St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Angola, Indiana

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OCTOBER IS ROSARY MONTH. OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH

10/21/2021

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OCTOBER IS THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY - OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH

Our liturgies and celebrations will have a double focus in October: the rosary and building up a culture of life. Here are some of the ways we will mark the month:


A PUBLIC ROSARY AT 4:00 P.M. FROM OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH 31ST

Every day at 4:00 p.m. you are invited to gather at the Knights of Columbus Memorial Cross near the entrance of St. Anthony's to pray the rosary together. We hope to pray outdoors every day for a month rain or shine.


GIVE A ROSARY / TAKE A ROSARY

At both St. Paul's and St. Anthony's there will be a small display near the entrance with a basket of rosaries. If you need one for yourself or for anyone else, just take one! If you have a rosary to donate, just put it in the basket! Thank you.


CATECHESIS IS IN FULL SWING

There are classes and meetings for grade school children and pre-schoolers, for high school youth and college students and for young adults; the faith sharing groups are meeting again; and the group for those looking at the Catholic Church (RCIA) has started.


INTERACTIVE BULLETIN BOARD AT ST. ANTHONY'S

The Human Life and Dignity Ministry has set up a special "interactive bulletin board" in honor of Respect Life October. What does "interactive" mean?

It means you are invited to add things to the bulletin board all month. We ask parishioners to contribute items for display that illustrate how you are thankful for the gift of life in all its forms, especially human life:
  • Sonogram photo of new family member
  • A birth or baptism or first communion of wedding announcement
  • Picture of aging grandparents
  • Signs of new life around us: flowers and seeds and more
  • Prayer requests
  • Anything highlighting how precious life is


MEMORIAL CROSSES BY THE HIGHWAY

At both campuses we will set up small white crosses near the highways in memory of children lost to abortion this year. This action is in cooperation with Indiana Right to Life.


A SPEAKER ON THE WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 9-10

At all three Masses at St. Anthony's on the weekend of October 9th and 10th, Ann Freeman from the Women's Care Center of Northeastern Indiana will speak to us about how we can contribute to a culture of life.
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FOUR DAYS OF CHRISTMAS and A DAY OF COMMUNION

12/7/2020

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Four days of Christmas? Not twelve?

Four days celebrating the Mass of Christmas Day!

A brief survey suggests that many people hope to come to Mass at St. Anthony's and at St. Paul's Chapel this Christmas. How wonderful! Happy news!

Practical problem: we still have limited seating capacity. Therefore:

We will continue to celebrate Christmas Mass during the weekend after Christmas, to give people more options and, hopefully, to spread things out a little. Here is the complete schedule:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020
  • 5:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Eve - St. Anthony's
  • 8:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Night - St. Paul's Chapel
  • 10:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Night - St. Anthony's

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2020
  • 9:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Morning - St. Paul's Chapel
  • 10:00 aA.M. - Mass of Christmas Morning - St. Anthony's

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020
  • 5:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020
  • 7:30 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's
  • 9:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Paul's Chapel
  • 10:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's

As you can see, that gives you nine Masses to choose from!

IN ADDITION -

On Sunday, December 27, Friar Bob will remain in the nave of St. Anthony's from Noon until 6:00 p.m. to distribute communion quietly. If you still should not attend Mass with crowds but desire communion, you may receive privately in this way. No reservations or anything, just come - although I do ask you to respect other people's privacy and to avoid creating a crowd. I believe that this is a more appropriate alternative than a drive-by communion service.

Is all this allowed? Yes. Actually, we have done this every year. In past years, we celebrated Christmas Masses at Northern Lakes and Lakeland (now Aperion) nursing homes and at Cameron Woods Senior Living Community some time between December 20 and December 29, as those home's schedule allowed. This year, sadly, the parish will not be able to celebrate Christmas Masses outside our actual church buildings - but we still have latitude to offer more Masses.

