Please call the Parish Office at 281-419-8700 if you have an EMERGENCY need for anointing and leave a message on our Priest Emergency line. We highly encourage anyone who is struggling with a serious illness of mind, body, or spirit, or who is anticipating surgery, to plan on attending one of our Anointing of the Sick masses. Anointing of the Sick Please call the Parish Office at 281-419-8700 if you have an EMERGENCY need for anointing and leave a message on our Priest Emergency line. We highly encourage anyone who is struggling with a serious illness of mind, body, or spirit, or who is anticipating surgery, to plan on attending one of our Anointing of the Sick masses. All Ages The Catholic sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is intended for baptized Catholics suffering from serious physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual illness, especially when facing death. It is not restricted to terminal illness and can be administered multiple times if a person’s health worsens or they relapse. Here are some situations when the sacrament may be appropriate: Serious illness: Cancer, heart disease, chronic illnesses like Parkinson’s, or illnesses that could become life-threatening Advanced age: Elderly people who are weakened, even if not seriously ill Upcoming Surgery: When surgery is due to a serious illness. [Note that if the upcoming surgery is for body enhancements, procedures such as in-vitro fertilization, tubal ligation, a vasectomy, sex reassignment surgery, and so on, do not sign up for this sacrament and instead make an appointment with a priest by emailing sdewlen@ap.church ] Mental illness: Acute depression, anxiety that causes panic attacks or other debilitations, bipolar disorders, or psychoses (such as schizophrenia) Addiction: Drug or alcohol abuse, when it creates a dangerous situation to the person Unconscious or incapacitated: If the person would likely have requested the sacrament Children: If they have sufficient reason (usually 7 years old or older) and would be comforted by this sacrament [if you are not sure, make an appointment or a phone call with a priest by emailing sdewlen@ap.church to schedule it]. If a child is under the age of 7, and has never been baptized, and it has been determined that the child is terminal by a physician, that child can be baptized and confirmed immediately. The sacrament is meant to provide spiritual and physical strength, unite the sick with Christ, and offer courage and peace to endure suffering. While the sacrament forgives venial sins, it does not forgive mortal sins, so if the person is healthy enough, he or she should ask the priest to hear his or her confession and receive absolution before receiving this sacrament of the anointing of the sick. We will have Intercessory Prayer Teams available on the third Saturday of the month immediately following the 10:00 am daily Mass. There is no registration required for those who have a prayer request. Upcoming Anointing of the Sick Masses The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of His healing tells us of His plan to conquer sin and death by His dying and rising. The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment, by the priest, about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient. When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the sufferings that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. Program Contact Susan Dewlen Executive Clergy Assistant sdewlen@ap.church 832-482-4121 Next Item Previous Item

Room Use & Safety Room Use & Safety Room Use All locations have access to coffee. It is your responsibility to empty coffee grounds, clean coffee pots and return coffee items to their proper locations after every meeting. All food items must be removed from campus. Counter tops and tables should be clean. Kitchens must be thoroughly cleaned with all items washed and properly stored. All lights and AV equipment must be turned off. AED, LifeVac and First Aid Kit Locations AEDs, LifeVacs and first aid kits are located throughout the campus, please refer to AED, Life Vac and First Aid location maps presented below. Calling 911 Providing precise information when calling 911 improves response time. We have multiple addresses associated with our campus and they are listed below. 7801 Bay Branch – Main Church 7901 Bay Branch – School 7985 Bay Branch - Saint Teresa Center 7979 Bay Branch – Rectory 8715 Kuykendahl – Our Lady of the Angels Simply stating that you are calling from St. Anthony at 7801 Bay Branch Drive in The Woodlands is not specific enough. Giving the main address will get them here but responders then spend time trying to find your location. Whenever you call, whether you have given the main address or one of the alternate addresses you need to provide a description of your location! This will save valuable time. Your description can be: I am in the main church I am calling from the school I am calling from the parish life building I am on the back sports field I am in the Adoration Chapel up the ramp behind the church I am at the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel off of Kuykendahl I am at the St. Teresa Center If you have called 911 you should immediately inform the parish and school offices and let them know where you are. First responders will go to the receptionist if they are unsure of where to report. Previous Item Next Item

