Saint Padre Pio was a luminous and captivating Italian priest who generated immense interest and even controversy during his life, but at the core of his mission, served the Lord faithfully through piety and charity. Born in Italy in 1887, he enjoyed “playing church” at a young age, eventually being ordained a priest in 1910. He soon experienced intense visions of Jesus, leading to the stigmata – the wounds of Christ appearing on his hands, feet, and side. Despite the complications attached to these beautiful wounds, Padre Pio embraced his sufferings and lived a life centered on the love of Jesus. His feast day is September 23rd. St. Padre Pio Time Period: 1887-1968 Feast Day: September 23 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Franciscan, Stigmata Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Blood-soaked bandage Saint Padre Pio was a luminous and captivating Italian priest who generated immense interest and even controversy during his life, but at the core of his mission, served the Lord faithfully through his piety and charity. Born in Pietrelcina, Italy on May 25, 1887, Francesco Forgione was focused on the Lord starting in his earliest days. Baptized the day after he was born, he decided at just the age of five to consecrate himself to Jesus. He enjoyed singing hymns, reading and praying, and even “playing church” where he acted out serving as presider of a Mass. His parents were peasant framers who were very religious and supported his Catholic development, attending daily Mass and praying the Rosary nightly along with his older brother and three younger sisters. It is written that even as a young boy, he possessed the ability to see and communicate with his guardian angel, Jesus and the Virgin Mary. He didn’t think much of it though at the time, as he assumed other people could see them too. To help support his relatively poor family, Francesco tended to a small flock of sheep for many years. While this helped his relatively poor family get by, it also delayed his education to the point that later when the first desires to become a priest began stirring in his heart, only having three years of public schooling quickly became an issue. Francesco was also very sickly as a child. He suffered from gastroenteritis at the age of six and survived a bout of typhoid fever when he was ten. His health would continue to ail him for most of his life, but he never let it get in the way of his pursuit of holiness. In 1897, a young Capuchin friar traveling across the countryside inspired Francesco to pursue religious life. “I want to be a friar… with a beard” he reportedly told his parents, who traveled with the future saint to Morcone, Italy, home to an order of Capuchin Franciscan Friars. While they were interested in admitting him, they told his family that more education would be needed before he could join. In order to pay for the private tutoring needed for his son, Francesco’s father Grazio traveled to the United States to search for work. Thanks to his father’s dedication and hard work, enough money was sent home to tutor Francesco sufficiently so that he passed the necessary academic requirements to join the Friars. On January 6, 1903, he entered the novitiate in Morcone, and on January 22, donned the Franciscan habit for the first time. At the age of 15, he was now known as Fra Pio, in honor of Pope Pius I, whose relic he saw regularly at a chapel in his hometown. Pio’s seven-year study for the priesthood would begin with further health issues, when at the age of 17, he fell severely ill with loss of appetite, insomnia, exhaustion, and migraines. He could only stomach milk and cheese and experienced fainting spells regularly. During this time though, inexplicable phenomena began to occur with Pio, with fellow monks reportedly seeing him levitate during prayer. Pio’s health continued to decline at the friary though, and his superiors decided to send him to a mountain convent, in hopes that the change of air would improve his health. This too proved to be little help, and eventually his doctors advised him to return home, all the while he continued his studies for the priesthood. On January 27, 1907, he made his solemn profession, and on August 10, 1910, the twenty-three-year-old Fra Pio was ordained a priest by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi at the Cathedral of Benevoto. Four days later, he celebrated his very first Mass at the church of Our Lady of the Angels. From the very beginnings of his priesthood, Padre Pio became well-known for his immense piety. He would include long pauses of contemplative silence during various parts of the Mass, which could sometimes make the service last several hours. The parish priest in Pietrelcina called Pio “an incomprehensible mystery” and when asked to shorten his Mass, Pio responded, “God knows that I want to say Mass just like any other priest, but I cannot do it.” Many people began traveling to meet him, confess to him, or simply try to hear some of his wisdom. He compared weekly confession to the act of “dusting a room” and encouraged Christians to recognize God in all things, and to continually strive to do the will of God. His life took a sudden turn in 1914 with the beginning of World War I. A number of Capuchin Friars became drafted in the Italian Army, and Pio himself was drafted on November 15, 1915. He was assigned to the 10th Medical Corps in Naples, but due to his poor