Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As we bring 2025 to a close, I keep thinking about what a momen-tous year it has been, both in the Church and in our world, especially here in our own country.
First, however, I wish to thank all of you for your prayerful support of me and the other friars who minister at St. Patrick-St. Anthony. As you know, one of the friars, Fr. Francis Soucy, has spent the past few months in rehab for mobility issues, but he continues to make progress and is doing well at the age of 87.
I also want to express my deepest thanks for your ongoing financial support. To date, our Parish Annual Appeal has raised $62,470.50 which will be used on various improvement projects. Our apologies for the delay in acknowledging your gift. You should it within the next two weeks.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that our parish had contributed over $100,000 to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. At the moment the amount stands at $101,720.42. This is a remarkable achievement, and I am duly impressed by your generosity to the local church.
Ours is a very generous and selfless parish whose members care deeply for the needs of others. This is expressed in the weekly collections as well as in the special second collections taken during the year. Of particular note was the Christmas in July campaign to support our Sister Parish of Saint Geneviève in Haiti.
Please mark your calendar for Saturday, January 17, 2026 when we will have a celebration of twenty years of the covenant between St. Patrick-St. Anthony and Saint Geneviève at 4:00 PM Mass, followed by a festive gathering in the Franciscan Center.
On January 1st we celebrate New Year’s Day. As Catholics, we also celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This is one of the oldest titles of Mary, dating back to the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. Over the centuries other titles were bestowed upon her, as well as definitions of Marian doctrine, such as her Immaculate Conception and Assumption into heaven.
Recently, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a doctrinal note on Marian titles, especially to clarify the titles of “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix.”The clarifications were not intended to lower Mary’s stature, but to remind us that Mary’s role in our salvation is completely dependent upon the role of Jesus as our sole Redeemer. As the note states: “The title of ‘Co-redemptrix’ is deemed inappropriate and problematic. The title of ‘Mediatrix’ is considered unacceptable when it takes on a meaning that excludes Jesus Christ; however, it can be used appropriately so long as it expresses an inclusive and participatory mediation that glorifies the power of Christ.”
Mary’s role as the mother of Jesus and hence, “Mother of God” as defined in the 5th century at Ephesus, is the sinequanonof our Catholic devotion to her. Mary was the first disciple of Christ who continues to lead us to her Son through her maternal love. We honor Mary in a true and correct manner as long as our devotion leads us ultimately to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. In the words of St. Louis de Monfort: “Ad Jesum per Mariam”– To Jesus through Mary.
May you have a happy, healthy and blessed New Year!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor