Celebrating St. Anthony of Padua!

I have to say - I think this year's Feast Day Observances for our parish's Patron Saint was the BEST one yet!  It was a great combination of devotion, meaningful prayer, fellowship, and feasting ... which I personally feel is the right way to do these events.

Our new priest - Fr. Tony - conceived the great idea of preceding the feast with three consecutive evenings of preparatory prayers - a Triduum honoring St. Anthony of Padua between June 10th - 12th - comprised of Rosaries, special prayers to our Saint, and Masses.  Each day of the Triduum concluded with refreshments and time for light-hearted socializing; the last Mass was a powerful Healing Mass.

A few photos from the last day of

the Triduum to St. Anthony

On the night of June 13, 2025 - the actual Feast Day of St. Anthony - we prayed the Rosary; held a Mass; and had a big parish celebration dinner with live entertainment (including former pop star/local celebrity Glenn Medeiros), a wine bar, and lots of lucky drawing prizes!  It couldn't have been any better.

A few photos from our Feast Day

Celebration for St. Anthony

Lastly, throughout the entire series of observances, our parish's relic of St. Anthony of Padua - a small piece of bone from his bodily remains - was prominently displayed for public veneration, which was also very meaningful for our community.  We may have even been blessed with a little "sign" at the end of the Feast Day Mass - see the candle pictured below that was lit beside the relic during the entire Mass ...

Was this just a coincidence?

Rather than melting into a random clump of wax, the candle unexpectedly took the form of a familiar and relevant figure (what are the odds?!).  Fellow parishioners who've seen the pic all agree there's two discernable figures resembling a grown-up carrying a child ... but are divided as to whether it represents St. Anthony with Baby Jesus or Our Lady with the Holy Infant.

Personally, I'm inclined to interpret the figures in the candle as a representation of the Madonna and Christ Child because St. Anthony was already present through his relic.  Plus, June 13th also commemorates Our Lady's second apparition in Fatima so the wax images may just be a reminder that she's celebrating with us, too!

So what a great past four evenings it has been; so abounding in graces - Our Lady and St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us!

Saint of the Month - June 2025: Blessed Marie-Therese Soubiran

Bl. Marie-Therese Soubiran

A Life of Hidden Holiness

Memorial: June 7th

This month, this ministry features the life of a founder of a religious institution who lived her life in exile and obscurity ... yet, it was apparently God's will that her hidden life be brought to light as evidenced by the Church's official recognition of heroic virtue.  This is her story.

+ Early Life and Calling

Blessed Marie-Thérèse Soubiran was born on May 16, 1834, in Castelnaudary, a small town in southern France.  Her baptismal name was Marie-Thérèse-Henriette Soubiran.  Raised in a devout Catholic family, she was instilled early with a deep love for God and a desire to serve others.  As a child, she showed signs of exceptional spiritual sensitivity and piety.  Despite living during a time of political and social unrest in France, her faith remained strong and unwavering.

Marie-Thérèse was particularly drawn to the poor and marginalized.  Inspired by the Gospel call to serve "the least of these", she felt a deep inner calling to religious life.  At the age of 20, together with a few companions, she founded a new religious community in 1855: the Sisters of Mary Auxiliatrix, dedicated to helping young working-class girls and women in the cities, who were often overlooked and vulnerable in the rapidly industrializing society.

+ Foundress and Spiritual Guide

As the first superior of the Sisters of Mary Auxiliatrix, Marie-Thérèse worked tirelessly to establish the community and its mission.  She combined a life of prayer with concrete action—offering vocational training, spiritual formation, and shelter to young women.  She believed in educating the whole person, both spiritually and practically, and was known for her kindness, humility, and maternal care.

However, the road was not easy.  Marie-Thérèse faced many external challenges, including financial struggles and suspicion from certain Church authorities, who were hesitant to accept a new religious institute led by such a young woman.  Nonetheless, her trust in Divine Providence never wavered.

+ A Life Marked by Humiliation and Obscurity

Tragically, Marie-Thérèse's greatest suffering came not from outside opposition, but from within her own community.  In 1869, due to the machinations of a fellow sister who falsely accused her of financial mismanagement and spiritual instability, Marie-Thérèse was removed from her position and expelled from the congregation she had founded.  Despite her innocence, she accepted this humiliation with remarkable humility and obedience, never defending herself or speaking against those who wronged her.

She was taken in by the Society of the Sacred Heart, another religious order, and lived for the next 33 years in obscurity, humility, and hidden service.  Though the truth of her situation was gradually discovered, she never returned to lead her congregation.  Instead, she embraced her new, humble life of silent prayer and simple tasks, confident that her suffering was united to Christ’s and would serve to spiritually support her congregation.

+ Death and Beatification

Blessed Marie-Thérèse died on June 7, 1889, in Paris, having lived her final years in quiet sanctity.  It was only after her death that her innocence was fully acknowledged and her true greatness recognized.  The Sisters of Mary Auxiliatrix continued to grow and flourish, eventually spreading beyond France to other countries, carrying her legacy of compassionate service.

Pope Pius XII beatified Marie-Thérèse Soubiran on October 20, 1946, recognizing her heroic virtue, enduring faith, and extraordinary example of forgiveness and humility.  Her feast day is celebrated annually on June 7.

+ Legacy

Blessed Marie-Thérèse Soubiran’s life offers a powerful testimony to the value of hidden holiness, patient suffering, and steadfast fidelity to God’s will.  She reminds us that even in the face of injustice and obscurity, love and humility can triumph.  Her example continues to inspire religious and laypeople alike, especially those who feel called to serve the forgotten and to persevere through personal trials with grace.

Bl. Marie-Therese, pray for us!

A Feast Day Blessing

It was a Marian Feast Day yesterday - the Feast of Our Lady's Visitation ... and today is yet another Feast Day - this time celebrating the Lord’s glorious Ascension!

After the Saturday evening Vigil Mass last night - a Mass that bridged both Feasts - a close friend and I conversed about the maternal love of our Blessed Mother, and wondered out loud if she was going to grant us a special blessing on her Feast.  The photo below seems to affirm she did.

Taken from our church's driveway, the above captures a luminous silhouette that appeared in the sky just a few moments after my friend said something to this effect: "I wonder if Our Lady's going to show up today."  In person, it looked like a lady draped in a white sheet hovering in the sky.  How serendipitous and relevant, given it's timing.

  My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; Because He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name; And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

- From The Canticle of Mary

(Luke 1:46-50)

We love you, Our Lady - we thank you for being our loving mother.