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

St. Martin of Tours, born in 316 in modern-day Hungary, was a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity after a vision of Christ wearing the half-cloak he had given to a beggar. He left the army, returned home, and helped convert others. Martin opposed Arianism and later became a hermit in Gaul, founding its first monastic community. In 371, he was made Bishop of Tours, where he continued living a monastic life at Marmoutier Abbey. Known for his holiness, miracles, and defense of orthodoxy, Martin died in 397. He is a pioneer of Western monasticism and a model of Christian charity. St. Martin of Tours Time Period: 316-397 Feast Day: November 11 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Confessor Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Marin of Tours was a Bishop and pioneer of Western monasticism. He was born in 316 to a pagan army officer in Sabaria, Pannonia, on the Danube (modern day Hungary). He then moved with his family to Pavia, Italy. At age fifteen, he was inducted into the army, and in 337 cut his cloak in half to clothe a freezing beggar in Samarobriva (modern Amiens, France). That night he had a vision of Christ wearing half of his cloak. Converting to Christianity, Martin left the army and returned to Pannonia, where his mother and others converted to the faith. After years of fighting Arianism and enduring persecution from the Arian heretics, Martin joined St. Hilary of Poitiers and became a hermit around 360, the first monastic-style community in Gaul (modern France). After a decade at Liguge, Martin was made bishop of Tours in 371. He founded Marmoutier Abbey and lived there while performing his episcopal duties. He intervened with the usurper Magnus Maximus in the Priscillianist Controversy. He then went to Rome and then back to Gaul, where he established a religious center, dying there on November 8, 397. Martin was gifted with many mystical graces and was the outstanding monastic pioneer before St. Benedict of Nursia. Next Item Previous Item

Nearly everything known about Saint Monica comes from the writings of her well-known troublemaker of a son, Saint Augustine, but it’s believed Monica was born around 332 A.D. in the town of Tagaste (present-day Algeria). Married to a pagan Roman official, they had three children but none could compare to Augustine, who Monica spent countless nights praying and fasting for. She even followed him to Rome, where she joyfully witnessed his conversion and baptism in 387. Known as the “Mother of the Virtues”, she is the patron saint of both difficult marriages and difficult children. St. Monica Time Period: 332-387 Feast Day: August 27 Title/Attributes: Mother of St. Augustine Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones The life of Saint Monica gave her every opportunity to be a bitter mother, a nagging wife, and a lukewarm Christian, but instead, she patiently persevered through every difficulty and is now known as a holy, virtuous saint. Nearly everything known about Saint Monica comes from the writings of her well-known troublemaker of a son, Saint Augustine, so many facts and dates are unconfirmed in their exact detail. Regardless, it is believed Monica was born around the year 332 A.D. in North Africa, in the town of Tagaste (present-day Algeria). She was married off at a young age to Patricius, a pagan Roman official. Patricius inherited his mother’s violent temper, and it was just Monica’s luck that her mother-in-law also lived with the couple, leading to more than the occasional temper flare. It is written that Monica’s prayers and Christians beliefs “deeply annoyed” Patricius, but he is said to have nonetheless respected her beliefs. Still, there was animosity between the couple when the topic of baptism arose for their three children, Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Despite Monica’s pleadings, Patricius wouldn’t allow them to be baptized Christians, until their son Augustine fell ill. Seeing her distress, Patricius finally agreed, only to withdraw his consent when the boy recovered. Monica was undeterred by her brutal husband and irritable mother-in-law, even when Patricius’ infidelity caused further rifts in their marriage. Monica prayed for their conversion every night, and slowly but surely won them over for the Lord. Patricius finally converted and was baptized one year before his death. During that time of Patricius’ gradual conversion, their three children were growing up in drastically different directions. Perpetua and Navigius both entered religious life, but their oldest son Augustine, who had recovered from his previous ailments, became lazy and coarse in his life decisions. When Patricius passed away, Monica, distressed about her son’s future, sent the 17-year-old Augustine to Carthage for schooling. Unfortunately, Carthage would provide Augustine ample opportunity to further fall into immorality, greatly wounding Monica’s heart. He had become a Manichaean, a 