health, he was continually discharged from active service until finally a bout of tuberculosis led to him being declared unfit for military service on March 16, 1918. He returned to the friary at San Giovanni Rotondo, where he would remain for the rest of his life. It was in the period of many people rebuilding their lives after the war that Padre Pio really began to emerge as a symbol of hope among the faithful. He became a spiritual director and began to experience extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit that captivated those who heard of the friar. On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio had an intense vision of Jesus after serving at Mass earlier that day. When the vision ended, he felt a sharp pain and noticed the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appearing on his hands, feet and side. They would soon become permanent and remain on his body for the next 50 years. Countless experts and doctors looked at the wounds, with numerous attempts to explain the miraculous nature of their appearance. Some questioned the authenticity of the wounds, which were perfectly round and said to smell of roses. Pio felt a sense of humiliation from the wounds and the controversy that they created. It didn’t help that many were also attesting to his ability to bilocate, levitate, heal wounds, prophecy, and abstain from sleep and nourishment for extraordinary amounts of time. “Will he at least free me from the embarrassment caused by these outward signs?” Pio wrote. “I will raise my voice and will not stop imploring him until in his mercy he takes away, not the wound or the pain, which is impossible since I wish to be inebriated with pain, but these outward signs which cause me such embarrassment and unbearable humiliation.” Life became complicated for Padre Pio, as his popularity soared and became a source of concern for the Church and the Vatican. The authenticity of the stigmata was called into question in 1924 and again in 1931, and the Vatican restricted Pio’s ability to celebrate Mass publicly or to hear confessions. He did not complain or argue against these decisions, and they were reversed soon after. A church investigation into his stigmata concluded that his condition was not faked. By 1934, he was back to performing his full public duties as a priest. He focused a large portion of his ministry as a “martyr of the confessional”, hearing hours upon hours of confessions from those flocking to his convent to attain absolution. His superiors at the convent were forced to develop an organizational system for making reservations to keep the large crowds under control. Around 1940, Pio was inspired to erect a hospital for the sick and suffering. In 1946, ground was broken on a plot of land near Mount Gargano that would eventually become a 350-bed hospital known as the “House for the Alleviation of the Suffering.” In 1947, a young Fr. Karol Wojtyla was studying in Rome, when he made the pilgrimage to meet Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, and have his confession heard by him. Decades later, when Fr. Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II (another saint whose relic will be alongside Padre Pio’s in the Our Lady of the Angels reliquary at St. Anthony of Padua), many speculated whether Pio had divulged any prophecy to the future Pope about what was to come. Pope John Paul II later clarified that while he did not tell him that he would one day be Pope, he did reveal that Pio had admitted a rare, significant detail about his stigmata – when asked by Wojtyla which one of his wounds caused him the most suffering, Pio replied “It is my shoulder wound, which no one knows about and has never been cured or treated.” With many historians providing a diligent analysis of Padre Pio’s life, it is revealed that Saint Pope John Paul II was the only person Padre Pio ever told about his most painful wound. While it is remarkable that Pio refrained from telling the young Polish priest about his future papacy, it is perhaps even more remarkable that he would choose John Paul II, and not any of the future Popes he would meet in his life, about this wound. Padre Pio continued to carry out his ministries dutifully, garnering large crowds seeking to witness his piety, charity, and quality of his preaching. On June 5th, 1954, Pio was forced to celebrate Mass outside on the plaza in front of the church, because the size of the crowd was too large to accommodate all of the worshippers. His health declined rapidly in his later years, battling everything from cancer to arthritis. He offered all of his bodily sufferings up to God as a sacrifice and for the conversion of souls, saying “I am fully convinced that my illness is due to a special permission of God.” On August 10, 1960, Padre Pio celebrated 50 years of priesthood. By 1965, he gained permission from the Holy See to continue to celebrate Masses but remain seated due to this health. He collapsed after celebrating Mass on September 22, 1968, but still went to the confessional in an attempt to administer the sacrament of reconciliation. He was unable to hear confessions due to his condition, but still managed to bless a large group of people who had crowded in front of his church, as well as bless a group of parishioners who had assembled in the church to pray later that evening. Padre Pio died on September 23, 1968 after receiving the sacrament of confession, renewing