St. Brigid of Sweden was a princess, foundress, wife, and mother of eight, including St. Catherine of Sweden. Widowed in 1344, she devoted her life to prayer, service, and visions that inspired her to found the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Brigittines) in Wadstena. She became known across Europe for her mystical revelations, especially on Christ’s Passion. Despite political tensions, she worked tirelessly for Church reform. She died in 1373 in Rome. Her "Revelationes coelestes" reflect her deep spirituality. Named co-patroness of Europe, she remains a powerful model of holiness and courage in faith. St. Bridget of Sweden Time Period: 1303-1373 Feast Day: July 23 Title/Attributes: Widow, Mother, Princess, Foundress Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Brigid of Sweden was a wife, foundress, and princess! She was also called Bridget, Birgitta, or Brigitta. She was born in 1303, the daughter of Birger Persson, the governor of Uppland, Sweden, and his second wife, Ingelbard Bengsdotter. Her mother died when Brigid was twelve, and the child was raised by an aunt at Aspenas. She was married at the age of fourteen to Ulf Gudmarsson, a Swedish Prince. They had eight children, one of whom was St. Catherine of Sweden, and they lived happily together for twenty-eight years. In 1335, Brigid became a lady-in-waiting to Blanche of Namur, queen of France, the bride of King Magnus II (r. Norway 1319-1355 and Sweden 1319-1365). In 1340, after the death of her youngest son, Brigid made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Olaf in Norway and then went to Compostela in Spain with her husband. He became ill on the journey but recovered, as St. Denis had assured her in a vision. Ulf died in 1344 at the Cistercian monastery at Alvostra, and Brigid remained there for four years and devoted her life to prayer and caring for the sick. During this time she received many spiritual graces in visions and revelations and developed the idea of establishing a religious community. In founding the monastery of Wadstena, Sweden, and the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, the Brigittines, Brigid established the intellectual center of the nation in that era. In 1349, Brigid left Sweden, having refused to support King Magnus’ crusade against Latvia and Estonia. She went to Rome, where she became well-known for her prophecies and revelations. Blessed Pope Urban V approved the constitutions of the Brigittines in 1370. Brigid was unsuccessful, however, in persuading Urban or his successor, Gregory XI, to leave Avignon, France. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, her son Charles became ill with a fever and died. Brigid continued the pilgrimage and returned to Rome in 1372, where she died on July 23. Her remains were later brought back to Wadstena by her daughter, St. Catherine of Sweden. Brigid was a mystic who received vivid revelations, particularly about the Passion of Christ and the Nativity. These visions were compiled in the Revelationes coelestes ("Celestial Revelations"), translated into Latin by Matthias, canon of Linköping, and her confessor. St. John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Spes Aedificandi, affirmed Brigid’s spiritual legacy: “Yet there is no doubt that the Church, which recognized Brigid’s holiness without ever pronouncing on her individual revelations, has accepted the overall authenticity of her interior experience.” St. Brigid of Sweden is honored as one of the six patron saints of Europe, along with St. Benedict of Nursia, St. Cyril, St. Methodius, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Edith Stein. Next Item Previous Item

St. Bernadette Soubirous, born in Lourdes, France, in 1844, was a poor, asthmatic girl who experienced visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. Despite pressure from authorities, she remained steadfast. A spring emerged at the site, believed to have healing properties. On March 25, she declared Mary’s words: “I am the Immaculate Conception,” astonishing many, as this doctrine had been formally defined only in 1854. Bernadette later joined a convent in Nevers, where she endured illness until her death in 1879. Lourdes became a major pilgrimage site, drawing millions seeking spiritual and physical healing from its miraculous waters. St. Bernadette Soubirous Time Period: 1844-1879 Feast Day: April 16 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Marian Saint Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Hair St. Bernadette Soubirous is the famed visionary of Lourdes. She was born in Lourdes, France, on January 7, 1844, the daughter of Francis and Louise Soubirous. Bernadette, a severe asthma sufferer, lived in abject poverty. On February 11, 1858, she was granted a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a cave on the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. She was placed in considerable jeopardy when she reported the vision, and crowds gathered when she had further visits from the Virgin Mary, from February 18 of that year through March 4. The civil authorities tried to frighten Bernadette into recanting her accounts, but she remained faithful to the vision. On February 25, a spring emerged from the cave, and the waters were discovered to be of miraculous nature, capable of healing the sick and lame. On March 25, Bernadette announced that the vision of Mary stated, "I am the Immaculate Conception." This declaration was astonishing because the dogma of the Immaculate Conception had only recently been formally defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854. Bernadette, an uneducated peasant girl with no theological training, could not have known about this doctrine on her own. When