st. mary the community of st. ann · intimacy with the one who created us. we often go to god...

Mass Intentions for the Week:

Saturday, May 9

4:30 pm Mass: see weekend intentions below

Sunday, May 10

Mass: Intentions of our Parish Family +John Madsen, by Don Sokolowski +Katie Archer, by Ray & Carol Idalski +Tim Lothamer, by Jon & Sabine Kaufmann

Monday, May 11

Tuesday, May 12

10:00 am Mass: +Fr. Jim Lothamer, by Betty L. Bean

Thursday, May 14

10:00 am Mass: Intentions of our Parish Family

Friday, May 15


Saturday, May 16

4:30 pm Mass: see weekend intentions below

Sunday, May 17

Mass: Intentions of our Parish Family +John Lehman, by Jan & Judy Baxter +Mr & Mrs Bud Kaufmann, by Spring Boehmer +Larry Munro, by the Papranec family

THE COMMUNITY OF

Wednesday, May 13


St. Mary THE COMMUNITY OF

St. Ann www.stmarycharlotte.org [email protected]

& 807 St. Mary’s Blvd. • Charlotte, MI 48813

Fr. Dwight M. Ezop, Pastor Dcn. Thomas J. Fogle, Permanent Deacon

312 South Main St. • Bellevue, MI 49021

MAY 10, 2020—FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Daily Masses are being celebrated by Fr. Dwight—they are available for you to watch at our parish website and our parish Facebook page.

View our website at: www.stmarycharlotte.org The Facebook page is: Community of St Mary & St Ann

2 The Catholic Community of St. Mary and St. Ann www.stmarycharlotte.org

SACRAMENTS

Anointing of Sick: Inform the Parish Office prior to elective surgery or when someone is homebound or hospitalized. Baptism: Contact Fr. Dwight Ezop Marriage: Contact Deacon Tom Fogle Becoming Catholic: Contact Brian Epkey

BULLETIN INFORMATION

Bulletin Deadline: Monday afternoon Bulletin Article Submissions: If your organization is holding an event we are happy to post it in the bulletin, as space allows. Writing, proofreading and submitting an announcement is the responsibility of the sponsor-ing group. All bulletin content is subject to review by the pastor and/or parish staff and content may be edit-ed or declined. See the parish website for all bulletin submission guidelines.

PARISH STAFF Pastor………………………….…………..……………Fr. Dwight Ezop 517-543-4319 x34……..….…[email protected]

Pastoral Associate…………………………….Deacon Tom Fogle 517-543-4319 x31………………[email protected]

Director of Faith Formation…………………..…...Brian Epkey 517-543-4319 x32………[email protected]

School Principal…..……………………..…….…..Mandy Wildern 517-543-3460 x29…..…[email protected]

Coordinator of Youth Ministry……….....Kristina Priesman 517-543-4319 x28.……[email protected]

Director of Music (St. Ann)………..…………….…...Tina Lewis 517-803-7065………………...……[email protected]

Director of Music (St. Mary)…….……...….…....Jon Sommer 517-543-9150……….…..…[email protected]

Bookkeeper…………………………………..……...Deanna Boston 517-543-4319 x30.…………[email protected]

Administrative Assistant (St. Ann)………….Jan Hankinson 269-763-9620……...……[email protected]

Administrative Assistant (St. Mary) 517-543-4319 x10

PARISH GROUPS

Knights of Columbus Tim Howard (St. Ann).……….…..…...…..…..517-231-7738 James Wyszynski (St. Mary)……...……......517-582-6000 Scouts: Brian Epkey…………………….……....….517-543-4319

PARISH MINISTRIES Sick & Disabled Ministry Micki Lothamer (St. Ann)……...……..………….269-763-9551 St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (St. Mary)……………..……….517-543-4319 x26 General Assistance (St. Mary)………………….517-599-3167

ST. MARY SCHOOL & CHILDCARE School……………………………………………………......517-543-3460 Child Care & Pre-School…………..…...….....517-543-4319 x22