his priestly vows, receiving the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, and holding a rosary. His last words were “Gesú, Maria” (“Jesus, Mary”) repeated over and over until he breathed his last. He was 81. His funeral on September 26 was attended by more than 100,00 people, and he was buried later that day. On March 20, 1983, the diocesan procedure was initiated for the canonization of Padre Pio. He was beatified on May 2, 1999 and canonized on June 16, 2002, both by his close friend, Pope John Paul II. His canonization Mass was one of the largest liturgies in the history of the Vatican. Recalling his encounters with Padre Pio, Pope John Paul II said, “Prayer and charity–this is the most concrete synthesis of Padre Pio’s teaching.” The San Giovanni Rotondo is second only to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico in its number of annual visitors – nearly eight million pilgrims visit the site of Saint Padre Pio’s incorrupt body annually. He is the patron saint of civil defense volunteers, adolescents, and the village of Pietrelcina. Saint Padre Pio lived out the words of St. Paul to the Colossians in chapter 1, verse 24: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church.” He embraced his sufferings, his abilities and his love for Jesus Christ in order to captivate the world; not necessarily through spectacular feats and miracles, but instead at the foundation of the wonder, was an awe for his inspiring piety, prayer and charity. Next Item Previous Item

St. Luke the Evangelist, a physician and companion of St. Paul, authored the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Writing for a Gentile audience, his Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ compassion, the Holy Spirit, and the dignity of the poor. Luke’s Gospel, written between 70–85 AD, includes unique details like the Annunciation and Magnificat. Acts continues the story, chronicling the Church’s early growth. Luke is also said to have painted the first icons of the Virgin Mary from life. He is the patron saint of artists, and several Marian icons are traditionally attributed to him, including Our Lady of Czestochowa. St. Luke the Evangelist Time Period: 1st Century Feast Day: October 18 Title/Attributes: Evangelist Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Luke the Evangelist is one of the four Gospel writers and is the author of the Acts of the Apostles. St. Luke, a physician by trade, is believed to have been a Greek Gentile from Antioch (Modern Turkey). Luke was a convert to the new faith and accompanied St. Paul on his second missionary journey (c. 51). He remained six years in Philippi, Greece and went on the third missionary journey, the journey to Italy that included the famous shipwreck off the coast of Malta. He remained with Paul during Paul’s imprisonment. Paul wrote of Luke three times in the New Testament. St. Paul confirms that Luke practiced medicine in Colossians 4:14: “Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings.” He mentions that Luke is accompanying him in 2 Timothy 4:11: “Only Luke is with me” and in Philemon 24: “as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.” It is also possible to deduce Luke’s presence with Paul on the missionary journeys from numerous passages in Acts (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18;27:1-28:16). When St. Paul was martyred in 66, Luke went back to Greece, where he is believed to have died at the age of eighty-four “full of the Holy Spirit.” Luke’s Gospel was written between 70-85 AD, possibly in Greece, although Eusebius claims that it was written before the martyrdom of St. Paul in 66 AD. The point of view of the Gospel is that of a Gentile Christian for other Gentile (or non-Jewish) individuals. The Acts of the Apostles was written perhaps in Rome, either during the imprisonment of St. Paul or immediately after his death, or in the province of Achaea, in the area around Greece. The Acts details the Church from c. 35-63 AD, demonstrating in often superb prose the remarkable growth and the witness of the faithful. Luke is also the patron saint of painters. It is said that he painted portraits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he visited while they were both still living. There exist multiple traditions surrounding what happened to the original icon(s) that St. Luke wrote. One ancient account explains how during the 5th century a Byzantine Empress brought from Jerusalem to Constantinople an icon attributed to St. Luke. The Hodegon Monastery was built to enshrine it and later all copies of this icon became known as Hodegetria. Most believe the original image was lost during the Middle Ages. Whatever truth there is behind these traditions, here are a few more widely known icons attributed to St. Luke. Our Lady of Vladimir According to Russian sources the original Hodegetria was transferred from Constantinople to Vladimir in 1115 and remains one of the most popular images of the Virgin Mary in Russia. Our Lady of Czestochowa A popular account relates how in the 4th century St. Helena discovered an image of the Virgin Mary that was painted by St. Luke on a tabletop made by Jesus. She gave it to Constantine and it ended up in Constantinople. After that the image was eventually owned by Charlemagne, who gave it to Prince Leo of Ruthenia. By the 14th century the image was transferred to Jasna Gora in Poland in response to a request from