3rd century heretical religion focused on “all flesh is evil” and other non-Christian views. When Augustine finished his education, he returned home to his mother and when he shared his newfound views with her, she drove him away, refusing to allow him to eat or sleep in her house. Monica spent many tearful nights praying earnestly for her son’s conversion. Despite their estrangement, she soon had a vision that assured her Augustine would one day return to the faith, and that she needed to reconcile with her wayward son. Determined to bring her son closer to Christ, but still distraught about his current religious views, she visited a local bishop who consoled her with the words “the child of those tears shall never perish.” From that time on, Monica began earnest fasting and prayer for her son, staying as close to him as possible, which for the future Saint Augustine, was sometimes a little too close. At the age of 29, Augustine made the decision to travel to Rome to teach rhetoric. Naturally, Monica was determined to join him in order to keep a close and prayerful eye on him, an idea which Augustine wasn’t overly fond of. He attempted to stealthily depart for Rome without his mother by telling her he was going down to the docks to say goodbye to a friend, only to instead jump on a ship himself and sail away. The inspired Monica refused to allow her son to slip away from her again, and she soon set a course for Rome herself. When she arrived, she learned he had just traveled further on to Milan. So too did Monica. Her pursuit of her son led her to the doorstep of a third future saint in this journey, the wise Saint Ambrose. Ambrose was the Bishop of Milan who Augustine quickly came under the influence of thanks to his deep theological knowledge and influence. He also became Saint Monica’s spiritual director, and she accepted his advice in everything, humbly growing in holiness alongside her son, who she continued to pray for day and night. After six months in Milan, Monica was able to joyfully witness Augustine finally joining the church, being baptized by Saint Ambrose on Easter in the year 387, at St. John the Baptist church. Following his baptism, Monica and Augustine departed for Africa, where they felt called to spread the word of God, but although no one else was aware of it, Monica knew her journey was nearing its end. While stopped on their way in the Roman city of Civitavecchia, Monica fell severely ill, and eventually passed away. Augustine’s recording of her final words paints the picture of a loving mother who desired nothing more than to pursue her son in order to return him to the embrace of Christ. “Son, nothing in this world now affords me delight. I do not know what there is now left for me to do or why I am still here, all my hopes in this world being now fulfilled.” Monica’s remains were buried in Ostia, and then later moved into a hidden crypt in the church of Santa Aurea during the 6th century. Monica’s witness and sanctity despite an unfaithful husband and a faithless son led to a strong following of faithful believers, and a feast in her honor was held every year on May 4th. In 1430, Pope Martin V ordered Monica’s relics be brought to Rome for veneration. As her relics were being transported to Rome, numerous miracles were said to have occurred along the path, further spreading the legend of Monica of Hippo. Her relics would eventually find their home in the Basilica di Sant’Agostino, a church built to honor Saint Augustine. Her funeral epitaph survived in ancient manuscripts about her life, until in 1945, while digging a hole to plant a football post, two young boys found the original stone epitaph of Saint Monica. Translated, the tablet’s Latin message titled Saint Monica “Mother of the Virtues.” Today, she is the patron saint of married women, difficult marriages, difficult children, alcoholics, victims of adultery or unfaithfulness, victims of verbal abuse, and conversion of relatives. Patience in prayer is one of the hardest skills to master in our faith journey; we want God to give us answers and give us answers now! We should look to the witness of patient Saint Monica, who trusted that years and years of prayer, paired with strong, unshakeable virtues, would eventually bring the souls of her husband, her mother-in-law, and even her headstrong son, to be where were all so greatly desire – basking fully in the love of Jesus Christ. Next Item Previous Item

