St. Lawrence of Brindisi, born in 1559 in Italy, joined the Capuchin Franciscans at 16 and was a gifted preacher and scholar. Fluent in several languages, he preached across Europe and helped found friaries in Germany and Austria. In 1601, he led Christian forces against the Turks in Hungary, carrying only a crucifix. He served as vicar-general of the order, papal emissary, and peacemaker in political conflicts. Lawrence authored sermons and theological works that earned him the title Doctor of the Church for his sanctity and deep insights into the faith. He died in Lisbon in 1619 and was canonized in 1881. St. Lawrence of Brindisi Time Period: 1559-1619 Feast Day: July 21 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Doctor of the Church, Franciscan Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Lawrence of Brindisi was a Capuchin Franciscan, a noted preacher, and is declared a Doctor of the Church. He was born in Brindisi, in the kingdom of Naples, Italy on July 22, 1559. He was named Caesare de Rossi, he later took the name Lawrence when he became a Franciscan at the age of sixteen. Well-educated at the University of Padua, he began preaching soon after ordination. In 1596, he became a high-ranking superior in the Capuchin order, and five years later was sent to Germany with Blessed Benedict of Urbino. They founded priories in Prague, Vienna, Austria, and Gorizia, in Italy. Lawrence also helped to raise an army to combat the Turks in Hungary and is credited with winning a battle in Hungary against them in 1601 by leading the troops into battle with only a crucifix to protect himself. Elected vicar-general of the order in 1602, he refused reelection in 1605, going instead of Madrid, Spain, to persuade King Philip III of Spain to join the Catholic League. He served as papal nuncio to the royal court of Bavaria, Germany, until 1618, when he retired to a monastery at Caserta, Italy. He was soon recalled to settle a problem with the duke of Osuna, Spain. The journey to Lisbon to meet with the king brought about his death on July 22. Among his writings were sermons, commentaries on Genesis and Ezekiel, and three volumes of religious polemics. His nine volumes of sermons display his holiness and brilliance. He was canonized in 1881 and declared a Doctor of the Church. 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

Ministry Expenses Ministry Expenses Fundraising: To ensure all fundraisers at St. Anthony adhere to Archdiocesan guidelines and fulfill the overall mission of the parish/school community, all fundraisers must have prior approval of the parish Leadership Team. Fundraising applications are submitted during annual scheduling and must be approved. Approved fundraisers must strictly adhere to the approved scope and comply with all accounting guidelines. Collection of Funds: When cash or checks are turned in at the front desk to the receptionist, please request a copy of a Money Receipt. Outside of office hours, checks and cash should be deposited according to protocol. See your ministry-assigned staff member for directions. Money that is collected may not leave campus. Ministry Expenses: Keep in mind, ministries do not have a budget provided by the parish. The only way they can submit expenses for reimbursement is if they have collected money from their attendees and have money to spend. Check requests, expense reimbursements, and invoices must be submitted to the ministry-assigned staff member who oversees the ministry for review and approval. Check requests are when a person is not being paid back for something. The “Check Request Form” is required to be completed to process the money. (Example speakers and fees). Expense reimbursements are when a person is being paid back for something. The “Expense Reimbursement Form” is required to be completed to process the money. Detailed receipts/proof of purchase must accompany any requested reimbursements. All check requests, expense reimbursements, and invoices incurred/dated during a month must be submitted to the ministry-assigned staff member no later than 7 calendar days in the subsequent month, or they risk not being paid. Bills are paid within 2 weeks unless there’s a holiday, then the schedule is adjusted as seen fit. An IRS Form W9 is required for all vendors, checks will not be written without one. Sales Tax Sales tax cannot be reimbursed because the parish (and its ministries) is a tax-exempt organization. The purchase of a non-taxable item requires the vendor to be provided with an exemption certificate in the form prescribed by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Contact your ministry-assigned staff member for this certificate. Contracts Only the pastor has the authority to sign contracts. No ministry representative or parish staff member is legally authorized to sign any contract. If one does, the contract is null and void. All contracts must be submitted to the ministry-assigned staff member. All contracts will then be forwarded to the Archdiocese Legal Department for review. Please note that the contract approval