Saint Benedict the Moor lived a life of the Beatitudes. Born to two African slaves and illiterate, he later possessed a knowledge of Sacred Scripture and theology that astonished priests and scholars. Facing persecution throughout his life from being “il Moro,” or dark skinned, he is remembered for his racial tolerance. Joining a society of hermits at the age of 21, he eventually worked as a cook at a Franciscan friary before becoming the Guardian of the community. He endured the taunts of racial prejudice, refused to be hindered by illiteracy, and humbly served the Lord wherever he could. St. Benedict the Moor 1526 - 1589 Feast Day: April 4 Location: Italy Identifiers: Confessor, Franciscan Relic located in the: Left Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Benedict the Moor lived a life of the Beatitudes. Born to two African slaves and illiterate, he would later possess a knowledge of Sacred Scripture and complex theological questions that astonished priests and scholars alike. Growing in fame for his miracles and teachings, he was meek, and chose to travel at night to avoid recognition. Facing persecution throughout his life due to being “il Moro,” or dark skinned, he chose to be a peacemaker, and is remembered for his racial tolerance. Benedict was born in 1526 in Italy, most likely near San Fratello. His parents, Cristoforo and Diana Manasseri were Africans who were captured and taken as slaves to San Fratello, located near Sicily. After they arrived in Italy, they both converted to Catholicism, prior to the birth of Benedict. Thanks to his parents “loyal service” as slaves, Benedict was born free from slavery. Just because he wasn’t a slave didn’t mean his life was easy though. Like most peasants, he didn’t attend school, and instead worked as a shepherd through his youth. Even at a young age, he had a heart for the poor, and gave most of what he earned to those in need. Benedict was often subject to persecution and ridicule due to his race and his parents’ servitude. Despite being the object of frequent humiliation, he bore these insults with dignity, patience and even cheerfulness. By the age of 10, he had become known as “The Holy Black” in Italy. It was Benedict’s gentleness and peaceful nature that one day attracted the attention of Jerome Lanzi, a member of a group of hermits from nearby Monte Pellegrino. The twenty-one-year-old Benedict was encouraged to join the independent society of hermits, who lived under the Rule of Saint Francis of Assisi. Lanzi, a former nobleman who had left his former life to join the hermits, succeeded in convincing Benedict to join and he soon sold the few possessions he had and joined their monastic group. Benedict found a welcome home among the small group of hermits, who would relocate to a new location outside Palermo not long after he joined. For many years, he happily worked in the kitchen as a lay brother, serving as an exceptional cook. When he was 28, Jerome Lanzi, who had been serving as the superior of the order, passed away. Reluctantly, it was Benedict himself who agreed to become the new superior, and the community prospered under his leadership. Following the third Council of Trent in 1564, Pope Pius IV announced a decree for all independent hermit societies to disband. Considering that the Benedict-led hermits were adhering to the Rule of St. Francis, they followed the Pope’s encouragement to join Franciscan orders. Benedict would become a member of the Order of the Friars Minor, and travel to Palermo to the Franciscan Friary of St. Mary of Jesus. He initially returned to the kitchen to continue his work as a cook, and he quickly became known not just for his tasty food, but for his resourcefulness. Stories tell of his miraculous ability to “multiply the food” and feed more and more people despite a limited amount of food available. Over the years, Benedict would rise in ranks at the friary, advancing to Master of Novices before becoming the Guardian of the community, a significant leadership role, in 1578. This was especially notable due to the fact that Benedict was still illiterate – and thus he was unable to become a priest due to the requirement of priests and religious figures being able to read and write. Nonetheless, he soon displayed a vast and deep understanding of theology and scripture, and word of his knowledge and sanctity began to spread outside Palermo. Benedict became known for his many gifts and miracles, one of them including the apparent ability to read the minds of others. This created large groups of lay people, clergy, and curious Italians far and wide flocking to his side, seeking his counsel. Benedict disliked the attention though, and always tried to travel at night when he could. When daytime trips were unavoidable, he would cover his face with a hood. Benedict also encouraged and developed a stricter Franciscan rule of life as the Guardian of the friary. He fully embraced the austerities of the hermit life, sleeping only a few hours each night, eating sparingly, and keeping seven 