ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH NEWS
Holy Spirit Family of Parishes, St Benedict Location invites you to join in Diversity Celebrations ending Black History Month. This is a celebration of mass, in which parts of the mass and songs are sung in multiple languages, as well as dancing. There is a reception after the mass where participants will witness Dancing from different cultures.
Venue: St Benedict the Moor church, 519 Liscum Drive, Dayton, OH 45417
Time: 10 am Date: February 23, 2025
St. Benedict the Moor Diversity Mass
Sunday February 23, 2024 at 10:00 AM
HOLY SPIRIT FAMILY OF PARISHES WEEKLY CALENDAR
New Prayer Line
A new prayer line for St Augustine has been established. Please send all prayer requests to: prayerlinesta@gmail.com
There is a prayer request for an 11-year-old boy Jaxsen who died on Thursday February 6 when he was hit by a car in a driveway. May he rest in peace and God give the family peace.
ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH NEWS
SAINT AUGUSTINE PRAYER CHAIN
If you would like to be a part of the St. Augustine Prayer Chain, please contact Marie Klotz at saintapraysingtown@gmail.com
SAINT AUGUSTINE ONE CALL
To be added to the St. Augustine one-call, please contact Fran Delegato at delegatof@outlook.com
Sonshine in a Bag
St. AUGUSTINE PARISH participated and supported “SONSHINE IN A BAG” food program. The Sonshine in a Bag program provides bags of food to refer students who they feel could benefit from receiving food from this program.
ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH NEWS
While traveling and you wish to find Catholic Services near your visiting area go to this website.
http://CatholicMassTime.org
Saint of the Week
February 16, 2025
Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 1007–1072
Feast Day February 21:
Peter was the youngest child born into a poor but noble family in Ravenna, Italy. After Peter’s parents died, the young boy lived with one of his older brothers who mistreated him and forced him to labor as a swineherd. Eventually, another brother, a priest from Ravenna named Father Damian, took Peter in and provided him with an excellent education. Peter was so grateful to his priest brother that he added his brother’s name to his own, making him Peter Damian.
Upon the completion of his education, Peter Damian became a successful teacher. Disenchanted with university life, he withdrew to a monastery in Fonte-Avellana for a forty-day retreat where he discerned a call to monastic life and received the habit.
As a monk, Peter Damian lived a secluded life of prayer and extreme penance. He was eventually asked to teach his fellow monks and then did so in neighboring monasteries. He also began to write, penning a biography of Saint Romuald, a recently deceased monk from his monastery known for his exceptional holiness.
In 1043, at the age of thirty-five, Brother Peter Damian was named the prior of his monastery. He led the brothers with zeal and fidelity to their rule while founding new hermitages in the surrounding villages.
In 1045, Gregory VI replaced the scandalous Benedict IX as pope. Overjoyed at the change, Brother Peter Damian wrote to the new pope, encouraging him to tackle corruption and scandal within the Church. In the years that followed, succeeding popes called on Brother Peter Damian to help accomplish that very goal. He wrote many letters in an attempt to bring about reforms of the clergy, fought against simony (the selling of Church offices and spiritual favors), addressed sexual abuses, challenged the bishops, reformed monasteries, and gave a spectacular personal witness of holiness.
In 1057, the pope named Brother Damian the Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia.. As a new cardinal, he quickly challenged his brother cardinals and tried to weed out corruption. He would eventually return to his hermitage and resume his life of prayer, but his fervor in fighting against the evils of the time continued. Pope after pope called on him for help, even while other Church leaders opposed him.
In 1072, at the age of sixty-five after battling one corruption after another, Cardinal Peter Damian fell ill. After a week of illness in a monastery near his hometown, the cardinal died while the monks chanted around his bed.
Saint Peter Damian, from a life of solitude, prayer, and penance, God sent you forth to reform His wounded Church. You answered the call with courage and zeal. Please pray for me, that I will never shy away from reforming my own life and that I will always answer the call to be an instrument of that reformation wherever I am sent. Saint Peter Damian, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Saint of the Week
February 2, 2025
St. Blaise
Feast Day February 3rd
You may be familiar with the annual “blessing of throats” that many parishes in the United States use to commemorate the beloved bishop and martyr. St. Blaise lived in the fourth century in Turkey and Armenia. Due to religious persecution, he was forced to flee and hide in a cave in the back country in order to save his life.
History has it that one day a group of hunters stumbled upon where St. Blaise was living. They found the bishop kneeling in prayer, surrounded by wolves, lions, and bears that he had tamed. The legend has it that as the hunters dragged Blaise off to prison, a mother came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blaise’s command, the child was able to cough up the bone and thus lived.
Today we remember the saint on his feast day by taking two candles, crossing them against the throat, and saying the following prayer: Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. ©LPi
Saint of the Week
January 19, 2025
The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle—(c.4-c.64)
Feast Day January 25th
St. Paul was named Saul of Tarsus before his conversion. He was born to a devout Jewish family who followed strict Pharisaic traditions for generations. He spoke Greek and was formally educated in Jewish culture, scripture, and traditions. As an adult he worked as a tentmaker as well as an enforcer for the Jewish leadership in their efforts against new Christian converts. He is known to have taken an active part in the stoning of St. Stephen, the first martyr, and considered himself to be a shining example of Judaism.
Saul’s conversation to Christianity took place while he was traveling to Damascus to persecute Christians there. According to Scripture, “a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’” (Acts 9:3-4). Stricken blind by the vision, Saul continued to Damascus where he was healed and immediately began meeting with other disciples in the area and preaching that Jesus is Lord. He changed his name to the Roman version of Saul, Paul, after his conversation because it was more common among the Gentiles.
For years he traveled all over the region starting churches and preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul’s letters to the communities he served make up thirteen of the books of the New Testament today. His writings encourage new believers to learn about Jesus through Scripture and prayer, partaking in the Eucharist, and serving those in need. He was eventually beheaded as part of systematic executions of Christian leaders in Rome. St. Paul is known as the Apostle to the Gentiles, and the most prolific Christian missionary of all time. St. Paul, pray for us!
For More Saint of the Week
https://www.catholicsmart.com/saint-of-the-week/
ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH NEWS
Relevant Radio is a national Catholic radio station promoting the Faith here in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas. Listen on 105.9 FM, on their #1 FREE Catholic app or at http://relevantradio.com.
ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH NEWS
Sunday October 1st. St. Augustine presented the (The Top 3 Reasons That I Became Catholic… and Always Will Be. The Dr. John Bergsma, a former Protestant Pastor’s story) was shown immediately after the 8:30 am Mass. Please fill free to view this presentation.
To View click below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06F4i4TtS1c
ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH NEWS
