Category: Bulletins and Newsletters

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 December 27, 2020

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, the Feast of Holy Family, Holy Family Parish celebrates  Jesus, Mary and Joseph who are considered as a model for all Christian families.  Every year, Holy Family holds this day as a special celebration honoring the holiest of families and all that characterized their common life at Nazareth.  Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and her chaste spouse, Joseph lived the Christian reflection around the virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity, Chastity and Loving Obedience.  The episodes from this period of Christ’s life are narrated by Matthew and Luke with this time covering His circumcision and the Presentation, the flight to Egypt, the return to Nazareth and The Finding in the Temple.  Members of the Holy Family are the patrons of the Congregation of the Holy Cross with the Holy Cross Sisters dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, The Holy Cross Brothers dedicated  to St. Joseph and the Priests of the Holy Cross devoted to the Holy Family.

On Thursday, December 31^st, we celebrate New Years Eve and St. Sylvester’s Night.  Many will  celebrate this evening eating lentils and wearing something with the color red to bring good luck for the New Year.  The Feast of St. Sylvester (San Silvestro) is celebrated to honor the priest who was born in Rome and became the spiritual director to the Emperor Constantine.  He was known for his hospitality for the Christians who were passing through Rome by inviting them to eat at his table and giving them Charity in the name of Christ.  He is considered the patron saint of people in authority who are  experiencing delicate situations and is venerated in Pisa where he was considered a great Pope.

On Friday, we welcome 2021 while celebrating New Years Day and the first day of the Gregorian year.  There will be certain foods eaten and an ancient Roman New Years tradition is to gift family and friends with branches of greenery for good luck.  In pre-Christian Rome, the day was dedicated to Janus, the god of gateways and new beginnings, for whom the 1^st month of the year, January is named.  On this day in Anglican and Lutheran Churches, the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ is honored.  This commemoration is based on the belief that if Jesus was born on December 25^th, and according to Hebrew tradition, his circumcision would have taken place on January 1^st, the 8^th day of his life.  The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on this day.

On January, 3^rd, we will celebrate  Epiphany with the Blessing of the Chalk to take home and bless our homes for the New Year.

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 December 20, 2020

by Terrie Evans

We send our condolences to the family of Grace (Ciuccio)  Nusekabel  who passed away on Monday, December 7^th at the age of 91.  Grace was from the Vito Ciuccio family who during the early years lived at 1958 Queen city Avenue in the Upper Lick Run area of South Fairmount.  Grace was married to Bernie for 64 years when he passed away in 2017 and leaves 5 Children and their families.  Over the years, San Antonio Church looked forward to the yearly visit from the extended Ciuccio Family for a Mass every May.  Please keep the Nusekabel and Ciuccio’ Families in your prayers.

On this Sunday we light the last purple candle with Love being the theme for the final week of Advent.   On December 21^st, Winter begins  and in Italy, it is the week of the  Festival of Saturnalia an ancient Roman Celebration that started on December 17^th and ends on Christmas Eve.  This winter solstice ritual takes place when the sun is at its lowest and weakest and is considered the turning point of the year when the light will begin to grow stronger and brighter.  Many  families  light candles to chase away the darkness as they decorate their homes with greenery, yule logs, evergreens and mistletoe.  The Romans called this week in December  Dies Natalis Invicti Solis “The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun”.   

On Thursday, we celebrate Christmas Eve (La Vigilia) when fish will be served at most Italian tables  as a way to  purify the body for the  big feast planned for Christmas Day.   Baccala (Salted Cod) and vegetables will be served for their evening meal before attending Midnight Mass and arriving home to place the Bambino in His crib.  In Italian  homes, presents have been placed in a large crock called the Urn of Fate.  This gift exchange will take place after Midnight Mass. 

On Friday morning, we will attend mass at San Antonio Church to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity at our 9:00 AM Mass.  As we light our white Christ Candle, we honor the tradition of Jesus’s  birth in Bethlehem.  The traditional colors for Christmas decorations are red, green and gold.  Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus that was shed in his Crucifixion and green  from the evergreen tree, symbolizing  eternal life as the evergreen does not lose its leaves in winter.  The gold color used on the Altar symbolizes royalty to recall  one of the gifts of the Magi.  Buono Natale. 

