NEWS: The month of May has arrived along with spring as our surroundings begin to blossom. We are reminded of the new life brought about through the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ during this season of Easter. It is no coincidence that May is all about new life, we celebrate Mothers Day, Pro-Life month, and of course the month of Mary Queen of Heaven, Regina Coeli. We invoke her in a special way this month in all of her titles but especially as Mother and Queen. It is also no coincidence that Mary appeared to the children on the 13th of May at the Cova de Iria in Fatima for the first time. There is something very regal and maternal about the month of May. It is a time of visitation and pilgrimage to the shrines of Our Lady to honor her as the Mother of God and as our mother, the New Eve. (mother of all the living) It is a time when our hearts come alive again after the long darkness of winters lent to be born again with springs of living water and the Spirit. Nicodemus, a Pharisee who came to Jesus by night, once asked our Lord; “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mothers womb and be born again, can he?” Nicodemus wasn’t aware of the seasonal renewal of our baptismal vows as a way of renouncing the Devil, sin and evil. It also restates our saving grace in baptism as a way of dying with Christ so we can be born again of the spirit enabling us to enter into the Kingdom of God. We enjoy the gentle breeze of the spring air that blows where it wills as with all who are born of the Spirit as a reminder that; ”God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” Let us be attentive in showing a special deference to the devotion to her Immaculate Heart of Mary as God wished to establish so firmly at Fatima as an indication of the heart as the womb of our existence where we move and have our being. Alleluia Alleluia!! “Love one another”
FIRST SATURDAY: On Saturday May 7th, Mothers Day weekend, we will celebrate the First Saturday Mass and devotion; the celebrant will be the most Rev. Richard Mwisheni SMA Confessions will be available, and coffee/doughnuts/refreshments. Weather permitting we will have outside setup and procession.
CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION: We kick off our Candlelight Processions this month of Friday the 13th of May the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Rev. Ed Riley will lead us and it will begin at 8pm.
MMP PRAYER CENACLE: The next Marian Movement of Priest prayer Cenacles will be held at the shrine on Saturday May 21st at 9:00 am. Please join us as we pray for priests, peace and the family.
SANTO ROSARIO: Santuario Nuestra Señora de Fátima. The Spanish Community of St. Columbkille’s most Holy Rosary group meets at the shrine at 3pm every First Saturday of the month for song, prayer and fellowship all are welcomed.
SUNDAY ROSARY FOR PEACE: There are many of us who meet at the shrine every Sunday to come together to pray The Rosary for peace. We begin around 2pm, all are welcomed.
REMINDER: A Pro-Life Rosary for our nation continues at the Shrine daily around noon all are welcomed; With a special attention given to the devotion of the Holy Face of Christ, and the Flame of Love.
PRAYER REQUEST: Please keep Peter Doran, the brother of Rev. James Doran O.M.V our spiritual director in your prayers as we entrust him to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
THANK YOU!!!
Dear Friends of St. Anthony’s Parish,
In Matthew 7:7, Jesus tells us to “Ask, and it will be given to you…” That has certainly proven to be the case with our Lenten Service Project, which has just concluded for this year.
Your response has been overwhelming. Our previous record in donating individual bags filled with snacks and toiletries to the Pine Street Inn was 152 bags. That record has been smashed by your generosity and we are very happy to tell you that we were able to fill and then donate 285 bags this time!
The Pine Street Inn told us their Outreach Department will distribute these bags to individuals who live on the street, and that is going to help them very much.
In addition, we were able to donate HUNDREDS of toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste separately which were left over after all the bags were filled.
Before we started this project, we learned about St. Brigid of Ireland, and her love of those in need. We dedicated our project to her, and asked for her help. We have never seen this kind of outpouring before.
So, thank you St. Brigid, and thanks to all of you for demonstrating your love for those in need.
The Children of St. Anthony’s Religious Education Program and St. Anthony’s Confirmation Students