St. Vincent Ferrer was a Spanish Dominican preacher born in Valencia in 1350. He joined the Dominicans in 1367 and gained fame for predicting grain shipments during a famine. Serving Cardinal Pedro de Luna, who later became antipope Benedict XIII, Vincent declined high offices. After recovering from a near-fatal illness following a vision, he began a successful preaching tour across Western Europe. A key figure in attempting to end the Great Western Schism, he advocated for Benedict XIII to resign. Vincent died in Vannes, Brittany, and was canonized by Pope Callistus III. St. Vincent Ferrer Time Period: 1350-1419 Feast Day: April 5 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Dominican Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Vincent Ferrer was a Spanish Dominican preacher. A native of Valencia, he joined the Dominicans in 1367 and was sent to Barcelona to complete his studies. After teaching at Lerida, he returned to Barcelona, where he earned fame for predicting accurately the timely arrival of grain ships during a famine. During the coming years, he became a member of the retinue of Cardinal Pedro de Luna, then a papal legate to the court of Aragon and the future antipope Benedict XIII. Vincent subsequently taught at the cathedral of Valencia. Summoned to Avignon, France, he took the position of confessor and apostolic penitentiary to antipope Benedict XIII, following de Luna’s irregular election as papal claimant in 1394. Vincent declined all offices and honors bestowed upon him by his patron, including the cardinalate. Vincent fell gravely ill and nearly died during a French siege of Avignon, recovering miraculously after beholding a vision of Christ, St. Dominic, and St. Francis of Assisi. In this vision, Vincent was told to go forth and preach, but he met resistance from antipope Benedict, who was reluctant to have him leave Avignon. In 1389, Benedict finally gave his permission, and Vincent launched upon a preaching tour across Western Europe. Eloquent and passionate, he attracted huge crowds of believers and was soon esteemed across Christendom. In Spain, he was named one of the nine judges to decide the succession to the crown of Aragon. King Ferdinand I, also known as Ferdinand the Just, was subsequently chosen. One of Vincent’s finest achievements was his effort to end the Great Western Schism, which had divided the Church since 1378. While he believed that Benedict XIII was the legitimate pontiff, Vincent nevertheless called publicly for him to step down for the good of the Church. He also spent much time preaching for an end to the schism in 1418. In his last years, he preached in northern France, including a sermon before the royal court at Caen in 1418. He died in Vannes, Brittany, and was canonized by Pope Callistus III. Next Item Previous Item

Carlo Acutis was a devout young Catholic and Apostle of the Eucharist. Known for his deep faith, computer skills, and joyful spirit, he combined his love for technology with devotion to the Eucharist. After receiving First Communion at age 7, he attended daily Mass, practiced charity, and created a website on Eucharistic miracles (miracolieucaristici.org) He was admired for his kindness, catechetical work, and Marian devotion. At 15, Carlo died from leukemia, offering his suffering for the Church and the Pope. His legacy inspires youth to pursue holiness and embrace Christ, especially through the Eucharist and acts of love. St. Carlo Acutis Time Period: 1991-2006 Feast Day: October 12 Title/Attributes: Confessor Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: From the linen Carlo Acutis was born in London (Great Britain) on May 3, 1991, to Italian parents: Andrea and Antonia Salzano, who were in the City for work. He was baptized on May 18 in the church of “Our Lady of Dolours” in London. In September 1991 the family returned to Milan. At the age of four, his parents enrolled him in nursery school, which he attended with great enthusiasm. When the time came for compulsory schooling, he was enrolled at the San Carlo Institute in Milan. After three months he was transferred to primary school at the Tommaseo Institute of the Marcelline Sisters, because it was closer to his home. June 16, 1998 marked a decisive stage in his life: he received his first Communion, earlier than the usual age, thanks to a special permission from his spiritual director, Don Ilio Carrai, and Archbishop Pasquale Macchi, former personal secretary of Saint Paul VI. The celebration took place in the Monastery of the Romite of the Order of Saint Ambrose ad Nemus in Bernaga di Perego (Lecco). Another important milestone for Carlo was the Sacrament of Confirmation, on May 24, 2003, which was conferred on him in the church of Santa Maria Segreta, by Monsignor Luigi Testore, former secretary of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini and parish priest of San Marco in Milan. At fourteen, he went to the classical high school of the Leone XIII Institute in Milan, directed by the Jesuit Fathers, where he fully developed his personality. With a computer engineering student, he took care of the website of the Milanese parish to which he belonged. Although his studies were particularly demanding, he spontaneously decided to dedicate part of his time to preparing children for Confirmation, teaching Catechism in the parish of Santa Maria Segreta. That same year, he designed the new website for volunteering at the Leone XIII Institute, and promoted and coordinated the creation of commercials for volunteering by many classes as part of a national competition. He spent the