Prince Ladislaus and remains there to this day. Salus Populi Romani Similar to Our Lady of Czestochowa, it is believed this image was discovered by St. Helena and taken first to Constantinople. By the 6th century the image was transferred to Rome and ever since has been enshrined in the church of Saint Mary Major. It is this image, known as "Protectress of the Roman People," before which Pope Francis prays and offers flowers each time he leaves Rome for a pontifical journey and again when he returns. Our Lady of Perpetual Help This particular icon is believed to be a replica of the original Hodegetria image in Constantinople. One story explains how the image was later enshrined in Crete, but then a thief stole the miraculous image from a monastery, bringing it to Rome in the 15th century. It is now located in the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Rome. "4 Icons of Mary Attributed to St. Luke the Evangelist." Aleteia, 18 Oct. 2017, https://aleteia.org/2017/10/18/4-icons-of-mary-attributed-to-st-luke-the-evangelist . Accessed 21 May 2025. Next Item Previous Item

Unity January 2027 Monthly Meeting View Session Session Transcript Monthly Meeting View Session Session Transcript Jn 17:20-21: "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me" This month we will focus on visible communion. Jesus in the Eucharist is the sacrament of our unity with God and among us as His Body. Unity is not something we manufacture; it is a gift we receive from above. We can facilitate the gift of unity when we live the new commandment. Unity cannot be created simply by organizational structures, common interests, agreement, or good communication. Christian unity is ultimately God’s gift. We prepare the ground for that gift when we place love at the center: when I prefer relationship over being right, communion over winning an argument, forgiveness over resentment, and the good of the other over my own preference. Unity does not mean uniformity. It does not erase personality, culture, gifts, opinions or legitimate differences. Rather, it allows diversity to exist within a greater communion. And this reaches its sacramental summit in the Eucharist. MONTHLY GATHERING: Tuesday, January 26, 2027 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Located in the Main Church The speaker will be Loretta Rauschuber ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Loretta Rauschuber: A Life Dedicated to the Art of Unity What does it really mean to live as a person of unity? For more than 40 years, Loretta Rauschuber has been exploring that question, not simply as an idea, but as a way of life. Born and raised in a large Catholic family in rural Central Texas, Loretta first encountered the spirituality of unity in 1983. Three years later, she made the radical decision to dedicate her life to God through consecrated life in the Work of Mary, an international Catholic movement committed to building unity among people, within the Church, and throughout society. After studies at the Mystici Corporis Institute, Loretta has continued a lifelong journey of formation through the Lifelong Marian Internal University of the Work of Mary, the movement’s learning formation program dedicated to deepening the theological, spiritual, and cultural foundations of its charism. Her journey has taken her far beyond Central Texas. Loretta spent 20 years in Italy, including time at the international headquarters of the Work of Mary in Rocca di Papa, where she helped form young people and adults in the spirituality of unity. Her professional and creative life is equally remarkable. With degrees in Computer Science and Accounting, Loretta has worked in technology, accounting, international project management, and social-impact initiatives. She has led projects involving more than 50 people in 19 countries and has helped develop initiatives promoting dialogue, collaboration, and a culture of giving. Loretta is also a graphic artist and illustrator. Her artistic creativity began at age 15 with scenic oil paintings and eventually developed into professional illustration and graphic design. Her work includes illustrating Blessed Chiara Badano: Her Secrets to Happiness , bringing to life significant moments in the spiritual journey of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano for a new generation. Since returning to the United States in 2008, Loretta has continued to offer spiritual formation across the country. In 2019, she created and launched a certificate-based course on the Spirituality of Unity, helping others discover that unity is not merely something we hope for, it is something we can learn to live. Most recently, she prepared spiritual formation materials for the Diocese of Beaumont’s Christ Central Camp, serving 240 young people during the summer of 2026. Yet behind all these accomplishments is something much simpler, and much more profound. Loretta is passionate about the culture of giving: the conviction that when we learn to live for one another, something extraordinary happens, Christ becomes present among us. That is why her message on Unity is not merely something she has studied. It is something she has spent decades seeking to practice, teach, create, and communicate. Come hear Loretta at St. Anthony of Padua as part of our Embers Evangelization Program. Unity is more than getting along. It is a way of living the Gospel, and Loretta has spent a lifetime learning how.