may take weeks or months. Ministry Financials We have over 100 ministries in our parish, and over 80% have financial transactions involving the parish. We manage over $6M each year. We are fortunate to have a CPA on staff and a bookkeeper. If we all follow procedures, then all will function smoothly for your ministries. We recommend the following for your ministry. One person per ministry manages all financial transactions, both income & expenses. They review, code, and submit all cash, checks, check requests, expense reimbursements, and invoices to the ministry-assigned staff member for processing. These transactions should also be tracked by this person to ensure the ministry does not overspend more than the funds that are received. A tracking template should be used. To reconcile with the parish financials for the ministry, email your ministry-assigned staff member for a ministry financial report no more than once a month. He/she will then forward it to the appropriate accounting staff member to respond. The Ministry-assigned staff member is the staff member who oversees the department that your ministry falls under. i.e. Adult Faith Formation; Outreach; Devotions; etc. Please direct all questions to them. Check Request 7.24.2025 .xlsx Download XLSX • 19KB Expense Reimbursement Form-Parishioner .xlsx Download XLSX • 19KB Previous Item Next 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

Privacy Policy St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Online Privacy Policy This Privacy Policy was last updated on September 1, 2019. Our Policy Information We Collect Our Use of Your Personal Data and Other Information Our Disclosure of Your Personal Data and Other Information Your Choices Exclusions Children Links To Other Web Sites Security Other Terms and Conditions Changes to Archdiocese’s Privacy Policy Accessing Information; Contacting Archdiocese Our Policy: Welcome to the web site (the “Site”) of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (herein collectively referred to as the “St Anthony,” “we”, “us” and/or “our”). The Site, ap.church , stanthonyym.org , littlesaintspreschool.org and ap.churchcenter.com , is operated by St Anthony and has been created to provide information about our parish and to provide access to the information, resources, products and services available through the Site (“Parish Services”) to our Site visitors (“you”, “your”). This Privacy Policy sets forth St Anthony’s policy with respect to information including personally identifiable data (“Personal Data”) and other information that is collected from Site visitors. Information We Collect: When you interact with us through the Site, we may collect Personal Data and other information from you, as further described below: Personal Data That You Provide Through the Site: We collect Personal Data from you when you voluntarily provide such information, such as when you contact us with inquiries, respond to one of our surveys, register for access to Parish Services or use certain Parish Services. Wherever St Anthony collects Personal Data we make an effort to provide a link to this Privacy Policy. By voluntarily providing us with Personal Data, you are consenting to our use of it in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you provide Personal Data to this Site, you acknowledge and agree that such Personal Data may be transferred from your current location to the offices and servers of St Anthony and the authorized third parties referred to herein located in the United States. Other Information: Non-Identifiable Data : When you interact with St Anthony through the Site, we receive and store certain personally non-identifiable information. Such information, which is collected passively using various technologies, cannot presently be used to specifically identify you. St Anthony may store such information itself or such information may be included in databases owned and maintained by St Anthony affiliates, agents or service providers. This Site may use such information and pool it with other information to track, for example, the total number of visitors to our Site, the number of visitors to each page of our Site, and the domain names of our visitors' Internet service providers. It is important to note that no Personal Data is available or used in this process. In operating this Site, we may use a technology called "cookies." A cookie is a piece of information that the computer that hosts our Site gives to your browser when you access the Site. Our cookies help provide additional functionality to the Site and help us analyze Site usage more accurately. For instance, our Site may set a cookie on your browser that allows you to access the Site without needing to remember and then enter a password more than once during a visit to the Site. In all cases in which we use cookies, we will not collect Personal Data except with your permission. On most web browsers, you will find a “help” section on the toolbar. Please refer to this section for information on how to receive notification when you are receiving a new