The survey suggests that the three Masses of Decemberr 24 will be the most crowded. If you are worried about crowds, please consider coming to one of the other six Christmas Masses. Thank you and God bless you. May the Lord of Life keep us all safe!

Fr. Bob


NOTES:
  • Our posted capacities in keeping with covid-19 safety protocols are 215 people at St. Anthony's and 100 at St. Paul's.
  • Bishop Kevin Rhoades has extended the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass for an indefinite time ("until further notice"). Christmas is truly a holy day, a holiday, a happy day - but is not a day of obligation this year.
  • You are, of course, free to come to as many of these Masses as you choose! If you come to a mass on December 24/25, you are very welcome at any Mass on December 26/27. We are hoping that attendance will spread itself out naturally so we never have to turn anybody away. Hopefully.
  • This decision entails that we will not celebrate the Mass of the Holy Family this year.
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Day of Prayer and Fasting to Support Health Workers

11/29/2020

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On the day after Thanksgiving - November 28, 2020 - about 50 parishioners from St. Anthony of Padua Parish and from St. Paul's Chapel observed a day of prayer and fasting as a sacrificial intercession for medical workers in this difficuly time.

Andrea Martin, a parishioner who works as a nurse, writes:

"On behalf of all the healthcare workers at Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital and elsewhere, thank you!"
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November 19th, 2020

11/19/2020

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COVID-19: OUR CONTINUED RESPONSE

In the readings for the Feast of Christ the King, the Lord God says:

I myself will tend my sheep.
On the day of dark clouds they got scared and ran.
I will rescue them from every place where they are hiding.
The lost I will seek out,
the injured I will bind up,
the sick I will heal.

(Ezekiel 34:12,16)


Right now it feels like we are still in the middle of "the day of dark clouds". The big, bad wolf of a coronavirus is attacking our county, our region with a ferocity not yet seen. So many of our parishioners have been quarantined, or are sick with covid, or love someone who is. We know the sun is out there, but the clouds are dark and threatening right now.

I cannot emphasize enough the power of prayer in times of trouble. St. Bonaventure (+1274) said, "When your heart is panting for peace, you must find a balance between intense prayer and caring for other people. ... There is no other way to find God but by opening your eyes in prayer." (Soul's Journey into God)


MASS CONTINUES -
NON-LITURGICAL ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED


On Wednesday, November 18, 2020 the Indiana State Department of Health officially placed Steuben County on condition red for covid-19 cases (link). 0.7% of the county's population is now infected, with hospitalizations and deaths mounting.


The pastoral councils, the finance councils and the staff of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Angola and St. Paul's Chapel at Clear Lake conferred by email and came to the following conclusions:

  • Mass will continue as before, keeping the present safety protocol.
  • We will continue distributing communion as we have been.
  • The daily rosaries will continue, in English at 7:30 a.m., in Spanish at 6:00 p.m.
  • All other in person activities will be suspended for two weeks, from Monday 23 November through Sunday 6 December.
  • Exceptions include:
    • Confessions on Saturdays
    • Necessary meetings of the St. Paul's Mens Group to carry out the Thanksgiving Solidarity Drive
    • The collection counters - although this will be limited to staff members only (Finance Council members, stay home and stay safe!)
    • The AA group on Saturdays - they will make their own decision to suspend in person meetings or not
    • First Friday devotions on December 4, although confessions that evening might be cancelled
  • At the latest on Friday 4 December, Fr. Bob and the staff will decide whether to continue that suspension of extracurricular activites for another two weeks, that is for the period 7-20 December.
  • Groups are encouraged to hold virtual meetings. Fr. Bob and the rest of the staff, as well as the Holy Tony Geek Squad, will be available to help groups use the Holy Tony Virtual Meeting Room (v.gd/HolyTonyRoom)

  
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PUBLIC MASSES RESUME ON SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2020

5/8/2020

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For the Feast of Christ's Ascension, our parish - together with the entire diocese - will resume public Masses. There will be restrictions. I will update this blog post regularly as things change and develop.

