Saint Thomas Aquinas was an invaluable gift to both the Catholic Church and to the world for his ability to bridge the gap between faith and reason. A 13th century Dominican friar, he is recognized today as the most significant figure in scholastic theology, and an unparalleled voice on biblical interpretations during the Middle Ages. Thomas preached a revolutionary focus: viewing faith and reason not as contradicting opposites, but as complementary fountains of knowledge. “The Universal Teacher”, his timeless works and his relentless pursuit of knowledge and holiness are still benefiting the church and the world to this day. St. Thomas Aquinas Time Period: 1225-1274 Feast Day: January 28 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Doctor of the Church, Dominican Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones Saint Thomas Aquinas was an invaluable gift to both the Catholic Church and to the world for his ability to bridge the gap between faith and reason. A 13th century Dominican friar, he is recognized today as the most significant figure in scholastic theology, and an unparalleled voice on biblical interpretations during the Middle Ages. Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225, inside a castle owned by his parents, Count Landulf of Aquino and Theodora, the Countess of Teano. The family, with Thomas being the youngest child among his eight siblings, were descendant of Emperors Frederick I and Henry VI, though they were generally regarded as lower nobility in the Kingdom of Sicily. At the age of five, Thomas was sent to study among Benedictine monks at the Abbey of Monte Cassino. He was regarded as a “witty child” who was often quizzical and curious, posing questions to the monks such as “What is God?” to the surprised monks. Eventually the military conflict between the Emperor Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX reached the abbey in 1239, forcing 13-year-old Thomas to return to Naples. While studying at the University of Naples, he was attracted to the work of Aristotle and became greatly intrigued by philosophy. He also took interest in the newly founded Dominican order of friars, thanks to meeting John of St. Julian, a Dominican preacher who was part of an active effort to recruit more followers to their order. Thomas was attracted to their emphasis on academic learning, poverty, purity, and a life of spiritual service, and at the age of 19, he secretly joined the order of Dominican monks. When his family found out, they were outraged with his decision. His parents demanded that Thomas become a Benedictine instead, in order to enjoy a more affluent and influential position in the church; they couldn’t stand to imagine their son begging as a poor monk. The Dominicans attempted to prevent his parents from interfering with his decision and arranged to move him to Rome, but on their way to Rome, he was kidnapped by his own brothers and returned to his family’s castle, San Giovanni at Rocca Secca. His family tried desperately for an entire year to sway Thomas from his new beliefs as he was held captive, but instead he passed the time by tutoring his younger sisters and secretly communicating with the Dominicans. His family even went so far as to offer him a position as Archbishop of Naples and hire a prostitute to attempt to break his resolve. He resolutely rejected both, and legend tells of Thomas chasing the prostitute out of his room with a flaming iron, branding a cross into his door, and then seeing two angels appear in a dream to strengthen his resolve to remain celibate. When his mother realized their attempts were futile, Theodora arranged for him to escape through a window. So prideful was their family that they preferred a secret escape rather than appearing to accept his position at the sake of their family name. After his escape around the year 1245, Thomas returned to Naples, where he resumed his studies with the Dominicans. He began studying theology at the University of Paris – the leading center for academic studies in Europe at the time – and likely fell under the wing of another future saint, Albert the Great. Albert was by far the best theological teacher Thomas could have met, and when he was sent to teach at a new university in Cologne in 1248, Thomas would follow the theologian, declining the offer of Pope Innocent IV to become the abbot of Monte Cassino. Thomas was appointed magister studentium of the university by Saint Albert, but many were confused by the quiet, introverted friar with lopsided eyes, and he gained the nickname “the dumb ox.” Nonetheless, after reading Thomas’ thesis and finding it brilliant, Saint Albert proclaimed to the university, “We call this young man a dumb ox, but his bellowing in doctrine will one day resound throughout the world!” The next years of his life would find Thomas spending his time teaching and writing across Europe. He taught in Cologne as an apprentice professor, wrote commentaries on the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Lamentations, and rapidly gained prominence through his public speaking and preaching. At the time in Medieval thought, many were struggling to reconcile the relationship between faith and reason. Many great minds of Christianity and brilliant philosophers were present, but few sought to harmonize the two prior to Thomas Aquinas. Averroes, a Muslim Andalusian who wrote many books on philosophy and theology, had created a popular “theory of the double truth” at the time, which viewed the two types of knowledge, faith and reason, as being in direct