Saint Anthony of the Desert had a singular purpose – become a “lover of God” by resisting the Devil and yielding to Christ. He is a mysterious figure, with nearly everything we know about him coming from a biography written by Saint Athanasius. But what we do know is that he spent most of his days in solitude- living in the desert as a hermit – while occasionally traveling into cities to defend Christians from Roman persecution or spreading heresy. Anthony was extremely devoted to the Lord, and his ascetic lifestyle inspired many to devote themselves as well. His feast day is January 17th. St. Anthony of the Desert Time Period: 250-356 Feast Day: January 17 Title/Attributes: Abbott, Hermit Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones Saint Anthony of the Desert went by many names (St. Anthony of Egypt, St. Anthony the Great, St. Anthony Abbot, and more) but had a singular purpose – become a “lover of God” by resisting the Devil and yielding to Christ. He is a mysterious figure, with nearly everything we know about him coming from a biography written by Saint Athanasius titled “The Life of Saint Anthony the Great.” But what we do know about him, is inspiring in our current day and age. Anthony was born around 250 A.D. in the village of Coma, located in Lower Egypt to an extremely wealthy family. His parents owned three hundred acres of land, which Anthony inherited around the age of 20 when his parents died, leaving him with vast wealth and the care of his unmarried sister. One day while attending Mass though, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew changed everything for the future Father of All Monks. “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven.” – Matthew 19:21 While most would balk at the prospect of living out those words to their fullest, Anthony decided to do just that around the year 285: he gave away some of the inherited land to his neighbors, sold the remaining property, and donated all of the funds to the poor. Placing his sister in the care of a group of Christian virgins, he left the city and entered the desert. Anthony was not the first monk or ascetic hermit, but he was notable for being one of the first to truly cut himself off from civilization. While most monastics chose to practice their lifestyle on the outskirts of cities, Anthony decided to head into the desert region called the Nitra, which was about 95 km west of Alexandria and filled with some of the most rugged terrain that could be found. According to Athanasius’ biography, Anthony remained in this area for 15 years, practicing a strict ascetic diet of only bread, salt and water, eating at most only once a day. He took up strenuous spiritual exercises, such as staying up all night, choosing sleepless nights of prayer over a restful night of sleep. He had discovered, as written in his biography, that “the mind of the soul is strong when the pleasures of the body are weak.” Trial would soon arrive at Anthony’s doorstep, as the devil perceived the strength of this ascetic monk. Anthony, who had walled himself into a ruin in order to devote himself fully and perfectly to the Lord, was afflicted with boredom, laziness and even the phantoms of women as the devil attempted to break his focus. Anthony combatted these afflictions with the power of prayer, which would eventually form a theme for future Christian art. Saint Anthony being assailed by demons became a popular subject in the history of art and literature in the 15th Century. The earliest depiction of him being attacked by demons can be traced to a wall painting in the atrium of Santa Maria Antiqua, a Catholic Church in Italy, from the 10th Century. Perhaps the most famous depiction was an engraving by Martin Schongauer titled “The Temptation of St. Anthony”, which Michelangelo would later use to paint one of his earliest known paintings, “The Torment of Saint Anthony.” The calmness of Saint Anthony depicted in the artwork is hard to believe when reading the torments he endured, as recounted by Athanasius. The demons would assault him furiously, both physically and spiritually, but Anthony endured the attacks. Despite being beaten to the point of unconsciousness, phantoms appearing in the form of horrid wild beasts, and repeated attacks, he persevered. When he would see the wolves, lions, snakes and scorpions gathering in an attempt to attack, he would laugh at them scornfully and say, “If any of you have any authority over me, only one would have been sufficient to fight me.” At the age of 35, he wished to retreat to absolute solitude and relocated to an abandoned Roman fort for another 20 years of ardent prayer. Food was thrown to him over the wall, and he would not allow anyone to enter, but word of his devotion to the Lord spread, and gradually a number of would-be disciples would come to the wall to listen to his advice. As the number of followers grew to the nearby caves and huts around the mountain, many begged Anthony to come out and be a guide for those wishing to imitate his spiritual life. Finally, around the year 305, Anthony emerged from his retreat. By this time, after decades of solitude, most expected him to have wasted away physically or been driven insane mentally, but who would emerge but a perfectly healthy and serene Anthony of the Desert, clothed in sackcloth and sheepskin but rippling with muscle. Rejuvenated, he continued his mission to serve the Lord, even as his legend grew. He would soon found two monasteries for the great body of monks which had formed, and he wrote a rule of life in order to help guide them in the path of ascetism. These were reportedly the first monasteries ever founded, which led