Saint Anthony Parish Fitchburg

06/08/2026

Sometimes we spend so much time worrying about tomorrow that we forget to notice the blessings of today.
Take a moment today to thank God for one simple gift: a kind word, a shared meal, a friend, a family member, a moment of peace, or simply the breath in your lungs. (Watch the pollen)

Faith does not remove life's challenges, but it reminds us that we never face them alone. God walks beside us, strengthens us, and fills our hearts with hope.

May your day be blessed with peace, gratitude, and the quiet assurance that you are deeply loved by God.
Fr Juan
🙏 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

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05/31/2026

This weekend, standing before this beautiful picture by the altar, I shared with our parish family that after eight blessed years, I will be leaving Saint Anthony Parish for a new assignment.

My heart is filled with gratitude!!! 🙏💙

The readings for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity could not have spoken more clearly to me. In the first reading, Moses encounters a God who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” Throughout these years, I have witnessed that mercy and kindness in countless ways through the people of this parish.

St. Paul encourages us to rejoice, encourage one another, and live in peace. Together we have celebrated baptisms, weddings, First Communions, confirmations, anniversaries, and so many moments of joy. We have also walked together through illness, grief, uncertainty, and loss. Through it all, I have learned that a parish is not simply a building—it is a family.

And in the Gospel, we hear one of the most beautiful truths of our faith: “For God so loved the world…” That love has been the foundation of every prayer, every Mass, every conversation, and every step of this journey.

Thank you for allowing me to grow with you. Thank you for your faith, your generosity, your patience, your friendship, and your love. You have made me a better priest, a better leader, and a better person.

While transitions are never easy, I trust that the God who has guided us this far will continue to bless Saint Anthony Parish abundantly. The mission continues. The Gospel continues. God’s love continues.

Please keep me in your prayers as I will always keep you in mine.

With gratitude and affection,

Fr. Juan

05/24/2026

Today we celebrate Pentecost and Memorial Day weekend together — a beautiful reminder of the power of unity, courage, and love.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, transforming fear into courage and division into unity. They became witnesses of hope, peace, and God’s love for the world.

This weekend, we also remember with gratitude the men and women who served and sacrificed for others with that same spirit of courage and selfless love. We honor their memory and pray for all veterans, active service members, and their families.

As we look at the beauty of our altar and the American flag standing in our memorial garden, we are reminded that faith calls us to build unity, compassion, and peace in our homes, our Church, and our nation.

Come, Holy Spirit, renew our hearts and make us instruments of your peace. 🇺🇸🕊️

05/18/2026

Time flies, ugh!!!
As we come to the end of the Easter Season and prepare for Pentecost, I keep thinking about one of my favorite books of the Bible: the Acts of the Apostles. Every day of Easter, we read it in church and meditate on it!! Amazing!!
It is not just a history book. It is the story of ordinary people whose lives were completely transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Fearful disciples become courageous witnesses. Broken people become missionaries of hope. Doors once locked by fear are opened by faith. The Church begins not with power or perfection… but with prayer, trust, and the fire of God’s Spirit.

The Book of Acts reminds us that Christianity was never meant to be lived sitting still. The Gospel moves. The Spirit moves. The Church moves.

And maybe that is why I love this book so much: because the Acts of the Apostles is not really finished. In many ways, we are still living it today.

Your faith story… your struggles… your prayers… your courage to love, forgive, begin again, and trust God — all of that becomes part of the continuing story of the Holy Spirit in the world.

This week, maybe take a few moments to open the Book of Acts. Read a chapter. Let the Holy Spirit surprise you again.

“Receive the Holy Spirit.”
I will see you this weekend at church!
Fr Juan

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04/21/2026

✝️💙😇 Tonight we begin our Novena in honor of Saint Anthony—a time of grace, prayer, and hope.
Every Tuesday at 7 PM, we gather as a community to place our intentions before the Lord, trusting in the powerful intercession of Saint Anthony.

Come as you are. Bring your prayers, your hopes, your struggles… and a friend.
Let us walk these nine Tuesdays together, opening our hearts to God’s love.

04/19/2026

What a great bible passage for this weekend!!!

On the road to Emmaus, the disciples were not just walking… they were walking away.

Away from Jerusalem.
Away from hope.
Away from everything they believed in.

And still… Jesus came to meet them there.

He didn’t wait for them to turn back first.
He walked with them in their confusion, their disappointment, their silence.

How often do we do the same?
We walk away—from prayer, from faith, from community…
thinking it’s over.

But it’s not.

Because even when we walk away…
He walks toward us.

And gently, patiently,
He leads us back home.✝️💙🙏

Wishing you all a blessed week.
Fr Juan

04/08/2026

Hi!!
Mark your calendars!!
Come and join us for our Saint Anthony Novena 🙏
Beginning Tuesday, April 21 at 7PM, we gather as a community of faith to pray, to hope, and to trust in God’s grace through the intercession of Saint Anthony.

Bring your intentions and your prayers… and a friend.
There is always room for one more in God’s house.

Let us walk these nine Tuesdays together in faith, asking for healing, guidance, and peace.

84 Salem St, Fitchburg, MA

All are welcome. 💛

Msgr John Doran
Fr Carlos Ruiz
Fr Luke Johnson
Fr Jose Carvajal
Fr Jonathan Amidon
Dn Mark Carrier
Mr Randy Sanchez & Ms Keylee Hernandez
Fr Timothy Brewer
Fr Juan Ramirez

04/06/2026

Dear Friends,

Holy Week this year was truly a gift of grace. From Lent to Easter, I experienced a deep spiritual renewal in my ministry, one that filled my heart with joy, gratitude, and hope.

Through our Bible series, the beautiful presence of our OCIA young adults, stations of the cross, and the constant support of this incredible parish family, I have seen how God continues to work powerfully among us.
Faith came alive in new ways. Prayer became deeper. Community became stronger!!!

I want to thank each one of you, our parish family, our visitors, and all who follow and pray with us from near and far. Your presence, your faith, and your love are a blessing to this community.

Let us continue walking together in the light of the Resurrection ✝️ renewed, strengthened, and filled with hope.

With gratitude and love,
Fr Juan

01/06/2026

February Prize-a-Day Cash Calendar is back!

Help us with our heating/cooling bills by purchasing a $20 Prizea-Day Calendar. For less than $1 a day you get 28 chances to win
a cash prize including $40, $50, $75, $100 or $150.

The best part is – if your name is picked, it will go BACK INTO the
drawing up to two more times, so, multiple chances to win for less
than $1 a day!

Please help us with this fun way to raise money to reduce the cost
of our heating and air conditioning.

The calendars are ready now! Please consider asking your friends, relatives, neighbors, and if you work, please, ask your co-workers!

Winners for the week will be drawn every Monday and announced
in the bulletin the following weekend.

You can submit your donation & ticket in a marked envelope via
the collection baskets, the postal service or drop them in the
secure mailbox just outside the church office door.

Give it a try and spread the word, it will be a tremendous help!