40-day fasts through the year. Benedict continued to serve the friary faithfully as a lay person, drawing people every day to hear his teachings of the scripture, experience his healing abilities, and just be in the presence of a man of divine wisdom and compassion. Towards the end of his life, Benedict asked to be relieved of his offices, and return to his favorite work: cooking in the kitchen. He resumed his duties as cook but had nearly every day interrupted by crowds who continued to seek alms, advice, prayers and cures for their illnesses. Around the age of 63, it was Benedict himself who fell ill and on the exact date and time that he had predicted, he passed away in Palermo. He was initially buried in a large tomb inside the friary church, but would have his body exhumed twice, with King Phillip III of Spain creating a shrine for Benedict in Palermo, Italy, and his body was placed in the shrine in 1611. His remains were discovered to be without any noticeable signs of decay, and his relics are still considered incorrupt to this day. Benedict was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 and canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807. He is the patron saint of African missions, African Americans, Palermo, and Sicily. He became known as Saint Benedict the Moor, after the Italian phrase “Il Moro” meaning “The Black”. There are several historically black Roman Catholic churches bearing his namesake across the country, including parishes in Georgia, New York, Florida, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and more. Saint Benedict the Moor showed others that God doesn’t always call the qualified, but he qualifies the called. He endured the taunts of racial prejudice, refused to be hindered by his illiteracy, and humbly served the Lord whether he was leading in the front or cooking in the back. He had every opportunity to become prideful, arrogant, angry or impatient – instead, he handed what he had to the Lord, and then leaned into the gifts the Lord provided in return. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Paul of the Cross, a mystic and founder of the Passionists, was born in 1694 in Italy. From a young age, he felt a burning desire to devote his life to God. Paul endured spiritual trials and temptations, but through fervent prayer and austere penance, he found solace in the Passion of Christ. In 1720, he founded the Passionist Congregation, dedicated to preaching the love and mercy of Jesus Crucified. Paul’s deep contemplation of the Cross inspired profound conversions and miraculous healings. His unwavering faith and zeal for souls led to his canonization, leaving an enduring legacy of devotion to the suffering Christ. St. Paul of the Cross 1694 - 1775 Feast Day: October 20 Location: Italy Identifiers: Confessor, Founder of Passionists Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Paul of the Cross, known as the “Apostle of the Passion of Christ,” lived a life of profound devotion, unwavering faith, and intense spirituality. The founder of The Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, commonly referred to as the Passionists, Saint Paul of the Cross led a mission-filled life to promote the love of Christ’s Passion to the world. Paul Danei was born on January 3, 1694, in the town of Ovada, Italy. Raised in a devout Catholic family, he experienced a deep longing for God from a young age. His mother, Maria Anna, nurtured his faith and encouraged his spiritual growth, instilling in him a love for prayer and contemplation. At the age of 19, Paul experienced a profound spiritual encounter that would shape the course of his life. During a vision, he saw the Crucified Christ, who imparted to him a profound understanding of the suffering and love embodied in the Passion. This transformative experience ignited a fervent desire within Paul to dedicate his life to the contemplation and promotion of the Passion of Christ. In response to his vision and calling, Paul of the Cross founded the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ in 1720. The Passionists, as they came to be known, sought to follow the footsteps of Christ in His Passion, dedicating their lives to prayer, penance, and preaching the love and mercy found in the sufferings of Jesus. Despite initial challenges and opposition, Paul’s charisma and unwavering faith drew followers to his cause. He emphasized the importance of humility, simplicity, and the pursuit of holiness in imitating Christ’s sacrifice. The Congregation grew, spreading throughout Italy and eventually reaching other parts of the world. Saint Paul of the Cross was renowned for his deep prayer life and his intense focus on the Passion of Christ. He spent long hours in solitary prayer and meditation, seeking union with God and immersing himself in the sufferings of Jesus. Recognizing the transformative power of contemplating Christ’s Passion, Paul sought to awaken in others a fervent love for the suffering Savior. Through his writings, sermons, and personal encounters, he