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The Feast of St. Anthony of Padua
The compassion of God is without
limits or measure…God’s compassion embraces and includes all.”–
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
No matter how the world changes
around us, one thing always seems to remain constant: our need for a
spiritual safe haven, a place of warmth and security amid life’s
struggles. For so many years, St. Francis of Assisi Church has been that
oasis of comfort in a world of chaos. Today, in numbers not seen since
the Great Depression, people are seeking our help as they face the most
monumental struggles of their lives.
As Franciscans, meeting the
needs of the day is not a new concept. In fact, it dates back hundreds
of years to the work begun by St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padua, who
continued the Franciscan legacy and challenged people to live by the
teachings of the Church, to care for the poor and to stand against
injustice – all things that we continue to do at St. Francis of Assisi
Church day in and day out.
 We look to St. Anthony
especially at this time of year, as we prepare to celebrate his feast
day on June 13. We recall how he often found himself in places he did
not expect to be. He wanted to preach the Gospel to nonbelievers and
sailed to Morocco to do just that, but illness forced him to head home.
A storm landed his ship instead on the shores of Sicily, where
Franciscan Friars nursed him back to health. It was not long before St.
Anthony became a Franciscan Friar. His preaching was so powerful that he
was soon widely recognized as someone who could transform lives through
his words and actions.
It is that ability to transform
lives, to bring hope to the hopeless, that we Franciscans strive for
through our ministries. Like St. Anthony, we have become adept at
adjusting to new circumstances and staying one step ahead by
anticipating people’s needs. We speak the truth of our faith in a
culture that often has no patience for or interest in the truth of the
Gospel. We know that joy cannot be found in things of this world but in
the heart of God. We constantly remind people that God loves them, no
matter how many times they stumble or fall.
In keeping with our vows of
service, we have created a new outreach program at St. Francis of
Assisi. It is a Job Support Group to help those who have lost their jobs
and feel isolated and depressed. In addition, we have initiated a Come
Home program to welcome back all those who have left the Church for
whatever reason but are longing to return to their spiritual home.
We know that these are difficult times for everyone. No
one has been left untouched by the financial struggles in the world, but
some are hurting more than others. We are hoping today that you will do
whatever you can to assist those who are hanging on by a thread, those
who are hungry for food and those who are hungry for the love of God.
With your help the Franciscan
Friars are able to bring the teachings of our Church, the message of
Jesus, to those who are truly desperate for something to hope for,
something to believe in. We know that you have a deep and abiding faith.
We want to share that gift of faith with those who feel lost and alone.
On June 13, when we
honor St. Anthony of Padua, the power of that faith is seen in a vibrant
way at Masses celebrated in English, Italian, French, Spanish and Korean
and attended by thousands from all over the region.
On that day, we bless and
distribute 80,000 loaves of “St. Anthony’s Bread,” a sign of our
gratitude for the gift of our faith and a symbol of our willingness to
help those who are less fortunate.
At St. Francis of Assisi
Church, the St. Anthony’s Bread is also a reminder to all those people
who are helped every day in a very real way through the St. Francis
Breadline, our Immigration Center, Counseling Center and the many other
ministries that we provide with your assistance.
Theses are troubled times. We
would not ask for your help if we did not truly need the ongoing support
of our dearest friends as we struggle to meet the ever-increasing needs
of people whose lives have been turned upside down by loss of jobs, loss
of housing, loss of health insurance, and, perhaps most debilitating of
all, loss of hope.
We are so
grateful for whatever you can do to help. Any gift at all will make a
huge difference in the lives of those who have nothing left to hold
onto. With your help, we can continue the work of St. Anthony of Padua
and reach out to those whose hearts and spirits need healing.
We will remember you and your loved ones in prayer
during special Masses offered on the Feast of St. Anthony on June 13.
May St. Anthony continue to be a comfort and a friend to you, and may
God bless you always.
Gratefully,
Fr. Jerome Massimino,
O.F.M.
Pastor and Guardian
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F EAST OF
ST. ANTHONY
2009 MASS
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, June 12:
Vigil Masses at 4:30 & 5:30 PM, followed
by devotions
to St. Anthony and blessing with the relic.
SATURDAY, June 13:
Masses at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00 (Italian),
11:00 AM, 12:30,
1:30 (Spanish), and 2:30 PM (French)
Devotions to St. Anthony and the blessing
with the relic will follow these Masses.
St. Anthony's Bread will be distributed on
Friday and Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM. |
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