NEW MASS SCHEDULE:

Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Sunday at 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
Weekday Masses resume on Monday, June 1, in the main church.
Spanish Mass resumes on Sunday, June 21.
Mass at Manapogo Campground still to be determined.

The new Sunday schedule allows proper time for cleaning and disinfecting between Masses. The schedule will be reevaluted after August 16.

Here is a short summary of the mandatory safety measures.

  • There will be a maximum of 200 people per Mass.
  • EVERYONE must wear a mask.
  • Every other pew will be blocked off.
  • In the pews that are open, maintain 6 feet between families.
  • Handshaking and hand holding are suspended.
  • Communion will be the host only, and only in the hand.
  • There will be no choir.
  • There will be no offertory.
  • The collection will be taken up by different means.
  • The church will be disinfected after every Mass, and fumigated weekly.

That sounds like a lot! This will definitely be a different experience of Mass. Who knows? Maybe we will learn something and grow from this!

Those who are particularly vulnerable - the elderly, those with underlying conditions, infants and small children - should consider not attending Sunday Mass just yet. Remember - the bishop continues to dispense you from any obligation to attend Mass. You might even consider attending a weekday Mass as your weekly Mass.

May the Lord continue to guide us.
friar Bob, pastor
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WHEN WILL MASS START AGAIN? A MESSAGE FROM FR. BOB

5/4/2020

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Short answer: I don't know.

As Archbishop Lori has stated (see article below), the bishops will decide. In our case, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, our Ordinary, will decide. As of this writing - Monday, May 4, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. - we still await news from the diocesan administration.

Let it be said clearly: the Governor did not "open up the churches" again. He did not close them, he cannot open them, he claims no power to open or close them. The Indiana state government has consistently acted within the law.

On May 1, Gov. Holcomb announced a new policy called Back On Track Indiana. This plan foresees a gradual reduction of restrictions on public life during May, June and July of 2020. There are five phases. Today we begin Phase 2. That phase recommends - not orders - that religious institutions may consider, maybe, possibly, holding some liturgies again such as weddings and funerals, but only if there are fewer than 25 people present, no one over the age of 65 is present, no one is present who is sick in any way, everyone stays 6 feet apart in the pews, every other pew be left empty, there is no touching and no consumption of, for example, communion, and everyone wears masks. That's not much of a Mass!

So I am guessing that Bishop Rhoades will not start up public Masses again just yet. I remind you that Bishop Rhoades suspended all public Masses BEFORE the secular government issued a Stay at Home order, because it was the morally correct thing to do. As a Church community with a properly installed hierarchy, we will decide how and when to celebrate our liturgies for the good of the people.

So watch this space! As soon as the diocesan administration gives guidance, we will pass it on!

Thank you for your prayers and understanding, your wisdom and your patience. Patience is truly a virtue - and now is a time for virtue, not impetuousness. God bless us all.

__________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On Tuesday, May 5, 2020, Bishop Kevin Rhoades released new directives which foresee public Masses returning for the Solemnity of the Pentecost on May 31st. There may also be some (perhaps limited) form of Mass on the weekend of May 23rd and 24th. There is a lot of information to process. The parish staff will keep the parishioners informed as soon as we can.
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ARCHBISHOP LORI ON WHEN PUBLIC MASS WILL BEGIN AGAIN

5/4/2020

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We are a people of faith and reason ...

by friar Bob Showers OFM Conv.

This article originally appeared in the pariosh's eBulletin for April 24, 2020


Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore has a clear message for people who think that the suspension of religious services is a violation of our religious liberty or is some sort of political plot: it is not. Even suggesting that it is puts life in danger and is therefore a sin.
 
Archbp. Lori used to be the chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference Committee on Religious Freedom. He is still the leading member of the board of theological consultants for that committee. On Easter Sunday, Archbp. Lori made a statement with several points:
 
1. The bishops will decide
 
The archbishop reminds Catholics that it was the Catholic bishops who suspended public liturgies, not the civil governments. In many places, Masses were suspended before there were any stay at home orders. It is the bishops who will decide when public Masses will begin again. [For example, in our diocese, Bishop Rhoades suspended public Masses as of March 18, Gov. Holcomb’s stay at home order was not issued until March 23.]
 
