St. Anthony Shrine and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Parishes

08/24/2026

Please mark your calendars for our pastorate’s upcoming Faith Formation parent meeting/info session …….

08/23/2026

Dear Friends in Christ,

Have you ever considered opening your Bible, but weren’t sure how to begin? Today, I’d like to consider a couple ideas that can help us in our reading of Sacred Scripture.

It is always important for us to recall that the Bible is not ‘just another book’. It is the words of God expressed in human language (Dei Verbum, Vatican II), or as Pope Benedict said in Verbum Domini: “the divine word expressed in human words.” The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb 4:12).

When we embark on our biblical journey, I recommend starting with the New Testament, particularly the Gospels. We hear the Gospel each Sunday at Holy Mass, but when was the last time we actually read
through them beginning to end? Consider the life of Jesus, His miracles, His healings, His preaching: What is He saying? Why? To whom? For what reason? As you read, pause if something strikes you, and meditate,
listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who usually speaks in ways deeper than words.

Another way that can be very helpful for reading Sacred Scripture is an ancient method called Lectio divina (divine reading). While it may sound complicated, it is really a simple way for us to engage in a dialogue of
listening and speaking with the living God through His word.

Rather than reading continuously, in lectio one selects a particular passage, such as the Gospel of the day. After placing oneself in the presence of God, there are four main steps of lectio divina: 1) reading (lectio), 2)
meditation (meditatio), 3) prayer (oratio) and 4) contemplation (contemplatio).

It begins with the reading of the text: What does the biblical text say in itself? It is more listening than reading. I can pick the Gospel passage of the day or something of similar length. What does it say? I’m reading the words several times, ruminating on the text. This is followed by meditation: What does the text say to me? It is personal encounter with the word of God. Then we have prayer: What do I say to the Lord in response to His word? Prayer – as petition, intercession, thanksgiving, praise and adoration– is the primary way the word changes us (see Verbum Domini, 87). Finally, we conclude with contemplation: What must I do to be more like Jesus Christ? In other words, what is the conversion God is calling me to today?

This encounter with Christ in His word should not leave us the same. Our holiness is not only for ourselves, but should overflow into our dealings with our neighbors, sharing with them the goodness we have received
in prayer.

A final element we can consider is the place where we meditate on the word of God. Too often in life we are battling various distractions, from our phones and screens to the noise and activity around us. Try to find a quiet place of solitude, such as an Adoration chapel or perhaps a desk with an icon that helps us to pray. While we cannot go into an actual desert as the early Fathers did, we must strive to get away from the noise to encounter God in the silence of the Sacred Scriptures.

May you and your families have a blessed week!

Fr. Peter

08/23/2026

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, whose kingdom will have no end; she is hailed by the Christian people as Queen of Heaven and Mother of Mercy.

08/23/2026

Here is a complete schedule of Theology of the Family’s upcoming talks and events ……..

* August 29, 2026 ~~ Loss, Infertility and Healing - Amy Ambrose and Ana Hahn

* September 26, 2026 ~~ Social Event: An Evening for Couples

* October 17, 2026 ~~ Becoming a Full Self-Gift: JPII’s Meditation on Givenness - Ryan Robeson

* November 14, 2026 ~~ Evangelizing Through the Family - Dr. John-Mark Miravalle

* December 05, 2026 ~~ Advent Dinner: Social Event with a Reflection on the Holy Family

08/20/2026

🤔

A viral social-media exchange raises questions about what happens when a confession takes more than a few minutes.

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/SkrB50ZBBi2

08/19/2026

Sending all our parishioners prayers for a great day and school year! 🍎📚

08/15/2026

08/12/2026

🛐⛪️

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has urged Catholics to prioritize attending Sunday Mass, warning that active participation in the Eucharist cannot be replaced by virtual gatherings.

“I urge everyone to seek the best possible conditions so that even those who are unable to take time off work on Sundays may take part in holy Mass,” Leo said.

In his address during his general audience at the Vatican on Aug. 12, the pontiff continued his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council’s constitution on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium.

https://www.ewtnnews.com/vatican/pope-leo-xiv-attendance-at-sunday-mass-cannot-be-replaced-by-virtual-participation

05/01/2026

St. Joseph pray for us! 🙏🏻

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

O Glorious, St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations, to work with gratitude and joy, in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins, considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God, to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties, to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, having always death before my eyes and the account that I must render of time lost, of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, after your example, O Patriarch, St. Joseph. Such shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen.–Pope St. Pius X

May 1 is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Please pray for all you know who have recently lost their jobs, are seeking steady work, and those who are in difficult work situations. Below are prayers, including prayers on YouTube and the litany to St. Joseph.

St. Joseph is also the patron of: families, fathers, married people, social justice, realtors, against doubt, against hesitation, people in doubt, Americas, dying people, a happy death, expectant mothers, interior souls, immigrants, laborers, travelers and unborn children.

For a complete list: http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-joseph/