 in Ávila, Spain. She was the third child in a family descended from Jewish merchants who converted to Christianity. Growing up, Teresa was captivated by the thought of spending eternity with God, and she soon became intrigued by the lives of saints and martyrs. So infatuated was Teresa, that before she would even turn ten years old, she would try to run away from home to devote her life to Christ as a martyr in a Muslim country, although her uncle found her down the road and sent her back home to Beatrice, her mother. Beatrice would pass away when Teresa was 14, causing a profound grief that would initially prompt a stronger devotion to the Virgin Mary, but by the age of 16, Teresa was more focused on clothes, flirting and rebelling. This newfound interest in worldly matters, along with the strict religious standards imposed by her father, caused Teresa to have a harsh sense of self-judgement, considering herself a “miserable sinner.” It wasn’t long before her father noticed the loss of her childhood zeal for God, and decided Teresa would benefit from a change of scenery. She was sent to be educated in a convent of Augustinian nuns. While Teresa found their way of life dull at first, she grew to like religious life, and when the time came for her to choose between marriage or religious life, she became a nun of the Carmelite Order (a decision which she wrote was “the safest for someone as prone to sin as she was”). This decision though was in direct opposition of the will of her father, who was displeased by the easy-going nature of the Carmelite Convent. Indeed, the convent was not the pious, contemplative institution Teresa expected. Many women who had no place else to go would end up in the convent, whether they felt they had a vocation or not, and numerous women were accepted for purely financial reasons. Parties seemed to take priority over piety, and the convent became overcrowded with a steady stream of visitors, which caused Teresa to struggle to grow in her relationship with God or find time for quiet reflection. Shortly after becoming a nun, Teresa experienced a severe case of malaria that would leave her in great pain for years. She was bedridden for a long period of time, endured a four-day coma, and many were convinced she would not survive. However during this period of pain, she began her very first experiences of divine visions. Teresa described the sensation as an inner sense of peace that seemed to transcend the intense physical pain of the body. One of the more striking visions Teresa experienced came in the form of an angel who would appear holding a long, golden spear. The angel was smiling and gentle, so Teresa wasn’t frightened by him, but she was surprised when he thrust the spear into her heart. She simultaneously felt severe pain and sweet ecstasy from the spear, a symbol of God’s love. Writing in her autobiography, Teresa described the experience – “the sweetness of the pain was so surpassing that I couldn’t possibly wish to be rid of it. My soul couldn’t be content with anything but God.” Many clergy dissuaded her from pursuing the visions though, as they felt they were the delusions of the devil. Nonetheless, Teresa grew significantly in mental prayer during her recovery, but once back to health, her prayer life plateaued. Having lost the confidence to pray as she ought, she settled instead to lapse into a more routine prayer life. She would remain an obedient Carmelite, but struggle to establish a close personal connection to God for nearly twenty years. Around the age of 40, Teresa experienced a spiritual awakening, finding herself dramatically called back to the practice of contemplative mental prayer. Furthermore, she felt called to restore the Carmelite spirituality back to its original purpose: to live for God. She plunged back into her faith, emboldened to reform the Church. Teresa desired to found a new convent that refocused on the basics of contemplative prayer and poverty. Around the same time, she became close friends with a Spanish priest named Juan de Yepes y Álvarez, who would come to be known as St. John of the Cross. With his close collaboration, Teresa founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Discalced means barefoot, a term Teresa chose to symbolize the simplicity to which she wished to return the order. The move was met with intense opposition and scrutiny from public officials and religious leaders, who denounced her from the pulpit, started legal proceedings against her, and told her she should raise money for the convent she was already in. The bulk of the hostility came from the fact that the convent existed without endowment, but Teresa stood firm on the focus of poverty, and eventually the opposition waned. In 1562, with Pope Pius IV’s authorization, she opened the first convent of the Carmelite Reform, St. Joseph’s. Teresa would go on to found 30 more convents during her life, as St. John of the Cross was initiating the Carmelite Reform for men, opening the first monastery of the Primitive Rule in Duruelo Spain in 1568. Teresa’s health never fully recovered following her bout with malaria, and the rigors of opening more convents and traveling around Spain left her frail. However she never let her poor health dissuade her from her life’s mission, and she persevered through continued criticism, clashes with the Spanish Inquisition, and even an attempt to excommunicate her order. While traveling through Salamanca in 1582, her health failed her for the final time, and she accepted her illness as God’s chosen means for calling her into His presence forever. A fellow Carmelite described the hours before her passing: “She remained in this position in prayer full of deep peace and great repose. Occasionally she gave some outward sign of surprise or amazement. Her facial expression was so wondrously changed that it looked like a celestial body to us. Thus immersed in prayer, happy and smiling, she went out of this world into eternal life.” She died in October of 1582, at the age of 67. Teresa of Ávila was canonized on March 12, 1622, and in 1970, she received the prestigious title of Doctor of the Church by Pope St. Paul VI. She is only one of four women to have ever been proclaimed as such. Saint Teresa is remembered as one of the great mystics of the Catholic faith, and her writings are heralded as literary canon regarding Christian mysticism and Christian meditation. Her writings Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle have helped generations of faithful Christians grow in contemplative prayer to this day. Teresa lived in a tumultuous time, but was determined to stand on her own two feet, and boldly pursue the call of God. Enthusiastic, courageous, and outgoing, she brought about immense reform despite the opposition of poor health, political turmoil, and her own feelings of mediocrity. Yet she struggled forward, faithful until the end, to found monasteries, share the beauty of mental prayer, and fall into the embrace of the Lord. A Doctor of the Church 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