cookie and how to turn cookies off. We recommend that you leave cookies turned on because they allow you to take advantage of some of the Site’s features. Aggregated Personal Data : In an ongoing effort to better understand and serve the users of Parish Services, St Anthony often conducts research on its customer demographics, interests and behavior based on the Personal Data and other information provided to us. This research may be compiled and analyzed on an aggregate basis, and St Anthony may share this aggregate data with its affiliates, agents and business partners. This aggregate information does not identify you personally. St Anthony may also disclose aggregated user statistics in order to describe our services to current and prospective business partners, and to other third parties for other lawful purposes. Our Use of Your Personal Data and Other Information: St Anthony uses the Personal Data you provide in a manner that is consistent with this Privacy Policy. If you provide Personal Data for a certain reason, we may use the Personal Data in connection with the reason for which it was provided. For instance, if you contact us by e-mail, we will use the Personal Data you provide to answer your question or resolve your problem. Also, if you provide Personal Data in order to obtain access to Parish Services, we will use your Personal Data to provide you with access to such services and to monitor your use of such services. St Anthony and its subsidiaries and affiliates (the “St Anthony Related Companies”) may also use your Personal Data and other personally non-identifiable information collected through the Site to help us improve the content and functionality of the Site, to better understand our users and to improve Parish Services. St Anthony and its affiliates may use this information to contact you in the future to tell you about services we believe will be of interest to you. If we do so, each communication we send you will contain instructions permitting you to "opt-out" of receiving future communications. In addition, if at any time you wish not to receive any future communications or you wish to have your name deleted from our mailing lists, please contact us as indicated below. If St Anthony intends on using any Personal Data in any manner that is not consistent with this Privacy Policy, you will be informed of such anticipated use prior to or at the time at which the Personal Data is collected. Our Disclosure of Your Personal Data and Other Information: St Anthony is not in the business of selling your information. We consider this information to be a vital part of our relationship with you. There are, however, certain circumstances in which we may share your Personal Data with certain third parties without further notice to you, as set forth below: Related Companies : We may also share your Personal Data with our Related Companies for purposes consistent with this Privacy Policy. Agents, Consultants and Related Third Parties : St Anthony, like many organizations, sometimes hires other companies to perform certain business-related functions. Examples of such functions include mailing information, maintaining databases and processing payments. When we employ another organization to perform a function of this nature, we only provide them with the information that they need to perform their specific function. Legal Requirements : St Anthony may disclose your Personal Data if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to (i) comply with a legal obligation, (ii) protect and defend the rights or property of Archdiocese, (iii) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the Site or the public, or (iv) protect against legal liability. Your Choices : You can use the Site without providing any Personal Data. If you choose not to provide any Personal Data, you may not be able to use certain Parish Services. Exclusions : This Privacy Policy does not apply to any Personal Data collected by St Anthony other than Personal Data collected through the Site. This Privacy Policy shall not apply to any unsolicited information you provide to St Anthony through this Site or through any other means. This includes, but is not limited to, information posted to any public areas of the Site, such as bulletin boards (collectively, “Public Areas”), any ideas for new information, resources, products or services or modifications to existing information, resources, products or services, and other unsolicited submissions (collectively, “Unsolicited Information”). All Unsolicited Information shall be deemed to be non-confidential and St Anthony shall be free to reproduce, use, disclose, and distribute such Unsolicited Information to others without limitation or attribution. Children : St Anthony does not knowingly collect Personal Data from children under the age of 13. If you are under the age of 13, please do not submit any Personal Data through the Site. We encourage parents and legal guardians to monitor their children’s Internet usage and to help enforce our Privacy Policy by instructing their children never