she relayed this message to her parish priest and later to the bishop, it caused a sensation. The Church took this as a powerful confirmation of the Marian dogma, lending credibility to Bernadette’s visions. Her words deeply impacted Church authorities, further solidifying the belief that the visions were of divine origin. Many authorities tried to shut down the spring and delay the construction of the chapel, but the influence and fame of the visions reached Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III, and construction went forward. Crowds gathered, free of harassment from the anticlerical and antireligious officials. In 1866, Bernadette was sent to the Sisters of Notre Dame in Nevers. There, she became a member of the community and faced some rather harsh treatment from the mistress of novices. This oppression ended when it was discovered that she suffered from a painful, incurable illness. She died in Nevers on April 16, 1879, still giving the same account of her visions. Lourdes became one of the major pilgrimage destinations in the world, and the spring has produced twenty-seven thousand gallons of water each week since emerging during Bernadette’s visions. She was not involved in the building of the shrine, as she remained hidden at Nevers. However, her unwavering faith and the miraculous events at Lourdes continue to inspire millions worldwide. There are about five million pilgrims who visit Lourdes every year. Next Item Previous Item

Giving Giving Options 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. General Offertory The financial support given through the General Offertory allows us to keep our buildings, programs, sacraments, staff, and liturgies running smoothly. Giving is an expression of our gratitude to God for the blessings He has given us! Give Now Second Collections As Catholics, not only do we support our parish family, but also our greater community around us. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston second collections allow us to give resources to both our region and the world. Give to Second Collections Diocesan Services Fund The Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) is the annual appeal of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston that provides funding for essential ministries and programs that serve the religious, spiritual, and human needs of thousands of people from every parish. Give to DSF Outreach Ministries St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church has approximately 100 active ministries serving the local and global community. Give to one of our various Outreach Ministries such as the Food Pantry, St. Vincent De Paul Assistance Ministry, and many more! Give to Outreach Additional Ministries Our parish has many causes worthy of your financial support. Give to campus maintenance, funerals, pro-life and prison ministry, Honduras Mission, our parish school and more. Give to Additional Ministries In Memory Of To celebrate a loved one who has passed, many families suggest making a memorial donation online. Please put their name in the memo line so we know who the gift is honoring. Make a Donation Mass Intentions From the days of the early Church it has been common practice to offer Mass for the dead, as well as for others. View our intention calendar to see what Mass times are available. View the Calendar Memorial Pavers Honor a loved one, a special intention or event with a custom-engraved paver. Your gift supports the parish and creates a lasting place of prayer and remembrance. Buy a Paver Parish Wishlist As the parish grows with time, some items need to be updated and refreshed. Click the button below to view our Parish Wishlist and how you can donate these items. Parish Wishlist Holy Day Offerings Holy days represent times of renewal, repentance, or reflection, and giving special donations ensures that the true, selfless meaning of the holy day is honored. It acts as a form of worship and fulfills our moral obligation to assist the poor. Holy Day Offerings Matching Gifts Did you know you can double your support without even giving a dollar more? Many corporations match employee donations to non-profit organizations like ours. Our EIN is 76-0545136. Contact Us

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

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity were young Christian women martyred in Carthage around 203 AD. Perpetua, a noblewoman with a newborn son, and Felicity, her pregnant slave, were arrested for their faith after they were baptized. Despite pleas from Perpetua’s pagan father to renounce Christianity, she remained steadfast, declaring, “I am a Christian.” In prison, the women suffered hardship—Felicity even gave birth in jail. Perpetua received heavenly visions foreshadowing their martyrdom. During a brutal public execution, they faced wild beasts and the sword with unwavering faith. Their heroic witness inspired many, and Perpetua’s written account became a treasured text in the early Church. St. Perpetua Time Period: d. 203 Feast Day: March 7 Title/Attributes: Mother, Martyr Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones Saints Perpetua and Felicity were young women in Carthage around 181-203 AD. Perpetua was a rich young wife in Carthage, who had just given birth to a son. Felicity was Perpetua’s slave, and was about to have a baby of her own. Perpetua’s mother and brothers were Christian, but her father was a pagan. So when Perpetua told her father she wanted to be baptized, he flew into a rage. “Why can’t you just keep your faith secret?” he asked