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We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin June 27, 2021

by Terrie Evans

On this 13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are called to use the time after our 9:00 AM Mass to “go out to all the world and tell the good news.”  Since the early days of our church, parishioners have always been church, community and family  oriented.  After all these years,  we are still a dedicated  group that continues to do the volunteer and outreach work of keeping and promoting our church.  We must always  remember  the many  generations of our families who have passed on and who had worked for the good of and for the future of San Antonio Church.  As we recall the history of San Antonio Italian Church, we look forward to our 100^th Anniversary , a much anticipated event in 2022.   Planning for this milestone is underway and we need everyone’s input and stories from the founding of our church  in 1922.  Tina (Roberto) Kroeger is heading up the Steering Committee so, please consider joining this group of men and women of San Antonio relay  your ideas for this once in a lifetime event. 

On Friday, June 25^th San Antonio Church welcomed  Fr. Bill Farris and Linda and Mike Dektas and their family members  as they renewed their vows on their  50^th Wedding Anniversary. Their Mass and Blessing is the 1^st Anniversary re-newel we have had in many years.  We  congratulate them and their family and friends  as they celebrate their Golden Anniversary!

On June 28^th, we honor the feast day of St. Irenaeus,  a Greek Bishop  who worked to expand the Christian communities throughout  the south of France as a follower of John the Evangelist.  He is celebrated in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Church of England.   He is known as a Bishop, Martyr, Bishop of Lyon and a Teacher of Faith.  St. Irenaeus was one of the first to insist that our four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the ones we may trust and no others.  St. Irenaeus became the most considerable theologian of his age.  He died in 202 AD in modern day Lyon, France. 

On June 29^th we honor the  Saints  Peter and Paul who are considered the principal saints of Rome.  Peter, a fisherman became one of Jesus Apostles when Jesus promised to make him a “Fisher of Men”.  St. Peter wrote the first of the letters attributed to him in the New Testament and was martyred in Rome under Nero and is reportedly buried below the main Altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  Sharing the same feast day is St. Paul, a tent maker who fanatically  worked and preached against Christians.  It wasn’t until  he was thrown from a horse and saw a vision of Jesus that he changed his life.  St. Paul  went on to preach about his new faith while founding churches and preaching to Non- Jews.  He too was Martyred in Rome.  A Cathedral church is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul in Winchester, England  where their coat of arms is displayed in the historic church.  The two Saints have also  been venerated with their names inserted in the Canon of the Mass. 

On Thursday, June 30^th we honor The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church  to remember those Christians martyred in Rome during Nero’s persecution in the year 64 AD.  This feast is a general celebration of early Roman Martyrs and to remember the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.  

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin June 20, 2021

by Terrie Evans

On  this 3^rd Sunday in June, our church community wishes all the men from San Antonio Happy Father’s Day. Today we honor and remember all those dads, granddads, uncles,  brothers, coaches, teachers , and priests who have “  fathered “ us as mentors and guides throughout  of our lives.  May we never forget all those fathers  who have passed on, but will  live on in our memory and continue to nurture us.  We also honor St. Joseph, Patron of Fathers, Families and the Universal Church.  The tradition for Father’s Day started in 1910 on the suggestion Sonora Smart Dodd to thank her Civil War Veteran father who was raising his family alone after the death of his wife.  Sonora took her campaign for Father’s Day  to her local government officials, organizations and churches.  In 1910 the 1^st Father’s Day was celebrated in Washington State establishing this milestone as a first in the country.  Over the next decades she challenged many Presidents to recognize the importance of the day; but it wasn’t until 1970 when Congress passed a resolution to grant the President the authority to designate the 3^rd Sunday in June as Father’s Day.  This resolution invited people of the United States to observe such a day with appropriate ceremonies  by urging our people to offer public and private expressions of such a day to the abiding love and gratitude which they bear for their fathers.  A Prayer for all the men in our lives:  “God our Father, Bless these men, that they might find strength as Fathers.  Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.  Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect.”   

As we honor men today, please recite a prayer in memory of Dominican  Brother Bertrand Bailey (1887) who died on June 23, 1954 at the age of 67.  He built San Antonio Church, one of 25 chapels that he constructed over 12 years as he worked alongside the volunteers he recruited.  His death resulted  from a fall from a ladder while painting the priory of St. Stephen’s in Massachusetts.  Brother Bertrand wore the Dominican habit and became known as the “Little Brother of the Missions”.  He even outfitted his car with the  tools needed for building repairs.  Wednesday, June 23^rd  marks  the 67^th Anniversary of his passing.

On Saturday evening,  June 26^th we will welcome the Dektas Family as Linda (Keller) & Mike Dektas celebrate their 50^th Anniversary with a vow renewal with Fr. Bill Ferris officiating.  Linda and Mike had family members who were parishioners and volunteers at San Antonio Church that resided on White Street during those years.    Other family members of the Dektas’ are the  Bonaventure, Roberto and Walkenhorst cousins.  We all congratulate them and their family members and we hope they attend Mass with us in the future.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin June 13, 2021

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday we honor and celebrate the feast of our Patron Saint, St. Anthony (1195-1231) Catholic priest and Friar of the Franciscan Order.  Born Fernando de Bulhoes  into a noble family in Lisbon, Portugal, he  entered the Augustine Monastery in Coimbra, Portugal at the age of 15.  With a dedication to his studies, scripture and theological writings, Fernando  joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine for the next ten years of his life.  He knew of the Franciscan Brothers who became Missionaries and wanted to follow them in their work.  He was given permission to join the Order of Friars Minor choosing the name Anthony with orders  to Morocco as a Missionary to convert Muslims to Christians.  On his journey, Anthony became ill on arriving in Morocco and as he set sail to return home, the ship was blown off course  landing in  Sicily where he stayed until he recovered.  At the request of the Franciscans, he was called to Assisi for their General Chapter Meeting in 1221 A.D.  At that time he studied continuously and increased his wisdom about the scriptures and all the doctrines he had studied earlier. 

Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi who founded the Franciscan Order, Anthony became a powerful  gifted preacher with his sermons reaching many followers, even St. Francis.  He wrote many scholarly works between 1224 and 1230, but will always be known for his sermons that were held outdoors to accommodate the massive crowds.  Anthony would pray late into the night while speaking to the Child Jesus and reaching out to him which is now depicted in all St. Anthony Statues as he holds the Child Jesus.  In Padua, Anthony worked to preach, save souls and reform laws throughout the city.  He died in Padua on June 13, 1231 at the age of 35 and was Canonized on May 30, 1232 in Spoleto, Italy by Pope Gregory IX.  He became known for the miracles he performed through his intercession and is considered the patron saint of oppressed people, lost articles, elderly people and shipwrecks.  In 1692, Spanish Missionaries along with Franciscan Chaplain Fr. Damien Massanet  founded a mission in a small community that eventually became San Antonio, Texas.  By the year 1787, 25 Mission Stations were established.

Today we celebrate his feast, our church and the blessing of St. Anthony Bread in his honor.  Please be generous with your donations as all monies from the bread and the blue ribbon around the St. Anthony Statue will be presented to the Franciscan Missions.

Monday, June 14^th is Flag Day to honor the United States Flag and to commemorate the flag’s adoption in 1777 by the Continental Congress of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States of America.  The National Flag Day Foundation will hold an observance today with a program including a ceremonial of the national flag, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem. It reminds us of the foundation of the nation’s freedom and our loyalty to the nation.  In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation to officially establish June 14^th as Flag Day.  National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress in 1949.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin June 6, 2021

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday we honor The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also known as Corpus Domini.  This day is set aside to celebrate the Real Presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the elements of the Eucharist.  St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church proposed the feast to focus solely on the Holy Eucharist.  At that time he urged Pope Urban IV to create a feast to emphasize the joy of the Eucharist being the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  In 1264, the Pontiff would establish the feast of Corpus Christi as a Solemnity and extend it throughout the whole Catholic Church.  A tradition held on Corpus Christi Sunday is to hold parish processions with singing and prayers all in the honor of the Blessed Sacrament.  During the procession, the Priest will hold the Monstrance aloft until the end of the procession when the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament takes place.

