Pope Francis' Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”) recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. As a result, the church is celebrating the year of St. Joseph. Yesterday, Fr. Dan blessed the new statue of St. Joseph in the LS Hallway. Make sure to stop by for a short prayer or a moment of reflection. 🔥🐥✝️ #Firebirdfaith #yearofstjoseph
125 Freshman/Sophomores reflect on St. Sebastian (Jan. 20), St. Agnes (Jan.21) and Fr. Chaminade (Jan. 22) in a guided reflection by Bro. Pat and Mr. Moran concluding with a virtual Eucharistic Adoration from the Emmanuel Chapel. 🔥🐥✝️ #Firebirdfaith
"Let us become saints, cost what it may. Let us constantly ask for the help of the Blessed Virgin."
The next poster decorating the halls of Kellenberg is dedicated to Blessed Adele, founder of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. 🔥🐥✝️ #FirebirdFaith
As pilgrims of faith, the Wise Men themselves became stars shining in the firmament of history and they show us the way. The saints are God’s true constellations, which light up the nights of this world, serving as our guides. Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, told his faithful that they must shine like stars in the world.” – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
The Christmas Story is one of those stories that we all know extremely well, and today as we celebrate the 12th Day of Christmas, we reflect on the arrival of the Three Kings, or “Wise Men” to Bethlehem. This day is known in the Church as the Epiphany, which means “manifestation, to show and to display.” In visiting the Newborn King, the three Wise Men got to participate in the very first adoration of Christ, alongside the Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph, and the shepherds of the fields. It was in this adoration that Jesus was first seen, displayed, and manifested as the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. And these Wise Men were among the first to share this Good News with the world. So on this day of celebration of the “first adoration,” be encouraged to attend Eucharistic Adoration as much as you can in this new year and be reminded that wise men (and women!) still seek Him. Happy Epiphany!
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was born in New York City in 1774, right at the cusp of the American Revolution. She is one of the first Americans to become a saint. Born into a wealthy Episcopalian family, Saint Elizabeth lived her early life among members of prominent New York society. As the daughter of a physician, she had a heart for service and was very active in her community. She served and volunteered her time with various ministries for the poor alongside many important figures, including Eliza Schuyler-Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton.
When Saint Elizabeth’s husband became unwell, the young family traveled to Italy in the pursuit for better medical treatment. However, her husband sadly passed away from tuberculosis in 1803, leaving her a widowed mother to five children and completely bankrupt. It was in the midst of this great suffering in Italy that Saint Elizabeth encountered the Roman Catholic faith for the very first time. Those encounters with Catholicism remained in her heart and upon her return to New York, she converted. Because of her conversion, she became a social outcast in the community she grew up in and had served in for so many years. This led her to move her family to Emmitsburg, Maryland where Saint Elizabeth became affectionately known as she is known today, “Mother Seton.”
It was while in Maryland that Saint Elizabeth’s vocation truly began. She opened a school for girls, the first free Catholic school in America. With the community of women who ran the school, Saint Elizabeth started the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph whose vocation and mission was to educate and care for the sick and poor. Saint Elizabeth did all of this as she formed more schools and an orphanage, all while raising her five children. Her feast day is celebrated on January 4th and as she was both an educator and mother, she is a wonderful saint for students to pray to. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Pray for Us!
#Saintofthemonth #firebirdfaith
We close out the Christmas octave, the eight days following the birth of Christ, with a day honoring Mary as the Mother of God. As Pope Francis wrote in 2016 … "At the beginning of the new year, the Church invites us to contemplate Mary's divine maternity as an icon of peace."
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. Today is dedicated to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, commemorating their life together in Nazareth and calling us to focus on Catholic family life. The Church presents the Holy Family to us as a model for our own family life. Please take the time to read Bro. Ken's reflection from his weekly principal's letter.