her. “Don’t you know you can be killed for becoming a Christian?” “Do you see this jar of water on the table?” Perpetua asked him. “Can you call it anything but a jar of water? Can you call it a hurricane? Or an elephant?” “No,” her father said. “I’m a Christian,” Perpetua told him. “I can’t call myself anything else.” Her father was so angry he didn’t talk with her for days. While he still wasn’t speaking to her, Perpetua was baptized, along with Felicity and several other slaves. And just as Perpetua’s father feared, when the Roman rulers heard about it, Perpetua and her friends were all arrested, along with her teacher, Saturus. The prison they were thrown in was hot and dark. The guards pushed and shoved the prisoners, even Felicity, who was about to give birth. Worst of all, they took Perpetua’s baby son away from her. She wasn’t allowed to see him until her mother and brother brought the child to her so she could nurse him. Nobody knew what was going to happen next. Would they be set free? Would they be killed? “You should ask God for a vision,” Perpetua’s brother told her. So Perpetua prayed, and that night God gave her a dream. In the dream, she saw a huge bronze ladder. All along it were swords, spears, hooks, and knives. The only possible way to climb it was to always look up, never down. If someone looked away for even a moment, they’d be torn apart. At the bottom of the ladder was a giant serpent, ready to bite anyone who tried to climb. Saturus, Perpetua and Felicity’s teacher, was in the dream too. He started to climb up the ladder. “Don’t let the snake bit you,” he called back to Perpetua. “It will not hurt me,” Perpetua said. “In the name of Jesus Christ.” When the snake heard that name, it bowed its head, afraid. So instead of stepping on the first rung of the ladder, Perpetua stepped on the snake’s head. Then she climbed all the way up the ladder, to a beautiful garden. It was full of thousands of people dressed in white. “Welcome, child,” a man said, and handed her a bowl of sweet milk. Perpetua could still taste the sweetness when she woke up. But when she told her brother the vision, they both knew what it meant: she wouldn’t be set free. She would be killed for her faith. Perpetua’s father came to visit her in jail, weeping. “Have pity on my gray hairs,” he said kissing her hands. “You’ve always been my favorite. Why don’t you just give up your faith?” “We don’t live in our own power,” Perpetua told him, “but in the power of God.” When Perpetua and Felicity and their friends were put on trial, her father came, holding her baby. “Just give a sacrifice for the emperor,” he said. “And this can all be over. Come home and raise your son.” The judge didn’t want to sentence Perpetua to death, either. “Why don’t you just do as your father says?” he asked. But Perpetua and Felicity and their friends refused to deny their faith, so all of them were sentenced to death. In the prison, it came time for Felicity to deliver her child. While the jailers made fun of her, in that hot, dark cell, she went into labor and gave birth to a beautiful daughter. Because Felicity couldn’t care for her little girl, she gave her to a free Christian woman, who promised to adopt her. The judge decreed that Felicity, Perpetua, and their friends should all be killed just two days later, during a feast in the amphitheater, in front of thousands of people who thought that seeing them die was nothing more than watching a game. Waiting in prison, Perpetua had another dream. She dreamed that when she was taken into the amphitheater, she turned into a man. Another man was there to fight her. He tried to trip her, but she kicked him in the face. As she rained blows down on his head, she realized she wasn’t even touching the ground anymore: she was flying. And when she won the fight, she was given a branch as a reward. Saturus had a dream in the prison as well. He dreamed that they were transported by four angels to a beautiful garden, where there were rose trees as big as cypresses, with leaves that sang. In the garden were other people who had been killed for their faith, and a building with walls made of light, where they met a man with a white head, surrounded by four elders. The day of the feast, Perpetua went to the amphitheater with her friends, signing. “You judge us,” they told the people who had come to watch them die. “But God judges you.” First, the men were led into the ring with wild beasts. Perpetua and Felicity watched as their friends were torn apart by leopards, bears, and a wild boar. They crowd loved it. But when Perpetua and Felicity were brought out, the crowd fell silent. They were shocked to see the young mothers stripped and in danger of being trampled by a wild cow. So before the cow could kill them, Perpetua and Felicity were taken out of the ring. Perpetua was in an ecstasy, a trance of faith so deep that she didn’t realize anything had happened to her. “When are we to be thrown to the beasts?” she asked. Her friends and her brother, who had been watching, showed her wounds to her to prove that she had already been sent into the ring. Before they dragged Perpetua and Felicity back out, she said her last words to her brother: “Stand fast in faith,” she told him. “And love one another.” Then Felicity and Perpetua were sent back into the ring. In the ring, a solider had been ordered to kill them by the sword. But the soldier was young. He didn’t know what he was doing, so when he stabbed Perpetua, she cried out in pain, but she wasn’t killed. Finally, Perpetua placed the blade on the neck herself. The