to the namesake “Father of All Monks”, despite the fact Anthony himself was not in fact, the first monk to exist. Anthony is noted for not allowing the attention or number of followers distract him from remaining solely focused on the Lord, both in his own personal life, and in the monasteries he was founding. It is written he had a disdain for “stately buildings and well-laden tables”, so all of his efforts were rooted in a focus on Christ alone. After his time guiding those seeking to practice self-denial and the hermetic life, he focused his efforts on aiding the Church amidst the persecution of Egyptian Christians in the early 300’s. Word had spread to Anthony of the severe attacks by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, in which churches were razed, scriptures burned, and Christians martyred. He and several monks traveled to Alexandria, where they ministered to the persecuted. The Governor of Alexandria is reported to have ordered Anthony not to show up in the city and continue to comfort those imprisoned, but Anthony, in hopes that he would be tortured and martyred, refused. He was 60 years old at the time, and fearlessly exposing himself to danger in hopes of being an ultimate witness to the faith. He spent the majority of his remaining years returning to solitude in order to pray, as well as share teachings with those who traveled to hear him. Occasionally, he would grow tired of visitors keeping him from his worship, so he eventually went further into the Eastern Desert of Egypt, finding a spring of water and palm trees. He created an inner monastery there, where he would often retreat to following trips to the desert to visit the brethren of monks. On the spot where he settled amid the palm trees now stands the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great. He traveled out of his desert solitude only one additional time, around the year 338 when the Arian heresy began spreading in Egypt. The former deacon Arius began swaying many Egyptian Christians with his teachings about how Jesus was not equal with God, and the leader of the church in Alexandria, Athanasius himself, called upon Anthony to join him in a campaign to champion the truth to the people of Egypt. The future saint provided an eloquent defense of the belief as Jesus being true God and true Man, which led to the eventual elimination of Arianism. Anthony would live to be over 100 years old, but still miraculously maintain the appearance of youth. Eventually, Anthony felt that the day of his departure was nearing. He commanded his disciples with strict instructions to give away his possessions (which consisted of a staff and two sheepskin cloaks) and to bury his body in an unmarked, secret grave, lest his body become an object of veneration. He died around the year 356. He was 105 years old. Saint Anthony was canonized Pre-Congregation and left no physical writings behind. A handful of his words are included in the Apophthegmata, a collection of sayings attributed to the early desert fathers and mothers, but he most likely only spoke his native language of Coptic, and almost certainly was illiterate. But through the life of Saint Anthony of the Desert, we discover a great, divine paradox. He hardly ate, yet remained in perfect health. He grew extremely old, yet retained the appearance of youth. He lived in extreme isolation, yet grew agonizingly popular. He possessed so little, yet continually gave so much. Saint Anthony, devoted to the Lord, persevering against afflictions, and emboldened in faith, was aware of his shortcomings, but rooted himself in what he knew to be his ultimate strength. When two Greek philosophers traveled to speak with Anthony, he questioned why they “wished to meet with a fool.” They replied that they viewed him as no fool, but wise and prudent. In response, Anthony said: “If you think me prudent, become as I am, for we ought to imitate what is good. And if I had come to you, I should have imitated you; but if you to me, become as I am, for I am a Christian.” While those philosophers departed in silence, having no desire to be converted, may we have our hearts and lives converted by Saint Anthony the Great. Next Item Previous Item

St. Blaise, a bishop and physician, patron saint of throats, and one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He served as bishop of Sebaste, Turkey, and fled to a cave during the persecution under Emperor Diocletian. Discovered by hunters, he was taken to Governor Agricolaus and later tortured and beheaded under Emperor Licinius. His feast day tradition of throat blessings originates from his miraculous healing of a boy choking on a fish bone. Candles used in the ceremony commemorate those brought to him in prison. Many other miracles are attributed to him, reinforcing his legacy as a healer and protector against throat ailments. St. Blaise Time Period: c. 280-316 Feast Day: February 3 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Martyr, Holy Helper Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Blaise was a bishop and physician and is the patron saint of throats. He was the bishop of Sebaste, Turkey. When the persecutions started under Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-205), Blaise took refuge in a cave, where he cared for wild animals. Years later, hunters found him and took him to Governor Agricolaus of Cappadocia and Lower Armenia during the persecution of Emperor Licinius Licinianus. Blaise was tortured with iron rods and beheaded. The custom of blessing throats on his feast day is taken from Blaise’s healing of a young boy who had a fish bone stuck in his throat. The candles used in the ceremonies are commemoratives of the candles brought to Blaise in prison by the boy’s mother. Many other miraculous events are recorded as part of Blaise’s legends. Blaise is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers who are a group of saints venerated together in Catholic tradition because their intercession is believed to be particularly effective against specific diseases and dangers. Each saint is invoked for aid regarding particular ailments or needs. The Fourteen Holy Helpers are: Acacius, Barbara, Blaise, Catherine of Alexandria, Christopher, Cyriacus, Denis, Erasmus of Formia, Eustace, George, Giles, Margaret of Antioch, Pantaleon, and Vitus. Next Item Previous Item