entire summer of 2006 designing the website for this project, also organizing that of the Pontifical Academy “Cultorum Martyrum”. At the school of St. Francis of Assisi Because of his affability and cordial hilarity, Carlo was always the center of attention of his friends, also because he helped them in using the computer and its programs. There are many certificates of recognition of his computer skills and his complete willingness to make them available to his schoolmates and anyone who needed them, including family members. One of Carlo's characteristics was to spend most of his holidays in Assisi in a family home. In the Umbrian town, in addition to having fun with friends, he learned to know Saint Francis and Saint Clare. From the Poverello he learned to respect creation and to dedicate himself to the poorest. The examples of the Seraphic Father and Saint Anthony of Padua pushed him to practice charity towards the poor, the needy, the homeless, and immigrants, whom he also helped with the money saved from his weekly allowance. Love for the Eucharist and devotion to the Madonna The core of Carlo's spirituality was the daily encounter with the Lord in the Eucharist. He often repeated: "The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven!" This was the center of his entire existence spent in friendship with God. This translated, after his first Communion, into attending Mass every day, with the permission of his spiritual director. A great devotee of the apparitions and the message of Fatima, in imitation of the Little Shepherds, he offered small sacrifices for those who did not love the Lord Jesus present in the Eucharist. When, due to school commitments, he could not go to Mass, he made spiritual Communion. He also carried out a valuable work of apostolate among his schoolmates and friends, explaining to them the Eucharistic mystery with the use of the stories of the most important Eucharistic miracles that had occurred over the centuries. Thus, as an apostle of the Eucharist, Carlo chose to use his computer genius to design and create an international exhibition on “Eucharistic Miracles”. It is a large photographic exhibition with historical descriptions, which presents several of the main Eucharistic miracles (about 136) that have occurred over the centuries in countries around the world and recognized by the Church. The other fundamental pillar of Carlo's spirituality was devotion to the Madonna. This was expressed in the daily recitation of the Rosary, in the consecration to her Immaculate Heart and in the planning of a scheme of the pious exercise that he reproduced with his computer. He dedicated particular attention to the Last Things, which projected his existence into the reality of eternal life. Illness and death In October 2006, Carlo contracted type M3 leukemia, considered the most aggressive form, which was initially mistaken for a strong flu. He was admitted to the De Marchi Clinic in Milan. Later, due to the worsening of his condition, he was transferred to the San Gerardo hospital in Monza, where there is a specialized center for that type of leukemia. A few days before being admitted, he offered his life to the Lord for the Pope, for the Church, to go to Heaven. In the hospital, a priest administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to him. Some of the nurses and doctors who were treating him were edified by his acceptance of his illness and suffering. Brain death occurred on October 11, 2006; his heart stopped beating at 6:45 a.m. on October 12. The news of his birth into Heaven spread immediately among his classmates and those who had known him. After his body was laid to rest in his home, a continuous influx of people paid him their last respects. The funeral was held in the church of Santa Maria Segreta in Milan on 14 October 2006. His body was buried in the family tomb in Ternengo (Biella), then in February 2007 it was transferred to the municipal cemetery of Assisi to satisfy his wish to remain in the city of Saint Francis. On 5-6 April 2019, Carlo's mortal remains were transferred to the Santuario della Spogliazione, church of Santa Maria Maggiore, in Assisi. Traits of spirituality In the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Carlo learned to recognize God's love for humanity. In it he found the quickest way to access the treasures of divine grace and it made him a faithful disciple of the Master. In love with Jesus, he never tired of announcing to the world the indescribable joy of friendship with God. The real presence of Jesus Christ in the consecrated Host was for Carlo a reality from which every good thing came to him. It was also the guarantee that man is never left alone, not even in the hardest moments of trial. His days therefore became centered around the Mass and, when he could, he also stopped in Eucharistic adoration. In his short life, he continually put evangelical values into practice, making himself a herald of Christ not only with words, but above all with the testimony of his