Saint Anthony of Padua

F A I T H M A T T E R S

St. Anthony of Padua~Dayton, Ohio E-Brief

2/13/2015

In this issue of Faith Matters we've tried to give you resources and ideas to help you make the most of your Lenten journey. Here at St. Anthony there will be added opportunities for Confession, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and weekly Stations of the Cross (look for more details in the bulletin and future issues of Faith Matters). Christ is calling you to seek closer communion with him, the Church is offering you opportunities to do just that. Don't let Lent become a burden, but an opportunity.

Personal Lenten Program

CatholicCulture.org offers ideas for Personal Lenten Program that center around the tenets of Lent- prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, but with added traditions of good works, self denial, and education. They recommend adding education and reading to your prayer time by doing :

1. Something for the mind. We should do some research, study the papal encyclicals, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, delve into Church history, study Catholic philosophy.

2. Something for the soul. This should be deeper spiritual reading that gives a program, guidance, and spiritual direction, including writings of the saints like St. Teresa of Avila, St. Th�r�se of Lisieux or St. Francis de Sales.

3. Something for the heart. We need inspiration. The best way is to read biographies of Christ, Mary, saints or people who put their spiritual life into action. Bishop Fulton Sheen's Life of Christ is excellent Lenten reading.

To see more of, and to plan your own Personal Lenten Program, click here.

Lenten Reflections with Fr. Barron

Once again Fr. Robert Barron is offering free daily Lenten reflections delivered to your email inbox. Click here to sign up.

You can also click the video image above to see Fr. Barron's recommendations praying, fasting, and almsgiving.

Bottles for Babies Offers Opportunity for Almsgiving

On Ash Wednesday and the first Sunday of Lent there will be empty baby bottles at the entrances of the church.The "Bottles for Babies" campaign is a great way to support the Elizabeth New Life Center and to raise awareness for the pro-life cause in our community. Take home a bottle to fill with coins, dollars or checks! Filled bottles can be returned to the church on March 15th.
It's a great way to raise awareness of the services that the Elizabeth New Life Center offer and the impact that their work has on the lives of clients and their unborn children right here in Dayton. Families with children might especially want to take a bottle home as part of Lenten almsgiving. Children love idea of taking the bottle home and bringing it back filled! The babies and moms thank you!

Message of the Week

"As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst...'Repent and believe' Jesus tells us. What are we to repent? Our indifference, our hardness of heart. What are we to believe? Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poor -- He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you."

-Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Upcoming Events

Sacrament of Reconciliation

February 14, 2015

3:30-4:00pm

CLOW

February 15, 2015

10:00 am Mass

Ash Wednesday Masses

February 18, 2015

7:00 am

8:30 am