Saturday, December 26^th,  we celebrate the feast of St. Stephen and a day for spending time with family members and close friends.  St. Stephen was known as one of the 1^st Social Workers of the Church who devoted his life to feeding the poor.  He was venerated as the patron saint of horses who were considered the most useful servants of man.  In some places, horses are still blessed in front of churches on St. Stephen’s Day.  

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 December 13, 2020

by Terrie Evans

On this 3^rd week of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) we light our rose colored candle as we look forward to the joyous anticipation of the Lord’s coming.  Gaudete Sunday  is a counterpart to Laetare Sunday  and is the midpoint in an otherwise penitential time in this liturgical season.  Referred to as Rejoice Sunday, coming  from the fact that Advent is half over and Christmas is soon to follow.  The reading for Gaudete Sunday deals with rejoicing in the Lord  as well as the connection with John the Baptist and his connection with Advent.  This Sunday takes its  name from the Latin word Gaudete or Rejoice, the first word of the introit of this day’s Mass to symbolize the promised Redemption.  Gaudete Sunday is also called Rose Sunday with flowers being permitted on the Altar.  Pope Francis said in one of his past homily’s, that Gaudete Sunday is known as the “Sunday of Joy” and instead of fretting about all we still haven’t done  to prepare for Christmas, we should  “think of all the good things life has given us.”

This is also Bambinelli Sunday, a tradition that was started by Pope John Paul II when thousands of people will travel to St. Peters Square with their Baby Jesus figurines from their home nativity scenes for a special blessing.  Pope Francis will bless the tiny bambinello at the time of his Angelus Address.  During Advent in Italy, many families will make small sacrifices and do good deeds for the Child Jesus.  Every time they complete one of those  deeds, the family will add a piece of straw to His manger.  On Christmas Day, the Baby Jesus will be placed in the empty creche that is made comfortable by their many acts of charity.  

This Sunday, December 13^th is also the Feast Day of Santa Lucia (St. Lucy)  known as the Queen of Light.  She was the 4^th Century Italian Saint that carried food to the Christians hiding out in the tunnels below Sicily.  Santa Lucia is said to have worn candles in a circle  on the top of her head to light the way.  On her feast day in Italy, many will refrain from eating bread with families making  a dessert called  Cuccia, made from whole wheat berries, sweetened ricotta with candied orange and topped with chocolate shavings.  It is a tradition throughout Italy, on Santa Lucia Day, for young girls to enter their parents bedrooms before dawn  dressed in white gowns with red sashes as lighted candles are affixed on their  heads as they serve them breakfast.  She is considered the patron saint of Virgins and the Blind.

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 December 6, 2020

by Terrie Evans

The theme for this 2^nd Sunday of Advent is Peace as we are getting closer to the birth of Jesus and the celebration of Christmas.  The peace we feel internally  is the basis of all external peace within families, the community, society and the world and is a condition of the heart and mind of one who is renewed and justified in Christ.  It  is considered  a quality that characterizes those  who have received new life from God and have entered into an eternal relationship with him.  Peace accompanies righteousness and comes to the soul through the cross of Christ that reconciles us to God and one another. 

Next Sunday, we remember the tradition of Bambinelli Sunday when we bring in our baby Jesus’ from our home Creches for a blessing.  During this week in 1940,  80 years ago, our church  building that we worship in at present was formally dedicated.  This was our 3^rd church  building since the start of San Antonio in 1922 that know would become the  permanent home for our parishioners and their families to worship in.  When the new building was in in the planning stages, all the  families donated to the capital campaign to cover the  many  costs of a functional modern  church.  Many  local businesses  were very kind to our church community who worked with our tight budget to get the job done.  On that Sunday in 1940, our new church  held the formal dedication that renewed the faith of all those who were excited to be in attendance for the 1^st Mass.  They were finally home and were looking forward to the New Year of 1941, for  future weddings, baptisms and parish functions.    

As San Antonio celebrated  its 1^st Anniversary on December 7, 1941, the day went from a joyous milestone  to a day of sadness with the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Our church community was changed forever on that morning as many of the neighborhood men enlisted  in the many branches of our Armed Forces.  These  men from immigrant parents were proud to serve our country even though they would be sent away to  participate in unknown battles and  maybe never return. 