life. Carlo's Legacy As a young layman, he was able to revive the fervor and Christian practice in many consecrated people and Priests. He lived entirely focused on the Absolute, on Jesus who he felt close and present. He was also a witness in the school environment, as a model for students of all levels. The main legacy that Carlo left, especially to the new generations, is the coherence of life with the values of the Gospel. Precisely because of his ability to share the mysteries of faith with others, Carlo can be defined as a true apostle in all the environments in which he lived, which are typical of an adolescent: family, school, sports, free time, travel, games. In particular, to children and young people of all times, Carlo indicates that in the Eucharist is found the salvation that never disappoints. Living intensely the mystery of the Mystical Body of Christ, he shows everyone the need to practice charity. In fact, he promoted acceptance and peace between people of different ethnic groups, languages and traditions. He asked to embrace the needs of the homeless and the poorest that are encountered on the streets of the world. In the face of violence, wars, conflicts even within families, Carlo suggests opting for Christ and his Gospel and entrusting oneself to the maternal protection of Mary. An authentic witness of Christ in all the environments in which he lived, his existence is a shining example for today's youth. In fact, the message that Carlo transmits to the new generations is more important and timely than ever. He invites us not to look at the limited earthly horizon, but to project life towards a reality that already begins in this world and will have its fulfillment in the afterlife. Next Item Previous Item

At St Anthony of Padua, the preparation for baptism is offered as a two part program. Part 1 is an online, self-led study done at your own pace. Part 2 is an in-person, classroom experience led by one of our parish deacons. Class 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 Baptism Prep - Part 1 Online English Class At St Anthony of Padua, the preparation for baptism is offered as a two part program. Part 1 is an online, self-led study done at your own pace. Part 2 is an in-person, classroom experience led by one of our parish deacons. More Information El Camino Thursdays at 6:30 PM Spanish Only Class El Camino es un grupo de Evangelización y Catequesis para Adultos en Español donde podrás crecer y fortalecer tu fe y amor a Dios, en un ambiente de comunidad fraterno y tranquilo. Register Life in Christ Various Times English Only Class Our Director of Evangelization, Kate Mims, hosts a series called: "Life in Christ". Monthly, Kate will dive deep into various topics about our faith and how we can truly live a Life in Christ. She will cover topics like prayer, spiritual warfare, the Mass, and much more! This series will be held in the Main Church and start at 5:30 PM with a short talk followed by Q&As. All are invited! More Information Lord Teach Me to Pray Virtual Meeting English Only Class Lord Teach Me To Pray (LTMTP) is a three-part Ignatian prayer series that endeavors to bring the Holy Spirit into our daily lives in facilitated faith-sharing prayer communities, where, the Lord, Himself, teaches them to pray. Note: At this time LTMTP is offered only to women. Register Marriage & Family Series Saturday Mornings English Only Class The Marriage and Family Ministry hosts various events throughout the year. Monthly, on Saturday’s Mornings there will be a new speaker and topic. Upcoming Events Prayer & Life Workshop Sunday Mornings English Only Class The Prayer and Life Workshop is a practical, hands-on method of learning diverse ways to pray through Scripture, music, and sharing. Step by step, you will develop a deeper, more intimate union with the Lord while experiencing his peace. Register The Mass Explained Thursdays at 6:30 PM English Only Class Dcn. Scott Broussard will lead The Mass Explained: Dr. Brant Pitre gives insight on the Biblical, Traditional, and mystical meanings of the words, ceremonies, languages, gestures, postures, orientation, music, and signs of the Roman Catholic liturgy. From the Ancient Church through the Medieval Church, from the Council of Trent through Vatican II, explore the practice, purpose, and development of the Holy Mass. Register Work of Mary (Focolare) Various Times English Only Class Join Fr. Jesse and learning about the Work of Mary (Focolare), an ecclesial movement for spiritual and social renewal. The movement helps members deepen their understanding and live out the Spirituality of Unity in everyday life. More Information BACK TO ADULT FAITH - GET INVOLVED BACK TO TOP