to provide Personal Data on this Site without their permission. If you have reason to believe that a child under the age of 13 has provided Personal Data to St Anthony through this Site, please contact us, and we will endeavor to delete that information from our databases. Links to Other Web Sites : This Privacy Policy applies only to the Site. This Site may contain links to other web sites not operated or controlled by St Anthony (the “Third Party Sites”). The policies and procedures we described here do not apply to the Third Party Sites. The links from this Site do not imply that St Anthony endorses or has reviewed the Third Party Sites. We suggest contacting those sites directly for information on their privacy policies. Security : St Anthony takes reasonable steps to protect the Personal Data provided via the Site from loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no Internet or e-mail transmission is ever fully secure or error free. In particular, e-mail sent to or from this Site may not be secure. Therefore, you should take special care in deciding what information you send to us via e-mail. Please keep this in mind when disclosing any Personal Data to St Anthony via the Internet. Other Terms and Conditions : Your access to and use of this Site is subject to the Terms of Use . By accessing, browsing or using this Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement. If you do not accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement, do not use the Site. Changes to St Anthony’s Privacy Policy : The Site and our business may change from time to time. As a result, at times it may be necessary for St Anthony to make changes to this Privacy Policy. St Anthony reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time and from time to time without prior notice. Please review this policy periodically, and especially before you provide any Personal Data. This Privacy Policy was last updated on the date indicated above. Your continued use of the Site after any changes or revisions to this Privacy Policy shall indicate your agreement with the terms of such revised Privacy Policy. Access to Information; Contacting St Anthony : To keep your Personal Data accurate, current, and complete, please contact us as specified below. We will take reasonable steps to update or correct Personal Data in our possession that you have previously submitted via this Site. Please also feel free to contact us if you have any questions about St Anthony’s Privacy Policy or the information practices of this Site. You may contact us as follows: By mail: St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church 7801 Bay Branch Dr The Woodlands, TX 77382 By phone: (281) 419-8700 By email: support@ap.church Previous Item Next Item

Support St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands, TX by contributing to our parish wishlist: candles, missals, altar linens, scholarships, and more. Parish Wishlist As we continue to grow together, there are certain aspects of our beloved church that would benefit from rejuvenation and upkeep. These include various yearly expenses where your generous support would make a significant difference. While your name won't be publicly listed as a donor for these items, it will be gratefully acknowledged on your annual giving statement. Your contribution, no matter the size, is deeply valued and helps sustain the vibrant spirit of our parish. Contact Us Giving Homepage Easter Candle $3,000 Candle for the Church Give Now Easter Candle $3,000 Candle for the Chapel Give Now Altar Linens $3,000 200 linens per year Give Now Missals $10,000 1,000 missals for Church and Chapel Give Now Bread & Wine $12,000 $1,000 per month Give Now Liturgy Candles $2,500 250 candles per year Give Now Baptismal Rosaries $1,750 350 baptisms per year Give Now Youth Ministry Scholarships $5,000 $150 per teen Give Now Children's Scholarships $5,000 $80 per child Give Now Distribution Bags $2,000 6,500 bags per month Give Now Narthex Table Flowers $325 $325 per week Give Now Church Altar Flowers $625 $625 per week Give Now BACK TO TOP

Giuseppe (Joseph) Maria Desa, born in 1603 in Cupertino, grew up in poverty and faced many challenges, including illness and lack of formal education. Despite these difficulties, he pursued his calling to become a Franciscan priest. Through perseverance and miraculous events, he was ordained in 1628. Known for his humility and devotion, he experienced frequent ecstasies and levitations that sent him flying through the air, attracting attention from both admirers and the Inquisition. After a life of service and mystical experiences, he passed away in 1663. He was beatified in 1753 and canonized in 1767. His remains rest in Osimo, where he spent his final years. St. Joseph of Cupertino Time Period: 1603-1663 Feast Day: September 18 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Franciscan Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones Giuseppe Maria Desa was born on June 17, 1603 in the small town of Copertino, in the province of Lecce. His family was not