shared his profound spiritual insights, inviting others to embrace the Cross and find solace and redemption in Christ’s sacrificial love. Saint Paul of the Cross had a strong missionary zeal and a burning desire to bring the message of Christ’s Passion to all people. He preached extensively, using his words to ignite hearts with the love of God and to inspire profound conversion and spiritual renewal. Paul also had a remarkable gift for spiritual direction, offering guidance and support to individuals seeking a deeper relationship with God. He encouraged others to embrace the Cross, to surrender their lives to God’s will, and to find hope and peace in the midst of trials. Paul of the Cross exemplified holiness through his life of profound prayer, penance, and contemplation of the Passion. His humility, simplicity, and unwavering devotion to God drew many to seek his guidance and companionship. His commitment to the Passion of Christ became a powerful witness to the transformative love and mercy found in the sufferings of Jesus. He lived an inspiring life, motivating countless Christians to grow in their faith, before passing away on October 18, 1775. He was canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1867. His feast day is October 19. Saint Paul of the Cross was a man of deep faith and compassion. He dedicated his life to spreading the message of Christ’s Passion, and his work has had a profound impact on the Church and the world. Paul was a gifted preacher and writer, and his words continue to inspire people today. He was also a humble man who always put the needs of others before his own. Paul of the Cross was a true saint, and his legacy continues to live on. Next Item Previous Item

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first United States citizen to become a saint, was born on July 15th, 1850 in a village near Milan, Italy. Inspired with missionary zeal at a young age, she attempted to join a religious order at 18, but was denied due to her poor health. Undeterred, her missionary heart led her to restore an orphanage in Cadagono, Italy, which began an incredible journey of founding a religious order, becoming Mother Cabrini, and opening schools, hospitals and orphanages around the world. She became a U.S. citizen in 1909, and is the patron saint of immigrants. Her feast day is November 13th. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini 1850 - 1917 Feast Day: November 13 Location: Italy & Chicago, IL Identifiers: Virgin Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first United States citizen to be canonized a saint, was a fearless, resourceful and caring missionary soul who followed the will of God to the streets of New York City. Sent on a mission from Pope Leo XIII, she would meet hardship and difficulties at nearly every turn, but undeterred, she changed the world with her zeal for souls. The youngest of thirteen children, Frances Cabrini was born on July 15, 1850 in S’ant Angelo Lodigiano, a small village near the city of Milan, Italy. She was born two months premature, and she would live the majority of her life in fragile health because of it. Her parents, Agostino Cabrini and Stella Oldini, were farmers and Frances’ older sister Rosa assumed charge of the new arrival to the family, carrying her on errands around their village, teaching her to sew, and teaching her a few prayers. Their father Agostino enjoyed reading aloud to his children, often gathering them to read from a book of missionary stories, which intrigued young Frances. Her dolls became nuns and when visiting her uncle, a priest who lived nearby, she would make small boats out of paper, drop violet petals into them, and send them down the swift canal running alongside his house, calling them “missionaries” headed to India or China. Once while preparing to send these “missionaries” off, she fell into the water, nearly drowning, which would spur a deep fear of water that she would carry with her into adulthood. Inspired with a missionary zeal and intrigued with the future of religious life, she studied arduously at her school, run by the Daughters of the Sacred Heart. She graduated with high honors and a teaching certificate. At 18, she applied for admission to the religious congregation of her teachers, but was turned down from joining the Daughters of the Sacred Heart due to her poor health. Disappointed but not discouraged, she devoted herself to a life of lay service. Frances would experience the grief of losing both her parents in 1870, and not long after, was offered and accepted a substitute teaching position in a village school about a mile away from home. Her spirit of service grew greatly from this teaching position, and Father Antonio Serrati, the rector of the parish run by the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, had observed her desire to join the order and took notice of her missionary heart. When Frances attempted to join the religious order again, Fr. Antonio instead tasked her with a different mission: to travel to Cadagono, Italy