opposition of each other. Thomas preached a revolutionary new focus on the theological aspects of faith and the philosophical principles of reason not as contradicting opposites, but instead as complementary fountains of knowledge that both flowed from God alone. Not only were the two compatible, according to Thomas, but he believed that “revelation could guide reason and prevent it from making mistakes, while reason could clarify and demystify faith.” To expand on the many teachings and defenses of faith that Thomas provided would require hours upon hours of explanation, but at its core, Thomas combined traditional principles of theology with modern philosophic thought to bring clarity and truth to the world, answering the questions of church authorities, medieval intellectuals, and common people alike. Thomas would later go on to receive a master’s degree in theology, and teach in Paris, Ostia, Bologna, Rome, Naples, and more. He would write more than 60 books, ranging from topics such as apologetics, philosophy, and Biblical commentaries. He was appointed regent master in theology at Paris in 1256, served as general preacher of Naples in 1260, and in 1261 traveled to Orvieto, where he worked to form friars who were unable to attend a university, while also producing works for Pope Urban IV, such as writing a newly created liturgy for the feast of Corpus Christi. In February of 1265, Thomas was called to Rome by the newly elected Pope Clement IV to serve as papal theologian. The same year, he began teaching deep theology courses at a newly established Dominican school at Santa Sabina, one of the first advanced schools for the province. It was while teaching at Santa Sabina that Thomas began his most famous work, the Summa Theologica, a timeless book on Christian doctrine that is also a highly practical guide for spiritual leaders. While it eventually would remain unfinished by Aquinas, to this day it is regarded as one of the most influential works of Western literature. In 1268, Thomas was called again to serve as regent master at the University of Paris, partly due to a sudden rise of “Averroism”, a resurgence of a “radical Aristotelianism” that opposed the combability of faith and reason. Thomas ended up penning two works which combatted these beliefs and reprimanded Averroism as being “incompatible with Christian doctrine.” The Catholic church would publicly condemn the works of Averroes in 1270 and later in 1277. At the end of his regency in Paris, the Dominicans requested Thomas to establish a university at the place of his choosing. He chose Naples for the new institution and moved there upon its founding to serve as regent master. He continued to write and preach in Naples, until two mystical experiences would change everything for Thomas. In 1273, during the Feast of St. Nicholas, Thomas Aquinas had a mystical vision at Mass where he heard the voice of Christ speak to him saying, “You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward would you have for your labor?” Thomas replied, “Nothing but you, Lord.” Stories tell of Thomas being found by a sacristan crying and levitating in front of an icon of the crucified Christ while praying, and following this mystical experience, Aquinas found himself unable to continue his writings, saying, “I can do no more. Such secrets have been revealed to me that all I have written now appears to be of little value.” After his confessor, Father Reginald of Piperno, urged him to continue writing, he refused, admitting that “all that I have written seems like straw to me.” He would never write again. In 1274, Thomas Aquinas was invited to participate in the Second Council of Lyons to help bridge the gap between Eastern and Western churches, which was rapidly widening at the time. While on his way to the council, Thomas hit his head on the branch of a fallen tree and became ill. He was ushered to Monte Cassino to rest, but after attempting to set out again, he was unable to continue and stopped at the Cistercian abbey in Fossanova, Italy. The monks there offered Thomas a spot inside the castle, but sensing his death was near, he requested to remain in the monastery saying, “If the Lord wishes to take me away, it is better that I be found in a religious house than in the dwelling of a layperson.” His health continued to dwindle for several days before receiving his last rites and praying “”I have written and taught much about this very holy Body, and about the other sacraments in the faith of Christ, and about the Holy Roman Church, to whose correction I expose and submit everything I have written.” He died on March 7, 1274, while giving commentary on the Song of Songs. Before half a century had passed, Thomas Aquinas was canonized a saint by Pope John XXII. In 1567, Pope Pius V named him a Doctor of the Church. In the 16th century, the University of Paris was renamed the College of Saint Thomas. In the 19th century, Pope Leo XIII declared the works of Aquinas were to be taught at all Catholic seminaries and theological institutions around the world. His original feast day was March 7, the day of his death, but due to that date often falling within Lent, it was moved to January 28th after a revision of the Roman Calendar in 1969. Saint Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of academics, philosophers, students, publishers, and pencilmakers. “The Universal Teacher”, Saint Thomas Aquinas illuminated a compatibility of faith and reason and serves as a towering example of what it means to be a devout believer in Jesus Christ. His