December 2010 Issue - PDF Scroll Version 3.2 mb

Catholic Spirituality: The Feasts of Mary, Mother of God, and the Epiphany
Virgin Islands Sister
Publishes Memoirs
Christmas Mass
Schedules
School Christmas
Pageants
Advent
Wai t i n g
fo r
the
Lo rd
2
the
Bishop’s Appeal
notes from the bishop’s desk
Exceeded Its Goal
T
The Most Reverend Herbert A. Bevard,
Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.
Dinner with the Bishop
Larry and Peggy Meyers, parishioners of Holy Cross Church on St. Croix, bid on and won a
dinner with His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, at the St. Mary School auction on February
6. The dinner will take place at their residence on Friday, December 3, at 7 p.m. Prior to the
dinner, Bishop Bevard will celebrate a home Mass and consecrate their home chapel.
Saturday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m., Diamond Jubilee
Mass for Sister Elmosa Charles, ICM,
St. Patrick Church, St. Croix.
Saturday, Dec. 4, 5 p.m., Mass, St. Anne
Chapel, St. Thomas.
Sunday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m., Mass, Our Lady of
Perpetual Help Church, St. Thomas.
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 12:15 p.m., Immaculate
Conception Mass, Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral, St. Thomas.
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m., All-School
Christmas Mass, Ss. Joachim and Ann Church,
St. Croix.
Thursday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m., Penance Service,
Holy Family Church, St. Thomas.
Friday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m., Presbyteral Council
meeting, Bishop’s Residence, St. Thomas.
Friday, Dec. 17, noon, Presbyteral Christmas
luncheon, Bishop’s Residence, St. Thomas.
The Newsletter of the Roman Catholic Diocese
of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands
Most Reverend Herbert A. Bevard
PUBLISHER
Father Charles Crespo
EDITOR
Bernetia Akin, Valerie Douté
PROOFREADERS
Br. James Petrait, OSFS
he Bishop’s Appeal 2010 exceeded its goal of $285,000 from the parishes. As
of October 28, donors gave $295,848 from a total pledge of $300,433. Donors
who have not yet completed their pledges are asked to send in their payments by
December 31.
Through this campaign, the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands generated financial
support for the needy served by Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, the hundreds of
children who attend the four Catholic schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands and evangelization
projects throughout the diocese, including the operation and maintenance of Light of Christ
Retreat Center on St. Croix, the home of many seminars for youth, deacons, music ministers,
teachers, etc. This year, the campaign expanded its assistance in diocesan evangelization efforts
by supporting Office for Youth Ministries outreaches, including a television talk show, newsletter,
retreats and a learning center at Columban Hall on St. Thomas. In addition, the appeal this year
contributed to the formation of future priests for the diocese.
Friday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., “Dinner with the Bishop,”
Meyers Residence, St. Croix.
bishop’s calendar
Catholic
WEB MASTER
Deacon Emith Fludd
CIRCULATION
December 2010 • Vol. 26 : Issue 12
The Catholic Islander is published
monthly by the Diocese of St. Thomas in
the Virgin Islands. P.O. Box 301825,
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 008031825 http://www.catholicislander.com
Telephone: (340) 774-3166 ext. 211,
Fax: (340) 774-5816
E-mail: [email protected]
© FAITH Catholic™.
Please submit news,
digital photography and
advertising for the
January 2011 issue of
The Catholic Islander by
December 30, 2010.
what you’ll get
in this issue
Saturday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m., Mass, Holy
Family Church, St. Thomas.
Sunday, Dec. 19, 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.,
Masses, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church,
St. John.
Sunday, Dec. 19, 1 p.m., Penance Service,
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church,
St. Thomas.
Wednesday, Dec. 22, 8:15 a.m., Ss. Peter and
Paul School Christmas Mass, Ss. Peter and
Paul Cathedral, St. Thomas.
Friday, Dec. 24, Midnight, Christmas Mass,
Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral, St. Thomas.
Saturday, Dec. 25, 11 a.m., Mass,
Fredensborg, St. Croix.
Sunday, Dec. 26, 7:30 a.m., Patronal Mass,
Holy Family Church, St. Thomas.
Friday, Dec. 31, 11 p.m., Old Year’s Night
Mass, Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral,
St. Thomas.
9
Cover Story: Advent
3 Local News
6 Catholic Education
7 ¡Buenas noticias!
8 Feature story: Sister
Publishes Memoirs
10 Save the Date
11 Catholic Spirituality
12 Christmas Calendars
14 Parish Calendars
17 Saint of the Month
18 Pride of the Parish
Liturgical Calendar: St. Francis Xavier, priest Dec. 3 | St. John of Damascus, priest and doctor of the Church Dec. 4 | St. Nicholas Dec. 6 | St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church D
The Catholic Islander / December 2010 / www.catholicislander.com
The Order of Malta
The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus,
Mary and Joseph falls on the Sunday
after Christmas. This year, the feast falls
on December 26. Holy Family Church on
St. Thomas will celebrate Patronal Masses
on Saturday, December 25, at 6 p.m.
and Sunday, December 26, at 7:30 a.m.
and 10 a.m. Bishop Herbert Bevard will
celebrate the Sunday Mass at 7:30 a.m.
Bishop Herbert Bevard led a
day of recollection for members
of the Virgin Islands chapter
of the Sovereign Military
Hospitaller Order of St. John
of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and
of Malta (also known as the
Knights and Dames of Malta) at
Light of Christ Retreat Center
on St. Croix on October 14.
Pre-Christmas School Masses
Bishop Herbert Bevard will celebrate two
Pre-Christmas Masses for Catholic school
students. He will celebrate Mass for all the
Catholic school students on St. Croix at
St. Ann Church on Wednesday, December
15, at 9:30 a.m. He will celebrate Mass for
Ss. Peter and Paul School students at Ss.
Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on
Wednesday, December 22, at 8:15 a.m.