young soldier sliced her throat, and she died. But her story wasn’t over, because she had written it down while she was in prison. After her death, it spread around the Roman Empire like wildfire. Some churches even read it during their services. And many of the people who saw how Perpetua and Felicity died became Christians – even the jailer who had held them once in prison. Saint names in Eucharistic Prayer I The first list begins with Mary and Joseph and then the “blessed Apostles and Martyrs,” including Peter, Paul, Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (“the Greater”: the brother of John), John, Thomas, James (“the Lesser”: the son of Alpheus), Matthew, Bartholomew, Simon (“the Zealot”), and Jude (also called Thaddeus). The First List of Saint Names Continuing this first list of saints in Eucharistic Prayer I, as Charles Belmonte notes, “Five popes head the list: St. Peter’s first three successors, Linus, Cletus, Clement; then two popes of the third century, Sixtus II and Cornelius; Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, the intrepid defender of Catholic unity; the deacon Lawrence, who when his persecutor demanded from him the ‘treasures’ of the Church, showed him hundreds of poor people; Chrysogonus, a Roman priest who carried out the holy work of comforting the Christians who were in prison; two brothers, John and Paul, both officers of the [Roman] imperial palace, who were put to death under [the emperor] Julian the Apostate; and lastly, Cosmas and Damian, two Oriental physicians who gave their aid freely, and at whose graves there occurred ‘yet more cures than they had effected in their lives’” (Understanding the Mass, p. 158). The Second List of Saint Names As for the second list of saints in Eucharistic Prayer I, we ask for “some share in the fellowship” of several saints who were martyrs. Belmonte continues, “It mentions, in the first place, John (here obviously St. John the Baptist), and then seven men, followed by seven women, all martyrs. Stephen is the first deacon, whose glorious martyrdom is recounted in the Acts of the Apostles (6:8-7:60). Two apostles come next: Matthias, elected to take the place of Judas (Acts 1:15-16) and probably left out of the first list so as not to exceed the number of twelve, and Barnabas, St. Paul’s companion in his first missionary journey. Ignatius is the famous bishop of Antioch, sentenced to be fed to the wild beasts in Rome under [emperor] Trajano. Besides their names and the place of their martyrdom, little else is known of Alexander, the priest Marcellinus, and the exorcist Peter, who were all put to death in the great persecution of [emperor] Diocletian. The list continues with the names of the two young girls, Felicity and Perpetua (their names form the expression ‘everlasting happiness’), who confessed their faith at Carthage [in North Africa]; and of Agatha and Lucy in Sicily. It concludes with the names of two young martyrs beloved by the Romans, Agnes and Cecelia; and of Anastasia, martyred at Sirmium and later honored in Rome” (Understanding the Mass, pp. 159–160). All these saints are important because they were among the many early witnesses to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. These are our spiritual fathers, our older brothers and sisters in Christ, who showed us that our faith was worth living and dying for. They showed us that, strengthened by the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, they could overcome any persecutions and sufferings, even to the point of being killed. These saints give us great hope, and their prayers for us give us confidence that we, too, can live out the faith as they did, that we can live our life in Christ every day and look forward to the glory of heaven! https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/post/do-this-in-remembrance-of-me-part-55-saint-names-epi Next Item Previous Item

Severin of Cologne was the bishop of Cologne, venerated as a confessor and miracle-worker. A native of Bordeaux, he was a powerful defender of orthodoxy, staunchly opposing Arianism. Before his episcopal appointment, he experienced a vision: his staff budded and flowered, signaling his divine calling. He founded a monastery dedicated to Saints Cornelius and Cyprian—today Cologne’s Basilica of St. Severinus—and reportedly witnessed the ascent of St. Martin of Tours’ soul into heaven. His bones are enshrined in Cologne, and he is invoked against drought and misfortune. St. Severin of Cologne Time Period: 4th Century Feast Day: October 23 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Confessor Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones Severin of Cologne was the bishop of Cologne, venerated as a confessor and miracle-worker. A native of Bordeaux, he was a powerful defender of orthodoxy, staunchly opposing Arianism. Before his episcopal appointment, he experienced a vision: his staff budded and flowered, signaling his divine calling. He founded a monastery dedicated to Saints Cornelius and Cyprian—today Cologne’s Basilica of St. Severinus—and reportedly witnessed the ascent of St. Martin of Tours’ soul into heaven. His bones are enshrined in Cologne, and he is invoked against drought and misfortune. 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 Evangelization Outreach Liturgy Hospitality Evangelization Outreach Liturgy Hospitality Evangelization Fellowship Sunday Hospitality Fellowship Sunday is a great opportunity for our parish to come together after Mass and enjoy some donuts, coffee, and community! Come meet some new friends, and learn about the various ministries and events going on in our Parish. If you would like to volunteer for Fellowship Sunday, contact us. Contact Us Breaking Bread Hospitality On Sundays after Mass, parishioners are invited over to Fr. Jesse's home to share a light meal with him. We are in need of volunteers to help "host" the Breaking Bread sessions. Contact us Welcoming Team Hospitality We are seeking volunteers who can arrive 30 minutes before Sunday mass to warmly greet parishioners in the piazza and the church entrances, offering assistance when needed. Contact Us Outreach Liturgy Hospitality Evangelization BACK TO TOP