timeless works are still benefitting the church and the world to this day, and his relentless pursuit of knowledge and holiness, despite any opposition or degradation he faced, should inspire us all to use our gifts for the glory of God. A Doctor of the Church are certain men and women who are revered by the Church for the special value of their writings and preaching and the sanctity of their lives. They each made important and lasting contributions to the faith and are to be recognized for their great merits. To be declared a Doctor of the Church, you have to meet three basic requirements: First, you must have lived a life of exemplary holiness, or insignis vitae sanctitas (outstanding sanctity). In short, you have to be a saint. Second, to be a Doctor of the Church you must have deepened the whole Church's understanding of the Catholic Faith with emins doctrina (eminent teaching). Which is to say, sanctity isn't enough. There are thousands of saints, but only 37 Doctors of the Church. To be a Doctor one must do more than just live the Faith. Rather, one must significantly and profoundly contribute to our understanding of Divine Revelation, helping us to know more deeply some truth about God and His actions in the World. And third, a pope must officially declare you a Doctor. That being said, as the Church understands it, when a pope declares someone a Doctor of the Church, he's not so much making someone a Doctor as he is recognizing what the Holy Spirit has already done - that He has conferred the charism of Doctor upon them. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Anrê Nguyễn Kim Thông was born around 1790 in Go Thi, Binh Dinh, he was a devoted Catholic leader and father to two religious children—a priest and a nun. Serving as village chief and later as a regional Catholic leader under Bishop Stéphano Théodore Cuénot, he helped protect priests during Vietnam’s fierce anti-Catholic persecutions. Arrested for his faith, he remained steadfast, ultimately sacrificing his life for Christ. Canonized among the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs by Pope John Paul II in 1988, his unwavering devotion continues to inspire, and he is honored as a patron of Vietnam’s faithful. St. Anrê Nguyễn Kim Thông Time Period: 1790-1855 Feast Day: November 1 Title/Attributes: Cathechist, Martyr Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones Saint Anrê Nguyễn Kim Thông was born around 1790 in Go Thi, Binh Dinh, he was a devoted Catholic leader and father to two religious children—a priest and a nun. Serving as village chief and later as a regional Catholic leader under Bishop Stéphano Théodore Cuénot, he helped protect priests during Vietnam’s fierce anti-Catholic persecutions. Arrested for his faith, he remained steadfast, ultimately sacrificing his life for Christ. Canonized among the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs by Pope John Paul II in 1988, his unwavering devotion continues to inspire, and he is honored as a patron of Vietnam’s faithful. Next Item Previous Item

St. Alphonsus Liguori was a bishop, founder of the Redemptorist Congregation, and a Doctor of the Church. A prodigy, he earned his doctorate at sixteen and practiced law before dedicating himself to God in 1723. Ordained in 1726, he preached missions and later founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1732. Despite challenges, he expanded his work and became a bishop in 1762, tirelessly serving the poor and clergy. Afflicted by severe rheumatism, he resigned in 1775. He endured betrayal but remained devoted to faith, writing influential theological works. He died in 1787, leaving a lasting legacy. St. Alphonsus Liguori Time Period: 1696-1787 Feast Day: August 1 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Doctor of the Church Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Alphonsus Liguori was a bishop, founder of the Redemptorist Congregation and he is a Doctor of the Church. Educated at the University of Napes, Alphonsus received his doctorate at the age of sixteen. By age nineteen he was practicing law, but he saw the transitory nature of the secular world, and after a brief time, retreated from the law courts and his fame. Visiting the local Hospital for Incurables on August 28, 1723, he had a vision and was told to consecrate his life solely to God. In response, Alphonsus dedicated himself to the religious life, even while suffering persecution from his family. He finally agreed to become a priest but to live at home (a custom at the time) as a member of a group of secular missionaries. He was ordained on December 21, 1726, and he spent six years giving missions throughout Naples. In April 1729, Alphonsus went to live at the Chinese College, founded in Naples by Father Matthew Ripa, the Apostle of China. There he met Bishop Thomas Falcoia, founder of the Congregation of Pious Workers. This lifelong friendship aided Alphonsus, as did his association with a mystic, Sister Mary Celeste. With their help, Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer on November 9, 1732. The Foundation faced immediate problems, and after just one year, Alphonsus found himself with only one lay brother, his other companions having left to form their own religious group. He started again, recruited new members, and in 1743 became the prior of two new congregations, one for men and one for women. Pope Benedict XIV gave his approval for the men's congregation in 1749 and for the women's in 1750. Alphonsus was preaching missions in the rural areas and writing. He refused to