Keys and Sword Award Benefit
Bishop Herbert Bevard and Msgr.
Jerome Feudjio met with volunteers
at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral
rectory on St. Thomas to strategize
Bishop’s Blessings
Inez Andrews was among those receiving
blessings from Bishop Herbert Bevard
when he celebrated Mass at St. Patrick
Church on October 31. She celebrated her
90th birthday.
the selling of tickets for the Keys and
Sword Award Benefit dinner dance at
the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Resort
and Hotel on Saturday, January 22,
2011, at 6:30 p.m. Bishop Bevard will
present Dr. Alfred Heath
with the Keys and Sword
Award at the second
annual benefit for the
Cathedral Restoration
Fund. Tickets are
available for $150. For
more information, consult
your parish bulletin, call
(340) 774-3166, ext.
213, or send an e-mail
to keysandsword@
vipowernet.net.
notes from the bishop’s desk
Patronal Feast
3
Rest in Peace
Sister Elmosa Charles will celebrate the
60th anniversary of her profession as a
religious with a Mass at St. Patrick Church
on St. Croix on Saturday, December 4, at
11 a.m. Sister Charles entered the novitiate
of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary (ICM Sisters), then known as
the Missionary Canonesses of St. Augustine,
and made her first profession in Albany,
New York, on December 4, 1950. She
ministered in the United States, Montserrat,
Jamaica, Dominica and St. Kitts. She retired
actively on St. Croix.
Holy Days of Obligation
The solemnities of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on
Wednesday, December 8, and the Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas) on Saturday,
December 25, are among the six holy days of obligation in the Latin Rite dioceses of
the United States of America, in conformity with canon 1246 of the Code of Canon
Law. The first precept of the Church (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy
days of obligation and rest from servile labor”) requires the faithful to attend Mass on
those days. This precept can be met by attending a Vigil Mass on the evening before
the feast day.
Catholics celebrate the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on Saturday, January 1.
Normally this also is a holy day of obligation, but the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops abrogated the precept to attend Mass when this solemnity falls on a
Saturday or on a Monday.
Dec. 7 | Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Dec. 8 | St. Juan Diego, hermit Dec. 9 | St. Damasus I, pope Dec. 11 | Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12 |
local news
Sister Celebrates
60 Years as a Religious
Prayers are requested for the repose
of the soul of Deacon Raymond Leonce,
who died at home on November 6. He
was ordained in 2002 and served at
St. Joseph Church on St. Croix. He is
survived by his wife, Mary, and their
four children. Pictured at right, Deacon
Leonce helped administer ashes on Ash
Wednesday this year.
local news
4
Raffles
Second Collection
Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas is raffling a 2010
Mitsubishi Outlander, a Caribbean Cruise for two and a weekend
hotel package for two. Tickets are available at the parish office
for $10; a book of 11 chances is $100. The drawing has been
rescheduled for Sunday, December 5.
The Knights of Columbus Council #6482 has its second annual
Basket of Cheer Raffle to benefit the Catholic schools on St. Croix.
Last year, nearly $500 was raised for the scholarship fund. Three
winners will receive a “basket of cheer.” Tickets are available from
the Knights and the parishes for $2. The drawing is on Thursday,
December 16.
St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas is selling tickets for its annual
Christmas raffle. This raffle is known for having more prizes
than any parish raffle. Fifteen prizes have been announced so
far, with possibly more to come. The first prize is 10 sheets of
lottery tickets. Additional prizes include two round-trip tickets
to Tortola, gift certificates, restaurant dinners, a pedicure and
manicure, a chain and pendant, a 90” x 72” tablecloth, a 36”
porcelain doll and cash. Tickets are available for $1. The drawing
will be held at the St. Anne Chapel social hall at Sunday brunch
after Mass on December 26.
Parishes in the Virgin Islands will have a second
collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious (RFR)
on December 11–12. From this appeal, the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National
Religious Retirement Office grants financial support to
congregations for retirement planning, supervision and
immediate needs in the day-to-day care of thousands
of elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order
priests.
Last year, the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin
Islands contributed $10,774.90 to this collection. This
year, the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary (ICM Sisters) on St. Croix received financial
assistance made possible by the RFR.
Sisters of St. Charles the Great
Pictured below, Sister Maura Perpetua Devlin and Sister Mary Joan
Davalos have come to St. Thomas from Lubbock, Texas to serve the
local community.
Sister Devlin, who
has been blind
since birth, offers
spiritual guidance
at Catholic Family
Services. Sister
Davalos is the
administrative
assistant to Msgr.
Jerome Feudjio at
Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral.
Rosary Procession
The Hispanic community
at Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral on St. Thomas
organized an all-parish
rosary procession to close
the month of the rosary on
October 31. Parishioners
sang and prayed the
rosary in four languages
as they marched from
Emancipation Garden
to the cathedral, where
priests representing all the
parishes concelebrated a
Mass.
Missa Brevis
The Diocesan Choir sang selections from Missa Brevis
by Franz Joseph Haydn at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral
on St. Thomas at Sunday Mass on November 7. The
performances included the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo,
the Sanctus, the Benedictus and the Agnus Dei. Bishop
Herbert Bevard was the celebrant.
Dominica
Independence
Day Masses
Dominica
celebrated 32 years
of independence
on November 3.
Catholics in the
Virgin Islands
remembered the
occasion with two
festive bilingual
English/Creole
Masses on October
31. Two priests came from Dominica to celebrate
the Masses in the Virgin Islands. Father Jason Grell
celebrated Mass at Holy Family Church on St. Thomas.
Father Elveau Augustine celebrated Mass at Ss. Joachim
and Ann Church on St. Croix. Pictured above, members
of the Dominica United Cultural Group ministered in
music at Ss. Joachim and Ann Church.