ST. ANN CAMPUS 312 South Main St. • Bellevue, MI 49021

269-763-9372

ST. MARY CAMPUS 807 St. Mary’s Blvd. • Charlotte, MI 48813

517-543-4319

COMMUNITY OF ST. MARY AND ST. ANN DIRECTORY

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 4:30 pm

Sunday: 8:00 am, 11:15 am Wednesday: 7:00 pm Thursday: 10:30 am

Friday: 9:00 am

RECONCILIATION AND ADORATION Wednesday: 6:00-7:00 pm, Saturday: 3:00–4:00 pm

1st Friday Adoration: 9:00 am–5:00 pm 1st Friday Benediction: 5:00 pm

ROSARY Wednesday: 6:25 pm

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET Saturday: 3:45 pm

MASS SCHEDULE Sunday: 9:30 am

Bible Study Sunday following Mass Tuesday: 7:00 pm

RECONCILIATION AND ADORATION Tuesday: 6:00-7:00 pm

ROSARY Tuesday: 6:30 pm

Emergency: 517-667-9384

OFFICE HOURS Regular office hours are only held at our St. Mary Campus

and by appointment at St. Ann

Monday–Thursday: 8:00 am–5:00 pm Friday: 8:00 am–12:00 pm

SOME NOTES FROM FR. DWIGHT’S DESK [email protected]

Happy Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day was started in the ear-ly twentieth century by an American woman named Anna Jarvis. After her mother died, Anna suggested that a memorial service be held in

church to honor all mothers. The first such service was held in a Philadelphia church in 1908. Those who attended were asked to wear white carnations in memory of their mothers.

People were so taken by the observance of such a day that in 1914 Congress proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Since then, other countries have adopted this custom, too.

Today, Mother’s Day, we remember that a mother provides life and nourishment. On this day, we remember all who are and who have been ex-amples of a mother’s love to each of us.

Some Things to Expect Once Public Masses Return As of this writing I have not yet received formal

guidelines from our diocese regarding the resump-tion of public Masses and other liturgies. In the meantime, I have been doing some extensive re-search and reading of the guidelines issued by oth-er dioceses, as well as guidance offered by recog-nized national leaders in Catholic liturgy. Once our diocesan guidelines have been received I will gath-er our parish worship commission as soon as possi-ble in order to review them and plan for their im-plementation. Based on my reading thus far, here are some changes that I think we should expect once the public celebration of Mass returns:

Wearing masks: I know we don’t like wearing masks because they’re uncomfortable and they make it more difficult to engage with one anoth-er. However, they are necessary, as the primary path of transmission for the coronavirus seems to be respiratory droplets. Hopefully you al-ready have washable cloth masks at home that you will be able to use. We plan to have a lim-ited supply of disposable masks available.

Physical distancing in church: physical distanc-ing helps prevent transmission of the corona-virus. We should plan for clear protocols that will change where we can sit, how we can greet

people, and how we will receive Communion. Members of the same household should be able to sit together, but those who are unrelated will need to practice physical distancing.

Fewer people: the current dispensation for the requirement to attend Sunday Mass will likely be extended. Those who are at higher risk—the elderly and the immune-compromised—may be the last to come back to church.

Mistakes and imperfection: We’ve never had to do this before. There will likely be mistakes. We need to make sure that we are good at saying, “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you”. A spirit of Chris-tian charity for one another will be very helpful.

Continued streaming of Mass: I see this as something that will continue for the foreseeable future. We are currently examining ways to up-grade our capabilities in a cost-effective manner.

In the end, our goal is to maintain the health and safety of others—especially those who are vulnera-ble and to celebrate liturgy with care and rever-ence. This is also an opportunity for all of us to wit-ness to our care and concern for others. These are all ways that we can show our Christ-like love for one another.

Sew-ers Needed to Help Eaton County Health and Rehabilitation

We are seeking help from those who have even basic sewing skills. Eaton County Health and Rehab Services has contacted us requesting help in mak-ing some isolation gowns for their staff to wear over their uniforms when going into rooms of pa-tients who have coronavirus or any other conta-gious disease. We have a very simple pattern to use and will need several people with basic sewing skills to make them. Thanks to the generosity of so many (and spring cleaning?) we now have plenty of fabric. What we really need now are sew-ers of all abilities who can transform the fabric into the fin-ished isolation gowns. If you can help sew the gowns, please email Terry Humenik at [email protected] to volunteer or if you have any questions. Thanks for responding so generously to this request! (continued on page 10)

mailto:[email protected]


You know the feeling. You pray and pray and noth-ing seems to happen. The bad in your life may even get worse, or the one thing you really want from God doesn’t come through.

What do you do? Double up on your prayers? Give up? Find another God? These are serious questions that get to the heart of the matter. When you pray, what do you expect? We all want miracles, but would you settle for amazing?