become the bishop of Palermo but in 1762 had to accept the papal command to accept the see of St. Agatha of the Goths near Naples. Here he discovered more than thirty thousand uninstructed men and women and four hundred indifferent priests. For thirteen years Alphonsus fed the poor, instructed families, reorganized the seminary and religious houses, taught theology, and wrote. His austerities were rigorous, and he suffered daily the pain from rheumatism that was beginning to deform his body. He spent several years having to drink from tubes because his head was so bent forward. An attack of rheumatic fever from May 1768 to June 1769, left him paralyzed. He was not allowed to resign his see until 1775. In 1780, Alphonsus was tricked into signing a submission for royal approval for his congregation. This submission altered the original rule, and as a result Alphonsus was denied any authority among the Redemptorists. Deposed and excluded from his own congregation, Alphonsus suffered great anguish. But he overcame and went to experience visions, perform miracles, and give prophecies. He died peacefully on August 1, 1787, at Nocera di Pagani, near Naples, as the Angelus was ringing. His writings on moral, theological and ascetic matters had great impact and have survived through the years, especially his Moral Theology and his Glories of Mary. He was buried at the monastery of the Pagani near Naples. In liturgical art he is depicted bent double with rheumatism or as a young priest. St. Alphonsus Liguori 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

Symeon the Stylite was a renowned ascetic and the first of the stylites—hermits who lived atop pillars. Born in northern Syria, he joined a monastery but was dismissed for his extreme practices. Living briefly in a hut, he later chose a pillar as his dwelling to seek greater solitude. Starting on a nine-foot pillar, he eventually lived atop one fifty feet high, where he prayed, fasted, and preached. Crowds gathered to seek his counsel, including religious and political leaders. His radical path to holiness inspired others to adopt similar lives of extreme devotion, making him a powerful figure of early asceticism. St. Symeon the Stylite Time Period: 390-459 Feast Day: July 27 Title/Attributes: Ancorite Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: From the Pillar Symeon the Stylite was a famed ascetic and one of the first of the stylitae , hermits who lived on the tops of pillars. He was born in northern Syria and was drawn to the eremitical life and entered a monastery at Eusebona, near Antioch. His fellow monks found his extreme asceticism to be ill-suited to the community's life, and so convinced him to depart. Symeon spent three years in a hut, distinguishing himself by fasting during Lent, and for standing for as long as his strength might endure. Still he found this life unsatisfactory and so took up residence upon a pillar with a platform set up on the top. The first pillar was nine feet high, but he found its height insufficient to escape the crowds who began gathering to see him and who sought out his advice. The pillar was extended to about fifty feet, and Symeon remained perched at the top until his death. Numerous visitors still came to see him, including many political and religious leaders. He also carried on a wide correspondence and regularly preached to the eager faithful who assembled beneath his pillar. His method of attaining spiritual perfection, while unusual, was nevertheless the source of much inspiration to his contemporaries, convincing a number of other ascetics to follow his example. 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. Catherine Labouré, born in France in 1806, was deeply devout from a young age. After her mother’s death, she felt a special connection to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom she regarded as her spiritual mother. She entered the Daughters of Charity in 1830 and experienced visions of the Virgin Mary. In one vision, Mary gave her a mission to create the Miraculous Medal, promising great graces to those who wear it. The medals spread quickly. Catherine spent 40 years caring for the sick and elderly. She died in 1876, and her body was found incorrupt. Her feast day is November 28. St. Catherine Labouré Time Period: 1806-1876 Feast Day: November 28 Title/Attributes: Daughter of Charity of SVDP, Marian Saint Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Catherine Labouré was born in France on May 2, 1806 as the ninth of 11 children to Pierre and Madeleine Labouré. In 1815, Catherine's mother passed away, leaving her 9-year-old daughter with the responsibility of caring for the household. After her mother's funeral, Catherine returned home and picked up a statue of the Blessed Virgin. Holding it close, she said, "Now you will be my mother." Growing up, Catherine was known for being a quiet and practical child, though she was extremely devout. A couple of years after her mother's death, Catherine experienced a dream of an old priest motioning her to a room of sick people. "It is a good deed to look after the sick. God has designs on you. Do not forget it." Years later, during a visit to the Daughters of Charity hospital, Catherine saw a picture of the old priest on the wall. She discovered it was of their founder, St. Vincent de Paul. Catherine immediately knew she would become a member of St. Vincent's order. In January 1830, Catherine Labouré entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Charity. Months later, on July 19, 1830, Catherine woke from