St. Lucy, virgin and martyr Dec. 13 | St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church Dec. 14 | St. Peter Canisius, priest and doctor of the Church Dec. 21 | St. John of Kanty, priest Dec
The Catholic Islander / December 2010 / www.catholicislander.com
5
All Souls
Day
Charismatic Prayer Conferences
The prayer group at St. Patrick Church on St. Croix hosted its 10th
annual Conference for Men and Women at Light of Christ Retreat
Center on October 8–10. The theme was “Responding to the Call.”
The speakers were Father Kenneth Gaddy, CSsR, pastor of Holy
Cross Church, Sister Mary-Patrice Simmons of St. Joseph of Cluny
and Father Anthony Abraham, director of Charismatic Renewal
Services. Pictured above, participants filed into the opening seminar,
with Jeanne Garcia (left) holding a candle representing the Light of
Christ prayer group and Vertilee Daniel holding a Bible representing
the Word of God prayer group.
Soup Sale
Parishioners of
St. Anne Chapel
on St. Thomas
organized among
themselves to
solicit donations
of 12 pots of soup
and chili to sell
at Joseph Aubain
Field on October
30. The event
raised $779 for the parish building fund. The
chapel is undergoing repairs of its bell tower,
estimated to cost $10,500. The parishioners will
continue fundraising through raffles and other
activities. Pictured above is parishioner Louise
Arguin pouring soup.
Church
Steeple
Repaired
Charismatic Renewal
The Caribbean Service Team for Charismatic Renewal had its
semi-annual meeting at Light of Christ Retreat Center on
St. Croix on October 27–29. Leaders from the following
Caribbean countries were present: Antigua, Aruba, Barbados,
Bonaire, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia,
St. Maarten, Tortola and Trinidad and Tobago. Father Anthony
Abraham and Sister Patricia Alexander, WIF, represented the
Virgin Islands.
Workmen
repaired the
interior of the
bell tower at
St. Anne Chapel
on St. Thomas in
early November.
Nearly 90 years
of rain and
sea spray had
damaged the
floors and the
frames.
c. 23 | Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Dec. 25 | Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Dec. 26 | St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr Dec. 29 | St. Sylvester I, pope Dec. 31
local news
The Catholic
Charismatic Renewal
Team hosted a conference
entitled “Filled with
the Holy Spirit” at
Holy Family Church’s
Columban Hall on St.
Thomas on October
29–30. Father Godfrey
Stoute of Trinidad was the
principal speaker.
A book of
remembrance
and lit candles
before the
altar at
St. Joseph
Church on
St. Croix on
All Souls Day,
November
2, reminded
the faithful
to pray for
those in purgatory. Pictured above, Father John
Mark, pastor, celebrated the Mass and Deacon
Guillermo Huertas assisted.
6
catholic education
School Pageants
St. Mary School on St. Croix will have its Christmas tree
lighting on Thursday, December 9, at 6 p.m. with a living
Nativity, songs and steel pan music. Students will re-enact
the Christmas story with the accompaniment of the Choir
of Angels. The Annunciation scene will start at Times
Square and will process to the St. Mary School courtyard
for the Christmas tree lighting and the classes’ Christmas
presentations. The steel pan orchestra will perform the finale.
Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas will hold its
annual Christmas Pageant at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral
on Sunday, December 12, at 3 p.m. This year’s program is
called The Very First Christmas. Students will dramatize the
Annunciation, the angel’s visit to Joseph, the Visitation, the
journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus and the visit of the
Magi. As the students encounter each role, the very first
traditions of Christmas will come to life, thus forming the
Nativity scene. The joy of Christmas will be proclaimed
through the events, such as song, dance and/or drama as the
scene unfolds – all in an effort to place “Christ” in Christmas.
St. Patrick School on St. Croix will hold its Christmas
Pageant at St. Patrick Church on Sunday, December 12, at 3
p.m. Classes will sing songs, recite poems and present their
Christmas play.
Catechists Honored at Alumni Banquet
The Alumni Association of St. Patrick School on St. Croix
honored four religious education catechists at its ninth
annual Awards Banquet at St. Gerard Hall on September
18. They received mahogany-base lamps, and also a
certificate of recognition from Donna Christiansen, the
Virgin Islands delegate to Congress. The event benefited the
school. Pictured, left to right, are Beverly Nesbitt, Vertilee
Daniel, Maria Thomas-Lewis and Sister Audrey Abel, WIF.
Student Academic Achievers
St. Joseph High School Choir
Students at St. Joseph High School on St. Croix who
have maintained a 3.0 or higher grade point average for
the first marking period of the 2010–11 school year
received certificates at the end of the school Mass at
St. Joseph Church on October 27. They are shown
outside St. Joseph Church after leaving the school Mass.
A student choir from St. Joseph High School on St.
Croix sings in the choir loft of St. Joseph Church at school
Masses. The choir is led by teacher Marsha Bedford. The
audio of some of the hymns sung by the choir is often
posted as background music on the school’s website at
http://sjhs.cybermeme.net/sjhs/.
Student Fundraiser
Students of the Spanish
class at Ss. Peter and Paul
School on St. Thomas have
been holding car washes and
other fundraisers to finance
a class trip to Spain. They
will hold another car wash in
Holy Family Church’s parking
lot on Saturday, December 4,
from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Take your digital
camera to
church! E-mail your
photographs of
parish or school
events to editor@
catholicislander.
com.
The Catholic Islander / December 2010 / www.catholicislander.com
Días de Precepto
Las solemnidades de la Inmaculada Concepción de la
Virgen María del miércoles 8 de diciembre y la Natividad de
Nuestro Señor (Navidad) el sábado 25 de diciembre están
dentro de los seis días de guardar en el rito latino de las
Diócesis de los Estados Unidos. El primer precepto de la
Iglesia (asistir a la Misa los domingos y fiestas de guardar y
descansar del trabajo servil) requiere que la feligresía asista a
Misa esos días. Este precepto se puede cumplir asistiendo a la
Misa de vigilia la noche anterior al día de guardar.
