St. Anthony of Padua

This morning we had the privilege of venerating the relic of St. Anthony as it placed on the altar during Mass.  Father R. gave a lively homily on his favorite saint.  He talked to us about curious ways Catholics have of asking for St. Anthony's intercession.  It seems that some Catholics, (and I won't mention what country) looking for a spouse turn to St. Anthony.  Specifically, they turn the statue of St. Anthony upside down until he answers their prayers.  Another way St. Anthony, the finder of lost things is used is for finding a parking space.  I am sure just about all of us have asked St. Anthony to intercede for us when we lose something.  I often ask him to intercede for family members and friends to find their way back home to the Catholic Church.  He is also one of the patron saints on the  Prayers for Our Pets blog. Father R.enjoined us this morning to ask St. Anthony to help us find peace in our hearts when we are troubled.

Devotion to St. Anthony has always been big in our family.  My grandmother, who would have been 99 today was born on his feast day.  She had a huge affection for this dear saint.  She learned it from her mother, my great-grandmother.

Happy Feast of St. Anthony!

Feast of Corpus Christi

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 "O my beloved Jesus, since Thou wilt feed me this morning with Thine own blood in the Holy Communion, it is but reasonable that I should willingly renounce all the delights and pleasures which the world might give me.Yes, I give them all up; I protest that I choose rather to suffer all evils united to Thee, than to enjoy all the goods of the world away from Thee.  It is sufficient happiness enough for me, to please Thee, who art worthy of all we can do to please Thee.  I will say then with St. Ignatius of Loyola, ' give me I pray Thee , but Thy love and Thy grace; that is sufficient for me and I am contented....'"

St. Alphonsus de Liguori - The Holy Eucharist

Catholic Parish Gets Behind Independent Film Project

KENNESAW, GA (May 15, 2012) — St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, one of the largest parishes in the archdiocese of Atlanta, has enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to help bring the first full-length motion picture originating from a Catholic parish to life. The film project — with the working title “Five Blocks Away” — is spearheaded by veteran filmmaker Kevis Antonio, founder of Rising Faith Productions and parishioner. The film will be one of the first Christian films aimed to connect with the young adult audience. This announcement was made by Father John Matejek (Fr. John), Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Kennesaw, Ga.

“Our vibrant community is always on the lookout for projects that get the entire community excited and involved,” said Fr. John. “St. Catherine’s support of this film gives volunteers from the parish the opportunity to experience evangelization to its maximum.” With the goal of spreading a message of faith and love beyond its brick and mortar walls, St. Catherine of Siena is striving to inspire other churches to stand up and be bold.

“With the success of other Georgia-based Christian films such as ‘Fireproof’ and ‘Courageous,’ there is no better time than now for Catholics to join in the momentum of producing faith enriching films for the mass audience,” exclaimed Antonio who has more than eight years of film production experience, including a documentary called “Bread of Life.” He wrote the initial screenplay for “Five Blocks Away” and plans to direct and produce a five-week production schedule early this fall 2012.

In order to move the film into the pre-production phase, donations are needed to fund it. The goal is to raise $550,000 by July 31, 2012. St. Catherine of Siena is encouraging everyone to help spread the word and to prayerfully consider donating online (from $10 and up) to this project at www.fiveblocksawaymovie.com or by calling 678.575.4331 for details on where to mail a check. Based on donation levels, donors will receive a variety of great perks which include the opportunity to attend a private screening of the film in Atlanta with the filmmakers or get screen credit.

With Hollywood cashing in with secular films, the market has proven that there is a strong demand from Christian families and secular audiences looking for something different than typical remakes and sequels. “Five Blocks Away” is prepped to close the gap between Christian films and secular audiences with a powerful message appealing to all. “This film addresses things everyone, Catholic or not, faces in life,” Antonio said. “I want people to walk away with a sense of purpose in life and to understand how they can use and offer their God given talents to the greater glory of God.”

To learn more about “Five Blocks Away” and to get involved or donate to the production, visit www.fiveblocksawaymovie.com.

About Rising Faith Productions

Rising Faith Productions is a metro Atlanta-based Catholic feature film company whose mission is to deliver powerful Christian messages through Hollywood quality movies that challenge today’s society by creatively illustrating God's love, forgiveness, and the way to salvation.