her sleep after hearing a child's voice calling her to the chapel as the Blessed Virgin Mary was waiting for her. As Catherine approached the chapel, the door swung open revealing a brilliant light. The Blessed Virgin told Catherine she would be given a mission with all the graces necessary to complete it. Our Lady said, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world." In November 1830, the Blessed Mother visited Catherine a second time during evening meditations. She showed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe with rays of light coming from her hands toward the globe. Around the frame were the words, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." Mary asked Catherine to take these images to her father confessor, Father Jean Marie Aladel, telling him they should be placed on medallions. "All who wear them will receive great graces." At first, the priest did not believe Catherine, but after two years, he brought her story to the Archbishop. The Archbishop ordered 2,000 medals struck. The medals were dispersed so rapidly and effectively it was said to be miraculous. Catherine Labouré spent the next 40 years of her life caring for the elderly, sick and disabled. On December 31, 1876, Catherine passed away at 70-years-old. Her body was encased in glass beneath the side altar in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Paris. Her body was discovered to be incorrupt after being exhumed in 1933. She was beatified by Pope Pius XI on May 28, 1933 and canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 27, 1947. St. Catherine Labouré is often shown with the Daughters of Charity habit and the Miraculous Medal. St. Catherine Labouré is the patron saint of the elderly, infirmed people and the Miraculous Medal. Her feast day is celebrated on November 28. Next Item Previous Item

Safe Environment Safe Environment Training All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, and volunteers over the age of 18, who work in any capacity with or around children, the elderly, adults with special needs, vulnerable adults, or adults “in a vulnerable position” are required to complete the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Training. A criminal background check must be submitted and reviewed before they may begin employment or volunteer at schools or with ministries, groups, movements, and organizations. In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every 5 years and a new background check submitted. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. St. Anthony of Padua requires all adults volunteering with our parish be in compliance with the Safe Environment qualifications. How Do I Access The Training Modules Log into galvestonhouston.cmgconnect.org , and follow the instructions. Note: Your legal name (on your driver’s license/passport) is the name that one needs to use when registering. Not doing so may prohibit your information from being processed. Questions Contact Safe@ap.church How Do I Report Abuse? For Minors (Under 18) Reporting in English Reportaje en Español For Adults (18 and Up) For adults who have been assaulted, please contact the local authorities at the Montgomery Country Sheriff's Office at 281-297-6500. If in immediate danger please call 911. Para adultos que han sido agredidos, contáctese con las autoridades locales en la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Montgomery al 281-297-6500. Llame al 911 si está en peligro inmediato. Abused at Another Institution If you are a a victim of abuse at another institution (other than St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands, TX), it is important that you contact local civil authorities where the abuse took place to follow the protocol for that municipality. Si usted es víctima de abuso en otra institución (que no sea St. Anthony of Padua en The Woodlands, TX), es importante que se ponga en contacto con las autoridades civiles locales donde ocurrió el abuso para seguir el protocolo de esa municipalidad. Previous Item Next Item

Our Sacrament Preparation (First Reconciliation and First Communion) program for high schoolers is a collaboration between our Parish, the Family and the teen. Click below to find out more about the program, requirements, and registration.  First Reconciliation - Teen Our Sacrament Preparation (First Reconciliation and First Communion) program for high schoolers is a collaboration between our Parish, the Family and the teen. Click below to find out more about the program, requirements, and registration. 9th-12th Grade 9th-12th Graders seeking First Communion and Reconciliation will be prepared over two years. Year One of Preparation is through our Life Teen Program (9th-12th Grade) and will discuss Church Teachings and integrate Sacramental Preparation. Year Two is through our Teen Confirmation Program (10th-12th Grade) and will cover the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Participants will receive their First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation during Year Two. 9th Grade Candidates for First Communion and Reconciliation can begin preparation in their Freshman year of high school. Each Candidate will complete their first year of preparation by attending Sunday evening Life Teen Sessions or enrolling in an accredited Catholic High School. The second year of preparation is the year in which the Candidate will receive First Communion, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation. 10th - 12th Grade After completing Year One of Preparation through Life Teen or through Catholic High School, the Candidate will attend our Confirmation Year Two Program on Wednesday Evenings. At the end of the program, the Candidate will receive their First Communion, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation. Youth Ministry Website Program Contact Shelly Wilson Youth Ministry Manager swilson@ap.church 832-482-4136 Next Item Previous Item