in order to help restore a disorganized and poorly-run orphanage called the House of Providence. At 24 years old, she journeyed to Cadogno, for what would become a six-year period of training, teaching, and building a community of women who were devoted to a life of charitable work. In September of 1877, she became Mother Cabrini, making her vows at the House of Providence, and putting on her religious habit for the first time. She also added “Xavier” to her name, in honor of St. Francis Xavier. Frances was also named Mother Superior of the House of Providence, helping train seven young nuns, before the orphanage was abruptly closed in 1880. Now homeless, Frances would soon receive a suggestion from the Bishop of Lodi that would set her on a new, exciting course. The Bishop of Lodi wished for Frances and her nuns to found a missionary order of women to serve in his diocese. She accepted the opportunity, moving with the nuns into an abandoned Franciscan friary in Cadogno. Almost immediately, they became a hub of activity, receiving orphans, opening a day school, teaching classes in needlework, and doing everything they could with few resources to serve those in their area. At the same time, Mother Cabrini was beginning to draw together a simple rule of life for the institute, choosing St. Francis de Sales and St. Francis Xavier as their patrons. She composed the rule and constitution of their religious institute, designing a simple habit (absent of elaborate linens or headdresses) and they became the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. In its first five years, the institute would open seven homes, a free school, and a nursery, with many postulants flocking to Cadogno to join. Mother Cabrini was starting to become well-known in her locality, and her good works caught the attention of the Pope Leo XIII. In September of 1877, Mother Cabrini traveled to Rome seeking papal approval for her order, which up to this point had just existed on a diocesan level. Frances had her eyes on a global mission, wanting to open a house in Rome, and travel to China. Within two weeks of arriving in Rome, she had made contacts in high places, holding meetings with various Cardinals and supporters. She would be granted the opportunity to establish a free school and kindergarten in Rome, but when speaking with Pope Leo XIII, he encouraged her to take her missionary zeal “not to the East, but to the West.” At that time, millions of Italians had emigrated to the United States and to South America due to increasing hardships in Italy. They dreamed of bettering themselves and sought new opportunities for their families, but many found only hardships and cruelty. Immigration into the United States hadn’t reached its peak yet, but a steady stream of arrivals, lured by the enticements of a fresh start, poured into the ports with little to no provisions made ready for them. Many Italians were immediately exploited and pulled into exceedingly dangerous jobs of digging, draining and toiling in sweatshops. Clusters of overcrowded, disease-filled slums cropped up in cities, becoming known as “Little Italies.” The majority of Italians found their dreams unmet, lonely and homesick in a new, vast, and dire country. Enter Mother Cabrini, inspired by the Pope’s redirection, who wrote to Archbishop Corrigan in New York that she and her nuns were coming to aid him. On March 31, 1889, Mother Cabrini and six other sisters arrived in New York, ready to serve the Lord. The challenges of the city were immediately apparent, when a misunderstanding at the time of their arrival revealed that the building originally intended to be their orphanage was no longer available. The Archbishop suggested that the nuns should return back to Italy, but Mother Cabrini refused. Homeless yet again, the sisters couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel, and were taken to an inexpensive lodging house with beds so dismal and dirty, that they instead spent the night praying together, preparing themselves for the work ahead. Young and courageous, the nuns emerged the next morning to attend Mass and outline a plan of action with the Archbishop. Almost immediately, a wealthy Italian woman lent her support to the group, contributing money to purchase their first house, and an orphanage was soon taking root in West Park, New York, which is now known as the Saint Cabrini Home. What followed next was the work of a valiant woman, filled with the love and trust of God, determined to serve him ardently. Mother Cabrini would overcome her childhood fear of water to travel across the Atlantic Ocean time after time, traveling back to Rome to secure more support, embarking for Nicaragua to open a school for girls, stopping in New Orleans to lend support to the plight of Italians in similarly dire situations, and much more. In 1892, Mother Cabrini opened her first hospital. With a starting capital of $250, the Columbus Hospital opened its doors on Twelfth Street in New York. Doctors worked free-of-charge, and what the