The U.S. bishops make this statement not to show their power, but because they want to make clear that no earthly power is forcing us to suspend public events, rather Catholic morality compels us. “One of the overriding responsibilities of government is to keep people safe. This is a health and public safety issue. And this is not only a concern that the government has, it’s also a concern of the church,” the archbishop said. “The Church has to take steps to ensure that we are kept safe and healthy and those steps have to be reasonable, rational. We do not feel as though we have been forced into doing this by the government. We feel like we’re doing the right thing.”
 
This means that it is possible that, even after some local governments lift the stay at home orders, the Roman Catholic Church might decide to wait a little longer.
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2. We are a Church of faith and reason
 
“We are a people of faith and reason”, Archbp. Lori said, and the suspension of public liturgies is “eminently reasonable”. Following government orders and guidelines to stem the epidemic “does not in any way attack or undermine our faith or our religious liberty”. The suspension of public Masses and other sacraments is happening “out of pastoral love for our laity, our priests and the people of our society”.
 
3. Good will come of this
 
Even amidst suffering, we believe that God can draw goodness out of any situation. Indeed, there is opportunity here to develop aspects of our Church life and tradition that otherwise are somewhat neglected. “In extraordinary circumstances, God’s grace nonetheless reaches us. And we can certainly draw upon this tremendous treasury of holiness and merit unto which the Church has access during this time as part of our faith always has been and always will be.” As Pope Francis says, “The Church has many resources in our rich tradition.” Now is the time to explore that tradition and make use of our spiritual richness!
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Day of Adoration in a Time of Containment

3/24/2020

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On the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 22, 2020, the people of St. Anthony of Padua parish held a special day of Eucharistic adoration in a time of containment.

It is important that we, as Catholics, cooperate willingly and gladly with the authorities, as an act of love, to help slow and stop the spread of the new COVID-19 virus. Therefore, all public liturgies and gatherings in our diocese have been suspended since March 18.

So we did something else.

The doors of St. Anthony's have been open every day from 9 o'clock to 9 o'clock. People can come and pray quietly, and pay a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and maybe light a candle. The church is big enough that even if there are ten people at a time, we can still be 20 or 30 yards apart.

Last Sunday, we set the monstrance on the altar with the Blessed Sacrament for all 12 hours. There was always somebody in the church. Sometimes there were a several people - we kept our bodily distance from each other even as we grew closer to the Lord.

In the course of the day, about 75 people spent any-where from a few minutes to a few hours in prayer. It was truly beautiful.

We "behaved ourselves" - that is, there was a great deal of respect both for the sacredness of the Eucharist and the gravity of our pubic health. Therefore -

all else equal, we will repeat this Day of Adoration on Sunday, April 19 (the Second Sunday of Easter).


Friar Bob Showers OFM Conv.
pastor


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March for Life in Washington, D.C., January 24, 2020

2/7/2020

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by parishioners Shelley & Ted Pulver

If you ever want to be uplifted, full of life and hope, you need to experience The March For Life in Washington DC. We joined the Indiana group with the Knights of Columbus at the National Mall. The excitement of being surrounded by thousands of like-minded pro-life people is what feeds our fire to continue to be a voice for the precious pre-born babies who are in danger of being aborted. Especially seeing the thousands and thousands of high-school and college students who traveled far distances to stand up for life was uplifting!  They are our future hope!
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This year’s rally made historic measures with the attendance by the only sitting president ever! The President made an uplifting speech promising he would continue to support pro-life efforts.  He also stated that everyone is precious in God’s eyes and has the right to life. The Vice-president and his wife also sent a video to support the March.