One of the most popular Catholic saints, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux has inspired generations of Catholics, despite never going on missions, never founding a religious order, writing only one main body of work, and living just 24 years on Earth. But it is the piety, the quiet self-sacrifice, and the love of simplicity that draws Catholics towards the Little Flower, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. The youngest ever Doctor of the Church, she pursued holiness despite declining health and other difficulties, but achieved sainthood through humility, and doing simple things with extraordinary love. St. Thérèse of Lisieux Time Period: 1873-1897 Feast Day: October 1 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Doctor of the Church, Carmelite Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Flesh mixed with wood from the coffin You would be hard-pressed to find another saint in the Catholic Church who has garnered the same amount of admiration and devotion as Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. She’s one of the most popular saints, inspiring generations of Catholics, despite never going on missions, never founding a religious order, writing only one main body of work, and living just 24 years on Earth. But it is the piety, the quiet self-sacrifice, and the love of simplicity that draws Catholics towards the Little Flower, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Thérèse Martin was born in Alencon France in 1873. Her father, Louis, was a watchmaker and jeweler, and her mother Zelie Guerin, worked as a lacemaker. She was the youngest of nine children, but four of her siblings would die at a young age. Both of her parents had previous desires to enter religious life, and even after they were married they decided that they would remain celibate, until a confession revealed their celibacy to a priest who insisted they pursue a marriage as God intended. All five of Louis & Zelie’s daughters would go on to enter the convent, but Thérèse was less than saintly for most of her childhood. Adored and coddled by her family, she would in turn become needy and insecure at a young age. Furthermore, her mother Zelie would die from breast cancer while Thérèse was only 4, and having to witness her mother’s slow, painful decline greatly saddened the poor little girl. With all the circumstances and being the youngest of the family, Thérèse quickly became demanding and expectant to have her way no matter what. Her father’s nickname for her was ‘petite reine’, or ‘little queen’. At the age of 11, she became so ill with a fever, that many thought she wouldn’t make it. Family and friends would gather around her bed, desperately praying for her healing. Her sisters would pray to a statue of the Virgin Mary, which they placed in her bedroom. One day, as Thérèse stared at the statue and prayed, she saw the statue of Mary smile at her. She instantly began to feel better, and she recovered so dramatically that many were curious about her healing. Word of the healing grace of Mary spread, but when pestered with questions about the details regarding Mary, Thérèse refused to answer due to the intimacy with Mary she felt in the healing, so many assumed she had just made everything up. Following her sickness, Thérèse still remained self-centered and controlled by her emotions. As more sisters left for the convent, soon it was only her, her father, and one other sister, Celine. A moment of clarity at the age of 14 would help usher her out of her egocentric nature and begin her road to sanctity. Louis and his two daughters were nearing Christmas, and the Christmas day ritual of filling children’s shoes with presents. Though Thérèse was already a teenager, her sister Celine was unable to let her fully grow out of these childhood traditions, and she filled Thérèse’s shoes with gifts. When they arrived back from the church on Christmas day, Thérèse and Celine found their father looking down at the shoes, and before he noticed the two girls, they overheard him sigh and say, “‘Thank goodness that’s the last time we shall have this kind of thing!” Celine looked over to her sister, fully expecting tears and a temper tantrum to follow, but instead, it was a moment of serene clarity for the future saint. Thérèse immediately noticed her immaturity and childish ways, and thanks to Jesus entering her heart in that moment, she swallowed her tears, walked to the shoes and exclaimed in authentic joy over the gifts. It was a true conversion of heart, and Thérèse would enter the convent the very next year. She desired to enter Carmel as a contemplative nun, but she was deemed too young to enter the convent. She appealed to the Mother Superior, who told the 15-year-old Thérèse that she could enter early – at the age of 16. Not satisfied, she appealed to the Bishop. When that didn’t work, she took a pilgrimage to Rome and appealed directly to the Pope himself! While at an audience with the Pope, despite being forbidden to speak to him, she began begging that he let her enter the Carmelite convent as soon as he was near enough to hear her. While the Pope didn’t intervene, the Vicar General was impressed by