nuns lacked in equipment or experience, they made up with their zeal for souls. The hospital grew in reputation, soon securing further financial support, and moving to a larger building on Twentieth Street, where it is still open to this day. Every year that passed brought more schools, hospitals and orphanages opening around the world. When the Nicaraguan school was forced to close due to a revolutionary overthrow of the government, the sisters moved to Panama and continued to work. Once when invited by an archbishop to travel to Buenos Aires and support the area with her work, she arrived to find that he had died in the time it took her to get there, and the Missionary Sisters were unsure of their welcome. Nonetheless, Mother Cabrini had soon garnered enough support to open a school in the area. While schools were founded in Paris, England, Spain, Rio de Janeiro and beyond, she also founded the Sacred Heart Villa in New York in 1899, as a training center for novices to her order. This place was as close to a home in the United States as Mother Cabrini would ever have, and there is an avenue not far from it that bears her name today. She traveled the world vigorously, leaving a wake of care and support to those in need behind her. Even where she didn’t have an established institution, her presence alone led many groups and governments to take constructive steps to remedy any suffering or shortages in their area. In 1909, at the age of fifty-nine years old, Mother Cabrini took the oath of allegiance to the United States in Seattle. She would reduce her traveling, as her age and health were beginning to draw on her energy, but her prayer, passion and purpose never relented. Eight years after becoming a U.S. citizen, she was in Chicago when she suffered a recurrence of illnesses related to a previous bout with malaria. She died on December 22, 1917, in one of her own hospitals in Chicago. She was 67. Frances’ body was initially placed at the Saint Cabrini Home in New York, before being exhumed in 1931 as part of her canonization process. Her head is preserved in Rome, one of her arms is located in Chicago at the national shrine, and the rest of her body rests in New York. Frances Cabrini had a speedy canonization process, getting beatified by Pope Pius XI on November 13, 1938, and canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 7, 1946. She has two miracles attributed to her – restoring the sight of a day-old baby who had been blinded by receiving a 50% silver nitrate solution instead of the normal 1% solution, and healing a terminally ill member of her congregation. The baby whose sight she restored was present at her beatification, and would later become a priest. A celebration Mass for her canonization filled Soldier Field in Chicago, with tens of thousands of Americans coming together to pray for the intercession of the first American citizen to attain sainthood. In 1950, she was named the patron saint of immigrants. In 35 years, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini founded 67 institutions dedicated to the care of the poor, the sick, the uneducated, and the abandoned. Seeing the desolation among countless Italian immigrants, she swooped in, restoring their faith and exceeding their needs. The compassion of St. Frances made an indelible impact on countless lives, and she is an incredible witness of a citizen-servant who was unafraid to serve God and neighbor alike. Next Item Previous 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 Communion - 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 Next Item Previous Item Program Contact Angie Muckenthaler Confirmation Coord amuckenthaler@ap.church 832-482-4038 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

There is little known about St. Verecundus, whose feast day is October 22, except that he was the Bishop of Verona, Italy, and died in the year 522. He would have had to manage the declining state of affairs in his city after the fall of the Roman Empire and the rule of the Visigoths. His Episcopal Crest is pictured to the left, featuring his Episcopal Motto: "Velle et expectare tet vult semper idem" ("To want and to expect that God always wills the same"). St. Verecundus d.c. 522 Feast Day: October 22 Location: Italy Identifiers: Bishop, Martyr Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A piece of bone There is little known about St. Verecundus, whose feast day is October 22, except that he was the Bishop of Verona, Italy, and died in the year 522. He would have had to manage the declining state of affairs in his city after the fall of the Roman Empire and the rule of the Visigoths. His Episcopal Crest is pictured to the left, featuring his Episcopal Motto: "Velle et expectare tet vult semper idem" ("To want and to expect that God always wills the same"). Next Item Previous Item

