St. Sebastian Church

St. Anthony of Padua, whose feast we celebrate on 13th June, is one of the most popular saints of the Catholic Church, and a member of the Franciscan Order. Anthony was born in 1195 (13 years after St. Francis) in Lisbon, Portugal and given the name of Fernando at Baptism. His parents, Martin and Mary Bulhom, belonged to one of the prominent families of the city.

St. Anthony died in Padua, Italy on 13th June 1231. He was only 35 years of age when he died. He was one of the most quickly canonized saints in the Church History, being canonized by Pope Gregory IX, less than a year after his death. He was proclaimed ‘Doctor of the Church’ by Pope Pius XII on 16th January 1946. He was well-known for his powerful preaching, teaching, knowledge of Scripture and immense love for the poor and the sick. His body was exhumed 32 years after his death. It was found to be corrupted, yet his tongue was totally incorrupt; so perfect were the teachings that had been formed upon it.

Every year on June 24th, we celebrate the birth of Saint John the Baptist. This is a very special day because apart from Jesus and Mary, John is the only other person whose birth we honor with a feast. That’s because John had a very important job, to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus.

John’s story began with a miracle. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were very old and had no children. One day, while Zechariah was praying in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (Luke 1:13). Zechariah found this hard to believe, and because of his doubt, he lost his voice until the baby was born.

In this month of June, as we honour the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church also turns our gaze to Mary—His mother and ours. Through the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church and the celebration of her Immaculate Heart, we are reminded that Mary is both the tender mother who watches over the Church and the faithful disciple whose heart reflects the love of God.

June 9th – Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

“Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother.” (John 19:26–27)

As Jesus hung on the cross, He entrusted His mother to the beloved disciple John—and through him, to all of us. It is this act of love that the Church reflects upon today, celebrating Mary as Mater Ecclesiae—Mother of the Church.

The Ascension of Jesus into heaven acquaints us with this deeply consoling reality on our journey: in Christ, true God and true man, our humanity was taken to God. Christ opened the path to us. He is like a roped guide climbing a mountain who, on reaching the summit, pulls us up to Him and leads us to God. If we entrust our life to Him, if we let ourselves be guided by Him, we are certain to be in safe hands, in the hands of our Saviour, our Advocate.(Credits: Pope Francis) Biblical Account

Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11)

Jesus taught us to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-28, 32-36). This teaching emphasizes that both the wrongdoer and the victim are children of God.

Consider a family conflict where a son harms his brother. Retaliation would increase pain and sorrow for the parents. Instead, parents desire the wrongdoer to repent and seek forgiveness. Similarly, God expects His children to forgive and seek justice through appropriate means.

” Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh, drinks my blood, has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” (Jn 6:53-57)

Two months earlier, the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, was observed on Maundy Thursday in a sombre atmosphere leading to Good Friday. The liturgy on the day also commemorates Christ’s washing of the disciples’ feet, the institution of the priesthood, and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“In no other subject is error more dangerous, or inquiry more laborious, or the discovery of truth more profitable, than the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”— St. Augustine.

Although it is far beyond our limited minds and wisdom to fully decipher the profound mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, I in all humility endeavor to pen a few lines—aware that this great mystery can only be embraced through the eyes of faith. With this in heart, I proceed, not to explain, but to contemplate the wonder of the Triune God.

Scurvy is a condition that results from vitamin C deficiency. Everyone loves a curvy smile, but a scurvy smile? Probably not. Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body.

Vitamin C is used to :-

1. Form an important protein called collagen, used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels
2. Heal wounds and form scar tissue
3. Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth
4. Aid in the absorption of iron

The body is not able to make vitamin C on its own. It does not store vitamin C. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in your daily diet.