We remember all of them and those from The Greatest Generation on Monday, December 7^th, National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  This day is set aside  to honor the 2,403 United States citizens  killed on that morning.  We will never forget  the sinking of USS Arizona with 1,177 crew lost, the USS Utah with 58 men lost, the USS Oklahoma  with 429 lost, the 159 planes that were badly damaged and the  188 aircraft destroyed  in the surprise attack that brought all our families into a war.  We salute all our WWII Veterans on this 79^th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  

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 November 29, 2020

by Terrie Evans

On November 29^th,  we celebrate the first Sunday of the  4 weeks of  Advent  known as a time of penitence and fasting and at one time referred to as the Nativity Fast or the Fast of December.  It is said that the  celebration of Advent began in the 5^th century when Bishop Perpetuus directed this Liturgical Season  to start on the feast of St. Martin of Tours on November 11^th and end at Christmas.  At the time in the history of the Church, everyone  fasted 3 times per week which was  called  “Lent of St. Martin”  a practice that lasted  until the 6^th Century.  Around 1917, the Roman Catholic Church abolished the rule of fasting but kept the season of Advent as a season of penitence.  During that time, activities such as dancing and all  social festivities were also forbidden until the 3rd Sunday of Lent, Rose Sunday. 

Advent always commences on the 4^th Sunday before Christmas and  on the Sunday nearest to the Feast of St. Andrew  (Monday, November 30^th).  Every year we set up our Advent wreath as a way for us to keep Christ at the center of our Christmas celebration.  The Advent wreath originated among German Lutherans around the 16^th Century and by 1839, the wreath  that we know use  was accepted in churches.  Our Advent wreath is adorned with three violet and one pink candle with a 5^th  white candle (Christ Candle) to be lit on Christmas Day.  The  greenery and  holly  of the wreath signify  victory, a sign of life, hope, peace as well as the struggle against darkness.  The round shape of the wreath also represents the symbol of Christ the King with the holly recalling the crown of thorns resting on the head of Christ. 

Each Sunday during Advent we follow the Catholic tradition of lighting one of the four candles with each one representing one thousand years, to total 4,000 years from the time of Adam and Eve until the birth of the Savior.  Each one of the 4 candles symbolize the stages of salvation before the coming of the Messiah with the 1^st being the symbol of the forgiveness that was granted to Adam and Eve.  On this 1^st Sunday of Advent, we light the 1^st Purple Candle, known as the Prophecy Candle for the prophets, and (Isaiah) who foretold the birth of Christ.  The readings for this Sunday, are for all of us to look forward to the Second coming of Christ.   

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 November 15, 2020

by Terrie Evans

Our San Antonio Church community sends their prayers and condolences to Vince and Jean (Pfeiffenberger) Cerchio on the passing of her father, Robert  Pfeiffenberger at the age of 90.  He  was husband to the late Lilian, proud Veteran of the USMC, Dad to 6, Grand and Great Granddad to 21.  His funeral Mass was held at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church.  On Saturday, we honor the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with Mary’s parents Joachim and Anne receiving a heavenly message that the childless couple would welcome a child. 

After Mary’s Birth and while still a young child, her parents brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem in thanksgiving and to consecrate her to God.  In the Roman Catholic Church “We celebrate that dedication of herself which Mary made to God from her very childhood under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who filles her with grace.”  In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, this is one of the days when women named Mary (In Greek Mapia) celebrate their name day.  The Feast of the Presentation is also referred to as “Pro Orantibus Day” a day of prayer for cloistered religious as they set a time for total dedication to God in prayer, silence, and concealment. 

Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  Also known as the “Feast of Christ the King” was instituted by Pope Pius XI for the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in 1925.  The Pope in his encyclical “Quas Primas”, stated he instituted this feast in response to growing secularism and nationalism at the time in the history of the Church.  The “Feast of Christ the King” has an eschatological dimension which points to the end of time.  At that time the Kingdom of Jesus will then be established in all its fullness to all the ends of the earth.  The “Feast of Christ the King” on Sunday, November 22^nd leads into Advent when the Church anticipates the second coming of Christ.  The liturgical vestments for this feast are  white or gold with keeping with other joyous feasts honoring Christ.  In Anglican and Protestant Churches Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday in their Liturgical year. 

On Thursday, November 26^th  we celebrate Thanksgiving Day by giving thanks as we spend time with our families and friends.  Next Sunday, November 29^th we will celebrate the 1^st Sunday of Advent for the next three weeks until the anticipation of The Nativity of the Lord, on Friday, December 25^th, Christmas Day.

