St. Anthony of Padua Relic to Tour Five Local Churches

Posted

A relic of St. Anthony of Padua will tour five churches in the archdiocese to celebrate the feast of St. Anthony of Padua in June.

The relic will be at St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan June 11-13; St. Ann’s in Yonkers on June 15; Most Precious Blood in Manhattan on June 16; St. Anthony’s in Nanuet on June 17 and St. Anthony’s in Yonkers on June 19.

The feast of St. Anthony of Padua is June 13. This will be the fourth tour of a St. Anthony of Padua relic in the archdiocese in two years.

“This tremendous celebration is an uplifting experience and it’s something awesome to see,’’ said Tom Muscatello, USA Representative for the Franciscan Friars of the Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua and Friends of the Anthonian Association Worldwide.

“You should expect a very powerful experience from a religious and spiritual point of view if you go. You’re meeting St. Anthony in a first-class relic and you’re extending your hand to a long-time friend. He’s such a part of the community of saints and people turn to him on a daily basis.’’

Following a tradition of the Franciscan Friars, attendees are encouraged to make physical contact with the reliquary containing the relic with a hand or religious item such as rosary beads and crosses.

“The experience will be different for every person,’’ said Muscatello. “Some will thank St. Anthony. Some are going to call upon St. Anthony for a special favor or request. Some are going to experience venerating a relic of a saint for the first time. A majority of Catholics have not venerated a first-class relic of a saint.’’

St. Anthony of Padua, born in Portugal in 1195, died in 1231 in Padua, Italy. A Franciscan Friar known as the finder of lost items, he was canonized 11 months after his death. His tomb is now at the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, which was constructed in the years following his death.

A St. Anthony of Padua relic toured the archdiocese in June and December of 2014 and in June 2015. The relic had a stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in December 2014 during the cathedral’s restoration.

“If during the tour, someone calls or meets us at one of the sites to invite us, we will visit,’’ Muscatello said. “We like to go where people invite us.’’

The schedule of the relic’s tour in the archdiocese is as follows:

June 11
St. Francis of Assisi Church
Manhattan
Veneration: 3-7 p.m.
Vigil Masses: 4 p.m., 5:15 p.m.

June 12
St. Francis of Assisi Church
Manhattan
Veneration: 10:15 a.m.-2 p.m., 4-7 p.m.
Masses: 9:15 a.m. (Korean), 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:15 p.m.

June 13
St. Francis of Assisi Church
Manhattan
Veneration: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Masses: 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. (Spanish), 4 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. (Kreyol in upper church), 6:30 p.m. (Filipino in lower church)

June 15
St. Ann’s Church
Yonkers
Veneration: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Masses: Noon, 7:30 p.m.

June 16
Most Precious Blood Church (National Shrine Church of St. Gennaro)
Manhattan
Veneration: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Masses: 12:10 p.m., 7 p.m.

June 17
St. Anthony’s Church
Nanuet
Veneration: All day
Masses: 6:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 7 p.m.

June 19
St. Anthony’s Church
Yonkers
Veneration: Before and after each Mass
Masses: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon

Information: (914) 263-8841