Here are 5 amazing facts about prayer:

1. Prayers are Always Answered

Sometimes God says no, but more often he an-swers our prayers in ways we don’t expect or fully understand. Prayer is not like a candy dispenser where you insert a petition and out pops a favor. It is a conversation with God, a relationship of great intimacy with the one who created us. We often go to God asking for one thing, whereas he wants to give us so much more; ultimately, to give himself. So when we pray to God in good faith we always receive the answer of his love and an invitation to a deeper relationship. And sometimes we do get that favor.

2. Prayer is Powerful

Using a graphic image, Jesus said that with faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move a mountain. What does that power mean for our lives? Harder to move than a mountain at times is the human heart caught in negative cycles such as anger, envy, greed and lust. Prayer softens the heart and raises our thoughts to God, who is ready to offer for-giveness and healing.

3. The Rosary is a ‘Weapon’

Those who consider the rosary as long and boring don’t know its deeper essence. St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) called the rosary a “weapon” for our times against the devil. Why? The rosary is dedicat-ed to the Blessed Mother, the Queen of Heaven,

who brought God’s plan for salvation to fruition by accepting Jesus into her womb. Her obedience un-did the disobedience of our first parents, who fell to the devil’s temptations. St. Louis de Montfort taught that when we say “Mary,” she says “Jesus.” When we pray the rosary, the devil flees at the con-stant repetition of these two holy names.

4. Prayer is Dying to Self

It is fine to ask God for some good or favor. But we must ask ourselves if we are ready to receive what God truly seeks to give us. In the Garden of Geth-semane, Jesus asked his Father to take away the cup of suffering. But by adding, “Not my will but thy will be done,” Jesus died first to his self before giv-ing his life for us on the cross. This message is not easy to accept, yet handing over our will to God is an essential step of authentic prayer.

5. Prayer Makes Us More Like God

By uniting our thoughts and will to God through prayer, we become closer to him in spirit. We will show forth more clearly the image of God within us, and see more clearly the image of God in oth-ers. While our Catholic faith rejects the notion that we will actually become God in our nature, or be subsumed into God, we do know that we will be-come united with him in heaven. In a somewhat mysterious statement, St. John explains, “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn 3:2).

As Knights, we have many heavenly intercessors, including six saints who were martyrs in Mexico and members of our Order, and our found-er, Venerable Father Michael McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is open at the Vatican. Pray to them in times of need.

COPYRIGHT 2020, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.

5 Amazing Facts About Prayer What They Mean for Your (Eternal) Life

http://www.kofc.org/un/en/mexican-martyrs/index.html

http://www.fathermcgivney.org/


READINGS FOR THIS WEEK

Readings for the Week of

May 10, 2020

Sunday: Acts 6:1-7 Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 1 Pt 2:4-9 Jn 14:1-12 Monday: Acts 14:5-18 Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16 Jn 14:21-26 Tuesday: Acts 14:19-28 Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21 Jn 14:27-31a Wednesday: Acts 15:1-6 Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 Jn 15:1-8 Thursday: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Jn 15:9-17 Friday: Acts 15:22-31 Ps 57:8-9, 10 and 12 Jn 15:12-17 Saturday: Acts 16:1-10 Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 5 Jn 15:18-21 Sunday: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 1 Pt 3:15-18 Jn 14:15-21

Maria Bustamonte Alice Carr Virginia Fox Pete Lothamer Mort McKillop

Bruce and Linda Miller Lindsay Francis Nakfoor Marissa Newhouse Bob Sinko Lynn Wireman

Pray For Our Homebound and Sick

PRAYER

Prayer to the Mother of the Lord

for all mothers Mary, on this day when we honor all mothers, we turn to you. We thank the Lord whom you serve for the great gift of motherhood. Never has it been known that anyone who sought your intercession was left unaided by grace. Dear Mother, thank you for your "Yes" to the invitation of the angel which brought heaven to earth and changed human his-tory. You opened yourself to God's word and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Dear mother, intercede for all of our mothers. Ask your Divine Son to give them the grace of surrendered love so that they could join with you in giving their own "Fiat." May they find daily strength to say yes to the call to the sacrificial love- the very heart of the vocation of motherhood. May their love and witness be a source of great inspira-tion for all of us called to follow your Son. On this Mothers day, Mother of the Word Incar-nate, pray for us who have recourse to you... In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.