St. Alexander Sauli was the apostle of Corsica and bishop. At an early age he entered the Barnabite Congregation, and became a teacher at the University of Pavia and superior general of the congregation. In 1571, he was appointed by Pope St. Pius V to Aleria on the island of Corsica. Taking three companions, they rebuilt churches, founded seminaries and colleges, and stood off the pirate raids in the area. He became the bishop of Pavia, serving only a year before his death. St. Alexander was a noted miracle worker and the spiritual adviser to St. Charles Borromeo and Cardinal Sfondrato, who became Pope Gregory XIV. St. Alexander Sauli Time Period: 1533-1592 Feast Day: October 11 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Confessor Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Alexander Sauli was the apostle of Corsica and bishop. At an early age he entered the Barnabite Congregation, and became a teacher at the University of Pavia and superior general of the congregation. In 1571, he was appointed by Pope St. Pius V to Aleria on the island of Corsica. Taking three companions, they rebuilt churches, founded seminaries and colleges, and stood off the pirate raids in the area. He became the bishop of Pavia, serving only a year before his death. St. Alexander was a noted miracle worker and the spiritual adviser to St. Charles Borromeo and Cardinal Sfondrato, who became Pope Gregory XIV. Next Item Previous Item

Scheduling Meetings Parish Space Availability Facilities issues an annual Parish Space Availability calendar which illustrates the dates available for event scheduling. Standard Hours Available for Scheduling Sunday: 8:00am to Noon (Noon-9:00pm reserved for Children’s Faith Formation, Sacramental Classes & Youth Ministry) Mon-Fri: 8:30am to 8:30pm Saturday: 8:00am to 8:30pm Actual locking and unlocking of doors is based on campus activity, and not on the hours noted above. Exterior doors may be locked before the end of your meeting. Meetings must end promptly. Evening groups will be asked to leave so campus can be secured. Cancellations Space is at a premium and assets are being utilized to support your event. Notice of cancellations should be sent as soon as possible to your staff director/coordinator so that space can be rebooked and assets reassigned. Annual Scheduling St. Anthony’s utilizes an annual scheduling process. The process allows Facilities to receive all requests simultaneously and optimize space when booking the overall parish schedule. Scheduling packets are distributed by and returned to your staff director/coordinator. Adjustments to Your Annual Schedule Timely requests for changes to your annual schedule should be emailed to your staff director/coordinator. Attendance Every ministry is required to take attendance of every meeting so we can accurately assess the space and the needs of our ministries. Attendance forms are in every meeting space on campus. Please complete and place in the "Completed Attendance Forms" folder. Should your group use a different format for attendance, please submit to Casey Barnes at cbarnes@ap.church . Scheduling Request Form- Sample .xlsx Download XLSX • 20KB Previous Item Next Item

Our Adult Confirmation preparation process is intended for baptized Catholics who are now seeking the sacrament of Confirmation. If you are a baptized Catholic, but have not yet received First Communion, we will help you prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion while preparing for Confirmation. Confirmation - Adult Our Adult Confirmation preparation process is intended for baptized Catholics who are now seeking the sacrament of Confirmation. If you are a baptized Catholic, but have not yet received First Communion, we will help you prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion while preparing for Confirmation. 18+ years old Our Adult Confirmation preparation process is intended for adults, who were baptized Catholic, have received First Communion, and are practicing their Catholic faith, but for whatever reason, have never received the sacrament of Confirmation. We can also assist you if you are a baptized Catholic who has never received First Reconciliation/First Communion and Confirmation. Baptized Catholics will be Confirmed by the local bishop at a special Adult Confirmation Mass. We will work with you to prepare you to participate in that celebration. What are the requirements to begin Adult Confirmation preparation? Must be at least 18 years old AND out of High School. (If you are under 18, or still in high school, please visit our Teen Confirmation page ) Must have been baptized in the Catholic Church. Must live a life consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Must not have any marriage impediments ( see here for clarification ). To learn more about Adult Confirmation and to begin the process of preparation, please fill out the Adult Confirmation Interest Form. NOTE: St. Anthony of Padua is in a suburb of HOUSTON, TEXAS and