ACTS is a Parish Weekend Retreat that brings people closer to God and helps them build a relationship with Jesus. It’s based on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service which is patterned after the description of the early Church by the Acts of the Apostles. Retreat Grow in your Faith Are you looking to deepen your faith? There are plenty of opportunities for adults to get involved at our parish. We have Bible Studies, Community Groups, Prayer and Devotions, Classes, Retreats, Organizations, and Groups in Spanish. I Want to Volunteer Contact Us ACTS Retreats Various Times English & Spanish Retreat ACTS is a Parish Weekend Retreat that brings people closer to God and helps them build a relationship with Jesus. It’s based on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service which is patterned after the description of the early Church by the Acts of the Apostles. Upcoming Retreats Holy Name Retreats Various Times English & Spanish Retreat Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center supports and encourages the great human and spiritual adventure: the discovery of God and God’s loving compassion through Christ Crucified. Holy Name exists to provide hospitality, healing, compassion, and opportunities for spiritual growth for all people. Retreats are offered on many different weekends throughout the year. Upcoming Retreats Retiro Mensuales Martes por la mañana Spanish Only Retreat El Retiro Mensual es una mañana de oración personal frente a Cristo Eucaristía ofrecido por el Movimiento Regnum Christi. Es una invitación abierta a todas las mujeres que quieran crecer en su relación personal con Jesús a través de meditaciones basadas en la Sagrada Escritura, oportunidad de confesión y de participar en la Santa Misa. Más Información Retreats Various Times English & Spanish Retreat Throughout the year we offer various retreats at St. Anthony's and around the Archdiocese. Visit our webiste for more information. Upcoming Retreats

St. Christopher, after learning about Christ from a hermit, struggled with prayer and fasting. Instead, he offered to serve by helping travelers cross a dangerous river. One day, a child asked for help crossing. As they reached midstream, the river rose, and the child became extremely heavy. With great effort, St. Christopher delivered the child safely. The child revealed that He was Christ, and St. Christopher had carried not only Him but the weight of the world. The child then disappeared. The name "Christopher," meaning "Christ-bearer," reflects this legend of carrying Christ across the river. St. Christopher ~220 - 251 Feast Day: July 25 Location: Lycia, Asia Minor Identifiers: Martyr Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A piece of bone St. Christopher found a hermit who taught him all about Christ, the King of Kings. The hermit suggested that he spend his life in prayer and fasting, a thing which St. Christopher, a large and probably often hungry man found difficult, he objected. The hermit suggested he then find something else that would please Christ. St. Christopher offered to work at a nearby river, and help travelers across. The fording was dangerous and many with less strength people had drowned. The hermit advised St. Christopher this would please Christ. One day, a child approached St. Christopher by the river and asked to be helped across. St. Christopher obliged. However, as he entered midstream, the river rose and the child's weight grew and became extremely heavy. It was only by great exertion that St. Christopher safely delivered the child to the other side. When St. Christopher asked the child why he was so heavy, the child explained that He was the Christ and when St. Christopher carried Him, he also carried the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. The child then vanished. The name "Christopher" means Christ-bearer, and may allude to the legend of the man carrying the Christ Child across the river. His Feast Day is July 25. Next Item Previous Item

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was an Italian Passionist monk known for his intense devotion to the Virgin Mary and the Passion of Christ. Born Francesco Possenti in Assisi, he lived a lively youth before feeling called to the Passionist Order at 18. His deep piety, humility, and dedication to prayer and penance were evident in his short life. Everyone who met Gabriel was impressed with his joyful submission to the humdrum routine of daily life. No great achievement marked his short life, except that he did all that was expected of him with extraordinary patience and kindness. He died of tuberculosis at 24 before his ordination. St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows 1838 - 1862 Feast Day: February 27 Location: Italy Identifiers: Confessor, Passionist Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A piece of bone Francesco Possenti was born on March 1, 1838 in Assisi to a wealthy family. The eleventh of 13 children, at home they called him Checchino and from an early age he learned to pray, as taught by his parents who passed on to him a strong faith. His father Sante, an official of the Papal State, after various assignments, was appointed assessor in Spoleto and the