Los católicos celebran la Solemnidad de María, Madre de
Dios el sábado 1 de enero. Normalmente este es un día de
guardar obligatorio, pero la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos
de los Estados Unidos anuló el precepto de asistir la Misa
cuando esta solemnidad cae en sábado o en lunes.
Varias parroquias celebrarán Misas adicionales para las
solemnidades de la Inmaculada Concepción de María el
miércoles 8 de diciembre, y la Navidad del Señor el sábado
25 de diciembre. Tres parroquias celebrarán Misas en español
para los días de navidad y la Solemnidad de María, Madre
de Dios. En Sto. Tomás, las Misas en la Catedral San Pedro
y San Pablo serán ambos días a las 12.30 p.m. En Sta. Cruz,
las Misas serán en la Iglesia Holy Cross a las 7.15 a.m. y en la
Iglesia San José a las 9 a.m.
Padre John Mark, párroco de la Iglesia San José en Sta. Cruz,
presentará unas series de enseñanzas sobre el rosario como parte
del tiempo de Adviento. Las conferencias en inglés serán por
tres domingos consecutivos comenzando el 28 de noviembre
a las 4 p.m. Las conferencias en español serán por tres jueves
consecutivos comenzando el 2 de diciembre a las 7 p.m. Las
presentaciones consistirán en media hora de enseñanzas y media
hora de adoración seguida por la bendición.
de retiro para religiosos de la Conferencia Americana de
Obispos Católicos provee ayuda a las congregaciones para la
planeación, supervisión del retiro y necesidades inmediatas.
Misas de Aguinaldo
Las tradicionales Misas de aguinaldo se celebrarán el 16 a
24 de diciembre en tres parroquias. En Sto. Tomás, las Misas
serán en la Catedral San Pedro y San Pablo a las 6 a.m., menos
el domingo a las 12.30 p.m. En Sta. Cruz, se celebrarán en
la Iglesia San José a las 5.45 a.m., menos el domingo a las
10 a.m., y en la Iglesia Holy Cross a las 6.30 a.m., menos el
domingo a las 7.15 a.m.
Oración y Reflexión
La Catedral San Pedro y San Pablo en Sto. Tomás tiene
Horas Santas bilingües con Exposición del Santísimo y
Bendición los martes a las 5.30 p.m.
Un grupo reza el rosario y comparte las lecturas del
próximo domingo en la Iglesia Holy Cross en Sta. Cruz los
martes a las 7 p.m.
Legión de María
El Presidio María, Arca de la Alianza, se reúne en el Salón
de Hospitalidad de la Catedral San Pedro y San Pablo en
Sto. Tomás los domingos a las 2 p.m.
Cursillo Ultreya
Miembros del Movimiento de Cursillos de Cristiandad se
reúnen para la ultreya en su oficina de la Iglesia San José en
Sta. Cruz los jueves después de la Misa de las 7 p.m.
Protección de Niños
Las parroquias en las Islas Vírgenes tendrán una segunda
colecta en beneficio del Fondo de Retiro para los Religiosos
en diciembre 11–12. De esta súplica, la oficina nacional
La Diócesis de Sto. Tomás en las Islas Vírgenes está
comprometida a proteger a los niños de todo daño. Si Ud.
tiene conocimiento de algún sacerdote, diácono o empleado
de la iglesia que haya abusado de algún menor, favor de
comunicarse inmediatamente con la Coordinadora Diocesana
de la Protección de los Niños, Callista Julien, al (340) 7743166 o (340) 719-4020.
Grupo de Oración
Clases de Catecismo
El grupo de oración del Movimiento de Cursillos de
Cristiandad se reúne en la Capilla San Miguel de la Iglesia
San José en Sta. Cruz el 27 de diciembre y el último lunes
de cada mes a las 7 p.m.
Aunque estos jóvenes de la Catedral San Pedro y San
Pablo en Sto. Tomás hablan ingles, quisieron tomar clases
de catecismo en español.
Segunda Colecta
¡buenas noticias!
Enseñanzas sobre el Rosario
7
8
Photo courtesy of Sister Kathryn Clementz, SC.
Sister
Publishes
Memoirs
feature story
All Along the Way: Gifts,
Blessings and Graces
from Our Loving God
Sister Louis Marie Bryan, SC, has
written her memoirs, All Along the Way:
Gifts, Blessings and Graces from Our
Loving God. The book, published by
Attic Studio Press, will be available for
$15 on December 8 at the bookstores of Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral on St. Thomas and St. Ann Church on
St. Croix, as well as online from Amazon and from the
publisher.
Sister Bryan, a native of St. Thomas, joined the Sisters of
Charity of St. Elizabeth and served the diocese as chancellor,
executive director of Catholic Charities and host of The
Catholic Voice weekly radio show. She also served in several
parish ministries. She now lives in her religious community’s
motherhouse in Convent Station, New Jersey.
“I wrote the book to recount the
highlights of my
life, hoping to
remind others of
their own gifts,
blessings and
graces received
from the same
God who smiles
on all of us,” said
the author.
The richly illustrated, 180-page memoir is filled with
stories and photographs of her 82 years. The book includes a
foreword by Cardinal Sean O’Malley.
“The experiences she chronicles in All Along the Way are
a realization of the God-given potential Sister Louis Marie
was blessed with at the moment her
life came into being,” wrote Cardinal
O’Malley. “Filled with the Spirit of the
Lord and inspired by the example of St.
Elizabeth Ann Seton, Sister persevered
and accomplished much good for the
Church and the people we serve.” He
concluded with a personal prayer for the
book: “May this wonderful memoir of
Sister Louis Marie’s journey be a source of
encouragement for all of us.”
Pictured above, the seventh grade at Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas in 1940. Beryl Bryan, now Sister Louis
Marie Bryan, SC, is in the front row, third from the right. Photo courtesy of her classmate, Agatha Quetel Blanchard.
Save the Date
Diocese of St. Thomas
In the Virgin Islands Presents
SecondAnnual Keys and
Sword Award Benefit
Dr. Alfred O. Heath will receive the 2010 Keys
and Sword Award, which recognizes extraordinary
commitment and selfless dedication in service to others.
Mark Your Calendars!
Saturday, January 22, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
Marriott Frenchman’s Reef
Beach Resort, St. Thomas
Dinner – Awards – Dancing – Raffles
and Silent Auction
Proceeds support the Ss. Peter
and Paul Restoration Project
Advent
Wai t i n g
f o r
It is not known exactly when Catholic Christians in the
Early Church began to celebrate Advent. During the second
and third centuries, Christians began to celebrate Jesus’
birth; and between the sixth and eighth centuries, the
Christian community in Rome started to observe a season of
preparation for his coming. Thus, a season of Advent became
part of the liturgical calendar in Rome. The tradition spread to
other Christian communities. Advent was originally observed
for five Sundays before Christmas. Around 600 A.D., Pope
Gregory the Great decreed that it would be observed for four
Sundays before Christmas, as it is today.
With the First Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a
new liturgical year. It is a time of preparation, hope and joy.
We look back to the first coming of Christ in Bethlehem,
and we look forward to the future and prepare for his final
coming. In between these two events, we find meaning for
our lives as Christians by celebrating Christ’s presence
in holy Communion. When we celebrate the birth of Our
Prayer of Blessing for
Your Home Advent Wreath
Lord, our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: He
is Emmanuel, the hope of all people, he is the wisdom that
teaches and guides us, he is the Savior of every nation. Lord
God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles
of this Advent wreath. May the wreath and its light be signs
of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation. We ask this through
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Lo rd
Lord, we are celebrating that Christ
came to us as a human being, as a
baby born in a stable. God wanted to
come into our world and live amongst
us. When he left this earth, he did
not abandon us, but, instead, remains
with us through his Spirit, the Church,
the sacraments, the Scriptures. The
season of Advent challenges us to
be constantly prepared for Christ’s
triumphant and majestic return at
the end of time and to live each day
accordingly. Jesus asks that we stay
awake and be watchful so that he will
not find us asleep.
Since Advent is a penitential season and a time to
prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ, the liturgical
color for Advent is violet – the same color as the Lenten
season. The sanctuary normally does not have flowers or
plants, and the Gloria – one of the most festive hymns of
the Mass – is not sung during Advent. The most visible
symbol of the season in church is the Advent Wreath – with
three purple candles and one pink candle. The pink candle
is lit on the Third Sunday of Advent – known as Gaudete
Sunday – and the priest may wear rose-colored vestments
on this day. Gaudete means “rejoice,” and during this
season of prayerful preparation, the Church gives us this
Sunday to remind us that we also are anticipating the joy of
the Christmas celebration, and that it is drawing near.
As Catholics, we do not sing Christmas hymns or use
Christmas readings during Advent. Christmas will be here
soon enough. But now is the time for Advent. It is a brief
but important time of preparation. It is a season of grace
and spirituality, a time to let the Holy Spirit into our lives. Let
us pray this Advent season that we will find new strength
and wisdom so that our hearts will be ready for Our Savior
when Christmas does arrive.
Advent Prayer
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever faithful to your
promises and ever close to your Church: the earth rejoices
in hope of the Savior’s coming and looks forward with
longing to his return at the end of time. Prepare our hearts
and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy
and hope which his presence will bestow, for he is Lord for
ever and ever. Amen.
cover story
The word “Advent” comes
from the Latin word
Adventus, which means
“coming.” In our Catholic
tradition, Advent is a period
of preparation, or waiting,
to celebrate the birth of Our
Lord. We thank God during
this season for Christ’s first
coming. Advent also is a time
for us to renew our hope and
prepare for his final coming
at the end of time, and
celebrate Christ’s coming in
mystery—his presence among us today in the
Eucharist and through the Spirit.
the
9
save the date! mark your calendars!
10
Teachings on the Rosary
Penance Services
Father John Mark, pastor of St. Joseph
Church on St. Croix, will present a series
of teachings on the rosary. He will teach
in English on three Sundays beginning
November 28 at 4 p.m. and in Spanish
on three Thursdays beginning December
2 at 7 p.m. The programs will consist
of a half-hour teaching, followed by
Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction.
Penance services during Advent
provide Catholics with the opportunity to
receive the sacrament of reconciliation in
preparation for the Christmas season.
On St. Thomas, St. Anne Chapel will
have a penance service during its Holy
Hour on Friday, December 3, from 6 p.m.
to 7 p.m., followed by First Friday Mass;
the service will include devotions to
St. Anne. Holy Family Church will have a
service on Thursday, December 16, from 6
p.m. to 8 p.m. Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Church will host an Advent Eucharistic Day
of Reconciliation with Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament on Sunday, December
19, beginning after the 9 a.m. Mass; priests
will be available to hear confessions from
1 p.m. until Benediction at 5 p.m. Ss. Peter
and Paul Cathedral will have its service on
Tuesday, December 21, from 4:30 p.m. to
6:45 p.m.
On St. Croix, St. Patrick Church
will have a penance service on Sunday,
December 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; the
Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and
the day will conclude with Benediction.
St. Joseph Church will have a service on
Sunday, December 19, from noon to 5
Advent Mission
Father John Mark, pastor of St. Joseph
Church on St. Croix, will be leading an
Advent Mission at St. Patrick Church on
December 11–15. He will preach at all
the weekend Masses on December 11–12
and then lead conferences on December
13–15 at 7 p.m.