FAITH FORMATION

FAMILY CHAT AFTER MASS If needed, you can review the Sunday readings or hear the homily again from myparish app.

Fifth Sunday of Easter Do not let your hearts be troubled. These are some of the last words Jesus offers to his disciples. Do not let your hearts be troubled when faced with despair, suffering, or loss. Do not allow the world to break you. This seems easier said than done, especially when we are confronted by the deep pain the world can bring. Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the way of hope, healing, and light in the darkest night. He is the way to eternal joy.

Have you ever felt sad or confused or lonely? Did you ever lose your way and felt scared? When has your heart been troubled?

Discuss with your family the following: Jesus doesn’t want us to feel troubled. He wants us to believe in him and to trust him. Jesus has shown us the way to live good lives as sons and daughters of God. He has taught us the truth about God and his great love, and through him, we will have everlasting life with God in heaven.

Have your children cut out a dozen little hearts from construction paper. Ask them first to think about how Jesus doesn’t want our hearts to be troubled. On each little heart, have them write one way they can show God’s love to one another. Remind them to write their names on the hearts.

Taken from Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families 2019-2020 by Kara O’Malley, published by LTP

First Communion and Confirmation News

As of right now we plan on having First Commun-ion on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus, the Vigil Mass on June 13, at 4:30. Depending on the developments and recommendations of the Diocese this is subject to change. We are still waiting for information from the Diocese on what is happening with the Sacrament of Confirmation for our High School students. We will let you know as soon as we know something.

Pop Can Drive Thru Please gather all of your returnables, bag them up, and drive them into the church. We have 2 dates when youth will be available to take returnables out of your vehicles in an attempt to help you clean up some space in your home/garage/etc.

Collection Date and Time: Thursday, May 14: St. Ann 6-7pm Monday, May 18: St. Mary 5-6pm

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, too, praises her: “Many are the women of proven

worth, but you have excelled them all.”

- Proverbs 31:28, 29


Find It On FORMED

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Financial Support: received as of May 8, 2020

St. Mary and St. Ann

Weekly Goal $ 10,567.30

Offertory Donations - mail or in person $ 8,189.00

e-Donations $ 4,187.00

Total $ 12,376.00

Above/Below Weekly Goal $ 1,808.70

YTD Parish Offertory Summary

Year to Date Goal $ 464,961.20

Collected Year to Date $ 460,672.56

Above/Below YTD Goal $ - 4,288.64

Parish Mortgage Budget Summary

Monthly Mortgage $ 5,119.00

Year to Date Goal $ 52,008.00

Collected YTD $ 29,591.00

Above/Below YTD Goal $ - 22,417.00

“Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” - Luke 6:38

Our Parish Mission Statement Proclaiming the teachings of Jesus Christ, we, the community of St. Mary and St. Ann provide a positive

worship and educational environment for all, emphasizing the core values of our Catholic faith.

Things To Know about our Parish and School Operation at this Time

Fr. Dwight is live-streaming weekend and daily Masses via our parish website and Facebook.

Our Parish Office at St. Mary is open and staffed.

St. Mary School continues to operate via online teaching.

Family Formation and Youth Ministry continues to operate via online sessions.

Our St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at St. Mary continues to serve those in need.

Our childcare program is suspended for now.

Your continued financial support is vital during this time. Please seriously and prayerfully consid-er signing up for Online Giving. At this time, espe-cially, online giving is the safest, most effective way for you to contribute to the ongoing mission of our parish. To sign up, go to our parish web-site: stmarycharlotte.org, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the ‘Give’ box.

FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP

For the time being, our church buildings will remain open for quiet prayer at the following locations and times:

St. Ann location: Sunday, 9:00 am—Noon

St Mary location: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am—5:00 pm

Saturday, 10:00 am—3:00 pm Sunday, 10:00 am—Noon

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A very sincere Thank You for your ongoing and generous financial offerings, especially at this uncertain time. It is so appreciated!


“Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice.” - Isaiah 41:10

Youth Ministry Grades 9-12

For more information contact Kristina Priesman at [email protected] or 517-543-4319

Upcoming Events:

TBD: Graduation Mass and Breakfast. More information to come

May 31: Confirmation for Year II students at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lansing 2pm TBD: Theology of the Body for youth

IN SERVICE TO OUR NEIGHBOR

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40

Here are the salary guidelines to qualify for food assistance through the St Vincent de Paul food pantry:

People in household: 1 Annual $24,980/Monthly $2,082/Weekly $480

People in household: 2 Annual $33,820/ Monthly $2,818/Weekly $650



People in household: 5 Annual $60,340/ Monthly $5,028/ Weekly $1,160




For each additional family member add: Annual $8,840/ Monthly $736/ Weekly $170

St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry

MORE FROM FR. DWIGHT

2020 Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA) Update As of the end of April, the families of the Com-

munity of St. Mary and St. Ann have pledged a to-tal of $20,042 toward our parish community’s 2020 Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA) goal. This represents just over 51% of our parish goal of $39,176. This is amazing progress, especially in light of all that is going on right now. Thank you to all who have given so generously!

If you have not yet made your gift to this year’s DSA, please prayerfully do so soon. Completed pledge envelopes can be returned to the parish office via postal mail. If you misplaced your pledge envelope, additional envelopes are available at both parish locations. Also, you can make your gift or pledge on-line by visiting www.dioceseoflansing.org and clicking on the “Make a Gift” tab. The on-line giving website is safe, secure and easy to use.

I don’t say it often enough, but as your pastor please know how deeply appreciative I am of the support being offered to our parish community as well as to the diocesan community. Given our cur-rent circumstances, it is nothing short of AMAZING!

http://www.dioceseoflansing.org


“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.” - 1 Peter 3:15-16

The Twelve Apostles are more often referred to in the New Testament by their number than their names. They are, simply, “The Twelve.” This cus-tom is rooted in the twelve tribes who settled the land of Canaan after the Exodus from Egypt. These tribes were founded by the twelve sons of the Pa-triarch Jacob, later renamed Israel. It was inside of this Old Testament Jewish tradition that Jesus Christ acted when He chose twelve men upon whom to found His Church. Jesus specifically states that His followers will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mt. 19:28, Lk. 22:30). And the Book of Revelation states that the names of the twelve tribes of Israel will be written on the gates of the Heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12 ff).

It was fitting, then, when “The Twelve” were re-duced to “The Eleven” after Judas’ self murder, that the fullness of the biblical number had to be re-stored. And this is where today’s saint steps out from the shadows to play his role in Christian histo-ry. The first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the great history book of the early Church, tells us that, after the Ascension, the eleven Apostles returned to Jerusalem. There, Peter “stood up among the believers” to tell them that someone who had “accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us… must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” Two names were proposed to replace Judas: Matthias and Jo-seph called Barsabbas. Then the Eleven prayed to the Lord to show them the way. They cast lots. Matthias was chosen. An Apostle, for the first time, had a successor. And, of equal significance, the ap-pointment came from the group, or college, of Apostles, led by Peter. Thus was established, just days after Christ left the earth, a form of Church preservation and growth which would be repeated,

and is still repeated, tens of thousand of times in Christian history.

The Church has placed the Feast of St. Matthias purposefully close to the Feast of the Ascension, just as his election in Acts occurred so soon after that event in the Bible. The Holy Spirit had yet to descend at Pentecost, and still the Church per-formed the will of God with authority in selecting Matthias. It was all there in the beginning. It is still here all around us. The miracle of the Church and her Apostles continues. It will always continue.

He is the Patron Saint of alcoholics and tailors.

Saint Matthias, we beg your intercession from your powerful throne in the Heavenly Jerusalem, that you fortify all who govern your Church to emulate “The Twelve” in their wisdom, trust, prudence, and daring in leading and spreading the Faith.

Saint Matthias the Apostle — Feast Day: May 14

Copyright © 2020 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. www.mycatholic.life

https://biblia.com/bible/rsvce/Matt.%2019.28

https://biblia.com/bible/rsvce/Luke.%2022.30

https://biblia.com/bible/rsvce/Rev.%2021.12



Saint Pancras, Martyr — Feast Day: May 12

A fatherless teen discovers a treasure worth more than life itself

In the late 500s, Pope Saint Gregory the Great ap-pointed monks to staff a small church in Rome, al-ready almost three hundred years old, which was dedicated to Saint Pancras. In 597 the same Pope Gregory sent Saint Augustine of Canterbury on a missionary journey to England, and Augustine cop-ied his Roman mentor and established a church in honor of Saint Pancras. About sixty years after Au-gustine, a different pope sent relics of Saint Pancras to England. This further spread devotion to this boy martyr, until a total of six ancient churches were dedicated to Saint Pancras in England alone, includ-ing the oldest church still used for Christian worship in that old country.