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 November 15, 2020

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, we welcome back Father Mike Savino for our 9:00 AM Mass and the many members of  the Buck Family for a  Baptism after Mass.  The Buck family consists of  Andrew  and Olivia Scarlato Buck  and daughter Harper for the Christening of her baby brother, Hudson Lee Buck.  Besides being related to the Scarlato Families, they can also claim the  Marckesano and Panaro Families from the Little Italy  area of South Fairmount who have been members of San Antonio Church for many years.   Hudson’s Grandparents are David and Judy (McCoy)  Scarlato, and Phil and Debbie  Buck and his Great Grandmother was the late, Gilda (Panaro) Scarlato.  The 2^nd Great  Grandparents of Hudson  were the late John and Rose (Marckesano) Panaro  who were the 1^st couple to get married in our newly established San Antonio Church  on December 6, 1924, 96 years ago.  Hudson’s   3^rd set of  Great Grandparents (parents of John and Rose), were some of the earliest settlers in the Upper Lick Run area of South Fairmount.  They were the late Lawrence and Mary Josephine (Palmire) Panaro who resided at 1998 Queen City Avenue and the late Pasquale and Magdalena (Dalessandro) Marckesano who established their homestead at 1950 Montrose Street.  Both couples  had big families the Panaro’s had 8 children and the Marckesano had 10!  There  are now hundreds of family members that can claim Hudson as a relative. 

The God Parents for Hudson are Adam (Bo) and Emma Scarlato, the brother and sister-in -law of Olivia (Scarlato) Buck.  Bo and Emma were married at our church on May 8, 2015 and Baptized their son Lucca in 2019.  We congratulate Hudson on receiving the Sacrament of Baptism at San Antonio Church.

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 November 8, 2020

by Terrie Evans

Our Church Community would like to thank everyone who bought Spaghetti Dinner tickets for our 84^th Annual Dinner.  We were able to work with all the new rules and in the end have another successful year for our annual dinner.  We appreciate Harry Panaro being available in the Hall every Sunday to promote the new  2020 place mat and  in a few weeks, sell  all  72 spots.  It was great to have so many families and area businesses help by promoting our dinner.  Our parishioners and local businesses bought spaces on the mat that was used for our diners in the Hall  and also put into the takeout orders.  The planning for the dinner  became quite a challenge for the many volunteers who were aware of all the concerns for our guests. 

This year we introduced  reservations for our dine in customers  who enjoy our traditional Italian Spaghetti dinner served in our Hall.   We then  established  a drive thru ordering tent on Queen City Avenue and pick up tent on White Street for those who were not sure about entering our Hall.  New this  year for out take out customers was the 5 pack with enough spaghetti, meatballs, salad and dessert  for a family  group with plenty for all to enjoy the next day.  We also had a lot of orders for extras  like sauce, meatballs and our delicious  Italian sausage that really  helped our sales. 

Through all these new rules, San Antonio Church had a home run again for the dinner and we cannot thank enough  all the dedicated workers who gave up their week to organize, cook and get the orders out on time.  We thank all those who manned the stove, those who packed the orders and those who handled the drive thru orders and supplied the desserts to complete the meal.  Everyone showed up for their shifts and we appreciate those ladies and gentlemen who staffed the tents  in not the best weather for the drive up tickets and chances for split the pot. 

This year we had many  grandchildren, the 3^rd and 4^th Generations of our Parishioners and many teens from all the schools on the West Side who were much needed to be the runners for all the drive thru orders.  It has been a tradition and pleasure for all of us to serve  San Antonio Church as our Grandparents and Parents did  since 1922.  Even though they are no longer with us, they would be very pleased  to know we have continued on with the work they started 98 years ago.   All the  volunteers at San Antonio  wear many hats with no job descriptions but, they all  do whatever needs to be done to  keep our church going.  Benedict and Grazie! 

Next week, San Antonio Church will welcome  the Scarlato Family for the Baptism of Hudson Lee Buck after Mass.

