(Fr. Tom’s “Courier” Newspaper Articles)
On 12th September 1985, the late Pope John Paul II paid a visit to the Basilica of St. Anthony at Padua. On that occasion he said “Let me draw your attention straight away to that special quality which crops up repeatedly in the recorded events of this saint’s life and which sets him apart in the immense and almost limitless panorama of Christian holiness –throughout the whole course of his life on earth, Anthony was a man of the Gospel.”
In all Franciscan churches throughout the world and in many parish churches, the annual Novena and triduum in honour of St. Anthony will take place from the 4th to the 13th of June, the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Thousands of people will make this Novena; they will come interceding with the saint to make a representation for them with God. It may be for the many exam students who will be doing exam during this time, a sick child, a man or woman who has cancer or some other health issue, it may be to overcome a particular difficulty or problem. But they will come to the saint who is called a “Man of the Gospel” and “Saint of the whole world”.
St. Anthony is known as the saint who finds things for us. All of us in one way or another, especially in the times that we live in, have lost something. I think of the many people who have lost their hard earned money and homes because of the financial recklessness of a few. I think of the many at this time who have lost their jobs and have little hope or prospect of obtaining future employment. I think of parents and families who have lost a child in tragic circumstances due to road accidents, suicide or overdoses of drugs. Then I think of people who are lost and have taken the wrong road, perhaps due to greed or reckless behaviour or sheer indifference. Then there are people who have been estranged from the church itself and who feel lost, nervous, worried about the manner in which they can return, or the reception they will receive if they do return. And then there are those who are hurt by the church itself and who have lost faith in its leadership and, maybe, in God because of the abuses that have taken place in the past.
But it is far easier to find the lost article than to heal the lost and wounded person. St. Anthony is more than a saint who finds things that are lost for us. St. Anthony’s great desire was to be a martyr for the faith, but that was not to be. God had other plans for him. He was to become one of God’s great preachers of the Gospel throughout Italy and France. His one message was to bring Jesus Christ to those who are lost and especially to those who are seeking Jesus in the midst of many false options that are floating around.
Here in Shannon the triduum in honour of St. Anthony will take place from Thursday June 10th to Sunday June 13th in Mary Immaculate Church where the preacher will be Fr. Cletus OFM, Ennis. On Thursday and Friday Mass will be at 9.30am, on Saturday at 12 noon and on Sunday 13th June, St. Anthony’s Feast Day, Mass at 11am with the blessing of lilies and of children. Petitions and prayers of thanksgiving can be left at any time at the shrine of St. Anthony in Mary Immaculate Church. In Ennis, St. Anthony’s Novena will take place in the Franciscan Friary from 4th June to 13th June with two sessions daily at 10am and 7.30pm. The preacher will be Fr. Frank McGrath OFM, Killarney.
Mass for exam students will take place on Bank Holiday Monday at 9pm in SS John & Paul Church. A warm welcome awaits all.
Our New Bishop
Fr. Kieran O’Reilly, currently Superior General of the Society of African Missions, and a native of Turners Cross, Cork, will be ordained Bishop of Killaloe in Ennis Cathedral on Sunday 29th August at 3pm. Fr. Kieran will pay a short visit to the Diocese on Wednesday 16th June and will give a press conference and meet with the priests of the Diocese. Please keep him in your prayers as he prepares to become our next Bishop.
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