Little is known with certainty about the life of Saint Pancras, but the essential facts are sufficient cause for admiration. Pancras was an orphan who trav-eled to Rome from the east in the company of his uncle. The pair converted to Christianity and then died for that conversion during the reign of Diocle-tian. Pancras was perhaps fourteen years old when he traded his earthly life for a better one in heaven. He likely became well known owing to his rare com-bination of youth and heroic witness. Our martyr was buried near a major Roman road, and a modest basilica was constructed over his tomb. The shrine and its catacombs became a popular pilgrimage destination, partly due to its healing bath, which was famous for its curative powers. The ravages of time and foreign armies degraded the shrine, but it was rebuilt several times over the centuries. In the seventeenth century, the Basilica of Saint Pancras was entrusted to the Discalced Carmelite Order, whose members still reside there today. Under the Basilica are extensive Roman catacombs, and a reli-quary in the church contains the head of Saint Pan-cras. The rest of the saint’s relics were scattered to the four winds by anti-Catholic armies who occu-pied the church and despoiled many of its treas-ures.

Moments of great danger for the Church are also moments of great grace. In her long history, the Church has passed through, and continues to live, many such dangerous, grace-filled times. Saint Pan-cras’ times were precisely such. If he had stayed in his native land, he would likely have died of natural causes. But he went in search of something, per-haps wealth, fame, or family, in Rome, the big city, just as so many people search for the same in big cities today. But young Pancras found what he probably wasn’t looking for—God. And his decision to become a Christian, perhaps through the influ-ence of a friend or priest or aunt, quickly took a very serious turn. He was threatened with death if he did not burn incense to a false god. The boy stood fast. Like other more famous young martyrs, such as Saint Agnes, the idealism of youth provoked both admiration and fury in his persecutors, and he was taken beyond the walls of Rome to be decapi-tated.

Our culture and its pressures are not from God. They are human constructs. But our Church, which is an object of faith, is from God. The friction caused by the collision of culture and church dam-ages individuals, parishes, and governments. Sparks fly. Heat is generated. Objects melt. At times, wars ensue. Today’s martyr was an early victim to some-thing far bigger than himself—the culture clash be-tween a dying empire and a dawning religion. If he had gone to Rome just ten years later, Pancras would have lived in peace. Instead, Pancras and many others were executed, because they refused to bend to a leader who might die tomorrow in fa-vor of a God who rose to life from a cold tomb.

Patron Saint of children, jobs, and health.

Saint Pancras, you gave away your young life rather than offer worship to a false god. May your exam-ple inspire, and your intercession strengthen, all young people to put love of God above all else.



The earliest manuscript proving the existence of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, a copy of one of his works, dates from the ninth century A.D. Caesar was stabbed to death in 44 B.C. So approximately nine hundred years separate the life of Caesar from the first tangible, physical, paper copy of one of his written works. The earliest manuscript describing Caesar, but not written by him, dates from after the ninth century, and so is even more removed from the man it describes. None of this means that Julius Caesar did not exist or that he did not compose the works attributed to him. First century B.C. Roman coins prove, unequivocally, that Julius Caesar exist-ed.

No Roman coins prove the existence of today’s martyrs. Instead, something thousands of times larger than a coin proves they existed. There’s a church. In fact, there are two churches in Rome dedicated to Saints Nereus and Achilleus. These churches are not hard to find. You can touch their walls, open their doors, and sit in their pews. There is not one structure, much less two, in Rome or an-ywhere else, dedicated to Julius Caesar. Even the exact location of his assassination is a matter of conjecture.

Almost nothing can be said with certainty regarding the lives and deaths of Nereus and Achilleus. There are conflicting traditions of when they lived, where they lived, and how they died. But…there are those churches. Two of them. In Rome. One is a fourth-century Basilica inside the ancient Catacombs of Domitilla. The other, from the sixth century, was built on the site where an early Christian tradition says Saint Peter encountered Christ as the Prince of the Apostles was abandoning Rome.

Nereus and Achilleus were likely soldiers who were executed for their belief in Jesus Christ. An official list of Roman martyrs from the fifth-century names, specifically, Nereus and Achilleus, and states, spe-cifically, that they are buried in the Catacombs of St. Domitilla. Pope Saint Gregory the Great, who reigned from 590–604, gave a homily, duly record-

ed and preserved, at the very tomb of Saints Nere-us and Achilleus: “These saints before whose tomb we are assembled, despised the world and tram-pled it under their feet…” And more than one medi-eval manuscript records an ancient dedication to Nereus and Achilleus by Pope Damasus (366–384) attesting to their martyrdom for refusing to carry out military orders to kill Christians.