her zeal, and Thérèse Martin was admitted to the Carmelite Convent at Lisieux on 9 April 1888. A once shy little girl, the pursuit of an early entrance to the convent was the first beginnings of blooming into the Little Flower. Entering the convent, she took the name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Her sisters Pauline and Marie were in the same convent, but unlike her spoiled childhood, the life of routine and silent prayer was tough. On top of that, not long after she entered the convent, her father began hallucinating after a series of strokes left him stricken both physically and mentally. As a cloistered nun, she was unable to visit her beloved father, and this grief began a period of suffering and dryness of prayer for the distraught Sister Thérèse. She would try desperately to pray but write in her journals that “Jesus wasn’t doing much to keep the conversation going.” Thérèse persevered through this spiritual drought through one main focus: humility. Sitting in the convent, she knew that she may not be able to serve as a world-changer in the traditional sense of great works and deeds, but instead, she focused on the little sacrifices. She would write “Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.” These ‘little sacrifices’ would range from being friendly to nuns she disliked, to not complaining about anything trivial, to even being accused of breaking a vase she hadn’t touched, and instead of proclaiming her innocence, she apologized and asked for forgiveness. This mindset would develop into an keen spirituality, based on childlike trust and confidence in God. The ‘little way’ of Thérèse was not about grandiose actions or words; it was about doing simple things well, and with extraordinary love. Another sacrifice for Thérèse would soon follow – her sister Pauline was elected prioress of the convent, and due to the politics of the order, many nuns feared the Martin sisters would ‘take over’ a rule on the convent. To alleviate those fears, Pauline asked Thérèse to remain a novice. This was no small request, as this would mean Thérèse would never become a fully professed nun in the order, continuing to have to ask permission for nearly everything. For Thérèse though, it was another sacrifice that she could offer up for the glory of God. As Thérèse continued her time in the convent, she reflected constantly on her ability to achieve holiness in life. For her, sainthood was the only option, even with the simple, hidden life she was living. She wrestled with her vocation, was placed in charge of the other novices, and even reflected on how she measured up to the saints in terms of her likelihood for sainthood. “I have always wanted to become a saint. Unfortunately, when I have compared myself with the saints, I have always found that there is the same difference between the saints and me as there is between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and a humble grain of sand trodden underfoot by passers-by. Instead of being discouraged, I told myself: God would not make me wish for something impossible and so, in spite of my littleness, I can aim at being a saint. It is impossible for me to grow bigger, so I put up with myself as I am, with all my countless faults. But I will look for some means of going to heaven by a little way which is very short and very straight, a little way that is quite new.” She would continue to pursue her apostolic and missionary vocation, to love and draw everyone in her path closer to the Lord, even as her health began to fail her. In 1896, she coughed up blood, but kept working without telling another soul, until she became so sick that it was apparent. She experienced months of pain and agony, and her sister Pauline could only watch and pray at her bedside, before asking Thérèse to write about her life in hopes of distracting her. She penned her reflections on her childhood, her love of God, and her “everything is grace” mindset over the course of her final weeks, before finally succumbing to tuberculosis on September 30, 1897. She was 24. Before she died, realizing that her mission was only beginning, Thérèse proclaimed “I will spend my heaven doing good on Earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.” And while despite one nun at the convent commenting that there was “nothing to say” about Thérèse following her death, Pauline disagreed. She compiled the final writings of Thérèse, which would become her autobiography, “Story of a Soul.” Pauline sent the autobiography to 2,000 convents, and before long, her sister’s words had stirred up a passion for her “little way” of faith. The faith in Jesus and embracing of daily sacrifices that Thérèse had welcomed spoke to the hearts of nuns across the world. Her ‘shower of roses’ soon became a torrent, that still drenches the hearts of many Catholics to this day. Thérèse of Lisieux was canonized on May 17, 1925 by Pope Pius XI, only 28 years after her death. In October of 1997, Pope John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church, the youngest ever in the Catholic Church, thanks to the impact of her profound spirituality on so many faithful Catholics. She Is the patron saint of missionaries, florists and gardeners, the loss of parents, tuberculosis, and the gardens of the Vatican City. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux taught us that we should never stop seeking holiness, even in the midst of ordinary lives. To feel as though we can do nothing is false, and a lure of the enemy aimed to keep us content with mediocrity, or a lukewarm faith. Instead, let us look to this inspiring Carmelite nun, who trusted in God enough to seek every available sacrifice she could endure, no matter how big or small. Pursuing this ‘little way’ of faith, may we too journey on towards heaven, picking up our crosses on the way, one shard of wood, one sacrifice, at a time. A Doctor of the Church are certain men and women who are revered by the Church for the special value of their writings and preaching and the sanctity of their lives. They each made important and lasting contributions to the faith and are to be recognized for their great merits. To be declared a Doctor of the Church, you have to meet three basic requirements: First, you must have lived a life of exemplary holiness, or insignis vitae sanctitas (outstanding sanctity). In short, you have to be a saint. Second, to be a Doctor of the Church you must have deepened the whole Church's understanding of the Catholic Faith with emins doctrina (eminent teaching). Which is to say, sanctity isn't enough. There are thousands of saints, but only 37 Doctors of the Church. To be a Doctor one must do more than just live the Faith. Rather, one must significantly and profoundly contribute to our understanding of Divine Revelation, helping us to know more deeply some truth about God and His actions in the World. And third, a pope must officially declare you a Doctor. That being said, as the Church understands it, when a pope declares someone a Doctor of the Church, he's not so much making someone a Doctor as he is recognizing what the Holy Spirit has already done - that He has conferred the charism of Doctor upon them. Next Item Previous Item

St. Augustine, a martyr born in 1822 in Lorraine, France, was part of the Paris Foreign Missions Society and was beheaded in Vietnam. His Feast Day is May 1. Evangelization in Vietnam began in the 16th century, with missionaries and local Christians facing severe persecution. From 1645 to 1886, 53 anti-Christian edicts led to approximately 130,000 deaths. Rulers like Minh Mang and Tu Duc intensified the persecution, executing priests and forcing Christians to renounce their faith. Despite this, many remained steadfast, and the Church honors those whose martyrdom has been confirmed and documented. St. Augustin Schoeffler Time Period: 1822-1851 Feast Day: May 1 Title/Attributes: Martyr Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Piece of Cloth imbued with blood St. Augustine was a martyr of Vietnam. He was born in 1822, at Mittelbron, in Lorraine, France. Joining the Paris Foreign Missions Society, he went to Vietnam, and there he suffered martyrdom by beheading. His Feast Day is May 1. The work of evangelization, undertaken at the beginning of the 16th century, then established in the first Apostolic Vicariates of the North (Dàng-Ngoài) and the South (Dàng-Trong) in 1659, has seen an admirable development over the centuries. From the earliest years, the seed of Faith has been mixed in the Vietnamese land with the abundant blood of the Martyrs, both of the missionary clergy and of the local clergy and of the Christian people of Vietnam. All together they have endured the hardships of apostolic work, as in common agreement they have also faced death to bear witness to the evangelical truth. From 1645 to 1886 there were 53 edicts against Christians, signed by Lords Trinh and Nguyen or by the Kings who, for almost three centuries, XVII, XVIII, XIX (exactly 261 years: 1625-1886), decreed persecutions against Christians, one more violent than the other. There are approximately 130,000 victims fallen a bit everywhere in the national territory. During the reign of Minh Mang (king from 1821), the persecution became merciless: even those who dared to hide Christians were condemned to death. Emperor Tu Duc (who reigned from 1847 to 1883) also hated everything European, making no distinction between politics and religion. He decreed that anyone who helped capture a missionary should receive 300 ounces of silver. The missionary, however, should have his skull smashed and be thrown into the river. Local priests and foreign catechists were slaughtered, while local catechists had the words “Ta dao,” meaning “False religion,” branded on their cheeks with a red-hot iron, thus marking them as objects of public contempt. Ordinary Christian believers, on the other hand, could save their lives if they trampled on the cross before the judge. Faced with the Christians' steadfast faith, the sovereign ordered their dispersion and the confiscation of their property: husbands went to their wives and children to their parents; many were exiled to distant regions, among non-Christian populations. Of this myriad of heroes of faith, the Church has selected those whose lives have been reconstructed and whose martyrdom has been ascertained. Local priests and foreign catechists were slaughtered, while local catechists had the words “Ta dao,” meaning “False religion,” branded on their cheeks with a red-hot iron, thus marking them as objects of public contempt. Ordinary Christian believers, on the other hand, could save their lives if they trampled on the cross before the judge. Faced with the Christians' steadfast faith, the sovereign ordered their dispersion and the confiscation of their property: husbands went to their wives and children to their parents; many were exiled to distant regions, among non-Christian populations. Of this myriad of heroes of faith, the Church has selected those whose lives have been reconstructed and whose martyrdom has been ascertained. Next Item Previous Item