Chiara Offreduccio was a teenager living in Assisi, Italy when she heard St. Francis preach, and a mission was sparked within her to live a life after the Gospel. That mission would lead her to start a religious order, defend her monastery from attack with only the Blessed Sacrament, and become Saint Clare of Assisi. With a passion for poverty, Clare chose to shed her attachments to this world and embark on a radical mission of holiness and simplicity. Her courageous life still guides the more than 20,000 Poor Clare sisters in over 70 countries to this day. Her feast day is August 11th. St. Clare of Assisi Time Period: 1194-1253 Feast Day: August 11 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Foundress of Poor Clares, Franciscan Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Body In 1212 A.D., Francis of Assisi was preaching at a Lenten service at a church in Assisi, his message reached the ears of a teenager named Chiara Offreduccio, and a mission was sparked within her to live a life after the Gospel. That mission would lead her to found a religious order, defend her monastery from attack with nothing but the Blessed Sacrament, and become Saint Clare of Assisi. Born in Assisi, Italy on July 16, 1194, She was the oldest daughter to her wealthy parents, Favarone and Ortolana. Her mother was a devout woman who had traveled on multiple pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land, she passed her love of prayer down to Clare. She embraced prayer at a young age. She was 18 years old when Saint Francis of Assisi came to the church of San Giorgio in Assisi to preach, and the words that she heard would change her life. She asked Francis to help her further dedicate her life to God, and he vowed to help her. Clare refused to marry a man her parents arranged for her, and on Palm Sunday in the year 1212, she fled to the Porziuncula to meet Francis. She knew there was no turning back now that the message of Christ was ignited within her heart, and she exchanged her rich, fancy gown for a rough, woolen robe and veil, and had her golden hair sheared down to a short, cropped cut. She took vows dedicating her life to God, and the Second Order of Saint Francis had begun. Clare traveled to the convent of Benedictine nuns of San Paulo, but her father, enraged with her leaving their family and refusing to marry, attempted to force her to return home. He arrived at the monastery alongside her uncles and would’ve resorted to dragging Clare back to their castle, had she not clung desperately to the altar of the church, resisting any attempt to move her. Throwing back her veil to reveal her cropped hair, she professed that she would have “no other husband than Jesus Christ” and her family, recognizing her unbreakable will, left in defeat. Clare and her sisters relocated to the newly repaired San Damiano monastery. Clare’s aim was to live a simple, holy life filled with poverty and Jesus, and that quickly attracted more women who desired to be brides of Jesus in the bold way Clare was pursuing. They soon became known as the “Poor Ladies of San Damiano”, following a simple rule that Francis had established for them. Included in this rule was a focus on austerity, seclusion from the world, and deep poverty. Clare and her fellow sisters did not wear shoes, eat meat, or sleep in a bed, and they kept silent for the large majority of the day. Their lives were filled with manual labor and prayer, but their joy was undeniable. So committed to a life of abject poverty was Clare, that when officials such as King Gregory IX and the Pope himself suggested they tone down their practices, Clare responded ““I need to be absolved from my sins, but I do not wish to be absolved from the obligation of following Jesus Christ.” Clare humbly served the Lord, but her sanctity and dedication to the Lord was apparent. Many stories tell of her returning from prayer with her face so shining that it dazzled those nearby. Popes, Cardinals and Bishops would travel to the church of San Damiano to consult with her but despite her growing notoriety (she was sometimes given the title “alter Franciscus” which translates to “another Francis”), she never left the cloistered walls of San Damiano. She would later defend her order valiantly in September of 1240 and June of 1241, when a pair of armies attempted to attack their monastery. Violent soldiers from Frederick II were on their doorstep ready to attack, when Clare went out to meet them with the Blessed Sacrament, displayed prominently in a monstrance. Raising up the monstrance to where the enemies could see it, she fell to her knees and begged God to save them. Struck by a sudden fear, the attackers fled as fast as they could, without laying hand on a single person in Assisi. Despite her health declining rapidly in her later years, Clare would devote herself to crafting her own rule of life for the Poor Clares, one that would remain faithful to the true mission of their order and be resilient to any attempts to water it down. On August 9, 1253, Pope Innocent IV visited Clare on her deathbed and declared that her rule would serve as the governing rule for the Poor Clares. It is believed to have been the first set of monastic guidelines written by a woman. Two days later, Clare passed away after receiving absolution from the Pope. Before she died, she