whole family moved there. Shortly after, his mother died; Checchino was only 4 years old and his sister Maria Luisa and the governess took care of him. He studied with the Jesuits, where his Marian devotion, already transmitted to him by the religious education he had received, grew and, in the college environment, he meditated on the life of Christ and on the contrast between evangelical values and the world. As a teenager he was noted as an exuberant and witty young man, elegant and lively. He performed well at school and enjoyed frequenting the high society of Spoleto. He was also attracted and fascinated by religious life, but he loved entertainment, frequented dance halls and theaters, and read novels avidly. However, the various family bereavements affected him deeply. In 1855 his sister Maria Luisa dies of cholera. Francesco is greatly affected by her loss, reflects on the inconsistency of human joys and thinks back to religious life. But his father tries to dissuade him. It is August 22, 1856 - the last day of the octave of the Assumption - when the procession with the image of the Madonna venerated in the cathedral takes place through the streets of Spoleto. Francis is among the crowd and when the icon is in front of him, he clearly perceives the Virgin addressing him with these words: “ Francis, don't you still understand that this life is not for you? Follow your vocation”. Fifteen days later he leaves Spoleto. He is 18 years old. He stops in Loreto to pray and talk with Mary and in Morrovalle he asks to join the Passionists. As a novice he chose to call himself Gabriele dell'Addolorata and thus described his new life in the religious community to his family: "The contentment and joy I feel inside this house is almost indescribable compared to the entertainment I had outside. I would not exchange a quarter of an hour spent here in prayer before the Madonna for a year or however much time you want filled with the shows and pastimes of Spoleto. Truly, my life is full of joy." On September 22, 1857, he professed his vows and in June 1858 he moved to Pieve Torina to perfect his philosophy studies and begin theology for the priesthood. Here he multiplied his ascetic practices, continued to cultivate devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, and dedicated himself to the poor. On July 10 of the following year, he was sent to the convent of the Immaculate Conception in Isola del Gran Sasso to prepare for ordination. In May 1861 Gabriele received minor orders in Penne. But his health was poor: he had lost weight, was attacked by fevers and had difficulty breathing with coughs and chest pains, and was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He died on February 27, 1862, at the age of 24, clutching to his heart the image of the Crucifix with Our Lady of Sorrows. Next Item Previous Item

St. Anthony of Padua celebrates Mass daily and our campus is generally open from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM daily. See our schedule for Mass times, church and chapel hours, parish office hours, adoration hours, and reconciliation times. Times & Hours Weekend Mass (Main Church) Saturday: 5 PM Vigil Mass Sunday: 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM Español, 6 PM Daily Mass Monday: 9 AM • Our Lady of the Angels Chapel (OLA) Tuesday: 9 AM & 6:45 PM • OLA Chapel Wednesday: 6 AM and 8:30 AM • Main Church Thursday: 9 AM and 6:45 PM • OLA Chapel Friday: 9 AM • OLA Chapel Saturday*: 10 AM • OLA Chapel *The First Saturday of every month, Daily Mass will be moved to the Main Church. Confession Tuesday: 5 PM - 6:30 PM • English Only Wednesday: 6 PM - 8 PM • English and Español Thursday: 5 PM - 6:30 PM • English and Español Saturday*: 8 AM - 10 AM • English and Español * The First Saturday of every month, Confessions will be moved to the Main Church. Every Saturday we have nursery available. Pre-registration is required. Nursery Registration Main Church Location: 7801 Bay Branch Drive The Woodlands, TX 77382 Open Hours: Saturday: 4 PM - 6:30 PM Sunday: 6 AM - 7:30 PM Tour of the Church Adoration Chapel Open Hours: Monday - Friday: 7:30 AM - 10 PM Saturday: 7:30 AM - 10 AM Sunday: 7:30 PM - 10 PM Scheduled Adorers* We have perpetual Adoration throughout the night. If you are interested in becoming a scheduled adorer for any hour day or night, you may register for a holy hour by contacting us. Contact Us Our Lady of the Angels Chapel Location: 8715 Kuykendahl Road Spring, Texas 77382 Open Hours: Monday, Friday, Saturday* • 8 AM - 12 PM Tues & Thurs • 8 AM - 12 PM & 5 PM - 8 PM Wednesday • 6 PM - 8 PM Sunday • 8 AM - 1 PM We are blessed to have 65 relics of Saints in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. More Information

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 1806 - 1876 Feast Day: November 28 Location: France Identifiers: Mystic, Miraculous Medal Relic located in the: Main Church next to the Blessed Virgin Mary statue Type of Relic: A piece of bone 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