offers sacramental preparation classes in-person on our parish campus. Adult Confirmation Request Form Confirmación - Adultos Nuestro proceso de preparación para la Confirmación de adultos está dirigido a los católicos bautizados que desean recibir ahora el sacramento de la Confirmación. Si eres católico bautizado, pero aún no has recibido la Primera Comunión, te ayudaremos a prepararte para la Primera Confesión y la Primera Comunión mientras te preparas para la Confirmación. En St. Anthony’s hay oportunidades para prepararse para la Confirmación durante todo el año, y el sacramento de la Confirmación se celebra en misas especiales con el obispo a lo largo del año. ¿Cuáles son los requisitos para comenzar la preparación para la Confirmación de adultos? Debe tener al menos 18 años Y haber terminado la enseñanza secundaria. (Si es menor de 18 años o todavía está en la enseñanza secundaria, visite nuestra página de Confirmación para adolescentes ) Debe haber sido bautizado en la Iglesia católica. Debe llevar una vida acorde con las enseñanzas de la Iglesia católica. No debe tener ningún impedimento para contraer matrimonio ( consulte aquí para obtener más información ). Para obtener más información sobre la Confirmación de adultos y comenzar el proceso de preparación, responda el formulario de interés en la Confirmación de adultos. NOTA: San Antonio de Padua se encuentra en un suburbio de Houston, Texas, y ofrece clases de preparación sacramental presenciales en las instalaciones de la parroquia. Formulario de interés en la Confirmación para adultos Program Contact Katie Krall Adult Faith & Sacraments Manager kkrall@ap.church 832-482-4147 Myriam DeKoster Hispanic Hospitality (Bilingüe) mdekoster@ap.church 832-482-4068 Next Item Previous Item

St. Frances of Rome was a noblewoman, mystic, and tireless caregiver to the poor and sick of Rome. Born in 1384, she married Lorenzo de Ponziani and raised three children. Inspired by a vision of St. Alexis, Frances devoted herself to charity with her sister-in-law. Amid war and plague, she suffered great personal loss but continued to serve. She founded the Oblates of Mary and, after her husband’s death, became their superior. Known for her visions and miracles, she was accompanied for 23 years by an angel visible only to her. She died in 1440, loved and revered in Rome. St. Frances of Rome Time Period: 1384-1440 Feast Day: March 9 Title/Attributes: Widow, Mother Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Frances of Rome was a mystic and benefactor of the sick and poor, who enjoyed the privilege of companionship of an angel in the last decades of her life. She was born in 1384 in Trastevere in Rome, the daughter of nobles Paul Bosco and Jacobella dei Roffredeschi. In 1396, she married Lorenzo de Ponziani, and this marriage lasted forty years. With her sister-in-law Vannozza, Frances aided the poor of Rome, and apostolate spurred by her vision of St. Alexis during an illness. She had three children: John Baptist, Evangelist, and Agnes. When the forces of Ladislaus of Naples took Rome in 1408 and 1410, Lorenzo was forced to flee the city. Frances remained and saw her family’s castle and lands looted and burned. In 1401, she lost her son Evangelist in a plague, and two years later her daughter, Agnes, died. By 1414, Frances had to nurse Lorenzo, whose health was broken. She also founded the Oblates of Mary, a society of women affiliated with the Olivetan Benedictines. Lorenzo died in 1436, and Frances entered the society, becoming the superior. A gifted mystic, Frances worked many miracles and foretold the end of the Great Schism in 1417. For the last twenty-three years of her life she had an angel as a companion, visible only to her. John Matteotti, her confessor, recorded her visions and prophecies. Frances died in Rome on March 9. Next Item Previous Item

Volunteer Opportunities Are you looking to give your time and volunteer at St. Anthony's? Below are opportunities for you to get involved! St. Anthony of Padua requires all adults (18 years +) volunteering with our parish to be in compliance with Safe Environment. If you have not taken the Safe Environment Training, click the link below to complete it. If you have questions, please contact us. Safe Environment Training Contact Us Outreach Liturgy Hospitality Evangelization Outreach Liturgy Hospitality Outreach Liturgy Hospitality Evangelization Evangelization Children's Catechist Evangelization Catechist means “to echo.” As Baptized Catholics, we are all called to echo Christ’s message. Experience the rewards of sharing your faith and leading our young parishioners to know the love of God and our Catholic faith. There are at least 2 Catechists in each classroom, and all materials are provided. Learn More Children's Volunteer Evangelization With over 1,000 children participating in the Faith Formation and Sacraments programs at St. Anthony’s, we need many hands to provide them with activities, handouts, and safety while they are on campus. Dates and times are flexible enough to fit any schedule. Please let us know if you can spare some time to help! Learn More Youth Ministry Core Team Evangelization Youth Ministry Core Team helps lead our middle and high school teens to know and love God and build strong and meaningful friendships with other Catholic teens. Small groups are supported by two core members, and all training and materials are provided. Learn More Youth Ministry Volunteer Evangelization Youth Ministry Parent Volunteers help with activities, materials, and campus safety. Flexible opportunities are available to fit your schedule. Learn More Outreach Liturgy Hospitality Evangelization BACK TO TOP