going through an easy time: his father, Felice, was involved in the financial failure of an acquaintance to whom he had lent money, and ended up in poverty. So Giuseppe was born in a stable like Jesus and from a young age he had to roll up his sleeves to contribute to the household economy, working as a shop boy. Giuseppe also tries to attend school, but is struck by a gangrenous ulcer that keeps him away from his studies for five years. His mother, Franceschina Panaca, a strong and vigorous woman, tries to give him a basic education through the narration of the lives of the Saints such as Saint Francis. In Giuseppe, the desire to walk in the footsteps of the "Poverello of Assisi" matures, so much so that, at the age of 16, he asks to enter the order of the Conventual Franciscan Friars, at the convent of "Grottella". But his poor education does not help him and he is forced to retrace his steps. He then turns to the Reformed Franciscans and then to the Capuchins of Martina Franca, but the response is the same: his poor education, accompanied by the first manifestations of ecstasy during which he lets everything fall from his hands, make him unfit for community life. In the meantime, the Supreme Court of Naples establishes that, upon reaching the age of majority, Giuseppe is forced to work without pay, until he pays off his father's debt, now deceased. Faced with such a sentence - in fact, a real slavery - the young man returns to ask for admission to the Convent of the "Grottella". The Friars take his situation to heart and help him to undertake a real course of studies. Despite a thousand difficulties, but thanks to great willpower, the young man reaches the examination for the diaconate. Here a miracle occurs: Joseph knows in depth only one passage of the Gospel and it is precisely that which, by chance, the examining bishop asks him to comment on. A similar extraordinary event is repeated three years later, during the examination to become a priest: the bishop questions some examinees and, finding them particularly prepared, extends admission to the priesthood to all the other candidates. Finally, in 1628, Joseph is ordained a priest. Giuseppe's humility, however, will remain proverbial: aware of his own cultural limitations, he does not disdain the simplest manual labor, he dedicates himself to the service of the poorest. He even nicknames himself "Brother Donkey". Joseph lives his love for the Church in an unconditional way, placing Christ at the centre of his existence and experiencing a profound devotion for Mary, Mother of God. However, those who hear him speak recognise in him the light of a mature theology, which he discusses in depth: it is the gift of infused knowledge that makes him so wise. Meanwhile, the phenomena of ecstasy and levitation become more pronounced in Joseph, especially when he pronounces the names of Jesus and Mary. “When the gunpowder ignites in the gun and sends out that roar and crash,” he explains to a brother, “so the ecstatic heart is inflamed with the love of God.” Such episodes do not escape the attention of the Inquisition of Naples, which summons him to try to understand whether the young man from Copertino is abusing popular credulity or not. Right in front of the judges lined up in the Monastery of San Gregorio Armeno, Giuseppe has a levitation. He is then acquitted of all charges, but the Holy Office confines him in isolation, away from the crowds. The future Saint then passes from one convent to another – Rome, Assisi, Pietrarubbia, Fossombrone – until he arrives in Osimo, near Ancona. Here, finally, he arrives in 1656, at the behest of Pope Alexander VII, and here he finds peace. In fact, he remains there uninterruptedly until his death, always leading a humble life in the service of others, and in conversation with God at the height of the Eucharistic celebration: “This is what we must do – he explains to a brother – leave the world, continue prayer and settle the 'little cave' of our heart to offer Jesus Christ our intellect, memory and will”. Death took him on September 18, 1663, at the age of 60. Benedict XIV beatified him in 1753, while Clement XIII proclaimed him a Saint on July 16, 1767. Today, his sacred remains rest inside a gilded bronze urn, in the crypt of the Church of Osimo, dedicated to him. A sanctuary was also erected in his honor in Copertino, above the stable where he was born. https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/giuseppe-da-copertino.html Next Item Previous Item