turned to speak to one of the Franciscan brothers at her bedside and said, “Dear brother, ever since through His servant Francis I have known the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I have never in my whole life found any pain or sickness that could trouble me.” She was 59 years old. Just two years after her death, Pope Alexander IV canonized Clare as Saint Clare of Assisi on September 26, 1255. The examination of her miracles took just six days to complete. The Basilica of Saint Clare was finished in 1260, and her remains were transferred to a burial place beneath the high altar. In 1263, Pope Urban IV officially changed the title of the Order of Poor Ladies to the Order of Saint Clare. Saint Clare of Assisi had a passion for poverty; despite having ample opportunity to settle into a life of opulence, she chose instead to shed her attachments to this world and embark on a mission of holiness and simplicity. Her courageous resistance to the attacks by soldiers on their lives and politicians on their radical ideals made her an incredible leader, still guiding the more than 20,000 Poor Clare sisters in over 70 countries to this day. 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. Charles Lwanga, along with his 24 companions, became martyrs for the faith in Uganda between 1885 and 1887. Under King Mwanga, who engaged in pedophilic practices and persecuted Christians, Lwanga protected the young pages of the court from the corrupt king. After the beheading of Joseph Mukasa in 1885, Lwanga and 15 others boldly declared their commitment to Christianity, saying, “Until death!” In 1886, Lwanga was burned alive, proclaiming, “My God!” His companions endured similar tortures, singing hymns as they died. They were beatified in 1920 and canonized in 1964. St. Charles Lwanga is the patron of African Catholic Youth. St. Charles Lwanga Time Period: 1860-1886 Feast Day: June 3 Title/Attributes: Martyr Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Charles and many other martyrs for the faith died between November 15, 1885 – January 27, 1887 in Namugongo, Uganda. St. Charles and his companions were beatified in 1920 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964. In 1879 Catholicism began spreading in Uganda when the White Fathers, a congregation of priests founded by Cardinal Lavigerie were peacefully received by King Mutesa of Uganda. The priests soon began preparing catechumens for baptism and before long a number of the young pages in the king’s court had become Catholics. However, on the death of Mutesa, his son Mwanga, a corrupt man who ritually engaged in pedophilic practices with the younger pages, took the throne. When King Mwanga had a visiting Anglican Bishop murdered, his chief page, Joseph Mukasa, a Catholic who went to great length to protect the younger boys from the king’s lust, denounced the king’s actions and was beheaded on November 15, 1885. The 25 year old Charles Lwanga, a man wholly dedicated to the Christian instruction of the younger boys, became the chief page, and just as forcibly protected them from the kings advances. On the night of the martyrdom of Joseph Mukasa, realizing that their own lives were in danger, Lwanga and some of the other pages went to the White Fathers to receive baptism. Another 100 catechumens were baptized in the week following Joseph Mukasa’s death. The following May, King Mwanga learned that one of the boys was learning catechism. He was furious and ordered all the pages to be questioned to separate the Christians from the others. The Christians, 15 in all, between the ages of 13 and 25, stepped forward. The King asked them if they were willing to keep their faith. They answered in unison, “Until death!” They were bound together and taken on a two day walk to Namugongo where they were to be burned at the stake. On the way, Matthias Kalemba, one of the eldest boys, exclaimed, “God will rescue me. But you will not see how he does it, because he will take my soul and leave you only my body.” They executioners cut him to pieces and left him to die alone on the road, which took at least three days. When they reached the site where they were to be burned, they were kept tied together for seven days while the executioners prepared the wood for the fire. On June 3, 1886, the Feast of the Ascension, Charles Lwanga was separated from the others and burned at the stake. The executioners slowly burnt his feet until only the charred remained. Still alive, they promised him that they would let him go if he renounced his faith. He refused saying, “You are burning me, but it is as if you are pouring water over my body.” He then continued to pray silently as they set him on fire. Just before the flames reached his heart, he looked up and said in a loud voice, “Katonda! – My God!,” and died. His companions were all burned together the same day all the while praying and singing hymns until they died. There were 24 protomartyrs in all. The last of the protomartyrs, a young man named John Mary, was beheaded by King Mwanga on January 27, 1887. The persecutions spread during the reign of Mwanga, with 100 Christians, both Catholics and Protestants, being tortured and killed. St. Charles Lwanga is the patron saint of African Catholic Youth Action. Next Item Previous Item

Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26th, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. She left home at 18 to become a Catholic missionary nun and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish order known for their missionary work in India. She was given the name Sister Mary Teresa and sent to Calcutta, where she established the Missionaries of Charity - a religious community dedicated to “laboring at the salvation and sanctification of the poorest of the poor.” Mother Teresa was a radiant servant of Christ who ventured boldly out into the world to tirelessly serve the poor and unwanted. St. Teresa of Calcutta Time Period: 1910-1997 Feast Day: September 5 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Foundress of Missionaries of Charity Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Hair The luminous missionary known as Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26th, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. The youngest of Nikola and Dranafile Bojaxhiu’s three children, Agnes was of Albanian heritage and only eight years old when her father, a local businessman, suddenly passed away. Her mother, a very devout and religious woman, raised Agnes to possess a strong faith, and after becoming very involved in her parish youth group and interested in missionary work, she left home to become a Catholic missionary nun at the age of 18. She joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish order known for their missionary work in India. She was admitted as a postulant and was given the name Sister Mary Teresa, after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Teresa was sent by her order to India, and arrived in Calcutta, located on the Eastern side of the country near Bangladesh, in 1929 to teach geography and catechism at St. Mary’s School for girls. She made her final profession to join the Loreto order on May 24, 1937, becoming what she called the “spouse of Jesus” for “all eternity” and was henceforth called Mother Teresa. She continued to teach at St. Mary’s and in 1944, was made the principal of the school. On September 10th, 1946, Mother Teresa was riding a train from Calcutta to Darjeeling for her annual retreat, when she received what she termed the “call within a call,” where Jesus’ thirst for souls took over her heart. Her desire to satiate that thirst and spread His love would become the motivating force in her life, driving her to establish the Missionaries of Charity, a religious community dedicated to “labouring at the salvation and sanctification of the poorest of the poor.” After nearly two years of planning and discernment, Mother Teresa received permission to begin, and on August 17, 1948, she dressed for the first time in her iconic white, blue-bordered sari, to leave the Loreto convent and enter the world of the poor. She cared for the elderly, nursed the dying, washed the sick and desired to find Jesus in “the unwanted, the unloved and the uncared for.” After many months, former students from her time teaching began to join her, and on October 7, 1950, the Missionaries of Charity was officially established as a religious order in the Archdiocese of Calcutta. Through Mother Teresa’s hard work in the 1950’s, and Pope Paul VI granting them the Decree of Praise (an official measure from the Holy See which elevated their order to the recognition of pontifical right) in 1965, the Missionaries of Charity began opening houses in Venezuela, Rome, Tanzania, and even in Communist countries such as the former Soviet Union, Albania and Cuba. Throughout all of the rapid growth, Mother Teresa remained rooted in the Lord, bearing witness to the joy of loving and respecting the dignity of every human person, while doing little things with great love. She persevered through what she called the “painful night” of her soul, where she experienced a deep, abiding feeling of being separated from God, starting around the time she began working for the poor, and leading up to the end of her life. Despite this “darkness” and her deteriorating health, she never wavered, and by 1997, there were more than 4,000 Missionaries of Charity in nearly 600 foundations across 123 different countries. She blessed her successor as Superior General for the Missionaries of Charity in March 1997, before returning to Calcutta to spend her final weeks, passing away on September 5th, 1997. She was granted the honor of a state funeral by the Government of India, and less than two years after her death, Pope John Paul II permitted the opening of her Cause of Canonization. Mother Teresa was a radiant, loving servant of Christ, who ventured boldly out into the world to tirelessly reach the poor and serve the unwanted. Next Item Previous Item