5-Year Pastoral Plan Greater Things Are Yet to Come As we look to the future, it is essential to prayerfully reflect on how to position St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church to fulfill God’s will. Guided by the theme of our Five-Year Plan, "Greater Things Are Yet to Come," this vision is the fruit of a collaborative effort that embraced diverse perspectives within our community. Through this process, we have identified key priorities, established meaningful milestones, and crafted strategies to not only sustain but also strengthen our parish's mission and impact. This plan serves as a clear and actionable roadmap, aligning our vision with tangible goals to navigate the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, ensuring St. Anthony of Padua continues to flourish as a vibrant faith community. We invite you to play an active role in bringing our Five-Year Plan to life by sharing your time and talents through one of our many ministries. Your involvement is essential to fulfilling our shared mission. Together, we can ensure our parish remains a source of inspiration and guidance for the faithful for generations to come. BELONG St. Anthony’s will continue to foster a sense of “belonging” for all parishioners & employees, through hospitality, communication, and service. Hospitality: St. Anthony’s will continue to foster a sense of “belonging” for all parishioners and visitors, by increasing accessibility, pastoral responses, and overall hospitality. Parishioner Experience: Expand processes for the best user experience when seeking services from the parish. Communication: A communication strategy that fosters connections with new parishioners that encourages engagement and involvement in parish life. Work Environment: Develop a work environment that fosters a sense of belonging and offers professional growth opportunities that attract and retain talent. BELIEVE Create meaningful opportunities for parishioners, especially young people, to deepen their faith and grow spiritually through a continuous and enriching journey of formation. Lifelong Learning: Prepare education progressions for all age levels, and opportunities to stay involved in between sacraments. Ensure inclusion of parents, young people, and children. Support of and Inclusion of Young Adults: Launching them for the next generation of our Parish. Invite them to be a witness to children or other young people. Mystagogy: Continue to engage adults, teens, and children after they have completed programs and received sacraments, deepening their understanding by layering instruction that evolves with their growing faith. BLESS Multiply opportunities to spread the Gospel in our community and the world by going, serving and connecting with individuals and families in need. Identify Needs: Analyze emerging trends and shifting dynamics to identify key outreach priorities and develop tailored, effective strategies for delivering impactful solutions. Outreach Success: Identify the most effective methods for organizing efforts. Assess current outreach opportunities, build upon existing successes and expand their reach. Expand Partnerships: Continuously explore opportunities to form new partnerships with nonprofit organizations that address the identified needs. Ministry Awareness & Alignment: Elevate the visibility of the Parish ministries, strengthen alignment with the overarching mission, and expand parishioner participation and impact. BUILD Develop and maintain a resilient, adaptable, and innovative infrastructure that supports our mission and community needs. Infrastructure: St. Anthony will continue to provide well-maintained facilities that meet the parish needs for worship, learning, outreach, administration and social activities. Audio Visual: Provide a user-friendly, intuitive, and consistent A/V experience. Information Technology: Remain relevant with new technologies that will provide an edifying end user experience. Safety and Security: Ongoing evaluation of systems, protocols, and technology to adequately protect STAOP students, parishioners, and staff. BEYOND Nurture a sacred and reverent liturgy that reflects the holiness of the divine, while also creating a meaningful and transformative experience for the faithful. Liturgy: Enhance the beauty of the Liturgy through integration of training, catechesis, and spiritual formation in both the spoken word and music. Music: Foster diversity in sacred music that faithfully reflects Catholic teaching while inspiring both reverence and spiritual connection. Spirituality: In collaboration with laypersons, clergy, and parish leadership, undertake a synodal process to draw meaningful themes from the Sunday readings that align with and support the parish's direction. Support: Develop and implement a compassionate follow-up process to consistently support families of the deceased whose funerals were celebrated within our parish. Previous Item Next Item