The relics of today’s saints were transferred from their ancient underground Basilica in the cata-combs to their “new” Church sometime in the sixth century. By the ninth century, the Basilica had been forgotten as wave after wave of invasion and plague and sack and turmoil decimated the Eternal City until it was a shadow of its imperial glory. But in 1874, a pioneering archaeologist named Giovan-ni de Rossi began excavating the Catacombs of Domitilla. In the ruins of a subterranean Basilica there, he found two pillars, one of which had the name “Achilleus” carved into it. De Rossi also dis-covered chunks of the very marble slab bearing the dedication of Pope Damasus to Nereus and Achilleus! This discovery proved the medieval man-uscripts describing the dedication were accurate. The traditions are true.

Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs—Feast Day: May 12


St Isadore the Farmer—Feast Day: May 15

Saint Isidore was from Spain and was named in honor of Saint Isidore of Seville, a scholar, bishop, and Father of the Church who lived in the sixth and seventh centuries. The two Isidores could not be more different. Today’s Saint Isidore is known in Spanish as “Labrador” or “the farm worker.” He was not a scholar and probably had trouble read-ing. He was not ordained to Holy Orders but mar-ried and a father. He surely had calluses on his hands, a red, leathery neck burned by the sun, and a sore and twisted back for most of his life. He earned what little he had. No one gave it to him. He did not put food on his family’s table by generating great thoughts or publishing profound books. And due to exhaustion he probably had no trouble sleeping at night.

Numerous legends of miracle working and holiness attest to Saint Isidore’s influence on Spanish cul-ture. In 1947 his partially incorrupt body was even put on public display to provoke prayers to bring a

terrible Spanish drought to an end. Isidore is the patron saint of Madrid and of numerous other towns, cities, and regions throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. Processions, Masses, fireworks, and public devotions render him homage on his feast day. Yet besides his dedication to work-ing the land, few details of Saint Isidore’s life are known with certainty.

Our religious faith cannot occupy only one sphere of our life, as if it were a hobby akin to building a ship in a bottle, flying a kite, or cultivating a garden. A real religion impacts everything. Even work. Espe-cially work. We fulfill God’s will in our daily lives—which are packed full of work—by doing our work well. We should do our work diligently and at a high professional level, because it is an offering to God first and foremost. In other words, bad work equals a bad offering. Work is the practical use and expres-sion of the skills God has loaned us for our earthly pilgrimage. To misuse those skills, to let them lie fallow, or to put them to ill use, is to bury a treas-ure in the ground. “Ora et Labora” is the Benedic-tine maxim. Prayer and Work. Yet workisprayer for the vast majority of the baptized.

Saint Isidore’s life teaches us, indirectly, that God can convert an entire nation without ink or paper. A book might help, of course, but a religion of the Word is not the same as a religion of the Book, and Catholics are a people of the Word. Saint Isidore is the patron saint of farmers, day laborers, and brick layers. He is often shown wearing rough clothes, oxen leading him as he plows a furrow, with an an-gel at his side and a golden halo shining over him. A farmer saint. Why not?

Saint Isidore, your witness of dedicated and holy work is a model for all who earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. May your quiet and humble dedication to your lay vocation inspire all the bap-tized to see in “work well done” a source of dignity through which man participates in God’s creative act.



To the Moms Who Are...

To the Moms who are struggling, to those filled with incandescent joy.

To the Moms who are remembering children who have died, and pregnancies that miscarried.

To the Moms who decided other parents were the best choice for their babies, to the Moms who adopted those kids and loved them fierce.

To those experiencing frustration or desperation in infertility.

To those who knew they would never have kids, and the ways they have contributed to our shared world.

To those who mothered colleagues, mentees, neighborhood kids, and anyone who needed it.

To those remembering Moms no longer with us.

To those moving forward from Moms who did not show love, or hurt those they should have cared for.

Today is a day to honor the unyielding love and care for others we call 'Motherhood,' wherever we have found it and in whatever ways we have found to cultivate it within ourselves.

- Hannah Kardon

st. mary the community of st. ann · intimacy with the one who created us. we often go to god...

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