Our preacher this year for the St. Anthony Novena is the indubitable Fr. Ronan Murphy. You know the power of his spoken word, his compelling exhortations, his spellbinding stories of faith, his strength of Catholic conviction, his wonderful sense of humor and his zeal for souls, all proclaimed in his winning Irish brogue. It is no wonder that he is in demand as a speaker throughout the English-speaking world. Fr. Murphy will be preaching and leading the Novena prayers every evening at 7:00 PM from June 5 to June 13. (Sunday night, the prayers will be offered in the context of the 7:00 PM Mass.)
A festive closing Mass on Tuesday, June 13, the Feast of St. Anthony, will have a special feature this year! It will include the ceremony of Family Enthronement to the Divine Mercy. This ceremony of enthronement for your individual families at the end of Mass is the one strongly encouraged by our Lenten Mission Preacher, Fr. Dermot Roach.
Recall how Fr. Roach described the power of this enthronement to heal, unite and protect our families in today’s chaotic world. He was inspired by God in the bush country of South Africa to call people to enthrone their families to the Divine Mercy, making Jesus King and Ruler of all their family members, past, present and future. You will remember Fr. Roach’s moving testimony of the amazing fruits of this devotion in Africa and other places throughout the world. At the end of Mass everyone will receive a certificate of solemn consecration of their individual families to record this moment and to display in their homes, proclaiming our merciful Jesus King of their family! All are invited!
St. Anthony, pray for us!
Fr. Tim Byerley
Pastor