Marian Devotion
Holy Family Church on St. Thomas
will lead a Marian devotion celebrating
the feasts of the Immaculate Conception
and Our Lady of Guadeloupe at the
adjacent Our Lady of Cassi Hill Shrine on
Sunday, December 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Our Blessed Mother’s
Message from Medjugorje
October 25, 2010
“Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer for
you. My call, little children, desires to be for you a call
to decide to follow the way of conversion; therefore,
pray and seek the intercession of all the saints. May they
be for you an example, an incentive and a joy towards
eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
– Courtesy of John and Claire Foster
p.m.; priests will be available to hear
confessions in English and Spanish.
Holy Cross Church will have a service on
Monday, December 20, at 7 p.m. St. Ann
Church will have a service on Tuesday,
December 21, at 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on
St. John will host a Eucharistic
reconciliation service with Exposition
of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday,
December 19. Confessions will be heard
from 1 p.m. until Benediction at 5 p.m.
Aguinaldo Masses
Three parishes on St. Thomas and
St. Croix will celebrate the traditional
novena of sunrise aguinaldo Masses in
Spanish in preparation for Christmas.
The Masses are celebrated on December
16–24.
On St. Thomas, the Masses will be
celebrated at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral
at 6 a.m., except Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
On St. Croix, the Masses at St. Joseph
Church are at 5:45 a.m., except Sunday
at 10 a.m., and at Holy Cross Church at
6:30 a.m., except Sunday at 7:15 a.m. A
light breakfast is served after each Mass in
the parish social halls.
Protection of children
The Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin
Islands is committed to protecting children
from all harm. If you have knowledge that any
priest, deacon or church worker may have
abused a minor, please contact the diocesan
child protection coordinator, Callista Julien, at
(340) 774-3166 and (340) 719-4020.
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The Catholic Islander / December 2010 / www.catholicislander.com
January 1:
The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
One of the oldest Christian feasts, Epiphany had its origin in
the Eastern Church; from a very early time, the date was fixed as
January 6. Now, in many countries, it is celebrated on the Sunday
that falls between January 2 and January 8. The word Epiphany
comes from a Greek verb meaning “to reveal” or “to manifest,”
and initially the feast celebrated four different events in which
Christ revealed himself to humankind: the Nativity, when he first
came into the world; the Visitation of the Wise Men or Magi; the
baptism of Jesus; and Jesus’ first miracle at Cana. Each of these
events is a manifestation of the divinity of Christ.
By the fourth century, the Western Church had separated
out the Feast of the Nativity and set its date as December 25.
Eventually, Epiphany became the commemoration of the
Visitation of the Magi, which was the manifestation of Christ to
the Wise Men – to the Gentiles.
The priest wears white vestments on Epiphany. He may bless
water that will be used for the blessing of homes. The priest
also may bless chalk that families use to mark the initials of the
three Magi over their doors as a witness of their faith and as a
protection against evil. The letters CMB stand for the initials of
the Magi (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar),
and also the phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates
as “may Christ bless the house.” Epiphany also is the day that
the crèche can be completed because the three Wise Men have
arrived at the manger to pay homage to the Baby Jesus.
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11
catholic spirituality
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is celebrated on
January 1, exactly one week after Christmas. On this day, we
commemorate the divine motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
It is appropriate that we celebrate this feast day following the
birth of Christ, who was born fully divine as well as fully human.
The precise title “Mother of God” dates back to at least the third
or fourth century, when Christians referred to Mary in the Greek
form Theotokos, meaning “God-bearer.”
At this time, there were debates in the Early Church over the
relationship between Christ’s divine and human natures, and
whether Mary was the Mother of his divine nature as well as his
human nature. At the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D., it was
decided that Christ’s human and divine natures were unified in
the one person of Jesus, and Mary was indeed the “Mother of
God.” Giving Mary this title is the highest honor we can give her,
and, in celebrating this feast, we also are honoring her Son, who
was born both God and Man.
Pope Paul VI highlighted the feast’s celebration of both Mary
and Jesus by proclaiming January 1 as the World Day of Peace,
since Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is peace for the world.
We remember the words of Pope Benedict on the Feast of the
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 43rd World Day of
Peace: “Thank you, Blessed Mother, who gave birth to the Savior,
the Prince of Peace!”
12
Christmas and Old Year’s Calendar
Parish Schedules for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,
Old Year’s Night, New Year’s Day/Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
St. Thomas
Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral
christmas and old year’s calendar
Christmas Eve
6 p.m. Carols (English)
6:30 p.m. Youth Mass
(English)
11 p.m. Carols (English)
Midnight Mass (Bilingual)
Christmas Day
8:30 a.m. Mass (English)
10:30 a.m. Mass (English)
12:30 p.m. Mass (Spanish)
St. Croix
Holy Cross Church
Christmas Eve
6 p.m. Mass and pageant
Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
7:15 a.m. Mass (Spanish)
9 a.m. Mass (English)
Old Year’s Night
10 p.m. Holy Hour
(English)
11 p.m. Mass (Bilingual)
New Year’s Day
9 a.m. Mass (English)
11 a.m. Mass (Bilingual)
Holy Family Church
Old Year’s Night
10 p.m. Holy Hour
11 p.m. Mass
New Year’s Day
9 a.m. Mass
Our Lady of Perpetual
Help Church
Old Year’s Night
11 p.m. Mass
New Year’s Day
9 a.m. Mass
St. Anne Chapel
Christmas Eve
11:30 p.m. Carols
Midnight Mass
Christmas Eve
11 p.m. Pageant/carols
Midnight Mass
Christmas Eve
6 p.m. Children’s Mass
11:30 p.m. Carols
Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
9 a.m. Mass
Christmas Day
9 a.m. Mass
Old Year’s Night
7:30 p.m. Vigil Mass
Old Year’s Night
6 p.m. Vigil Mass
11 p.m. Holy Hour
Midnight Mass
St. Patrick Church
St. John
Christmas Eve
6 p.m. Vigil Mass
11 p.m. Carols
Midnight Mass
Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel Church
New Year’s Day
10 a.m. Mass
St. Joseph Church
Old Year’s Night
11 p.m. Holy Hour
Midnight Mass
Christmas Eve
5 p.m. Children’s Mass
(English)
10 p.m. Carols (English)
11 p.m. Mass (English)
New Year’s Day
7:15 a.m. Mass (Spanish)
9 a.m. Mass (English)
Christmas Day
7 a.m. Mass (English)
10 a.m. Mass (Spanish)
St. Ann Church
Christmas Eve
6 p.m. Vigil Mass
11:15 p.m. Carols
Midnight Mass
Old Year’s Night
5 p.m. Children’s Mass
(English)
10:30 p.m. Holy Hour
(English)
11:45 p.m. Mass (English)
Christmas Day
10 a.m. Mass
New Year’s Day
9 a.m. Mass (Bilingual)
Christmas Day
10 a.m. Mass
Old Year’s Night
6 p.m. Vigil Mass
11 p.m. Holy Hour
Midnight Mass
New Year’s Day
10 a.m. Mass
Christmas Day
8 a.m. Mass
Christmas Eve
10:30 p.m. Carols
11:30 p.m. Mass
Christmas Day
9:30 a.m. Mass
Old Year’s Night
10:30 p.m. Holy Hour
11:30 p.m. Mass
New Year’s Day
9:30 a.m. Mass
Could God be calling you
to serve him as a
priest or religious?