There were several more presentations from individuals making their stand for life and telling their stories.  Two women who are now mothers spoke of their life struggles after they were a product of a botched abortion.  How they have forgiven their birth mother but wanting us to understand the reality of abortion.

Following the rally, the crowd amounted to several hundred thousand people converged to march down Constitution Avenue around the Capital Building and ending at the Supreme Court Building where Roe VS. Wade was put into law in 1974.  Even though our presence is peaceful, our motives are fierce and we must all stand together to protect the lives of those who are most vulnerable.
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We also attended the opening mass National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on January 23. The homily was beautiful and carried a strong message for our church. This was certainly one of the highlights of the trip. You can see the mass on YouTube below.

Please consider attending the March for Life 2021! Feel free to contact us to join forces to support the unborn and their mothers and fathers here in our church and community beginning now!


Shelley and Ted Pulver
(Shelley is an active member of the parish's Human Life and Dignity Commission)


Pastor's note: after talking with a number of parishioners of different ages, we are considering organizing our own parish group to go to the March for Life in 2021. If you are interested, please let Fr. Bob know (frbob@stanthonyangola.com)
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ICON OF MARY: A PRAYER FOR AN END TO RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

3/1/2019

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On the last day of February, 2019, between 50 and 60 people gathered at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Angola, Indiana to intercede for those persecuted because of religion. The local Knights of Columbus led the parish in an evening devotion that had been prepared by the national K of C. The service featured a "travelling icon" of Our Lady, the Help of Persecuted Christians. We prayed for those persecuted BECAUSE they are Christians, and for those persecuted BY Christians.
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"In every age, Christians have suffered for their faith, from the Roman Coliseum to the recent beheadings perpetrated by ISIS. Brave women and men, embracing the cross of Jesus, have gone to their deaths rather than deny their faith, and the blood of these martyrs serves as the 'seed of Christians', enlivening faith in others. Today, the witness of martyrs continues in an especially intense way in the Middle East, where priests are murdered for offering Mass and families are driven from their homes for displaying a cross.

"With this Marian Prayer Program, we honor the martyrs over the centuries as we call particular attention to the suffering of today's Christians ... Featuring the newly commissioned icon of Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians, the prayer program is the latest in a series of efforts undertaken by the Knights of Columbus to aid those who suffer for their faith. ..."

- from the introduction to the the prayer booklet used that evening

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Fr. Bernie Zajdel OFM Conv. presented the following message from Pope John Paul II, his "Message for World Mission Sunday, May 28, 1996."


The identity of the Christian as witness is marked by the unavoidable and distinctive presence of the cross. There can be no authentic witness without it. Indeed, the cross is the necessary condition for all who have firmly decided to follow the Lord. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) All the witnesses of God and Christ, beginning with the Apostles, have known persecution because of him. "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you." (John 15:20) This is the legacy which Jesus left to his followers and which each one must accept and incarnate in his own life. Golgotha is the only way to the Resurrection.

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The cross, in fact, is the imitation of Christ in faithful witness and patient and persevering daily work. The cross is swimming against the tide, making decisions according to God's commandments despite misunderstanding, unpopularity, marginalization; the cross is the prophetic denunciation of injustice, of trampled freedoms, of violated rights; the cross is having to live where the Church is most opposed, obstructed and persecuted.


For those who persecute religious minorities, that the light of God's truth and mercy may penetrate their hearts, and that they may come to recognize the common humanity of all peoples and cease committing acts of hatred ...

- from the intercessions


How can we fail at this point to think of our brothers and sisters and entire communities which in so many parts of the world offer a splendid witness of a Christian life totally dedicated to Christ and the Church despite being surrounded by persecution and hostility? Every year there are reports of the heroic witness given by new martyrs who shed their blood in order to remain faithful to the Lord. The Church pays homage to their sacrifice. She draws close in prayer and fraternal love to believers who suffer violence, inviting them not to be discouraged or afraid. Christ is with you, dearly beloved brothers and sisters!

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Photos by Laurie Soulliere
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Angola, Indiana 46703
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