About St. Catherine of Siena

In 1981, in response to the phenomenal growth of Catholics in northwest Georgia, Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan decreed the establishment of a new parish in Kennesaw, Georgia.  Fr. Leo Herbert was appointed the founding Pastor. The new parish was named and St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) was selected as patroness. By 1983 St. Catherine’s was the fastest growing parish in the Archdiocese and a fundraising drive helped break ground on its current site in 1986. Future additions over the years positioned the parish to accept a new Catholic elementary school and St. Catherine of Siena school opened in 2002. In 2009 Rev. John M. Matejek, a St. Catherine’s parishioner prior to entering the priesthood, was named the parish’s fifth pastor. Today, the parish continues to be in the top 10 parishes within the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The members of St. Catherine of Siena dedicate themselves to Jesus by serving the parish and community and are called to share gifts, talents and resources for the glory of God our Father. Visit www.stcatherinercc.org for more information.

Father Gordon MacRae's 30th Anniversary of his Ordination

"Mass of St. Gregory" by Adrien Isenbrant

Picture source Please join me in praying for Father Gordon on this the anniversary of his ordination. Be sure to read his post: Marking 30 Years of Priesthood: If I Knew Then What I Know Now!

  Prayer for Priests

O Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father Gordon.
Give him a deep faith

a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.

In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations, point out to him

that it is through suffering that the soul is purified,
and show him that he is needed by the Church,
he is needed by souls,
he is needed for the work of redemption.

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,

take to your heart your son who is close to you
because of his priestly ordination,
and because of the power which he has received
to carry on the work of Christ
in a world which needs him so much.

Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength,

and especially help him
to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen.

John Joseph, Cardinal Carberry (+1998)
Archbishop of St. Louis 1968-1979

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Wonderful New Marian App - St. Louis de Montfort's Total Consecration

How wonderful that the internet can be used to evangelize and to spread the Catholic faith!

Case in point: there is a great new app for St. Louis de Montfort's Total Consecration available for iPhones, iPod, iPad, etc..

...Because this consecration is so powerful and active in the lives of many Catholics, HyperDo Media developed a free app for this consecration, placing mobile accessibility in the hands of every iPhone, iPad and Smartphone user.

The MyConsecration App provides all the prayers and materials necessary for making the 33-day consecration. Some of the features we’ve included are: a “Plan” tab, which informs users about Marian feast days so that they can begin and end their consecration accordingly; a “Settings” tab where users can enable notifications and daily reminders, available via either text message or ringtone; social media integration: users can share with friends on Facebook whether they are renewing the consecration or making it for the first time.

HyperDo Media believes that this app is an efficient way for mobile users to develop their spiritual life wherever they are. Now we want to share it with all our fellow Catholics.

Would you download this free app and review it on your blog? You can find the app here on MyConsecration.org’s website: http://www.myconsecration.org/app.html.  It is also available in the iTunes store...

I downloaded the app for my iPod Touch the other day. I found it a beautiful little touch of Catholicism for my iPod! The My Consecration app is easy to use and is categorized so that the prayers, preparation dates, etc. are accessible without difficulty. It even has a notification setting which will remind you it is time for prayer. Although, I have already made my Total Consecration and have renewed it fairly recently, I will be renewing it once again using the app.

Oh, and did I mention?  It is free.

This new Catholic app is highly recommended!

Month of June Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: First Friday

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In this month dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us pray that our hearts will become meek and humble, like unto His. Let us also make reparations for the numerous offenses against the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Jesus, divine Savior, deign to cast a look of mercy upon Your children, who assemble  in the same spirit of faith, reparation, and love, and come to deplore their own infidelities, and those of all poor sinners, their brethren.