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, born in Italy in 1568, was a nobleman who renounced his title to join the Jesuits. He served as a page in the courts of Philip II of Spain and Francesco de Medici, where he was spiritually guided by St. Charles Borromeo. Despite his aristocratic upbringing, he chose a religious life, excelling in philosophy and mathematics. In 1590, he had a vision foretelling his death. During a famine-induced plague, he cared for the sick, contracted the illness, and died in 1591 after receiving last rites from St. Robert Bellarmine. He is honored as the patron of youth. St. Aloysius Gonzaga Time Period: 1568-1591 Feast Day: June 21 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Jesuit Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Aloysius Gonzaga was a scholar and patron of youth. He was born in Castiglione Castle in Italy on March 9, 1568. He was the eldest son of Ferdinand Gonzaga, the marquis of Mantua-Castiglione, and was sent to serve as a page in the court of King Philip II of Spain in 1581. He also served as a page in the court of Francesco de Medici and came under the spiritual guidance of St. Charles Borromeo. While in the court of Philip II, Aloysius decided to embrace the religious life, choosing the Discalced Carmelites at first and then the Jesuits. In 1584, he returned to Italy, where he won his father's approval to renounce his title and inheritance. He then presented himself to Claudius Acquaviva, the father general of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, on November 25, 1585. A brilliant man and both trained philosopher and mathematician, Aloysius earned honors at the University of Alcala. During his Jesuit novitiate, or early period of training, he was singled out for his intellect and for his piety. In 1590, he received a vision that declared he would die within a year. In the vision, the Archangel Gabriel led Aloysius and St. Anthony of Padua to heaven. When a famine developed in Italy, a form of plague swept across the land. Aloysius cared for the victims, contracted the plague, and died on June 21, 1591, after receiving the last rites from St. Robert Bellarmine. 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

St. George, born around 280 in Cappadocia, is famed for slaying a dragon in Selem, Libya—a symbolic act of faith triumphing over evil. A Christian soldier in Diocletian’s army, he publicly defied the emperor’s edict against Christians, gave away his wealth, and was martyred in 303. His legend, especially during the Crusades, grew into that of a holy warrior. Patron of soldiers and invoked against plagues, George remains a symbol of courage and divine victory, reminding believers that evil is conquered through faith. George is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. St. George Time Period: 280-303 Feast Day: April 23 Title/Attributes: Martyr, Holy Helper Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones Countless stories are told about St. George, including the famous episode of the dragon and the girl saved by the saint. According to the standard version of the legend, we hear that in the city of Selem in Libya, there was a large pond where a terrible dragon lived. To appease it, the inhabitants offered him two sheep a day and later a sheep and a child drawn by lot. One day the king's daughter was chosen, and while she was heading toward the pond, George passed by and pierced the dragon with his spear; a gesture that became a symbol of faith triumphing over evil. George, whose name in Greek means “farmer,” was born to a Christian family in Cappadocia around the year 280. After moving to Palestine, he joined the army of Diocletian. When the emperor issued the edict of persecution against Christians in 303, George gave all his belongings to the poor and, in front of Diocletian himself, tore the document apart and professed his faith in Christ. For this he suffered terrible torture and was eventually beheaded. Shortly after his death, a basilica was erected over the place of his burial in Lydda (modern-day Lod, in Israel). His relics are still visible today. Among the most ancient documents attesting to the existence of St. George, a Greek epigraph from 368 found in Heraclea of Bethany speaks of the "house or church of the saints and triumphant martyrs George and companions". A Passio Georgii was classified among the hagiographic works by the Gelasianum Decree of 496 and deemed apocryphal. There were many later redactions of the Passio, which informed subsequent legends. The crusaders contributed a great deal to transforming the figure of St. George the martyr into a holy warrior, seeing in the killing of the dragon a symbol for the defeat of Islam; Richard I of England (“the Lionheart”) invoked him as the protector of all soldiers. With the Normans the cult of St. George became firmly rooted in England where, in 1348, King Edward III established the Order of the Knights of St. George. Throughout the Middle Ages his figure inspired a great deal of epic literature. George is also 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. George is considered the patron of knights, soldiers, scouts, fencers and archers, among others; he is also invoked against the plague and leprosy, and against venomous snakes. As in the case of other saints wrapped in legend, the story of St George serves to remind the world of a fundamental idea, that good ultimately triumphs over evil. The fight against evil is a constant in human history. It is a battle cannot we cannot win on our own. Saint George was able to kill the dragon because God was acting in and through him. With Christ, evil will never have the last word. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/04/23/st--george--martyr.html Next Item Previous Item