Call (340) 774-0201
Msgr. Jerome Feudijo, director of
vocations, will pray with you.
13
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14
St. Thomas Calendar
Rosary Walk
Holy Name Society
Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral hosts
a rosary walk on December 4 and the
first Saturday of every month at 7 a.m.,
followed by Mass at 7:30 a.m.
Catholic men meet at Ss. Peter and
Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge
on December 13 and the second
Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
Magnificat
All-Night Prayer Vigil
Magnificat, an international ministry to
Catholic women, meets at Ss. Peter and
Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge
on December 4 and the first Saturday of
every month at 8 a.m.
Holy Family Church will have an allnight prayer vigil with Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament beginning on Friday,
December 17, after the 7 p.m. Mass and
ending with Benediction and Mass the
next morning at 6 a.m.
Our Lady of Fatima Devotion
The Children of Mary lead a devotion
to Our Lady of Fatima at Holy Family
Church on December 4 and the first
Saturday of every month at 4 p.m.
parish calendars
French Mass
Mass is celebrated in French at St. Anne
Chapel on December 5 and the first
Sunday of every month at 10 a.m.
Christmas Jamboree
Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral will host
a Christmas Jamboree at Ss. Peter and
Paul School on Sunday, December
5, from noon to 5 p.m. There will be
food, games, live entertainment and the
drawing of the car raffle.
Bingo
• Ss. Peter and Paul School has bingo
in the cafeteria on Friday, December 10,
at 6 p.m.
• Holy Family Church has bingo in
Columban Hall on Friday, December 10,
at 8 p.m.
Franciscan Spirituality
The Lady Clare of Assisi Fraternity
shares Franciscan spirituality at Holy
Family Church’s Columban Hall on
December 11 and the second Saturday
of every month at 1 p.m.
St. Joseph Workers
The St. Joseph Workers meet at Holy
Family Church’s Columban Hall on
December 12 and the second Sunday of
every month at 9:30 a.m.
Catholic Daughters of America
Court 2049 meets at Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on
December 18 and the third Saturday of
every month at 3 p.m.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
The Young Vincentians meet on
December 19 and the third Sunday of
every month at 11:30 a.m. The adult
members meet on the fourth Saturday
of every month at 3:30 p.m. Both
groups meet in Holy Family Church’s
classroom.
Holy Hours/Eucharistic
Adoration
• St. Therese Chapel-Divine Mercy
Shrine has Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament and Benediction on Mondays
to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and
on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
has Exposition and Benediction on
Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
and on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral has
a Holy Hour with Exposition and
Benediction on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.
• Holy Family Church and St. Anne
Chapel have Holy Hours with
Exposition and Benediction on Fridays
at 6 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Knights of Columbus
Council #6187 meets at Ss. Peter and
Paul Cathedral’s Yellow Room on the
first and third Sunday of every month at
10 a.m.
Legion of Mary
• Presidium María, Arca de la Alianza,
holds meetings in Spanish at Ss. Peter
and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality
Lounge on Sundays at 2 p.m.
• Presidium Mary, Mystical Rose, meets
in Holy Family Church’s classroom on
Sundays at 3 p.m.
• Presidium Mary, Mediatrix of All
Graces, meets at the St. Anne Chapel
Hall on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
Divine Mercy Chaplet
The St. Thomas altar servers lead the
prayers of the Divine Mercy chaplet
at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on
Mondays at 3 p.m.
Evenings of Charismatic Prayer
Charismatic prayer meetings are held at
Holy Family Church on Mondays at
7 p.m.
Men’s Prayer Group
The Sons of Joseph and Mary meet at
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Devotions
Devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual
Help are prayed before Mass on
Wednesdays at Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral at 6:45 a.m. and noon, at
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
at 5:45 p.m., at Holy Family Church
at 6:50 p.m. and at St. Anne Chapel at
7:15 p.m.
Pro-Life Rosary
A Pro-Life Rosary is prayed at Our
Lady of Perpetual Help Church on
Wednesdays at the 5:15 p.m. Mass.
Intercessory Prayer Group
A team is prepared to pray for the needs
of all who ask at Holy Family Church
on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
World Apostolate of Fatima
The World Apostolate of Fatima meets at
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on
Thursdays at 10 a.m.
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St. Croix Calendar
parish calendars
Holy Hours/Eucharistic Adoration
• Holy Cross Church has Exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction on
December 3 and the first Friday of every
month from 9 a.m. to noon.
• St. Patrick Church has a Holy Hour
with Exposition and Benediction on
Fridays after the 8 a.m. Mass.