May we touch Your divine Heart by the unanimous and solemn promises we are about to make and obtain mercy for ourselves, for the world, and for all who are so unhappy as not to love You.  We all promise that for the future:

For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, *(We will console you O Lord)
For the way You are deserted in Your holy tabernacle,
For the crimes of sinners,
For the hatred of the impious,
For the blasphemies uttered against You,
For the sacrileges that profane Your Sacrament of Love,
For the outrages against Your divinity,
For the injuries of which You are the adorable Victim,
For the coldness of the greater part of your children,
For the contempt of your loving invitation,
For the infidelity of those who called themselves Your friends,
For the abuse of Your grace,
For our own unfaithfulness,
For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts,
For our long delay in loving You,
For our tepidity in Your holy service,
For Your bitter sadness at the loss of souls,
For Your long waiting at the door of our hearts,
For the heartless scorn that grieves You,
For Your loving sighs,
For Your loving tears,
For Your loving imprisonment,
For Your loving death,

* We will console you, 0 Lord

Let us pray

0 Jesus!  divine Savior, from whose Heart comes forth this bitter complaint, "I looked for one that would comfort me, and I found none," graciously accept the feeble consolation we offer You, and aid us so powerfully by your grace, that we may, for the time to come, shun more and more all that can displease You, and prove ourselves in everything, and everywhere, and forever Your most faithful and devoted servants.  We ask it through Your Sacred Heart, O Lord, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit  one God, world without end.  Amen.

Traditional Prayer of Reparation

Most loving Jesus, when I consider your tender heart and see it full of mercy and tenderness toward sinners, my own heart is filled with joy and confidence that I shall be so kindly welcomed by You. Unfortunately, how many times have I sinned! But now, with Peter and with Magdalene, I weep for my sins and detest them because they offend You, infinite Goodness. Mercifully grant me pardon for them all; and let me die rather than offend You again; at least let me live only to love You in return. Amen. (Raccolta n. 255)

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Be patient and loving towards to foreign born Priests

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 A lady I know has offered to teach English to the new priest in her parish. She tutors Father after Mass. She is patient and tries to encourage Father.  However, she is very discouraged and hurt by the comments she hears.  It seems that there are some who voice their criticism of Father's limited English not only to her but to Father himself, and maybe even to the bishop.

This is not the only incident where a parishioner feels the need to complain because the priest speaks with an accent or if the priest is still struggling to learn the English language.

It is very sad when faced with a priest shortage worldwide, the United States of America, who once sent missioners to just about every corner of the world, now finds itself in need of priests from foreign countries to shepherd the people in this country.

In Hawaii priests from the Philippines, China, the African countries and Colombia, to name a few, have been sent to serve the people in the Diocese of Honolulu.  Do you think it is easy for these men of God, to leave their home countries and their families, to come to a far off place where they are forced to communicate in a new language?  How difficult it must be for them!  Put yourself in their place.  Would it be an easy thing for us to do?

I hope and pray that people will be patient with these holy men.  I hope and pray that instead of criticizing and complaining about a priest's lack of English skills, they will be grateful that there is a priest who will offer the sacrifice of the Mass at the church and administer the sacraments;  that they will like the lady I mentioned above, volunteer to tutor their priest in English or at least say something encouraging to him.

Sad to say, the priest in the lady's church has been transferred.

3 Novenas that Every Catholic Should Pray...plus one

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1. 30 Day Novena to St. Joseph

This beautiful novena begins a month before the Feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, March 19th. It is a lovely meditation on the life of St. Joseph as husband, father and protector of the Blessed Mother and her Divine Child. It helps us to reflect on the sorrows that St. Joseph suffered (silently) as he took care of his holy little family. What a wonderful way to pray for his intercession for fathers, the dying, those in need of employment, homes, the universal church...

The novena can be found here.

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 2. The Divine Mercy Novena.

A very powerful novena that our Lord Himself gave to St. Faustina, in order to prepare souls for the great feast of Divine Mercy. It begins on Good Friday and ends on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday.

"...He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said: 'These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy.' In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her: 'On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls.'

The novena can be found here "

I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they have need of in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death."

3. Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts

This is the oldest novena known in the Church. It begins 9 days prior to the vigil of Pentecost. It is simply a very beautiful and spiritually moving novena!

The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.

The novena can be found here.

In addition, for those times when we need spiritual assistance, there is no better novena than the one Blessed Mother Teresa had a devotion to...the express Memorare novena.  You pray the Memorare of our Lady nine consecutive times.

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Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come,
before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

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1 Peter I: Obedience, Reverence and Mutual Love

Picture source: internet "...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them.It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you [through] the holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look.


Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, “Be holy because I [am] holy.” Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a [pure] heart.You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God,>for:
'All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, but the word of the Lord remains forever.'”

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Pentecost Novena Begins Friday

Just a reminder that the Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts begins on May 18th, this Friday. The oldest novena can be found here.