Order of Christian Initiation adapted for Children. Children who are at least 7 years old and in 1st through 12th grades and have not been baptized (or were baptized in a faith other than the Catholic Church) will be placed in our wonderful program, OCIA for Children.  Baptism - Youth Order of Christian Initiation adapted for Children. Children who are at least 7 years old and in 1st through 12th grades and have not been baptized (or were baptized in a faith other than the Catholic Church) will be placed in our wonderful program, OCIA for Children. 7-18 years old If you are interested in learning more about your child Becoming Catholic , please read through the information below. Children who are at least 7 years old and in grades 1st - 12th grade and have not been baptized or were baptized in another faith are eligible to become members of the Catholic Church through the program – OCIA: BECOMING CATHOLIC. In accordance with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, St. Anthony's prepares children over a two year period. The first year, the child/teen must regularly attend formation classes corresponding to their grade level. Children are expected to attend Mass weekly with their families. If your child/teen has not received any formation up to this point, begin by enrolling them in a year of Faith Formation/Edge/Life Teen during open registration in the fall from August 1st to August 31st. Visit ap.church/registration . The second year, the child/teen must regularly attend the "Becoming Catholic" program corresponding to their grade level. Children are expected to attend Mass weekly with their families. Enrolled children and teens who haven’t been baptized in any faith will receive Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation during the Easter Vigil Mass. Children and teens who were baptized in a faith other than Catholic will make a Profession of Faith, and receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation during the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass. Child and parent(s) will meet with program administrators before beginning the second year to ensure readiness for this program. 7 Years to 8th Grade YEAR 1 : Child will attend weekly Faith Formation classes. Open registration is in the fall from August 1st to August 31st. Elementary sessions are offered on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays for 2nd-5th grades. Intermediate/Junior High Edge program session time is Tuesday afternoon for 6th-8th grades. Visit ap.church/registration for more information and to sign up. Parents should plan to attend a meeting to hear more about the second year of preparation to become Catholic on Monday, May 10, 6:30pm, Paduan Center YEAR 2 : For children who have met attendance requirements for the first year and are eligible to continue, the second year consists of the following: OCIA participants and their families will sit together at the 9:00AM Mass on Sundays. During Mass, children are dismissed after the homily (around 9:30AM) for Breaking Open the Word (BOW). After Mass/Breaking Open the Word, children attend a weekly session until 11:15AM. Parents join the children for once-a-month family sessions after attending the 9AM Mass. Parents and children will work at home to complete weekly sessions from a workbook that will be provided. Parents and children attend once-a-month Sacrament Preparation sessions on a selected Tuesday or Wednesday evening. A link to the online registration form will be sent to eligible families in July. 9th to 12th Grade OCIA high school-aged teens will participate in Youth Ministry programs for 2 years in preparation for initiation/reception in the Catholic Church. YEAR 1 : Teen will attend 6PM Mass weekly followed by Life Teen Year 1 Sessions. Life Teen is offered on Sunday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00PM only. Life Teen Year 1 registration is from August 1 st through August 31 st . Visit stanthonyym.org/lifeteen for more information and to register. YEAR 2 : For teens who are determined ready to continue, the second year consists of the following components: OCIA Teen participants will attend Sunday Mass weekly. Teens will attend weekly Confirmation Classes which take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30PM. Visit www.stanthonyym.org/confirmationyear2 for more information and to register. On designated Sundays (approximately once a month), teen Catechumens will attend the 6PM Mass and will be dismissed after the homily (around 6:30PM) for Breaking Open the Word (BOW). Throughout the 2 nd year of preparation, teen Catechumens and their Sponsors will attend specifically designated Masses to participate in a RITE or SCRUTINY. Program Contact Diane Czerniak Elementary Faith Formation Manager dczerniak@ap.church 832-482-4037 Shelly Wilson Manager of Youth Ministry & Teen Sacraments swilson@ap.church 832-482-4136 Next Item Previous Item