• St. Ann Church has a Holy Hour with
Exposition and Benediction in St. Ann
Chapel on Fridays at 5:30 p.m.
• St. Joseph Church has a Holy Hour
with Exposition and Benediction on
Fridays at 6:30 p.m.
Santo Niño
St. Joseph Church hosts devotions to
Santo Niño (the Holy Child Jesus) on
December 4 and the first Saturday of
every month at 4:30 p.m. The
sacrament of reconciliation is offered
during this time.
Pro-Life Prayer Vigil
The St. Croix Right-to-Life Committee will
hold a prayer vigil outside the abortion
clinic at Barrenspot Mall on Tuesday,
December 14, at 10 a.m.
Evenings of Charismatic Prayer
• St. Patrick Church has charismatic
prayer in the chapel on December 17 and
the third Friday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
• St. Ann Church has charismatic prayer
in Marian Hall on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
Magnificat
Magnificat, an international ministry to
Catholic women, meets at Franciscan
House on December 19 and the third
Sunday of each month at 3 p.m.
Secular Discalced Carmelites
Spanish Prayer and Reflection
The Our Lady Star of the Sea Community
shares Carmelite spirituality in the St.
Joseph Church Hospitality Lounge and
Learning Center on December 26 and the
fourth Sunday of every month at 1 p.m.
Pray the rosary and share reflections
on the readings of the coming Sunday
Mass at Holy Cross Church on alternate
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Meetings are in
Spanish.
Franciscan Spirituality
Our Mother of
Perpetual Help Devotions
The Our Lady of the Angels fraternity
of the Third Order of St. Francis shares
Franciscan spirituality at Franciscan
House on December 26 and the fourth
Sunday of every month at 2 p.m.
Cursillo Prayer Group
The Cursillo Movement hosts a Spanish
prayer meeting in the St. Michael Chapel
at St. Joseph Church on December 27 and
the last Monday of every month at 7 p.m.
Neo-Catechumenal Way
The Neo-Catechumenal Way leads a
Celebration of the Word at St. Joseph
Church on Mondays at 7 p.m.
Adult Education
The St. Patrick Learning Center offers
classes in Pre-GED, GED, Computer
Literacy, Intermediate Computer and
English as a Second Language on Monday
through Thursday mornings.
Devotions to St. Gerard Majella
Holy Cross Church prays a devotion
to St. Gerard Majella on Tuesdays at
8:45 a.m.
World Apostolate of Fatima
The World Apostolate of Fatima meets
in the chapel at Holy Cross Church on
Tuesdays at 5 p.m.
Devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual
Help are prayed at St. Patrick Church on
Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. Holy
Cross Church prays the devotion on
Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:45 a.m.
St. Joseph Church prays the devotion
bilingually on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Shepherds of Christ Associates
The Shepherds of Christ Associates meet
for prayer in the St. Michael Chapel of
St. Joseph Church on Wednesdays at
7:30 p.m. and on the second and fourth
Sunday of every month at 5 p.m.
Knights of Columbus
Holy Cross Council #6482 meets at Holy
Cross Church’s McAlpin Hall on the
first and third Thursday of every month
at 6 p.m.
Cursillo Ultreya
Cursillo members meet for the “ultreya” in
the Cursillo office at St. Joseph Church
on Thursdays after the 7 p.m. Mass.
Meetings are in Spanish.
Legion of Mary
Presidium Mary, Our Lady of Grace,
meets in the Holy Cross Church rectory
on Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
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St. Lucy
Giving light to the blind
Claim to Fame: Lucy was born into a wealthy family and
from an early age wanted to devote her life to God as a
virgin. Her father died while she was still young, however,
and her mother desired that Lucy marry. Lucy’s mother
had a change of heart, though, after visiting the relics of St.
Agatha and being cured of a hemorrhage. Following this
episode, she allowed Lucy to distribute the family’s money
among the poor. This act angered the man Lucy was
unwillingly supposed to marry and he sent her before the
Roman governor of Sicily. The governor tried to sentence
Lucy to prostitution, but when the time came to take her
away, God’s strength filled her and the guards found her
too heavy to move. Before her death, Lucy predicted the
punishment of the man she was supposed to marry. She also
predicted the end of the persecution of Christians, as well as
the end of the ruthless emperor Diocletian’s rule.
Best quote: Showing how
important purity was to Lucy,
she once said, “Those whose
hearts are pure are the temples
of the Holy Spirit.”
How she died: After her
resistance to prostitution, the
Roman governor sentenced
her to death by burning at
the stake. However, much to the dismay of the Roman
officials, God saved Lucy from this fate. Again the
governor sentenced her to die, this time by the sword. This
attempt to execute Lucy succeeded, and she became a
martyr of the Church.
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17
saint of the month
Feast Day: December 13
Patron saint of: sight and the blind
Meaning of name: Light
Why she is a saint: Before her
fiancée denounced her to the
government, Lucy devoted her
life to service of the poor, and
gave away most of her family’s
fortune. Later, despite being
tortured under Diocletian, Lucy
never denied or wavered in
her faith in God. She endured
persecution bravely and
willingly suffered for Christ.
18
St. John
parish calendars
Calendar
Healing Mass
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church has a healing
Mass on December 1 and the first Wednesday of
each month at 7 p.m.
Legion of Mary
Presidium Mary, Queen of Angels, meets in the
Guadalupe Hall of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Church on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church has a Holy Hour
with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and
Benediction on Thursdays at 6 p.m.
Charismatic Prayer
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church hosts an hour of
charismatic prayer on Thursdays at 7 p.m.
Pride of the Parish
Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, rector of Ss. Peter and Paul
Cathedral on St. Thomas, blessed Juanito and Phyllis
Benjamin on their 50th wedding anniversary at the end of
Sunday Mass on October 24. Mrs. Benjamin is a long-time
cantor at the cathedral.
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