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 November 1, 2020

by Terrie Evans

On this Sunday, the feast of All Saints, San Antonio Church sends its condolences to the Becker and Stagge Families on the loss of Rita Becker Stagge  on October 14^th.  Rita was the Great Niece and 4^th generation family member to our beloved Sr. Blandina Segale, Servant of God and the last family member to have  had personal memories of her.  Rita was 13 years old when Sr. Blandina died and  over the years kept up with  current news about her.  Rita along with the Becker and Stagge families  journeyed  to Cicagna, Italy (Birthplace of Sr. Blandina & Justina & Siblings Giacomo, Hank, Catalina, Caterina) for the July 11, 1998  dedication of the town square for Sr.  Blandina.  The square is located adjacent to the Church where Sr. Blandina (Rosa Maria Segale) was Baptized.  Rita’s  funeral mass was held at St. Vincent Ferrer and we send our prayers to  her 7 Children, their families and the many friends who mourn her passing.   

We also keep the family of Rose Ann (Palmire) Sabin in our prayers who passed away on October 18^th and was buried from Our Lady of Victory Church.  Rose Ann “Hansi” was a product of the Lick Run area of South Fairmount and a descendant of early settlers, Grandparents Gennaro  & Maria (Schiavo) and her Father, Anthony Joseph Palmire who settled  next  to the historic St. Peter’s Church.  Anthony Palmire helped with the start of our church and with the guidance of Sr. Blandina, became the Chairman of the 1^st San Antonio Festival in 1923.  In the early years of our church he along with Rose Ann (Hansi)  supported the  many events at San Antonio and when she married Fred (Fritz) Sabin in 1953 (67 years ago) they held their wedding at San Antonio. 

Because of their history with San Antonio Church, their Great Grandchildren (EJ, Twins Violet and Tanner) of their granddaughter Stacey and her husband, Elliot Klumb  were Baptized in our church.  Throughout her life, Hansi was a joy to be around and enjoyed keeping up with all her Panaro Cousins who will miss her.  She  leaves sons Tony  and spouse Christy, Mike and his fiancé, Amy Ferguson and Stacey’s brother, Grandson Jeff, spouse Jennifer and their children Brady, Marco, Kallei, Gavin and Grace.  She was the sister of the late Mary Jo (Palmire) Nocito and Grandmother to the late Lia Klumb.  Hansi also leaves her last surviving sibling, sister Toni (Palmire) Minges, her 6 Children and their families and over 50 Nocito family members from New Jersey. 

Some History

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 below allow you to make an online donation directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.

Weekly Bulletin October 25, 2020

by Terrie Evans

October 25^th is the day set aside to celebrate Priesthood Sunday to honor all  priests who have so dutifully served  their parishioners.  It is traditionally held on the 4^th Sunday in October to encourage  parishioners to remember all past and present priests who are a part of the rich history of their church.  As we hold a special place in our hearts for those men of the cloth who helped keep  San Antonio open, please keep them in your prayers as they continue to serve and bring the love of Christ to all of us.  St. John Vianney is the Patron Saint of parish Priests and has said “The Priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.  When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

A Prayer for Priests:  “Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.  Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.  Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.  Set their souls on fire with love for your people.  Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.  Give them the words to spread the Gospel.  Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.  Help them to became instruments of your divine grace.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, who live and reigns as our Eternal Priest.” 

On this Sunday we also welcome  Fr. Daniel Brandenburg, from the Legionaries of Christ for our  9:00 AM Mass and  the Baptism of Theodora Blair Kelsey.  Fr. Daniel’s order; Legion of Christ, has religious communities in 21 countries with 4 Bishops, 970 Priests and more than 481 Seminarians with its headquarters in Rome, Italy.  In the United States, the Legion operates  5 Schools and provides spiritual direction, retreats and programs for children as well as adults.   Fr. Brandenburg has served in Oldenburg, Indiana and is now Chaplain of the Lumen Institute and the Regnum Christi Men  in Atlanta, Georgia.  Over the years, he has become a close friend and spiritual supporter to the Kelsey Family. 

San Antonio Church is excited to welcome the Kelsey, Vanover, Stoll, Cluxton, Guidugli  and Wall Families for Teddy’s Baptism.   We also welcome baby Theodora’s (Teddy’s) siblings, Big Sister Ella and Twins Rosie and Walter.  The Godparents for the new addition to the Kelsey Clan  are  Godmother, Katie (Kelsey) Cluxton and  Godfather Jeff (Bay) Guidugli.  This is also the 79^th Anniversary of  the Patriarch and Matriarch of the Stoll Family,  Linda (Stoll)  Kelsey’s  late parents Willard and Mary Stoll.