Our Mass intention on this Corpus Christi Sunday is in memory of Vicki  (Stevens ) Roark who was the daughter of the late Don and Doe Stevens.  The Stevens Family were active members of San Antonio Church for many years as well as her Aunt Mary Lou (Stevens) and her Uncle Frank Russo who still attend our 9:00 AM Mass.   Vicki married and moved to Mason where she lived for 30 years while employed by the Warren County Child Development Department until her retirement.  She  was involved in local and community issues while working part time at Costco’s until she became disabled the last 15 years of her life.  Vicki succumbed to the rare disease Proteus Syndrome at the age of 63 on April 16, 2021.      

Besides her husband Donnie, Vicki leaves children Missy and Eric, their spouses, and four Grandchildren.  She also has many cousins and friends including Mary Ann and Sharon who were with her until the end and now  mourn her passing.  Vicki donated her body to the University of Cincinnati medical Center for research and study of the very painful disease that struck her in the prime of her life.  

After our Mass today, Fr. Westerhoff will celebrate the Baptism of Angelo James Sulken, son of Michael and Karissa (Hicks) Sulken who was born on April 6, 2020.  Angelo is  the  Great Grandson of our beloved late parishioner Carol (Schare) Enderle and nephew and  cousin to many members of the Studt family.  The Godparents are the Kyle Hicks and Cassie Raabe the brother and sister-in-law of Karissa Sulken.  Baby Angelo James is the Grandson of Curt & Leigh Ann Hicks, Steve & Sheri Lay, Nikki Glacen and Mike & Cindi Sulken.  Please remember  Angelo and his parents, and family members in your prayers as he begins his journey in the Catholic Faith.  

Next week we will celebrate and honor the feast of our patron, St. Anthony with the blessing of the loaves of St. Anthony Bread.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin May 23, 2021

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday we honor the feast of the Pentecost, known as Whitsunday in Ireland and in the United Kingdom.  In the Roman Catholic Church, the Easter Season is now  over and the Paschal Candle will be removed from the  Sanctuary  after Mass today.  Celebrated on the 50^th day from Easter Sunday to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and followers of Jesus Christ while  in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks.  The name Pentecost comes from the Greek Pentekoste which means 50 and it also refers to the Jewish Festival, the Feast of Weeks.  As stated in the Scriptures (Acts 2:3), the color red on the Altar  symbolizes joy and the fire of the Holy Spirit to remind us of the flames that appeared above the heads of the Disciples.  It is one of the great feasts of the Eastern Orthodox churches and a solemnity in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church with Christian denominations  holding special liturgies on this day. The importance of Pentecost is shown  in the 3^rd of the Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and is one of the stations of the Resurrection. 

Pentecost is still considered one of the greatest celebrations of the year in Germany and Romania.  In France, trumpets will be blown during services to recall the wind that accompanied the Descent of the Holy Spirit and in Italy, rose petals will fall from the ceilings of churches to recall the miracle of the fiery tongues on Pasqua Rosatum a tradition that started around 607 AD.  European churches built during the middle Ages were fitted with a Holy Ghost Hole, a small opening  in the roof for the entrance of the Holy Spirit to enter.  On Pentecost, a figure of a dove decorated with flowers would be lowered into the church while the narrative of the Pentecost was read.   In all denominations, Pentecost is seen as an opportunity to honor the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and a way to celebrate the church.  On this day, special services, confirmations and the welcoming of the joyous season of  Spring is celebrated.  Red banners are hung is some churches to symbolize the movement of the mighty wind and the coming of the Holy Spirit and in some congregations, red handkerchiefs are handed out to be waved during their procession.   

There are many legends regarding Pentecost.  It is said that King Arthur always gathered his Knights at the round table for a feast and quest on Pentecost.  And every year an old German proverb is repeated, “ripe strawberries at Pentecost means a good wine crop”.  There is also a short film from Ireland called Pentecost about an 11 year old Altar boy.  The 2011 film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.  It can be viewed by going to the Hamilton County Library website –  https://cincinnatilibrary.org/ .  Enter your search for the film Pentecost and follow the direction to view the film – https://cincinnatilibrary.kanopy.com/login?destination=node%2F1088007 . You can also go to Kanopy.com – https://www.kanopy.com/ and it will show you how to watch films through your library.